EliteCommander

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei had to think for a moment about Sabine's question. She could recall asking her mother many questions, but they were all so...mundane. How to make clothing, how her magic could help with farming, and so on. Her father was the one she often sought wisdom from. "That is...hard to answer. My father was usually my mentor. He was wise, one of the leaders of the village, and considering I was his apprentice, it was only natural I would go to him. I did ask my mother many of the same kinds of questions you just asked me, of course, but as for what I wished I would have asked her...well, I suppose there was one thing. I was speaking to your sister about this yesterday, in fact. When I was young, I was often...apart from the others my age. Since I was the apprentice to the treeminder, I did not have as much time to just be a hatchling. I did have some trouble making friends as a result, but I think it was the romantic side of things that really bothered me. I made some embarrassing mistakes when it came to potential mates. I think I wish I would have asked my mother more about that, and socializing in general. It was her greatest skill, after all."

Kaleeth took in a deep breath, then breathed out slowly to calm herself. She realized she had not fully overcome the tendencies of her beast spirit, or at least she assumed that was where this anger was coming from. "I don't know what the 'game' is, but...I understand. I think. I just need to not cause trouble. Just let them cause trouble first instead. Then I can punch him." She said with a smile, trying to bring herself into her former, better mood. "So..." She began, glancing down with an annoyed gaze at her dress. "...do you think I can find something else to wear than this...thing?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"My mother? She was an interesting woman. Lively, energetic. She had a lot of skills, though she did not really specialize in anything. She loved making friends, and had a hand in just about everything in the village. Obviously, she helped my father with his rituals as Treeminder, but she also helped gather ingredients for our alchemist, she helped make armor and weapons for our hunters, she helped farm our crops, and even build our huts. For someone without a definite 'role', her days were quite busy. Overall, I would say her biggest role in the village was simply to be a friend to the people she knew. And she had quite a few friends. I doubt anything has changed for her in that respect since I left." Meesei explained.

Kaleeth kept her arms crossed, wishing she had some way to vent her sudden frustrations. As excited as she was to see the various parts of Tamriel, like the Imperial City, she wondered if it would even be worth it if the people they came across were going to give them problems. Why could they not just worry about their own lives? "So, if he tries to do anything to us, we can...punch him in the face or something. I don't know, I just...I don't think we should have to worry about it. It doesn't seem fair. I chose to fight back against those kinds of hateful opinions when I disobeyed my father. If I could fight back against him, then I can fight back against these strangers too. If the world wants to try to make us unhappy, well, I don't want to see you giving in, okay?" Kaleeth said with a surprising amount of conviction. Even if she did not fully understand how some people outside her homeland felt about Argonians, her experience with her father had been enough to give her strong opinions on the issue.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"Well, all animals, or at least all female animals, go through something related to their reproduction, just not the same thing. When I first started out learning about restoration, animals were one of the first things I started studying." Meesei began. "However, there are far to many animals for me to explain how they all work without spending an entire afternoon on it. And those are just the ones I know. Really, most people do not even know why their bodies do the things they do. They just know the effects they can see. It is complicated, but I think the simplest way to explain it is that the reason Humans are the way they are is because they can have children at all times of the year. Many animals cannot. If you really want to, I could go into more detail on all of this, but perhaps in a more private place than here. Or at least as private as we can find on this ship. "

After Meesei finished speaking, she heard one of the nearby crew members mutter the words "Thank you" under his breath.

Kaleeth shakily tried to sit up, but once again, it tipped to the point that she fell out of it. Luckily, she landed on her feet cleanly enough that it looked intentional. Still, it did nothing to improve her mood. She held her head down, wondering why strangers would even care who others choose as their mates. "So...like my father, but opposite?" She asked.

Kaleeth took a few moments to think about what they could do about it, but the more she thought, the more she wondered why she should do anything at all. At first, she had been merely confused at the Imperial man, but now, she was slightly angry. If he had a problem with her and Janius, why should she care at all? She didn't like the man, she didn't need to impress him. Kaleeth crossed her arms defiantly and looked to Janius with some amount of resolve. "But if he is a stranger...why should we care about him. He isn't in my family or yours, so....he doesn't matter. I don't care what he thinks; I don't even like him."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Part of Meesei had hoped that Sabine would not start off with questions of such a nature, but she did say that she would answer anything, so there was no real way of avoiding it. The Argonian process of maturation had distinct differences from Humans, namely in aspects that involved the Hist. As well, their adult bodies had their obvious differences, so Meesei was not personally experienced in everything Sabine had to go through, but fortunately, she was at least knowledgeable on them. As a student of restoration, Meesei had studied the anatomies of all different races, and even many creatures, so she could speak with confidence on Sabine's fears. "Yes, I know what you are speaking of. The healing potions do not help because there is nothing wrong. It is related to Human reproduction, and it is not something that should make you afraid. It might cause discomfort and pain, but it is not something that is going to harm you. It is normal. The topic of reproduction...it isn't the most comfortable one. It is something people usually do not like to discuss or hear about, but it is something you need to know, and as I said, I will help you however I can."

As Kaleeth was not aware of what Janius had seen, she appeared confused when he suddenly lifted up his head to look at something in the room. When she looked up as well, all she saw was Ahnasha and Fendros, and a man from the crew. She saw nothing else of interest, or at least nothing that was not the same as when they arrived. "Is there something wrong? Did I do something?"

The generally angry-looking crew member was quick to grab the cloth-wrapped items he was seeking from the bags under his hammock, so he started to leave shortly after arriving. However, as he started to walk past Janius and Kaleeth, he muttered something loudly enough that it was clear he wanted them to hear it. "Lizard lover."

The man did not stop walking and left quickly, giving no real chance for a response and leaving Kaleeth to look at Janius, confused.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Kaleeth kept her dress, even if she is tempted to steal someone else's clothes. As for Meesei, Argonians do have their share of differences, namely the things involved with the Hist, but even if she isn't personally experienced with them all, she is knowledgeable about them due to her studies into restoration.

Blood Act I~ Ghosts of the Past

Ssarak Dyreackthanose

---

Being awoken early in the morning before a long day of traveling, for a moment, brought Ssarak back to his days of service as a warrior. It was a rarity for Ssarak to flashback to that part of his past without feeling some kind of emotional pain, but this time, it was a bit more nostalgic. Long marches were, of course, not particularly pleasant experiences, but he recalled fondly how his brothers and sisters in arms would try to make it bearable. He remembered the jokes, the arguments, the competitions, the pranks, and the general camaraderie they all shared. If there was anything he actually wanted to reclaim from his sordid past, that would be it. He chuckled to himself as they set out from the inn, wondering if Meirin was the type to enjoy a harmless prank. Or if she perhaps would want to go in together to play one on Alaira? That would be a risky venture.

Along the road, there were times where the scenery was interesting enough to capture their attention, but for most of the way, Ssarak passed the time with conversation with the others, being sure to keep his eyes and mind open to danger. As well, he held a mental conversation with Lyn on whatever topics could entertain her, since her spot in the caravan hardly had the best view. He was well-aware of how much small children hated to be idle, so for the convenience of the others, especially the caravan master, he was sure to keep her occupied.

Toll bridges were a custom which Ssarak was completely unfamiliar with. Obviously, it was not something he had ever been forced to deal with. It seemed like it would be expensive to pay a toll every time one wanted to cross a river, but the more he thought about it, the more it made sense. Bridges were necessary for trade, and they carried with them a cost to build and maintain. He trusted that the caravan master knew what he was doing, so Ssarak simply focused on his own task of watching out for danger, and looking intimidating. The first few bridges gave them no issue, but as they came to one in particular, Ssarak was suddenly much more on edge. The guards were noticeably more poorly equipped than the previous ones, and they themselves did not look too healthy. That, combined with the foul odor in the air, lended a strange feeling to the entire encounter.

As before, Ssarak trusted the caravan master to carry out the negotiating, but he was much more active in seeking out the potential danger. He did not want to start a fight if it turned out that his fears were mistaken, but he wanted to be ready. Telepathically, he instructed Lyn to stay hidden as he looked out with a sharp eye for anything out of the ordinary, and opened his mind to search for any thoughts that might clue him in to danger. He recognized that he was in a foreign land and might be ignorant of some kind of social norm, but as Meirin was a native of Djarkel, he reasoned that she might be able to confirm or eliminate his fears. "Meirin, these guards...do you find they are acting strangely? This situation does not sit well with me." He asked telepathically, listening to her mind for a response.

Star Wars - Jedi Exile

Once back on her feet, Shir shifted her posture once again, this time to a defensive one. On the other side of the clone reinforcements, she could sense a familiar presence. They had the clones surrounded, so once, the Human Jedi went on the attack, so did she. She ran forward and threw her shoto, telekinetically guiding it through the center mass of one of the clones on the far left, while reflecting a blaster shot into the stomach of another beside him. One of the Padawans finished off the wounded trooper, and with Jedi on all sides, it was not long before the immediate threat was eliminated.

Shir made quick use of the bacta patch her ally gave her. She did have her own, basic medkit in a pouch on her belt, but she preferred to save it for emergencies, not that it would be greatly useful for serious wounds. In addition to her Shoto, Shir also made a point of pulling one of the clone assassin's blaster pistol to her. She did not have a specialized holster on her tool belt, but she found a way to make due with what she had. Most Jedi would hardly consider making use of blasters, but Shir was comfortable with using any resource at her disposal, no matter how "uncivilized."

Shir kept her lightsabers at the ready, and as pleased as she was to see her Padawan alive, was not comfortable with stopping for more than a few moments. "Tactus, it is good to see you alive. It seems the Republic has deployed Jedi hunters, so our time here must be brief. Have either of you been near the hanger, or know if other Jedi are trying to escape through it? As he said, it is surely a trap."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei leaned against the railing alongside Sabine, letting out a long sigh as she looked out over the horizon along with her. It would have been much easier if she could have given her a direct, clear answer, but for a question like Sabine's there was no right answer. "I could just say 'become whoever you want to be,' but I believe we both know it is more complicated than that. You are changing, that much in certain. Physically, you are taller, and you look much more mature than when we first met. In a few years, no one will be calling you a 'little girl,' though that really doesn't describe you anymore already. As for the person you will become, well, I don't think anyone really knows who they are going to be, not really. I thought I did when I was your age, but I could not have been more wrong. Who you become is based off of what you experience, what you understand about the world around you. It is how you want to fit into your world. I cannot tell you who you should be, but what I can do is make sure you do not have to deal with it alone. I can give you the tools to help you build your beliefs. Any question, no matter how difficult, no matter how long the answer, no matter how...awkward the subject, I will answer. No matter what it is, I will give whatever advice my experience allows. Becoming an adult, it is not easy, and it is understandable that you are scared, but I want you to know that I will be with you every step of the way."

Once they were settled, Kaleeth was content to relax with Janius. The hammock was small for the two of them, so it forced them quite close together, but that was something she did not mind. Once he asked about getting up, she would have tried to find a way to get up carefully, but was frightened of sending them both to the floor. She thought about it for a few moments, looking around at her options until she came to a decision. "How about we...don't? We can just stay here together until the boat shakes us over onto the ground." She said with a smile, wrapping her arms around him tightly.

It was a few minutes later that one of the crew members finally made his way down to the bunks. Like much of the crew, he was Imperial, though with a particularly rough-looking exterior. He looked older, with a long, prominent scar on his right arm and two missing fingers. As the bunks were all situated in the same, large room, he could clearly see Janius and Kaleeth, and he had no real consideration for their privacy. He looked over to them, and as his eyes met Janius' he gave him a disgusted glare and muttered something under his breath as he made his way to his own hammock. As Kaleeth was facing the opposite direction, she did not notice.

Star Wars - Jedi Exile

As they entered into the melee, Shir and her ally were able to keep control of the fight, blocking the clones from flanking them. The clone assassin who first engaged her started out conservatively, probing her defenses with a few, quick jabs. Suddenly, Shir quickly threw her shoto at him, but he demonstrated his own honed reflexed by narrowly dodging to the side, the blade singing his armor slightly before arcing to the right and embedding itself into the wall.

Thinking it an opportunity, the assassin lunged forward for two quick jabs to different parts of Shir's body. However, Shir's reaction was instant. She darted to the right to sidestep the first blade, then used her saber to clash with the second. Given the extended length of her lightsaber's hilt, she could use it effectively in a two handed style as a lever to deliver more force, which, combined with her own considerable physical strength, meant the clone stood no chance of resisting her blade without using both arms. Shir was able to force back his vibroblade until she could angle her blade towards his head, at which point all it took to finish him was the telekinetic turn of a dial to extend the length of her dual phase saber.

There was no time to recover before Shir had to again react immediately, but this time, it was to protect her ally. One of the clones who had been behind the others and too constrained by limited space to help forced his way to the front for a vertical slash at the Human Jedi. It looked as if he might be able to block it, but Shir was not going to take the risk of allowing him to open up her ally's defenses. Reaching out with her already extended blade, she managed to block his vibroblade, but using the momentum he already had, the clone assassin managed to retaliate quickly with an uppercut-like strike towards her neck. She sensed the danger coming and jumped back to evade, but even so, the clone was fast enough to deliver a slice diagonally up her torso.. Her reaction had just been fast enough to avoid a deeper, much more serious wound.

For a non-force user, to wound a Jedi in melee combat was an accomplishment, and Shir allowed her opponent to play off of that success. She allowed herself to fall on her back, to appear off balance and vulnerable. Her lightsaber even rolled out of her hand. Then, once the assassin committed to his finishing blow, she used the force to pull her shoto from the wall behind him, straight through his chest. As she rolled out of the way of his falling body, she pulled both of her sabers to her, then snapped back to her feet to aid her ally if needed. Her wound was bleeding, but not serious enough to stop her from fighting. It was not severe enough that she could not heal it, but to do so would require more time than she had.

Star Wars - Jedi Exile

I'm just awaiting Sep's response