Carving a new Blade: Lightsaber Development [See LFG topic before joining please]

[Dar'rak]

LFG / OOC Thread: Looking for NPCs for a development thread
Lightsaber under Development: Dar'rak's Force sensitive Wood Lightsaber

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OOC: This is a Public thread but I ask that anyone wanting to join please be aware that the location is yet undiscovered and plot revolves around the discovery and development of the Lightsabers Dar'rak carries with him. Taking place some time between the Liberation of Ossus and his mission to Barkhesh. Unless you have or otherwise want History with the Jedi Knight please refrain from using actual RPCs within this thread. NPCs are fine as I am still looking for posters to play the various local population. Please see the OOC / LFG thread prior to posting.

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The Young Jedi had found himself within the Force sensative Forest on a planet of unknown name and location within the deepest recesses of space. Having been seemingly drawn to this planet by the very force itself. Images came to him in a dream, a shadow of a figure that had haunted him since he could remember. A cloaked face, a gentle voice that was silenced abruptly. Dar'rak focused hard on his surroundings... Meditating on the events of the past few weeks as several seemingly random components lay at his feet.

Dar'rak had barrowed a small ship from the Jedi temple on Corosaunt some time after he and his Master had returned from Ossus. The Battle had been a great trial from himself and the other Padawans who partook. His Master had brought him before the council and with a humble heart he was granted the title of Knight of the Order. The Young Jedi, still only in his teens and yet was now officially a Knight and capable of taking on missions without his Master by his side. One night he spoke to one of the Masters and mentioned a dream he'd been having. It was unclear what it had meant only that something was calling out to him. Something strong in the force.

Dar'rak young and newly knighted had to find out what it was and why it seemed to pull him so strongly. That night the young Jedi made his way to the hanger of the temple and took to the pilot seat of one of their Starfighters. With the all clear he activated the engine and made haste for the stars...

 

[Z'Zharen]

[member="Dar'rak"]

Sitting in the back of a cramped cargo hold, the large Whipid attempted to meditate. The humming of the ship would have been soothing, however the screeching of strained metal cut through his peaceful thoughts. Z'Zharen had been roaming through different worlds in the Outer Rim for many months now.

In search of knowledge of the Force, construction of his own lightsaber and following the path of the Old Jedi. In his travels, the young Whipid had encountered Force Users. Most were selfish and misguided treasure hunters...hopefully not to foreshadow what Z'Zharen could become as his search for knowledge grew very frustrating. The most valuable moment so far has been his trip to Illum, where a Zeltron and her Bith master helped him unlock his connection to the Force. They also assisted in helping him find a lightsaber crystal, one that turned bright pink when he came in contact with it. Since then he has mostly visited ruins and picked up rumored lore and legends.

The interior of the ship made a loud screeching noise and started to shake. Z'Zharen squinted his eyes now half open as he look straight ahead. The pilot...really a smuggler, whom Z'Zharen was hesitant to pay for transportation had brought them out of Hyperspace. He met the Rodian pilot on a backwater world cantina, over hearing a drunken conversation of a Force imbued world untouched by major factions.

Untouched most likely meant it had not been scavenged completely of resources or Jedi knowledge yet. Against his better judgement, Z'Zharen paid the Rodian what little he had to find this hidden gem of world. Z'Zharen would have to crawl on his hands and knees if he wanted to get near the cockpit. The designers of this ship did not have Whipids in mind when they built it. Z'Zharen remained in an uncomfortable cross legged pose, but opened his eyes fully to see through the main view port all the way across in the cockpit section. The so called hidden world was now revealed to him, mostly green from what he can see. Jungles and forest perhaps? Warm memories of his time on Kashyyyk made him smile.

It took the Rodian about an hour to find a clearing to land and several minutes for Z'Zharen to shimmy his way out of the cargo hold and onto the planet surface. The smuggler pilot was paid and left Z'Zharen almost immediately right after. That would seem a bit strange for the pilot to leave in such a hurry. Was this world dangerous? He didnt get many details from the men in the cantina. Rodians seemed to be twitchy about everyone and anything so it may have been just that. Though the Force did have a strong presence here, new to the Force even Z'Zharen could feel it. He looked around the small clearing of tall grass and then upward to see the cargo ship vanish from sight.

Z'Zharen has done this before, requested transport to isolated worlds, stay there for a time and eventually always found a way back to the stars to repeat the process. If he was wealthy he would purchase a simple ship with a pilot droid, though for now he walked. Not bringing many possessions with him save for his torn light brown hooded duster, pants, satchel and half working electro staff, the Whipid entered an opening into the woods...

 

[Dar'rak]

[member=Z'Zharen] would learn his stay on the planet could become a permeate one as it was technologically dead. With little to nothing in the form of what most of the galaxy would consider even outdated technology. There were no known spaceports on the surface world and the sentient population had no ships of any kind save the ones that sailed over the waters surface. Even now his movements were being tracked by eyes not his own. Several in fact moved almost silently among the brush as they tracked and studied this new prey. It was not often a Whipid descended from the sky. Unknown what to make of this individual it was already clear that the force radiated from him. Good the hunt was getting tiresome and new blood was to be shed. This new creature had little idea the game he just entered at the sudden uproar of local avian suddenly scattered to the sky...

---

Dar'rak remained sitting among the brush keeping his focus the best he could among the constant stream of information the force gave to him. Events both past and future flashed within his mind as the challenge of focusing on the single task at hand grew ever more strenuous with every passing second. The Elements that he hoped to combine into a new more powerful set of Lightsabers were scattered around him began to shift their positions even if ever so slightly. he needed to calm his mind to better focus. Once more his mind drifted into the past where events had unfolded in a very interesting fashion where he met a new friend.

---

The Young Jedi had been traveling for weeks trying to make sense of what his dreams had been telling him. Every corner seemed to only end it shadows. Every new lead ended with more questions than answers. What was it he'd been missing. What called to him, so far out into the deep recesses of the galaxy? Dar'rak was getting desperate to quell the hunger that burned inside him. It was the will of the Force that he be on this mission of discovery. What is it that he was suppose to see?

The young Knight had been away from the Temple for several months now and was in need of supplies to refuel his starship once more. This was not going to be a good thing as it meant he needed to find a core world that had a trading post or some form. The further out he'd gotten the less and less he saw of his Old Republic and the darker things seemed to become. Did this mean he was getting close? Could it be that the Force wanted him to seek out something the Republic had been bind to? Perhaps the Sith was involved - he didn't know. The only thing that seemed clear to him was the further he traveled and the more lost he'd become the louder and more persistent the dreams would become. Every time he would try to get some rest it was the same shadowed and cloaked image, the voice of a woman almost taunting him as he was unable to see her face.

The Images and visions started happening during the day as well. He'd be flying his ship through the empty void of space and out his view he'd catch a gimps of something he'd almost felt like he'd recognized. Turning to face the image he'd found that his navigational charts no longer seemed to function. Dar'rak was being guided by the force now more than ever. More time had past and the young Jedi had given up keeping track of how long he'd been away when suddenly his instruments started to light up. Dar'rak was exhausted from what could have been years for all he knew of restless sleep when a cargo ship of unknown model blazed past him in a fit of fury.

Dar'rak's smaller ship was thrown off course by the larger vessel and tossed into the gravity of a previously undetected planet. True his star-charts did not have data on what was out here and his navigational equipment seemed to stop functioning a time back, but you'd think that something would have given him a clue he was in the orbit of a planetary object. Instead the reptilian found himself in an uncontrollable spin as his altitude and the surface of the planet were quickly becoming one and that same. Dar'rak pulled up the nose of his ship the best he could before making an undue landing in a large tree. "Oh I don't feel soo well." Dar'rak hissed to no one but himself. Looking up he at first found it odd that he could not see the sky. It was then that he realized that not only had he not officially landed yet but he was also upside-down.

 

[Z'Zharen]

[member="Dar'rak"]

Z'Zharen had spent a few hours walking through the thick forest. Other than insects, which he would gingerly step over when he could see them, he only saw native birds perched around him. They might have looked upon the Whipid with curiosity, if they were sentient though Z'Zharen suspected a world as lush as this didnt have many sentient beings if any. The Rodian pilot, said he had not heard of any cities on his world and the few people who came here were mostly poachers and hunters.

Hunting was something that Z'Zharen had grown more accustomed to, not only because thats how he was raised to survive in his tribe. But also because his lack of credits and often lack of societies in general forced him to kill and gather his own meals. He inspected fallen branches on the ground, knelt down to them for a closer look. Perhaps he could forged a spear or bow and some arrows if he grew hungry. He had his half working electro staff, but clubbing a poor creature death seemed too barbaric. If it came down to him starving, then he would reconsider using such blunt methods.

He wondered if using the Force to hunt for food was considered a dark side trait? The Force as he understood it was connected to all living things like a bridge...He allowed his imagination to take over as he pictured a bridge connected to two land masses each supporting diverse ranges of life. Suddenly the bridge in his mind was levitated by an illusion of himself controlling it with the Force. Lifting the fictional bridge higher and higher into the skies and bringing it crashing down on one of the land masses and then bashing the other side as well. Wiping out trees, animals, buildings and people.

The Whipid shook his head, his braided hair coming a bit undone. It has been a while since he permitted himself to think so creatively, but he saw it didnt help him in anyway, except maybe save him from boredom while walked through the woods. He picked up a few branches, gripped them and bent them. To his surprised the stickers were very flexible even to the strength of a Whipid. He placed them his satchel, when he would rest perhaps he would work on them.

Continuing his walk through the woods he reflected on a similar moment in his life years ago. When he was self exiled from Toola, he found his way to Kashyyyk and found a new family among the Wookies. When they were out hunting for food, they were unaware that they were being hunted as well. Stalked by reptilian beings known as Trandoshans, the ambushed the Wookies and the Whipid. Killing at least one of Z'Zharen's friends, the next thing the young Whipid knew was he had awoken on...Nar Shadda. Alone and beaten, sold into the slavery where he would remain chained for years...

*Crunch*

Brows raised, Z'Zharen instinctively unsheathed his electro staff, but did not activate it yet. Something was following him...something bigger than a bird. The woods became quite and for the first time in a long time Z'Zharen's mind also became quite. His eyes closed, his body relaxed, he gripped his staff and turned fast with one swing the round edge of his staff connected with a reptilian creature's jaw. "Trandoshans!" The Whipid proclaimed in surprise as the reptile hit the ground, it tumbled and landed on all fours hissing. Behind it, several more of it's kind jumped out from the trees.

Having a fight or flight moment, the Whipid would normally stand his ground. But the coincidence of reflecting on the most traumatizing moments of his life and have them re-appear in the flesh before him now....if the Force had a voice it told him one thing, RUN!

With incredible speed, the Whipid sprinted through the woods. Instinctively dodging and jumping over all obstacles. The Trandoshans were catching up though...could they be Force sensitive too?

 

[Kendall Ginn]

A pair of dark yellow eyes followed the unfamiliar tusked beast running along the forest floor. stalking from the branches far above the ground Shai'kar witnessed his hunting party pursue the creature. From the noise it made to witnessing it's hunters as well as the equipment it dawned, Shai'kar could piece together that the visitor was a sentient. The hunter's large claws tightened around a branch preparing to move, but was inturrupted by a crash into the canopy not far from his location. Flocks of Avian creatures fluttered from the location. He looked down to the chase and saw his pack gaining on the creature, he'd leave them to it to investigate the second intrusion. Shai'Kar leaps from the branch to another one and seamlessly moves across the trees.

The pack work with each other as one in the hunt, knowing where to go and what to do as a group without having to consult with each other. They had worked together long enough. The new creature was fascinating in the way it moved through the brush so well, despite the large stature. There was no need to kill it immediately, but it did attack one of their own, and so it's continuous attacks would be met with lethal reaction. The group continues forward for the strange visitor.

 

[Dar'rak]

Dar'rak's mind was still drifting in and out of focus as he remembered his crash landing on the planet he now meditated. The objects around him fluctuated in their movements revealing the same lack of focus. He really needed to complete his new set of lightsabers but something in the force kept pulling him to the recent events of the past. What was it, what was he missing that seemed so important that he needed to divide his attention in such a manner? The Young Reptilian gave in and allowed his mind to drift into the past once more as his components lay still in front of him.

---

Dar'rak was still sitting -- hanging -- precariously in one of the large trees on the planet. It took him a few moments to unhook his harness and release the hatch to his escape. With a hiss of pressure the canopy receded and Dar'rak was granted his first taste of the native air. Taking in a few slow breaths the Jedi found it to be to his liking. He suspected there should be some form of oxygen or breathable atmosphere with the plethora of trees and other plants he could see from his vantage point. He was thankful that seemed to be the truth as he dropped to a lower branch and looked up at his small Starfighter. That was going to be a problem he though as several of the larger branches seemed to have almost grown around his vessel while he recovered from his initial landing. It didn't seem possible but the young reptile could not fathom how he managed to get his ship so lodged within such a tree.

Well with it being unlikely his ship would be going anywhere anytime soon Dar'rak opted to take in his surroundings in full. Trees as far as the eye could see and the temperature was astounding. Not to mention the humidity. Dar'rak looked down at his arm and could see his sweat pooling from his pours. He was glad that the canopy hid a good portion of the sunlight as he suspected that a large portion of what he was feeling were from a greenhouse effect due to all of the trees. He was definitely on a jungle type planet or one that housed a large majority of one. Dar'rak turned to look at the trunk of the tree he'd been standing in. The bark looked strange to him. Like no tree he'd ever seen before. Could this be why the force called him here? This planet was at risk of deforestation or some other catastrophe?

Dar'rak sat down on the thick branch easily a good 3 meters across to focused his mind and reach out with the force. He wanted to know more about this planet and why he found himself here with no warning. Something was odd however. His connection seemed almost instantaneous. The Force flowed so freely through the trees and in the are around him, that even a Force dead individual would be able to feel it like a gust of wind. He had heard since his youth at the Jedi academy that the Force flows through all living things, it surrounds us, and binds us together; but this was a whole other level of connection. The amount of sensory information was overwhelming to the young Jedi Knight as the very branch he was meditating on started to shift and shake under him.

 

[Kendall Ginn]

Shai'kar approached the site that peaked his interest, and sure enough, before he could even identify an intrusion with his eyes, he felt a presence in the force, unfamiliar yet at the same time it seemed to belong. The reptilian being moved along the canopy with an unbelievably smooth and skilled path. It seemed planned and animated due to his familiarity with the lifestyle. He got close enough to identify a metallic object hanging in the trees, it appears to have been consumed by the foliage, and wouldn't be going anywhere anytime soon. The Hunter slowed and approached cautiously in order to find what being came out of the structure, as there surely would be one. He could even feel the presence of one in the force.

 

[Z'Zharen]

[member="Kendall Ginn"] [member="Dar'rak"]

The Whipid had slowed his pace when he could no longer hear the hissing and snapping of eager jaws from the Trandoshans. He found a large tree and leaned on it, slowly pulling himself around to conceal himself in-case the reptiles were near. In this moment of peace, however brief it might seem. Z'Zharen's inquisitive thoughts began to form. Questioning how he could be so tired so soon. It had been a while since hes been on a planet with such intense heat. Whipid's could adapt to many environments like most sentient beings, however it seemed a bit slower for Whipids to get use to a humid world when they're so use to chilling air and snow.

Z'Zharen tried to control his breathing, remembering his time on Illum. The memories of the icy world brought calm and serene thoughts...those thoughts lead to Joza. He missed her, more than he would admit to himself. She showed him possibilties that he would never have found on his own. The Whipid thumped a closed fist against the tree in frustration and regret. He should have gone with her and Master Dune, even if the rumors of their order were true. Jedi Conquerors, he knew Joza and the Bith master were true Jedi Knights.

He slammed his fist against the tree again, harder this time and leaving an imprint of his fist. Now he was stuck on another unknown world, another waste of his time and efforts and already within a few hours he is being hunted! Hunted by Trandoshans who once captured him, killed his adoptive family and threw him into the slave fighting pits of Nar Shadda.

"RAAAAAAARGH!" Z'Zharen roared and with both large fists, brought them down hard against the tree trunk causing it to tear and tilt over, but not completely break. The bark was strong, Z'Zharen had a tough time snapping branches earlier and subconsciously he tapped into the Force to increase his strength, even then this tree absorbed the damage. This place was strong in the Force, Z'Zharen sighed and slumped against the injured tree. In his mind he apologized to it, he had managed to keep himself in check for months now. The last time he gave into anger was on Geonosis...he tapped into his first Force Ability then...lightning or at the very least sparks. The Force Master he met there was reckless with his students and did not guide their minds in the direction they needed to go. Simply allowing them to push through their limits, without giving warning or advisement.

Fool. Z'Zharen said to his memory of the Magician on Geonosis and to himself for once again giving into anger. Yes he was in danger and yes he may have made wrong choices, but that doesn't change the fact he needs to do what he has always done and that was to survive. He needed to regain some strength, but his reckless outburst of his roar and damage to the tree no doubt attracted the attention of the Trandoshans and whatever else lurked on this Force soaked world.

 

[Dar'rak]

Dar'rak's breath calmed and slowed as he allowed the flow of the Force on this planet to overtake him as he had that first time some months ago. During his stay here the young Knight had learned a great deal about the Force and had gained some insight he had not during his time at the Jedi Academy. He had learned not so much to fight the will of the force as it was like trying to swim up stream against a raging current. All one would manage to do was tire themselves out before being washed away in the tide. Dar'rak knew there must be something he had missed, some lesion the force wanted him to carry with him as he crafted his new Lightsabers. As the young Jedi drifted back into his meditation the objects strode in front of him began to levitate once more...

---

Dar'rak opened his eyes as he felt the earth shake under him. No, not the earth, he was too high up and was not sitting on the ground, it was the branch he was meditating on. It seemed to react to his presence within the Force almost as if it were alive. Dar'rak knew that the force flowed through all living things and even knew that the plants that shared this universe had some semblance of life within them. Some believed they could feel pain and had emotions. Could it be possible that This tree felt him within the force and actually reached out to catch his crashing ship? Dar'rak bushed off the notion as he'd never heard of a sentient plant.

Suddenly the Jedi Knight felt something in the force -- a presence -- he was not alone in the area. Something or someone else was close. Almost if by instinct Dar'rak summoned the hilt of his Lightsaber into his hand and activated the blade. With a hiss and a mellow hum the blade erupted from the hilt and extended to it's full length. Dar'rak's reptilian eyes narrowed as he searched the rich foliage for any signs of movement. He could not sense any ill intent, but he also could not tell if the presence was friendly. There was just so much sensory information flowing into him from the force it was down right intoxicating. His tail twitched behind him as something told him to look up. Dar'rak looked back towards his ship and there just above where it rest was... Well he could not tell exactly what it was due to the shadows that cast from the canopy. The young Dragon growled low as he climbed up after the shape in hopes of getting a better look.

---

@Z'Zharen was not far off from his assumption as it turned out he was just a few hundred yards below where the Jed Knight Dar'rak had landed. The Jungle suddenly came to life with sounds of Birds and the wind as it weaved a web through the branches above the Whipid. On one of the lower branches a large avian landed and looked down at the furry creature before it. Blinking several times as it tilted its head as if trying to figure out what exactly it was looking at. It had long flowing tail feathers that hung below the branch on which it was currently perched. The Avian looked down once more at Z'Zharen before opening it's wings and taking flight into the air just as a thin object flew past the Whipid's face embedding itself into the tree behind him.

If he stuck around long enough to look at the object he would see a thin wooden shaft with feathers adorning the end that was not stuck into the trunk of the tree he'd been leaning against. Pulling on it would reveal the sharp edge of an arrow with some form of liquid coating its surface. Something was out here hunting and our young friend may be their target.

 

[Z'Zharen]

[member="Dar'rak"]

The Whipid's eyes opened wide when something flew by the side of his face. He turned the side of his head while still against the tree to see an arrow jutting from the trunk. Colorful feathers on the end of the projectile, the Whipid grasped it and yanked it out of the tree while quickly turning to take cover behind the injured tree and just as quickly soared by. Light thuds, Z'Zharen could feel as the new arrows hit the trunk he was using to shield him. He felt something wet against his hand, at first he thought he was hit and perhaps bleeding. The liquid on his hand was from the arrow. It looked like tar of some kind, but the Whipid sniffed it and suspected it was poison.

Whatever it was, it started to burn his hand. Z'Zharen dropped it to the forest floor and wiped his hand against the grass. He didn't hear anymore arrows...that probably meant they were close enough now to engage in close combat. Z'Zharen looked around to see if he was being enclosed upon, that was a simple enough hunting strategy. Z'Zharen thought back on his time on Kashyyyk when the hunting party he was apart of would have to evade dangerous prey, the Wookiees would take to higher ground.

Z'Zharen began to climb and once more he felt the light thuds of arrows hitting the tree. Their aim was too close for comfort as he climbed higher, he could see odd shapes in the branches he passed. Shrapnel? A star ship? Could it be the Rodian pilot who brought him here? Did the Trandoshans shoot him out of the sky? The young Whipid warrior pressed on, not sure what he might find in the canopy. An arrow nearly hit his ankle before he pulled himself over a large branch, clinging to the tree he looked like a primitive arboreal creature. He could see above him a little further was in fact a wrecked ship, but not the shuttle of the Rodian. But even further ahead of the ship was something large and growling...it was a Trandoshan already ahead of him? The Trandoshan seemed to be dressed in more civilized attire then his comrades below...was it evading the Whipid since it was climbing up higher now?

Z'Zharen squinted, the figure of the climbing Trandoshan was hard to see now with all the thick branches, he decided to follow the Trandoshan. Now he would turn the tide and once more become the hunter....

 

[Kendall Ginn]

Shai'kar flinched slightly at the activation of the intruder's lightsaber, and with said activation he could now clearly see his target. However, this also meant that his presence was expected, and the hunter would have to attack sparingly to avoid that blade. Another observation being that this being he was now stalking was a native. Not of Shai'kar's tribe, no, this one had different physical attributes, and was dressed as an off-worlder. Shai'kar began lowering on the branch he stood on, slowly as to not be so clearly about to take action. The other being was crawling up to his location. He waited till just before Shai'kar's figure would become clearly visible, as he pulled out a weapon that was essentially a dagger along the end of a tether. It was wrapped around his wrist with the dagger in his hand. Very suddenly Shai'kar dashed to a lower branch, dropping below his opponent, and as the lightsaber wielding reptilian reacted he threw the dagger with precision towards him, attempting to land it in it's core.

@Z'Zharen would see the shift in the situation above, but before he could react a rustling in the branches to his left revealed another of his pursuers, it locked eyes with him and hissed, though the hiss would seem to be directed past him. Another sound from his right would tell the him that they were surrounding him, the one to his left pulled out what could very possibly be used as a net, he'd have to act quickly to avoid being overwhelmed by the hunters.

[member="Dar'rak"]

 

[Dar'rak]

Spoiler: Dar'rak's ship

---

Dar'rak's mind was a race of emotion as he relived events of his arrival here. It was strange experiencing his past in both first person as it was happening again and in third person as an active memory. He wondered if all Jedi who meditated on the past had similar sensations or if this planet had anything to do with how real his memories seemed to feel to him at this very moment. He was trying his best to allow the Force to take him where he needed to go in order to complete his weapon of choice. There was something about the materials he just could not seem to recall and so remained within the memory and allowed events to take place within his mind...

---

Dar'rak managed to make the climb up to where his target was located only for the creature to vanish below him. What was going on here? He had to ask himself. he still could not get a look at what he was chasing but if it intended to flee then he had no qualms about letting it do so. That was until something flew in his direction. With his use of the Force Dar'rak moved to block the object with his blade only to have it deflect off like a blaster bolt. Though the object appeared solid an with a tether of some sort as it fell away from him. Dar'rak's gaze looked to where the projectile had originated and began to see a silhouette of some kind. In fact he could now see several as his natural senses started to kick in.

It was hard at first to distinguish between the warmth of the air around him and that of body heat but he was slowly getting the picture. It seemed like himself whatever was in the area appeared semi-cold blooded. This made them harder to see with infrared due to their bodies acclimating to the temperature of the environment more so over than typical warm blooded species. He couldn't remember if Trandoshan's--one of the most well known reptilian species and one he was mistaken for on more than one occasion--were cold blooded or were fully capable of regulating their own body temperature. Was it possible that he'd crashed on their home world or rather an ancient one? he would have to get a better look at the creature to be sure, but Dar'rak had a familiar feeling from this creature. Like everything else on this planet the Force seemed to radiate from them like a beacon.

Dar'rak looked down to witness a group surrounding another individual ([member='Z'Zharen']). Unlike those that surrounded him he was very much warm blooded as Dar'rak could sense the body heat coming from a fur coat. He suspected that the hunting party that was closing in could also do so. Dar'rak deactivated his Lightsaber and returned it to his belt, suspecting that he may need both if his hands at first if he was going to be of any use in saving the lad. While it was wise to allow nature to take its course as it seemed this other individual would become prey. He could not allow the life of a sentient to go unaided.

Jumping down from his higher branch Dar'rak landed behind Z'Zharen and looked over his shoulder finally recognizing him as a Whipid. Was he a native of this planet or simply a strand like himself. Time for such question would have to be later. as the pair now found themselves surrounded on all sides. "This is quite the mess we find ourselves in stranger." he'd finally reply in his graveled reptilian tongue. "Welcome to the Jungle." Dar'rak reactivate his Lightsaber as the green blade hummed back to life. The newly Knighted Jedi waved his blade in front of him in a tight formation to allow greater defense upon the impending attack. He just hoped it would not come from the Whipid as his back was to him at that moment.

 

[Z'Zharen]

The Whipid had found himself surrounded in the canopy. The branch he stood on was as big as a small landing pad, but once more he was trapped. The Trandoshans still hid a few feet away, masked by the foliage, no doubt waiting for their Alpha to make the first move. Z'Zharen pulled his electro-staff from the sheath on his back. He gripped it tightly, he would have to fight for his life...he may have to abandon some Jedi beliefs if he intended to survive this encounter.

In the distance above, Zhar could have sworn he heard the crackling hiss of a lightsaber being de-activated. The Force could be messing with his senses as it did earlier, this world was misleading. He took a defensive stance, but was prepared to kill if he had to. He had not taken a life since his escape from the slave arena on Nar Shadda.

In a quick moment, something dropped from behind Whipid. The stranger activated a green lightsaber, a Trandoshan Jedi? He welcomed Zhar to the jungle. With enemies all around, Zhar would take any help he could get.

 

[Kendall Ginn]

The two visitors grouped on the large branch they stood, back to back as the hunting party fully placed themselves on the branches surrounding them. No immediate action was taken, and as the two looked around at their enemies they'd see multiple bows raised and the hunters nocking the same poison tipped arrows as before. For a moment just the sounds of the jungle and the activated green lightsaber filled the area.

A creaking on the branch above them would draw their attention, as a reptilian was poised on it, holding a dagger wrapped around it's wrist with a tether. It stared them down intently, and seemed to hold the authority on what the rest of the surrounding beings would do. The leader was camouflaged in the dirt and foliage of the jungle, and it's only heavily distinguishable features were the reptilian eyes glaring at the two.

Shai'kar raised his hand, and the rest of his party tensed, ready for action, he could also see that the two strangers tensed, as expected. He believed they would fight his kin well, and to lose his party was a misfortune he'd prefer not to face, and so he would try to take the two simply, and alive. A series of hisses and other noises indicated speech, and where the Whipid heard nothing, Shai'kar attempted to speak with the other, hoping it had knowledge of the language. "You are at our mercy, drop your defenses and surrender yourselves to us."

If it didn't respond Shai'kar knew some rudimentary galactic basic, as he encountered many intruders of the jungle in his life, and so he would try again if need be.

[member="Dar'rak"] [member="Z'Zharen"]

 

[Z'Zharen]

[member="Kendall Ginn"] [member="Dar'rak"]

As the Whipid and the Jedi stood back to back, their adversaries moved closer. Bows raised, arrows pointed...most likely dipped in poison as the previous shots. With their targets locked on, the Trandoshans...or whatever they were did not yet attack. Zhar was beginning to think this was some sort of cousin to the Trando race as these creatures had long tails.

The jungle was silent save for the hum of the lightsaber and distant sound of wildlife. Up above, another Trando was glaring down at them. The alpha? The Whipid squinted, he whispered to the Jedi. "The one above, I believe is their Alpha. Perhaps if you were to take him out...knock him out." Zhar added, thinking the Jedi who looked like these primitive hunters might want to disarm them alive first before taking any lives.

"Then maybe the others would back down or flee." After he made his suggestion the Alpha above began to hiss. It sounded like it was trying to communicate instead of snarling wildly. Could it hear or even understand Basic? Could this Jedi open a dialogue with the hunters, end this peacefully. "...What do you suggest we do, Jedi?"

 

[Dar'rak]

[member="Kendall Ginn"] | [member=Z'Zharen]

Dar'rak looked at the predicament he and his new friend seemed to be in. Surrounded on all sides by an unknown number of possible enemies. True they could see some of them that directly surrounded them, but how many were unseen? Dar'rak looked back at the Whipid and then up in the same direction to see another poised over them. He held a weapon within his grasp a spearhead it looked like. Dar'rak wondered if that was the weapon thrown at him that his Lightsaber seemed to be unable to cut. Looking at the surrounding archers Dar'rak had to wonder if these weapons were equally resistant to a Jedi's weapon.


Dar'rak turned to look back at Z'Zharen when the Whipid suggested that he try and take on the leader above them. sure it was possible. His skills with a Lightsaber were on par with many an instructor at the academy. However there was a time and place for everything. This land was new to the Jedi and from the way the leader moved he was no stranger to this environment. This meant that the home team was clearly ahead in terms of capable strategy. Dar'rak scanned the branches as he tried to calculate how many arrows were being aimed at the pair. Reaching out with the force as he did so. Yes, he could try and deflect them as he did with the dagger or one would with blaster bolts. These however were not simple blaster bolts with no mass as they traveled. Each arrow would push on his blade as he blocked or deflected it and Dar'rak was unaware of how that would effect his ability to defend both himself and that of his companion.

If he challenged the leader what would stop the archers from taking out the Whipid as soon as he engaged? If he remained stationary, how long before the barrage of blighted arrows would over take them? It was times like this he really wished his master was here. She always seemed to have an encouraging word and was a skilled tactician. She would know what to do. As Dar'rak activated his second blade the native above them started to try and communicate. Dar'rak felt strange as the Alpha 'spoke'. The language was old yet somehow felt familiar to him. Was it the Force? He was not able to make out every word Shai'kar hissed but he looked away and whispered to Z'Zharen'. "Hold that thought. I am not sure if he is challenging us or asking us to surrender. The Force is strong in the area and while I sense fear, there is also confusion among them. I hope you are good with that weapon of yours as this could escalate really fast."

Dar'rak shifted his stance as he relaxed his arms and waved his two blades in front of him. He was still unsure if he should press an attack or wait for them to make a move. There was confliction in the air and he could feel it within himself and also those around him. The leader above them was very radiant with it. Dar'rak could tell that if things got chaotic the leader would not hesitate to attack in full force. Yet there was conflict as he sensed that many of his own warriors could fall this day.

 

[Kendall Ginn]

Shai'kar saw them speak to each other, and could understand parts of the speech. The main aspect he could gleam from it was the clear lack of willingness to give in, either through stubbornness, distrust, or misunderstanding of his commands. The one with the lightsaber swings his weapons lightly side to side, and many of the hunters around them take it as a threatening motion tensing, yet their leader raises hisses to calm them. There is no reason to be on edge as they maintain the advantage in the situation. Shai'kar decides that he would attempt to 'tame' the intruders in a way they may more understand. He stands up slowly and drops down to the branch the two stand on, a bit further down to maintain distance and he pulls out his blade in his left hand, raising it to the pair. Shai'kar does his best to speak what basic he knows. "Give up, We all around you." To solidify his point the reptile threateningly grips his blade, and gestures toward his party around all sides of them.

[member="Dar'rak"],[member="z'zharen"]