First Reply The Lady's Command || HR and Jedi Welcome!

[Roberd Courbis]

Thyferra Burns.

The Lady of House Von Ascania went boldly into the fray, perhaps the bravest warrior Ukatis had to offer.

Yet Roberd was not at her side.
​

He had protested, of course, her decision to keep him away from the fighting on Thyferra. Yet he swore his oath to serve her, and her command was to remain on Ukatis, to watch over a world still healing from the scars of the previous Sith to ravage its surface. Roberd had not heard from Corazona since she departed to confront the Sith, but he held to the belief that she had escaped the bloodshed unharmed. King Fabian had been one of the few members of the nobility to allow Roberd to serve the realm, despite his apparent treason during the previous rebellion, but that did not mean he was particularly welcome in the halls of the mighty. Instead, Roberd had chosen to serve the people of Ukatis in the way of the old Knights that often filled the tales of young children, those who bore no gilded armor but instead took to the road and slept under the open sky while striving to protect the weak and innocent.

This service was in dire need in these dark days, as thousands of refugees fled the Sith advance and sought refuge on Ukatis.

Naturally, the King sought to help as many as he could. His heart was good and his words earnest.

But his nobles were not so eager to obey. ​

Their estates and villas were naturally free from the stink of the common folk, and they weren't about to allow hundreds of weak, starving people into their homes because of a war they had no interest in fighting. Instead, makeshift camps began to pop up amongst the fields and villages, refugees uniting into small communities for protection and to pool their resources- what few they had that was. The local peasantry were kind folk; they did what they could to help those less fortunate than themselves, but there was only so much that they could do when faced with so much suffering, not to mention the threat from that most common and terrible of wartime diseases.

Banditry. ​

While the Royal Army kept order and peace, they could not be everywhere at once. The bandits had become adept at targeting the most isolated of villages and refugee communities, taking their "taxes" and sinking back into the woods and foothills to revel in their ill-gotten loot. They would take whatever they wished and feared no repercussions, for who would stand up for those who had nothing?

A Knight. Old as he was, Roberd held to his oath. ​

Wearing little more than a traveling cloak over a dark blue tunic and trousers, Roberd traveled from town to town, with little more than a Ukatin warblade and a temperamental steed to his name. He knew the countryside better than any man alive; he knew full well that bandits got sloppy after facing so little resistance. The particular group he had been tracking had grown in size, perhaps two dozen men who had taken up arms and begun to threaten several refugee communities. The Knight of House Von Ascania had been on their trail for a week, and it was only after a hard day of travel that he arrived at their latest target, a fortified settlement with hastily built wooden walls and sentries posted at the gate.

These bandits thought themselves petty lords. ​

Overlooking their fief from a hilltop, Roberd gently brushed his fingers through his mount's mane to calm it after its long day of travel. He had many ideas on how he was to tackle this newest threat, outnumbered as he was, but he knew he needed to cut the head from the snake if he wanted to make sure these bandits did not return.

He was just about to dismount when he suddenly felt a pair of eyes on him, his hand moving to rest on the hilt of his sword, prepared to draw it at a moment's notice.

"If you have come to kill me, I suggest you reconsider."

TAGS: OPEN
REFERENCED: Corazona von Ascania ​

 

[Loomi]

Ukatis
Tags: Roberd Courbis

Epo-1, Lushi​

"If you have come to kill me, I suggest you reconsider."

"I can insist that I'm very much not here to do that, sir!"

Loomi stepped forward to make herself apparent, emerging from her cover behind the foliage of the hilltop. Her hands were raised to show that she was not yet armed, and she wore an apologetic smile.

"Apologies," the Godoan continued. "I was only drawn in by the feeling of anticipation in the air. I followed those feelings here. I'm a friend, I can assure. Loomi Reyallus Atelle, Jedi Knight."

She didn't approach yet, not wanting to do so unless the man allowed her to do so. After all, she had no context to what was going on here. Loomi was still on her pilgrimage, traveling from place to place to deepen her understanding of the Force. She remembered that dark nexus that Corazona von Ascania had brought the New Jedi Order to purify. Truthfully she had come looking for memories, something in the Force that would teach her more about that day. If the Knight could know what caused those dark nexuses, maybe she could prevent them.

Now, though, it seemed she had stumbled into something else.

"That anticipation, it is your emotion, right?" the young Jedi asked, not offering any clarification on her nature as an empath. She forgot it was a strange trait of hers sometimes. "You're intending to do something here?"

A brief pause, and then...

"Can I help?"

 

[Roberd Courbis]

TAG: Loomi

She certainly wasn't from Ukatis.
​

Roberd's hand slowly moved away from this sword, the old knight remaining silent as this new arrival explained herself. While she was scant on details about why exactly she ended up on the same hilltop as him, Roberd wasn't exactly going to pretend he understood how Jedi operated, especially given how much difficulty he experienced trying to comprehend the mystical power his Lady and the order that had defended Ukatis wielded. Lady Corazona had briefly attempted to describe her connection to the cosmic power, but the knight was utterly lost in the mysticism that came with it.

He knew how to fight. He knew how to do the right thing. That's all he needed to know.

"My apologies for the hostility, Master Jedi. I did not expect to encounter a friendly face so far from civilization."

Roberd bowed his head slightly to show his respect, one that had grown since the defeat of the usurper and the Sith, which felt like a lifetime ago. While he had been on the wrong side of that conflict, that did not mean his respect for the Jedi Order had faded; if anything, it was stronger now than it had ever been before.

That being said, this particular Jedi was strange. Of course he understood that nearly any sentient being could become a Jedi Knight, but his experience with other species was limited, more so with ones that appeared to be able to read his emotions, and potentially his mind. Roberd did attempt to clear his mind of any misgivings about this offworlder, as he refused to cling to the old prejudices of the nobility and welcomed all who would see Ukatis safe and fought to protect her people.

"Anticipation is a word for it, I suppose. Roberd Courbis, I'm afraid I have no lofty titles to offer."

Dismounting, the old knight gave his steed a few gentle pats on the side as thanks for its hard work before tucking his hands back into his cloak and approaching his new companion.

"I'm sure you've noticed that camp in the valley below. I've been tracking a group of bandits for some time, and it seems they have decided to plant themselves here, out of view from the King's court in the capital and away from any of the noble familes holdings as to not stir up their ire. But they have been raiding nearby villages, particularly those who have taken in refugees from off-world."

Turning his gaze back to the fortified encampment he had been observing, Roberd continued.

"I am in the service of my Lady, Corazona Von Ascania. She charged me with defending Ukatis in her absence, and I intend to obey her command."

When he turned back, one of his hands extended from his cloak, offered to the Jedi to solidify their partnership for the coming trouble that would no doubt be waiting for them when they tried to find a way inside the camp.

"Your help would be much appreciated, Master Jedi. There are many people trapped within the walls of that camp that I would see freed, but a frontal assault would only lead to their deaths. I was attempting to find an alternate route inside, if you have any ideas."

 

[Loomi]

Ukatis
Tags: Roberd Courbis

Epo-1, Lushi​

"Anticipation is a word for it, I suppose. Roberd Courbis, I'm afraid I have no lofty titles to offer."

Loomi did smile somewhat softly at the words of the old knight. No lofty titles, that was something that she found all too relatable. For a while the young Godoan was not allowed to be in communication with her Mother, really the only living family she had. The reason was simple: She didn't grow up on Ord Providence or Godo. In not being raised in her home society, she did not have a caste. For that reason she was technically lower than the low by the standards of her own people. She seemed to earn some favor after helping people escape the crisis of the collapse of the cities, but...

It did keep her from lingering in those spaces for too long.

She listened to the words of Roberd with a diligent ear, her good eye looking over the camp in the valley below. Raiders were likely not new to Ukatis, but it was the first she had come across them. An issue well worth taking care of.

"I am in the service of my Lady, Corazona Von Ascania. She charged me with defending Ukatis in her absence, and I intend to obey her command."

"Oh," Loomi reacted. "That's a very fortunate coincidence. Corazona is my friend... though I have admittedly not seen her in a while. I don't mind helping, especially if it makes her home safer."

And then there was the problem of hostages. It wasn't uncommon, and Loomi had faced it before. Slaves were a bartering chip that often stayed the hand of Jedi if they were unsure of how to act to best preserve lives. Of course, that was the trap of it all. She'd shake the knights hand when he extended it and gave him a response.

"I have means of scaling barricades if there's anywhere unattended," she relayed. "From there, I would imagine that there are probably two options for how to take care of the captives. Freeing them all at once may be a risk to their safety. We'd lose the advantage of stealth, but maybe the both of us are enough to hold their attention? Perhaps we may find more success taking their leader captive and using them to barter?"

Whatever the case was, she was more than willing to roll with whatever might occur. After all, this is what she trained for. Loomi was ready and willing to live up to the achievements of her peers.

 

[Roberd Courbis]

TAG: Loomi

A small smile appeared on the Old Knight's lips.

He knew his Lady had a noble heart. It was good to see she had allies across the galaxy.
​

"Were I two decades younger, I might be able to scale the walls. But as it stands, if you can get inside unseen, you may be able to open the gate for me. That would be our first challenge to overcome, but far from the last."

Roberd folded his arms in front of himself as the ride had been a weary one for a man who had lived to see nearly sixty winters on Ukatis. His sword should be mounted above a fireplace while he joined the vaunted nobility and pestered the King for this right and that privilege. Instead, he was sleeping rough and fighting bandits, even as his back ached and his breathing grew more difficult with each passing year.

But he was still the deadliest duelist on Ukatis. None had been able to claim that title from him yet.

"If the bandit leader were anyone else, we might have sought to take him captive and end this peacefully. But I am after the fallen Baron De Langres. He threw in his lot with the usurper and his Sith allies, far more willing to sacrifice any honor he had for further power. I had thought him dead following the Sith abandoning the rebel forces, but he only went to ground until the Jedi became distracted. Now he's resurfaced, and it appears the Sith Lord who first enticed him to rebel ensured he was... changed."

It was hard to explain, for Roberd had not laid eyes upon the Baron since they first met with Corazona's father to plot the rebellion. He was a sniveling cur then, and the Old Knight doubted that had changed.

"He is cruel, greedy, and above all else vain. But if he survives this encounter, he will simply flee and gather another force to cause more trouble. I must face him, and he must not live to see another day. I understand that is not amongst the teachings of the Jedi, but I ask that you only help free the prisoners and get them to safety. I do not expect you to kill a man simply because I say he is dangerous."

Being a Jedi Knight was a commitment, and that was something Roberd understood better than anyone else. But he also knew their duty was to preserve life; to end a life is to be a last resort, and that is where the Utakint Knighthoods fundamentally diverged.

Killing a man was permanent. He could do no more evil as he was cast into whatever hell awaited him.

"I can walk you through what I have observed, but I do not know how many bandits we face or the layout of the camp's interior."

Roberd began to point to different parts of the encampment, his focus on possible entrance routes and escape routes for the innocent people who lay imprisoned and ensalved within. The goal remained to free the people first, but finding De Langres was also of paramount importance. If the Jedi could take care of the innocents, then all that remained was to cut the head from the snake. The rest of the scum that followed him would fade away, lacking a strong leader to keep them bound together.

"The camp possesses two entrances, but the one at the rear appears to be our best option. While there is little cover, it appears there aren't any elevated positions overlooking that gate, giving you a chance to slip inside unnoticed. Given we haven't seen anyone leave since we met, I suspect the full band of raiders is inside, at least two dozen from what I gathered. Expect blasters, blades, and lances, but these men are likely survivors of the fallen rebel army; if they think they will die, they will likely break and flee. But as long as De Langres lives, they will rally to him."

 

[Loomi]

Ukatis
Tags: Roberd Courbis

Epo-1, Lushi​

"He is cruel, greedy, and above all else vain. But if he survives this encounter, he will simply flee and gather another force to cause more trouble. I must face him, and he must not live to see another day. I understand that is not amongst the teachings of the Jedi, but I ask that you only help free the prisoners and get them to safety. I do not expect you to kill a man simply because I say he is dangerous."

"I understand," Loomi nodded. "Jedi may avoid death where possible, but there is a greater good to think of. If that is the path that preserves the most life, I will assist where I can."

Even if she wasn't the one to make the killing blow, she could still help if it was necessary. An agent of the Sith was not something to be taken lightly. She had suffered wounds from their beasts once before, and it was an experience that made her understand the necessity for precaution. The Darkside was something that harmed the natural world and the people who lived in it. They had a duty to defend as many lives as they could.

While there is little cover, it appears there aren't any elevated positions overlooking that gate, giving you a chance to slip inside unnoticed. Given we haven't seen anyone leave since we met, I suspect the full band of raiders is inside, at least two dozen from what I gathered.

Survivors, likely to flee. Perhaps they were trying their best to regather their forces and attempt the coup again? It was hard to say. Loomi, however, knew that she did have a solution.

"Ah, give me a moment," she responded. "I may be able to do something that helps us infiltrate easier."

The Godoan sat down and began to move her hands in a strange way, plucking at the air. Even more strange was that something happened. Threads drawn from nothing, manifested as thin luminous strands. Mist Weaving was not a common skill, but it was one with many applications. In her years of practice, Loomi had gotten very proficient at weaving. She was quite quick at it.

When she was finished, two garland-style necklaces were left in her hands. She smiled, content with her work, and stood again.

"I have the means of making us invisible," the Knight relayed, "But it can be difficult to focus on a specific point. This will help me keep up the illusion long enough to slip in undetected, as long as you hold onto it."

As long as it gave her a point to hone in on in the Force, Loomi knew she had the energy to maintain a simple illusion.

 

[Roberd Courbis]

TAG: Loomi ​

The Jedi can be rather terrifying.
​

Not that the particular Knight before him was physically imposing, but rather her access to what appeared to be sorcery from the tales told to the children of Ukatis to keep them in their beds at night. To the common folk, Lady Atelle would appear a witch, a perverter of dark arts and a taker of children, when in reality she was sworn to the protection of the very people who looked at her with suspicion.

Of course, just because Roberd understood what a Jedi was did not mean he was not prone to his own assumptions.

For instance, he thought the Jedi Knight was going mad when she sank to the ground and began to pluck at nothing.​

He was silent about this concern, of course, merely stepping back and allowing the Jedi to attend to her work without his constant questioning. His patience was rewarded, as luminous strands appeared from thin air that Roberd had little answer for other than his own limited understanding of the mysteries of the Force. The Knight watched on as these strands were folded intricately into necklaces like those worn during the festive days near the end of harvest season. When the Jedi found her way back to her feet, Roberd was looking on in awe as if he was a child watching a circus performance, but he was able to collect himself once again.

"You speak as though being invisible is a trivial matter."

Roberd was exasperated, but it was but a friendly jest more than genuine concern. His eyes remained on the luminous necklaces in her hand, still in awe of her creation.

"I know better than to doubt you, Master Jedi. Your illusion would be a great boon to us, but we can improve our odds yet more if we wait until sundown; then we will have the cover of darkness as well as yours... spell?"

He spoke as though he had no words for her abilities, and in truth he did not. To him, she was a being of mystery and a potentially terrible power that had been turned in service of good, unlike the Sith that plundered Ukatis. While he took her woven strands with great care into his hand, Roberd allowed himself to be a bit curious and inquire about his new Jedi ally.

"You must forgive my ignorance, my Lady, but may I ask just what world you come from? I admit I have not met many offworlders in my life, but you are so unlike the other species that are spoken of in the Capital. Lady Corazona is already a great mystery to me because of her powers as a Jedi, but you appear as though you have leaped from a children's storybook."

The Knight, perhaps realizing how he had phrased his previous claims, was quick to stumble over his own words once again.

"Apologies, that was improper of me. My mind is not as sharp as it was in my youth; I did not think before I spoke."