Of Castles and Bounty Hunters

[EllieEx]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5chHfK6sCc​

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Of Castles and Bounty Hunters​

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War grips the hearts and minds of many throughout the galaxy,​

And one man in particular aims to take advantage of the situation.​

Tarken Tarask, Founder of the now rising Bounty Hunter's league​

Has arrived on the planet Vena on the boarder of mandalorian space​

to meet with non other than Mand'alore the infernal herself in order​

to negotiate a deal that may assist the war effort and the bounty hunters​

of the League. Accompanying him is the gunslinger Voska naudir,​

Yet another ruffian and stranger to the refined castles of Vena...​

A small shuttle hums gently through the blue sky, reflecting rays of warm sunlight as it passes over the local terrain to slowly touch down on the landing pad of a nearby castle. With a subtle hiss and low steam, the boarding ramp lowers to the ground. From within the dimly lit interior, two figures step out and into the light. The first was a tall, bald man, with dark skin and one eye covered by scars and a rugged eyepatch, clad in a long black leather coat over simple but business like attire, this of course was tarken tarask. As he stepped down from the ramp and onto the landing pad, the second figure followed behind. A mandalorian judging by the brown, T-visor helmet he wore, the rest of his equipment was obscured by the wide, washed out brown cloak that he wore, which wrapped around his figure completely, save for a single slit at the side that revealed his leather bound left arm, which gripped what appeared to be a staff of some sort that ended in two prongs. Both stopped for a moment to look around and observe their surrounds, voska in particular would no doubt take interest in the castle itself, he always enjoyed a good castle.

[member="Yasha Cadera"]

 

[Yasha Cadera]

An honour guard of Mandalorian warriors met [member="Tarken Tarask"]. They led him quietly, intermingled with the folk who passed through the technologically advanced but antique in appearance castle. Close to the throne room, gurlanin in their lupine form rested and padded around the hall, joining the escort with chuffs and sniffs for the ones who came. Neither threatened nor threatening, the gurlanin only curious.

Upon the planet of Vena, Mand’alor the Infernal wore not her hulking Infernal armour, but a golden gown, covered from shoulders to toes in gold-plaited beskar feathers, which grew darker and blacker to shadow at the bottom. The breastplate was inlaid with pearlescent shell and cast ripples and flickers of light across the throne room of the fortified Venan Palace.

She was a raptor in roost, the Queen of this planet and Mand’alor of many. The light reflected by her garments was one she would never see, for the winged crown upon her head, which descended past hidden amber eyes to the bridge of her nose. Black painted lips pressed in a firm but relaxed line, the embarkation point of three tattooed lines which descended beyond her clothing. Armoured bracers resided on her arms, and the mighty Longinus spear sat propped against the black marble throne.

The change in garb was a compromise for the feminine and refined Venans, who thought her armour far too brash. Sat beside Yasha, a girl-child of ten was dressed in burgundy and tan velvet, her mahogany hair braided away from deep, black and red eyes. A silver coronet rested on the girl’s head, [member="Adara Raxis"], Yasha’s firstborn and the heir apparent of Vena’s throne.

“Welcome to Vena, vode. Do please enter that I may entreat with you. You must be tired from your journey, may I offer you refreshments?” Yasha’s voice boomed through the hall.

A smaller voice followed, from the child.

“We do hope you don’t mind, but once we knew you were coming, I took the liberty of procuring two chairs.” Adara smiled, as two marble seats were set not to lower those who came, but to put them at eye level with The Infernal and her Child.

 

[EllieEx]

Tarken and voska Walked quietly with the honorguard. tarken himself observing their equipment, though voska kept his eyes forward, being a mandalorian he wasn't nearly as curios as tarken. Both of them were nervious at first when the gurlanin approached, though tarken would be the only one that visibly concerned for a short time. Voska was of course interested in the castle, he'd been oddly fascinated by architecture since he was a small bobble head of a mandalorian, though he'd never admit it.

Tarken stops in his tracks as he enters the throne room, while her eyes and portions of her face were hidden, the mand'alor's appearance was nothing short of stunning, and regal of course. And here he was, dressed in his simple coat and suit, Merely the public face of hired killers, standing before the leader of a grand warrior culture that spanned many worlds.

"You may, thank you" He says in response to her offer of refreshments. the the child spoke, someone he hadn't heard of nor was he introduced to yet. Something about her eyes were different, or one of them at least. He stared into that fascinating little red orb for a moment, before smiling- He'd just been addressed by the daughter of the mand'alor, and in a simple offer of kindness "Thank you little one, Forgive me but I don't believe we've been introduced yet. I'm tarken, what's your name?" he says with a smile as he approaches his seat, noting that the seating was of equal height to the throne, something so simple, yet so out of place in his mind, as very few rulers would have done the same.

Voska didn't say much, He hadn't been in mandalorian space since the red coronation itself, the mand'alor was a complete mystery to him and he didn't know how to feel about it. Nevertheless, She was the mand'alor and should be respected as such. He gave the infernal and her child a deep nod before sitting.

[member="Yasha Cadera"]

 

[Yasha Cadera]

“Thank you. Do not be alarmed by my cooks, the Hetickles Baatir love food beyond all else, and use it to celebrate every joining and parting.” Yasha’s voice took a jovial turn as three massive bipedal lizards dressed in chef’s whites trundled in with carts of food, drink and traditional Mandalorian meals from across Vena and the Clans. The lizards doled our great plates, setting them up on tables beside Voska & Tarken’s chairs.

Equal chairs to make equal stations.

Adara smiled, and sat straighter in her lighter marble throne, “My pardons. I am Adara of Clan Raxis, firstborn of Yasha, and future Archduchess of Vena. Buir lets me sit beside her, so I might learn how to rule someday. I hope you don’t mind but it’s so much more interesting than math class.” Looking up at her mother, Adara whispered none too softly, “Am I doing alright so far, Buir?”

“Elek, Adara’ika. We must always make our Vode welcome, and offer what we have.” Yasha’s smile grew as she reached over and patted her daughter’s head. “And these Vode have something to negotiate. Let us eat and drink together and let business be pleasant.”

The gurlanin followed, sprawling out by the thrones. One, nigh eleven feet long and black as midnight came to Yasha, and set his massive maw upon the arm of Yasha’s throne with a grumbling sigh.

[member="Tarken Tarask"]

 

[EllieEx]

[member="Yasha Cadera"]

"I appreciate the warm welcome, future archduchess" Tarken said with another warm smile. How could he not? It's hard not to be cheerful around the kids, not to mention you need to be friendly when it's your employer's or business partner's kids.

He nods at the mention of the chefs, and simply waits quietly for them to finish setting the table. voska on the other hand scanned them each several times through various HUD utilities like he did with almost everything he came across whenever he was tasked with guarding someone. He was pretty sure that the mand'alor had little to no reason to harm either of them at the time, it was habit at this point.
Then came voska's internal dilemma, the same that he had been through at a similar meeting with the GCC- his manners and his helmet.
Voska rarely took off his helmet, much less in the company of strangers, though it was rude to forgo food that had been made for you.
Voska sighs silently in his helmet before taking it off and setting it down next to him, revealing his face: Light brown skin with chocolate eyes and shoulder length blackened hair, subtle facial hair above his lips and over his chin

Spoiler

"Thank you" He said, clearing his throat, A hint of westralian detectable in his accent. He'd give them the courtesy of an introduction if they asked, but for now he wanted to keep such things to himself.

Both of them take a few bites of their food, Tarken testing various dishes in front of him, while voska simply picked out the best of what was in front of him, and\or just a few things he hadn't tried yet, He was a mandalorian after all, of course he knew what he'd like. He would have been advising his friend as much as employer on what was the most tasteful, had he not expected tarken to jump straight to business.
Which, he did.

"Mand'alor, If it's quite alright, may I discuss business over our fine dinner?" He said, taking a sip of cassius tea. Once voska had seen the cassius, he slid the pot over towards his side of the table, giving tarken a bemused smile. cassius was one of voska's little comfort drinks.

 

[Yasha Cadera]

“Buir? I like him.” Adara gave Tarken a little wave. She tucked into her own food, happy to sit in with such big adults.

“I’m glad, ad’ika.” Yasha appeared to watch carefully, head shifting this way and that as Voska stayed quiet and careful. Good. A Mandalorian ought to keep one’s skills. If they didn’t, Yasha might have been worried about their quality.

When Voska took off his helmet, a curious change came to the gurlanin closest Yasha’s throne. He pricked his ears, growling in soft tones toward Yasha’s ear. She craned her head, her smile growing. Setting her hand on [member="Ambrose Cadera"]’s soft furred head, Yasha whispered back in Epicant.

“Well met, Mando’ad.” Her elegantly covered hands reached up to the feathered crown-helm. “My guardian says I should be wary. Bounty hunters have oft searched for Adara & myself. Perhaps I am too trusting. But a helm for a helm. It is only fair.”

The crown was lifted from her head. Raven hair cascaded down her back, Olive skin to match the tone around her lips. Yet, amber eyes shut. A golden film covered them in a wide horizontal band, rescuing them from the daylight.

“It is perfectly fine, business is dull without a meal. What is it you wish to broker with Mand’alor the Infernal?” A serene and beautiful, but blind face. She reached for her fork and knife by memorized placement, devouring the meal a piece at a time with the practiced ease of a trained hand and equally sympathetic chefs.

 

[EllieEx]

“Well met, Mando’ad.” Her elegantly covered hands reached up to the feathered crown-helm. “My guardian says I should be wary. Bounty hunters have oft searched for Adara & myself. Perhaps I am too trusting. But a helm for a helm. It is only fair.”

Voska perked up at the word mando'ad, He hadn't expected her to address him, a lowly bodyguard and as she said, bounty hunter. He paid close attention as she removed her helmet, noting the amber eyes, like fire he thought, quite suited to a mand'alor dubbed "the Infernal".

"A bounty hunter would be a fool to target the mand'alor, He'd make more enemies than credits." He pauses for a moment. "Safety aside, such an act would bring dishonor the Naudir... Something I've done too often as it is" The tale end of his sentence was more of a mutter than spoken word. It was true though, However unlikely it was that news had gotten out, he was the eldest son of falken naudir, sister of Vhei "Wasp" naudir, and he had left them to avoid the responsibility of become the clan's alor, just when falken was finally in a position to pass it on to his son. It was one of the reasons that he ironically clung to his chivalrous code.

It is perfectly fine, business is dull without a meal. What is it you wish to broker with Mand’alor the Infernal?”

Both of them had paid special attention when she removed her helmet, watching her expressions, trying to get a feel for her mood and reactions, as would any in their position, it had taken them a moment to realize, but it seemed that she was blind, a fact that voska found quite interesting. Tarken on the other hand, while curious, had business on his mind more than anything else.

"I, Or rather The Bounty Hunter's League, would like to broker a sort of business arrangement with the infernal, and the clans loyal to your cause" He takes another bite of his food, finishing chewing before continuing of course. "I understand that the clans of mandalore have been facing increasingly difficult odds in the war with the Confederacy, and Rumors of war with other galactic nations have been circling. We want the ability to help the clans during these trying times, but of course- My hunters can't act without pay coming into the equation. More or less what I'm here to propose, Are flat rates on the removal of your enemies. It would open opportunities both for members of the league
to find work in a world that is increasingly difficult to make a living in, and for the clans to gain a little bit of an edge on the battlefield. No one doubts mandalore's ability to fend for itself of course, We would be merely easing the effort. If this were to happen, then of course we would cease battlefield bounties accepted from factions that would conflict with the clans, Can't have our people fighting our people can we? And the league simply wouldn't be trustworthy if our interests conflicted"

Taken kept a neutral tone and face throughout his proposal, and sipped his drink when it was done, clasping his hands together and waiting for her response, hoping that it sounded agreeable to her. He expected one of two things to happen next, there was no real reason in his mind for her to flat out deny the proposal right off the bat, so either she would make a comment about the similarities between this and a simple mercenary contract, in which case he'd happily explain, or she'd skip rights toasking about prices.

[member="Yasha Cadera"]