Trade Outpost

Fri Dec 23, 2011 1:26 am by Sharak Iskar

*Karen's eyes looked to Logann, and gave him a silent nod to acknowledge his presence. Her gaze snapped back to Aedon's who similarly locked with hers. The blaster that showed did not make her tense in the least bit. If anyone tried sacking this place, they would have already done it with no introduction. The handful of residents here would have not wanted any trouble, and the Sister's would just make things worse in whatever situation arose. Still, Karen kept a slightly cautious air about her till she fully trusted these two beings. The fact that they introduced themselves and that Aedon was giving her respect already had them filling a spot of trust. But, business seemed to follow them, and surprisingly they needed her. Now, this was something Karen had not heard in ages. Perhaps she could finally have some adventure and leave this planet to explore new places!...

Ah, her mind got ahead of itself.

She let her mind settle while listening to the rest of what Aedon had to say. What seemed to be here was a very open conversation leaving her plenty of room to maneuver. Even he seemed very relaxed in his position and speech. Alright, so what did she have to lose? She might as well see what this whole thing was about. An opportunity like this never came her way, and she was going to grasp it by the horns. *

Just call Thiz one, Karen. Az for who Thiz one iz, Thiz one iz simply a doctor and biologist of thiz outpost. Thiz one haz been stuck here for sometime, but... Thiz one getz out into the forest from time to time. The Sister'z forbid the action, but Thiz one makez sure they do not know of such action.

*She gave a slightly hissed chuckled before continuing.*

Az for thiz area, well you are in the most "civilized" area. The rest iz forest, creaturez of which more than half will try to kill you and the third of those are extremely poisonouz. The Sister'z keep a close eye of the surrounding area, for they believe the forest iz sacred to them alone. Hardly anyone movez very far from the outpost. Thiz one believez Thiz one haz gone the farthest out...

*She let the conversation fall silent for a moment keeping her gaze upon Aedon. Cocking her head she asked quietly.*

What iz it that you seek, may Thiz one ask?

Thu Dec 29, 2011 3:45 pm by Kyr'am

*They were indeed interesting, but she felt nervous without Karen present. Putting the tiny creatures back where Karen had them before she secured them and walked back to where her new friend was. Timidly of course, considering the events of earlier that day. However hearing the conversation her nerves were relieved. Falling into step beside the Barabel and shyly looked up at the man who called himself Aedon and blushed at the one named Logann. Wrapping her arms around her stomach, she smiled from her bowed head.*

Fri Feb 24, 2012 9:33 pm by Aedon Gavin Montrose

*Seeing his brother as the stone-silent vigil put Aedon a little off his game. He had never known Logann to be the statuesque type. To him, his blue-haired sibling was always animated, loud-mouthed, and usually had to find himself at the center of whatever situation he was in. Aedon had a bit of that in common with his kin, actually. His own internal musings nearly caused him to miss the all-important question that "Karen" had asked of him: "What were they looking for," indeed.**Giving a knowing grin to the Barabel, he locked eyes with her once more before speaking.*

"We're looking for...a lake. Presumably one that has a bit of recent history to go with it. Know of anything like that, Karen?"

*He didn't miss the young woman's entrance, and also couldn't help but notice something vaguely-familiar about her...he couldn't place it, but, the way she dressed was really beginning to cause an itching feeling at the back of his mind. The Zeltron Captain couldn't afford to be distracted now, though...not when this deal was so important to both him and his crew...*

Fri Feb 24, 2012 10:35 pm by Logann Renji Montrose

*All the work, all the trials, all the swear, all the caution, it had all better come down to a sweet payday... This was more work than Logann had ever had to endure in his entire life. Fortunately, at least they had managed to reach their first destination, this trade outpost of theirs. Wasn't quite an impressive sight, but Logann supposed that he'd seen worse before.* *Logann made sure his glasses were in place and followed his brother into the outpost, waiting for someone to appear. He stood back a bit, folding his arms and trying to look intimidating. Probably only half did the job; his muscles were impressive, yes, but he wasn't exactly broad or anything. Kind of a skinny guy, actually.

Logann eyed the Barabel that appeared... Mostly to make sure she wouldn't try anything funny.* *He wasn't about to trust any Nightsister types, even if one of them was one of Aedon's contacts. This whole place gave him the creeps and he wasn't about to sit idle, but nor would he leave his brother alone. They had to look out for each other, after all; they were the only family either of them had left. Wait, "shirtless wonder"? What kind of comment was that?! ... Logann really needed to get off his edge, he was taking something he would normally smirk at too seriously. Was this place really getting to him that much?

Logann tried his best to simply listen to what was being discussed instead of focus on everything else. Karen? He had never expected such a... generic name for a Barabel. And from the sounds of things... she wasn't a Nightsister? Well, if that were the truth, that would be a relief, but it could also be a cover. Great, he was dipping into the paranoia again.* *He simply tried not to shiver as she discussed the terrain. But then a new entry appeared that piqued Logann's interest: A girl, a human girl at that. She seemed somewhat young, but boy was she attractive. And Logann usually didn't go for the short-haired types. Wait, what was this? Was she blushing at him? Well, how cute. Granted, there was Seanna to think about, but Logann couldn't resist flashing the girl a grin and a wink. At least here he wouldn't get socked.

Now he simply glanced at his brother as he asked about the lake. A lake sounded good right about now. If their mission involved getting in the lake, well, Logann would volunteer to be the first one in.* It sure would be refreshing right about now, *he found himself commenting, raising one arm to wipe some sweat from his brow before folding it again.* *Soon, he told himself, they'd be there, and this would all be behind them. They'd be back on the Skips with their pay and could plan out their next mission. Hopefully one with less trekking. Or sweat. Or groups of women that weren't easy to seduce.*

Sat Mar 03, 2012 9:59 pm by Sharak Iskar

*Karen pondered Aeon's question. A lake with history, recent at that. Granted, Karen did go out and explore, but did not go too far out in order to not be captured by the Nightsisters. She turned around and walked over to a locked cabinet. Putting in the code, it unlocked allowing her to pull out a rolled up map. Going to a nearby table, she laid it out. If one placed their eyes on the map, it would have markings and notes written on it. Obviously, this was something that she took on her travels. After studying it for a while, she motioned for Aedon, and only Aedon, to come to her. A single claw pointed to a lake that was not too far off; however, notes indicated that the trek there would be somewhat dangerous.*

Thiz one believez that thiz iz the lake you wish to find. The last time Thiz one waz there, it waz somewhat dangerouz not to mention a possible Night Sister patrol in that area az well; however, they may have abandoned that area. If you could travel by a small ship perhapz, but that may be detected by the Night Sisters.. *Karen paused for a moment and lowered her voice slightly.* What iz it that you seek there?

*Her eyes would be focused on Aedon's and her attention as well. Aedon's brother and Li'fe were out of her mind for the moment. Travelers normally don't come into her tent and ask for a specific lake for no reason. No, these two were after something more than just the lake itself... And whatever it may be, Karen hoped to be a part of it. Too long has she been here in the shadows of this little outpost. She wanted to explore and adventure. Perhaps, these two were the key to that locked door.*

Sun Mar 04, 2012 8:53 pm by Aedon Gavin Montrose

Logann Renji Montrose wrote:*(...) Now he simply glanced at his brother as he asked about the lake. A lake sounded good right about now. If their mission involved getting in the lake, well, Logann would volunteer to be the first one in.* It sure would be refreshing right about now, *he found himself commenting, raising one arm to wipe some sweat from his brow before folding it again.* *Soon, he told himself, they'd be there, and this would all be behind them. They'd be back on the Skips with their pay and could plan out their next mission. Hopefully one with less trekking. Or sweat. Or groups of women that weren't easy to seduce.*

*The comment from his brother caught him off-guard, considering how stone-silent he had been before. The slightly-frustrated humor that he displayed wasn't lost on Aedon -- the violet-haired Zeltron already felt the cooling, sweat-soaked tips of his own locks on the back of his neck. It was the one time Aedon cursed having his long hair. Realizing he'd likely need to tie it back, he absentmindedly ruffled through his hair with his right hand. Looking back to his brother, he gave a quick grin.*

"I wouldn't worry too much about a lengthy swim...from what I hear, the monsters in the water are about as dangerous as the ones on land. But, if you're feeling lucky, I'll let ya go for a dip."

Sharak Iskar wrote:*Karen pondered Aeon's question. A lake with history, recent at that. Granted, Karen did go out and explore, but did not go too far out in order to not be captured by the Nightsisters. She turned around and walked over to a locked cabinet. Putting in the code, it unlocked allowing her to pull out a rolled up map. Going to a nearby table, she laid it out. If one placed their eyes on the map, it would have markings and notes written on it. Obviously, this was something that she took on her travels. After studying it for a while, she motioned for Aedon, and only Aedon, to come to her. A single claw pointed to a lake that was not too far off; however, notes indicated that the trek there would be somewhat dangerous.*

Thiz one believez that thiz iz the lake you wish to find. The last time Thiz one waz there, it waz somewhat dangerouz not to mention a possible Night Sister patrol in that area az well; however, they may have abandoned that area. If you could travel by a small ship perhapz, but that may be detected by the Night Sisters.. *Karen paused for a moment and lowered her voice slightly.* What iz it that you seek there?

*Her eyes would be focused on Aedon's and her attention as well. Aedon's brother and Li'fe were out of her mind for the moment. Travelers normally don't come into her tent and ask for a specific lake for no reason. No, these two were after something more than just the lake itself... And whatever it may be, Karen hoped to be a part of it. Too long has she been here in the shadows of this little outpost. She wanted to explore and adventure. Perhaps, these two were the key to that locked door.*

*Turning his attention back to the Barabel, Aedon followed her movements with a quizzical look.**She moved about the room as if searching for something. The Zeltron captain soon found that she'd come across what she was looking for, and his eyes widened as she seemed to bring out some sort of scrolled parchment. As she unrolled it, it seemed to be a map. On flimsi, no less. When she began to scrawl her clawed hands across it and motioned for Aedon to approach, he cautiously slid off the table and began to make his way toward her.**Searching her emotional pattern, Aedon could find no sense of duplicitous action within her. And her words seemed authentic enough...if not, perhaps, a bit too curious.**He leaned back against the side of the table, eying the very-detailed map from a side-glance.*

*From his understanding, the map regarded the lake that Karen was indicating as the most-logical source for the splash-down of Bulthos' lost freighter. With that discovery came a change in the Zeltron's demeanor. A sort of intense focus began to come over Aedon's features. He soon found himself leaning over the table, placing his palms on its corners. His violet eyes narrowed as he studied the lake depicted in the drawing. The other scrawlings around the lake's edges didn't escape his vision, either. It seemed as though the Night Sisters tended to frequent that area more than what Aedon would have liked. That mattered little in the scope of things, however. Regardless of the Dathomiri Witches, that crashed freighter was chock-full of treasure. Treasure that - it appeared - their Barabel acquaintance would have to know about, sooner or later. Aedon hadn't forgotten about her question regarding the contents of what they sought. His only concern remained, though...how much did he tell her; and when should it be revealed?*

"The thing is...we're not totally-sure, ourselves. We've been 'hired' to find something - a ship - that supposedly crashed in or near that lake. Up until a week ago, it was assumed that we'd be recovering it for our client. Now, it appears as though he's deceased; but if the stories hold true, there's literally a ship-load of cargo unaccounted for...and this lake appears to be its resting place." *His gaze lifted from the map, and he found his eyes locked with the serpentine Barabel's own.* "How often did the Witches tend to head through that area? Once a week? Every day? Do you know?"

*Hopefully, his line of questioning would allow suspicion of the cargo's contents to be diverted for the moment. After all, Aedon wasn't truly certain if he could fully-trust Karen. So far, her actions had done nothing to dictate differently; but, if his past had taught him anything, it was never to let his guard down...*

Tue Mar 06, 2012 6:39 pm by Logann Renji Montrose

*Logann glanced at his brother as he responded to his comment about swimming. ... and he didn't like what he heard.* *Monsters in the water? "About as dangerous as the ones on land"?! What kind of planet was this?! Logann was starting to rethink this whole thing, even if his brother knew what he was doing. Well, whatever.* Well then maybe I'll just stand on the shore and splash myself, *he muttered, but like it or not, it was a job he had to do.

Logann stood still when the Barabel gesture for Aedon to come closer, but when the map was brought out, Logann could not help but raise an eyebrow, and, curiosity being too strong for him, he stepped forward, raising his glasses with one finger to peer down at the map.* *It was covered in notes, so was obviously some sort of traveling map, perhaps one the Barabel herself carried, or one they had kept here for a while by now. The lake didn't seem to be too far off, which was a relief for Logann, but the course to the lake was what broke that relief into tiny pieces and scattered it. That, and the potential of there being a Nightsister patrol in the area was making this all so much worse.*

*He was starting to like this less and less, but he only listened. He glanced around the cabin again, taking in its architecture, and indeed, in a fit of paranoia, was searching for hidden cameras or microphones. But he realized he was letting too much of this get to him, so he lowered his glasses and tried his best to keep his gaze on the two speakers, though his eyes continued to dance about as though looking for anything suspicious.* *The thought of the ship and the loot inside came at a great moment, for it helped to ease his thoughts regarding the idea of braving all this for that rich payday. If this Barabel knew all this information, hopefully that would help them out in the long run. As for the Nightsister activity... he hoped the answer to Aedon's question was "none at all," but he knew that was asking for too much.*

Kriff it all, *he found himself muttering to himself under his breath, nearly inaudibly.*

Tue Mar 06, 2012 9:12 pm by Sharak Iskar

*Karen thought about Aedon's question as his brother came to look at the map as well. Her eyes just watched him for a moment taking in his movements as he looked over the map. Had she not made it clear she wanted just Aedon to look at the map? While she did not show her slight aggravation of Logann, she sure did keep inward. A quick sniff of the air, she could tell Aedon was relaxed while his brother seemed a bit more tense for just a bit before calming down. Karen wondered what was going through his mind that would cause his blood to rise. In her wanderings, she almost forgot about Aedon's question, but took in a deep breath before answering.*

Again, Thiz one haz only been there a few timez, but when Thiz one haz been there, Thiz one saw only maybe one or two patrolz within an hour time frame every other day. Unfortunately, if a ship crashed recently, they'll increase the patrolz slightly to monitor the area. Sometimez they will scavenge crashed shipz and sometimez they won't. Since it iz near the lake, Thiz one doubtz they would explore it, for the creaturez of the water would be restlezz.

*At this point, Karen figured that she wouldn't press the thought of whatever may be in the contents of the ship. Obviously it was worth something to someone, and that's all she needed to know. Her thoughts were focused on keeping the peace and having a solid trust. Still, out of the two, she liked Aedon much more than his brother. Logann's actions and his responses made Karen wary of the man. For the moment, she would direct her questions and answers at Aedon who seemed to be in charge anyways. *

In short, Thiz one believez you have a good chance of getting to the ship without the Sisterz getting in the way. The only thing in your way now iz the planet and itz creaturez. Looking at the map, Aedon, do you have a plan?

*While Karen would like to join Aedon explore this new find, there was a chance that he would not need her anymore. If this was the case, she wanted him to have at least a solid plan of reaching his destination. The last thing she needed was the Night Sisters coming back to the outpost dragging their corpses back demanding an explanation of who let outsiders wander in their forest. Inwardly she sighed... it would be the death of many...*

Wed Mar 14, 2012 9:44 am by Aedon Gavin Montrose

*There wasn't much that Aedon could figure out in the short time that he had combed the map, but already, the plan seemed to be coming together in his mind. They simply needed to get to the lake to confirm the existence of the crashed vessel, and the rest could be taken care of when the Veritas arrived. It was a tough plan to execute, at best...but Aedon figured his crew knew enough about hostile territory that they could perform a simple "dash-n-grab" before things got too heated. It also helped to have a vessel that was designed to be a transport-gunship -- with emphasis on the "gun" part.**Reaching his hand over the map, Aedon traced a semi-wayward line from the outpost area toward the lake. Noticeably, the line seemed to avoid many major landmarks and almost all of the little dotted hash-marks that consisted of Nightsister patrol paths.*

"If we use this path here, we can avoid the areas where the Nightsisters are bound to frequent. The ship's been crashed for the better part of a year, so I don't really expect them to be guarding the area. Whether the vessel is stripped or not depends on just how 'crashed' she is. I fully-expect there to be some items missing, but, certainly not everything."

*He looked back up to Karen.*

"If you're willing, I'd like to hire you on as a guide. After all, a map can only tell you so much -- and certainly not in the moment. You'll notice signs where there are animal territories, dens, that sort of thing. It would likely be invaluable to my brother and myself."

*Noticing how wary Logann had become of the trip, Aedon took a moment to clasp his brother's shoulder.*

"Just remember, Logann -- it'll all be worth it. We've just got to find her. The crew gets to bring her up and what-not."

*"Bring her up", followed by "scouring her, loading up the cargo, and (hopefully) being sky-high before many of the - well, anything - catches wind of their presence." By Endymia, if Aedon didn't get the chance to get his hands on some of that treasure, he would likely end up blowing the whole lake into a billion tiny, boiling pieces of slag. Not that he was prone to such fits of violence, but...this whole escapade was beginning to bring out those feelings en-force.*

Fri Mar 16, 2012 8:09 pm by Sharak Iskar

*Karen watched as Aedon studied the map figuring out a plan. This man was no rookie or hothead explorer as others had been when they passed through. No, he had brains as well to keep caution in check. It was when he looked up at her that gave her a bit of a surprise. Karen's eyes lit up, but only slightly. Did he just ask her to join them? Well, for this little adventure that is. The Barabel did not know what would happen after finding this ship, but she would enjoy the change of pace for once. Besides, the present was now and that's what she needed to focus. With a reassuring nod she replied calmly with a slight bow.*

It would be Thiz One'z pleasure to join you. When do you plan to set out for the ship?

*The only thing that hovered in the back of her mind was Li'Fe. Would she stay here or perhaps take her leave? If she did stay, Karen was sure as long as she did not go to far from the medical tent she would be safe. The NightSisters wouldn't be making a round until later this week. If Li'Fe decided to leave, Karen would wish the best of luck to the woman. Drawing her mind back from those thoughts, she kept her gaze on Aedon who now, for the moment, was her boss.

This will be most exciting indeed. Finally, a hunt that will have some merit.*

Fri Mar 23, 2012 7:09 pm by Aedon Gavin Montrose

*It was a pertinent question to ask...the timetable for this scouting detail needed to be relatively-expedient and short, rather than lengthy and delayed. The longer they were present on the planet, the more time the Nightsisters had to crack wise to their arrival. If they had the details necessary for them to perform the trip, Aedon saw no reason why they shouldn't act on this before too long. Still, there were other small factors to consider. The sort that - when compounded - could be quite difficult to overcome.**Aedon slid his pack off his shoulders, taking a moment to check his wrist-chrono.*

"Well, considering what we know, sooner would be preferable to later. Of course, what I'm also wanting to say is that most of the 'whens' are dependent on your knowledge of the area. If this is the local fauna's 'feeding time', I'd rather wait until afterward, as to avoid becoming the toothpicks for this day's meals. Right now, it's just after 1330...so, there's that to consider as well. I'm thinking...we take a few minutes to cool our heels, Logann," *He nodded to his brother almost inquisitively.* "and then we should be able to move along, with your 'blessing', as it were."

*With Karen's knowledge of the local area, it would be an imperative that she be at the forefront of most of the decision-making as far as when they left on their trip. The destination was the most-important part, and thus, the journey there was also to be left up to the map and Karen's knowledge. Aedon realized they were placing quite a bit of trust in this Barabel, but, if Aedon's empathic skills were any good - which he knew they were - he'd be able to figure her out as the day dragged on. 'Familiarity breeds contempt' was the first thing that came to his mind regarding that...he only hoped that it wouldn't prove true with Karen.*

Fri Mar 23, 2012 10:48 pm by Logann Renji Montrose

*Logann felt his brother's hand on his shoulder and he looked at Aedon sideways.* *Oh, so the job of hoisting up the ship didn't fall to them, then? That was a bit of a relief... Logann didn't have any intentions on getting into that pit if there were gonna be monsters in it. And at least his brother was being supportive... he liked that. He hardly had anyone to be supportive of him since his mother had died. And this was a brother, the ones who were typically depicted as being the most supportive of each other. This... this felt good.*

*Logann smiled, but it was just that: A smile. A regular smile, one that was appreciative of his brother's support. He turned then to watch his brother speak and analyze the map.* *This was stuff he needed to be learning... trailblazing, navigation, dealing with the locals, that sort of thing. He was doing his best to soak it all in. Hopefully there would never be a time when Logann would have to take over, but it could very well be a possibility one day. Of course, the picture Logann preferred was the two of them striking it rich one day and simply retiring in luxury, hopefully settling down with a girl and having kids of their own. Logann wouldn't ever abandon his kids, and he'd make sure they'd never want for anything.

"In time, Logann, in time," he told himself. "Cross that bridge when you get there." His mind returned to the present, and the trail ahead of them. And now Aedon was posing the idea of hiring this "Karen" on as a guide.* *Logann's eyebrow raised and he looked up to study her over, as though evaluating her. He took note of what he could, and from what he saw, she seemed fit for the job... or so he hoped.

He looked over to his brother as he lined out his preferred timetable. Waiting was definitely good, especially the part about cooling their heals. Grinning, Logann took a step back, saying,* Sounds good to me, bro! *and then heading to a nearby bench, where he plopped down onto it, pulling off his shoes with his feet and folding his hands behind his head as he shut his eyes.* Just wake me up when we're ready. *Right, like he'd get to sleep at this moment. Well, taking a load off would certainly be a small benefit, at least, and letting his feet breathe was already making him feel a bit more at ease. Again, it wasn't likely he'd get any sleep, and if he did, it probably wouldn't be much at all. But still, rest was rest, especially after all that walking.*

Sat Mar 24, 2012 10:07 pm by Sharak Iskar

*Karen gave a quick nod to Aedon's idea. The two did seem to be somewhat travel weary as shown by Logann as he took one of the medical beds to rest. Aedon did have a point. Some of the creatures would be hunting right now. Give nature an hour and their bellies would be full. The break would give Karen some time to prepare for the upcoming travels. Li'fe would have to stay here while she was away. She wouldn't want to take the girl through the dangerous forest of Dathomir. Focusing her attention back one Aedon, she spoke back to him. *

Yez, a very wise choice. Thiz one will prepare while you rest. *She gestured to another open room with a few tables surrounded by cabinets with food labels on them. There were a variety of local foods that could be eaten raw or cooked.* If you are hungry, please help yourself. Thiz one will want you to be ready for the journey.

*With another bow of her head, she went to her own separate quarters. It was only separated from the rest of the large tent by a flap. If Aedon or Logann looked in that general direction, they would only see a moving shadow of her form. By the time they would have to leave, she would be ready to go.*

Thu Mar 29, 2012 8:32 pm by Aedon Gavin Montrose

*Aedon simply nodded when Karen made her suggestion, then watched as the Barabel exited the main room, heading into a partitioned section of the tent. Making a quick pass by the table with an assortment of foods on it, he grabbed a couple of pieces of dried jerky (he wasn't certain what kind it was, either, but thought it best not to ask) and some dehydrated fruit-chips, tucking them in a handkerchief before walking over to one of the cots and sitting on its edge. Taking a moment to let down his hair from the loose rogue-knot he had tied in the back, he let the violet locks fall down freely. The Zeltron ran his hand through it, realizing that it was nearly reaching the base of his neck now...**He murmured something to himself, making a mental note of sorts.*

"Almost time to get this mess cut again..."

*Ruffling the rest of his hair, he could feel tiny droplets of sweat hitting his face and shoulders. He reached into his pack - which now sat on the ground beside him - removing his canteen. Taking a moment to remove the purification filter-cap from the container, he took a few sips of the water to rehydrate himself before sloshing a fair amount of the water onto his head. The cooling sensation it sent through him was a welcome respite, and gave him a moment of pause as he gasped in mild surprise. Setting the bottle down, he ran his hands through his hair over and again, trying to dampen the rest of his hair with the excess from the bottle. It was a preventative measure, to ensure he didn't overheat. With his hair dampened, it wouldn't be nearly as much of an insulator in the tropical temperature of the jungle. As soon as that was taken care of, he swept the long, violet strands back and tied it tight into a ponytail. Folding the 'tail' over again, he used the extra bit of string to tie it over again, making it a sort of 'bobbed tail'. It would serve its purpose while he rested, allowing him to cool down while drying it.*

*Popping a bit of the jerky into his mouth, he chewed thoughtfully as he grabbed up his sword. Removing it from the sheath, he took a moment to inspect it. Humidity was hell on a blade, if it remained there for too long. So, he removed another cloth from his bag, taking a few moments to clean the beautiful blade while he considered their voyage they were about to undertake. There was a certain thrill to it, knowing they were going to be walking into the jaws of danger and hoping "danger" wasn't hungry. It had been too long since Aedon had actually tested himself and his skills. The last firefight he was involved in happened to be on Corellia. He didn't really count Tatooine, with that young punk who wielded that basic blade. And Corellia wasn't really as much a firefight as it was a quick bout with Kevlar's bunch, followed by a dance with a frag grenade. But here, on Dathomir, there was the possibility of a true fight on his hands. Against nature, and all that would imply. He only hoped they didn't run into the witches of the wild...because, as he understood it, they knew how to wield the Force. Aedon loathed that mystical mumbo-jumbo. Regardless, if they went up against them, he only knew of one option that could play out -- fire first, fire often, and then...run.*

*Aedon was in the process of calming his mind through his own version of 'meditation'. Polishing 'Esmeralda' was just one more way he could clear his thoughts. But, he also had to consider that there was no use in that, with all that was due to happen soon. Instead, he figured he might as well take a few moments to rest his eyes, and prop his feet up. So, once he had finished with his blade, he sheathed it and propped it against the cot. Removing his jacket, he folded it in half and set it at the head of the bed before sliding off his boots. He checked his socks for dampness, and found a bit of it. Realizing he might want to change them after he rested, he then turned and stretched out on the bed. Crossing his legs and folding his arms behind his head, Aedon took a moment to glance upward and behind him, where Logann was propped up.**Grinning at his brother, he finally decided to say something.*

"You ever figure we'd end up in a place like this, lil' bro?"

Sun Apr 01, 2012 8:28 pm by Logann Renji Montrose

*Help themselves if they were hungry, eh? Logann opened one eye to peer around at the indicated food area. Hmm... perhaps if he was hungry later. He was more content to just rest. He could eat later if he was hungry.* *And rest he attempted. It felt good to let his feet breathe and let his eyes lay shut, and most of all, to not move for a while. His legs were aching a bit. He'd get used to that. He could still walk at least, and true relaxation could come once they were done with this hike and back at the skips, counting their loot and planning on how they were going to invest it. Yeah... that would be... awesome...*

*Logann's head tilted forward and his chin nearly touched his chest as he almost completely drifted off into sleep. But then his brother spoke and he suddenly looked up.* Huh? *he had said, glasses jostling and falling onto the cot beside him.* *Oh, he was being asked a question. Had Logann ever figured they'd end up in a place like this? He didn't suppose so. In fact, he wasn't exactly sure what he had expected. Just going around worlds, flying stuff around, that's what he thought smugglers did. Not go be treasure hunters. Not that that wasn't an exciting idea.*

I suppose not, *Logann said softly.* I just thought we'd be selling our services in transporting goods. I suppose this is more exciting though. I'd always dreamed about hitting the big payday, me and mom would have been set and we'd never want for anything ever again. *Oh, how he missed his mother. At least he had known her for a good portion of her life, and had a parent there for him. Aedon hadn't had that luxury it seemed. A common trait had united the brothers, then: Loss of their parents. And their mutual father. Who Logann couldn't help but wonder if he wasn't as bad as he had made him out to be. "Oh, Dad... why did you do this to us?" Well, he had done his best to redeem himself with his last act, and had united the brothers.* *That one aspect allowed Logann to smile. At least he still had family. And they still had a life ahead of them together. They had both learned well in their lives and had the skills to tackle their future head-on at least. In a strange way, Logann was thankful for that. Still, he could not help but wonder what it would have been to have instead had an actual father be the one who taught him those things...*

Mon Apr 02, 2012 3:43 pm by Sharak Iskar

*While Karen could not hear every word that was spoken, she did appreciate the talk between Aedon and Logann. They seemed to be at ease from what she could tell by the tones of their voice. She kept this in mind as she slipped out of medical clothes and started to put on her light leather armor set. She had bought the set when a merchant came through the outpost looking for someone to buy the last of his stock. The armor itself had been made from her homeworld, Barab I. Besides the dagger left by her father, the armor was the only thing she owned that was from Barab. The armor had green and brown garments underneath which showed where the armor did not protect. It had a pair of gauntlets the mostly protected the wrists and forearms. Her legs only had shin guards for armor and were covered by a pair of loose brown pants. Her waist and upper legs were covered with some of the chest armor as well as from the tunic. The pants went up to her waist as well, but a hole was made in the back for her tail. Steel toed boots covered her feet though this is was more for necessity than comfort. The shoulders were covered with shoulder pads. All that was left was the green cloak that rested nicely upon her shoulders. Overall, her black scales along with her green and brown clothing made for a good camouflage. Picking her father's dagger, she placed it on her hip securely. The only weapon she used was a handcrafted bow with heavy steel arrows. She never used a blaster when hunting and exploring due to the fact of the noise and light the bolts make. She knew there were blasters that had dimmer lights and silence shots, but those cost way too many credits. She kept the arrows in a leather quiver that slung across her back along with the bow. The only thing left was to hook on a few pouches of medicine and other chemicals to help should they need them. She also kept a small satchel to store any additional items such as water and additional food while keeping some room open for anything interesting she may find along the way. Yes, this was and adequate set up. Turning toward the tent flap, she opened it slowly and stepped out.

Her green eyes scanned the main room and saw both Aedon and Logann chatting. Before approaching them, she grabbed a smaller map that she kept for her travels. If anything changed during this adventure, she would make sure to change the main map appropriately. She then approached the two men and stopped a few feet from them. She shifted onto one leg and crossed her arms while smiling. *

Thiz one iz ready to hunt.

*There was a bit of fire in her eyes. Perhaps for these spacers this was a normal thing, but for Karen, this would be perhaps the best adventure of her lifetime.*

Sun May 06, 2012 7:55 pm by Aedon Gavin Montrose

Logann Renji Montrose wrote:*Help themselves if they were hungry, eh? Logann opened one eye to peer around at the indicated food area. Hmm... perhaps if he was hungry later. He was more content to just rest. He could eat later if he was hungry.* *And rest he attempted. It felt good to let his feet breathe and let his eyes lay shut, and most of all, to not move for a while. His legs were aching a bit. He'd get used to that. He could still walk at least, and true relaxation could come once they were done with this hike and back at the skips, counting their loot and planning on how they were going to invest it. Yeah... that would be... awesome...*

*Logann's head tilted forward and his chin nearly touched his chest as he almost completely drifted off into sleep. But then his brother spoke and he suddenly looked up.* Huh? *he had said, glasses jostling and falling onto the cot beside him.* *Oh, he was being asked a question. Had Logann ever figured they'd end up in a place like this? He didn't suppose so. In fact, he wasn't exactly sure what he had expected. Just going around worlds, flying stuff around, that's what he thought smugglers did. Not go be treasure hunters. Not that that wasn't an exciting idea.*

I suppose not, *Logann said softly.* I just thought we'd be selling our services in transporting goods. I suppose this is more exciting though. I'd always dreamed about hitting the big payday, me and mom would have been set and we'd never want for anything ever again. *Oh, how he missed his mother. At least he had known her for a good portion of her life, and had a parent there for him. Aedon hadn't had that luxury it seemed. A common trait had united the brothers, then: Loss of their parents. And their mutual father. Who Logann couldn't help but wonder if he wasn't as bad as he had made him out to be. "Oh, Dad... why did you do this to us?" Well, he had done his best to redeem himself with his last act, and had united the brothers.* *That one aspect allowed Logann to smile. At least he still had family. And they still had a life ahead of them together. They had both learned well in their lives and had the skills to tackle their future head-on at least. In a strange way, Logann was thankful for that. Still, he could not help but wonder what it would have been to have instead had an actual father be the one who taught him those things...*

*Aedon grinned when he realized he almost caught his brother napping. The general notion of what he was referring to with his response wasn't something that the elder brother hadn't been prepared to account for. Their original job was to do exactly as he had explained. Transporting goods (the legal - and sometimes not-so-legal - kind), and offering their services to whatever clientele happened to be offering the best price. However, when you were literally offered a dead guy's treasure trove, the line becomes less-visible, and you can quickly cross it and become a part-time "archaeologist".**Bringing his elbows even further out to his sides, the Zeltron puffed his chest up, stretching his muscles from shoulder to shoulder. He paired the action with further stretching his arms outward before sitting up and tossing his legs out to the side of the cot. Looking back at his brother, he considered what else he had mentioned.*

*"Being set" was a dream that Aedon had attempted to live out since his days as a half-starved scarecrow of a boy, spending much of his time in the pithy under-city of Coruscant as a street urchin trying to make credits that were by any means attainable. He never grew up with any biological family, but the Verpine outcast - Leki - had raised him much as a father would a son. Aedon still tried to send him a few credits every now and again...because the bug was still trying to "do the good work" by raising two other kids who reminded the Zeltron captain much of himself. For the life of him...he couldn't remember what their names were...**Lifting his right hand, he let it settle on his opposite shoulder, grasping it as he rolled his arm around in the joint. "Old battle wounds" as they were, the appendage still felt a bit sore from time to time. Aedon simply figured that his anxiety acted as a trigger, but, he knew it was just his body's way of saying "life doesn't work the way you want it to". Chuckling to himself as the thought crossed his mind, he realized that was the first time he'd broken the silence since his brother had opened up to him. Shaking his head at his manner, he finally spoke up.*

"'Big paydays' like this usually don't happen to us, Ren." *His eyes never left that particular section of the ground he'd been staring at. The tinge of sadness in his gaze reflected much of what he felt.* "When they do, it's usually because we've been through hell to get it." *He finally looked up from the ground at Logann, his features locked now in a look of determination.* "That's something that's gonna change, though, bro...because with this haul, we'll make sure we don't ever have to dig for scraps again. Us, the crew...we'll all be able to retire if we play our cards right. Make it so we just do our 'transporting bit', it's a side-job. A hobby." *He seemed to be getting really fired up for some odd reason. It reflected in everything he said, and his tone grew more excited with every passing phrase as he nearly-leaped off the cot he'd been resting on. He began to pace back and forth, motioning with his hands as his little "speech" continued.* "Life'll just throw whatever it's got at us, but, nothing'll touch us. And it won't be 'cause we'll be a buncha dumb rich guys -- we'll be smart about it! We'll invest, improve our odds at being noticed, buy out venture corporations...the orbit's the limit!"

*Just then, Aedon barely overheard Karen stepping back through the curtains. He embarrassingly stopped pacing, and looked at her with an awkward gaze.*

Sharak Iskar wrote:(...)*She then approached the two men and stopped a few feet from them. She shifted onto one leg and crossed her arms while smiling. *

Thiz one iz ready to hunt.

*There was a bit of fire in her eyes. Perhaps for these spacers this was a normal thing, but for Karen, this would be perhaps the best adventure of her lifetime.*

*Turning back toward Logann, the elder brother scratched his head. He also realized that his hair was still pulled up, and absentmindedly pulled the top-knot loose, letting his hair fall back down toward his shoulders. Replacing the tie around the lower portion of his hair, he soon found it back in his customary rogue-knot, and ruffled the remaining locks so that his hair soon found its unnatural "spring" to it again.**When his eyes opened next, focusing on his brother for all of a moment, he knew Logann would see that look of mischief and adventure creeping into his violet-colored gaze. Turning on his heel back toward Karen, he folded his hands together, intertwining his fingers as he pushed his palms outward on his glove-covered hands, cracking his knuckles and smiling all the while.*

"Well, I certainly didn't come here to 'forage', so...I guess a good 'hunt' will have to do."

*He reached down, grabbing up his pack and his sword. Preparing himself, he latched the sword back on its loose hip-braid, and went through the motions of refilling his canteen - while using the filtration system on it - and making certain to change his footwear and such (dry socks, the whole charade) before throwing the pack over his shoulders and buckling the front harness. So now, the Zeltron stood with his thick leather jacket - zip-sealed up the front - with the pack over it, his blasters on well-visible thigh-holsters, his blade on his hip, and that same fiery look i his eyes that Karen seemed to hold. Only, with it, Aedon held a fierce grin that suggested he wasn't walking away from this without seeing it through...*

"And, believe you, me...we're gonna have a lot to hunt..."

Fri May 18, 2012 2:39 pm by Sharak Iskar

*Karen looked at the two, but gave a nod to Aedon. While the other seemed a bit shallow, Aedon was full of focus and personality. Perhaps if Karen gave Logann more time, she would attune to his mindset. For now, she would keep her attention to Aedon.*

Very well then, we should start our journey into the jungle since it seems like we are ready. Thiz one will lead the way.

*Karen turned around and went through the backside of the tent toward the jungle. She wait for the two to follow before venturing much farther. The quicker they left, the better they would be off against the Night Sisters and the jungle itself. *

Sun May 20, 2012 12:13 am by Logann Renji Montrose

*The words flowed into Logann's ears as his brother spoke them. He processed them in his mind, letting the meaning of them sink in a bit. Working hard for the great haul, being set for life, never having to dig for scraps again, the smuggling life would just be a side job... Logann could dig that. Earning the payday... Well, that was no strange concept to him. That's what Logann had been trying to do all his life, but had settled for just enough. Never had enough to make investments. Which, strangely, was what Aedon was suggesting: Investing. Being smart about it.* *Logann started to smile as he looked up towards the ceiling. All of this... "motivational" stuff Aedon was spewing, Logann liked it. It resonated with him in a deep way, and he was taking it to heart. Yeah... Yeah!* Ye—

*And then Karen entered and Logann attempted to collect himself, only to slide off the bed and onto the floor. Grumbling, he pushed himself back up to his knees, looking around at Aedon and Karen.* *Oh, was it time to go at last? He'd hardly gotten a chance to sleep. Ah, well, like Aedon said, it was the hard work that would land them the payday. Aedon himself was already proving himself ready, fixing his hair and giving Logann some kind of mischievous yet adventurous gaze. Woah, he certainly was hardened and experienced, ready and eager to begin this thing, wasn't he? Judging by the way he so effortlessly attached his equipment and stood ready to begin, he certainly was.

Karen was already ready to leave, departing the tent to wait for them so that she could lead them onward. Then that meant...* Alright, let's get moving! *He sprang to his feet, finding his shoes and slipping his feet into them. Then he snatched his glasses off the bed and pinned them to his face with one finger, smirking.* That treasure's waiting for us. And nothing in-between is gonna stand in our way to stop us. Now bro. *Logann removed his finger and looked towards Aedon, the smirk becoming much softer, settling into a real smile with determination and camaraderie behind it.* Let's go get that payday. *Spinning on one heel, he turned towards where Karen had exited the tent and strode towards it, exiting into the open air of Dathomir again.

He then stood behind Karen, staring over her shoulder at the world beyond her.* *This was where it started. This was where the brothers pitched in their best efforts possible, worked their way through this wilderness, not giving a damn who or what got in their way; their goal was in sight and attainable, and that meant there was no giving up, no losing! The grab would put them in a good spot, and then they could all live a little easier. Aedon and Logann Montrose, two men from two different worlds, combining to make one unstoppable force... Yeah... Logann liked the sound of that quite a bit.* *His smile grew wider, stronger, even eager as he waited for the final leg journey to begin.*

Trade Outpost

Re: Trade Outpost

Re: Trade Outpost

Re: Trade Outpost

Re: Trade Outpost

Re: Trade Outpost

Re: Trade Outpost

Re: Trade Outpost

Re: Trade Outpost

Re: Trade Outpost

Re: Trade Outpost

Re: Trade Outpost

Re: Trade Outpost

Re: Trade Outpost

Re: Trade Outpost

Re: Trade Outpost

Re: Trade Outpost

Re: Trade Outpost

Re: Trade Outpost

Re: Trade Outpost

Who is online