Faction Troubled Waters [Jedi Outcasts + FWA]

[Braze]

༺Troubled Waters༻
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Tags: Leos Dirk | Open to Jedi Outcasts / Farworlds Alliance

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Shiomura, known more fondly as the Tide Village, was the closest settlement to both the Tidewatch Aerie and the Veridian Jedi Temple. It rested along the distant shoreline, near enough that its lanterns could be seen after dusk from several of the Aerie's higher terraces and watch towers. Those warm pinpricks of golden light, scattered between the darkened sea and the coastal hills, had helped in giving the hidden refuge its name.

The village itself was a pleasant little port town, sustained by a respectable fishing trade that kept its markets crowded with the day's catch. Silver-scaled fish hung beneath striped awnings, shellfish stirred in shallow water troughs, and heavy nets lay drying along the piers beside rows of colored glass floats. Yet wherever fish gathered in abundance, so too did Shiomura's other famous feature: Cats.

Shiomura's cats wandered nearly everywhere throughout the little bustling village. They slept beneath market stalls, and balanced along tiled rooftops. Many often could be seen gathered at the docks whenever the fishing boats returned. Most were remarkably friendly, having grown accustomed to gentle hands and easy meals, though they were equally accomplished beggars and shameless little thieves should the need for a quick meal arise. An unwatched basket of bream rarely remained unwatched for long.

The villagers considered these furry little creatures beings of good fortune. Small ceramic cats with raised paws sat beside shop doors and household shrines, beckoning prosperity inward and misfortune back toward the sea. Fishermen sometimes tied bright colorful satin ribbons around the necks of familiar dock cats before setting out, believing that a well-treated cat would guide its favored vessel safely home. A common local saying warned that one should never refuse the first cat seen at dawn, lest the tide refuse them in turn. Because of this, bowls of fresh water and scraps of fish could be found throughout the village, set beneath shaded alcoves for any wandering feline that happened by.

Braze had passed through Shiomura often during the ongoing construction of the Aerie, traveling back and forth through the vast stretches of wilderness separating the village, the Temple, and the hidden palace. During those journeys, he had come across a narrow river descending from the mountainous interior towards the coast line where it let out to sea. Years of unchecked growth had nearly swallowed it in large swaths of foliage. Reeds crowded its banks, whilst thick weeds choked the shallows, and fallen branches trapped silt until the water ran brown and sluggish. Although the water was murky and full of silt and mud he had noticed often enough that several of Shiomura's cats drank from it.

That alone had been enough to earn Braze's attention, and today was the day he had decided to do something about it. He had placed a simple notice at the Temple requesting volunteers for a community service project, inviting anyone willing to help clear the river so that fresh water might once again flow freely through its channel, and the village cats might have somewhere clean and safe to drink.

Braze, of course, had specifically asked his students, Leos and Dirk , to join him in this endeavor. The meeting time, however, was quite early; they were meant to gather at the edge of town around five in the morning, just before sunrise.

Braze stood upon a nearby pier, watching the slow, steady waves wash along the shore as the village stirred around him. Early risers prepared to set out for the day's fishing, while those returning from the night hauled their catches ashore to supply the town's markets. The tide stood high, and fresh salt air swept across the sandy shoreline, carrying the briny scent of the sea and the muted clatter of boats being secured along the docks.

 

[Vohm-Raet]

Vohm-Raet strolled along the paths linking Tide Village, struggling to accept that his people now lived beneath the occupation of the Sith Covenant. Returning home would place innocent civilians in danger, yet knowing that did little to ease the guilt of abandoning his family and friends.

They had shaped him during a childhood spent in a galaxy constantly ravaged by war. More importantly, they had been among the few who never treated him like a monster or mocked him for his immense size. His fellow Jedi were different. Their acceptance came with an expectation that personal attachments be kept at a distance, lest emotion cloud their judgment and open the way to the dark side.

Vohm respected that teaching, even when following it proved difficult. He pushed thoughts of home to the back of his mind and reminded himself why he had come to Veridia. He had a clear purpose here and that was to assist Braze in his mission.

To some, sending Jedi to help the native creatures of a distant world might have seemed wasteful when thousands of refugees went hungry across the galaxy. Vohm understood the criticism, but he also knew the Jedi could not measure every act of compassion by the scale of the crisis surrounding it.

That mattered now more than ever. Division had begun spreading through the High Jedi Order, threatening to draw its members into conflicts with one another while the Sith continued to tighten their hold elsewhere. If the Jedi hoped to restore the faith people once placed in them, they would have to do so through small, meaningful acts, one world at a time.

For Vohm, that effort would began on Veridia.

"It is good to see you, Braze," he said softly as he approached the pier, careful not to disturb the nearby villagers.

Many of them had watched his shuttle land beyond the village, but he had not been given the opportunity to explain himself before they fled from the sight of what appeared to be a giant whale walking on two legs. Their fear was understandable, though that did little to keep his spirits from sinking.
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[Braze]

Tags: Vohm-Raet

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Braze smiled when he saw the Jedi Master arrive, although unlike the villagers, he didn't shy away from the towering figure; growing up within the Jedi Temple had surrounded him with beings of countless species, shapes, and sizes, and he had long since learned to regard them simply as people. He brought one fist against his open palm and offered the Master a respectful bow in greeting.

"Master Vohm-Raet, what a pleasant surprise. I expected Younglings or Padawans to be more interested in assisting with this cause, but your presence is most welcome. Thank you for volunteering your time," Braze chirped softly. "I suspect we have quite a bit of hard work ahead of us."

His jade-green gaze shifted toward the townsfolk who had drawn back from the unfamiliar visitor and he offered them a smile accompanied by a knowing look. The people of Veridia rarely encountered other species this far from the busier reaches of the galaxy, and Master Vohm-Raet was certainly an unusual sight among them. Braze passed the onlookers a knowing glance, though he showed no fear of the towering figure. He was hardly imposing himself, small enough to give the townsfolk something else to whisper about.

Unlike the people, the city's cats saw little distinction between one bipedal creature and another. Several early-morning strays paused nearby, their noses lifting as they tested the Master's unfamiliar scent. Curiosity soon overcame caution from teh small furry creatures, and they wandered closer, brushing their sides against his massive legs as though welcoming him to the village in their own fashion.

"It seems the cats quite enjoy your particular scent. " Braze offered simply in mild observation. Once the cats seemed to accept the man it seemed the tensions the Villages had about teh odd fellow eased just alittle bit more though an under layer of caution still remained. "Do you like dishes with fish ?" Braze asked curiously.

 

[Leos]

Veridia
Tags: Vohm-Raet , Braze

Epo-1, YT-1760 small transport
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Leos walked barefoot along the the cluttered river, on his way to the peer where he was to meet with his teacher. The water sloshed around him as he walked, taking in the sights and smells that were slowly becoming less alien to him the longer he resided on Veridia. Daiyu was not a beautiful place. Him and the orphans often talked about how they would run away to somewhere green and vibrant, live in some place that was real. Not the artificial city world that had given them nothing but smog and sadness. He came here to get stronger, but it was hard not to indulge in the experience. He didn't seem to mind the abundance of cats as he strolled along, kicking the water as he walked.

It wasn't long before he hopped out of the shallow water and made his way onto the peer. There was a large Giju there, a species he was rather familiar with. They were prolific traders, so they got around to places as highly populated as his homeworld. Leos assumed they were one of the many Masters that frequented the temple.

"Master Braze," he addressed, dipping his head. He would turn and dip his head to the Giju as well. "I'm ready for what you have planned today."

Maybe. But even if that wasn't true, he was in to far to not do whatever was asked of him now. Leos wanted to get it right.

No do-overs.

 

[Braze]

Vohm-Raet Leos

Braze smiled at Leos, seemingly pleased with the honorific he had used, and returned the polite gesture of greeting.

“Good morning, Padawan Leos,” Braze greeted in return, though his somber green gaze soon lowered to the boy’s bare feet, already coated in mud. It was hardly the best outcome. Despite the underlying urge to scold him about the possibility of getting some manner of fungus beneath his toenails, Braze decided to let the boy have his fun and worry about any medical complications later, should they arise.

“This old creek leads into a larger basin fed by water pouring down from the mountains. The locals built it long ago to divert part of the river this way and provide the village with fresh water. Since then, they’ve gained plumbing, wells, and pumps, so the creek has naturally fallen into neglect, leaving all the cute kitties without clean water.”

Braze gestured toward the dense weeds and reeds choking the narrow channel.

“From my investigations, it seems someone deliberately blocked the stream some time ago. We’re going to begin by tearing out all the weeds and reeds and clearing the creek. Once that’s done, we’ll power-wash the old stones and temporarily relocate any fish, turtles, or other small creatures we find while we remove the built-up silt. Afterward, we’ll uncork the basin and allow the water to flow freely once more…”

He looked along the overgrown waterway, as if mentally measuring the work ahead.

“It’s going to be a lot of hard work. Even with a handful of volunteers, it may take us several days to clear everything.”

 

[Vohm-Raet]

Vohm-Raet kept his legs perfectly still as the stray cats approached. A sudden movement from someone of his size might send them scattering, or worse. The rough brush of their fur against his calves brought a small, unexpected comfort. Animals did not look at a Herglic and see a towering monster. To them, he was simply another creature who carried no scent of a predator.

"The pleasure is mine, Braze," Vohm murmured, keeping his deep voice low so it would not echo across the water. "And yes, I am fond of fish, though I suspect the local variety might find me a rather formidable diner." A faint, dry smile tugged at his mouth before the arrival of another volunteer drew his attention away from the cats.

Padawan Leos was barefoot and already caked in mud, carrying the restless energy of someone trying very hard to appear ready. Vohm offered him a slow, respectful nod. "Greetings, Padawan Leos. It is good to have your strength with us today." With the introductions settled, Vohm turned his attention to Braze explanation of the blocked channel.

His years as a fisherman made the danger easy to understand. Water left stagnant for too long would sour, leaving the small creatures that depended upon it vulnerable to sickness. Clearing weeds for local wildlife might have seemed like a minor task, but it offered exactly the kind of quiet purpose he needed to steady his thoughts.

That was reason enough to begin. Vohm stepped from the wooden pier with deliberate care, placing his weight slowly so his massive boots would not splinter the edge of the planks. The creek bed swallowed his ankles with a heavy squelch as mud pressed around them.

Once he found stable footing, he lowered himself onto his knees in the silt. The movement brought him closer to the level of the two smaller Jedi, sparing them from having to work beneath his shadow. His thick fingers then closed around a dense clump of reeds. Rather than tear at them, Vohm used a slow pull as the roots peeled free from the mud in one tangled mass, rising without sending a wave of filthy water over the Padawan beside him.
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