A debt Repaid 1/12/22

[Anatketani]

Hadaza — 01/12/2022
Hadaza turns to Durro on his pronouncement and says, "Breakfast sound not only delicious, but perfectly timed, as I'm starving. What are we having this morning?"
@Durro Thel-Tanis
Durro Thel-Tanis — 01/12/2022
His answer drifts to her as he withdraws two loaded plates from the warmer and places them on a waiting tray.
"Pan-fried Burra Fish, scrambled Tuung-snipe eggs with cheese, and buttered toast. Your choice of spread."
He places the plates and four small dishes with various fruit spreads on the tray, along with a pot of caff, some cream and sweetener, and two empty mugs. He walks over to her and gestures with the tray towards the dining area.
"Shall we pick a table?"
@Hadaza
Hadaza — 01/12/2022
Hadaza is startled by the meal. She didn't know what to expect, but it certainly wasn't for him to go to all this trouble. She looks down at Durro, who is holding 2 plates, and then over at Tesara, who followed her into the room.

"I'd say I've never had Burra Fish or Tuung-snipe eggs, but may be lying to you. Either way, it looks ...", she eyes the burnt toast warily, "like a meal fit for the heroine of Priloc". The last is said with undisguised sarcasm, a pointed, self-depricting barb at her own failures last night.

"Let's sit here." She motions to a table furthest away from the door. What she wants to discuss with Master Thel-Tanis may be said to others later, but she wants these moments with him before seeking out Astra and the Professor
@Durro Thel-Tanis @Tesara Anerin
Durro Thel-Tanis — 01/12/2022
Durro sits and places her plate (with the least-burnt toast) before her. He pours her a mug of caff and sets it down by her plate, before pouring himself some. Sitting down, he realizes.
"Blasted; I forgot cutlery."
Glancing around, he spies a rack of cutlery near where occupants of this ship (if it were fully manned) would retrieve their trays and eating implements. Reaching out a hand, a pair of forks, knives, and spoons levitate gently over to the table and place themselves on the try. Durro divvies them out, then sits back.
@Hadaza
Hadaza — 01/12/2022
"Now you're just showing off, " she laughs the leans in over the table. "But seriously though, can you show me how to do that?"

Her levity is out of character, as he has previously interacted with her. Her whole demeanour seems to be lighter somehow, as though she has experienced something profound, even since Astra spoke to her last night.

She cuts into the Burra Fish, her appetite overruling whatever trepidation she may have been feeling about the look of the meal. That it's pleasing to her palate is evident in the surprised look on her face, but she reaches for her caff shortly after her first bite to wash down none-the-less.

Holding the cup close to her chest, she turns serious, "Durro, I need to tell you that I'm sorry. I have been behaving quite badly during the last month and it almost cost us all our lives last night." Her gaze drifts past him to just over his shoulder. "I should have listened to you ...", she tapers off, trying to recall his words exactly, "when you said that forgetting my past is not without benefit. I was squandering that benefit trying to, literally, chase a ghost. Which is part of how we find ourselves here, over this lovely repast." She takes another bite ... and another drink of caff.

"I also want to thank you. You spoke about Tesara being the teacher, but it seems you had a lesson for me as well. And I'm grateful. I may never know who she was, but I can't let her endanger my future. Which is not the same thing as shaping it, mind you. I still want to know. I believe that she was an explorer, something I think we share, and that fuels my curiosity about who she was. But my obsession almost lead to our destruction. Certainly it lead to the destruction of relations between us and the Priloc people."

Her voice drops. "It almost lead to my own destruction and certainly contributed to the destruction of morale here on board the Jupiter One."
Her eyes never drop from his as she makes this confession
@Durro Thel-Tanis
Tesara Anerin — 01/12/2022
Tesara can see this is a conversation between Durro and Haj that necessitates privacy, and she knows Astra was teary-eyed when she walked in.  She glances at her, then tilts her head towards the door with a questioning look, then starts to walk out of the room, making sure Astra follows her.
@(Princess) Astra Korraay
(Princess) Astra Korraay — 01/12/2022
Astra nodded and follows Tesara. " I did not get the chance to ask what made you night so long are you ok" she asked
@Tesara Anerin
Tesara Anerin — 01/12/2022
(((move Tesara & Astra back to "Morning Chats")))
(Princess) Astra Korraay — 01/12/2022
((Ok))
Durro Thel-Tanis — 01/12/2022
Durro tastes his own breakfast. As he thought; edible. Thank the Force for small miracles.
He smiles to see her in better spirits. It seems a good night's sleep and/or meditation has done everyone on this ship good.
"Of course I can; if you have an hour or two after breakfast. Of course, I can't promise you'll 'get it' right away, but the knowledge will be there. All you'll have to do is practice."
He listens to her apology, sipping his caff and returning her gaze.
"Recognizing one's mistakes is the first step towards correcting them, and ensuring the mistake is not repeated. Apology accepted, and I offer my own apology as well. I wasn't the most thoughtful when we first met; nor have I been any better since. I've known you want to rediscover your past, and yet despite several clues I have offered you none of this. If anyone deserves this knowledge, it's you. If you're interested, I'll tell you what little I know and what little more I've surmised. You're one of us now, and we must learn to trust each other."
"This last stop reminded me of why we're here and that we'll need to come together as a crew, as a family, in order to face the threat. Whoever you were is dead, for all intents and purposes. You're here now, and here for a reason. I'm fascinated to discover what that reason is."
He takes another sip and continues eating.
@Hadaza
Hadaza — 01/12/2022
As she sips her beverage, she nods in agreement. She's here now and whoever she was is gone, though not forgotten.

"Funny that you use the word 'dead' when describing her. I mourned her today, informally, during my morning practice. It felt ... important ... to let her ghost know that I acknowledge where I came from. She feels like an ancestor, and I want to have that relationship with her. But she's not me and I am not her. And I need to acknowledge that too and starting living a life that stands on the shoulders of that woman, whoever she was."

Emotion skritters across her face; the sadness evident but not overwhelming her as it had only a few days ago. Its evident that letting go is painful, but necessary, and she is treating it with reverence rather than regret. "You said you have clues as to who she was? I would very much like to know what you can tell me. If nothing, it may help to give that ghost, and me, and ultimately this crew, some peace."
@Durro Thel-Tanis
Durro Thel-Tanis — 01/12/2022
Durro smiles at her and says;
"That's good. I look forward to getting to know this person."
He leans back and sighs.
"As for who you were... where to start? I suppose on your homeworld."
Gesturing to her facial markings he continues;
"Your markings tell me you were born on the planet Dathomir. That, and the language I've heard you use a couple of times when you're distracted. The final clue for me was the gesture you used with the Priloc. The Jedi taught us about the Witches of Dathomir; a sisterhood of magik users who used the Dark Side for their spells and illusions. I can't say if you were a Nightsister or not, but I'd bet money you're from Dathomir."

(((There is more, but giving Hadaza a chance to reply)))
@Hadaza
Hadaza — 01/12/2022
Homeworld

The word does through her like a blaster shot. She sits back stunned. She has a homeworld, a starting place. She brightens at the news, like finding a gem hidden in a stone.

"Wait ... another language? I mean, I know I speak Outer Rim Creole and that I understand Wookie. But you're saying that I speak another language too? I ... I don't even know that I was consciously aware that I was doing that. Quick," she says with a wonderous smile,"test me!"
@Durro Thel-Tanis
Durro Thel-Tanis — 01/12/2022
"Test you how? I'm not sure what triggers it." He says, returning the smile. the enthusiasm is infectious.
@Hadaza
Hadaza — 01/12/2022
"Just talk to me in Dathomiri. We'll see if I understand you and can respond while I'm thinking about it instead of distracted"
@Durro Thel-Tanis
Durro Thel-Tanis — 01/12/2022
Durro gives a short laugh, in spite of himself.
"I don't know Dathomri. I believe I recognized it, but I can't speak it. Really I guess I assumed it was Dathomiri based on the other clues. We could always check the library for any language guides. I looked for sources on the Witches, but I didn't look for books on the planet in general."
@Hadaza
Hadaza — 01/12/2022
Witches

This time she heard the word. "Wait... the what?!"

Confusion, but not concern is the next among the wave of emotions. She searches her memory for what he said to her moments ago.  Regurgitating his words back to him, she repeats, "a sisterhood of magik users who used the Dark Side for their spells and illusions. You say "magik users and Dark Side. But that means you think they use the force. If what you say is true, and I'm both Dathomiri and a Force Sensitive, does that mean ..... .... .. ..." She trails off.

Her countenance darkens slightly. "I've already wrestled with this demon, Durro. I may not know who she was, but I can't believe, based solely on what I know of myself right now, that she had anything to do with those sorts of shadows. If she had, if I had, then I have no doubt our first meeting would have ended very differently."

She gets contemplative, picking absently at her fish. "That said, it raises an interesting 'what if'. Don't you agree?"
@Durro Thel-Tanis
Durro Thel-Tanis — 01/12/2022
"They do use the Force. What they called 'magik' is the same energy field that the Jedi call 'The Force'. Again, I only know the basics. I can't give a lot of detail."
"It is an interesting what if. Especially in light of the second major clue. Your armor, and the recordings we recovered from it. The shoulder patch is from a group known as 'The Crusade.' I've crossed paths with them before, even fought one of their creations. What I know about them can be summed up thusly; they are a manufacturing company and they hate Jedi. They work in the shadows to engineer the deaths of Jedi; I've been told of high profile tragedies where the Crusade are close by, but never implicated in anything. They're Jedi killers, and good at their job."
"Now, the woman you were before was a shiny. A newbie. But something drew her to The Crusade. Something brought her off Dathomir, potentially away from her sisters, to join a company known for its distaste of the Jedi. I can only speculate those reasons."
He leans forward again and says,
"That's all I know, and much of it is supposition based on little evidence." He adds with conviction; "Whoever you were doesn't define who you are now, or who you want to become. Discover what you can about your past and make peace with it, but don't let it consume you. You're here now, and that's what matters."
@Hadaza
Hadaza — 01/12/2022
Some part of Hadaza awakens on her face. "For nå ser vi gjennom et glass, mørkt; men så ansikt til ansikt: nå vet jeg delvis; men da skal jeg kjenne likesom jeg er kjent"

She continues in basic, "I won't let it consume me, but it does intrigue me. Please wait here. I'll be right back"
@Durro Thel-Tanis
Durro Thel-Tanis — 01/12/2022
"You just did it; the 'Dathomiri'." Durro says, slightly excited.

"Wait, where're you going? What's the rush?"
@Hadaza
Hadaza — 01/12/2022
She returns to the mess, not even winded from her flight, holding something in her hands.

"I took these from one of the bodies that was floating around the derelict. There were many of them, but these 4," she pauses in thought, then says almost distantly, "It was like I was guided to them"

She hands him 4 cards with images on them - The Spire, The Satellite, The Star (which she hands him upside down), and The Hanging Man.

"What are they? And why does it feel like they are important somehow?"
@Durro Thel-Tanis
Durro Thel-Tanis — 01/12/2022
"Sabacc cards." Durro says thoughtfully, hand on his chin. "Centran Sabacc, if I'm not mistaken. I don't know how to 'read' them, but I've been told the Centran deck is popular among fortune tellers."
He studies the cards, closing his eyes and feeling the way the Force flows around them, around them and between them and Hadaza.
"It sounds like the Force guided you to these four. Perhaps they're a message from the universe. We can look in the library for a book or two on Centran Sabacc or cartomancy."

(((The Wisdom Check is for @TheTraveler to tell me what, if anything, Durro senses from the cards.)))
Image
@Hadaza
(((After your reply, Hadaza, we can call it for the night and wait for the storyteller to respond.)))
Hadaza — 01/13/2022
Hadaza utters the most inarticulate thing anyone has heard from her since she woke up. "Hunh. " Her upper lip curls in a half smile.  "I guess we should go to the library then. We might want to pick up @Tesara Anerin on the way. I wanted to show her these anyways. Maybe she can help with the research."

She rises from the table, food all but forgotten. As she prepares to sprint once more from the room, she stops. Crossing the table, she stops before Durro. and makes the sign of the triangle with her hands. "I greet you formally Durro Thel-Tanis, Master Jedi. I am Hadaza of Dathomir and I am very pleased to meet you."

He sees her face split in the widest grin yet ... right before she glompfhugs him and whispers in his ear. "Thank you, Durro. The ancestor is at peace. And so am I."
@Durro Thel-Tanis for after we hear from @TheTraveler
Hadaza — 01/13/2022
((OOC - @Tesara Anerin @Durro Thel-Tanis - if we stop this thread hereish, it makes a great segue into Tesara telling us about the "meeting" with the team to discuss the Prof's idea. It will also segue into Durro's "tea" with the Prof - thoughts?)
TheTraveler — 01/13/2022
((OOC: there is no track of the force upon the cards. That said, the cards are made of a material that Durro has not seen before. Its not metal, but its not cloth either. It's something in between.))
Durro Thel-Tanis — 01/13/2022
Durro stands rooted to the spot, frozen as he watches her sprint from the room. He shakes his head and grins.
"Always on the move."
He sighs and sprints after her, following her towards the library.
@Hadaza
@Tesara Anerin
Hadaza — 01/13/2022
Hadaza remembers something else that Durro said to her and slows her sprint to allow him to catch up.

While they are walking to the library, she asks, "You said something about "The Crusade". Astra mentioned that to. Said it was some awful shadow organization who captured and tortured her. And now you tell me that they hate Jedi. I can't help but muse on the fact that, when the group was split after the last swarm attack, I find myself here on the Jupiter One with the people who have, um, well, let's just say less than positive experiences with the Order. They have been training me for the better part of a month now, really been my sole influence as I am just getting to know you and Astra."

She turns to look at him. "The Force at work somehow, you think? Or merely coincidence?"

More thoughts flicker over her face as her mind races to process the info. "You say they are a manufacturing company who hates Jedi. Why would they recruit a, what did you call them? Nightsister?, if they are determined to kill Force users? Or is it just Jedi they hate?"
@Durro Thel-Tanis

(((OOC - biding time for @Tesara Anerin to pop out, as I think she may still be with the Prof and Astra in that meeting - IB "morning chat" isn't ended)
Durro Thel-Tanis — 01/13/2022
"There are no accidents." Durro muses in response. "All is as the Force wills it. I know that sounds really religious, almost fanatical. I do believe you ended up where you did for a reason; though I've already told you my theory. Despite what she says, Tesara is the most Jedi of all of us; embodying what Astra and I believe the Jedi should be, even if most of us aren't. I'm glad she's taken you under her wing."

"From what I can gather, it's Jedi, specifically, that The Crusade hate. The Nightsisters as I am familiar with them also have no love for the Jedi or the Republic. They see both as a threat to their religion and way of life. It's not unreasonable to me that a Nightsister could find herself part of the Crusade. If you do learn more about her, it may be information that can help us. If not, well; she's in the past, right?"
@Hadaza
(((I actually think we should arrive at the library quickly and make the rolls needed in the library. Tesara can find us while we are going through the books. That also will let us the players know sooner rather than later the information we have access to. We are likely to be distracted after next session.)))
Hadaza — 01/13/2022
"Mhm," she nods, repulsed at the idea of taking a life, especially for something as foolish as religious reasons.

"Ah, here we are, " she says as she steps into the Professor's library. "You said the cards are Centran Sabacc. Divide and conquor? You take the metaphysical side of the search and I'll, what, investigate the history of their symbolism and we'll meet up to see where there are correlations?"
@Durro Thel-Tanis @Tesara Anerin
Durro Thel-Tanis — 01/13/2022
"Yes, look for books on Centran Sabacc and Cartomancy. I'll look for books on Dathomiri and see if I can find a dictionary or language guide."
With that, he gives her a two-finger salute and heads off to the shelves.
@Hadaza
(((See professor-kenobi-library)))
Durro Thel-Tanis — 01/13/2022
(((Considering our thread was behind theirs anyway; I am going to assume we had time for our search. We should freeze here though, and allow @Tesara Anerin  to find us in the library with the books we found.)))

After what feels like hours of perusing titles and using the library's catalog and search functions; Durro moves to the center of the library, a few books held in his arm.
"How's it going? He calls out. "Find anything?"

(((Leaving the time nebulous, just saying we automatically sync with #deleted-channel)))
@Hadaza
Hadaza — 01/13/2022
"I did!" She hollers back. She walks out to meet him in the center of the library holding a book called 'Cheat Your Future'

"I think this ought to have something in it. Though why someone as analytical as Professor Kenobi would have something as esoteric as this in his collection is beyond me. It was filed with books on Denebian holo-chess and something called Zinbiddle"

(Freezing for @Tesara Anerin)
Durro Thel-Tanis — 01/13/2022
"I'll add to your wonder." Durro says with a laugh.
He holds up one his books: Bewitched by a Nightsister. On the cover is the large head and shoulders of a pale-skinned and hooded Nightsister, holding her hands as if playing with a puppet, green 'magik' weaving between her fingers. Beneath her hands is a young human male, strikingly handsome with loose shoulder-length hair and his perfectly muscled and chiseled  bare chest glistening in the light of the setting sun in the red Dathomirian sky. The young man holds a metal sword at the ready, a heroic pose of defense against the horrors unseen beyond the cover.
"It's not scientific, not by a long shot. I picked it because it made me laugh. I do have a Dathomiri Language book, as well as two other 'Action/Adventure' historical fiction novels. There's always some truth in legend, right?"

(Sorry, wanted Durro to show what he found, too. Unless Hadaza wants to laugh at the Professor's taste in entertainment, we are officially frozen for @Tesara Anerin)
@Hadaza
@Tesara Anerin
Hadaza — 01/13/2022
Hadaza blushes right up to her braids, whispers "godhet nåde meg", and quickly looks away, bewitched herself by the inclusion of such a tome in the Professor's library
Tesara Anerin — 01/13/2022
(((OOC My apologies for taking so long to respond, Tesara, Astra and the professor are coming to find Durro and Hadaza as there will be a meeting at the beginning of the game tonight 1/13/2022))

Tesara finds them in the library, unsurprisingly.  "Durro, Hadaza, I have the professor and Astra with me.  We need to have a meeting to go over what happened but more importantly, what is ahead."  She turns to look at the Professor.

/end here-restart at game tonight