Private Buried Temptation

[Sev Pitborn]

Sev climbed down from the bantha as the female Tusken approached Nartaga. They began to speak in their foreign tongue, and Sev slipped away to explore the village. The opportunity to observe Tuskens in their natural state was an extreme rarity for an outsider and Sev wouldn't pass it up.

Sev walked through the small village, observing the Tuskens as they went about their tasks. Women dragged simple carts of water and other goods from place to place. The men conversed, presumably trading tales of great raids and hunts. The strange howls of the Tusken language filled the air. Hearing the Tusken language in a conversational tone was strange to Sev, as most outsiders only ever heard it used in battle cries. He could fee The Force as present here as anywhere, flowing through the desert settlement. Sev could feel the love among families, the hate among rivals. He watched as these noble, simple people went about their daily business of survival on this harsh orb.

These Tuskens, shrouded in mystery of isolation and hostility, were not so different than the outsiders they despised so much. They lived in beautiful harmony with their home, and defended it with their blood and ferocity for generations. Sev respected that. After wandering through the village for a few minutes, he found Nartage concluding his business deal and loading Patashu for their journey. He looked at Nartaga and nodded, showing that he was ready to leave. The experience of seeing The Tuskens in their home would prove a memorable one, and Sev was grateful, yet eager to continue.

Nartaga

 

[Nartaga]

Nartaga raised an arm in greeting at Sev's return from his small trip through the village. He remained silent as he finished checking all of the restraints on their supplies, as well as a a new addition to the saddle; a canopy. Attached to the saddle by four tin rods and shooting upward was a sand colored tarp hanging over to provide shade to the riders. It was not as stealthy as going without one, but Nartaga felt given their prolonged journey and lack of knowledge of the location, the small comfort could be risked. Patashu received another plum from the Tusken, having stocked up on the treats while he had the chance, to bribe the bantha during their travels if she became ornery.

It did not take long for the Tusken to finished and then get back aboard his bantha, then aiding Sev in climbing back up. The Tusken unfolded the canopy to give them cover from the intensity of the Suns, as both were now high in the Tatooine sky. As they began to leave the village, the uli-ah that had been by earlier ran up along the side of the bantha, waving and jumping around, trying to get the attention of the large creature. Patashu lifted her head as if in pride and let out a roaring bellow. The Tusken younglings, seemingly satisfied, fled off back into the village as their parents called out to them. After clearing the canyon, Nartaga steered the bantha northward, toward the Deadlands, where their journey would truly begin.

Nartaga remained silent for nearly two hours before feeling it safe enough to speak. He opened a satchel slightly behind him, in between Sev and himself on the left side of the saddle, and gestured for the man to help himself to the hubba bread and womprat jerky within. "Nartaga feels you see too. Outsiders, Tusken very same. Bad blood keep apart, at war." Nartaga took out his spyglass and extended it, surveying the area in search of anyone nearby. The Tusken threw his left leg over the right side of the saddle and hung off the side to look behind them. Pleased, the guide re-seated himself back in front of Sev. "Safe remove mask if need. No follow." Nartaga stroked the back of Patashu's neck in thanks for their luck. "Rare outsider see village. Keep hidden. Ships come. Shoot from sky. Keep moving. Time places stop with Suns."

Sev Pitborn ​

 

[Sev Pitborn]

Sev nodded in response to Nartaga. He peeled the Tusken mask from his face and stashed it in his bag. It would make an excellent keepsake, but Sev hadn't managed to grow used to it. "It was very... enlightening. To see how The Tuskens live. Sad that we must fight. I hope one day they can live in peace with the rest of The Galaxy." After witnessing the daily lives of these humble, desert tribes Sev had a strong sympathy and respect for them. Their way of life was natural and beautiful. The attachment they held to the land was palpable. Their culture was so raw and untouched, grown organically from the harsh dunes of Tatooine. Sev was honored to have had the opportunity to witness it, though he had felt grossly out of place. The entire experience was voyeuristic, as he was watching something he was never meant to see.

As they continued further into the Deadlands, Sev began to feel a strange presence in The Force. They had left the known and mapped area of Tatooine and entered into its unforgiving desert maw. The closest fragments of civilization were days away, and the environment had grown even more hostile than Sev thought possible. As they wandered through the endless dunes, they passed a massive and imposing skeleton, protruding from the sand, it's menacing skull sitting at the top of a long and winding trail of spinal discs.

"A Krayt Dragon? All the way out here? How could such a large creature subsist in such a hostile place?" Sev asked Nartaga. Clearly, this Dragon was long dead, but the very fact that it had once roamed here in the first place was unsettling. Sev had heard tales of the massive desert demons known as Krayt Dragons and was familiar with their fearsome reputation. He had heard rumors that Tusken warriors had to kill one in order to achieve manhood. Sev was intrigued by this powerful custom and wished to know more.

"Is it true that Tusken warriors must kill a Krayt Dragon in single combat? Is that a myth?" Sev asked, hoping his ignorance wouldn't offend his host.

Nartaga

 

[Nartaga]

Nartaga carefully watched the skeleton of the deceased krayt dragon as they passed by atop the bantha, Patashu. His grip tightened on the reigns of his mount and the Tusken whispered a small prayer for luck under his breath. "Krayt above all on Tatooine. Most danger than other. Ruler of desert." Nartaga looked out over the desert, cocking his head to listen to Sev as he spoke, nodding his head side to side in ackowledgment of the man's question. It brought back memories of his own hunt. He had not accomplished it alone, but fighting a Krayt by one's self was only something accomplished by the most capable warriors. Nartaga was no push over, but he was nowhere near as gifted to kill a mighty krayt dragon by himself. "Some tribes, yes. Others, hunt in groups. Nartaga kill Krayt that way. Not easy, though had others with. Almost die." It was one of the proudest moments of his life, killing a krayt which allowed him to join the ranks of the R'Crurak Sentries. "Not kill meaningless. If all kill one, none left. Need balance. Know tribe that raise krayt. Release wild. They prove self that way."

Nartaga reached his right hand towards his neck and pulled a leather necklace from underneath his robes. Attached to the necklace were several small trophies, an assortment of what appeared to be fangs and teeth, as well as a few other body parts of animals of Tatooine he had killed and kept a piece of to remember. He pointed to a fang at the center of all the others before tucking it back . "Krayt tooth. Back mouth. Smaller for keep close. Near heart for strength of krayt." Patashu stopped her march deeper into the desert, shuffling her feet and letting out a low groan. Nartaga leaned forward and whispered soothing words to his bantha, rubbing the back of her head near his ears. "Patashu sense ahead. Not know what." Nartaga continued to whisper to the bantha until the creature let out a reluctant huff and once more began moving through the deadlands. "What Sev hunt to be Jedi? Many large creature in stars. Heard some stories from outsiders."

Sev Pitborn ​

 

[Sev Pitborn]

Sev listened as the Tusken explained the trials of his clan and the cunning required to kill the legendary Krayt. He was somewhat amused by his question.

"Well... You don't really have to hunt anything to become a Jedi. We're supposed to be guardians of peace. We try to avoid killing whenever we can, even animals. Sometimes, it's unavoidable though... We go through what we call 'The Trials' to become Jedi Knights, I guess that would be the closest thing. The most important thing about being a Jedi is serving the Light Side of The Force and preserving peace and justice. You are strong in The Force."

Sev paused for a moment. Nartaga was clearly strong in the Force, and an experienced user. His masterful use of Force Healing before had proven that. However, he didn't seem to understand it the way Sev or other Jedi did. It was a more natural, primitive understanding.

"My trials did involve killing though. I had to fight and kill a Sith Lord. He killed my Master. Jedi have Masters who teach us the ways of The Force and help us learn how to control our power. We got attacked by a Sith Lord, a servant of The Dark Side. He killed my Master, and I avenged him..." Sev trailed off. Even though it felt so long ago, the story still pained Sev to tell. It had been his greatest victory, but also his greatest loss. He had been searching for something to fill the void left by his fallen mentor ever since... He hoped to find it in the endless deserts of Tatooine. He wasn't sure how much of that Nartaga would understand. Sev was sure that his understanding of The Force was totally different, but perhaps it would lead to some interesting questions to pass the time during their long journey.

Nartaga

 

[Nartaga]

Nartaga listened to everything Sev said, his brow furrowing beneath as he tried to understand the intricacies of the Force as the Jedi knew them. Nartaga did not know what this Force was, or how he was strong in it. Perhaps it was what the outsiders called the power the Tusken Shamans tapped in to? Nartaga had always been taught that it was a blessing from the Suns and Tatooine itself, the shamans being able to channel to power of their homeworld through their bodies. Nartaga also knew that not everything he had been taught was true, realizing that along with many of their beliefs towards outsiders, their beliefs about themselves may also be incorrect. To what degree the Tusken still did not know, but it was possible more than he even knew in his entire life was wrong. "What is Force? That shaman power Jedi use?" There was a tone of confusion in the Tusken's voice as he tried to wrap his head around the new term. What he had learned of outsider shamans was very lacking, and he had always understood any mention of the Force as force being used, as in forcefully performing an action. It was quite the change to wrap his head around. Not the mention that the sudden appearance of what Sev referred to as the Light side of the Force. The guide was stumped as to why an all encompassing power would be divided into different parts by mortals, if it was even the same power that he knew. "Light side and Dark Side? Not same power? Not understand."

When Sev brought up the Sith, Nartaga was again confused. "Sith not Jedi? Thought same?" All mention of the Jedi and Sith Nartaga had learned about usually referenced them together, so Nartaga had partially misunderstood thinking that they were part of the same group, just with different names. Many of the articles and stories he had heard now made much more sense. Outsiders made everything too complicated. Nartaga brought a hand up to the temple of his mask and shook his head. "Outsiders complicate. Sides bad. Simple better. People make mess, get away from truth. Meaningless." How Nartaga had been trained as a Shaman, he was taught that the power of Tatooine was a single unifying entity, the energy encompassing all of them like the life energy of a living being. Like any living being, there were good and bad aspects to it, but there were no hard divisive lines. There were few taboos in the practices of Shamans, but none of them laid out battle lines over different aspects of the power they wielded. The battles were the realms of the tribes and clans over territory, and that of the Tuskens and the outsiders. Shamans from other clans and tribes usually did not have a problem with other Shamans, at least unless their tribes were at war. Still, Nartaga had met with other tribes' shamans while the R'Crurak were at war with them, and had little problems so long as the meetings were kept secret. While Shamans were revered and kept out of all but the most desperate battles among their own people, killing another tribe or clan's shaman was considered a major blow.

It occurred to Nartaga that it was not just outsiders who complicated things. His people did it too. All living beings did.

Shaking his head again to refocus his thoughts to the conversation he was having with Sev. The Tusken bent his head downward and whispered a small prayer for the lost soul of the Jedi Master Sev spoke of. "Sorry for Sev's Master. If master taught you, must been good outsider too. Good you avenge master's name. Honor memory, never forget teacher. Important." Nartaga was unaware of the Jedi's views on revenge or anger, but the shaman's own views were very clear cut on the issue of revenge. If it was justified, revenge was completely understandable, even encouraged.

Nartaga peeked up at the sky from underneath the shadow of the canopy covering the top of the bantha. The Suns were beginning their descent after a long day lighting the dunes. In such unfamiliar territory, Nartaga wanted to find a place to make camp as early as possible. He began scouring the horizon for any signs of any outcroppings of rock. Anything was better than open sand to settle when night fell, but if there was no choice it would have to do. "Nartaga not strong. Teacher strong. Never finish learning. Broke tribe law. Why Nartaga alone in Mospic."

Sev Pitborn ​

 

[Sev Pitborn]

Sev listened to the Shaman as he questioned Sev's view of the Force. Sev admired the view of the Tusken. Simple, innocent. He was so adept in the Force, yet so unfamiliar with it. Perhaps his view of The Force was the proper one, after all, the Tuskens had been around just as long as the Jedi, maybe even longer.

"The Force is... everything. Life creates it, it binds and surrounds all things. One can either submit themselves to it's will and use it as a tool to help others, the path of The Jedi, The Light. Or... some choose to try and dominate the Force, to use it for their own selfish purposes. To increase their own power. That's the way of The Sith, The Dark Side." A smile tugged at the corners of Sev's mouth as the Tusken spoke about simplicity, and how the outsiders complicated things. In that, he was likely correct.

"I agree Nartaga. Simple is better. Unfortunately... People are complicated." Nartaga was correct in his assessment. The squabbles of the Jedi and Sith were in many ways meaningless. The endless war between the light and the dark had raged since the beginning of time, one gaining the upper hand only to be inevitably usurped by the other. The Tuskens, meanwhile, lived as their fathers had, ignorant to the Galactic deathmatch taking place above their heads, save for the rare times it showed itself on Tatooine.

"My Master was a brilliant man. He taught me well, and I'll always be grateful..." Sev trailed off as he remembered the great man. He quickly snapped out of it, preferring to save such emotional contemplation for solitude.

"Broke tribal law? Well... if I may ask... what did you do?" Sev asked hesitantly, hoping not to offend the hermit or our salt on an old wound. Regardless, Sev's curiosity got the better of him. He wondered what sort of power Nartaga's master held, after seeing Nartaga use the Force so effectively.

Nartaga

 

[Nartaga]

Nartaga kept his eyes peeled on the horizon as he listened to the Jedi's explanation of the Force. He still did not understand why there were different views on what was accepted as the same power, and how it should be used. He knew there were selfish people in the Universe, but he could not fully wrap his head around someone who thought they should have power or forced control over others. He often thought of himself as selfish by Tusken standards. To the simple nomad, the price of this very journey he had asked of the Jedi was exorbitant, a moisture vaporator to collect water. It was a greedy request, but his intention was to use that machine to help others by providing water to those who needed it, as well as using it to trade for things he needed. Did his greed mean he was a part of this so-called Dark side? Did the good intentions of his actions shine through enough to have him be part of the Light side? "Still not understand. Who say what Light and Dark? Who make rule? How they know?"

The philosophical ideals of the Jedi and Sith interested Nartaga greatly, but he could almost immediately see the flaws in leaning to strictly one side or the another. Thinking on it and trying to apply his Shaman teachings to the brief synopsis Sev had given him, he could not place his people's interpretation onto either side. There were aspects of both of what Sev had described as the two sides of the Force in the teachings he had learned, at least how he thought an outsider would see them. Trying to apply the logic of an outsider to his culture was difficult, especially given that he by no means understood outsiders. The Tusken wished that he could better communicate more fluently in the Galactic Basic language, as he could not think of the words to try and fully articulate his thoughts to the Jedi riding with him. "Different people see differently. Could think do good but be bad. Could do evil for good. Then, still Dark? Still Light?" The Tusken seemed to struggle in thought for a moment, trying to come up with a particular word to try better communicate what he meant. "Per...spe...ctive. Different for everyone." It also sounded to the tribal that outsiders seemed to have a problem with self control, only seeking to increase their standing in what Nartaga imagined were their own tribes or clans. He could understand that, gaining power and support to win control over the tribe was a common enough occurrence in the tribes.

What the simpler Tusken could not understand was that sometimes people just wanted power to be at the top and improve their own life, not because they believed they had better leadership abilities and ideas for their people. It was something he was vaguely familiar with, but had never encountered in his life, so he could not wrap his mind around it fully. Some people simply enjoyed being in control to inflict harm on those beneath, and he just could not comprehend that beings like that existed. It was not like he went around reading the innermost thoughts of everyone he met to discern their true intentions. Nartaga's mind was jumping from possibility to possibility trying to grasp the new moral questions this brought up.

Nartaga grew quiet for a moment when he was asked what he had done. The Tusken was not ashamed of his actions, in fact, he was in fact fairly proud of them. Sev had shared his deceased master with the guide he had only known for a day, so he thought it fair to speak of what his tribe saw as a sin. "Tuskens see outsiders as invaders. Nartaga befriend outsiders. Befriend, help, trade, guide. See no point in fight. Outsiders already here. Why not work together? R'Crurak tribe, Nartaga's tribe, see as sin. Current Chieftain's rules." Nartaga paused for a moment trying to think how to explain his current situation. "Not exile, but exile. Sent away, but not banished. If was not Shaman, would be killed already." Nartaga thought on the circumstances that allowed him to remain alive and still a part of his clan, if only in a satellite capacity.

The Tusken's head perked up as he spotted some rocks sticking up out of the sand. There was a long jagged rock that rose from the sand into the sky. Nartaga made a clicking noise with his mouth and gently pulled the reigns to guide Patashu towards the direction of the rock. The bantha shook its horns around, as if resisting for a moment. This gave the guide pause as well. If this was the first apparent shelter worthy place he had spotted in the hours of them riding, it was highly likely dangerous creatures thought the same thing. "Need camp before night. Others think rocks good place as well. May need to fight for territory." The Tusken unstrapped his cycler from its sheath and brought the stock up to his shoulder, leaning the cheek of his mask on the top of the buttstock and looking through the scope of the rifle to try and spot anything moving. He lowered it after a minute, not seeing any immediate threats. The Sun were still up though, and some of the more dangerous beasts of Tatooine were well camouflaged, or returned to nests at night as the temperature fell. Nartaga turned slightly to Sev. "What weapons Sev have?"

Sev Pitborn ​