Loutaro Juan Raul Conzalla
Character
New Cov, a border world between the Sith Empire and the High Republic. One that lived and existed at the faintest edge of light and prosperity. Though one wouldn't be able to tell by looking at it. No, New Cov was a world that had prepared itself for what would only be inevitable bloodshed and war. However, war was not the only danger to exist in this Galaxy. The Dark Side was a tempting mistress. Power, control, the almost certain illusion that you could bend the will of the force and the Galaxy to serve you and your desires. It was temptation and seduction at its highest caliber.
It had wormed its way onto this planet. Reports had come down from the various local authorities that were cycled up to regional and eventually to system wide that a small Sith Cult or Dark Side Cult had been brewing in the darkest parts of the planet. Normally this would be harmless, a couple of punk kids messing with runes and tomes and professing their allegiance with dark forces before they got drunk and fooled around. This was not that unfortunately. Which is why it was kicked up to the Jedi.
If reports were to believed, people had gone missing. While it wasn't uncommon for people to go missing in a jungle, this was different. People had been taken from their beds in the night. They had been taken while going to do simple chores. Their belongings just left without signs of struggle. People report seeing creatures in the mist of the jungle, strange animals twisted and mutated by what feels to be an encroaching sense of dread and doom. All of it pointed towards some kind of group casting dark side based rituals somewhere in the jungle brush. Causing havoc and preparing for the arrival of their masters.
This was the first time Loutaro had left Naboo. His first mission out for the Jedi. The task was simple for a Padawan. Confirm and verify reports of a cult. Interview witnesses, scout the terrain, find concrete proof that this was happening and the dark side was at play here. He had been dispatched with others from the High Republic. A small team of soldiers and a few droids and personnel. He was aware that the local villages had hired on various mercenaries and troubleshooters as well, however he paid it no mind. He was aware of the custom of hiring mercenaries and muscle from his time living on his families farm. Banditos, raiders, looters, whatever you wanted to call them. It always helped having a few guns around.
Breaking atmosphere, his shuttle pilot put down the ship deep within the jungles of New Cov where the reports had been coming in from. A small town if you could even call it that with a landing space that amounted to a clearing of cut trees and burnt and churned earth to keep vegetation from growing back. The loading ramp opened and Loutaro was hit with the full concentrated power of jungle humidity and sun.
Waiting for him was a rather rotund older human man in what could be described as fanciful clothing. Around him were several armed men and a protocol droid. A welcoming party perhaps?
"Greetings esteemed officials of the High Republic and Jedi Order. Welcome to Rethero our humble little town. I am Mayor Chieftain Delegate whatever you wish to call me I am in charge and my name is Ghelbert. Please if there's anything you need for your investigation inform me." The man gave a courteous bow and allowed the delegation to proceed.
Loutaro remained silent as the droids and soldiers began to move forward and speak. The din of the conversation faded into the background as he looked out into the dense jungle. Something here felt wrong. It was as if the air and environment itself was trying to rip its own face off. A low faded scream of a wound that had torn into itself some time ago. Loutaro simply looked out at the town then out into the Jungle once more. Something was out there, something evil and something dark. Clawing at the minds and souls of himself and the people who inhabited this frontier.
They needed to find it, and they needed to drag it into the light.
