©2016
Dathomir
One day after jumping to hyperspace, Captain Richard invited Andriel, Chitrah, and Krillgan, to his cabin. He let them sit on his bunk, as he sat at his desk. He told them it was time they knew where they are going, because the next planet they stop at, will be their new home. He is taking them to a planet called Dathomir. Chitrah asked him if that was the planet the Kwa came from? The Captain said it was, and Krillgan asked, "What are Kwa?" Chitrah asked if he remembered him telling him about the Rakata, when he told him about the history of the Chagrian people on Deysum III. Krillgan nodded his head yes.
"The Kwa were a giant blue skinned lizard people. They were very intelligent, and knew how to manipulate the force. They learnt how to travel between planets without using starships, like we do today. They built Star Temples, inside the Temples they had built Infinite Gates, and that is how they traveled between planets. They were a good, kind people that always tried to help other species they encountered. Often they would find species in primitive states, and would uplift them, making them more intelligent, more aware of their surroundings, and more aware of the force. No-one knows how many species they helped this way. They were the ones who discovered the Rakata. They were a primitive people, and the Kwa saw that they were powerful in the force. Because of that, they did not study them as well as they should have, or they would have found that the Rakata were strong in the dark side of the force. They would also have learnt that when the Rakata encounter another species, they try to enslave them. If they can't enslave them, then they try to destroy them.
So the Kwa uplifted the Rakata, thinking they would help them in their work. When they found the Rakata enslaving all the species they had helped, they were horrified. So they went to war with the Rakata, hoping they could free the species they enslaved. In the war they found that they were not fighting the Rakata directly, but the ones they had made their slaves. They were destroying the ones they wanted to help. So they stopped fighting. Instead, on some worlds they destroyed their Star Temples and the Infinite Gates inside of them, on other planets they left giant Wuffa Worms to guard them.
The Rakata did not know how to use the Star Temples, and the Infinite Gates inside of them. So they built the first starships, and used the force, to power their hyperspace drives. They wanted to chase after the Kwa, because they knew they could not enslave them, so they wanted to destroy them. We don't know if the Rakata succeeded, but the Kwa disappeared."
Captain Richard was impressed, he did not know that Chitrah was also a student of history. He told them that he had learnt something about the history of Dathomir that should fill in the gaps concerning his knowledge of both the Rakata and the Kwa. He told them that in his younger years, he came across the planet and landed near what looked like the largest habitation on the planet. "The locals have two names for it. Some call it Neutral Town, since it was the only place on the planet where the force using women of the different clans, who call themselves Sisters, agreed not to fight. Others call it Trading Town, because it was the only place where Sisters would bring the extra goods produced by their clan, and trade it. Either with the town's people, or with Sisters from other clans who came there to trade. I found out that there is one thing Dathomir is always short of, and that is men. Since they knew that I was neither a pirate, nor a slaver, I had the opportunity to sleep with many Sisters, from most of the clans, and learnt some of their history."
Krillgan asked the Captain, why the Sisters wanted to sleep with him? Were they afraid to sleep by themselves?
The Captain was somewhat embarrassed, he had forgotten that one member of his audience was still a child. He told Krillgan that the Sisters would sleep with him so that they could play like parents play, and maybe start a baby. Chitrah bent over and told him that he would explain it to him when he gets older.
Krillgan knew that there was a lot he needed to learn about when he was older, so that he could understand what adults are talking about. So far he knew that there was a relationship between parents sleeping, and parents playing, and somehow it affected their breathing.
The Captain continued. He said that the Sisters from all the clans were in agreement on the early part of their planet's history. It is only with later events, because it involves their own clan's history, that their stories diverge.
"The Kwa were very upset with themselves, because they uplifting the Rakata. They destroyed much of the work they had tried to accomplish. They decided to punish themselves. They knew how to uplift others, so they attempted to reverse the process on themselves. They also wanted to reverse what they did to the Rakata, and maybe peace would return to the galaxy. They decided that the best way to do this was with a species specific infection. The problem was they did not want to infect themselves, until they knew that the Rakata were infected. But how do you infect the Rakata without them knowing they have been infected, and how do you ensure that they were all infected, because if some were not infected, the species could rebound, and in the end nothing had changed. So they decided that the best thing to do was to abandon all the planets, and retreat to Dathomir and wait for the Rakata to come to them. Now the Kwa had found humans to be a very peculiar species, because unlike the Rakata, or themselves, where everyone was a force user. The humans had some very powerful force users, but they were relatively rare. The humans were also the one species that they seemed the most attached to. So when they found out that they were abandoning their worlds, the ones who worked closest to them, pleaded with the Kwa to take them with them, and not abandon them to the Rakata. The Kwa were divided over this. They knew that the Rakata would eventually find them on Dathomir, but others did not have the heart to leave the ones they were closest to behind, because they knew they would be enslaved."
"No-one knew at the time that without some force sensitivity, you could not live on Dathomir. So after they retreated through the Infinite Gate on Dathomir, and sealed the Star Temple, so no one could enter it. They found that some of the humans seemed ill. Now Dathomir has four moons, and each moon tries to exert its own influence on the body. Some Sisters believe that it is somehow connected to the force. Because force sensitive beings are able to negate the effects the moons have on them, except the closest and largest moon, which actually helps to stabilise the body. The men with no force sensitivity, would start doing crazy stupid things, some would even start to bleed out of their eyes, ears, and nose. They would regularly put themselves in harm's way, until they were eventually killed. Usually by an encounter with wild beasts. The women who had no force sensitivity would go into their moon cycle, and never stop. Eventually bleeding to death."
"The Kwa were sorry they brought the humans. Because of the horrible way some of them died, when they first arrived on Dathomir. But there was a large enough population that did survive the first few months on Dathomir. So if they were to continue to survive, they would need to be taught about the dangers of the planet. They did not want to teach them about the poisonous plants, but they knew that the humans were curious enough that they would start to find them on their own. So the Kwa started teaching them about the flora and the fauna. There are some plants that have poison, but also have healing properties, if you know how to use them. They tried not to teach them about the force, but there were some force users among them, that did not manifest this ability until they came to Dathomir. So the Kwa were forced to teach them some things about the force, so that they could help the other humans. They also made the humans make themselves places to hide for when the Rakata came. The Kwa hoped that the Rakata would be so fixated on destroying the Kwa, and because they would have had so many human slaves from the other planets that they conquered, that they would leave the small human population on Dathomir, alone."
"When the Rakata did finally come, they did not bother the human population too much, except when they wanted sport. They would pit humans, against local wild animals, just to see how long they would survive, and how gory their death would be. The Kwa fled to the Great Desert, when the Rakata came, which confused the Rakata, because they knew that Kwa were plant eaters. They did not know that the Kwa continued to watch them. When they noticed that the Rakata were fascinated by the Rancor. They knew they found the agent to help infect the Rakata. The Kwa snuck around the continent, placing a compound on the skin of every Rancor they could find. It would not hurt the Rancor in any way, but when the Rakata came close to a Rancor, they would become infected. The Rakata were so fascinated by the Rancor, that they started transporting them to other planets, to see how well they did in different environments, and to see how well the local animals adjusted to the Rancor. In transporting the Rancors, all of the Rakata ships carried the infection. When the Kwa realised that they could do no more to the Rakata. They infected themselves with the infection they prepared specifically for themselves, and retreated once again to the Great Desert. After the Rakata finally left, the humans quickly realised that they had no one to help them, except the knowledge that the Kwa shared with them. As they were familiar with the Kwa's use of symbols for writing, the human force users, which were called shaman, in the traditions of the planets they were from. Started using the Kwa symbols to record everything they could remember the Kwa taught them, as well as their own observances in the natural sciences, and in their use of the force. Each acolyte that would follow a shaman, was required to start his own book, because the symbols were not good at recording abstract thoughts. So a shaman, or an acolyte that became a shaman, could really only understand what they themselves had written, and would find trying to read someone else's book to be confusing. As the human population grew, they started to spread across the continent. But there would always be a male or female shaman, their acolytes, and then loose families. Back then the ratio of females to males was around 1.3 or 1.4 to 1. Which meant that if you had ten males in a community, you would have thirteen or fourteen females who would be living with them. This meant if you had six or seven monogamous couples, the remaining woman would have to share a partner."
"One day a pyramid shaped ship that everyone knew through the force, was called a Tho Yor, landed on the great plane, and all the shaman and acolytes were drawn to it, and where the shaman went, the people followed. The shaman all boarded this ship, drawn by the power of the force within it, and the promise of secrets to be revealed. They all took their books of wisdom and knowledge with them. The one good thing they did for the people of Dathomir was to forbid their acolytes from coming with them. If they had not, all knowledge would have be lost, and Dathomir would have been a much different world for the humans to live on. The shaman did promise their people that they would come back, but they never did. The Tho Yor, transported them to Tython, where they met other force users, and together established the Jedi Order. (The Captain had told the Sisters about the destination of the Tho Yor ship, and the founding of the Jedi Order.) On Dathomir, at first everyone waited for the shaman to return. Then the people started complaining that there wasn't enough food to sustain everyone, and they wanted to get back to their farms since harvest time was approaching. Some of the acolytes took the people back to their communities. Many of them stayed. When they heard that food was scarce, many of the acolytes that stayed, decided to fast until their masters returned. To show their love and devotion to their masters. Unfortunately they all died of starvation. The acolytes and people who had chosen not to fast, eventually had to flee the plains, because the stench of death attracted predators and scavengers. When the realisation finally set in, that the shaman were not coming back. Some of the male acolytes took this as a sign that they were destined to rule all the people. It is ironic that so many of them thought this at the same time. This is how the Acolyte Wars started. Some would lead their people challenging their opponent to one on one combat. Others would drive their people before them to try and overwhelm their enemies. There were some male acolytes who wanted nothing to do with war and tried to protect their people."
"There were a number of female acolytes that were appalled by the loss of knowledge, especially healing knowledge. They sought out allies amongst the other acolytes, to see if they were willing to share their knowledge, so that all knowledge would not be lost. It became common practise that when two acolytes agreed to meet, they would each set up camp with their followers, on opposing hills, then they would strip down naked, to show they meant the other no harm, and would meet in the valley between them. With their camps watching from the hilltops. This way if one really did intend on harming the other, the followers of the one being harmed would be able to flee and warn others of the treacherous acolyte, so others would not fall in this trap. Some of the female acolytes later returned to the great plain to see if they could find the books of knowledge and wisdom, that the acolytes who starved themselves to death had written. Hoping that by studying them, they would be able to glean some knowledge or wisdom that was lacking, on their part. The female acolytes who met regularly with the other female acolytes found that by meeting open and naked, they started bonding with these women, and considered them more than friends, they considered them sisters. They were the first Mothers for the clans that would be formed afterward."
"The War of the Acolytes ended, when the one male acolyte who had successfully defeated all pretenders, decided to attack the village protected by the last male acolyte who just wanted peace for his people. The sisters found out that this acolyte was attaching their friend, and for some of them their lover. All of them brought their people to help him, because if the Tyrant was not stopped here, they would all fall before him. It was a vicious hand to hand battle. The male acolyte that wanted peace was going through the ranks of his people and of the sisters who joined him, using the force to heal and strengthen those he could. Finally he could not take it anymore. He told the sisters to watch over all the people, than he sought out and attacked the Tyrant. Physically they were fairly evenly matched, one drew his power from the light side of the force. The other drew his power from the dark side of the force. It was not long before they stopped using physical force, and started blasting each other with force lightning. As the sun was setting the flashes of light attracted the attention of the combatants around them, they stopped fighting to see which of the two Titans would win. After the sun set everyone could see the flashes of light. Neither man would concede defeat, even though the Tyrant's army by this time had been defeated, because of the help of the female acolytes. The Sisters ran to give their lover aid, when they saw what he was doing, but were too late. The battle ended when in a spectacular display of raw force energy, they both perished. The Tyrant had become a hideous creature before he died, having been transformed by the dark force energy that flowed through him. The lover was also disfigured by the burns he received over most of his body. He parted this life with a lover's kiss on his lips. The Tyrant's body was dragged to the edge of the continent and thrown into the ocean, so that his remains would not corrupt the land. The lover was burnt in a great fire, and his ashes were scattered, so that as a healer, he would continue to heal the land."
"The next day, they held the first Counsel of Mothers. They did not know it was called that at that time, because people had not yet started calling them Mothers. In this council they discussed how to divide the people and the land. They also made the first calendar. On Dathomir the days are 24 standard hours in length, but the year is 491 days long. They divided the year into 17 months, with most months being the length of time that the closest moon orbits the planet, 28 days. With each month divided into four, seven day cycles. The second longest month is during the summer solstice, and it is nicknamed the month of the trickster, because it is the only month that does not divide evenly by the seven day cycle. Mothers do not want their babies born during this month, because people will assume they are tricksters, and therefore not trustworthy. The longest month of the year is associated with the winter solstice, and the Feast of New Beginnings. They also discussed what to do about male force users. They were and still are afraid of them, since it was the male force users that started the Acolyte War, and it was male force users that deceptively killed many of the acolytes they were allied with. One of them pointed out that all their lovers were male force users, and they were their strongest defence against the Tyrants, and they all sacrificed their lives for their people, wanting them to live in peace. When they thought about their lovers, they realised that what they had in common, was that they were all skilled healers. They agreed then, that they would not train a male force user, unless they showed a natural ability to be a healer. If a male force user was not showing signs of becoming a healer by the time they reached puberty, they would be asked to leave their communities, and live outside them. So that they would not disrupt the lives of the people. They knew it was wrong to ask them to go on their own, and they felt it was their responsibility to make sure that they were surviving all right. They knew that the women they trained, would seek them out to be their lovers. That it would be okay for the women to take them gifts. That the men should know that they were not prostitutes."
Now every time Krillgan would not understand a word Captain Richard said, he would turn his head to ask his father what it meant, usually his father who had his hand on his shoulder would squeeze it gently, when he started turning his head, to let him know it was something he would learn when he was older. So it was very hard for him to follow the story. When he turned to ask him what puberty meant, he was surprised that his father did not squeeze his shoulder, and almost forgot to ask the question. Chitrah told him that puberty was when a child's body starts to transform into the body of an adult. So boys start becoming men, and girls start becoming women. One thing that happens to most boys and girls is their voice will go lower. This is more noticeable in boys. Another thing that also happens, is that hair will start to grow in unexpected places.
Krillgan asked his mother, if she had hair grow in unexpected places?
"I'm a Devaronian son. Remember? I don't have hair, only fur."
"So what did happen to you?"
"I did not have mountains when I was a girl, and my hips got wider, so I could give birth to you. My father said I started looking prettier, just like my mother."
"Well I think you look pretty, too."
"Why thank you son."
Then she leaned over and kissed him on the forehead. Then she looked at Chitrah.
"I know you look beautiful."
Then he leaned over and kissed her on her cheek. Just then they heard a knock on the door. Pula had told Coris that the family had been in the captain's cabin for a long time.
"Do you think he is telling them one of his stories?"
Coris liked the Captain's stories too. But he suspected that what the Captain was telling them was a little more serious than just a story. Coris suggested that they make them all tea.
"That way if the Captain is telling stories, he will let us stay."
So when the Captain asked Chitrah to get the door, since he was the closest, it was Pula and Coris standing there, with a tray full of tea. Everyone was happy to see them, and thankful for a cup of tea. Captain Richard thanked them, then told them that they could go. When he saw the sad face Pula had, when he turned toward the door, he said, "Pula! I will tell you a story later."
Then he looked at Krillgan, "And it will be one that you can understand."
Krillgan smiled, he liked hearing the Captain's stories, when he could understand them.
After they closed the door, the Captain started telling them about Dathomir again.
"The Mothers talked about how bonded they felt to each other, and wondered if meeting naked had anything to do with it. Because you cannot hide who you are, nor can you change who you are. They all wanted to have as close a relationships with the women they are training, as with each other. They decided that in their training to incorporate a bonding ritual where they must all be naked, so that they will learn to accept each other as they are. They thought that having a bonding ritual four times a year should work, because that was how often they were able to meet with each other. During the war."
Andriel asked the Captain, if they still have this bonding ritual? The Captain said, that as far as he knew, the bonding ritual is still part of the Sisters' training. Andriel was not sure she wanted Krillgan to be standing naked, in a room full of naked women. Krillgan asked his mother, what naked meant? Andriel told him that it meant you had no clothes on. Krillgan asked if that was what he was, when they went to the swimming area on Manaan, and she took off his swimming outfit to scrub him with the sponge, even though all the children were watching. "Was I naked then?"
Andriel looked at Chitrah, and asked him if there really were children watching? Chitrah shook his head yes. He thought there may have been other people there, but if Krillgan says they were children, then they were children. Andriel apologised for doing that to him. Then she told him that if it bothered him, he should have let her know. Krillgan said it did not bother him. Then he asked if he should have been bothered? She quickly told him no. So he asked again if he was naked? Andriel told him he was. Then she asked the Captain, what they do during these bonding rituals? He said he did not know for sure. From what he understood, they just talk. Everyone must share something. Usually it is something that has happened to you, since the last time they met. Andriel could not understand why they had to do it naked. Chitrah told her that when you stand before another person when you are naked, physically you cannot hid anything from that person. To also share something from the heart, you make yourself naked inside and out. So the other person either has to accept you as you are, or reject you by leaving, and I would bet that no one is allowed to leave, until the person in charge says they can go. Andriel asked him if he would do it. Chitrah told her that he would only do it, if she was with him. Because then he would know, that there was at least one person that would accept him just the way he was. Then he reached over and squeezed her hand. Andriel felt better since Chitrah seems to understand. Now she can talk to him about it later.
The Captain continued. "The Mothers decided that the best way to divide the people, was to tell the people were they would be, and let the people choose where they want to live and who they want to live with. They also agreed to return in one year to see how things are going, and discuss any changes that needed to be made. This was how the clans started. One Mother went to live near the Singing Mountains. Her clan is known as the Singing Mountain Clan."
Krillgan asked him, how mountains sing?
"The one Sister said that high up in the mountains some crystals are exposed and stick out into the air. Some metal is also exposed. So when the wind blows just right, some of the crystals and metals will vibrate, making a sound. But if you want to hear the mountains really sing, you must bring some musicians with different instruments, and you will hear more sounds than just the wind can make. She said it was very beautiful, but also very dangerous, because of the Flying Rancor."
Chitrah was startled, "There are Rancor that can fly?"
"They are not really Rancor, but they are almost as big, and almost as strong. So the people of the Singing Mountain Clan have given them that nickname, so that visitors will be more careful when going into the Singing Mountains. If I remember their name, I will tell you. Anyway, another Mother went to live near the Misty Falls. Because of the high humidity in that valley, there are plants that grow in abundance there, that are scarce to find in most other places. So they are called the Misty Falls Clan. Another Mother went to live in the Red Rolling Hills next to the great plain, so they are called the Red Hills Clan. Another Mother choose to live by a river with many rapids, called the Frenzied River, so they became the Frenzied River Clan. The last Mother choose to live in the Great Canyon, so they became the Great Canyon Clan. There were some people that did not want to go with any force user, they just wanted to stay where they were. They were afraid of force users, because they started the war. The Mothers told them that they can live where ever they want, only they would have no one to protect them or heal them. Then they went to where they told the people they would be. It was during that first year that the people started calling them Mothers, because they did not like the word Shaman. The Shaman had abandoned them. And they definitely did not like the term acolyte either. They said they seemed like Mothers to them, especially because their pupils were calling each other Sisters."
"You have to keep in mind that at this time there were almost as many force using males as there were force using females. This was also because, when a force using woman had mated with a force using man. She usually gave birth to twins. One boy and one girl, who would both grow up to be force users. At the second Council of Mothers. This time they did call it that. They decided, that instead of every person having their own book of knowledge and wisdom. It was better that there would be only one book per clan, and the book belonged to the clan. That way knowledge would be preserved, even if someone passed away. It was okay if a Sister copied a portion of the book to study it. But only the Mother was allowed to decide what would be added to it. It was only later when the clans started having elders, that both the Mother with the elders, would decide what was added to it. It was also during this meeting that divisions started to appear between the Mothers. The Mother of the Misty Falls Clan thought that they should only follow the light side of the force, and dedicate themselves to it. The other Mothers thought their needs to be a balance between the light side of the force, and the dark side of the force, just like there is balance between day and night. Life could not exist without both day and night. They choose to disagree. After that, they were less willing to share the things they learnt, with the other Mothers."
"Years later a Clan Mother gave birth to twins. Now these twins loved to fight. Just like your parents, Krillgan, when they have those suits on. They rarely hurt each other, and when they did, they were very sad and always apologised to each other. Their mother was disappointed that her son was not as interested in healing as he was in helping his father in his blacksmith shop. He was only interested in healing when he hurt his sister, because he wanted her to feel better. When she could put it off no longer, she asked her husband if he could take their son and find a place to live outside their village. Just because she was Clan Mother, she could not break the rules for her son. The father chose a valley where there were lots of trees on both sides to burn in the forge, and a nice little stream to provide them with water. Mother never stopped her daughter from visiting them, and when she did, she made sure that she always took a huge food basket. What she did not know was that her daughter continued to fight with her brother, but under the watchful eye of the father. Whenever he spotted something that he thought was important he would always stop them, and explain to them what he saw, so they were becoming better fighters, each time they met. The daughter was also an excellent archer, so they also had lots of fresh meat when she would come to visit. The other thing she did, but did not tell her mother, was to teacher her brother how to use the force, to help him to be a better fighter. She did this because she found that she was starting to beat him regularly, when they would fight. Since she knew how to use the force, while he did not. He started using what she had taught him about using the force in his fighting, in his blacksmithing. He was able to work with metals that his father could not. He also grew into a handsome young man that was often courted by the young Sisters of the neighbouring clans."
Krillgan asked his father what courting means? Chitrah told him that it was a way that a young man or a young woman let a person know that they were attracted to them and wanted to spend time with them. "Usually you bring them some small gifts, to let them know you like them. If courting is successful, it usually leads to marriage." Krillgan than asked him if he courted mother? Chitrah told him that he was unable to do it before they were married, because they were forced by the Sith to marry. But he did court her afterwards, because he wanted her to know that he really liked her, and wanted her to know that they could be happy living together. Krillgan than asked him what type of gifts he would give her? Chitrah told him that from time to time, he would buy sweet treats, because they both loved them, and they would have some tea and eat their sweet treats together. Krillgan asked him, if he ever got her anything else? Chitrah reminded him that his mother loves flowers. Her mother had told him that if he ever sees certain flowers for sale, to buy them for her, no matter how much they cost. Krillgan asked, if he remembered to buy the flowers? Chitrah turned purple, and said, "Sometimes." Which made Andriel laugh. Krillgan thought for a moment, "Does that mean. If you court someone before you get married, you should keep courting them after you get married?" Both parents said, "Yes!" Captain Richard thought that this was good advice, and should remember that, because he is getting married very soon. When he saw that Krillgan was satisfied, he continued.
"The young man let the Sisters know, that if they wanted him to be interested in them, than they need to bring him metals, the more unusual, the better. Some sisters brought him a metal that their blacksmiths found difficult to work with. It was just the challenge he needed. And he was very nice to those sisters. (The Captain decided not to say what he had originally thought of saying, because he would have been using words that Krillgan would not understand.) He discovered that he could not use the force to increase his strength to help forge this metal, because when he used the force, the metal seemed to be activated by the force, and became very strong. At first he thought of making a hammer and anvil out of it. But his father pointed out that he did not have enough. Besides if he did, he could still not forge this metal on it, as he could not use the force when forging. In its natural state, it was a brittle metal, so if he did not use the force, he would easily brake his hammer and anvil. The young man then decided that he had enough to make a short sword. Since no one had a name for it, he called it Dathomirite, after the planet. When he finished the sword and activated it. It had lovely blue veins running through it. Leather was nothing before it, and he easily chopped through wood. It was the strongest metal he knew. He made a practise sword out of a hardwood that was the same length, only fatter, because he wanted it to be close to the same weight, for when he fought with his sister."
"At the same time, in a faraway clan. One of the Sisters abandoned her clan, as she was seduced by the dark side of the force."
"Father what does seduce mean?"
"A person is seduced when they are offered something they desire, but to get it they must surrender themselves to what or who they desire."
Krillgan turned back to the Captain.
"The Sister dedicated herself to the dark side of the force, and is recognised as the first Nightsister." "Father, why was she called a Nightsister?"
"I don't know. You will have to ask the Captain." "Captain?"
"All Sisters that abandon their clans, to follow the dark side of the force, are called Nightsisters. They are also called witches by the Sisters they abandoned. If you call any other Sister a witch. It is taken as a tremendous insult, and they may kill you for it. The reason they call them Nightsisters, is because they follow the dark side of the force. They are said to walk in darkness, even on a bright sunny day." Krillgan seemed satisfied with the Captain's answer. So he continued.
"The witch knew that there were almost as many force using men as there were Sisters in all the clans, and many of these men were unhappy with their lives, because they did not know how to use the force. She decided to go around and seduce all the male force users, and promise them a taste of using the force."
Krillgan did not interrupt, because he thought she was using the lure of being able to use the force, as the tool of seduction, and no one wanted to try and correct him. Which would cause more confusion.
"She ended up gathering a whole army of male force users to herself, and they made her their Queen. She did not show them very much, in terms of using the force, because she was afraid that they might become more powerful than she was, and one would make themselves King, and afterwards make her their slave. When she heard about the blacksmith's son, and how strong and handsome he was. She desired to make him her slave. She found him alone in the blacksmith shop, hammering away on some metal beside the forge. She sensed that somehow he had figured out how to use the force, to help him with his work. He was the strongest force using male she had ever met, and greatly desired to have him. She slowly seductively, started removing her clothing."
"Father. What does seduct…, seduct…, the word he said, mean?"
"It means that she was trying to tease him by removing her clothes slowly."
Krillgan was frustrated, "Then why didn't he say so!"
The Captain was clearly embarrassed. Chitrah rubbed his son's shoulders, and Andriel fondled his hair. So that he would calm down.
"After she finished removing all her clothing, she approached him. Telling him all the things she wanted to do to his body. He replied, "Go away witch! There is nothing you have that I want." At that moment, his sister and father returned with armloads of wood for the forge. The sister sensing the dark force energy she was using against her brother, instinctively dropped the wood from her arms, and reached for her bow and arrow. After she let the arrow fly, she grabbed the first heavy object she could get her hands on, and ran at the witch. Fully intending to kill her. The witch, startled by first the intrusion, then the arrow flying at her heart. Was barley able to react in time, to use the force to deflect the arrow. She fled the workshop completely naked, knowing that she did not have time to pick up her clothes, with the strong force using Sister running at her, ready to strike her down. After the witch ran out of the workshop. The sister stopped chasing her, because she wanted to make sure her brother was okay. Her brother with tears in his eyes, hugged her, and thanked her. Because he had rejected her, she had started to use dark force energy against him, and he did not know how to fight against it. Their father told them that he heard she has an army of admirers, ready to do whatever she asked of them. Because his son rejected her, the father was sure she would go get her army. Then return to destroy him. He told his children that he was going to call their mother."
"The Clan Mother had given her husband an animal horn, when he and her son were ready to leave the village. She had him practise blowing on the horn, until he figured out how to make a loud sound. She told them that if something was wrong, no matter what it was, she would come running. So he took the horn that was hanging on the wall of the blacksmith shop, and went to the top of the hill, on their clan's side, and blew the horn as loud and as long as he could. When he got his breath back he blew it again to make sure she heard him. Then he blew it again just to be safe. The witch after she fled the blacksmith's shop, ran through some thorny bushes, just so they would scratch her body, and cause her to bleed. When she came close to her army she started crying. Then she collapsed on the ground from apparent exhaustion, when they approached her. She told them to look at what the blacksmith had done to her beautiful body. He tore her clothes off and started beating her. She said this, so her men would hate the blacksmith. She told them, that then his lover came home, and tried to kill her. The witch did not know that the Sister was actually his sister. She thought that any woman helping him must be his lover. The witch had equipped her army with swords and spears, which they made themselves. A quarter also had bows and arrows, as they were experienced hunters, and fed her army. They all vowed to destroy this man who disgraced their Queen."
"Father. What does vowed mean?"
"A vow is a special type of promise. Remember the last time you did something bad. Your mother was very angry with you. So you told her that you were sorry, and that you would never do it again. Remember how she asked you, if you promise. You held up your hand and said, "I Promise". You had just made a vow to your mother."
"Did she hug them and kiss them like mother did to me, so I knew she forgave me, and was not angry with me anymore."
"No I don't think she did, because she was not angry with them. She was angry with the young blacksmith."
"Just then the army heard the blast of the horn. She told them, "See how he despises me. He is challenging you to battle for my honour." Now her men were so angry, they ran to where the blacksmith lived. Only they were so tired from the running, that they had to stop at the top of the hill to rest. The witch only had time to throw a robe on, if she wanted to keep up with them. The Clan Mother heard the blast of the horn, and called her Sisters to help her. When she heard the second blast, she knew something was really wrong, and started running faster. When the young man's lovers in the other clans heard the blast of the horn. They knew it was coming from where their lover lived. They told their Sisters that their lover needs their help. They ran off to help their lover, and their fellow Sisters were right behind them. Now you have to remember that the people had lived in peace for a couple of generations, and their numbers were almost as great as they were before the Acolyte War. The Mothers had refused to train their Sisters in any form of combat, because they were afraid that by teaching them fighting, their Sisters would actually fight. They just knew how to use the force to enhance their strength, their speed, and the skill with which they used the bow and arrows. So other than the bow and arrows, none of the Sister's had weapons. The brother and sister had gone to a field near their home, near the base of the hill closest to their mother's clan. They knew their father was up on that hill, and would protect their backs. When the army appeared on the top of the opposite hill from their father's. The sister let two arrows fly at the witch. Because she used the force, the army was within her bow's range, long before they could shot back. The witch laughed as she easily deflected the arrows, one to either side of her. It was only when she heard the men grumble, and move away from her, that she realised that she had killed the two men on either side of her, with the arrows that were shot at her. She fell to her knees and pretended to cry over her two fallen heroes, but the men were starting to notice her pretend tears. Some of them wondering why they were there. The ones who did not notice her pretend tears charged down the hill. When the archers were within range, they let loose a volley of arrows. The sister also shot three arrows at their archers, before she and her brother, had to deal with all the arrows shot at them. The brother was equipped with his special short sword in his right hand, and his blacksmith hammer in his left. The sister had planted her fighting staff in front of her so that she could grab it when she needed it. The advancing army was surprised to see that both people were able to sweep the arrows out of the sky, using the force. The archers determined that they would have to get around them, if they wanted to injury them with arrows. The army tried to overwhelm the pair with the sheer weight of their presence, being more than two hundred strong. But the two stood like a mighty rock in the Frenzied River, forcing the water to flow around it. The strength, with which they were able to push back the attackers, surprised the men in the army. The young blacksmith was able to shatter the swords they had made with his glowing sword. Then he smashed them back with his hammer. The young lady was able to easily knock the attack of sword and spear aside. Then counter with a smash to the head, or a stab to the abdomen with the butt of her fighting staff. The bodies of the dead and wounded soon started piling up around them. They were standing back to back. The army soon became hesitant to attack them. Satisfied to surround them. Waiting for when the archers reached the hill behind the couple. A big man with two blacksmith hammers, assail the archers before they could get into position. Yelling, "No-one hurts my children." Soon he was joined by an older woman, who tossed them aside with her bare hands, as if they were a piece of wood needed to be thrown on the fire. Other women soon joined her. Though the archers easily outnumbered them, they were no match for them, and started to run away. Only they were not able to outrun the angry women, who when they caught up to them would knock them flat on their faces. Most of the archers would curl up into a ball and beg the women not to hurt them anymore. Which seemed to work, because the ladies stopped attacking them. Another group of young ladies smashed into the side of the army that had surrounded their lover and his sister. Assaulting them with their bare hands. When they turned to defend themselves. The women tore their weapons out of their hands, and started using them against them. When the sister noticed the army collapsing on one side, she shouted to her brother that they need to break through, and get to the witch. They both charged the surprised army, cutting through them like a farmer harvesting grain. The witch was standing by herself, watching her army collapsing under the strength of a few sisters attacking with their bare hands. She knew then that she should have trained them better. When the couple broke through her army. The witch picked up the swords of the dead men on either side of her. Ready to fight for her life. The sister had snatched a spear from a man she knocked aside. Then hurled it at the witch with all of her ability. The witch had crossed her two swords in front of her to use them and her power over the force to block the spear. The power of the throw and the power of the force behind it, overwhelmed her defences. Knocking aside the two swords, piercing her chest, at her heart. The spear was thrown so hard, that it actually went completely through her, and into the ground behind her, with only the butt of the spear shaft visible above the ground."
"With their Queen dead, the fight left the army and they surrendered. One of the men complained, that if they had been trained to use the force, this would not have happened. The Clan Mother countered, "If they had been trained to use the force, it would be her sisters that would be lying on the ground where the men where." He had no more to say, because he knew she was right. One of the other men asked why she had trained the young man they could not defeat, how to use the force. She told him that she did not train him, nor does she know of anyone who did. "Besides, her son is a very intelligent young man, she would not be surprised if he had figured it out on his own." Her son had a big smile on his face. Her daughter had her hands behind her back and was staring at the ground with a little red colour in her cheeks. Her husband would not make eye contact with her. As far as she was concerned she still did not know, and she definitely would not ask any of them."
"She spoke to her son. "You have definitely proven yourself. I believe my Sisters would be willing to make an exception for you. Please come home." He walked over and took two young ladies from another clan, by their hands. "If I went with you, how welcome would my special friends be in your village?" Both young ladies turned red, having been pointed out like this before his mother. "This is my home, and this is where I'll stay. So that none of my friends will be afraid to come and visit me." When he spoke, his hand pointed to all the sisters from all the clans, who responded to the blast of the horn. So his mother knew that some of her own Sisters were also his lovers. "Then there is only one thing that I can ask of you. Will you and your sister be willing to train all of my Sisters, so that they can fight as well as you two?" The young men in the army were surprised to hear that they were brother and sister. Just another lie the witch had told them. The brother and sister agreed. The men in the army were brought before an emergency Council of Mothers. The extent of the Nightsister's lies, and the ease with which she manipulated the men, frightened all the Mothers. They could now see why the one Mother was training all of her Sisters in combat. The next witch that tries this will do a better job in training her men. They all requested that her son and daughter also train their Sisters. Even though the Mother from the Misty Falls Clan, thought that no one should be trained for fighting. Because the other Mothers were doing it, she knew she had to let her Sisters train as well. Or hers would be the weakest clan. Easily overrun by anyone with a lust for power. What was surprising was how few men were actually killed. Many were critically injured, but all the clans pooled their healing resources, so that they would all recover physically. Mentally, many of them experienced severe head trauma, and now where no different than children. The Council of Mothers gave special permission to their parents to take them back home with them. It was surprising how many women still wanted to sleep with them, because they knew that their seed was still viable."
Krillgan moved his father's hand to his other shoulder, because his one shoulder was getting sore.
"Another interesting law that came about as a reaction to the first Nightsister incident, was that Clan Mothers must be married, and not share a lover. They found that the clans that had married Mothers' were more stable. The clan that the Nightsister came from was not. Each clan enacted this law on their own. It was not discussed, or agreed to, by the Council of Mothers."
"Some years later, a Sister was very much afraid of giving birth to a force using son, so whenever she slept with her lover, she used the force to try and control the sex of the child they would start together."
The Captain was also finding it hard to share the history of Dathomir, in a way that Krillgan could understand.
"When she gave birth to only a daughter and not to twins, she confessed to the Mother what she had done. The Clan Mother had her share with the other Sisters how she did it. Over the next year two more Sisters gave birth to only daughters. She called a special meeting of the Council of Mothers, and had the Sister explain what she had done, and how she did it. It was obvious from the healthy little girl playing on the rug in their midst, that there were no ill affects to the child that was born. They invited every Sister that had come with them from their clans, to come into the council room. They asked her to share this once again. They did this for two reasons. One, they wanted the Sisters to hear it for themselves. Two, they wanted to hear it again, so it would be easier to remember, and pass along to the Sisters that were not there. Within one year the number of force using males that were born to the Sisters, dropped from almost being on par, to almost zero. This shifted the ratio of females to males from around 1.3 or 1.4 to 1, to between 1.6 or 1.8 to 1. This created tension in the clans, and tension between the clans. The clans that were fortunate to have more males, also found that the Sisters from neighbouring clans were willing to take greater risks in trying to steal men away. Sisters from different clans would come to blows over one man. Fortunately the Sisters when they fought did not use weapons. But some fights were very vicious, and if the male they were fighting over, had not insisted that he be given their weapons, one of them would have been killed. As it was, some Sisters became permanently disfigured because of these fights."
"The Mothers knew that their clans were on the brink of going to war over men. They called an emergency council, to discuss what they could do to prevent war. They discussed, and they argued and they discussed it some more. For two cycles, with hardly any sleep they went back and forth. Finally, there were two thing they could all agree on. Too many women were getting married, making it harder on the women who were not married to find a man. To combat this, they agreed that before a couple can marry, they must have permission from the Clan Mother to marry. Without permission, other women could sleep with her husband, and she would have no one to complain to. The second law was even more controversial. Only women who were virgins would be allowed to marry a man."
Krillgan complained that his father squeezed his shoulder too hard. Chitrah picked him up and placed him on his lap. He apologised and hugged him and asked his forgiveness. Krillgan knew that his father did not want to hurt him. So it was easy to forgive him. They both agreed that Krillgan should place his hand on his father's shoulder. If he wanted to ask a question, he should squeeze it, if his father did not think he could answer it, he would ignore it. If his father thought it was something he could answer, he would ask him to ask his question. Andriel was worried that her son needed a nap, but did not want to ask the Captain to stop.
"When the news of the laws reached the clans, the women that were married were very upset, they did not know how this law would affect them. They certainly did not want every unmarried woman in their clan, traipsing through their home to sleep with their husband. The good thing the law did, was it took everyone's mind off of going to war with other clans. The hard thing for the Clan Mothers, was that they now had to interview every married couple in their clan. To determine if they really were married or not. Another law that came about, from the Clan Mothers interviewing married couples. Was that if a person that was married, willingly slept with someone, other than their marriage partner, they and the person they slept with, would be kicked out of the clan. Later when there were enough Nightsisters to form their own clan, they would try to use this law to steal men away from the other clans. In the end this did help relieve the tension in the clans, and between clans. Women who were not given permission to marry, resigned themselves to the fact that they would have to share a lover. It was easier to share, if they were all friends rather than enemies. So women who knew they would not marry, started looking for other women, with whom they would be willing to share a lover."
"Now the Sisters knew from experience that if a Rancor attacked them or the group they were with. If they put up a valiant enough effort to defend themselves. For some reason the Rancor chose not to kill them when they had the opportunity. Instead they would go look for other prey. It was not until the Clan Mother of the Singing Mountain Clan, found that she could communicate with a Rancor using the force, that they found out why. There was a herd of Rancor that had taken up residence not too far from her village. At first she studied them to see if there was a way she could get them to move further away. She was surprised to find, she could reach out with the force, and touch an individual's mind. They knew she did it. They would look directly at her, but they would not attack her. She concluded that it was not painful for them. The next time she touched them, she would start asking questions, to see how they would respond. She was surprised to hear them answer. If she asked them how they felt, she would usually get the answer, "Hungry". Often when she asked them what they were doing, they would respond, "Going Hunting". When she asked them, who was their leader, they would always point to an older female Rancor, sitting in their midst. One day she plucked up the courage to make her way through the herd to get close to the one they called the Herd Mother. The Herd Mother let her approach, and talk with her. She told the Clan Mother, that when different members of her herd, told her that she had talked with them. She ordered them not to attack her when she entered the herd. She knew that it was only a matter of time before she came to talk with her. The Clan mother was surprised at how intelligent she was. The Clan Mother asked her what foods they eat. She was not surprised that humans were an acceptable meat source. She was surprised that they will eat other Rancor that are not members of their herd. There are many herdless Rancor, sometimes one will approach the herd to see if she will accept them into her herd. If hunting has been poor, and all her Rancor are hungry, she feels she has no choice but to order the Rancor killed to feed her herd. If hunting has been good, and everyone's belly is full. If an outsider approaches, she will seriously consider whether they would be a good addition to her herd. On occasion, she has told the Rancor to run away quickly, before they become her next meal. The Clan Mother also found out that they will eat none meat items, but they can never find them in large enough quantities to feed more than one Rancor. The Clan Mother decided to try some experiments. She offered her some bread, but she did not like it, and threw it away. She found the Herd Mother watch the bread intently, and did not speak with her. Suddenly she jabbed with a claw, and speared a small creature, that had tried to steal the bread. The Herd Mother ate the creature whole. She said it tasted good, but was not very filling. Next she brought her some porridge. The Herd Mother said that she liked the taste, but could not get enough on her claw to satisfy her. She let her try other porridges made from different grains. Most of them she liked the taste but could not get enough. The Clan Mother went back to the women working in the communal kitchen, to see if they could make cakes out of the porridge. They said they could, and asked her what size and shape she wanted it to be. She said she did not want it high, but she did want it round. More like a large pie in shape, and she wanted some made from each of the porridges she would point out. The next day she took stacks of the different porridge cakes, and went to visit the Herd Mother. She asked her to try the cakes she had made for her. The Herd Mother was happy to see that it was easy to spear with her claws. It had good taste and there was enough that she felt like she was eating something that might eventually fill her. She was happy to try the different cakes, and noticed that there was enough difference in taste, that it made eating them more interesting. While she ate the cakes, she called a male Rancor over. She asked him to tell her about his first encounter with a human. He told her that he was hungry and was out hunting. He came across a human like her that carried a large stick. When he went to attacker her, instead of running away like he thought she would. She jumped onto his arm, and ran up to his shoulder. Then she started beating him on his head with her stick. He found it annoying, and for some reason he thought about the females in his herd, and how sometimes they can be annoying. He finally was able to get the human off of him. The creature did not move when it fell, it was still alive and did not appear injured. He figured that he had stunned it. Which was good, because the best thing to do with an annoying female was to leave it alone. The Clan Mother did not know what to do. She had herd this story from the human's perspective. Because it was her mother, only his version, was much more funny. She found it hard not to laugh, so when she heard the Herd Mother laugh, she knew it was okay to laugh. Now she knew Rancor had a sense of humour. She thanked the Rancor for not killing the annoying female, because she is her mother. She always wondered why he did not kill her when he had a chance. Now it will be her pleasure to tell her mother. The male Rancor laughed when he heard this, and then left them. The two Mothers talked for a long time. They talked about how they could help one another live on this land. The Clan Mother asked her new friend how many cakes she thought it would take to fill her, the Herd Mother told her that what she brought her was enough for one Rancor for one meal. It was not something that they could eat all the time. She did think it would be a good meal to eat in the morning. Than the hunters bellies would be full when they went hunting. They would be better hunters, and more willing to bring back whatever they caught, to share with the herd. She told the Herd Mother that her Sisters are very good hunters. If the Rancor hunters were willing to hunt with her hunters, they should not have any problem feeding both their peoples. She also felt that with the Rancor's help they would be able to plant and grow more food than they could eat. The Herd Mother said that she would be willing to agree to that cooperation. The Clan Mother told her that she needs to talk with her people to make sure they have enough food to share with them. It would not be right if they had only enough food to share with them for only a couple of cycles of the large moon. The Herd Mother agreed. That evening the Clan Mother shared all her knowledge of the Rancor with her clan. Her mother laughed when she heard the reason why her life was spared. She told the ladies from the kitchen, that all the cakes they made for her was just enough to feed one Rancor, than she told them how many Rancor were in the herd. Would they be able to make enough cakes, every day, along with what they were already making for the clan, to make sure everyone was fed? The lady looking after the kitchen said that with a couple more bodies helping in the kitchen. They would have no problem. She then asked her how much grain they would need, every day, to feed everyone. She told her how many sacks of each grain they would probably consume every day. The Clan Mother asked the farmers if they had enough grain. Now they had just finished the harvest for one type of grain, and it was a good crop. The grains that were ripening in the field at this time also looked like a good crop. On Dathomir they are able to harvest two crop cycles in one year. The farmers told her that they will have more than enough grain to last them until the next harvest. Now if the Rancor help them to plant larger fields, they will be able to store enough grain that even if a drought comes, they will be able to live through it. The Clan Mother asked the kitchen staff, if they could make enough porridge cakes this evening, to feed the Rancor herd in the morning? This way they will know that the clan is serious about an agreement of cooperation. Everyone who did not have anything to do, went to the kitchen to help. Now the clan's people had mixed emotions. They were excited by what they could accomplish with the help of these beasts, but they were also dreadfully terrified of them. Fortunately, they did trust their Clan Mother. She was a good kind woman, who had a great skill for reading people whenever there was a dispute. If she trusted the Rancor, they would also."
"The Clan Mother could hardly sleep that night she was so excited. Just before sunrise, she woke the Sisters. They went to the kitchen to retrieve all the porridge cakes that were made the night before. They were surprised to see the breakfast crew already there, preparing breakfast. The women gave them fresh baked bread with slabs of jam, for the Sisters to eat on the way to the Rancor. The sun was already rising when they reached the Rancor herd. The Clan Mother approached the sentry, and asked if it was okay for her and her Sisters to enter the herd, and approach the Herd Mother. The Sentry said they could go, and that the Herd Mother was expecting them. The Sisters were surprised that by using the force as Mother had said, they could hear the conversation between Mother and the Rancor sentry. The herd was just waking up, and none of them made any attempt to grab them. The Herd Mother asked them to lay out all their cakes before her, but not too close together. She then invited the Clan Mother to climb on her back and speak to her herd. The Clan Mother said she did not know if she could talk to the whole herd at once. She only has practise speaking to only one at a time. The Herd Mother told her to speak to her, then she would pass her message along to the herd. So the Clan Mother Climbed up on the Herd Mother's back and spoke to the herd. When she was finished, the Herd Mother told her that she should get off of her back. When she did the Herd Mother addressed the herd. She told them that the food the humans brought them, will fill their tummies, and help them be strong for the day. She then stabbed a porridge cake, and ate it. When none of the Rancor responded, she stabbed another and offered it to her oldest daughter. Because her mother offered it, she could not say no. First she sniffed it. Then she ate it. After she swallowed it, her mother asked her, how she liked it? Her daughter asked her if she could have another. Her mother told her that there is enough for the whole herd, just don't eat too much at once. The herd approached and started helping themselves, it did not take long before they figured out that different stacks had different tastes. The Herd Mother turned to two of the Sisters, and asked if they could take some cakes out to the two sentries, so that they do not go hungry. After the herd finished eating, the Clan Mother asked the Herd Mother if she could ride on her back, back to their village. The Herd Mother said no. "That would give the herd the impression that you think I am your servant, which would make them angry. Ask another Rancor, but only one, and bond with that Rancor." The Clan Mother knew right away which Rancor she wanted to bond with. She approached the Rancor that spared her mother's life, and asked him if she could bond with him. The Rancor said yes. Then the Herd Mother asked her to name him. She had heard that humans liked to give things names. The Clan Mother called him "Funny Man" because he made her laugh. The Herd Mother told the herd the name she had given him and why. The whole herd laughed. She told the Clan Mother that the herd thinks it is a good name for him. So he stooped so that she could climb up on his back. The Herd Mother invited the Sisters to choose Rancor's to bond with. The Clan Mother pointed out which ones were her best hunters, and suggested that they be paired with the herd's best hunters. The Herd Mother agreed, and showed them her best hunters. It was not long before every Sister found a Rancor to bond with, and they all accepted their names. When they reached the village. The hunters were dispatched to bring meat for everyone. The Clan Mother told the Herd Mother that she did not think it was fair that they should live outside her village, when they were now part of it. She showed her where she thought they should move part of the palisade that surrounds their village, so that they would have room to live in the village. The Herd Mother agreed. Together the Rancor and the Sisters dismantled a section of the palisade, and rebuilt it where the Clan Mother thought it should go. They accomplished in two days, what had taken the clan a number of months to do. More than doubling the size of the village. At first the villagers were nervous, because the only thing that separated where they lived from the Rancor, was a small stream. In a month's time they wondered how they ever accomplished anything without the Rancor. At the next Council of Mothers. It was quite a shock for them to see the entire Singing Mountain Clan entourage, show up, riding on Rancor. It was only when the front group dismounted that they saw that three of the Rancor were carrying two riders, and the second rider was not a force user. The Clan Mother dismissed the Sisters that were still on their Rancor mounts, so that they can go hunting. The other Clan Mothers tentatively approached the Clan Mother to the Singing Mountain Clan. They have never been this close to a Rancor before. One of the Mothers asked if they were tame. The Singing Mountain Clan Mother said they were not, but they were cooperative. She told them how to use the force to communicate. Then she introduced them to Funny Man, and asked him to tell them the story of him encountering her mother. One of the Sisters who had accompanied her Clan Mother to this meeting, started laughing at the end of the story, than stopped. No one else was laughing. One of the Clan Mothers could not hold back anymore and burst out laughing. That opened the flood gates, and the rest of the women started laughing too. They were surprised to hear the Rancor laughing with them. "Now you know why I called him "Funny Man". He loves to make me laugh." The Mothers all wanted to go to their meeting place in town to start their meeting. But the town's people refused to open the gate and let the Rancor inside. The members of the Singing Mountain Clan said that they will not abandon their Rancor, and refused to enter the town without them. The only option left was for the Mothers to hold their meeting outside where the Rancor were. The town's people were delighted, because they had never been allowed in to witness a meeting. Some were telling the others, that they heard the Mothers get naked when they meet. Soon everyone who lived in the town was up standing on the town wall. The men were disappointed when the Mothers just sat in a circle and started talking. The women were relieved. They all listened intently as The Singing Mountain Clan Mother told the story of how she first started to communicate with the Rancor, and how that led to long talks with the Herd Mother. This in turn led to the cooperative agreement between the clan and the herd. She told the council, how in two days, the Sisters and the Rancor had moved a portion of the village's palisade. Which had taken the clan months to put up. She told how the Rancor helped them plant the new crop my using their talons to plow the fields. Their fields are more than twice the size they used to be, and planting was completed in less than 1/3 of the time it took them before. They have more than enough food for everyone, both man and beast. Now they are storing the excess food in case they have a bad harvest. Then she looked at the other Mothers. "You know what happens when you have an abundance of food." One of the Mothers put both hands on her cheeks, and exclaimed, "Babies." Which made everyone laugh."
"Yes Krillgan?"
"How does having more food make babies?"
"They don't know for sure, but there are lots of theories. Some people think that when there is more food, the women are healthier, so more likely to have babies. Some people think that the body knows that the woman has more nourishment, that it can share with the baby. Others think that a woman's stress level decreases drastically when there is an abundance of food."
"If we give mother more food, will she have a baby?"
"Your mother is healthy, and has an abundance of food available to her. I'm afraid that if you made her eat more food, she would grow in the tummy, but not because of a baby."
Krillgan was disappointed. He thought he found a way to help his mother have a baby. He would have gladly let her eat all of his vegetables, if it would have helped her.
"After the Clan Mother of the Singing Mountain Clan finished talking, the town's people started arguing amongst themselves, about whether they should let them bring the Rancor inside the town. Most of them did not hear one of the Clan Mothers ask, why they brought women who were not Sisters? She told them that they were here to make breakfast for the Rancors. "Isn't that why you sent the two Sisters out hunting?" In our village, the Rancor only eat meat in the evening. In the morning we serve them porridge cakes. The Herd Mother believes that this is a better diet, then what they ate on their own. As evidence she pointed out that the herd is growing."
Andriel leaned over and whispered to Krillgan, "More Babies."
"The Clan Mothers wanted to watch the ladies make the porridge cakes, that they serve the Rancor. The Clan Mother of the Singing Mountain Clan, decided she wanted to tease the other Mothers. "If you provide the grain, and the kitchen, than you can watch." The Mothers asked the cooks, how much grain do they need? The cooks told them how much of the different grains they use, would be enough to feed the Rancor. They asked why they use different grains? The Clan Mother told them that the Rancor can taste the difference in porridge cakes, and like that they are getting different tastes. The Mothers started talking amongst themselves and the Sisters they brought with them, to see what they could scrounge up between them. They were not even close. They called to the town's people on the wall, and asked if they would let them trade for grain, and the use of a kitchen? They asked them how much grain they wanted to trade for, and why use their kitchen.
"Weren't you listening? These women are going to prepare breakfast for the Rancor."
"Are they going to prepare some meat with gravy for them?"
One of the Mothers whispered, "And they wonder why we never let them attend our meetings."
Another Mother told them that the cooks were going to make porridge cakes out of the grains, for the Rancor's breakfast, and they want to watch them prepare it. The town's people wanted to watch it too. The Mothers said they could only watch if there was enough room. A representative of the town came down to negotiate a trade with the Mothers. He was disappointed that they never really had anything to trade. The Mothers were hoping that they could send them something, after they returned to their clans. The representative told them what the town was short of, and after today they would be short on grain as well. He let them come in, because the town was already at the community kitchen, sitting in the rafters, waiting for them. The cooks never had such a large audience to cook before. One of them did not like it. Another loved all the attention. The one in charge did not care, as long as they did not get in the way. After watching the procedure the women used for making the different porridge cakes. The Clan Mothers sent two Sisters each, back to their clans. One was to scout the area around their clans to see if there were any Rancor herds near their clans, and what size they were. The other was to take an inventory of all their grains. The Clan Mothers wanted to wait until after they watched the Rancor eat breakfast, before they would return. One of the town's people said that it looked like they could eat the cakes as well. The one in charge of the cooking answered, that with a couple of these cakes, and a wedge of cheese, a person could travel for a whole cycle, without having to stop to prepare themselves a meal. The other clans did eventually find Rancor herds that would be willing to cooperate with them."
"Life in the clans would improve. But before that happened, the raids started. One night a pirate ship landed next to the Town. They had light amplifying googles, so that they could see in the dark. They found all of the town's people sleeping. They ruffed up a number of people in the town, because they could not believe that they had nothing of value. They ransacked the town and raped a number of women. Killing a man who tried to protect his wife."
"Yes son?"
"What does ransacked mean?"
"It means they broke things apart, to see if they were hiding anything of value."
"What does rape mean?"
"I can't give you a good description, until you are older. But I can tell you that they were bad to them and really hurt them, which is why the man who was killed, was trying to protect his wife. It is a very bad thing."
"Apparently one of the women after she had been raped was crying, asking why they didn't go North, to where all the pretty women are. Now the Red Hill Clan is almost due North of the Town. The next evening The Clan Mother of the Red Hill Clan, was feeling very uneasy. She felt that her clan was in danger, but did not know from what. She would not let any of her Sisters go to sleep. She wanted them all on the palisade that surrounded their village. When mid night came and nothing happened. She did give permission for two Sisters to rest on the wall, while the third stood watch. The Clan Mother kept watch herself. One of the Sisters thought she heard something, like it was coming down from the sky to the ground. No one could see anything, because the sky was overcast. Normally at least two of the four moons would be visible in the night sky, giving some light for them to see by. The Clan Mother told them to quietly alert the resting Sisters to be ready. Suddenly the Mother felt she needed to through a ball of force fire, at a specific location. She hit a man square in the chest, and his clothes caught fire. The men that were with him screamed in pain and tore something off their faces. The Sisters easily dispatched the other men they could see with arrows. The one who was burning, fell on the ground screaming in pain. A bolt of light shot out of the darkness, and killed him. The Mother whispered to the Sisters to use the force to see where their enemy is, to shot them. A couple of Sisters shot arrows into the dark, and were rewarded with the screams of pain. After that someone started shooting bolts of light at them, then others joined them. That was just what the Sisters needed to pinpoint where their enemy is. In very short order, half a dozen of the Sisters' arrows were flying toward each of the sources of the bolts of light. The firing stopped. The Clan Mother reached out with the force, but could not detect any life. She jumped off the palisade onto the ground outside her village. She held up her hand with blue cold force light in it, and looked around. She found a number of bodies with multiple arrows in them. Her Sisters did good. Since there were no bolts of light flying at her. She concluded that either all the attackers were dead. Or the ones who weren't had fled. She jumped back up, on top of the palisade, as if this a normal thing for her to do. She asked if there were any injuries. Two of the Sisters were grazed by the bolts of light, and had bad burns. But the rest of the Sisters were unharmed. She used what plants she had on hand to bandage the burn wounds, to assist in healing. She dispatched one of the Sisters to go to the Misty Falls Clan, to get more healing plants. She then posted six sentries, and sent the rest of the Sisters to bed. In the morning, when they went out to survey the scene. They could not find any evidence of anyone running away. They were able to follow their tracks back to the ship the attackers arrived on. Mother was very angry, because they had landed in a field of grain, trampling some grain. If they did not move the ship, it was blocking the sunlight from reaching the rest of the grain, the grain would not grow, and they would not be able to harvest it. This would set back their ability to recruit a herd of Rancor. Mother asked suggestions, for where they should move the ship. One Sister suggested a dead end canyon nearby. It held no value for the clan, so there was nothing to harm by leaving it there. Before they moved the ship. The Mother had them gather up all the weapons, and place them aboard the ship. Reminding the Sisters that the weapons were still dangerous, especially since they did not know how to use them. She did let them go aboard, in case they encounter another ship like this one, and had to fight aboard it. When they were ready, the Sisters combined their force strength, and lifted the ship, and carried it to where they wanted it to be. They did not know how to seal it, so some of the local wildlife ended up using it as a den. When they examined the dead bodies, they found metal discs in their pockets with the image of a human head. They wondered if this was the deity they worshipped. They found small tubes of dried fungus wrapped in paper, and wondered what its purpose was, because most of the bodies had them? They found pieces of metal stuck in some of the men's ears. At first they thought there must have been some accident, but when they examined the ears. They noticed that it was not a fresh wound, but an old wound. So the metal was placed there on purpose. On Dathomir if the skin was cut anywhere, you had to treat it right away, or it would become infected. No one would purposely cut their ear. That would be a good way to lose the whole ear. All the bodies had knives in sheaths, and every Sister wanted one. So the Clan Mother made them take them to the temple, so they would not fight over them. They could borrow one if they had a good reason. They also found folded knives in some of their pockets. Again their Mother said they had to be placed in the temple. The Sisters who went hunting could take a knife for the duration of the hunt. The rings on their hands were too big to fit on the hands of any of the Sisters, and they saw no purpose for them except as ornaments. So they were placed in a storage box along with the fungus tubes, the ear metal, and the deity discs. Mother did not want them to burn their bodies, in case the ashes contaminated the soil. So they took all of the dead bodies and dumped them into the ocean."
"A few days later the Sisters from another of the clans saw a column of smoke just over the horizon. They knew a small family that had chosen not to be a part of any clan lived there. They were a friendly family, and enjoyed it when the Sisters would come visit them. The husband played an instrument. If the Sister stayed for dinner, after dinner the husband would play his instrument. Sometimes he and his wife would sing a song they made up, accompanied by the instrument. So the Sisters would often visit, but not too many at one time, because that would be too great of a burden on such a small family. Often they would leave the smaller creatures they had killed while hunting, as payment for their meal and the entertainment. So the Sisters ran as fast as they could, because they knew that something was wrong. They found evidence that someone had deliberately broken up the inside of the dwelling, and lit it on fire. Fortunately there was not too many things in the house that could burn, and because of the recent rains, the straw roof was just smouldering, which created the column of smoke. They found the husband's broken instrument. One of the Sisters kept it, maybe someone in the village could salvage something from it. There were no bodies. Which meant someone took them. But who? Outside they saw another column of smoke. The family had mentioned that there were a couple of families living not that far from them. They had been thinking of joining them, because it would make life easier, especially when it came to raising their children. But they also liked living on their own. So the Sisters went to the second column of smoke hoping that they would find their friends there. What they found was the same thing, as at their friends dwelling, only there were more buildings, all with smouldering straw roofs, and no bodies anywhere. But this time they found some blood, so they knew there had been a struggle. It was after midday, by the time the Sisters ran back to their village and reported to their Mother what they found."
Captain Richard explained to Krillgan that the Sisters know how to use the force to help them with physical activities. They can run in one afternoon, what would take him two days to walk, if he did not stop to rest or sleep, and they would not be that winded. He expected that if they accepted him into their clan, they would teach him to do the same thing.
"The Clan Mother sent runners to every clan, to warn them. There was not yet a reason to call a Council of Mothers, because they did not know what they were up against. She gave the runner going to the Singing Mountain Clan, permission to rest and resupply at the town, since they were the farthest away. The runner rarely had to run all the way to the clan's village. Usually they would encounter Sisters from the clan they were going to, out in the open. Runners also had something on them so that any Sister they encountered from a different clan, knew they were not to be harmed. Back then they all had small silk flags that they would attach to the back of their head band, so that it would flutter behind them as they ran. If the Sisters from one clan entered the hunting territory of another clan, you can be sure there is going to be a fight, unless the encroaching Sisters can give a good reason why they are there. Sometimes when the Sisters are chasing a dangerous predator, that has attacked the people of a village. The two groups of hunters will combine forces, and split the body of the predator between them, after they kill it."
"Yes son?"
"What does encroaching mean?"
Chitrah thought for a moment. "Let's say one hunter thought this was their hunting territory." Chitrah drew a circle on the blanket covering the Captain's bed. It was hard to see but Krillgan could picture it in his mind. "Now say there is another hunter that was not having good success hunting in their territory, and decided to hunt in a new territory." Chitrah drew another circle. Krillgan could see that the two circles overlap. "That area where the two circles overlap, is where the new territory is encroaching on the old territory. If the hunter does not protect his territory, than the new hunter will take it from him."
"Can't they share?"
"Only if there is enough animals for both of them. Usually there is not, even if at first it might look like there is. Two hunters could easily kill enough animals between them. So that the remaining animals will not be able to survive on their own, and leave that area. Making that area useless for both hunters."
"Thank you father."
Krillgan learnt two things from this explanation. He learnt what encroachment meant, and he learnt that territory is important.
The Captain had to think for a moment, about where he was in the story.
Andriel said, "Runners."
Then Captained remembered.
"If Sisters see a runner coming, they will run up to her. They will hear the message, and find out if a reply is expected. Often if a Sister is out hunting by herself, she will give what provisions she had brought with her to the runner, so that she can re-nourish herself. Then the hunter will run back to the village with the message. If a reply is required, she knows where the runner is resting. If a reply is not required, she knows that she will find what the runner did not need from her provisions, waiting for her, so she can continue hunting. The Sister that the Mother of the Red Hills Clan had sent to the Misty Falls Clan, returned with the healing plants, just before dinner. The Misty Falls Clan did not ask for compensation, because they were attacked by off-worlders. The Clan Mother should have been happy, that things seemed to be returning back to normal. But she was starting to feel the same way she did, the night they were attacked. She talked to some of the Sisters that were close to her. They said that they too could feel it. So she sent all the sisters up on the wall. This time she let two rest, while the third stood watch. This time there were few clouds in the sky, and it looked like they would have three moons giving them light for most of the night. After the middle of the night, one Sister saw a dark object in the sky, blocking the starlight behind it. She quickly and quietly sent word to Mother. It was not long before all the Sisters were awake and alert, watching the dark object. It was not long before the Sisters realised that this one was much larger than the one that attacked them. It looked like it settled on the same spot as the last one, which really upset their Mother. With the damage to the field from the last ship, and now this one. There might not be any grain left to harvest. They might not be in a position to recruit Rancor, until next harvest. The Sisters waited, they knew that a bigger ship meant more attackers. Mother remembered how the last attackers tore the things they wore over their eyes, off of their faces, when she threw the force fire ball. She sent an order down the wall. Throw fireballs before shooting arrows. She knew that the attackers will be closer to the wall. But if it disorientates them, then the Sisters have a much better chance of surviving the night."
"What the Sisters did not know, was that the slavers could see their infrared images crouching below the top of the palisade, on the walkway behind it. The best way to enter a walled town, when you are expected, is to get rid of the wall. A couple of slavers had missile launchers, and they were trying to manoeuvre close enough to launch a spread of missiles. That would get rid of the wall in front of them, and the defenders on the wall. Then they could just march in and round up all the people, and see if there really were a lot of pretty young ladies north of the town, like the pirates said. They wondered why the pirates broke contact with them. There was no indication they left the system. They were right about it being a primitive planet."
"The Sisters threw their force fireballs at the same time as the first slaver fired a missile at the wall. The fireballs did blind the attackers like Mother hoped. The second slaver with a missile launcher, fired his first missile high over the wall because he was blinded by the fireballs. The first missile, from the first missile launcher, impacted near the base of the palisade, sending five Sisters flying through the air, along with a deadly shower of wood splinters. The two missile launching slavers were each hit with at least three fireballs, if not more, and turned into human, screaming, torches. The missiles that were still in their launch tubes, exploded from the heat, sending showers of burning flesh on the remaining slavers. These slavers were better at using the terrain, to protect themselves, then the pirates were. So not all of the Sisters' arrows found their mark. The ones that did, only wounded the enemy, not kill them. The Sisters that were thrown from the wall by the missile's explosion, got up despite their injuries, and charged the enemy, other Sisters quickly jumped over the wall to join them. The slavers concentrated their fire on the first five, since they were the closest. The one Sister was able to intercept three blaster bolts with her sword. With the blade getting hotter with each blaster bolt that hit it, and was glowing red hot after the third one. The forth blaster bolt that impacted the blade of her sword, caused the blade to splatter. Spraying molten metal on the Sister's face and upper body. Another Sister's sword shattered with the impact of the first blaster bolt it intercepted. Spraying her with metal slivers, permanently damaging one eye."
Andriel wanted to put her hands over Krillgan's ears, so he would not hear the gory details. But he was sitting on his father's lap resting his head against his father's chest, and Chitrah made no attempt to stop him from hearing.
"Another Sister's fighting stick turned to splinters with the first blaster bolt impact. Causing wood splinters to imbed themselves in her hands. For some reason the slavers concentrated their firepower on her. Her body was impacted by many hits from blaster bolt fire. But before she died, she sent a surge of force lightning at the closest slaver, burning him to a crisp. The slavers were not expecting the Sisters to close on them so quickly. The Sister that had lost an eye was giving backhands to ever slaver she met. She was so angry that she was breaking the necks of these 80+ kg men, sending their bodies flying at least two meters in the air. The Sister sprayed with molten metal could not move her upper body very well. So she killed the slavers with force lightning. The other slavers had no time to bring their weapons to bear on these two ladies, before the other Sisters, who jumped over the wall, were upon them. The lucky slavers shifted their positions enough, to where the Sisters on the wall were able to take them out with arrows. Most of the other slavers lost their heads to the remaining Sisters, and not to swords. It is a terrible thing to see what an angry Sister can do with a fighting stick. Mother told the healers to look after the injured. She had two Sisters follow her aboard the ship, in case there were more slavers there. Instead of finding slavers they found three badly dehydrated families. Locked in a slaver's cell. Since they did not know how to unlock the cell. The one Sister grabbed the bars of the door and using force energy, was finally able to rip the door off. The families all came out and hugged and kissed the Clan Mother, and the two Sisters. They had tears streaming down their faces, which was quite remarkable considering how dehydrated they were."
Andriel felt she could not put it off any longer.
"Captain, my son needs his rest. Is this going to take much longer, or can we break for his sake."
The Captain had not realised he had been talking for so long. He said that they should take a break. He was going to get a bite to eat. They can find him on the bridge, when they are ready to hear the rest of the story. He promised that it should not be as long, since he felt they have already heard most of it. Krillgan made him promise, not to tell Coris and Pula his story, until he was there to hear it too. The Captain promised.
Chitrah carried his son next door, to Andriel's Cabin. Sitting him on the bed, then going to get some meals for him and his wife. Andriel made Krillgan eat some fresh fruit, while she started undressing him. She asked him if he liked the story so far. He said he really did, but wished he understood more. By the time Chitrah came back with a full tray, she had already started putting on his sleep clothes. Chitrah had brought juice and water for Krillgan, tea and water for him and Andriel. They both made him take a couple of bites from their meals, because they said he would rest better if his tummy was full. Chitrah promised him that if he was still hungry after finishing his meal, he would only eat Krillgan's vegetables. They both knew Krillgan wasn't fond of eating raw vegetables. But he loved his fruit, and was always disappointed, when he found, that one of his parents, had helped themselves. He wondered why both parents wanted to be here when he took his nap, and this is the first time they ate in his mother's cabin. They had always insisted that they eat in the crew lounge. He was too tired to ask right now. Maybe he will remember to ask them when he wakes up. With that thought he fell asleep.
The reason both parents were there, was because Krillgan had some horrific images described to him, in the story. They knew that the brain processes images while you sleep. If it looks like Krillgan becomes emotionally disturbed during his nap, they wanted to wake him up to let him know he was dreaming, and they were watching over him. After they knew that Krillgan was sleeping, Andriel whispered to Chitrah that she did not like the idea of her son standing naked in a room full of naked women, four times a year. Chitrah whispered back that he did not like it either, but could understand why they did it. Besides he did not think they had a choice. There are not too many places in the galaxy that they can go and not have the Sith find them. From what the Captain has described so far, if the Sith knew about this planet, they have probably already forgotten about it, and would not consider it as a possible destination for one of their best computer technicians. Not only that, they both want their son to be well grounded in his knowledge of the force, and there were not very many options for that to happen. This world provided both. Captain Richard knew what he was doing, when he decided to bring them to this planet. Andriel reluctantly agreed. After they both finished their meals, Andriel went and sat beside him, she needed to nap. She rested her head against his chest, while he put his arm around her to hold her in place. She quickly fell asleep. It was not long before Chitrah rested his head on top of hers, and fell asleep.
That is how Krillgan found them when he woke up. He had slept well, knowing his parents were nearby. He grabbed a fresh fruit out of the bag, and ate it. Then he dressed himself. Then he went and gently shook his parents awake. When they opened their eyes and looked at him. He told them, "I am ready to hear the rest of the story now."
Chitrah suggested that they have another meal, like they did before they took their nap. Krillgan told them he already ate some fruit, but could probably eat more. Andriel thought it was a good idea. Chitrah said he would let the Captain know that they were going to have a bite to eat, then would be ready to hear the rest of the story. In case he wants to eat as well. After Chitrah left, Andriel asked her son if he had gone to the bathroom since he got up. He shook his head no. Andriel suggested he go before his father comes back with the food. He was about to say he did not need to. Then he realised that he did. When he entered the bathroom, he had to go real bad. While he was sitting there, he wondered, how did she know?
When he came out, father was back. He had a full tray of food and drinks for all of them. He sat their nibbling on a raw vegetable, and asked Krillgan if he wanted some. Krillgan shook his had no, but mother told him that he needs to eat vegetables, and not just fruit. He reluctantly accepted the half eaten vegetable from his father. He was glad that his mother was not making him eat a whole one.
While he munched away on the vegetable, his parents started eating their meals. He watched as they both set aside portions for him while they ate. When he finished the vegetable, they both took turns feeding him from the portions they put aside. He knew that this was just another way that they chose to show that they loved him, and he loved it. After they finished, mother took her turn in the bathroom, while father took the tray away with everything on it. He returned with hot tea for himself and Andriel, and a new container of juice for Krillgan. At the same time mother came out of the bathroom. So father went in.
Mother whispered to Krillgan, "I'm glad he let me use it first. Because I don't like going in there after he has used it."
Krillgan crinkled his nose. "I don't like using it after him either."
When they were all ready. They grabbed their drinks and headed next door to the Captain's cabin. After knocking, he told them to come in. He was sitting sipping on some tea. When they entered the room, they saw a tray behind the Captain, with an empty food container on it. When they sat down, Andriel told him that he finished where the Sister had yanked the door off the cell, freeing the three families inside.
"When they left the ship, the Clan Mother held up her hand with cold force light in her palm, so the families could see where they were going. As they approached the scene of the fighting, one of the women tapped her on the shoulder, which caused her to stop. "Please Sister, can we go around, for the sake of the children." The Clan Mother did not correct her. "I'm sorry my thoughts were elsewhere."
"Did you lose anyone?"
"One that I know of."
So she led them around. She sent the two Sisters to go help where they could. Before they left, they said, "Yes Mother." The lady was embarrassed by the mistake she made, and apologised. The Mother said that it was alright, because she is still a Sister. The woman noticed that she had tears in her eyes as they walked back to the village. The missile blast had woken everyone up in the village. They were all standing in the gap of the palisade. They could hear some babies crying as they approached the people. Mother saw the woman in charge of the kitchen. She told her that the families need something to drink right now, then they will need something to eat, she told the families to follow that woman. She turned to another member of the village, they are going to need a comfortable place to sleep. "You can take some pillows and blankets from my dwelling, if you cannot find enough." She then told the rest of them to go back to sleep, there will be enough for them to do in the morning. "What about the gap in the palisade?" "It will still be there in the morning, and so will the Sisters." When she went back to the Sisters, she saw one who was bandaged and resting. She asked her if she could go rest in the gap of the palisade, so when the villagers who have trouble sleeping, come out to check the gap, they will see that someone is there. Because she could not do anything to help, she agreed. There were two Sisters standing there, that the healers had cut off their clothing. Two Sisters where holding up each of the women, using the force. Two more where removing the wood splinters imbedded in their backs. Another was removing metal splinters from the front of the one Sister. The other standing Sister had two Sisters working on her front. One was removing the metal that had solidified on contact with her skin. The other was applying healing ointment, where the metal had been. The woman had fainted from the pain. If the two Sisters stopped using the force to hold her up, she would collapse on the ground. Mother was glad the Sister had fainted, she could not imagine the pain she is in. There is no doubt that she will be disfigured for the rest of her life. She and the Sister that was killed by the attackers' weapon fire, shared the same lover, and they all had a good relationship. She will need to speak to him. If he will continue to be her lover. She will grant them special permission to marry, so that they will not feel obligated to bring someone else into their relationship. It was when she approached another healer, that Mother learnt that a second Sister had perished. She did not know why. All she found was a cut on her neck. But she did manage to rip the heads off of two attackers, with her fighting stick, before she died."
Krillgan had just squeezed his father's shoulder, than told him that the Captain just answered his question.
"It was not until the morning, when they had sunlight to see by, that they figured out what had happened. Debris from the missile explosion, cut the vein in the neck of the dead Sister that takes the blood from the brain back to the heart. The front of her outfit was covered in blood, the place on the wall where she was crouching, also had a lot of blood, but there was no spurt marks, so it was not an artery. They could see the blood trail on the ground, and then it stopped before she reached the attackers. She had run out of blood. If someone had seen her bleeding, they could have stopped her and saved her life. She probably had so much adrenaline in her system that she did not know she was cut. The other injured Sisters all had wood splinters from the explosion. One of the five Sisters that were thrown through the air by the explosion, had a broken collar bone, because she could not see the ground before she slammed into it. The next morning a group of healers from the Misty Falls Clan showed up with more plants. The warning from a runner came, after their Sister had left with the plants. They knew the new attacks had to be done by someone else. "Mother feared that you might be attacked by someone else, so she sent us with more plants to help." Now the Misty Falls Clan has more Sisters that are healers than any other clan. They are also recognised as being some of the best. The Clan Mother of the Red Hills Clan, told the healers that they had no warning from a runner, about other attacks. The healers told her that they found the runner that was coming to them. She had been attacked by a predator on the way. She was badly mauled, but managed to kill the predator. They left one of their healers to attend to her, along with most of their water and weapons. In case the predator had a mate. The Clan Mother knew that most runners do not carry weapons, because they feel protected by clan law. Only predators do not recognise clan law. Because of this the Clan Mother gave permission for every one of her Sisters to carry the sheathed knife they found on all attackers bodies. They had a few extra in the temple, because of this second attack. So she also presented one as a present for the healers to take back to their Mother. The healers helped them move the slavers' ship and park it beside the pirate ship. One of the healers knew how to make an ointment that can dull the feeling in the skin, because the Sister that was splashed with molten metal was still in considerable pain. They also gave her a general pain killer, and some medicine to help her sleep. The Clan Mother was happy to see her lover by her side, holding her hand. She asked to speak with him privately, and told him what she was prepared to do for them. He hugged her and told her that he was sure that she would agree to marry him. When the healers examined the Sister with the damaged eye. They told her that they could heal her eyeball, but she would not be able to see out of it again. After the healers did what they could, including sharing the recipe for the numbing ointment. They decided to return to their clan. The Clan Mother had one more request to make of them. They asked that their Clan Mother send runners on their behalf to all the clans, asking that a special meeting of the Council of Mothers take place here at the Red Hills Clan. This is an unusual request, because a meeting has never been held on a clan's territory before. To show her commitment to this, and so all of the Mothers will know that they will be meeting on neutral ground. From now, until after the meeting takes place. The Clan Mother of the Red Hills Clan declares that her clan's territory is now neutral ground, any Sister from any clan coming on their territory will not be challenged."
"One of the families that was rescued, asked the healers if they could travel with them. Some of the Sisters in a clan were friends with them. That's the clan that they would now like to be part of. The healers did not tell them that they would really slow them down, because they were planning on running all the way back to the clan. They knew that the family was still traumatized from their ordeal, and the Clan Mother had told them, that when she was alone with the women, they all confessed to being raped by the slavers. They believed their husbands knew, but were afraid to ask. The healers hoped that one day they will be able to sit down together and cry over it, so as a family they will be healed. The healers told the family that they would be proud to have their company. Then they can accompany the wounded runner back to their new clan."
"The Singing Mountain Clan was the first clan to hear about the attack on the town because of the runner that stopped there, to resupply and rest, before continuing on to the Singing Mountain Clan. She sent one of her Sisters to warn the clanless settlement that was on the plateau above the southern coastal swamp, near one of two trails that led down to the swamp. To let them know that offworlders had attacked the town, ransacking and raping the women. They are also believed responsible for attacking and taking the people from a couple of clanless settlements. The Clan Mother had long conversations with the Herd Mother about what they could do to help protect the town. She would not feel right about sending any of her Sisters to help protect the town. First, it would violate the neutrality of the town. Second, it would weaken her own ability to protect her village. The Herd Mother suggested that they need their own herd to protect them. The Clan Mother pointed out that they have no force users. The Herd Mother told her that there are those in her own clan that are not force users, but can communicate with the members of the herd. "They use their hands and bodies to communicate with us, and can interpret our body motions and sounds to understand what we are trying to communicate to them. The other clan members call them beastmasters." The Clan Mother thought about that for a moment. This would depend on there being a beastmaster in the Town. She asked the Herd Mother, how large of a herd would be required to protect the town. The Herd Mother told her that from her description of the town, five or six Rancor should be sufficient. The Clan Mother said she has never encountered a Rancor herd that small. The Herd Mother doubted that they would find one that small. They would have to make one. The Clan Mother asked her if she was suggesting they find five or six herdless Rancour. Bring them together, and ask them to form a herd. The Herd Mother confirmed that that is exactly what she was thinking. If they know they will be sleeping inside the walls of a human enclosure, they will not fear being attacked by other Rancor while they sleep. She was sure they would agree to it, as long as there are at least two females in the herd. She asked her which one will become herd mother. The Herd Mother said that the first one to get pregnant will be the herd mother. The Clan Mother liked the idea. She set out the very next day with some of her Sisters and their Rancor mounts, and one beastmaster."
"They all took turns letting the beastmaster ride with them so that they would not tire out any of the Rancor. They found two herdless Rancor in Singing Mountain Clan's territory, on the way to the town. The first one they found, they surrounded. The Rancor was frightened, and had no way to escape. She told the beastmaster to have it sit down. The beastmaster approached the Rancor, and made some hand gestures. The Rancor sat down. The Clan Mother asked the Rancor why it sat down. It said the man told him to. She asked if it was afraid of the man. The Rancor said no, the man speaks as a friend. She then asked the Rancor if it would still obey the man if they were not there. The Rancor said it would. She asked it why? It replied, that it is good to have a friend. The Clan Mother told the Rancor that she needs its help. Will it help them? "So you will not eat me." "Not if you help." "I will help." She asked the Rancor to let the man ride him. The Rancor agreed and followed them. They did the same thing when they found the next Rancor. She also agreed to help. When they came to the town. The Clan Mother requested that they all assemble on the town wall. She spoke to the town's people. She told them that they had requested help from the clans. None of the clans can send them any Sisters, because that would violate the neutrality agreement amongst the clans for the town. But she has found a solution, providing they are willing to accept it. The town's people were sceptical, they wanted Sisters. But now knew they could not have them. They asked to hear her solution. She told them that she could provide them with a small Rancor herd, that should scare off any pirate attack provided the Rancor herd lived in the town. They will be responsible for feeding them, and providing enough work for them to do each day, so that they are sufficiently entertained. They asked what type of work they can do. She told them that they can help expand the town. With the town having its own herd of Rancor. None of the clans will be able to bring their own Rancor into town. When next they meet at the town, for a Council of Mothers. They will need to keep the Rancor from each clan separated. At the same time all the Rancor need to feel safe. To do that they will need to build a compound for every clan. Outside the town, yet connected to it. They can also do mundane things like plow your fields when you are ready to plant grain. Now the town did not have very big fields, because they did not have a blacksmith to maintain their plow. They needed to take it to one of the clans to have it repaired and sharpened, and the plow was pulled by men. If the Rancor could plow their fields for them, they would not be dependent upon the clans to feed them."
"One of the town's people told them that they do not have enough grain."
"The Clan Mother told them that she was willing to provide them with enough grain, through this planting and up until next harvest. Provided they do not charge them for the compound they build for them."
"What about the trees for the palisades around each compound?"
"There are enough trees between Singing Mountain Clan territory, and the town, that should be sufficient for building all the compounds. They just need to chop the trees down, and let the Rancor drag the logs to town."
"The town's people knew that the trees where actually in Singing Mountain Clan territory. She just gave them permission have the trees, provided they harvest them, themselves."
"How do we handle the Rancor, we have no force users?"
"You do not have to be a force user to communicate with them. We brought a man who is not a force user, yet can communicate with them. There is also one among you that can do the same." She said, "I hope," under her breath.
"While they were discussing it. The Clan Mother asked the beastmaster to have the Two Rancor follow him around, and have them sit down and stand up. The town's people stopped their discussion to watch what the man and the two Rancor were doing. They were amazed to see him control the Rancor with his hands. There was another short discussion, and they agreed to the Clan Mother's terms. The Clan Mother asked Funny Man if he would let the beastmaster ride him. Funny Man agreed. So she sent the group off to find more herdless Rancor while she stayed behind with the two Rancor. They were not a herd yet, so she had to keep an eye on them, and keep them calm. It was almost Sunset when they returned with three more Rancor, found in the Town's Neutral territory. Mother had been practising reaching out with the force to talk to groups of Rancor, all at the same time. She had her own people and Rancor give them room, if a Rancor was going to bolt, it would do it now. But with the beastmaster beside her, they all seemed resigned to accept their fate."
"She asked them, if they would be willing to be one herd? The two female Rancor readily agreed. The three males thought they were too small a group, and could not stand up to the larger herds, to maintain a territory. Mother reminded them that they were not alone, the town people would be bonded to them, and they would have their den in the center of the Town. They knew the large herds kept away from the human habitations. They believed the humans were capable of uniting to make one large herd and destroy them. They remembered hearing about small herds of humans coming together as one large herd, to fight against another large human herd that had come into their territory. There were humans in the two herds that possessed the power to kill a Rancor. The Rancor had remembered hearing stories about the Acolyte War. The three male Rancor were much more willing to be part of a herd, now that they knew the humans would be involved. Mother asked all the town's people to come outside the wall, and spread out fingertip to fingertip. She asked the Rancor, if there were any human's in the line that they trusted, and would obey? All the Rancor went and sat in front of the woman whose husband was killed trying to protect her. The Clan Mother asked the Rancor, why they chose her? They said that she was the only one who greeted them. They know that she will be their friend. Mother told the lady, that the Rancor like her, and would obey her commands. The lady was rather embarrassed that the Rancor had chosen her, but was also excited to see if she really could communicate with them. Mother told the town people that they were now responsible for looking after their Rancor. She also asked if they would be willing to make porridge cakes for her Singing Mountain Clan herd. After breakfast, she was planning on heading back to her clan, and arrange the grain shipments for them. She would leave her beastmaster with them for one month, to give their beastmaster time to adjust to her new charge."
Krillgan was hearing a lot of new words, but he was sure he knew what they meant, by the way the Captain used them.
"The woman led the Rancor to their town centre, where the Rancor were supposed to live. The Rancor seemed unhappy, and she asked the beastmaster what was wrong. He told her to ask them. She asked him how? He asked her, if she really wanted to communicate with them? She said of course. He told her to start with her heart, and let her body be her voice. She did as she was told, and received a response. "Did they just say this place is too small?" "That's how I read it." She was really excited now. She asked them if it was okay for one night. The Rancor responded it was, and they also wanted to construct a barrier because they were afraid of the people. Every time the Rancor communicated with her, she checked with the beastmaster. She was amazed that she actually understood them. Then she started to cry. The Rancor where concerned, and asked her what was wrong. She told them that her husband would have enjoyed talking with them, but pirates killed him. The Rancor made soothing sounds to help her feel better. The beastmaster said he was going to spend the night in the square so that the Rancor would be more comfortable. She told him that she was going to the kitchen to talk with the town's people. They would be there, preparing the porridge cakes, for the Rancor's breakfast. When she approached the families that lived in the houses adjacent to the square. Telling them, that they would need to move. She was surprised that they had all already decided to move, they were uncomfortable living so close to the Rancor. She then told them that the Rancor also wanted to construct a barrier around the enlarged square. When they asked her why? She told them the Rancor were uncomfortable living so close to humans. Some of the town's people listening to the conversation, started to laugh. They found it ironic that both groups were afraid of the same thing. The new beastmaster went back to her home, and gathered up enough bedding material for her and the male beastmaster to sleep comfortably in the square."
"The next morning, while everyone was having breakfast, a runner from the Misty Falls clan showed up. She was very happy to find that the Clan Mother for the Singing Mountain Clan was camped just outside of town. She went right up to her and told her about the special meeting of the Council of Mothers to be held at the village of the Red Hills Clan. When she explained to the Mother all the events that had transpired to bring about this historical meeting. The Clan Mother understood why one Mother was calling this meeting on behalf of the other Mother. The runner asked if it was really possible to talk with Rancor. The Clan Mother told her it was and explained how. The runner asked her permission to talk with her Rancor. The Clan Mother told her that they will all be busy, because they were breaking camp right now. Because of her message they will have to change some of their plans. When she saw how disappointed she looked. She suggested she try talking with the Rancor in town. The runner was surprised to hear about the Rancor in town, considering how they refused to allow the Singing Mountain Clan to bring their Rancor into town, when they showed up for the last meeting. This would give her the opportunity to grab breakfast from the town's kitchen, and talk with the Rancor while eating."
"The Clan Mother of the Singing Mountain Clan, sent two of the Sisters back to the village to arrange the delivery of grain she promised the town. Then instructed them to join her at the meeting, at the Red Hills Clan. Everyone else rode with her to the Red Hills Clan. The Clan Mother of the Red Hills Clan was surprised to see her so soon. She was the first Mother to show up. Even though she knew this area was declared neutral territory, the Clan Mother of the Singing Mountain Clan asked the Clan Mother of the Red Hills Clan, for permission to send two Sisters and their Rancor mounts hunting for their dinner. The Clan Mother asked if she could send two of her hunters along, so that they can see how they hunt together. The Clan Mother knew that they had a greater chance of success if two hunters who knew this area acted as guides. The Clan Mother of the Red Hills Clan was surprised that the Clan Mother spoke directly with the Rancor, rather than with the Sisters on them. The reason the Clan Mother did not talk with her Sisters, was because she knew they were always ready to show off. The Rancor on the other hand, just finished carrying them all the way from the town. Both Rancor said their Sisters have kept them strong. They can carry an extra person if it means good hunting, but they will have to come back on their own. The guest Mother told the host Mother that her two hunters would be welcome. She even let the Clan Mother of the Red Hills Clan make the introduction to Rancor and rider, which the host Mother was thrilled about. The host Mother showed her guests where they can camp. The guest Mother asked her host if her cooks could make the porridge cakes for her Rancor. The host Mother thought it would be good practise for them, for when they had their own Rancor. She then admitted that her hopes of having their own Rancor have been delayed by one growing season. The Clan Mother of the Singing Mountain Clan sent one of her Sisters to the host's kitchen so they can start preparing the porridge cakes, that way they would not have to stay late, after dinner, to cook them. Then their host took them on a tour, showing them the damage done by the two attacks. The Clan Mother of the Singing Mountain Clan, could see that her host was very upset about losing the grain field, having it flattened by both attacking craft, and how this had now caused her to delay her plans to recruit her own herd of Rancor. The guest asked her host to show her where she thought she would have her Rancor herd live. She then asked her if she has begun negotiations with a local herd. The host realised that she had not given as much thought to the details, as she should have. She needed to take advantage of her guest's knowledge while she was here. Just then one of the host's hunters ran up to her Mother. She was both excited, and out of breath. The hunt was successful. The others are returning with all of their kills. There will be a feast tonight, she ran back to warn the kitchen. The host Mother asked her guest if she could take advantage of her knowledge and experience over dinner, to see how she thinks they should reorganise their village, to best accommodate a Rancor herd. She said she could, but said she will be eating outside near her Rancor. The host Mother sent one of her Sisters to inform the kitchen that all of the Sisters will be eating outside with her guests. During dinner, the Clan Mother of the Singing Mountain Clan drew a sketch, in the dirt, of what her village looked like before they had Rancor. Then she indicated the changes they made for the Rancor. The Sisters of the Red Hills Clan, had picked up their plates, and were standing around the two Mothers, so that they could hear and see everything, while they ate. It took a while to get used to the sounds of the Rancor crushing a bone in their mouth, while they ate. One Sister was surprised to see that they took the Rancor right inside their village. Enclosing their area with the village wall. She asked if her people feel safe, living like this. The Clan Mother told her that having a stream in the village, acting as a natural barrier helped. The villagers were nervous at first, because they knew that humans are still on the Rancor's menu, but then, so are Rancor. This surprised the Sisters that Rancor will eat Rancor. She explained that Rancor will not eat one of their own herd, and now the humans in their village are now considered part of their herd. But if they find a lone Rancor, and the herd is hungry, they will kill it to feed the herd. Also if you came to our village, and we showed that you were not welcome, then they would not hesitate to make a snack out of you. In the same regard, if you had Rancor in your village right now. They would not hesitate to attack us for being too close. Respect and distance go hand in hand. Something we are all going to have to keep in mind, for when all the clans have Rancor. The guest Clan Mother drew a sketch of how the Red Hills Clan village looks right now. Then she showed them the changes she thinks they need to make to take advantage of their terrain, and to accommodate their Rancor. They were going to need a lot of logs to surround all that with a palisade. One of the Sisters noticed something in her sketch and asked her what it was. She told them they have a stream that acts as a natural barrier. The Rancor know that that area contains the dens for the human members of their herd, so to show respect they do not cross it unless invited to do so. Or if the village was being attacked there, they would cross it to defend the village. For us humans, crossing the stream reminded us that we were entering an area where there are Rancor, and we need to give them the respect they deserve. Since you do not have a natural one you need to build a physical one. It only needs to come up as high as the average adult human's waist. But it will be enough of a barrier to remind everyone of where they are. The Sisters asked the Clan Mother, how long it took her villagers, to get used to living with Rancor? She told them that it took less time then she expected. After one month she heard one villager say to another, "that they could not imagine how we lived without them." This produced favourable murmurs with the Sisters. When no one had any more questions, the guest Clan Mother strongly hinted that she had business to discuss with their Mother. The Sisters knew that they needed to talk about the logs to build the palisade, since they would need to get them from the Singing Mountain Clan's territory. After they left the guest Mother asked her host, what was stopping them from recruiting a Rancor herd right now? She said that she already knew about the grain. But rebuilding their palisade to the size she suggested, and the village people not feeling vulnerable especially after two attacks is hard. The guest Mother told her that right now the Singing Mountain Clan has an excess amount of grain, and do not have the storage capacity to handle it. It is in her clan's best interest, if she lends them some grain right now, so that they can return it when the Singing Mountain Clan has finished building new grain storage facilities. "You would give us grain." "No. We will lend you grain, now. So that you can pay it back later." The host could not believe her ears, she was being offered grain. "What about the wall?" The guest Mother pointed out that a herd of Rancor could dig the trench for placing the logs for the palisade in one day. If they pile up the dirt on the village side of the trench. They will have an effective barrier in place, protecting the village until they bring back the logs they need to build their palisade. The host Mother liked what she was hearing. What about the logs themselves. "The ones we need are in your territory, and it would take forever to haul them here." The guest Mother told her that their forest is large, and the number of logs that they need would not change its size. If they were to cut down what they need themselves, and have the Rancor drag them back. She estimates that the whole project from start to finish should take less than half a month. The host Mother was originally thinking half a year. But she was not expecting the Rancor to help. She was thinking it all had to be done before they recruited Rancor. Her guest said that there was one concern. The town will also be cutting down logs. They probably need three to four times as much as the Red Hills Clan needs. She does not want the Red Hills Clan Herd of Rancor, fighting with the town's herd of Rancor. This caught the host completely off guard. So the Clan Mother of the Singing Mountain Clan told her host about the pirates ransacking the town and raping the women, and their plead for protection. She could not send them Sisters without violating the neutrality agreement. It was her Herd Mother that suggested that the town have their own herd to protect them. Now the Clan Mother of the Red Hills Clan, considered the Clan Mother of the Singing Mountain Clan to be one of the most intelligent of all the Mothers. If she was taking advice from a Rancor Herd Mother, than these creatures are more intelligent then she imagined. After hearing about the herd she recruited, and the projects she assigned them, she was not very pleased that she would be required to reimburse them for building her a compound. Even though her guest was right. It did have to be done. The next morning right after breakfast. The Clan Mother of the Singing Mountain Clan, dispatched two of her Sisters to return to their village, to arrange a shipment of grain to the Rolling Hills Clan, and she expected them to return with it. She then asked her host Mother, to take her to the herd she was hoping to recruit. The host took her to where she could see the herd from a distance. The herd was a good size. They would be a good fit for the Red Hills Clan. Then she did something that upset her host. She walked up to a sentry and asked permission to speak to their Herd Mother. Her host could not let her endanger herself, and quickly caught up to her. While she was still approaching. The sentry mentioned to her guest that she smells like she belongs to another herd. She told the sentry she did, which is why she asked permission. The sentry relayed her request, and kept an eye on her as she sat down and waited. He did not like that another human approached. At least it was civil enough to sit beside the first one. When permission came, the first human asked the sentry if it was alright if her friend comes along. The sentry only grunted. They were unharmed as they walked through the herd. The host Mother noticed that a lot of the Rancor sniffed the air as her guest walked by. When they reached the Herd Mother, she asked her what she wanted? She told her that recently a Rancor herd has agreed to join with her village. She so much enjoys talking with the Herd Mother, that she wanted her herdless friend to experience it for herself. She then excused herself, saying that she needs to reunite with members from her herd, then left. That left the Clan Mother from the Red Hills Clan all alone in the middle of a wild Rancor herd. The Herd Mother asked her if she really has Rancor's from her herd nearby. The Clan Mother said she did, at present they are guests of her village. They intend no harm for her herd. They will have a hunter from her village accompany them whenever they go hunting. She asked if a human and Rancor hunt together. She said they did, and her own hunters were quite impressed by how successful they are. They talked for most of that day. When the Clan Mother from the Red Hills Clan, returned to her village, she confronted her guest. "You did that on purpose." Her guest smiled and said she did. The host grabbed her, and hugged her, and thanked her. She had a wonderful time. For the next few mornings, when she saw that not all the Mothers had gathered, she would go and spend the day with her new friend. The sentries were now used to her, so when she asked to speak to the Herd Mother, they let her go without seeking permission. When she returned to the village, she would tell her Sisters over dinner some of the things they discussed. Later when she looked back. She realised the Clan Mother of the Singing Mountain Clan knew they needed to do things this way, so it was easier for both groups to unite, because they were ready."
"The Clan Mother of the Singing Mountain Clan was surprised by how many Sisters from all of the clans, took advantage of the neutrality of the Rolling Red Hills. They did not come to hunt, but to socialise, and to get the local Sisters to show off their territory. Everyone learnt how the Rolling Red Hills received their name. It was not from the rich red topsoil, but after a good rain. Small red flowers would suddenly appear on all the hilltops. That is why they are called the Red Hills."
