#komad fortuna

[spectraspecs-writes]

Tatooine - Chapter 61

Link to the masterpost. Chapter 60. Chapter 62.

@averruncusho @marie39544 thank you for reading you get a tag

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Iziz gave me a map to the Eastern Dune Sea, in thanks for freeing his people. It shows me how to read the ancient marker stones in the desert to find my way to the cave. Mission and HK go back to the ship, so Bastila and Carth are with me on the trip back to the desert. The cave isn’t all that far from Anchorhead, but it’ll still be dark by the time we’re done, and I don’t want to be out in the desert at night. But… there’s a feeling… I want to be out there. Where no one will get hurt. I don’t know why I’m thinking that, what could happen out there that I get that feeling. But I do.

“You feel it, too?” Bastila asks me. Doesn’t elaborate. Doesn’t have to. I know.

“Yeah. We have to go out there.”

“I thought you didn’t want to be out in the desert at night?” Carth says, “That sounded like a damn good idea to me.”

“It’s not about being out at night,” I say, “It’s that we have to be out there in the morning.”

“Why is that?” he asks, sounding skeptical, but I can tell he doesn’t want me to say he doesn’t trust me again. He doesn’t want to go over that again.

“I don’t know,” I say, “I’ve just got a feeling.”

“You would do well to trust a Jedi’s senses, Carth,” Bastila says.

“Well, if it’s a Jedi thing, you should have said so in the first place,” he says, “Jedi senses, I trust.”

“I’ve got some basic bedrolls in my pack,” I say, “Some small ration packs. We can last the night in the Star Map cave.”

“The Jawa said something about a dragon out there, though,” Carth says, “Dragons in the cave.”

“Yes,” Iziz says, “The greatest of the desert! There is no bigger. Bigger than the big machines. Jawas don’t know how to fight something so big.”

“Is that what your Jedi senses are telling you about?” Carth asks.

“No idea,” I say with a shrug, “Won’t know until we’re out there.”

“We may have to kill the dragon,” Bastila says, “No creature would take well to others in its lair.”

“There is a hunter,” Iziz says, “A Twi’lek. He has seen many things. Look in the Eastern Dune Sea when you go and he may help.”

“Good to know,” I say, “Thanks, Iziz.”

“You are a good friend of the Jawas,” Iziz says, “We will remember when your kind are gone. Ask if you need any more of anything.”

“Hang on a minute,” Carth says, “I’ll be right back.” He sort of run-jogs back to the ship, and Bastila and I find a place to hunker down in the shade. When he comes back, he’s wearing his typical orange jacket, and he’s rented a speeder. “I’m sick of walking for one day.”

“Fair enough,” I say, smiling, because I’m honestly tired of walking, too. My feet are killing me. 

The speeder’s controls are different from those in the Hawk, I think, but Carth drives the thing without a problem. Maybe the controls aren’t that different, I guess, I don’t know. I navigate him out into the Eastern Dune Sea. There’s not really any sign of Czerka out here beyond their marker posts. Maybe the dragon Iziz mentioned has kept them away. Good. 

“That cave, there,” Bastila says, pointing at the biggest cave out here, “That must be the one Iziz described.” Carth pulls over a short distance from the cave (but far enough away to keep this dragon from attacking the speeder. If we don’t bother this creature, it should have no incentive to bother us. We’re probably not worth the effort as a meal, if it’s as big as Iziz says.) Waiting outside the cave is a Twi’lek and another hunter, a human, and the speeder they must have come in. The human has a look of naivete about him, but the Twi’lek is patient and relaxed.

“I'm tired of waiting, Komad!” the human exclaims as we get closer, “How big can this dragon of yours be? I'm going in!” And he rushes inside the cave.

The dragon never comes out, but neither does the human. Judging from his screams, it’s pretty safe to assume the dragon ate him. Now the Twi’lek is a little nervous. I can tell he’s trying to calculate his next move.

Until he sees me approach. “Greetings to you, human,” he says to me in Huttese - a common enough language; children usually learn it alongside Basic outside of the core worlds -  “I believe I saw you in Anchorhead. I thought I would see you on the dunes. You look like a hunter.”

“Not exactly,” I say.

“Perhaps you are interested in the ways of the hunt?” Komad asks, “Will you help me?”

“I’m guessing you’re interested in the dragon, then?”

“Yes,” he says, “It is an honored creature to hunt, although we must use unorthodox methods today.”

“I get the impression predators like this are rare on Tatooine. Killing one could upset the whole balance of the planet,” I say. You can’t be a scout as long as I was without picking up a bit of ecology. Especially since that was my whole thing.

“You are correct, human,” Komad says, “The natural cycle on Tatooine spans hundreds of years, but there are complications that must be addressed. Complications from our presence.” Ah, yes. I imagine this ecosystem is quite fragile. “Krayt dragons feed on banthas. If the numbers of either species fall, the other grows too numerous, and unbalances the cycle. Now settlers use banthas, so there are less for dragons to eat. This one is moving closer to Anchorhead. Perhaps there will be more, but he is the threat tonight.”

“If the Star Map is in there,” Bastila says, “we may have to deal with the dragon first.”

Forget the Star Map. This guy is speaking with a respect for the planet that I’ve never heard in any other hunter. Hunters are generally in it for their own profit. I think Komad could care less about profit. If killing this krayt dragon would only bring him wealth, he wouldn’t do it. “I’ll help,” I say, “What do I need to do?”

“We must bait the great beast out of hiding and ambush him swiftly,” Komad says, “There is no room to engage him in the lair, and his hide will repel blaster fire. I have placed mines around the mouth of the cave. We must coax him out, but this is the end of his season of hibernation. It will take much to rouse him.”

“He’s probably hungry, then,” I say, “I mean, I’m usually hungry when I wake up.”

“My thoughts precisely. The food of a beast this size is almost exclusively banthas,” Komad says, “and foolish hunters, if we are not careful. To lure him out we must lure his food to tempt him.”

“I’m not exactly a bantha rustler,” I say uncertainly, “I dated a dewback farmer once, but she lured them in by making them think she was a giant berry. I get the feeling this won’t be as simple as putting on a red shirt.”

“The concept is similar,” Komad says slowly, uncertain what to make of my digression, “Banthas too have their food of choice. I have some bantha fodder here, to lead them here.” He hands me a small satchel full of a super stinky mush. “If you bait the banthas here, the mines will deal with the dragon as it emerges to feed. Not exactly a glorious hunt, but it will ensure the safety of the region.”

“Seems to me like there’s more to this than just luring some banthas,” Carth says.

“There is one added threat,” Komad says, “The Sand People regard banthas as sacred. Attempting to feed the herd in this area will likely lead to an attack. We are far from the weakened tribes around Anchorhead. The Sand People of this region are strong, fierce, and will think nothing of killing you. Be careful.” He looks past me, toward a small group of banthas. “Lead them here. I wish you luck against the Sand People.”

I hand Bastila the bag of fodder. “You lead the banthas. Carth and I will take care of the Sand People.”

“Why me? I’m sure I could fight the Sand People as well,” Bastila objects.

“I have no doubt. But Cartha and I have fought them already earlier today. We know their style,” I say, “Plus once the banthas start following you, they won’t stop. If you join the fight, the banthas will be right behind you.”

She sighs. “I suppose you’re right,” she says, “I’ll lead them to the cave.”

“We’ll take the perimeter,” Carth says. He finds a good place to stand to wait, and I join him. He’s lucky enough to be able to pick Sand People off from a distance, even if he doesn’t make a perfect shot every time. I have to get up close and personal, right in their faces. My aim sucks.

Bastila doesn’t even have to get very close to the banthas before they smell the fodder and turn to follow her. They don’t move very fast, but then they don’t have to. 

I hear the Sand People before I see them. “You ready?” I ask Carth.

“Ready,” he says. When the first Sand Person comes into view, Carth fires his blaster, hits one of them right in the arm. There are two more behind the first one. I pull the purple lightsaber back out and jump right to the warriors, blue and violet blades flashing. The first Sand Person wasn’t prepared for me, and put up no defense. My lightsaber went right through him, and he hit the sand. The other two raised their gaffis the second I hit the ground.

They match my speed. I try to focus on one at the time, but when I turn my attention to one, the other moves to strike me from behind. I end up ducking a lot. I try to move in a way that keeps them both in Carth’s sights. He misses a couple times, but he never fires a shot when there’s a chance it could hit me. I can feel it. 

He shoots one in the head, burning a hole through his mask. This makes the last one even angrier, and he raises his gaffi over his head. Leaving his center exposed. I quickly thrust my lightsaber into his stomach, and he drops his gaffi in shock. In death. 

Carth and I run back to the mouth of the cave, where Bastila is being slowly accosted by the banthas. She has no appreciation for the bantha kisses, which is understandable since their tongues are as long as she is tall. She drops the bag and they let her escape, whuffling at the bag with their big noses. 

“Quickly,” Komad says as we all move away from the cave, “be ready. The banthas are in position and will soon stir our restless prey. I hope the mines do their job quickly.”

“I’m ready.”

The ground thuds. “Oh boy, he's a big one!” Komad exclaims.

Jesus fucking Christ.

The frag mines piece the dragon’s soft underbelly, quickly dropping the dragon. The banthas are unharmed, but they move away from the cave. They probably don’t like the rumbling or the smell of the dragon. 

“It is done,” Komad says, “and the great beast is dead. To my shame, I denied him a final fight, but I will honor his memory to make amends.” He takes a big knife and cuts into the dragon’s belly, and pulls out two bloodied orbs. “I thank you for your aid, human,” he says, “You have earned a share of the victory, such as it is.”

“So long as I don’t have to reach into his stomach to get it,” I say with disgust.

“This krayt dragon pearl is yours,” he says, trying to hand me the pearl. No, I am not touching that. Bastila takes it instead with the Force.

“Mother said this is what my father was looking for,” Bastila says, “It must fetch a high price.”

“Indeed,” Komad says, “But don't let the spoils be your only reason to hunt. Wealth fades. The sands remain.

“You should return to Anchorhead, human. Night on the dunes can be dangerous,” he says.

“I think it would be more dangerous if I left,” I say.

“You are a Jedi?” he asks, “I should have guessed from your gait. Even a Jedi can die, human. Remember that.”

“With every passing moment.” Komad gets into his own speeder and leaves in the direction of Anchorhead. “It’s almost first sunset. We should get in the cave. Carth, can you bring the speeder in closer?” He nods and does so, as Bastila and I head into the cave. 

The cave is dark, and I can barely see a thing, but I can feel the Star Map. Like it’s reaching out to me. I don’t like it. Carth turns on the lights on the speeder, and I can see the Stap Map. And the statues that I saw in my vision. Like fallen rubble. Looks like an alien. Not one that I’m familiar with, though.

We all step closer to the Star Map, and it activates on its own, just like the one on Dantooine did. I start to interface my datapad with it to download the coordinates. 

“Anyone else get the feeling that finding this Star Map in the back of this krayt dragon's cave is more than just a coincidence?” Carth says.

“I do not think it is mere chance that we have found the Star Map here, no,” Bastila says, “The Star Map is an artifact of the dark side. The krayt dragon may have been drawn here by its dark power, only to be enslaved by it.”

“Well, I’ve got the coordinates,” I say, “We should hunker down for the night. Try to start a fire before it gets too cold.”

Whatever’s coming won’t come until morning.

[eluvisen]

In Harmonious Proportion - Chapter 3

Fandom: Star Wars KOTOR

Characters: Bastila Shan & Female Revan

Rating: T

Summary: Velire Orinn only exists because of Bastila, spared and reshaped into a newer, gentler being. Yet the threat of Revan remains, leaving Bastila in a terrifying stewardship as she’s tasked with keeping them both in the light.

An exploration of the Force bond between Bastila and Velire.

—

Bastila felt no satisfaction when the krayt dragon that killed her father was likewise slain. Objectively, it was a good thing that she could maintain the control expected of a Jedi. And yet she knew, deep down, that what she felt was only a hollow mimicry of a true Jedi’s serenity.

As the mission leader, Bastila should have been the one to speak with the Twi’lek hunter Komad Fortuna, but she found herself paralysed by the sight of the felled beast. It was a colossal creature with a mottled grey and green hide, possessing jaws that could snap up two sentients with room to spare, while great horns spiralled out from its skull like a coronet. One great yellow eye was still half-open, staring sightlessly at the sky. For all its savagery, it had not been driven by malicious intent. It was, in the end, merely an animal.

Bastila looked away, mouth dry.

[Read on AO3]

[vespertine-legacy]

15 Day OC Challenge

@wolfboywarmachine ‘s 15 day swtor OC challenge

3. Name.

How did you come up with their name? What is it in-game? What do people call them? What do *you* call them?

Ember - Full name: November Almarre. November is my alias, and Ember is a pseudo-clone of me. Almarre was a randomly generated name the game gave me that I liked as a last name. People call her Ember or November, or if they feel lazy, Em. She would prefer if you don’t call her Emmy, but she’ll deal with it. I call her Ember.

Kestrel - Full name: Kestrel Fortuna. My twi’leks always get bird names (I’ve only ever had like two others, via mods on kotor/kotor2, and one of them, Peregrine, just had Zaerdra’s model because she’s beautiful, which meant that Zaerdra didn’t have a head in her scenes which was FUN), and they always have the last name Fortuna or Vao because I am unoriginal. Kestrel is descended from Komad Fortuna, the treasure hunter. People call her Kestrel or just Kes. I just call her Kestrel, or affectionately, “Oh My God, You Idiot.”

Mena - Full name: Atmena Jenkari’uul. In Sith, her name means “memory” and “blood-born.” Memory because she is her father’s memory of her mother, who died during her birth (which my wife told me was Extra, of which I am Well Aware), and blood-born because she is a warrior. She only rarely actually goes by Atmena, usually preferring just Mena, but she does use Atmena for her Lord name since it’s a bit more intimidating-sounding. Her dad calls her Mini, but he is the only one who can get away with it.

Sija - Full name: Cassija Solborne-Revel-Beniko (she’s working on the last name; it’s been a process). This one I didn’t put as much care into picking as the others, tbh. It’s “Cassia” (which is a flower in the same family as cinnamon, and as a name it means something like “feminine, but fear her”) with a soft j thrown in to look/sound cooler (cah-siege-uh, basically). Solborne = sun-born; a last name that was just sort of given to her at some point; she has no idea what her actual family name is, but she’s never found any rattataki with this name (somewhere WAAAAAAY back, she’s a Kallig, and she considered taking his name when she found out about that, but decided against it, mostly because it just didn’t sound right). She dropped it when she kind of-maybe-sort of married her pilot, Andronikos Revel and took his name instead. The first time she introduced herself as Cassija Revel, Andronikos nearly pissed himself and actually had to leave the room because we did not discuss this. She’s still debating if she’ll drop Revel when she and Lana get officially married, or if she’ll hyphenate to Revel-Beniko (she needs to have a discussion with Andronikos and Lana about the implications). Everyone calls her Sija, except for Mena, who calls her C (usually an emphatic C! or a drawn out Ceeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!), and Nik, who occasionally calls her Cas and would always call her Cassija during more...intimate moments. Call her Cassie and she will slit your throat.

[vespertine-legacy]

Muse Meme (round 3)

tagged by @the-sith-in-the-sky-with-diamond

-your muse’s name:

Kestrel Fortuna

-one favorite picture/face claim of your muse:

First one that’s not a screengrab! Used a starwars avatar maker from rinmarugames.com to make my best approximation of Kestrel because I didn’t really have any good screengrabs of her. She looks a lot younger here than she does in the game, and I do headcanon her as younger than Sija and Mena, but probably not as young as this makes her look. She’s also supposed to have a three-line scar over her eye, but the designer only had two lines. The scar is from fighting off a wraid on an expedition with her dad when she was probably too young to have any business going on expeditions with him.

-two headcanons for your muse:

She’s got a big family - her parents, who are treasure hunters (her mother is descended from Komad Fortuna, and her father took the Fortuna name when they got married); one older brother, Gyr; and four younger sisters, Kite, Pandion, Peregrine, and Falcon (yes, all of them have raptor names; no I don’t know if those raptors or anything like them would exist in-universe or if those names would mean something in Ryl, and I don’t care; I don’t know why, but I always name my Twi’lek characters after birds). Kite is also Force-sensitive but has no interest in seeking out training,

She’s aroace. It took a lot of exploration to figure that out, and a lot of feeling like there was something wrong with her, and a lot of forcing herself into relationships that other people assured her were the natural progression of things. Lana was probably the biggest help in figuring it out, and in making her feel okay with it and like she wasn’t broken. She loves platonic kisses and cuddling.

-three things your muse likes doing in their free time:

Rock climbing (she free climbs on the cliffs on Odessen, and it freaks out some of the Alliance members)

Singing (Senya has been teaching her Zakuulan songs)

Playing sabacc or pazaak (and cleaning out any Alliance member who dares play her; at first she had most of them convinced she didn’t know how to play and just had a lucky streak, but then she beat Gault and Hylo, and now only new-comers will play her, and only if no one has warned them)

-seven people your muse loves/likes, in no particular order:

Senya (her mom-away-from-mom)

Lana (her closest advisor and a great confidante)

Kite (her closest sister in age, who has actually come to visit Odessen and considered joining the Alliance if there were a position that would utilize her skills)

Nadia (one of the relationships Kestrel let herself be pressured into, but it ended amicably)

Tau (Kestrel and Tau became very fast friends on Ossus)

Vaylin (she’s still in Kestrel’s head after eradicating Valkorion, and while Kestrel hasn’t forgiven her for what she did to Vette - whoopsie, I/she honestly thought we’d be able to save them both, but I’ve explained elsewhere my headcanon for why Kestrel chose to save Torian - or for the tyrannical things she did, there is a lot she has forgiven. And Vaylin is actually incredibly smart, clever, and funny; as far as Kestrel can tell, she isn’t there maliciously, but she hasn’t told anyone else)

Her parents

-a phobia your muse has:

Being subjugated. She knows she’s been relatively lucky. Her family has never been well-off, but they’ve been independent and slavery was never a tangible risk for them, like it is for so many twi’leks. She doesn’t like being controlled or manipulated, even if the person in control claims it’s “for the greater good.” Being too constrained is stressful.