The fog heavily enveloped the dainty mining and farming village of Elos Vrai on Arx. The villagers were now waking up at the slight lightness of the dark sky. It was already time of the season where they were not going to see the sun for weeks but the sky does get significantly brighter in the mornings. Lights were switching on inside homes as smoke escaped from the chimneys while they warm up for the day.
A few miles away from the village was a group of people inside a shuttle that the Brotherhood had assigned to help the villagers. Dusa, the Rattataki-human hybrid adjusted her gloves before she tried to zip up her thicker Envoy jacket for this mission with fur trim to keep her arm.
Dusa grumbled as she looked over the datapad. Mission, smission, kimmision, whatever.
What really bothered her was that she was trying to understand Life Day and the point of it all and now this so-called evil being that was disrupting the villagers life?
And children were missing.
The homes of missing children had a bloody sack for the parents to find. Luckily, they were just animal bones but… where were the children?
Mining was halted and the farming somewhat was as well as the basics chores to feed the animals were only done before the villagers went back into their homes out of fear or some of them were brave enough to continue the search for the children.
Whispers travel through the mountainous ravine that a legendary figure named Krampus had taken the children. If they weren’t going to behave or follow, the bloody sack may be the children instead of animals.
“I just want to axe-”
squeak
There was some movement inside of her jacket Dusa’s Merqaal, Lady Hatchetina, poked her head out from the warmth of her jacket and seemed to be disappointed at Dusa’s comment.
“I just want to axe him a question, that’s all!” Dusa protested. as she got out her hatchet and started to check over it to make sure it was in a good shape to be used.
Wyndell Tyris furrowed his brow as he took in the scene. He looked around and tried to get the attention of someone retreating into their home, but before he could spin his silver tongued wordplay, they slammed a window shutter on him.
“Window shutters? In this economy?” he grumbled.
Sensing his lady knight, Sir Axelot made a bubbly “hrmph” of a noise the male Merqaal waved his legs in a show of bravado from Wyn’s shoulder, as if to say: “fear not, my lady Hatchetina, we will find who did this!”.
The Golden Envoy, despite this not being a technically sanctioned mission, glanced over his shoulder to make sure that the Gand and the short, dark haired Councilor that had accompanied them on this mission.
The 5’3 purple Gand pitter pattered his way up to the crew. He was slightly behind them as he was busy swapping out his ammonia tank, prepared with a fresh one in the off chance this mission went longer than he expected.
Esen had given him the okay to go on the mission, said she didn’t need any items delivered any time soon as research was slowing down for the holidays.
His first year away from the planet Gand, and he had not experienced these so-called holiday customs before. What better way to spread this holiday cheer by reuniting families?
He caught up with the crew, tightening the ratchet on his life support mask.
“This Gand is sorry sorry, so very sorry. Gand should have changed Gand’s tank before embarking.”
As much as he felt like he was not worthy of his ammonia plant greenhouse Rue had constructed for him…. He did miss it. A lot. In there he didn’t have to wear a mask… and Esen said his lungs did improve by two whole percentages due to it!
“This Gand is excited to be allowed to accompany you on this mission.”
She lowered the brim of her hat, concealing her violet eyes.
How had she gotten wrapped up in this again? The short answer was money. Parts and repairs weren’t cheap and dealing with this “Krampus” had promised a nice hefty bounty.
What she hadn’t expected was splitting it four ways. Hadn’t even really expected to split it two ways, but she was at a total loss as to what she was actually looking for.
The description? Varied wildly from witness to witness.
The problem? Varied from victim to victim.
About the only thing that stayed constant was the fact that this being was hellbent on ruining Life Day for people. And her companions? A Gand who was surprisingly taller than she was, a pretty boy and what looked to be a psycho with an axe.
This was going to be just wonderful. Couldn’t be any worse than the time Koji has set fire to an entire district of Coruscant.
But, Miho had a sinking feeling this aas going to be a bounty she wish she’d never taken.
Lady Hatchetina gave Sir Axelot a blank stare. She much rather be cozy up at a fireplace with servants attending to her every need. Not in some snowy cold wasteland.
Though, just seeing Sir Axelot’s courageous and warrior heart, Tina cannot help but to be soothed by him.
Dusa frowned as she glanced towards Gand, hoping that he was okay.
“I gotta axe, are you ok-”
“HELLO AND WELCOME!” A rather plump themselves had approached the Brotherhood squad.
“I vhery plweased they sent a team to help find our children!” The mayor patted their belly in excitement.
“You can ask mwe anything- vhat are you doing?” They nervously asked as they inched closer to Gand and Miho away from the hatchet wielding Rattataki.
<@189568236201705472> <@267489687902486530> <@227653769842655233>
Wyn narrowed his eyes at the so called “mayor”.
Suspicious.
“Hail and well met my friend! Can you tell me more about these children that have gone missing?”
Gand busily inspected the town around him but he was not ignorant to the Mayor slowly creeping towards him. He used the corner of his eyes to keep tabs but as far as Gand was concerned he too would want to distance himself from the threatening Hatcheter.
His dark eyes peered at Dusa and in response to her question he gave a thumbs up, his hand only consisting of three fingers. This was the easiest way to communicate when others were talking or if talking was especially hard that day.
His attention turned to Wyn, asking the question Gand was wondering himself, he gave a gentle nod.
The mayor tucked out his lower lip as it trembled.
“Oh! The childwen! The poow childwen! We have seawched high and low and cannot find them. Except at the olde mines, no one goes there and it’s empty. I assured the pawents they are simply hiding somewhere and has wan away! Life Day can be very stwessful especially if they didn’t get what they wanted.”
He then rose his hand and whispered, “If yew don’t mind mwe saying, the childwen are vewy spoiled. I have evewy hopes they will be back home!”
Dusa scoffed. Spoiled or not, they should be with their families! Something she had learned the hard away and didn’t realized until her only family was taken from her, her mother.
“Where’s the mines or I’ll use your belleh as an axe target.”
The mayor stammered as the color drained from his face. The Brotherhood was to send a team! Not threaten his life!
“Y-You can’t go thewe! I-It be dangewous!”
<@227653769842655233> <@267489687902486530> <@189568236201705472>
“Gand thought he heard you say the mines were the only place that hasn’t been checked? Dangerous or not Gand thinks at minimum Gand should check. What is in the mines? What should Gand look out for as far as danger goes?”
He did not want to sign the others up for something should they not wish to check the mines. It was not his place to speak for them.
Miho had watched the exchange in relative silence. The rotund mayor definitely raised the hackles on the small Kyaratan.
Leaning heavily on the haft of Kurotsubaki, the High Councillor of Odan-Urr looked up from beneath the brim of her black hat with intense violet eyes.
“Well now,” she said softly in an oddly lyrical accent. “That’s just something that makes me want to go all the more.”
Her gaze flicked from the mayor to each of her companions before falling back on the man. “What say the rest of you, hm? Should we find new and exciting ways extract the information about the mines from this fat little man?”
“He’s definitely lying. Or just a really bad actor. I can’t tell which is worse,” Wyn said, idly scratching the side of his temple as if trying to figure out just what was off.
Wyn hesitated. He knew he could do something that he did not like to do. He could invade the mans mind and find the answers that they sought. The mines were obviously a trap. The kids, more than likely, were in town somewhere and they were being sent after a red herring.
He looked at Dusa, almost unsure, seeking permission not because he couldn’t do it, but if he should do it.
He though of what he’d do if Turi had been one of the missing ones.
“I-I-I-” The mayor stammered as they turned red in the face, their cheeks almost purple.
How dare they!? It was bothersome enough that the Brotherhood was poking their noses in, but the fact that the team just nonchalant suggesting murder.
“V-vewy well! Thewe’s dangewous cweatuwes and legend has it, the ghost of Dawth Kwampus. If you excuse me, I have other matters to tend to, good luck and I’ll be suwe to tell the Bwotherhood I twied to warn you lot.”
With that, he took his life.
Dusa rolled her eyes and glanced to Lady Hatchetina, “Go follow him girl.”
Lady Hatchetina looked where the Mayor started to walk off and trills in protest, turning her head in an elegant and ‘hrmph’ way. Sir Axelot, however, liked the idea of the adventure and wanted to help. He chirped and rose it’s paw to his head in a salute. Dusa grinned.
“I knew I can count on my second favorite knight! Tina, would you do it for a Merqaal snack?”
The female Merqaal pondered.
“…. Two? So the brave Knight can have one too!”
Lady Hatchetina glanced at the sky and sighed, before a nod in agreement. They both chirrped and went down to the ground at Dusa’s feet. With their snack in their mouths, they both started to go after the Mayor.
“Axecellent! Let’s check out the mines!”
Wyn pointed two fingers at his own eyes, then pointed them at the Mayors eyes.
“To the mines, then,” his expression became a smile when he caught Dusa’s profile as her own energy, as always, was contagious.
The purple Gand watched the exchange happen, his dark eyes slowly blinking out of order. The left blinked, then the right. He was thoroughly confused. Perhaps he missed something in the conversation. The Brotherhood was here to help find the children, so why was the Mayor lying? If this Wyn was telling the truth. Nevertheless, the Brotherhood members he was with seemed to understand better than he did. He was, afterall, here to help the children… and to witness traditional holiday cheer. He remained silent.
When the crew seemed to have their minds set on going to the mines, they set off. Gand pitter pattered his way trying to keep up with the rest of the herd. His lungs began to ache, and his breathing shallowed as he took quicker breaths from the allotted ammonia tanks on his back.
Mines. Mines were a place where folks would mine for minerals. The air was filthy. Stagnant. Filled with dust and debris particles. Gand should be fine with his life support tanks and respirator but the others… His lungs hurt just from the thought.
“Gand was thinking… Should the other Brotherhood members get some safety gear before going into the mines? Gand worries about Gand’s comrades respiratory systems.”
Miho thought for a moment and then shrugged. “I suppose we could. But, as long as we don’t plan to take up residence, it should be fine.”
She pulled a piece of cloth from one of the pockets in her coat and tied it over her nose and mouth. Inhaling rock dust had never been a favorite past time of hers so some precautions did need to be taken.
She held extra cloths out towards Dusa and Wyn. “I always bring enough to share. And we can look like Life Day bandits.”
The High Councillor pointed towards the mine with Kurotsubaki, “What do you think? In and out? Ten minutes?”
“Psh, saftey ain’t a-” She blinked as Miho handed her cloth. Then she puffed her cheeks and acted like a pouty child.
“Fiiiiinnnne, I suppose.” She took the cloth and puts it on. SHe looked over to Wyn with her stormy grey eyes and winked.
“What ya think? Brings out my eyes?”
Dusa smirked, a challenge? She held out five fingers. “Let’s make it five minutes!”
“Always wear protection, friend. Unless you’re really good with Control Self…” he trailed off. “Oh, yeah, protective*gear*.”
He waved off the offer from Miho. “Thank you. Always good to match, I say. Style is important. Now if we only had proper hats…” he said wistfully, tying the mask on.
When Dusa addressed him, his wit or whimsy seemed to trip over itself and left him just staring adoringly at her for a moment longer than he probably should have.
“Beautiful” he spoke into her mind as the corner of his eyes crinkled in a smile beneath his mask. Out loud he said, “Considering all you can see is your eyes, I’d sure say so.” He winked.
Gand blinks innocently.
“Gand does wear this protection,” He tapped the tube sticking out the side of the respirator, “or Gand would suffocate. Gand does not breathe this air. Forgive Gand for Gand’s bad explanation. Gand apologizes deeply.”
Wyn blinked a few times. In that moment, he understood everything about their Gand companion. They needed to be protected at all costs. He almost felt bad for his joke.
Almost.
“Nothing to apologize for. You’re exactly right, my friend, and I am familiar with the need for this kind of environment,” he said.
Miho winked one violet eye at Wyn and tapped the brim of her hat. “I never leave home without it for exactly that reason.”
She turned and looked at Gand, wondering if it was being completely serious or just dense and shook her head with a grin behind her mask. It didn’t actually matter and the fact that the response had been delivered so matter-of-factly just served to make it all the funnier.
It wasn’t much, but it was always enjoyable to find people who worked well together and seemed to know how to have fun. And then, just to fill the air with words, Miho grinned and asked.
“So, anyone know any naughty songs to sing while we march on down the road? Maybe something about digging?”
“Well…” Wyn said, drawing out his thoughts. “It’s not about digging, per se, but the 3 BBY holonet hit titled; "No Diggity” was allegedly about protesting the treatment of mine workers by the Empire.“
He cleared his throat, and with unsurprisingly astute accuracy and vocal range started to sing the first refrain into the chorus of the song, which was more of a spoken word contemporary cadence.
*"East side to the west side, pushin’ cart rides, it’s no surprise, she got tricks in the flatbed, stacking up the creds Fast when it comes to tibana gas By no means average She’s on when she’s got to have it,” he nodded in Dusa’s direction.
“Baby, you’re a perfect ten, I wanna get in, can I get down, so I can win?”
He timed out the beat with drumming the flat of his palms against his thighs, breaking into the chorus.
“I like the way you work it, NO DIGGITY!”
As he analyzed the lyrics he was singing, he realized that perhaps the translation he’d read about the song’s etymology was wrong. Oh well. He had to commit to the bit now.
Dusa busted out laughing and started giggling.
“That was ax-wesome! Shame we’re busy or…” She winked at Wyn as the team made their way towards the mines.
As they arrived, they would feel a sense of heaviness as if it endured years of turmoil and trauma. The rocks showed evidence of wears from nature itself and other means. The dense fog did not help any.
Then came a weird noise. It sounded like heavy grunts followed by thud of hooves against gravel.
“This is your warning,” the being growled. The horns on the head were curved and shedding. Horn pieces dangled as the fur was heavily matted and disgusting. It had on a dark and heavy robe and was carrying a woven basket at the back. None of them can tell what’s in the box basket. Red slitted eyes peered down to the team.
“Turn around now or face your doom!” It cackled and disappeared into the fog….
And so, the idle threat was easy to ignore. The team went into the mines and, indeed, faced a danger.
A silly danger at that.
It turned out that the so called Darth Krampus was the very mayor of Elos Vrai. Even his accent was fake as the poorly made styrofoam horns with glued paper pieces to give the appearance of molting antlers.
Children were kidnapped and were worked on the mines for free.
No longer.
THe Mayor was arrested and place in a hold on the ship. The team? They were lavished with a grand feast. They even went out of the way to make sure Gand had some kind of food that agreed with him.
“Wyn, c'mere-” Without warning, in the middle of the feast, the Rattataki had fireman lifted and carried Wyn. He was shocked and redness crept to his face.
“Be back in five!” Dusa winked to Miho and Gand.
“M-Make that ten!”
“Oooh~” Dusa purred.
Gand glanced to Miho, “Gand is worried about them, why the Dusa lifted the Wyn in such a way?”
Miho sighed, “Here Gand, have a biscuit.”
~The End~