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Realms: These Shattered Stars Logs

Interlude XI

Freyja wakes up slowly and contentedly, luxuriating in the warmth of being snuggled down under bedding and a snoozing dakang, and between her two best friends, on a chill morning on the Sedrak plains. She's quietly happy... the matron had seemed to accept the news about the worms with equanimity yesterday, and had invited them back -- always a good sign. Zero seems quite popular with the natives, and Vakkal isn't scaring them. On even the smallest of personal contentments she's pleased... she knows her boots are safe from bugs or snakes in them, since years of camping with her family has taught her how to lay them so the heavier soles hold the boot shafts closed; and her clothing will be warm to put on, because she's tucked it neatly into the bag with her.

Freyja cuddles down under the covers, tucking her hands under the pillow, and admires the lovely low glow on the horizon, where the stars no longer show. Sun should be rising soon. She's re-awakened by a tiny little meef from Jiaohua, as the little dakang scampers about her, lightly scrambling atop her horizontal form. Dakangs are apparently mostly active in the twilight hours, considering how the little one is skittering around. Shortly, the little creature pads into view, sits on his hind legs, and peers at Freyja with bright, black eyes. "Meef!" he says, a little muffledly, and with his forepaws takes a long thing from his mouth.

Freyja smiles, carefully reaching out so she doesn't wake her companions -- then she goes still, her eyes widening. With a sudden burst of wakefulness, she realizes the thing the little thief is holding is a piece of nomad beadwork. Oh neh... it hadn't occurred to her, but she should have realized -- small fingers usually mean little thieves! She whispers in shock to the little dakang, "Where'd you get that from?!"

Jiaohua blinks at her, tilting his head to the side. "Meef?" he provides helpfully.

Freyja glances back and forth between her snoozing friends, then very carefully slides herself up and out of the bedding, into a sitting position. She holds a hand out for the beadwork, "Let me see, please, Jiaohua." She looks around worriedly, already feeling the chill on her bare skin. Thank goodness the natives don't have nudity taboos... but who knows how they feel about thieves? Better try to get this back soonest!

The dakang meef!s a little, then reluctantly hands the beadwork over to her. She realizes it is the same beadwork Nistikani was working on the night before. It's really an incredibly well done piece of work. On closer inspection, it appears to be a sliding pad that would fit on the rifle sling, perhaps upon the shoulder.

Freyja shakes her head slowly, admiring the lovely work. The colors are brilliant... vibrant, even, as the morning light slowly increases. She absently rubs the dakang's ears as she studies the piece, running slender, tanned fingers lightly along the decorative patterns. She sighs softly once, wondering what it's like to have someone so inspired by you that they create objects of beauty like this, or like some of the gifts she's seen her sister receive... then smiles ruefully. Well... at least she recognizes this piece. That'll make it easier to return to its rightful owner, hopefully... but she should hurry, before anyone else is up.

Freyja slides carefully out of the bedding, trying not to waken either of her friends, and grabs up her cloak. She tiptoes away from the bedding, trying to remember where she saw the young man last... and to Jiaohua she shakes an admonishing finger and whispers amusedly, "You take me right back to Nistikani, hai?" She shrugs on her cloak as she speaks -- it's still chill, and her panties just aren't protection enough... nudity taboo or no nudity taboo!

Jiaohua makes a happy little meef! as Freyja scritches him, shaking himself as he sits, seeming to increase his volume by two times, puffing up his fur now that he isn't moving around so much to stay warm. He blinks up at Freyja as she gets up, though, and excitedly stands, giving his body a shake and letting his fur settle back down to its normal position. "Meef?" he says, and gingerly tries to use Freyja's hand to climb up onto her arm and shoulder.

Freyja blinks, then grins as the realization hits her -- she's talking to this world's frehkee-equivalent as if it can understand her! She sure hopes dakangs are smarter than frehkees, actually. She doesn't want to be running in circles through the camp, with someone else's property. She laughs softly at the cheerful dakang, "Ne-neh, you show me where this came from first, please!" She wonders if Nistikani speaks Aurabesh... she thinks so -- he'd nodded at Linikaito's question to him, and that had been in Aurabesh. Well... she hopes he speaks the language. Hard to explain what she's doing with his handiwork otherwise, if he's awake.

Jiaohua tilts his head to the side, blinking at her as he holds lightly onto her finger. "Meef?" Maybe something in the way Freyja says it while holding the beadwork makes something click in the young dakang's mind. He meef!s again, then takes light hold of Freyja's wrist with his tail and begins trotting off into the encampment.

Freyja looks relieved, tiptoeing hastily after the dakang and whispering, "That's a good boy! Show me where Nistikani is!" She tosses the beadwork over her shoulder, flips her long, thin braid out over the cloak, and crosses her fingers that no one will see her slipping through camp, cloak billowing loosely around her. She grins amusedly, wondering how she gets into these predicaments!

Jiaohua has an unerring sense of direction... but not an unerring sense of what his much taller companion is capable of. 'Right back to Nistikani' seems to involve going over and through several tents, over the backs and between the legs of several lightly dozing hakaasts, and through various other minor obstacles. Freyja mentally winces, dodging hastily around, over, or though obstacles to keep up with her smaller, lighter companion. At some point the ludicrousness of the situation hits her, and she struggles to stifle giggles as well as she patters barefoot through camp!

At one point Jiaohua perches atop a tent, just above the entrance, and meef!s helpfully. He carefully loops his tail around one of the pole protrusions on the top and quite contentedly hangs there, watching Freyja with blinking black eyes. Freyja whews in quiet relief -- made it, and no one the wiser! She slows, studying the tent curiously, hoping there's some marking, or equipment left out, or something to indicate to her that this is the right tent. She'd prefer not to waken anyone to confirm, if possible.

None of the tents have any markings, actually. This one certainly doesn't, though it seems just barely large enough to hold about five people. Freyja frowns thoughtfully, considering... then walks slowly around the tent. Surely there's some means of differentiating tents... maybe? She grins ruefully, imagining the scene, Heiyo, my dakang stole this, do you speak Aurabesh? Ne-neh, not me -- the dakang stole- hey! Stop that! Er... maybe she won't try waking anyone... she pauses at the tent's front, looking around a bit irresolutely. Anyone awake that she can see?

There doesn't seem to be any activity at this hour. Now and then in the distance she thinks she can hear someone moving around, and the bleating of hakaasts, and now and then the pacing of the night guards. Freyja looks down at the lovely beadwork in her hands... then at the relaxed dakang on the tent pole, and grins quietly, "Little troublemaker. All right, I'll take your word for it. Let's hope it's the right choice, hai?" She stoops to carefully lay the beadwork on the ground in front of the tent... and that's when it hits her. How'd Jiaohua get it? Did he wriggle into the tent somehow?

Freyja studies the tent curiously, looking to see if there's an open flap. Maybe she can tuck the beadwork into the tent, and be more secure that way? If it's actually the right tent, she amusedly reminds herself. She looks relieved as she notices the flap isn't really tied down. Makes sense, now that she thinks about it -- easier to get out if there's a fire, and whom would the natives lock a tent against? She gently lifts the flap one slender finger's width... and nudges the beadwork neatly inside.

There's no reaction. Though Jiaohua gives a helpful and enthusiastic MEEF! Freyja almost falls over in startlement! -then can't suppress a fiercely whispered, "Hush up, you!" and a giggle. She pushes the beadwork in strongly, then stands, grabbing up the dakang. She grins again, holding Jiaohua up at about eye-level and shaking him gently, "Tsk! Shhh!"

Jiaohua rather seems to enjoy the shaking. "Meef!" he goes, and with some nimbleness starts squeezing through Freyja's hands to crawl along her arm to his perch on his mobile tree-person. Freyja grins, settling him on her shoulder and whirling hastily to leave, her Padawan's braid and the cloak billowing lightly around her. "I'm going to change your name, you cheery little monster -- to troublemaker!"

Jiaohua takes a good hold of Freyja's cloak, snuggles in, and bamf-puffs up to twice his size to hold in the warmth. Two little black dots blink at Freyja. "Meef?"

Freyja giggles, rubbing his ears affectionately as she patters back through camp, light-footedly avoiding the dozing hakaasts and random tents, "You are way too cute! Just don't go stealing other folks' stuff, all right?" She's rather pleased -- no one saw, so there shouldn't be any problems... she hopes, at least!

The dakang gives a kind of churring meef, and as the light from the sun starts to become more visible on the horizon, he seems to dig in with his multiple fingers. He wraps his tail lightly about Freyja's neck and starts to snooze. Freyja grins amusedly -- oh, now he'll settle down and sleep! -- and patters back to where she left her friends. She may just snuggle down between Zero and Vakkal again for a little bit more sleep. She giggles quietly to herself, thinking, What an alibi!

Freyja makes it back to her bedroll without incident; though a couple of guards notice her, they seem to pay her no heed. Activity in the camp is increasing, though, as more and more of the nomads are awakening and beginning their daily activities.

Freyja smiles, settling down between her friends on the bedding, and decides to start dressing instead. Might as well be awake and ready when they wake up and have to leave, after all. She needs to figure out how they're supposed to re-contact Linijast... and she's curious as to why the matron seemed so amused by the honorific 'grandmother'... and she'd like to practice hakaast riding more also, if that's possible!

The nomad camp seems fairly quiet even when people are starting to move about; there doesn't seem to be a single reveille call or such. At one point, however, there is a bit of a commotion, and shortly, striding swiftly past Freyja and the others, is Linijast... carrying that bit of beadwork Jiaohua had taken. Freyja finishes dressing, and looks up... then winces mentally again. Sheisse... so Jiaohua was wrong. She scrambles to her feet, calling, "Linijast! A moment, please?" She sure hopes poor Nistikani's not about to get into trouble.

The nomad girl pauses, arching an eyebrow as Freyja calls her name. "Ai? Yes... Freyja?" she asks.

Freyja hesitates, then says a little awkwardly, "Ah... this morning Jiaohua here," she indicates the innocently sleeping dakang wrapped snugly around her shoulders, "-turned up on my bedding -- carrying that." She points at the beadwork. "So... I followed him to try and return it to the rightful owner, but I wasn't sure if I had the right tent." She gives the native woman a worried look, "If I messed up by following Jiaohua, I am sorry, Linijast. It's not Nistikani's fault if my tucking it into your tent was the wrong thing to do."

Linijast blinks, looking at the dakang, who is unutterably helping Freyja's case by being a snoozing little fur ball. "Dakang took it?" she asks, then makes an interested sound. Then she smiles wryly. "Well, as to if right or wrong thing, one way to find out -- will ask Nistikani!"

Freyja smiles, relieved that Linijast isn't upset, and nods, "Probably best. Thank you for not being angry." Linijast nods, and strides off to look for Nistikani. Freyja stands there thoughtfully, one hand absently stroking Jiaohua, and watches Linijast hasten off. She mentally wishes the native woman and Nistikani much happiness... and ponders quietly. Is it nice to get gifts like that? People must enjoy it, or they wouldn't keep doing it, after all... but even if someone ever did give her something like that, what would she do with it? The rifle is borrowed... so's the lightsaber. The medkit and medpacs are temporary -- quickly bought and quickly used. The clothing is just clothing -- she's got no attachment to it. She frowns a bit unhappily... what does that say about her, when the one piece of property that's not borrowed or temporary... is a weapon she took off the body of an attacker?

Freyja looks down at her boots, one toe nudging the dirt a bit, then sighs quietly... well, she knew very early on that she wasn't her sister, and never would be. Expecting to be reacted to as if she were... is just foolishness. She takes a deep breath, straightening. Maybe someone needs help with breakfast, or saddling the hakaasts, or something.

As she wanders towards the central fire, Freyja sees the matron standing outside her tent with Linikaito. Some kind of small prairie sparrow is perched on the matron's arm, head cocked to one side as Linikaito ties off a small cylinder to one of the bird's remarkably long legs. Freyja stands next to the fire, warming her hands, and watches curiously.

The matron and Linikaito exchange a few words, then Linikaito nods. The matron dips her arm, then lofts the bird into the air, letting the prairie sparrow spread its wings and flutter off deeper into nomad territory. The matron nods, then goes back into her tent. Linikaito sees Freyja by the main fire, and smiles quietly, walking over. "Good morning, Jedi daughter."

Freyja nods politely, "May the Force be with you, wise woman." She watches the sparrow soar off out of sight, then says curiously to the woman, "May I ask you some questions?"

"Of course. What is it you wish to ask?"

Freyja says, "Last night the matron seemed amused by my calling her 'grandmother.' Um... was that the wrong thing for me to say?"

Linikaito smiles and shakes her head. "Not at all. She found it amusing because it is an uncommon address for the matrons in our language, but not disrespectful. You hadn't called her 'mother's mother' after all, which would be entirely too familiar."

Freyja nods, "All right. I just wanted to check... it's an honorific where I come from." She pauses, watching the small flames, pale in the early morning light, licking slowly up the cold, blackened wood, then says politely, "We were given permission to return after the worms were dealt with. I am not sure, however, how we might find you again, since Linijast said you were moving camp some time today?"

Linikaito nods. "The matron came to a decision last night. Though it is against how we normally do things, we will be staying here until we hear from you. The matron just sent a message to the deep clans informing them that she will remain here with us. I will be sending some of my people to barter for supplies from the community of our people nearby, if there are any left there."

Freyja looks a little surprised, but nods, "All right... you know best. We'll try to hurry, then." She considers a moment, then adds quietly, "Thank you for your faith in us, wise woman." She grins, wondering if Linijast would like to be introduced to the Devil by the Devil's son... then oh!s, "Um... I think Nistikani finally gave Linijast that lovely beadwork last night, too."

Linikaito smiles quietly. "You're welcome, Jedi daughter. Oh, did he now? Well, good. I know he had finally finished it. He's quite a ways to go in wooing her, but he is talented, and may make a good husband."

Freyja looks curious, "A ways to go in wooing? What does that mean, please?"

Linikaito rubs her hands together, warming them by the fire as well. "He has only just started. While those two have grown up together, we choose our mates carefully, mostly by tradition. It would not do to take as a mate someone who would let things go all to pieces while the woman is involved with the leadership of the clan or family. I think Linijast takes her work particularly seriously... though it will be nice to see her with one of Nistikani's talents in song and beadwork."

Freyja nods quietly, and wonders if that's what her parents did in choosing Fafnir. She hopes so... although she doesn't really know. She's not sure how one goes about carefully choosing a mate, after all. All she knows is who the people are that she likes the most... and while she'd be willing to do all the work of courtship, she doesn't dare suggest anything with them. It'd be horrible if they said hai simply because they thought they had to. She looks up and smiles politely at Linikaito, "Then I wish them both happiness, if they settle on each other."

Linikaito smiles. "As do I. Time will tell. It may take a few years, but it may happen."

Freyja says, "Years?" She considers that for a moment... then nods again, "I... guess that makes sense. Betrothals usually last a few years where I come from too. I don't know what it's like for betrothed couples that don't actually like each other, though."

"That is something that concerned me when I first heard it. If the husband and woman do not like each other when they are married, how can they work together? Is it tradition that says they must work together? Does that not cause resentment, then?"

Freyja says with rueful honesty, "I have no idea, wise woman. I... may be learning a lot through the Force, but I don't think I know very much about -- about choosing mates wisely." She sighs, staring into the fire, and adds, "I... think I'm afraid to ask... what if I find someone I really like, and ask them, and they say hai because they think they can't say neh to the Baron's inheriting daughter?" She shivers a bit, adding, "I don't know how to court, either... or even if I'm supposed to be the one doing it." She looks up at the native woman and asks a little wistfully, "Is it nice? -being courted, I mean?"

Linikaito is silent for a moment, then she smiles a little. "It can be, if it is done by the right man who wishes to be your husband. I'm afraid I put my husband through ten thousand hells when he wooed me. He had a reputation for avoiding battle during the Ten Years' War, instead preferring to tend the wounded. This made him... somewhat unpopular, and unfortunately I viewed him the same as others. But I gave him the chance, and as he wooed me I saw what a truly gentle soul he has... and after a while I decided that I did love him, and saw his gentleness as a virtue."

She glances to Freyja. "As for your quandary; that, I believe, is what the wooing ritual is about -- you do not say 'ai' right away. It is to learn more about them, and they of you. Usually a leader can see when a man is wooing her position and not her. It's frightfully obvious, given enough time."

Freyja winces mentally. That particular phrase brings back a few too memories... although it was her position as sister to the Diamond of Balmorra, not as Arving Lady, that attracted attention. She simply nods, though, "Hai, I've been told that someone worth having is someone worth waiting for. I try to abide by it..." she sighs quietly again, murmuring quietly, "...most of the time..." She wonders quietly if the nomads ever get lonely, always surrounded by their extended family as they are.

Linikaito studies Freyja for a long moment. "It is the only way to be certain," she says finally. "I cannot speak for others, of course. But I was not comfortable with the idea of taking just anyone as my husband."

Freyja smiles wryly. "Eh, who am I to talk? I've no idea who I'm marrying, really... or even if I'll live long enough to ever have a paramour." She straightens abruptly, feeling suddenly hot and uncomfortable, as if she were too large for her skin, and smiles with artificial brightness at Linikaito, "Well! I should see if my friends are up and about yet, hai? Wouldn't want to keep anyone waiting..." She quickly hastens off, acutely uncomfortable with what the conversation appears to be saying about her... but not knowing how to assuage her unhappiness.


Freyja settles quietly on her borrowed bedding, deliberately trying to be quiet and not waken her friends. She suspects, from his breathing, that Vakkal's awake -- it wouldn't surprise her to know he's been awake since Jiaohua returned -- but politely giving her some space to think. She rests her crossed arms on her knees, and her chin on her arms, and ponders.

Freyja sighs quietly... she does tend to get herself into funks sometimes. It was easier to not be at all curious about what it was like to be loved, when her sister was attracting all the attention, like moths to a flame... but weirdly enough, now that Freyja's had the faintest inkling of what it might be like... she finds herself ravenously curious to try more.

Freyja scolds herself mentally... she knows how difficult it is to find true paramours. All the old love stories and songs go on about that... how the noble either falls for someone that doesn't love them back but is constrained by rank to not naysay the higher ranking noble -- and the inevitable tragedy that leads to... or how the noble loves someone who loves them back, but neither of them realize it -- and neither of them feel they have the right to... to possibly embarrass the other with a declaration of love. Well... and then there's the whole genre of secret admirer songs, where one is courted by the other unknowingly. She grins ruefully to herself -- she'd always preferred that genre, for the simple reason that they were usually used in wonderful comedies of manners, and usually ended happily, with the lovers united.

Freyja sighs again, although this time it's more resigned. So... be honest with yourself here. You're not going to ask anyone to be your paramour unless you're sure they love you... and you have all the subtlety of a gullinburst at telling that! So... you're not going to have any paramours unless they practically throw themselves at you... she giggles to herself at that unlikely image. Honesty compels her to add to that thought, -and they're patient enough to wait for you to get over your panic at that!

Freyja grins quietly to herself, feeling unaccountably better at the ridiculous mental image that thought gave her. She nods once to herself, then considers the other thing causing her unhappiness... who is she? Hm... well, no property doesn't mean no personality -- she knows that's true just from watching master Jedi. However, if she wishes to use gifts and property to help establish who she is to herself... she smiles ruefully -- they're not going to be courting gifts.

Freyja straightens a bit at a sudden thought. Who says gifts have to come from others? Surely that's not always the case, any more than one expects to have one's personality given to them by others? Hai... that's it! She'll gift herself with interesting things -- and that way she'll be sure they're the things she wants, too! She considers that thought carefully. If she were going to decorate herself as a means of self-expression... what would she do? Then she grins, pulling her long, thin braid over her shoulder. She'd get a bead or a decorated feather or something for the end of her braid, so it would quit ending up in her face in a high wind!

While Freyja ruminates, the nomad camp starts to become more and more active, though it is still clear that this is before the time when the camp is supposed to be in full activity. People are starting to get cooking fires placed for the morning meal, a few hunters are mounting hakaasts and heading out, while some are apparently gearing up for the trip to the community near the Humans.

Freyja pauses, glancing at her friends lying next to her, and wonders thoughtfully if Vakkal would like a pretty decorated feather to weave into his fur... it'd look nice, she thinks. Bright cobalt blue or shimmering violet against that dark, rich fur... she looks up interestedly, watching as people start moving around her. And for Zero... eh, maybe not. He might be uncomfortable with wearing native goods. Still... hm. Who could she get something pretty from? She only knows one name to ask for, really. Nistikani... well, maybe he's finished talking with Linijast -- she wishes them both well, even if it is a bit wistful -- and maybe he'd be willing to exchange decorations for a handful of slugs? -er, neh, that's, umm... bullets, that's it. Better be sure it's clear she wants to barter, though... apparently gifts are tricky here!

Freyja watches the hakaast riders preparing to go visit the native community near the Human reservation... then wonders. Didn't she hear they'd all left that area? Hm... if they have, maybe the natives here would be willing to trade with the Humans? That'd be a nice way to help them start working on friendship together, if so. She thinks a moment, then grins and pulls her comlink out. She'll ask! Best way she knows of to find out if there are still natives there. If there aren't... she can let the Jedi know of this opportunity for the local farmers. She clicks the comlink to see who's available.

Shortly, Freyja has gotten the early-rising Wulong Satau on the comlink. "Ai, Freyja, hello! It's good hearing from you; you and Zero and Vakkal all right out there?"

Freyja brightens, "Kuras Wulong, good morning! Hai, we've had a very nice time, and the matron doesn't seem mad at us at all about the worms, I'm glad to say. I have a favor to ask, if I may? Could you tell me if there are any natives still at that little agrarian community that's near the reservation edge?" She decides courtesy is best, and doesn't mention exactly who considers whom to be actually on the reservation, however!

"Nomads? At the little trading village? I think so, but there's only a handful. A dozen or so, no more, mostly just tending the structures and that's it."

Freyja says, "Hm... interesting. All right, I'm asking because this clan of nomads said they'd wait here for us to finish with the worms... so if I understand correctly, they're heading for that community to see if they can do some food purchasing. So... I was wondering. Do you know any farmers near there that might be willing to trade with this clan, if the little community doesn't have enough to barter with the nomads?" She sounds a bit hopeful as she adds, "They're nice folks, and I thought it might be a way for folks to maybe become a bit more comfortable with each other?"

"Hmmm... wish I could say that there wasn't any bad blood still, but there's probably a bit here and there. I think for the most part, though, people won't mind trading with them. It all happened ten years ago."

Freyja grins in quiet relief, "That's good to hear, Wulong. I thought you might like to know... the nomads are saddling up now to go there, so if you know anyone that would like to benefit a bit that way, you might want to tell them to head out there right away?"

"Ai? They are? Well, I'll try to, Freyja; thanks for the information! If nothing else I'll go to make sure nobody tries to take advantage of them."

Freyja grins, "Wonderful! Thank you, Kuras Wulong... I hope business is good for you, and may the Force be with you!" She signs off, looking pleased. Maybe that will help things a bit... she hopes so. She likes feeling useful and helpful. She looks around then, considering. It's been at least five minutes or so... perhaps Nistikani and Linijast are finished talking about the beadwork? She grins, then scoops about 10 bullets out of the box and knots them into a handkerchief. A bauble for her, next!

Freyja giggles quietly... maybe she should just listen for raised voices to find Nistikani's tent? Neh, that wouldn't be good for the poor man, she'd bet... she lightly and affectionately runs a hand down each of her sleeping companions' sides, to hopefully start them quietly waking up, then rises and paces off in the direction she last saw Linijast heading.

Freyja looks around curiously, stretching as she walks, enjoying the play of her muscles and the early morning air. A few minutes later she does actually spot Nistikani's tent. Linijast is walking away from it with a wry but cheerful expression, while Nistikani is sitting outside the tent, studying a new set of beadwork that he's started on, rather bemused and confused looking.

Freyja giggles quietly from the shadow of the tent she's peering out around -- it looks good for the couple du jour, she thinks! She grins, wondering if Jiaohua's just a matchmaker at heart... and politely waits a few moments before stepping out where Nistikani can see her. "Hello! Do you speak Aurabesh? May I have a moment?"

Nistikani looks up, a little startled as Freyja appears, but stands quickly and politely. "Oh! Hello, Jedi daughter. What can I do for you?"

Freyja looks relieved -- he does speak Aurabesh, and apparently quite well! She smiles, "I was wondering if I could trade with you." She pulls her very long, thin braid over her shoulder, holding up the bound end, "I want to find something pretty to put on the end here, and I heard you were a talented craftsman. Do you have anything that might work?"

Nistikani tilts his head to the side, making a quiet sound as he studies the braid. "Ai, yes, I could, certainly. What were you looking for to have?"

Freyja says, "Um, I don't really know... I've never tried decorating myself before. I like blue and purple, though, and beads or feathers or medallions or whatever you might have...?" Her tone is a bit inquiring -- she's not exactly sure what he's got, or even what might look good. This really is a first for her, "Uh... can you show me an example or something, maybe?"

Nistikani stretches as he nods, a slow and rather oddly languorous gesture. "Yes. A moment, please...." He ducks down and reaches into his tent, pulling forth... some extremely decorative forms of beadwork. Some of it is unfinished, but mostly it is strips like with the rifle pad -- a few armbands or wristlets, belt work, and the like. "Most of this will be used for trade with other families," he provides helpfully. "Others is just for enjoyment. Anything you see that is like what you are looking for?"

Freyja studies the beadwork, a bit astonished. She's seen lots of lovely decorative gear on Balmorra... but this is oddly different... she likes it. She smiles, holding up a small, beautiful circlet -- a bracelet, perhaps? -she doesn't know for sure -- and says, "Well, I don't think my braid's strong enough to hold an entire piece... maybe a strung bead or two in some pretty colors?" She holds up her knotted handkerchief, "Also, I have ten, umm... bullets, but I don't know what they're worth to you. Are bullets good for barter for you?"

Nistikani hmms, "You could get more than just a few individual beads for ten bullets, if you wished. Let me see what I can come up with in an hour, before you go, ai?"

Freyja grins happily, "All right, sure! Oh!" She remembers her thought about Vakkal, and fur... and maybe something for Zero too? -although she still isn't sure if wearing native goods would bother him or not... "I don't know what sort of things you like working with, but if you happened to have one of those long, brilliant blue, decorated feathers... I'd be interested in one of those too?" She considers, then adds, "Ah... but only if there's enough -- well, neh, why not?" She grins -- she can always get stuff for herself later! "If there aren't enough barter goods, I'd rather have the feather first, then whatever pretty beading or thing you can find. Is that all right?"

Nistikani smiles a bit. "Ai, I can do that, certainly."

Freyja brightens, "Wonderful, thank you! Should I come back in an hour, or will you come find me?"

"An hour will be enough. I will not know where you will be, so you should return here if you can, please?

Freyja grins happily, "Hai, I'll be happy to, and thank you!" She does a polite nod, then heads off, barely resisting the urge to skip. Lovely day... days are so much nicer when one determines to be happy, she thinks!

The three visitors are given breakfast, and after an hour Freyja returns to Nistikani, who has not only a feather with some woven beadwork, but also what looks like a small band for the end of her braid -- a simple blue and purple design about an inch wide, and with extraordinarily tiny beads. Nistikani notes that he has a supply of such small beads for such uses, and the tiny holes in them are made with a needle.

Freyja's eyes widen a bit, studying the delicate work on the band, "Nistikani, this is astonishingly lovely work! Umm... are ten bullets going to be enough for this?!"

Nistikani smiles. "Just enough, actually. Are they acceptable to you?"

Freyja looks up at Nistikani, her frosty blue eyes alight with pleasure, "Oh, hai -- definitely hai!" She laughs happily, then hands him the hankie, "Here, you deserve these -- this band is simply wonderful!" She'll neatly tie the slender bit of beadwork around the end of her braid, still beaming as she watches him unknot the handkerchief to see the bullets. "Those are the right kind for the rifles, hai?"

Nistikani accepts the handkerchief gratefully, and looks them over. "Yes, they are, actually. Thank you!"

Freyja grins happily, giving the native a quick, spontaneous hug, "Good! Thank you so much... may the Force be with you!"

Nistikani looks completely taken by surprise at the sudden hug. "Ahh... ah, you are welcome, Jedi daughter...!"

Freyja giggles happily, and actually does skip a few steps as she leaves this time, enjoying the slight weight bopping gently against her rear as she goes. Pretty things, yay! She thinks this may well be a lot of fun, as long as she doesn't go overboard on it. She heads back to where her friends are, since she knows they'll be saddling up (as much as one does with a hakaast) to head back to the reservation. She tucks the feather neatly into a pocket of her cloak. She'll save it for later... she hopes Vakkal likes it.

Freyja spends most of the ride back happily chatting with Linijast about hakaast riding -- she wants to learn as much as she can, for the pleasure of knowing how to ride an interesting and new kind of animal! Once they're back at the village, she thanks the native woman, then waits until Linijast's gone to grin and comfort her friends with the information that walking, while painful, is actually the best thing they can do to loosen up their extremely unhappy thigh muscles!

At the house they have a drink and a bite to eat, then head on in to Shenlong. Once at the Jedi redoubt, everyone is updated, including the two Jedi in Ark Nova, as to what the matron's decision was. When the three of them have finished debriefing, Freyja asks, "So... I think we might maybe have the key. If we don't, we'll find out pretty quick. If we do, though... what should we be telling the worms to do? What do you want done with them, please?"

Knight-Captain Baas pauses, thinking as she munches on an autumn roll; the Kreevaki seems to have developed a fondness for them. "Well," she says, "the scientists and the Jedi Academy have both wanted to study them, and see if we can't get them somewhere else other than here to do that; this is certainly not their natural habitat."

Freyja nods in agreement over her chopsticks full of noodles, "That's what the matron said too," then happily fills her mouth with food. After chewing a moment, she swallows and adds, "But... do we have a ship that size? Even if we could control them... what would they eat on the trip?" She considers, frowning slightly, then adds doubtfully, "Wasn't there... some thing Jedi can do sometimes, at least in the old stories, that made people sleep for long periods? Like hibernation, almost?"

The Nautolan, Dakk, grins. "It wouldn't be too hard. A lot of shipping companies beg for large hauls when their big freighters don't have anything better to do. It might take a couple of weeks, but we can get a big enough freighter in. As for feeding them, we could get hold of something like that at the same time. The Jedi Academy has it pretty well planned out." At the other question, he looks to Baas.

Baas is quiet for a moment with her unreadable expression. "There are... some stories, yes," she says cautiously. "It is called moricho, which means 'to sleep in light' in an old, pre-Republic trade dialect. There are extraordinarily few masters who know it because it's so dangerous -- if done wrong it can easily kill, and become morichan -- 'to sleep in darkness.'"

Freyja blinks, considering that... then says slowly, "It sounds dangerous to the worms... and I can't blame them for being what they were created to be. Umm... would it be all right to try Jedi Dakk's suggestion first? Or... wait, how long would it take?" She looks worried, "I don't know if we have several weeks?"

Bass nods, apparently an affected gesture. "It does seem wise, actually. And we really have no choice. If we are to get them off this planet we need a suitably large freighter, even if it takes a few weeks to get one here."

Freyja glances at the Jedi Knight-Captain, and doesn't want to disagree... instead she murmurs, "Well... is there any way for us to help the natives, then? They're the ones the worms will be predating on, after all? Could we... could we maybe try controlling the worms right away, so we can tell them to go to a certain place to be fed -- and then we could... oh, I don't know, maybe ask people to donate or..." She sighs, "Neh, that wouldn't work. No one's going to want to give up their hard-earned and -grown food to worms, are they?"

Baas nods, "If you feel comfortable with what you know about controlling the worms... then yes, I would say we should attempt it forthwith. And... well, no, perhaps they wouldn't. It would be an imposition on the government, but I can't imagine the Academy wouldn't mind a few ten thousand credits' worth of food to study the worms."

Freyja grins a bit tightly at the Knight-Captain, "I wouldn't call it comfort, exactly... but if Paladin Dakkan and Master Roakkana haven't called down with more precise information then I'd rather try it and maybe keep the worms from devouring some poor clan's entire herds." She says hopefully, "You think the Academy might help out? That'd be wonderful, if so?" She pauses, then asks curiously, "Hey, how did Karrac do upside? Did that go all right?"

Baas nods. "It went well. It was an unusual request, but Jedi Diath escorted the Sith up there with no problem. I almost feel sorry for him; he seems terrified of something -- more before than now, but it is still there, it seems."

Freyja beams, delighted at the news, and answers cheerfully, "Oh, he's terrified of us -- but I think he's finally starting to realize the Jedi aren't the horrible devourers of Sith that their propaganda had taught him!" She adds happily, "I'm glad to hear he's getting better."

Dakk shakes his head, munching on a fury pod -- again. "We'll see what happens. If he really does want to redeem, the Watchers'll probably go extra gentle with him."

Freyja gets a slightly wide-eyed look, watching the Nautolan turn that amazingly vibrant jade green color again... then giggles in spite of herself! Once Dakk's his normal color again she grins and says, "Well... I think it's more that he expected to just be killed out of hand, Jedi Dakk. I'm not even sure he believed me when I said we didn't do that. At least, not to helpless prisoners, and not to my knowledge..." she frowns, adding, "-and if I found out it was happening, I'd do my best to stop it."

Baas nods, "We don't kill POWs, even Force-aware ones, out of hand, from what I know. Granted, the Watchers might make some Force-aware prisoners of war disappear to 'Carceri,' but they're always given a chance to Redeem at the very least."

Freyja smiles, tilting her head at the Knight-Captain, "That's good to know. Thank you."

Baas inclines her head. "I admit, I have that concern sometimes. But I rest easy knowing that the vast, vast majority of my fellow comrades in the light take the 'life is precious' stricture pretty seriously."

Freyja adds happily, "I'll have to call Master Roakkana later and say heiyo to everyone." She looks back at Baas, "So... can we try controlling the worms as soon as possible, then, and put the word out for a cargo ship and food from the Academy as soon as possible too?"

Baas nods, "I like that idea, yes."

Freyja says in relief, "Thank you, Knight-Captain. I'd really like to fix things for the folks here quickly... especially the clan waiting on the edge of the reservation for us." She chews noodles in quiet contentment for a bit, savoring the interestingly odd (to her) flavor. She swallows... then says curiously, "Knight-Captain Baas? What's Carceri? Is it a planet?"

Baas nods, leaning over the platter in the center of the table, the chopsticks in her tentacles tapping lightly as she decides upon her next morsel. "Supposedly, yes, one that was thrown out of orbit around its star. Or a deep-space penitentiary. Or an asteroid. I say 'supposedly' because it's one of the little-known skeletons in the Watcher's closet -- a sort of 'best kept secret,' since the Watchers ignore any questions about it and people got tired of asking, but they 'know' about it."

"It's the place they send Force-aware prisoners who won't redeem or give some sort of accepted word of honor that they won't do horrible things, like... like blow up moons, I guess. Some rumors say that it was started back during the Heresy Wars for incarcerating the more criminal of the Force-aware. I've never heard of a Force-aware person who hadn't done anything particularly heinous being sent there, but I imagine that Sith that the Watchers need to interrogate would be brought there."

Freyja blinks slowly, considering that startling bit of news. Finally she says puzzledly, "But... how can they survive, with no star?" She adds more slowly, "They... take people there, just for interrogation?! Was I being naive to think the Watchers would do interrogations either on the planet of capture... or in some secure Temple elsewhere?"

Baas chooses a savory kelp nibble and begins eating it; at the same time she nibbles on it, she replies unconcernedly (and without sounding like her mouth is full), "I imagine they use an artificial habitat of some kind. As for interrogations, well, I'm not sure how the Watchers work. They tend to be traditional, so their initial interrogation would likely be done as soon as possible, even if on the planet of capture. For someone they really need to get a lot of information out of, they need to take them to a secure location, if for nothing else to keep them from being rescued or killed by the Sith. Carceri would probably be used for that, too. They'd only do that for really major POWs, though -- like a Sith Lord, though they haven't captured any of them, and I doubt they will."

Dakk provides, "I heard a rumor that a company of the Order militant captured a high-ranking Sith officer. Don't know if it was a Lord, though."

Freyja nods slowly. It's a vaguely creepy thought... but she can see where it could be protective for the prisoner as much as for the citizens of the Republic. She sighs softly, continuing to thoughtfully munch on noodles... then looks up at the Nautolan, "Really? Interesting. Do you know where the Sith was supposedly captured?" She idly glances at Vakkal, wondering what he thinks of the news. It's certainly new to her. Vakkal is halfway through eating one of the spicy nerf rolls, and looks eminently surprised at the news himself.

Dakk shakes his head, going for another piece of bread. "No idea. It was an odd place, though, pretty far in from the Front. Apparently it took a few masters and an entire company of the Order militant to take the officer in. After, well, half the company was killed..."

Baas makes a bit of a rude sound. "And well we know what a single Sith Lord can do to a company of knights...."

Freyja blinks, looking puzzledly at the Knight-Captain, "Er... we do?"

Baas inclines her head. "Well.. this company does, at least. We ran into a Sith Lord on our last assignment, just before we lost Paladin Diana."

Freyja says, "Oh!" She blushes, remembering where this Order's just been, and adds awkwardly, "I'm sorry. That was stupid of me." She blushes again as her clumsy words stumble over Baas' reply. She mutters, "Pardon me; I should keep my mouth shut."

Baas says, "Oh! You've heard of what happened, then."

Dakk continues, "We were fortunate, though. We were only trying to keep from being killed; apparently, if these rumors are true, that other company was actively trying to capture the Lord."

Baas chuckles softly, "It's all right, Padawan. Don't worry about it."

Freyja looks at Dakk a bit gratefully for shifting attention away from her, then smiles sheepishly at the Knight-Captain. She eats for a moment... then blinks and looks up again, "Wait... they were trying to capture the Sith Lord? So... if there were masters and an Order there... they knew the Lord was there... I wonder how?" A moment later she wonders a little startledly if this rumor is what's gotten out about Marnaas. Rather confused, if so!

Dakk nods cheerfully. "Yea, they were. Now that, Padawan Freyja, is madness. And people say I'm crazy."

Baas says, "You are, Dakk, but there's crazy and then there's crazy. Though I'm sure that the Order had a good reason for trying to capture the Lord... if this is more than just a rumor."

Freyja giggles at the cheerful Nautolan, and equally cheerfully says, "Well, hai, crazy... you eat fury pods!"

Dakk grins, "I've developed a taste for them, what can I say...."

Freyja grins, shaking her head cheerfully at the crazy Nautolan. She considers for a bit... then looks up at Baas, "Knight-Captain, is there any way to find out more information concerning rumors like that?"

Baas thinks for a moment, then shakes her head. "Usually the rumor banter flitting over the HoloNet from various sources is all that's ever mentioned. I've never been able to get any but the wildest rumors confirmed or denied from the Order itself -- officially, the Order frowns on rumormongering."

Freyja nods, with a regretful look, "Ah. I understand... but I wish there was a way to find out more."

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Last modified: 2002-Jul-16 16:14:54

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