Faction The Iron Path [Mandalorian Empire]

[Kaela Voss]

Tags: Dayr Verd // Rynar Solde

"I shoulda picked a small remote or probe instead of the tape," Kaela remarked sarcastically as she grabbed a small length of rope, probably intended for securing equipment, from the survival pack.

While Kaela had mentioned climbing cliff faces as being the more formidable potential obstacle, she actually had more experience climbing them than trees, but she still knew how to climb, and whether a tree or rock, she'd be able to handle it.

"It would probably be better if I take the map up with me, that way I can enter what I see directly instead of trying to describe it for someone else." Kaela said, putting the holomap into a pouch on her belt.

Rather than trying to scramble up to grab a branch, Kaela ran the rope around the tree and leaned back, using her weight and friction to climb the tree, shimmying the rope up until she reached the branch Cupcake was perched on. Not wanting to put even more weight on the already stressed branch, she quickly pulled herself onto the branch and used the same technique to pull herself further. Keala kept going, repeating that technique until she reached a solid branch above the canopy; then she used the rope to tie herself off the tree, hooking it to her belt, took out the holomap, and started looking around for useful landmarks.

 

[Torva Verd]

Torva was greeted by Seris first after introducing herself, and following in behind that was Viers, who waved at them both. Torva listened closely as Seris examined their holomap which was decidedly not as helpful as it otherwise would have been - but that was the point. The red head continued to listen to Seris share her thoughts on their situation - the fact that they had the high ground and therefore had an advantage to better see the lay of the land below them and figure out a plan from there.

Torva turned her blue eyes away from the map and outwards to the wilderness that spread out around them. Her eyes found and tracked the river below, gazed over the distant forests, and then at the plateau they currently stood on.

"Anything either of you see that I don't?" Seris inquired of the other two, and Viers spoke next and offered her insight.

"I agree with Seris; we have an advantage with our drop-off point. Higher ground is better than lower… we can see how far we can see… and map out the best we can. Before we head out blindly?"

“I agree with with you both. We have the high ground, that affords us an advantage here. High ground always offers a perspective that you would not see from lower elevations.” Torva continued to scan the terrain, her body turning slowly as she took full stock of their situation, and she noticed something that, to her, was a little more pressing than the river down below.

“The river is one thing - but getting off this plateau is another. Its edges are steep, and from here I can see sheer cliffs that drop fifty or more feet. I think we need to find a suitable place to descend first, then we can sit here and begin searching for a good place to cross. And I also agree with you too, Viers - the map doesn’t look complete, and I think it would be smart for us to fill it in as we go. We are not in a rush, so we can take our time on this.”

She turned her gaze back to Seris and Viers. “What do you think?” ​

Seris Mataan | Viers Connory​

 

[Rynna]

Nyva Shei Avast Verd​

Rynna watched the shuttle leave, her stomach tying itself in knots as her gaze moved from it to her team mates and the sloping hil they’d been left upon. She could hear the river below them, and somewhere nearby a bird was singing. If it wasn’t for the fact that this was an assessment and nerves overrode everything else, she might have had a chance to truly appreciate the beauty of it.

The Warmaster’s message did little to alleviate her nerves. At the very least, this wasn’t a competition. When the blue holoimage faded and gave way to the map again she looked to her team mates, the first, a green skinned miralukan who introduced herself with a friendly smile and a bow.

The second was a dark skinned woman with an accent that felt like an amalgamation of things. Then she dropped her name and rynna’s eyes widened. A Verd. she blinked her face back under control and returned the smile. “I’m Rynna.” the young teen glanced around them.

“I brought a vibroknife and a grappling glove.” she shrugged then her eyes went wide again “Wait...you think the wildlife might eat us?!”

She bit her lip nervously looking round. “I’ve never done anything like this before…”

 

[Aurodium]

Spoiler

Kaela Voss Dayr Verd Rynar Solde

From the higher branches, the valley revealed more of its shape. The river stretched away in both directions, winding through the lowlands before disappearing between the rising slopes. Upstream, the rocky plateau stood out against the surrounding terrain, its uneven edge overlooking the water. Beyond it, the land climbed steadily towards the northern mountains, where jagged ridgelines rose against the clouded sky. Somewhere among those distant heights lay the checkpoint marked on their holomap, though from this distance it was impossible to make out anything resembling a structure.

Across the river, dense woodland covered the opposite bank, stretching from the water's edge into the lower hills. The canopy formed an almost unbroken expanse of dark green, interrupted only by occasional clearings and patches of exposed rock. Further downstream, the valley dipped into a low basin where pale fog had gathered between the hills, obscuring much of the terrain beyond it. The mist shifted slowly across the ground, revealing fleeting glimpses of the landscape before swallowing them again.

Closer to the team, the riverbank was uneven and strewn with boulders, some partially submerged where the current ran strongest. The water appeared relatively narrow from the tree, but its speed was unmistakable, curling around exposed rocks and breaking into white turbulence in several places. Steep slopes rose behind the bank, their surfaces broken by scrub, loose stone and scattered trees. There was no clear trail visible along the water's edge, and the thick vegetation made it difficult to judge how easily they might travel through the surrounding ground.

The elevated view offered a useful overview of the terrain, enough to mark the river's general course, the plateau upstream, the woodland across the water and the distant fog basin on their holomap. It did not reveal the details of the ground beneath the trees, nor could it show what lay hidden around the river's bends or behind the folds of the hills.
​

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[Nyva Shei]

I take my turn presenting my weapon. The other two have already shown theirs, so I suppose it's finally time to reveal the secret behind Cane Cudgel. I can't help but smile at the thought of explaining it here, of all places, under these circumstances. Never in my life would I have imagined willingly revealing something like this, especially considering it's supposed to be my secret weapon, so to speak.

"Cane Cudgel operates in two different ways. First and foremost, it's a close quarters melee weapon, sturdy enough to withstand a lightsaber strike or deflect blaster fire without much trouble. But... it has another little trick up its sleeve."

Twisting the cane's handle counterclockwise, I reveal a concealed opening at its tip, along with a tiny sight that allows me to aim properly. Granted, it's rather small, but it gets the job done. Reaching into my ammunition pouch, I pull out what looks like a miniature rocket.

"I can fire little rockets like this one, armor-piercing rounds, explosive projectiles... You name it. And this is where I reload."

To demonstrate, I snap open the curved section of the cane or rather, unclip it, since it's specifically designed to come apart that way. I then slide a round into the straight section of the hollow shaft, much like loading a shotgun. In fact, the mechanism works on practically the same principle.

With a practiced flick of my wrist, the cane follows the motion and snaps neatly back into place. Just like that, it's loaded and ready to fire. I casually lower its tip to the ground and resume walking with it, as though I hadn't just demonstrated that my walking stick was also a concealed firearm.

"Secondly, I've got this. A healing potion. It's remarkably effective at treating injuries, even serious ones. Think of it as a healing stim, except this particular formula is my own invention. Same goes for Cane Cudgel, actually. I designed and built both of them myself."

With my weapons and technological gadgets thoroughly introduced, I consider my little presentation complete. Now, all that's left is to continue alongside my team and see what the next set of trials has in store for us.

Rynna Avast Verd

 

[Kael Varr Bastiel Skirata]

Tags: Garo Vevut-Varkor Alsin Vex
OBJECTIVE: The Iron Path: Team Vheh

Spoiler: Gear

Primary Weapon: Plasma Bow
Tech: Medic Drone

Kael smiled at his pack mate, then gently tapped Alsin on the shoulder. "I see the Force in many of those who haven't felt it yet for themselves. It could be just your sight, but it could be more. Every flame can grow through tending and kindling." He unslung his bow and started moving after Garo. "Garo, slow up; we have one still getting their footing." Kael embraced the force, shining a bit brighter so that Alsin could sense it better. Kael looked through the tangle of trunks and branches to the valley and the ridge in the far distance; the hollow map he had said that ridge was their destination.

 

[Garo Vevut-Varkor]

​

(Need to re--do it sorry!

 

[Ryela Solde]

Team Shaap

Perseus Elian Abrantes

Ryela glanced up from her scanner when Perseus finally introduced himself, offering him a friendly smile. At least now she knew both her teammates' names, and having someone who understood wilderness survival was considerably more reassuring than she cared to admit. She listened as he explained how they would navigate through the swamp, following his gestures toward the surrounding trees and the direction of their destination. Most of it made sense, although she wasn't entirely convinced she could have figured out their bearings with an ordinary watch. That was probably something worth learning, especially if her scanner stopped working.

"Okay, so northeast," she repeated, looking in the direction he'd indicated. "I can remember that." The instructions about testing the ground ahead of them were a little less encouraging. Ryela looked down at the mud already clinging to her boots, imagining what might happen if she stepped somewhere considerably deeper. She was only thirteen and not particularly tall, so the possibility of disappearing into a muddy hole up to her hips was hardly appealing. Still, she wasn't about to let either of her companions think she was frightened of a little swamp.

She found a fallen branch that seemed sturdy enough and worked at breaking it down to a manageable length, using her boot to brace it against the ground. Once satisfied, she tested its weight and gave the muddy earth ahead of her an experimental prod. "You know, I thought this was going to involve more climbing and maybe some target practice," she admitted, glancing toward Perseus and Elian with a crooked smile. "Nobody mentioned we'd be spending half our time trying not to sink."

Ryela adjusted the strap of her scanner and checked its display once more, intending to keep an eye on the terrain as they traveled. She wasn't about to argue with Perseus's experience, particularly when he seemed to know exactly what he was doing. Besides, she'd come here to prove she could handle herself without her father constantly looking over her shoulder. Following sensible instructions was probably a better way to accomplish that than getting stuck in a swamp before they'd even reached their first obstacle.

"Ready when you are," she announced, planting her makeshift walking stick firmly beside her. Her confidence was genuine enough, even if she privately hoped the ground ahead would be considerably less unpleasant than what they'd already encountered.

 

[Rynar Solde]

Tags: Dayr Verd Kaela Voss

Rynar watched Kaela disappear into the canopy, one hand resting idly against his hip as he followed her progress. The rope was a sensible touch, even if he wasn't entirely convinced he'd have chosen quite the same method himself. Still, she seemed comfortable enough with the climb, and he wasn't about to hover over her shoulder every second she was off the ground.

The view from above proved worth the effort. As Kaela began marking the surrounding terrain on the holomap, Rynar lifted his gaze toward the distant plateau and the mountains beyond it. They had a better idea of the landscape now, even if the details remained hidden beneath the thick canopy. The checkpoint was still out of sight, but at least they had a clearer direction to work toward.

"Well, I'll be damned. That's a sight better than guessing from down here."
He glanced toward Dayr as the younger man adjusted his scanner.

"And don't misunderstand me earlier, son. I wasn't telling Kaela she shouldn't climb. I was telling her to think about what she's climbing before she does it. There's a difference between caution and hesitation, and I'd rather see someone make a calculated decision than take a risk simply because they're eager to get moving."

Rynar gave him a friendly nod, acknowledging that Dayr had a point about letting Kaela decide how much elevation she needed. After all, she'd volunteered for the job, and she seemed perfectly capable of judging her own limits.

"She's got the map up there, you've got the scanner down here, and we've got a decent picture of what's ahead. That's a good start. We can compare what she sees with what the sensor picks up as we move, and if something doesn't add up, we investigate before making assumptions."

He turned his attention back toward the river, watching the current slip around the boulders. His eyes lingered on the uneven bank and the rising ground beyond it, mentally weighing the route ahead.

"Still, that plateau isn't going anywhere. We'll work toward it, but we'll keep an eye out for easier footing along the way. No point making a difficult journey harder than it needs to be."

A sudden weight slammed into his side.

Rynar staggered half a step as nearly five hundred pounds of overenthusiastic nexu attempted to turn him into a convenient climbing frame. One arm shot out to steady himself while Cupcake shoved her broad head against his shoulder, apparently having decided that her person had spent quite enough time paying attention to everyone else.
"Kriff's sake, Cupcake!"

He planted his boots firmly, caught the nexu by the shoulders, and pushed her back off him with the practiced effort of a man who'd dealt with this particular nonsense far too many times. Cupcake landed on all fours, looking up at him with bright eyes and an expression of absolutely shameless innocence.

Rynar stared down at her.
"You're a bloody menace, you know that?"
Cupcake's tail swept back and forth.

He sighed, reached into the cargo pocket of his jeans, and produced a strip of jerky. The moment she spotted it, her attention shifted with remarkable efficiency from assaulting her owner to negotiating the acquisition of snacks.
"Yeah, that's what I thought."

He tossed the jerky to her. Cupcake snapped it up and settled nearby, occupied with her prize for the time being.
Rynar brushed a few leaves from his shirt and looked back up toward Kaela's position in the tree.

"I've got a good feeling about that one," he remarked to Dayr, a slight grin settling beneath his faint mustache. "She's practical, thinks on her feet, and isn't afraid to put herself to work. Might've brought enough space tape to repair half a starship, but she's already proving she can do more than turn a wrench."
His gaze returned to Dayr, and his expression grew a little more thoughtful.
"Speaking of which, I've been meaning to ask you something."

He rested his hands on his hips, studying the younger Mandalorian with open curiosity rather than the scrutiny of an interrogation.
"Where'd you grow up, Dayr? You seem comfortable working with the scanner and the map, and you've got a good head for assessing the situation. But that doesn't always translate to knowing your way around somewhere like this."

He nodded toward the dense jungle surrounding them.
"Have you spent much time in environments like this before? Thick canopy, unfamiliar wildlife, ground you can't properly see until you're standing on top of it? Or is this your first proper venture into the green?"

Rynar glanced briefly toward the river before looking back at him.
"There's no wrong answer, by the way. Knowing what you haven't dealt with before is just as important as knowing what you have. Helps us figure out where we might need to compensate for each other."

He gave Dayr an encouraging nod, then tilted his head toward the tree where Kaela was finishing her survey.
"Once she's got those landmarks recorded, we'll compare notes and get moving. We've got a destination, a direction, and a little more information than we started with. That's enough to make the next decision."

At his feet, Cupcake finished her jerky and immediately began eyeing the cargo pocket it had come from.
Rynar noticed.

"Don't even think about it. That was your share."

 

[Rynar Solde]

(ignore, mistake)

 

[Alsin Vex]

Kael Varr Bastiel Skirata Garo Vevut-Varkor

Alison gave Kael a surprised look. Yes she had a connection to the Force, but anyone suggesting she could actually train it was different. She looked a little surprised, but quickly started following Kael and Garo.

“So Kael and Garo.” She repeated their names, making sure she had them down. There was one good thing about being teamed up with Force Users. They were easier to track and follow. And she had her spear which right now was being used more as a walking stick to sure her footing.

“Ok. River’s probably the easiest thing to navigate from, right?” She asked as she continued to follow. She was from an urban area after all. Yes she got through a city that was reduced to rubble, but that was still different than this. She’d look at the map, trying to get her bearings.