Private Witches on the Hunt

[Brooke Waters]

The galaxy was a wide place. Brooke thought she had found her place in it. She was a witch, a wayfinder of the Blue Coral Divers and someone who would help anyone in need. Not a Jedi, though that history of hers was evident. She was more than that.

Having helped found Freeport and start up the Warm Glade clan. She left them with someone who was barely a Spellweaver in skill to develop the Clan and their settlement. So when they needed extra help? She was contacted and happy to assist.

Naboo was a paradise world. Something warm and verdant and full of water. Bringing her new ship the Nautilos to the world, she slowly unloaded some of the refound Arda tech. Technology to help with fishing and a new submersible, but mostly her own swoop and Force dowsing rods.

Tipped with a blue-green obsidian that was enchanted to local areas full of the Force, Brooke had sent out a request for others to join her. The Warm Glade clan was unable to send someone but Brooke made her way to the meeting spot at the main inn in Freeport.

The goal? Locate Force wellsprings and anything that echoed in the Force, that Jedi would overlook.

Tasia Palpatine Dreidi Xeraic

 

[Tasia Palpatine]

Wielding Palpatine's Saber, hardened Kiffar Blade, Gungan slingshot, hunters gear, underwater breathing device.

Tasia had ridden out here on a Kaadu to meet with a pair of witches that were exploring her part of the forest. Tasia was not a witch per se, but her naturalist leanings and being taught the ways of the force by the wilderness itself made her at least witch adjacent. One of the witches she had met before, Dreidi the Night Sister, the other one Brooke Waters was new to her and she was quite curious about this force tradition that she had never heard of before.

She had made her brief introductions when she first arrived and now they were finishing preparing her wayfarer tools. Tasia herself tended to carry "Which way did you want to head out first?" she asked the other woman. "I would suggest north myself, there is a Gungan town in the lake near there. The big boss doesn't like the Naboo. Heeesa biggen stubborn Ankura." she laughed. "But I hunt with his son sometimes so we shouldn't run into trouble." If Brooke wanted to find places the jedi had missed, it was a good starting point as the area was largely unexplored from a human perspective.

Dreidi Xeraic Brooke Waters

 

[Dreidi Xeraic]

Location: Naboo
Outfit: Jedi Attire
Companion: Grisial
Equipment: Lightsaber, Nightsister Energy Bow, Ichor Sword
Tag: Brooke Waters | Tasia Palpatine

Dreidi was fresh from her stay on Dathomir, leaving Aileni in the care of her fellow clan mothers to ensure he would be safe and surround by those who understood the potential he held. The importance he had to her. Something she had not figured out on Naboo yet since she was not going to convince the clan mothers from Dathomir to join her on Naboo. No amount of charm and understanding would facilitate that. So, she was going to need to figure out something that would work in terms of assistance in care for Aileni while she was on mission on Naboo.

For now, she adjusted the strap on her forearm as Grisial trailed beside her. Brooke had been someone who she had met once, a while back. Tasia was someone who had taken part in her first class on Naboo so it was interesting to see her helping in this matter. Gave Dreidi a chance to learn more about the both of them and see what she could take away.

Approaching the pair, Dreidi had her sword sheathed on her hip, opposite side was her Lightsaber clipped and the nightsister bow attached to her back. A blend of being a witch from Dathomir as well as a Jedi. It was conflicting but in a way, Dreidi managed to pull it off. She nodded to the other pair of witches and gave a nod of her head.

"Hello both," Dreidi gave a small bow, "how are you both doing? Any idea where we will be starting?" She was curious where they would be heading first as Grisial sat beside her, looking at the other two with curiosity in his eyes.

 

[Brooke Waters]

She was more than happy to work with other witches. Her tradition began on Dathomir but was so far from that now. And with her own skills as a Jedi at one point? She had so many different approaches at her disposal. The Force, for her, was the toolbox and the way she used it was the tools. The way her spellcraft worked was to give her a broad reach, and she just pointed it at the proper side. The Light side.

As a Witch, she knew more than she ever let on, and having access to the secrets of kyber helped. What she knew, was that the others were similar to her, Dredi was one who still waved a Jedi flag. Brooke merely held the saber because it meant something to her, and was a part of her at one point.

And a glowing blade of plasma came in damn handy.

Brooke had been connected with a Kaadu from the Warm Glade clan, and was ready to travel Naboo like a local. She did prefer the animal handling of this world. Though, her swoop was sitting, she figured she’d adapt to the others. “I hadn’t figured where to go yet. Naboo has a number of secrets and I’m fairly certain its mostly untouched through the worlds.

“Hello Dreidi!” The blonde gave an easy smile. She had a slingshot on her hip, several daggers and a wand made of coral in a bandolier on her chest. Her hip did have her lightsaber, though it was in a satchel with numerous spellcrafting components.

“You’d recommend that village as a starting point?” She turned to Tasia. Seemed best to start with local knowledge.

“The new clan here, Warm Glade was sending me in that direction as well, wooded, and not traveled by the Naboo often.”

Tasia Palpatine Dreidi Xeraic

 

[Tasia Palpatine]

Wielding Palpatine's Saber, hardened Kiffar Blade, Gungan slingshot, hunters gear, underwater breathing device.

Tasia bowed back to Dreidi as she introduced herself. "Its a pleasure to meet you properly. I am doing very well, i hope the force finds you well too. And you too sparkly one." she nodded at Grisial then she took in a deep breath of the wild nabooian air.

She looked at the paths leading out of the clearing. "I wouldn't say specifically at the village, but considering how few humans come this way, the surrounding areas would make a good start to find new discoveries. And the lake is teaming with life, which is a good sign. Shall we?" she said something in gungan and her Kaadu made a strange whinnying noise before padding slowly then picking up a little bit of speed (assuming the others also join her she will pick a path that leads down a river valley towards a large lake then cuts down around the edge of the lake.

"I have no idea where I am heading, but sometimes not knowing the destination allows you to listen to the force better, don't you think?" she said. Making small talk with the two witches as they rode along. There was a cool breeze coming across the water that caught in Tasia's hair and made her smile.

Brooke Waters Dreidi Xeraic

 

[Dreidi Xeraic]

Location: Naboo
Outfit: Jedi Attire
Companion: Grisial
Equipment: Lightsaber, Nightsister Energy Bow, Ichor Sword
Tag: Brooke Waters | Tasia Palpatine

"Pleasure to meet you again as well." While it had been brief, Dreidi had taken note of a few members of the Order who attended her lesson on Illusions and fighting a Witch conjuring said illusions. It had been an exhausting lesson for her in terms of using so much Magick but one she figured her students had taken a lot from.

Listening, the mention of checking out an area not truly investigated by humans made sense, especially since there were attempts to try and respect the Gungans as well as the other sentient race native to Naboo. "Well, checking out the village, we might get some rumours to give us a lead. However, they might not be as willing to talk with us as we would like. So might be better to just keep to the surrounding area." Dreidi was weighing the options mentally in her head since she figured they both had merits and downsides.

Dreidi followed the others, Grisial keeping apace with ease as the Vulptex clearly seemed to enjoy the ability to rush around and be in nature. It was a positive change in environment for the fox-like creature since Dathomir was not as friendly a home for creatures like him. Especially since Grisial was particularly non-violent unless provoked into it.

"The Force can guide you but it is important to also use your other sense and not to be dependent on the Force." Dreidi cautioned. It was all too common for Jedi and other Force Users to be dependent on the Force, whereas one could hone other skills to allow them to investigate and perceive things.

 

[Brooke Waters]

The galaxy was a wild place. Brooke knew this more than anyone. And while she probably could have ascended to the rank of Elder and Clan mother, she preferred being a Farseeker. It gave her the freedom she sought and the prestige she craved.

It also kept her in line. She was able to expand her Force knowledge but her tasks and goals were to continue to do such while advancing the goals of the Clan.

And secretly her own personal task. The one she wasn't quite aware she was doing.

"I never did understand the rivalry between the Naboo and the gungans. Both seem like fine groups. And one is aquatic so, even more of a win." Brooke laughed. As she helped her mount move, she was listening. To her companions and the Force.

"My clan tends to explore the seas of our worlds. Starting with Dathomir, and Pamarthe. There are definitely more than one way to reach your destination." Looking up, there was only the sun. She was expecting it to set in the west and pulled out an ancient looking compass. Mundane but passed down.

“How far did you say the ride was?”

Tasia Palpatine Dreidi Xeraic

 

[Tasia Palpatine]

Wielding Palpatine's Saber, hardened Kiffar Blade, Gungan slingshot, hunters gear, underwater breathing device.

Tasia looked over at Dreidi as she seemingly challenged her ability to use her other senses she gave a smirk "I've been hunting in these forests since I could walk, but I'll bear that in mind." Naboo was her Dathomir, she was far from solely dependent on the force. "What I meant was, we are looking for a force well spring, so listening to the force to allow it to guide us there just makes sense." she shrugged, she meant no hostility in her defensiveness.

She was curious whether the Vupltex had the stamina to keep a riding pace with their mounts but she was sure the witch would let them know if there was a doubt. She looked at Waters next, "They are both proud and strong people, their rivalry has pushed both to better themselves in the long run, though it is unfortunate that sometimes the rivalry slips into disagreement. I think... oh, lets stop for a moment."

She pulled up her mount as they reached a clearing in the forest. A gargantuan stone head lay half buried in the ground and partially covered by mosses and ferns. Its exposed eye gazed vacantly up into the sky across the clearing. There was what looked like a bush trail that ran to down one side of it towards the lake. Tasia had seen many of these statues around the planet but this particular one was new to her.

Brooke Waters
Dreidi Xeraic

 

[Dreidi Xeraic]

Location: Naboo
Outfit: Jedi Attire
Companion: Grisial
Equipment: Lightsaber, Nightsister Energy Bow, Ichor Sword
Tag: Brooke Waters | Tasia Palpatine

Dreidi thought on the uneasy alliance between the Gungans and the human Naboo population, "it is also the way that the galaxy sees them. The human Nabooians are seen as dignified, regal in a manner, and the respect for the Nabooians is fairly high in the galaxy. At least historically it has been." Dreidi mentioned, "whereas the Gungans are seen more as a lesser species in comparison by some. Efforts have been made to chance that mindset but the damage has been done enough over the years that it causes friction between the two groups."

It was some research that Dreidi had done into the situation and cultures of Naboo before she had come to live here.

Grisial was more than capable in keeping up with the group and it wasn't long before Tasia recommended that they stopped. Guiding the mount to a stop, Dreidi looked around and breathed in deeply, sliding off the beast. Dreidi looked over to Grisial and nodded to the Vulptex who started to stalk the area and do some investigation that would be impossible for the trio of witches could with his heightened senses.

"What pricked your interested, Tasia?" Dreidi asked as looked around the area.

 

[Brooke Waters]

Brooke wasn’t the best Jedi, that was for sure, but she did have a good connection with most of them. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust the group, but there were just things that they did that karked up things for other beings. Sometimes the galaxy around.

Being a Witch allowed her to work at her own pace, within the realm of something more natural of a possibility and personal dogma. And being a witch did allow her to disguise a bit of her own self, and her own actual power. If people thought of Jedi and Sith as the be-all-end-all, she was something different and could move through the cracks.

What she did love was seeing the galaxy, and her people. How they understood more than she ever could about their homes and their own goals. The Naboo and Gungans were both proud, history did show that. But them pushing themselves and each other farther? Not something she considered.

“In nature, there always tends to be an ebb and flow of rivalries.” And the sea, she was thinking of the sea but had to not always speak nautically. Keeping on her mount, she was with the other two, observing, and every so often, a small spell whispered which gave her a sight beyond her normal range, into the Force.

“And I hear you, sometimes a non-human or non-human off-shoot doesn’t always make the holovids.” As Tasia stopped them, however, Brooke, halted herself, not even whispering a spell of revealing, not yet. She wanted to see how this other saw things. Report back to the Warm Glades, if she needed to.

Tasia Palpatine Dreidi Xeraic

 

[Tasia Palpatine]

Wielding Palpatine's Saber, hardened Kiffar Blade, Gungan slingshot, hunters gear, underwater breathing device.

She looked curious as Dreidi spoke to her. "Honestly. I'm not sure. Not a great deal is known about these statues beyond that they were built by the ancients and often marked sacred or other important spots, I've never seen this one before." It could be nothing, it could be everything but Tasia was just following her gut.

She laughed "I'm half human, so yes or know on the holovids?" she moved ivy away from its eye and placed her hand onto the stone eyeball. Her eyes went white as she psychometrically read the recent history, as expected she watched processions of Gungans walking past this spot, most in hunters uniforms, a few in ceremonial robes. She began muttering in Gungan as she did so before finally breaking the connection.
"I wish I could see further back. I feel like this path leads to something of religious significance but..." she shrugged and walked back to her mount.

Brooke Waters Dreidi Xeraic

 

[Dreidi Xeraic]

Location: Naboo
Outfit: Jedi Attire
Companion: Grisial
Equipment: Lightsaber, Nightsister Energy Bow, Ichor Sword
Tag: Brooke Waters | Tasia Palpatine

"Well, I can attest that some attention non-humans get is not always the best attention. Dathomirians can get a lot of suspicious looks and negative initial feelings thrown their way due to a minority of us being Nightsisters." Dreidi mentioned, her complexion and tattoos tended to lean into the darker aspects of how a Dathomirian witch can appear, even though she was a Jedi and from a different clan as a witch.

Watching psychometry being used, Dreidi remained silent to allow Tasia to comprehend the strong lingering memories that she had playing in her mind now. Once the other woman climbed back onto the mount, Dreidi looked over to her, "what did you see Tasia?" Wondering if perhaps hearing what occurred Brooke and Dreidi could help understand the vision and maybe even know why the vision occurred. Sometimes a second or third pair of eyes could reveal something that the first missed.

"Are we close to the well that you were seeking?" Dreidi asked Brooke, wondering which direction that they needed to head in next.