The Oyu'baat Cantina

[Lord Gaius]

[Theme]

There is despair across the
galaxy. Decades of unending
war between the remnants of
the Empire and the Republic
have taken their toll. Vast
stretches of galactic territory
are lawless frontiers.

The Mandalorians have had
blissful peace in their territories
but a foreboding shadow has
crept forth from the Unknown
Regions and has begun a war
of reckless abandon.

Two orphans of this mighty
warrior culture become
growingly disgruntled with
their simple lives and begin
a daring journey into the
dangerous galaxy.​

Six years ago . . .
Acting as a natural moat, the Kelita River circled around the capital of Mandalore, Keldabe. Sabik marched across the bridge that led into the big city with a single goal in mind; get to the Oyu'baat. It was the oldest cantina on the planet. It wasn't uncommon to find the leaders of Mandalorian clans there, but that was not the point. Sabik just wanted to taste alcohol. All the adults got to drink, why couldn't they?



[member="Raya Dhami"]

 

[Raya Dhami]

Raya felt the familiar squish of grass underneath his shoe as his followed his brother through the Kelita Valley. Manadalore's meadows had always been a place of solace for the two brothers; a place to unwind and play as children do. Raya watched the reflection of Mandalore's clouds in the river as they crossed the bridge to Keldabe. Sabik had convinced him to travel to the Oyu'baat. Raya had no interest in the cantina but Sabik always had a convincing argument. Curiosity got the best of them as they began to approach the building.

 

[Lord Gaius]

Sabik reached out as they walked past a vendor, fast approaching the inner-city. His hand grabbed against a smooth brown cloth and yanked it towards him. "Here," he said to Raya, throwing a robe at him. "Remember the plan; we're Jawas." He pulled the robe down over him, and it dragged behind his feet. The cloth wasn't the right material, but hopefully they wouldn't scrutinize it too much. He broke into a jog through the crowded markets to avoid the man he had just stolen from from chasing them. He danced past another shopkeep and took a black mask from the store to hide their faces, and once more tossed it at Raya with a bit more oomph.

 

[Raya Dhami]

Raya followed Sabik's actions and flung the brown robe over himself. He drew the hood over his eyes as he broke into a sprint behind his brother. The owner of the robes hadn't been all too happy at their 'borrowing' of the clothing. The material traced the lines of the street behind Raya as he followed Sabik's path through the markets. A smile traced Raya's face as the exhilaration of running through the streets pushed him further. He caught a black mask thrown his way from Sabik as they rounded the corner towards the cantina.

 

[Lord Gaius]

The door loomed before them, and Sabik turned, placed the mask over his face, drew his hood up, and spun back around. They didn't exactly look like two Jawa's, but it was the best plan he had. Sabik had always been more of the strategist between the two. He wondered what Raya considered himself, for if Sabik was the strategist, what was he. Sabik approached the automatic hydraulic doors just as a Rodian spacer was thrown out the front, landing before the two Jawas. Sabik burped out a few strange noises, and looked to Raya, hoping he would follow suit.

 

[Raya Dhami]

Raya stopped in his tracks when he saw the beaten up door to the cantina. They had heard many stories of the ancient watering hole but he hadn't thought they would be here for a long time yet. Sabik had always managed to talk him into things he was hesitant of, like sneaking out when they weren't supposed to. Raya had rarely been the leader, always quick to follow in Sabik's footsteps but never over take him. There were few times Raya had wished to lead. The thought of controlling more power had undoubtedly crossed his mind though it wasn't placed in foremost importance. He was happy if his brother was happy. Raya covered the grin on his face with the black mask and pulled his hood down. Sabik's plan was not the best but it may just work enough to allow them their first taste of alcohol. Raya watched in curiosity as a customer was thrown through the open doors of the cantina. Sabik motioned for Raya to follow as they both stepped over the threshold of the Oyu-baat.
The cantina was dimly lit but immensely populated. The bar had a long history and even longer reputation.

 

[Lord Gaius]

Sabik trod over the Rodian who looked near-blackout drunk. He heard a groan from the alien but nothing else, not even a shrug. With Raya trailing behind him, they ventured into the dark cantina. The band played old smazzo that blasted their ears, but the patrons looked to be enjoying it. Sabik looked down at his feet and gently lifted his right foot, but was almost stuck into place. A thin film of dried alcohol and vomit made the floor sticky, and the stench was no easier on the nose. Sabik managed to force his way through the crowd, and heard someone mention to their companion, "A bit tall for a Jawa." He didn't pay any heed to him and quickly found an unoccupied booth, and with his head down he motioned for the barkeep to bring them a drink. In a poor attempt at sounding like a Jawa speaking Galactic Basic, he said, "Ther chepes yu git."

 

[Raya Dhami]

Raya mentally noted that the cantina hadn't been all he expected. He had heard stories of the types of people that visited the Oyu'baat. It was on the outskirts of Mandalore, after all. He had somehow thought that the interior would be a little nicer and lacking in the undertone of weird smell. He attempted to walk as he felt the soles of his shoes resist. Raya noticed his brother's attention divert to two patrons close by, though he couldn't make out the conversation. He put his head down so that no more attention was brought to them as they sat at the bar. Sabrik requested a drink while Raya motioned for the order to be doubled. He glanced slightly to his left and right, hoping not to draw any attention to the two of them. They already looked slightly out of place.

 

[Lord Gaius]

The barkeep slid two drinks their ways. The glasses were tall and slender and filled with a urine-yellow that foamed at the top. Sabik raised his head only to sniff the drink, cautious of its weird look, and grinned at the bubbles. He looked to Raya as he picked up his own glass, and motioned for him to do the same. He lifted his mask only the barest of inches so that the glass to touch his lips. But before doing so he subconsciously raised the glass and shouted, "Cheers!" before bringing the glass to his lips and quickly drinking. He hadn't noticed the room went silent and were now staring at the boy with a raised mask, and his Jawaese accent replaced with that of a young Mandalorians.

 

[Raya Dhami]

Sabik had not always thought ahead as much as he could have. His plans were often impulsive and did not extend to thoughts of failings. Raya paused as he saw one of the failings in action. Sabik had lifted his mask to drink and allowed his true accent to show through. The bar had fallen silent as patrons of the cantina stared at the two young Mandalorians. Raya dropped his glass and looked towards Sabik for guidance. He prepared to launch himself off the seat to run at a moments notice.

 

[Lord Gaius]

The barkeeps mouth seemed to move more slowly, his finger rising a little less strongly. His icy gaze danced across the room, patron to patron, they were just watching; but the bouncers were charging towards them. The noise was a distant booming, and then it all exploded at once. Time seemed to twist back to its natural pace, the barkeep was now roaring for the two kids to get out. The bouncers were barreling down towards them. "Run!" Sabik shrieked, jumping out of his robes and ditching the mask. He made a run for the door.

 

[Raya Dhami]

Raya watched as Sabik jumped out his chair, launching himself towards the door. Even those of the outskirts of Mandalore wouldn't serve alcohol to children. Typical. Bounding out of his seat, he sprinted towards the door and in the opposite direction of the bouncers. Undoing the robe, Raya threw it in the direction of the bouncers. Though he would probably be too short to successfully blind them, even if it was momentarily. He threw his mask to the floor as he and Sabik made for the door. A bouncer made an attempt to stop them from exiting but speed was on Raya's side. He danced around the arms of the fumbling security. Hopefully he had distracted the guard for long enough to allow Sabik to make a clean exit. Raya threw open the door, running onto the alleyway behind the cantina.

 

[Lord Gaius]

Sabik was quickly followed behind by Raya. He took advantage as a brown robe was thrown overhead and into the face of one of the two Trandoshan bouncers. As Raya sped by, Sabik brought a clenched fist to the crotch of the scaled sentient reptilian. The Trandoshan grunted, and Sabik's own hand felt like he had just punched concrete. He cursed aloud and swore as he shook his hand. It was enough time for the other Trandoshan to bring his clawed hand around the scruff of his neck and raise him off his feet, kicking and punching. All he saw was the back of Raya's head flee through the doorway. "Never retreat, never surrender!" he screamed at Raya as he continued to resist.

 

[Raya Dhami]

Raya checked around him. He span as he scanned the grimey alleyway in search for his brother. Panic flowed through his body as he heard the familiar voice scream through the doorway and echo off the walls "Never retreat, never surrender!" He spied a box, overflowing with rubbish. Raya dove into it. Moments after, he heard fast paced footsteps as the guards searched the area for the brother that had managed to get away. He placed a hand over his mouth in order to quieten his breath. He would have to wait until the guards left and search for Sabik. His brother was all he had. He couldn't just run off and leave him, though it was his idea in the first place. Raya waited as the guards gave up their search, running back to their posts on the doors. He crawled out from the crate, pulling a piece of rubbish off the black cloth he was dressed in. The smell wasn't entirely unbearable but it wasn't exactly pleasant either. Raya snuck behind another crate full of garbage and waited. Sabik was sure to make an appearance.

 

[Lord Gaius]

Sabik was carried by his collar. The Trandoshans had moved to leave him with a series of bruises and two black eyes, but only the command of the barkeep had stopped them. At least some knew mercy, and with the barkeep asking them not to beat the living Force out of him he had decided to stop kicking. He swung wildly as they moved but their brutish strength kept him from falling out of their grasp. The automatic door into the alley opened and they walked outside, the other took the few credits he had out of his pockets. They let go and then the two bouncers retreated back inside. "Yeah, that's what I thought," Sabik said, making a show of brushing himself down.

 

[Raya Dhami]

Raya smiled as he watched the mildly shaken Sabik be carried out by his collar. The smile quickly turned into a smirk as Sabik brushed himself down, acting tough and exclaiming, "Yeah, that's that I thought." Raya laughed and shook his head and he remembered how worried he was a moment ago. His chest still rose and fell rapidly but had begun to slow down. There were no obvious signs of harm on Sabiks face. Raya could feel through the false security Sabik was displaying through to his anxiety. The force meld meant they could never truly lie to each other. The small Mandalorian child clothed in black sheepishly came out from behind the garbage crate. He ran to Sabik and slapped him across the arm, "You clomp. I told you to plan ahead."

 

[Lord Gaius]

Raya said, "You clomp. I told you to plan ahead." Sabik's brow furrowed as he defended his ground, "Well if you didn't run we may have had a chance." He pulled up a seat in the form of a trash can. He looked to his older brother by seven minutes, "Just imagine what we could do if we weren't stuck here." He widened his arms, "The whole galaxy is ours to explore."

 

[Raya Dhami]

Sabik sat across from Raya, pulling up a trash can. Raya followed suit, sitting on one opposite. Raya looked thoughtfully towards his younger brother as he spoke, "Just imagine what we could do if we weren't stuck here." "The whole galaxy is ours to explore."
Raya chuckled at his brother, "I want to Sabik, but we have much to learn still. We aren't strong enough yet. How would we survive?"

 

[Lord Gaius]

Sabik's frown worsened. He stared at his brother with squinted eyes. "Sometimes I think you're too old." He launched himself off of the trash can and back onto his feet. He began to walk out of the alleyway and into the streets of the busy capital. The crowd was bustling as always, and shoved past the two young boys. "That is the whole adventure of it, isn't it? How would we survive.."

​

 

[Long Gone]

Mira flipped a credit chit in her hand and stared at the vendor before her as she placed a hand upon her hip, clearly un-impressed by his negotiation tactics. Her HUD bristled with information from the local network around Mandalore as well as caught different readouts of the individual before her. Different attributes would encircle upon his form - everything from heart rate, to his mouth moving and the speech coming out of it and translated as best as it possibly could to Galactic Basic. She frowned beneath the buy'ce and looked to the side, ignoring the Mando'a of the man before her - she took notice of the two younger boys and curiosity would hit her like a thundering herd out on the open plains. Her audio sensors picking up each word before she raised an armored hand and gently assured the vendor, turning her attention back to him before offering him ten credits less than what he originally wanted - she then shoved them into his hand and barked back. "Tayli'bac! dinuir me!" The vendor grumbled something she didn't quite understand - most likely an insult of some sorts but her attention was elsewhere - audio sensors were picking up the conversation between the two boys.

[member="Sabik Dhami"] | [member="Raya Dhami"]