Myriad Reckonings

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honestly Tarkin taking on a rancor would be epic

"That was what my senses told me." He remembered how prickly Tarkin had gotten when they discussed his past there. "But I do understand...like I just said, I wouldn't want him poking about in our sacred places either."

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It would step on him and his bird bones would shatter on impact

"Of course." Her tone darkened slightly. "Sacred is a strong word for that place. It's more of a culling ground. Sorting the wheat from the chaff, as it were. There's nothing spiritual about it."

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bird bones lol

Sirejj slightly disagreed. His people faced similar trials. Many did not come back alive, and that was the way of things. He would not have survived as a young nightbrother the swamps of Dathomir had he not been strong. Dathomir had no space for weakness. "It is a site of one's greatest struggles, and that is often sacred. My main motivation for seeing it would be to see more through the eyes of your son."

"I can tell you what he saw," she said, straightening. "It was hell for him. He changed after that first trip, and not for the better. Wilhuff and that shit-sniffing uncle of his let him starve and suffer for five summers, and all that came of it was a broken young man." Her peace of mind had crumbled. All that was there, even with the orderly way in which she processed thoughts and emotions, was a wrenching fury at having been unable to stop it. "I did what I could, but it wasn't enough. He'd have been dead sooner if I hadn't..." She looked down for a second, letting out a breath. "At least then we'd have known what had happened. And then I wouldn't--" She stopped herself, running a hand through her braided hair, and the calm settled back over her mind like a heavy curtain. "All this is to say," she went on, more steadily, "that all you'll glean from the Carrion is pain and humiliation. He was never good at anything out there, and Jova made sure he knew it."

Sirejj was silent. He pondered her words, again feeling a terrible weight of agony and fury coming from within her. He nearly regretted antagonizing her response, but did not offer anything in the way of an apology. Her pain existed within her, and there was nothing anyone could do to settle it.

Thalassa pushed back her chair and stood. "Thank you for eating with me," she said. "I'm going to retire to my room so I can take care of some matters on Phelarion. Will you seek out my husband or keep watch outside my chambers?"

"I think I'll keep watch." He stood as well. "The governor has all the protection he needs in Vader." Walking around the halls unattended was how he'd gotten into trouble the other day.

"I can't argue with that." She headed for the door. "Say what you like about Vader, but so long as you're on his good side, you're practically untouchable. Wilhuff is fortunate he befriended him."

"Fortunate indeed." He muttered. He summoned his staff to him and placed it on his back.

"You flaunt the Force very readily," she observed as she walked. "Is that common among Dathomirians?"

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Where should we go next? Killian's leaving, Tarkin and Vader will head to the Carrion. Sirejj will stay back with Thalassa. Killian will go back and be doing all his research stuff.

"It's simply my choice." Sirejj had to admit sometimes he could be a bit of a showoff. He found it amusing to impress people. Perhaps some of that stemmed from his hiding his abilities for so long- getting to use them was an outlet.

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If Sirejj has more questions we can maybe do that, and we could have you play Vader and I play Tarkin for a little bit? Like a back and forth sorta thing where we do both scenes?
We could also time skip to right before or after Vader leaves.

"It's an interesting choice, considering the danger Force-sensitives are in."

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I think Sirejj is probably good for now unless there's something specific he needs to know. He's gathered probably all he needs from here and would be ready to go back to Atoa. We can def do some stuff with Vader and tarkin if you want too. I wish I could do Vader justice, he's such an interesting character especially how we have him in this story. It's made me appreciate him in the movies a lot more honestly.

After they get back, do we plan on having them go to Atoa and reveal the secret or should we yeet another roadblock at them? It will take sirejj some time I feel to find out what he needs though once they get there.

"I don't typically flaunt in front of my enemies. Unless of course I've a good chance of winning. In good company is another story."

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I think anything he could learn would be much the same, though there's definitely more to how Tarkin sees his son that would probably be revealed on the Carrion. That's something Tarkin's memories could show, though. Sirejj could do some poking around by pressing some issues regarding the Carrion, maybe, but they don't have to be there to do that.

I think we could manage another roadblock. There's still the process of actually getting the Atoans to open up, and remember that something needs to happen to the cat tooth.

"Good company," she chuckled. "That's a first for me. I imagine you don't come by people with whom you're at ease very often?"

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ohh i forgot about that. I wonder if there's a way to get around losing it so he can use it later and maybe gift it to Thalassa. Maybe we can nerf its power somehow if that's what we're worried about, it being a kinda overpowered item.

I think he would press the issues regarding the Carrion though. That may lead into some conflict between the two after Vader leaves. I think the deeper Sirejj goes into Garoche's story, the more difficult he would act around Tarkin. Especially since Tarkin simply refuses to see who his son really was. It weighs on Sirejj, whether he realizes it or not. It would build up to Sirejj forcing Tarkin to see what happened at the cathedral.

You wouldn't happen to have an Atoan character who Sirejj might interact with, would you? I might need to invent one. A force wielder might be cool but just some dude would do.

"Preciously seldom." He watched her carefully. He'd been quite free around her. It had done what he'd intended and revealed to him many important things. She was a better listener than Tarkin, and him sharing a little about himself seemed to build a little trust between them. Still, he must be cautious.