(Jagganath Rights)
I awoke in the cave the next day, sunlight poured in through a hole in the roof, and a long pathway wove a circular path around to an exit near the top, all along the walls there were small alcoves. However, much more important, and terrifying was the presence of Trandoshans. Some of them carried dead Tythonian wildlife on their back, such as Horranth, and Manka Cats, others stood guard around a large pyre at the base of the encampment. But, no matter what any of the Trandoshans were up to, they all had one thing in common aside from their yellow skin, they were watching me.
"Careful, small hunter, if you try and run my brethren will hunt you." A voice gargled from behind me. I turned to see a blue-gray Trandoshan warrior behind me, by his relaxed posture I could tell that he had been there a long time. He wore light, white mesh armor with a silvery-blue hunting staff strapped along his back. He was easily twice my age but still only a young adult by Trandoshan standards. His eyes were light-blue.
"And why do they not hunt me now?"
"I saved small-hunter, brothers would kill in sleep, I tell them that you are my hunt; your life is my bounty, they will not hunt you as long as I am with you."
"So you're the one who fished me out of the rapids… Thanks." I was shocked, and curious, why had my Trandoshan friend decided to rescue me.
"Thanks not necessary, I saw escape from force-eater, small hunter smart on feet, would have been shame for you to drown, would have lost many points had I not saved your honor."
I remembered reading something about Trandoshan lore, they worshipped a goddess, their Scorekeeper and by hunting they earned her favor and Jagganath points. "Thanks anyway, I owe you my life, I'm Kradok." I stuck out my hand in friendship, my Trandoshan friend just stared at in.
"Rarsk," his eyes were busy watching the Trandoshans by the pyre, and I could feel their eyes burning into my back.
"Well, thanks again Rarsk, but I really should be getting back," I began to walk away toward but instantly I could hear him following me, "I should be able to make it back by myself, you don't need to escort me."
"Small-hunter not understand, brethren will hunt if I am not with you."
"So what you're saying is, the moment you are not with me all your brothers are free to kill me." This day was just getting better and better. My predicament was precarious, nothing was more firm than Trandoshan customs, a deal with them was a binding contract that was honored under penalty of death. A thought suddenly wormed its way into my mind, a scheme that could end my life but would solve several problems facing this planet.
"Rarsk, which one of your brothers would I have to fight to strike a deal for your people to agree to defend the Twi-lek pilgrims from the flesh raiders," Rarsk looked at me like I suggested he start cutting off parts of his anatomy.
"Our leader, Ssravek, your life-end would meet bef…"
Rarsk never finished his sentence. I cut him off almost immediately after I heard the name, I knew what I was doing was foolish, but I was never one to stop and analyze what I was doing. I just did whatever popped into my head, however, this time I'll admit, I might have been in over my head.
"Ssravek! I challenge you to the Jagganath Rights." A large golden Trandoshan leapt out from behind the pyre, he had scars all over his face, as if it had been stitched back together many times. He had a sick smile as he looked down at me. Rarsk stepped back and gave me a sorrowful forlorn look, a twinge of regret crept up my spine.
"What terms will you forfeit for life, small-hunter."
"Simple, if I win you extend your protection to the Twi-lek pilgrims from the flesh raiders and anything else that threatens them… and you will give no trouble to the Jedi." I almost didn't think to add the last part, "And your terms."
"Simpler, I will gnaw on your bones after victory." He was rather direct.
"Agreed." The moment the word left my mouth I was punched back, almost into the pyre, Ssravek certainly didn't pull any punches; I was able to use the force to leap to my feet. Ssravek grabbed a steel edged electrostaff and began to run at me, I should've specified what weapons we were allowed to use. I force-lifted one of the flaming logs and hurled it at Ssravek, he simply cut it in half and kept charging, I force-leapt to a ledge across the cavern, I could sense Ssravek right behind me, so I rolled out of the way. His electrostaff was impaled in the wall, I took the opportunity to use the force to throw a boulder at his chest, his electrostaff broke in half, with half stuck in the wall, but Ssravek was barely fazed. At this point I realized I was in trouble as I leapt to another ledge in what became a very scary game of cat and mouse.
We continued on like this for several hours, Ssravek blindly following me destroying whatever got in his way, me using every opportunity to attack what few weak points I could perceive. Sweat beaded off my forehead and stained my clothes. Ssravek's movements only slightly slowed. My breath had become labored as I stood in front of the pyre, I was completely drained of force, and I braced myself for the end as Ssravek began his final charge toward me. Suddenly I felt the force, but not from me, it swept out in a wave and knocked Ssravek on the ground face first, and sent the remnant of his electrostaff barreling toward me. I grabbed it in midair and quickly stood over his body with the blade positioned over his neck.
"Tricky Jedi!" Ssravek howled and tried to wiggle out from under the blade, I felt it appropriate to cut the back of his neck just slightly. Ssravek stopped struggling, "Small-hunter has won Jagganath Right," he yelled loud enough for all the Trandoshans to hear. I tossed the broken electrostaff off to the side and Ssravek stood to face me, it was obvious that he was furious at having lost to me, but there was respect in his eyes, a respect echoed in the eyes of every Trandoshan in the clan.