Survival Training Guide To Veradune

[Decker Willo]

Decker Willo had decided that now was the time. He needed to look further into these...abilities he had. How he could feel something coming, how he had managed to move things simply with thoughts and motion of his hands. He knew what it was. It was the Force. How he had come to realize he was sensitive now, and not some many years before confused him. He had heard stories of children doing what he did, learning young. He was at least thirty by now, and yet had not learned a thing. And so, he contacted anyone he could in the Dark Hand. Hoping someone could provide answers. And he gave a location, a spaceport where they could meet up with him if someone could offer forth some answers for him. He hoped that someone would give him answers. While he waited, he toyed with some trinket he had gotten while his Ashlan Wolf sat at his feet.

[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen had been busy when he received Decker's message, being a king and a CEO, often left him with little time for personal pursuits. Still, he did manage to send an escort out to pick up the budding force sensitive. As Decker sat with his wolf, a man with familiar features would approach him, clearing his throat. With golden eyes, and a grey wolfish tail that flicked from side to side behind him, the Zorrenfixed Willo with an appraising look. "I suppose you're mister Willo. The Valde has dispatched me to take you to Veradune. If you would be so kind as to follow me."

[member="Decker Willo"]

 

[Decker Willo]

Decker glanced up as someone came. And suddenly, he caught a glance of a tail. Somehow, he never noticed a Zorren had that. Decker stood up, nodding. The Ashlan wolf leaped up and climbed up and over his shoulder, resting there. He gave it a quick snack once it settled up. "Yeah, Willo. Lead the way" he said. He was prepared to follow on the way. He was ready to follow, and he wondered just whom was offering their help. The Valde?

[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Making his way to a simple ship, the Zorren started up the ramp and towards the pilot's seat, simply expecting Willo to follow him. Getting ready for take off, he would speak once more as Willo found himself a seat. "Have you been to Veradune before mister Willo?" The ramp would close behind the man as the ship started to lift up and leave the planet's atmosphere, preparing to go into space towards the Zorren homeworld.

[member="Decker Willo"]

 

[Decker Willo]

"Uh, once. Some gathering not too long ago" Decker answered in return. He took a seat and then the ramp lifted. And the ship began take off procedures and off they went. "The Valde...who is that?" he asked, looking to the pilot compartment. Would they be someone to give answers, to help him control this or at least teach him how to use it properly? That was all he wanted, for now. The wolf climbed off his shoulder to his lap, and lay there.

[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

"The Valde would be the leader of Veradune, Vulpesen Torrevaso. He's also the man who contracted the Vitae to your Black Hand." Steering the ship out into the planet's orbit, the pilot then eased it into hyperdrive, setting them off on a course to the wild planet. "I'm surprised you hadn't known of his title. For us, it would be something akin to a king or a president on other worlds."

[member="Decker Willo"]

 

[Decker Willo]

Vulpensen...He knew that name. But only just barely. "Well, I haven't gotten around much. You miss a bit in solitude." He had been sticking by his squadron most of the time. Endless training ops, touching up on skills and even training for ground combat in case the situation called for such a thing. Which he certainly hoped it would not. "So he's trained in the force, then? Didn't know that..." In fact, he didn't know many people who were.

[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

"Trained by both the jedi and the sith, or so we're told. He's been doing his best to learn the ways of our wilders, but such things don't come easy. Still, I'm told he at least shows a knack for it." Continuing on through space, the pilot spoke fairly little, only responding to a few simple questions that Willo might have. Upon reaching Veradune, landing was swift and Decker would be escorted to a small transport to take him to the city gates, where Vulpesen waited. While usually the Valde was happy to meet people on the pad and escort them around Veradune, there were times when he recognized that business came first.

[member="Decker Willo"]

 

[Decker Willo]

Decker listened. He had known little of Sith and Jedi. The legends around them, of the force. Of all of that stuff some found mystical. From there he remained silent, Decker thought he knew all he needed to know for now about Vulpensen. Upon arriving, he was escorted via transport to the gate, and there Vulps was meant to be waiting for him. Decker stood at attention upon arriving, showing utmost respect and discipline.

[member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

With the escort then turning to leave, Vulpesen found himself smiling a bit at the sight of Decker's formal stance. With years as the head of state, eh had grown used to stiff backs in his presence. But that was from those he was in command over. For a guest to stand with such rigid posture, he could feel a small tingle of curiosity in the back of his head. "You must be Decker. Good to see ya. And please, relax. You're a guest here, not one of my subjects or employees." Walking over, the Valde extended a hand in welcome.

[member="Decker Willo"]

 

[Decker Willo]

Decker Willo was soon approached by @Vulpesen. The pilot nodded upon acknowledgement. "Yes, Decker Willo. And you are Vulpesen, then? I believe we met, when I got this little guy" he said, scratching the Ashlan Wolf under it's neck. He took the hand in welcome then, shaking it. As he did, he looked about. Last he was here, he had not seen as much of the place as he would have liked. He just went in for the gathering, then off he had gone. "So...when can I start asking questions?"

 

[Vulpesen]

"I remember it." Looking down at the Ashlan wolf, Vulpesen smiled a bit, making sure to instruct Ace to shut off all contact. It was nothing personal, but he did have a few plans that such a link could prove detrimental to. "I take it you haven't found a suitable name yet. Don't worry too much about it. Ashlans understand words nowhere near as much as they do general feelings and ideas. As for questions, I suggest you ask as many as you wish right now. Your initial training won't allow for many opportunities once it starts.
[member="Decker Willo"]

 

[Decker Willo]

He patted it's head a bit. "Myn. I called the little guy Myn. Think of it as the new mascot to Mynock Squadron, the crew loves the little guy." He was a little bundle of joy and sometimes tended to hide and jump on the crew. Not hurt them, just surprise them. Decker looked from Myn and to [member="Vulpesen"] as he began speaking of questions and training. "First off...well, I recently came in contact with this 'inner power' of mine and am very confused. Are you able to tell just how powerful it is? And second, how do you plan on teaching me?"

 

[Vulpesen]

"I see... good name, I guess." Even as he spoke, his own companion, Ace, popped out of his pocket to nod in agreement. "That inner power of yours is the force. I'm sure you've heard the spiel. Galactic energy that surrounds and penetrates us. Its everywhere and can do pretty much anything so long as you have the control and the power to harness it. As for how powerful it is... it can grow. Right now you are weak. But given time, you can do so much more with it than you might have ever even imagined." The second question brought a smirk to the Valde's lips, and he walked over to lean against a nearby tree.

"Honestly, I was always a horrible teacher. I learned by fighting in war zones. I never understood classrooms when it came to something like this. The short answer is... I don't. I won't teach you. But it will." Motioning to what it was, Vulpesen indicated the massive forest of which they were at the very edge. "Any questions you have, i'm happy to answer them. Your goal is simple. Move through the forest, meditate, survive, and reach the end. Every night at midnight, I will find you. And I will tell you what direction the goal is. Simple enough, I think. At the very least, it should tell me what I'm working with."

[member="Decker Willo"]

 

[Decker Willo]

Decker Willo just spotted [member="Vulpesen"]'s companion. "Yeah, I've heard of it. Jedi, Sith. Stories, such and such. Just don't now how it works." Vulps put it as his was weak, his power. And then added that with time, he could do more with it. For now, all he could do is sense an imminent attack or struggle to move something without touch. Decker followed Vulps, and looked down...and gulped. A big forest, and he was meant to go in there. "Anything I can bring with? Blaster? Gear?" It couldn't be that hard, right? Sure he didn't know how to handle a blaster. But they were animals. They couldn't shoot back, he could. They couldn't cook things, he could. He was seeing a bit of challenge, just not that much in all this. Maybe this would be easier than expected...

 

[Vulpesen]

Grinning a bit, Vulpesen reached behind his tree and pulled out a blaster, a vibroknife, and fair amount of cordage, all of which he tossed to Decker. "Glad you asked... these are all the materials you'll be allowed. No other weapons. This isn't a test to see how you can just rough it. This is mean to see you reach beyond your physical means. I learned in the perils of battle. You can learn in the peril of the wilds. Which by the way... you have 15 shots. Any other questions?" There was a lift in his voice as he asked his question. He wanted Decker to ask. To inquire and learn what he could. It was, after all, his best chance at survival.

[member="Decker Willo"]

 

[Decker Willo]

Decker managed to catch them all, well almost. The vibroknife fell to the ground, just missing his foot. He bent down, and picked it up. Maybe this would be a little harder. "What is down there, exactly...also...how am I getting down there?" he asked, looking down then back up to @Vulpesen. Being dropped off by a ship? Walked there? He was most curious on this. And what dangers he would face down there. He didn't know of any dangers of nature on this planet. How deadly it could be compared to Naboo his home planet. Which had plenty of natural dangers in the forests and swamps.

 

[Vulpesen]

Smart question. And one that might save his life later on. "Teradin trees. Watch out for the limbs on their trunks, they have a paralytic poison which will work just long enough for it to pull you into the leaves where you'll be digested. There's the acid spitting Zipher which are bipedal reptilians. Avoid those, but injure one of them if you get attacked. The others will attack it if it looks weaker than you. The Arlusk is massive, but it'll provide a good source of meat when you get hungry. I suppose I should also give you this, as even I haven't memorized what is and isn't dangerous." Reaching into his pocket, the teacher pulled out a pocket guide to the planet's flora which he then tossed to [member="Decker Willo"]. "Basically, everything in there can and will try to kill you. Even whatever you decide to try and eat. As for how you're getting in... You're walking. Heres a good a point as any. Any more questions?"

 

[Decker Willo]

Decker listened. So...the trees paralyzed, and then eat you. Reptilians that spit acid...now doubt will try to eat you too. The Arlusk.... "Let me guess, the Arlusk can eat me too?" What fun he was in for. The planet wanted to eat him. He caught the guide and looked through it, and grimaced the further he got through it. "You aren't kidding...everything." And then he looked up, and sighed. He was walking. So, he started walking. As he did, he looked over his shoulder. "Yeah, when do I stop walking? What's the end?" How far was he meant to go? And the real question...was he up to this? Truly, was he up to this? [member="Vulpesen"]

 

[Vulpesen]

"The arlusk? No, its completely herbivorous. It'll just gore and trample you to death, leaving only a puddle of Vaguely human remains in the crimson mud." Despite the horror of his words, there was a slight turn in his lips, a playful smile as though he were completely fine with the mortality of the man before him. "Reach out with the force. Meditate and do your best to sense the world around yourself. On the other side, I have a few friends that have agreed to act as beacons. I will do my best to hide from your sense so you don't get confused and come backtracking. But beware, this will not be done in a day." Turning his head for a moment, Vulpesen relished in the loud series of pops and cracks which relaxed his muscles. "So, any other questions?"

[member="Decker Willo"]