05-11-2016, 11:34 AM
The desert rushed by at breakneck speeds as Paul stood stoically atop the great sandworm. He had the mask of his stillsuit on and his beige traveling cloak was flapping in the wind behind him.
“My duke... perhaps we should slow ourselves? We do not wish to tire the worm early...” Duncan said a little hesitantly as he clung to the carapace of the worm with his ropes. Paul did not answer. Duncan couldn’t understand- it was impossible for him to at this point in time. He didn’t get that this worm was not one of the wild sandworms of Arrakis but instead an extension of Paul’s own omni. The point was a fine one, but an important one. It was him that would tire from this strain, not the worm. He would explain it to Duncan in due time but for now he remained silent, seemingly deaf or indifferent to his swordmaster’s words.
The landscape had long since changed from the dusty dunes of the deep desert to the craggy badlands near the town with no name and now was beginning to moisten and he could see the occasional shrubs and stones. Soon they would need to dismount and let the worm go, their ride ended. Though an extension of his own power, he could only flex the logic behind the beast so much. Water would kill a worm and he had no interest in angering Shai Hulud, particularly not on a mission as auspicious as this one. Several minutes later, after a long stretch of riding, the three figures dismounted and let the worm sink back into the sand- returning to obscurity until Paul needed it again.
Carrefore made Paul uneasy. He was at home in the tall dunes of the deepest reaches of the desert but the savanna land they were now in was oddly unsettling to him. Too many little bits of motion. Dozens of animals, grass flicking, insects buzzing. He didn’t much care for it if he was being honest with himself. He liked the solitude the desert provided- even in a group you could be alone. There was something silencing about the desert air- something that stayed tongues and robbed men of the need for small talk. This place was busy and Paul needed to stay on edge. Especially since news that he was hunting for the star himself would probably eventually reach less than desirable ears as it started to make the rounds on the slum circuit of the Town with No Name.
Following one of the animal trodden watering paths to the Oasis, Paul paused for a moment a drank with one hand. It was good. Clean. Despite being near the village Paul felt it rejuvenate him. He nodded and his secondaries drank as well. There was no reason for it to be so clean- Omni probably wanted it this way... or this way at the moment. Who knew. Circling around he entered the village, the guards at the gate giving him and his two men odd looks.
“Haul.” One said, his Stormtrooper’s helmet making a hiss and click after speaking, as if from a radio.
Paul slowly turned his head and nodded to the man. In his helmet the trooper winced. Paul was using his understanding of the Bene Gesserit ways to exude an air of intimidation and respect in the man.
“W-what is your business in Carrefore?”
“Visiting.” Paul said confidently, his blue-within-blue eyes locked on the man’s even though his helmet. The other guard reached a hand towards Paul’s shoulder, Gurney’s hand going to a boot dagger and...
Paul made a sleight symbol with his hand and turned to look at the offending second guard.
“We need to search you for weapons.”
Paul nodded, “I have just my dagger. A utility thing really.” He explained with difference and the man patted him down, finding only the dagger. Examining it he handed it to the first guard who did the same.
“Well... don’t be causing trouble. How about you two? Any weapons?”
Paul had made them leave their weapon, promising to resummon the lasguns for them later and even the pulse sword for Duncan. Each presented the few small, utilitarian looking, blades they had and were let go as well.
Paul replaced the crysknife in his sash and turned to regard the two troopers, “I was told there was a garrison here who was paying quite well for the information about the star that fell... could you direct me to where the are?”
~ ~ ~
Gurney Halleck, the small and ugly man with the inkvine scar down the side of his face, knocked at the door to the garrison where (unbeknownst to Paul or his men) Aadibah was being held. Paul himself stood back a bit with Duncan at his side.
“Aye?! This the garrison asking for information ‘bout the star?” Came Gurney’s raspy old voice as he rapped loudly on the external door.
“Traveled all the way from the deep desert so the Imperium better be paying well!” He continued, though Paul remained stoic as always. He watched, hood down, and waited. Waited for what would come next.
“My duke... perhaps we should slow ourselves? We do not wish to tire the worm early...” Duncan said a little hesitantly as he clung to the carapace of the worm with his ropes. Paul did not answer. Duncan couldn’t understand- it was impossible for him to at this point in time. He didn’t get that this worm was not one of the wild sandworms of Arrakis but instead an extension of Paul’s own omni. The point was a fine one, but an important one. It was him that would tire from this strain, not the worm. He would explain it to Duncan in due time but for now he remained silent, seemingly deaf or indifferent to his swordmaster’s words.
The landscape had long since changed from the dusty dunes of the deep desert to the craggy badlands near the town with no name and now was beginning to moisten and he could see the occasional shrubs and stones. Soon they would need to dismount and let the worm go, their ride ended. Though an extension of his own power, he could only flex the logic behind the beast so much. Water would kill a worm and he had no interest in angering Shai Hulud, particularly not on a mission as auspicious as this one. Several minutes later, after a long stretch of riding, the three figures dismounted and let the worm sink back into the sand- returning to obscurity until Paul needed it again.
Carrefore made Paul uneasy. He was at home in the tall dunes of the deepest reaches of the desert but the savanna land they were now in was oddly unsettling to him. Too many little bits of motion. Dozens of animals, grass flicking, insects buzzing. He didn’t much care for it if he was being honest with himself. He liked the solitude the desert provided- even in a group you could be alone. There was something silencing about the desert air- something that stayed tongues and robbed men of the need for small talk. This place was busy and Paul needed to stay on edge. Especially since news that he was hunting for the star himself would probably eventually reach less than desirable ears as it started to make the rounds on the slum circuit of the Town with No Name.
Following one of the animal trodden watering paths to the Oasis, Paul paused for a moment a drank with one hand. It was good. Clean. Despite being near the village Paul felt it rejuvenate him. He nodded and his secondaries drank as well. There was no reason for it to be so clean- Omni probably wanted it this way... or this way at the moment. Who knew. Circling around he entered the village, the guards at the gate giving him and his two men odd looks.
“Haul.” One said, his Stormtrooper’s helmet making a hiss and click after speaking, as if from a radio.
Paul slowly turned his head and nodded to the man. In his helmet the trooper winced. Paul was using his understanding of the Bene Gesserit ways to exude an air of intimidation and respect in the man.
“W-what is your business in Carrefore?”
“Visiting.” Paul said confidently, his blue-within-blue eyes locked on the man’s even though his helmet. The other guard reached a hand towards Paul’s shoulder, Gurney’s hand going to a boot dagger and...
Paul made a sleight symbol with his hand and turned to look at the offending second guard.
“We need to search you for weapons.”
Paul nodded, “I have just my dagger. A utility thing really.” He explained with difference and the man patted him down, finding only the dagger. Examining it he handed it to the first guard who did the same.
“Well... don’t be causing trouble. How about you two? Any weapons?”
Paul had made them leave their weapon, promising to resummon the lasguns for them later and even the pulse sword for Duncan. Each presented the few small, utilitarian looking, blades they had and were let go as well.
Paul replaced the crysknife in his sash and turned to regard the two troopers, “I was told there was a garrison here who was paying quite well for the information about the star that fell... could you direct me to where the are?”
~ ~ ~
Gurney Halleck, the small and ugly man with the inkvine scar down the side of his face, knocked at the door to the garrison where (unbeknownst to Paul or his men) Aadibah was being held. Paul himself stood back a bit with Duncan at his side.
“Aye?! This the garrison asking for information ‘bout the star?” Came Gurney’s raspy old voice as he rapped loudly on the external door.
“Traveled all the way from the deep desert so the Imperium better be paying well!” He continued, though Paul remained stoic as always. He watched, hood down, and waited. Waited for what would come next.