Bounty Wrestling Giant Fish In The Oceans of Naboo (open)

[Velok Brokentusk]

VELOK BROKENTUSK
BOUNTY HUNTING LICENSE #006
SEEKING: Opee Sea Killer
TOGGLE: N/A

Horrible tidings on the tides! A noble couple on their dream honeymoon was eaten, yacht and all, by an Opee Sea Killer. There was a price on the head of such a creature, and intimations of edibility.

The scene was a scenic and depopulated beach strewn with yacht. Velok waded into the shallows, minimally attired, equipped with a large spear and a waterproof life-form scanner. It suggested the gigantic fish was nearby. The water lurched ominously.

Others were present or approaching: potential sightseers, fellow hunters, local fisherpersons, gamblers, seafood connoisseurs. Speed would matter greatly.

 

[Ellissanthia]

Location: Naboo
Mission Objective:

• Hunt the opee sea killer.

Tag: Velok Brokentusk

Spared from the hunts as a young Undine, Ellissanthia had since become a huntress of her own making. However, unlike the deep water hunts of the Lumiya Tribe which she had been raised in, all of her hunts (carried out on behalf of the various Sith Lords and Ladies who patronized the Eclipse Sect) had thus far all transpired on solid ground, most often setting her against Jedi and their allies. Thus, when the opportunity had presented itself for her to hunt beneath the waves for the first time in her life (rather than simply gathering herbs in shallow waters and caves), Ellissanthia had thought only of how she would receive authorization to cross the Blackwall in order to reach Naboo, before immediately making plans for the journey.

And while she was no bounty hunter, Ellissanthia hoped that success might entitle her to a small cut of the reward.

Around her, spectators gathered in groups across the beach, most eying the towering, formidable figure of Velok Brokentusk , while others spared brief glances in her direction. Ellissanthia swept her gaze across the growing scene, violet-hued eyes widening at the sight of so many onlookers. Her fin-shaped ears gave a delicate twitch, stirred not by the murmuring of the crowd, but by the resonating rumble of the leviathan lurking in the liquid depths

The water lapped and lurched at the shore in a restless, beckoning rhythm. Ellissanthia glanced towards the towering Whiphid, waiting for his cue. Then, after taking one last breath of air, the Undine quickly followed him into the shallows, her movements fluid and elegant as the sea embraced her form.

Save for what she had read while preparing for the hunt and the knowledge she had gleamed from brief discussions with a few Gungans she had met in the nearby village, Ellissanthia was keenly aware of the fact she knew little of these particular waters. Still, an electric anticipation surged through her, made all the more real as the sand slipped out from beneath her webbed feet.

The hunt was on!

Spoiler: Loadout

• Swimming Attire
• Storm Kiss
• Supernal Infusion Vials
• SHIVA Vials
• Spirit Anchor Talisman
• Seer Stones
• FAE/MDE-02-S1 Semiautonomous Seeker Thermal Explosive (2)

 

[Velok Brokentusk]

Around chest-deep, Velok took stock of random factors. The most pressing just now was some kind of cetacean humanoid with a loadout he didn't recognize, but certainly a bit of gear. He resolved to keep his distance from her and her unknown stuff, at least ten meters. That distance would also let him use his spear in reasonable confidence of harming the opee sea killer and not a fellow opee sea killer killer.

Speaking of the former, there it was, a lurch under the water. Velok submerged and confirmed. Naboo saltwater went all the way through the planet's porous core and had a unique taste and scent. To his cavernous senses, every world's sea and air were subtly or unsubtly different, but Naboo more than most.

He double-checked the wrist tie on his spear and swam closer, eager to be bait. Oh hey, maybe the blue hunanoid would be useful on that front.

Ellissanthia

 

[Rix Halcyon]

Aboard a riverboat on the Solleu River, Naboo

It was the weekend of the Annual Lake Paonga Fishing Derby, a classic excuse for the high society of Naboo to get out on their pleasurecraft and unwind from the monumental task of running a fledgling galactic nation. Lucky for ol' Rix, it was the kind of weekend they were in need of something special, and he just happened to have a seller in the Black Sun who could get the Naboo what they wanted: some kind of rare, endangered egg. It was supposed to taste quite wonderful, though since he'd brought the shipment none had been shared with him. He was alright with that, because he'd been invited aboard the riverboat of a nobleman with a fancy for gambling. Rix too, enjoyed the roll of the dice, though today they nobility were betting on who would catch the largest fish.

Sitting on the aft of the ship, watching the sun reach its apex over the rolling green hills, he was sitting across from a pair of chatty young aristocrats, a man and a woman, who were quite taken with the roguish outsider. He happily drank their wine and eyed the beautiful servers as they poured more, basking in the sun and the natural pleasures of Naboo. Every so often his eyes would turn to the large screen nearby that was broadcasting the derby.

"...and I heard he got uninvited from that Veruna dinner after he said something disparaging about the carpets!" the nobleman scandalized as his friend blushed.

"Did you hear about Jaco's youngest and how he closed out the derby yesterday? He brought in a hundred lake trout thinking he'd won, and they had to tell him it was about who caught the largest fish, not the most!" the noblewoman chuckled, "how embarrassing, right? And get this: they asked him why he hadn't been seen at the dawn or dusk rushes with the other fishermen, and he asked what the time of day had anything do with fishing!" both of them broke out into a great burst of laughter. Ryx chuckled at the stupidity of it all.

"Y'know, guys, I heard there's a fella on Naboo right now who's hunting an Opee Sea Killer. He should bring that to the derby." Ryx said plunging the last of a glass of red wine down his gullet.

"Why would anyone do such a silly thing? I heard a gentleman's yacht was eaten by one of those monsters in the spring!"

"Apparently some guy on the Smuggler's Moon wants to serve it at a dinner party or something? I don't really follow along to these things."

"Some people, huh. What drives a man do such crazy things I'll never know. Who's up for a game of cards?"

 

[Ellissanthia]

Location: Naboo
Mission Objective:

• Hunt the opee sea killer.

Tag: Velok Brokentusk Rix Halcyon

Submerged beneath the water, Ellissanthia glanced towards the hulking Whiphid, before offering him a light, playful wave. The Undine had immediately noted the vast discrepancy between their respective sizes and thus, had regarded him with mixture of awe and caution. Now though, it seemed prudent to attempt communicating.

Thus, Ellissanthia promptly opened a telepathic link, a method of communication which she most often used to communicate while underwater. In that, she didn’t seek to invade his mind, but rather, to do the equivalent of politely knocking on his door.

All the while, she noted her partner’s leading position as he swam towards the sea killer’s acoustic signature. Even with her eyes capable of piercing through the marine gloom, her distant visibility was limited in spite of the sunlight cutting through the water from above, due to suspended sediment and organic matter from the shore.

Still, she quickly recognized the Whiphid's tactic for what it was. Deliberate bait.

I can hear the opee sea killer, Ellissanthia offered telepathically. Its jets make it fast, but loud. I will warn you.

Spoiler: Loadout

• Swimming Attire
• Storm Kiss
• Supernal Infusion Vials
• SHIVA Vials
• Spirit Anchor Talisman
• Seer Stones
• FAE/MDE-02-S1 Semiautonomous Seeker Thermal Explosive (2)

 

[Velok Brokentusk]

As Ellissanthia imposed her presence and partnership, Velok went with it. She was a useful lure, after all.

Having spent a lot of time around the Nagai telepaths in Firefist, particularly on Jaibrek, he felt reasonably confident that she was making surface level contact only. He checked the defenses woven around his mind regardless, then nodded her way, breathed deep, and submerged.

The water churned almost at once. He held back, weighing the probabilities by long instinct, and waited for a better sense of whether the fish was as close as he suspected.

 

[Ellissanthia]

Location: Naboo
Mission Objective:

• Hunt the opee sea killer.

Tag: Velok Brokentusk Rix Halcyon

A delicate frown touched Ellissanthia’s lips, fin-shaped ears giving a subtle, restless twitch as the low thrum of the opee sea killer’s bio-jets carried through the watery depths. The creature was near—a shadow in the liquid gloom—but its course remained aimless, uncommitted to their position.

They needed to sweeten the lure.

For a moment, Ellissanthia contemplated using one of her thermal explosives. Small though they were, the Undine was reasonably confident that just one of the miniature bombs going off would cause enough acoustic ruckus that the opee sea killer would come to investigate the disturbance. However, doing so would leave her with just one remaining for the hunt itself. She had originally wanted to use them as weapons or at least, have them on hand in case of an emergency.

Fortunately, there were other options.

A Force Push was the most readily available and immediate tool. A single burst of raw power to stir the currents. But even for her, the energy expenditure was not inconsiderable. Underwater, Ellissanthia knew that she needed to conserve every bit of her stamina.

It was then that her gaze drifted down towards the seabed. A third idea bloomed in her mind.

Two rocks, smashed together, might produce just enough of an acoustic signature to lure the beast. Simple, but perhaps effective.

The only question was how many rocks they would need.

The sea killer is close, but it’s not heading our way. We might need to make noise. Her thought-voice whispered into the hulking Whiphid’s mind, a quizzical expression shaping her features as she projected her awareness. I’ve come up with three options. At that point, the Undine laid them out before him in a cascade of mental images: the brilliant flash of the thermal charge, the invisible shockwave of a Force Push, and the primal crack of stone on stone.

For the third option, I think we can dig through the floor to find what we need. The Undine added, her mental tone brightening with a measure of optimism as she extended a slender hand towards the sediment below.

Spoiler: Loadout

• Swimming Attire
• Storm Kiss
• Supernal Infusion Vials
• SHIVA Vials
• Spirit Anchor Talisman
• Seer Stones
• FAE/MDE-02-S1 Semiautonomous Seeker Thermal Explosive (2)

 

[Velok Brokentusk]

Velok's feet settled in the seafloor. His response to Ellissanthia was to thunk the butt of his spear down into the muck, then again and again to clack rhythmically off the rocks beneath.

The water shifted like an indrawn breath. A current offered an unexpectedly clear view: the opee sea killer lunging towards the both of them. Its gigantic mouth opened wide. Velok moved the spear from vertical to horizontal despite all water resistance and cast it. The mouth snapped shut reflexively, the spear glanced off, and the opee's head crashed into Velok's.

A shockwave rippled out from the mutual headbutt.

 

[Ellissanthia]

Location: Naboo
Mission Objective:

• Hunt the opee sea killer.

Tag: Velok Brokentusk Rix Halcyon

The mouth snapped shut reflexively, the spear glanced off, and the opee's head crashed into Velok's.

A shockwave rippled out from the mutual headbutt.

Fin-shaped ears twitched reflexively at the deep, resonant thrum that echoed through the water from the titanic collision between hulking hunter and predatory prey. Whether skull or carapace had cracked from the impact, she could not yet elucidate. Nevertheless, with a powerful kick of her legs, she glided around the sea killer’s flanks. Her lightsaber’s violet-hued plasma blade ignited, casting an eerie glow that illuminated the swirling currents in her midst as she grabbed onto one of the grooves in the beast’s thick, chitinous hide.

In a swift, decisive thrust, Ellissanthia plunged her blade directly into the groove, intending to counter the sea killer’s armor by going around it, rather than attempting to penetrate it directly. However, before she could see if her strike had found its mark, the beast roared. It whipped its colossal body hard, hurling her from its back. She tumbled through the water in a swirl of long limbs and violet hair, the momentum leaving her momentarily disoriented.

Recovering with an acrobatic twist, Ellissanthia’s eyes widened as the sea killer turned, its growl carrying through the abyss. It surged toward her then, bio-jets roaring as its gooey, elongated tongue lanced out, intent upon grabbing the Undine and drawing her into its toothy maw!

Spoiler: Loadout

• Swimming Attire
• Storm Kiss
• Supernal Infusion Vials
• SHIVA Vials
• Spirit Anchor Talisman
• Seer Stones
• FAE/MDE-02-S1 Semiautonomous Seeker Thermal Explosive (2)

 

[Velok Brokentusk]

A lightsaber! Not just any one, but one built with the skill and techniques to make it operate underwater. Perhaps, Velok considered, dazed from the headbutt, he shouldn't have written Ellissanthia off as wild card bait. He was however very happy with his decision to keep some distance. A lightsaber was hard to avoid while working against water, if it came to that. People could do wild things for ten thousand credits and a little prestige.

The notorious tongue snapped at her. Velok was pulling the spear back by the cable tied to his wrist and couldn't get it ready for another throw to interfere. Instead he abandoned the effort to pull in the spear and surged at the fish's flank. A huge fin buffeted him but he crouched against the seabed, bent, reached high and low with the nine-foot wingspan of his arms, and grabbed the creature around the tail.

 

[Ellissanthia]

Location: Naboo
Mission Objective:

• Hunt the opee sea killer.

Tag: Velok Brokentusk Rix Halcyon

The tip of the sea killer’s tongue was swiftly intercepted by the cutting arc of a violet-hued plasma blade. Ellissanthia's strike was precise, having sheared through a third of its length. A distal segment of the tongue drifted away like a grotesque ribbon as the leviathan’s pained roar vibrated through the water. Still, even wounded, the sea killer pressed its charge. Fortunately, before the beast could headbutt her (or rip her apart with its multi-rowed teeth), its momentum was suddenly arrested.

Ellissanthia gasped. Nevertheless, she didn’t hesitate to seize the opportunity.

The Undine surged forward, lightsaber primed as she moved through the water. Powerful, graceful kicks propelled her, closing the distance until she was swimming just beneath the beast’s shuddering bulk. It was only then that she saw the reason for her reprieve: the hulking nine-foot tall Whiphid, straining with effort to hold onto the creature’s thrashing tail.

Seeing his exertion, the Undine knew that she had only seconds left to enact her plan.

Ellissanthia grunted and kicked with as much energy as she could bring to bear, a stream of bubbles rising from her lips as she arrowed towards the sea killer’s rear. Her violet-hued eyes scanned its armored carapace, searching for the telltale rush of water which would betray the location of the propulsion pores that served as the vulnerable thruster nozzles for its bio-jets. One of the beast’s few weak spots.

Her eyes lit up as they caught sight of a distortion rippling in the water. With a sharp gasp, the Undine rushed towards it, a delicate hand finding purchase on the rough-edged armored plate for leverage.

Then, without hesitating for a moment longer than necessary, Ellissanthia drove her lightsaber deep into the pulsing pore!

Spoiler: Loadout

• Swimming Attire
• Storm Kiss
• Supernal Infusion Vials
• SHIVA Vials
• Spirit Anchor Talisman
• Seer Stones
• FAE/MDE-02-S1 Semiautonomous Seeker Thermal Explosive (2)

 

[Velok Brokentusk]

Seawater swirled hot as the lightsaber got too close for comfort, but the strike went true. The rough-armored fish convulsed against Velok's arms, face, and chest. He held on for the moments it took for the thing to realize it was dead.

It floated sluggishly to the surface and he went with it. He was grateful to breathe. He looked around for Ellissanthia to surface, wary that she might simply saber him and take his prize instead of the obvious fair split. Dignified Naboo people were taking pictures on the beach.

 

[Ellissanthia]

Location: Naboo
Mission Objective:

• Hunt the opee sea killer.

Tag: Velok Brokentusk

Ellissanthia gasped as her violet-hued blade struck true, penetrating deep inside the pore. The bio-jet pulsed its last frantic discharges, sending hot water rushing directly into her face. Nevertheless, the leviathan’s fate was sealed. Ellissanthia quickly drew back, retracting the blade as she kicked her feet hard to propel herself away from the beast’s death throes.

With the sea killer surfaced, Ellissanthia came up a few seconds later, violet hair slicked back and wet, clinging to her scalp and neck like a cap of gleaming amethyst. Her lightsaber was already deactivated, its smooth, white hilt seated neatly in her palm.

The Undine took a deep breath of fresh, salt-kissed air then, a smile cresting her lips. Her gaze first found Velok, giving him a grateful nod. It went without saying that his strength in holding the leviathan and his ability to contest it in a literal head-to-head had been paramount to the success of the hunt. Then, she turned towards the Naboo dignitaries. With a cheerful, girlish wave, she gave the crowd a wide, unguarded smile and raised her long, slender arms in celebration!

Spoiler: Loadout

• Swimming Attire
• Storm Kiss
• Supernal Infusion Vials
• SHIVA Vials
• Spirit Anchor Talisman
• Seer Stones
• FAE/MDE-02-S1 Semiautonomous Seeker Thermal Explosive (2)