The Domain-Scavenger conflict

[Zuko Darkborn]

A message is sent to the empires in the area. Its point of origin is a large patch of wild space without any solar systems. It can however be approached, with a high amount of danger due to its lack of nearby stars.

"I am the Guildmaster of Hiwyqa, the third largest Scavenger's Guild of the Deep Spaceport. We have heard that one of the disasters of old has returned. The Asornuais can never target us, but they might be problem for you, who still haven't embraced the reality of the galaxy. You see, we have discovered the location of Ar Gaforn, which holds the Savior Archives. In these, you might find the answers you are looking for. Be aware, for we do not give away such secrets cheaply. Be even more aware that attempting to forcefully gain this information shall prove futile."

[Joe Joerson]

Shortly after the message is received by the Kha'ni, a Searcher ship leaves from Kha'to orbit to find 'the Deep Spaceport' and see if they may find answers and help in the Search.

[Zuko Darkborn]

Another message soon follows, but this time from a known ruined world, Gudron-6.

"We are an outpost of the Hiwyqa guild, and wish you to refer to us if you wish to make an appropriate deal."

[Joe Joerson]

The Searcher Vessel redirects it's travel to the Gudron system. After receiving new directions from Kha'to.

[Zuko Darkborn]

As the vessel approach, a large camp on the planet sends a message.
"We are pleased that you are not so foolish as to seek for our base... We are adamant about not dying like our predecessor states. While limited in economic and demographic power, our weaponry are almost at the technological level of old. Do you wish to land? If you do anything suspicious, we will gun you down."

[Joe Joerson]

A transmission from the approaching vessel is sent to the large camp.

A Black Robed Kha'ni with a red band around one outer arm speaks. There are various Sand Masked Kha'ni in the back ground moving workers to various places.

"We would land if you allow it, any rules or information on procedures would be appreciated. We have come to trade. We mean no harm. For the Good of All."

[Zuko Darkborn]

A transmission including a hologram is sent. It includes a weird dark avian creature, standing in front of a crowd of many races.

"I'm sorry for our strict procedures, but we wish to keep raiders and thieves away. We now know you are members of the Kha'ni Temporary Dominion. We have heard of you from other sources. Please land, and deals shall be made. We wish for prosperity over all, and treachery does not grant the required stability. Thus, you can trust our deals. We shall send some scouts to escort you past the hidden minefield."

[Joe Joerson]

A transmission is sent once more as the ship approaches still, slowing anticipating new navigational instructions.

The Black Robed Kha'ni with a red band around one outer arm appears once more. In the mid ground there is a Sand Masked without any visible weapons and a shiny bronze strip along the front of their mask. In the background there are various sand masked moving with less urgency than before and various workers, one might detect a lazy pattern to their movements. The Black Robed Kha'ni with the red band speaks.

As the Kha'ni speaks, it could be noticed a slower and odd dialect from common Kha'ni'ad.

"I am Priest-Inquisitor-Commander-Senior Dra'ksh'ka, we will land and obey procedures. We come on behalf of the Protector to trade. We agree of the dangers of raiders and thieves, and we are glad that we will meet ones who have heard of us before. It eases communications. We hope you have peace, prosperity and safety in the future. For the Good of All."

The transmission ends. The Searcher Vessel is ready to obey navigational instructions from the aforementioned scouts.

[The Clans]

A large bulky ship bearing the pattern of a Yuxun constructor ship, albeit heavily modified, enters the system with a small escort of corvettes and sends a transmission for further directions from the scavengers.

[Zuko Darkborn]

The Kha'ni vessel is escorted to a base hidden under a gigantic rock piercing out from a mountain, which itself is covered with ruined buildings and terraces. The camp seems heavily disorganized, but there is a white symmetrical tower in the middle. It is apparent that this is the main building. A projected energy field seems to make it possible to breath properly inside of it, at least for most of the creatures living there. The vessel is instructed to land on one of the landing strips inside the area, but there are other options if required.

The Yuxun ship gain a similar message as the one from earlier.
"I am an executive of the Hiwyqa Scavenger Guild, and is pleased that you are not so foolish as to seek the main base of the Guilds United. We do not wish to die out like our ancestors. While limited in economic and demographic power, our weaponry are almost at the technological level of old, so be careful about what you dare to do, as if you do anything suspicious, we will gun you down. Knowing that, do you still wish to make a deal?"

(Are we going to continue with this? The forums seems even more inactive than before.)

[Caspoi]

[I can not speak for the others but I myself check in here very regularly and have not written simply because there is nothing going on that concerns R'lyeh]

[The Clans]

(I've got another guy coming in soon, so I'm not stopping)

"This is Clan Mother Mysha, Queen of Yuxun. I've come to do business with you. So long as you're casually insulting me, know that when I was a child it was my duty to jump from the side of a speeding truck or car onto the bed of another and kill a heavily armored killer while mostly naked and armed with only an icepick. I feel like these are the same odds on a larger scale. Your people may have formalities with trading with outsiders; besides leveling the negotiating table, we do not. I want weapons, armor, energy fields, and the techniques to produce them and other alloys. In exchange I have minerals and slaves, offer me something."

[Joe Joerson]

The Searcher Vessel lands on a landing strip. On the ship, a party prepares for disembarkation and formal meeting with their hopefully new trade partners. A small query is sent to the Scavengers concerning their required rules of conduct and possession of items, including weapons.

(I'm not stopping, for one I don't want to abandon the work I put into the website or all of what we have done here. As well as long as this keeps going, I will enjoy it.)

[Zuko Darkborn]

(To the clans): "Clan Mother Mysha, we are afraid you aptitude is worrying for us. We do not take unnecessary risks, and you do offer us anything valuable enough to to take the chance dealing with you. You are breaking the trading rules of the Hiwyqa Guild, in addition. If it is our technology you wish for, you might find them by exploring the many worlds of the galaxy. Other scavenger guilds might be so foolish as to trade with you, or there might be something hidden deep inside fallen worlds."

(To the Kha'ni): A host of different races approaches the ship, carrying a metallic disk supporting the throne of a being resembling a Kreaz. He lacks some defining features of the Kreazi, and his head is crowned with some weird artifact. and  Several other artifacts are on display on the disk. He speaks something in grand tone, which is simultaneously translated by a flying robot.

"I am Captain Rehoar, 92th in line of the Kalseer-Mergul-Roo-Daka-Meghernd dynasty, descended from the Ancient Emperors of the Krithyzaesi, or so I wish to believe. I have been sent by the guild executive to bring you to him. Anything that can be held by your arms can be brought in, unless they are capable of exploding. Small weapons using bullets or lasers are allowed, but are not to be used unless the circumstance calls for it. A security control shall check anyone who enters the base."

[The Clans]

There is a pause in the transmission followed by a laugh. "Your first words to me violate the trading rules of my people. If I've done anything suspicious you would have 'gunned me down' already and would not be wasting words. Now when you say that you are 'limited economically and demographically', how am I supposed to interpret that? Am I to take it like I did, as a separate highlight of goods that you are willing to trade for, or were you giving your weaknesses while simultaneously threatening me? If raw material and population is not what you're after then say what you are instead of creating a self-fulfilling prophecy of suspicious hostile buyers. You sent out a galaxy wide invitation to trade and now we are here."

[Joe Joerson]

At the head of the party a Kha'ni dressed in iridescent robes and mask takes a clear cylinder from another Kha'ni, one dressed in a thin red cloth robe, and speaks after bowing.

"Greetings Captain Rehoar, 92th in line of the Kalseer-Mergul-Roo-Daka-Meghernd dynasty, descended from the Ancient Emperors of the Krithyzaesi, I am Dro'ni'hef, Guardian of the Sacred Lakes, Clutch-Brother to the Protector himself. I look forward to speaking to yourself and the Guild executive."

After this speech, several workers carrying small containers follow with several Guards armed with the Kha'ni Goedendags and a yellow outer armband on their arms.

[Zuko Darkborn]

Another message is sent to the Yuxun clans. (Only the first part of the last message was to you, but I might have been unclear.) It includes a hologram of the earlier dark avian.
"We are scavengers, not traders, and thus we have nothing against losing potential trade partners. You have obviously not noticed, but we meant trading on our terms. Giving our technological knowledge was never even the intent. You grant us resources, preferably energy or food, and in return we shall share locations where we cannot search. There, you might find technology and important information lost the ages, but you shall not gain it from us. We grant you one last chance not to insult us, break it, and our guns shall turn on you."

Captain Rehoar explains most of the information above (in a less insulting manner), as he leads the Kha'ni towards the tower. Around the part, the crowd seems surprised over the racial unity of the Kha'ni, due to being used to a wide racial split. Despite this, they seem to understand each other, while using either their hands, eyes (similarly to the Kreazi) or (a single) vocal language. One of the scavenger companions explains:
"The United Guilds was created from the remains of two great federations, a large empire and many smaller states, and had great powers communicating intially. After we fled to the Deep Space Port, to survive the seven crises, a single simple language was formed, taught to all, and shown in six different fashions."

[The Clans]

"This is satisfactory. My factor will take over sussing out the details: tonnage, nutrients. Of that nature."

The transmission cuts out and is replaced with the video feed of a male of dark gray facial scales dressed in a khaki coat with silver braids and buttons. "We have energy and food, and a wealth of entertainment material and data. Since you desire to deal on your terms, name your price for the planets."

Regardless of hoe the deal works out, Mysha begins to formulate plans for seeding new scavenger organizations that treat business as they should. The only question being, should she make her existing scavengers more powerful, or deal with the political backlash of choosing one clan over another?

[Joe Joerson]

Dro'ni'hef nods and speaks to Captain Rehoar.

"I would have two questions the first which I hope you might be able to answer for me, the second is one of trade and may be more inclined to the Executive. Are you and your line related to the Kreazi? Forgive me if you find the question improper but it is one of some import to those dealing with the latter."

The Kha'ni workers and Guards seem mostly impassive to the crowd. The Red Robed Kha'ni seems interested in the crowd, but stays clearly by Dro'ni'hef.

[Zuko Darkborn]

To the Yuxun Clans:
"Sense have finally befallen you, or perhaps we were merely unclear before. We shall allow you to bypass the mines and land."
(Want to roleplay the visit, or go right to the dealing?)

[The Clans]

(I haven't gotten to use this character yet, so may as well fo the encounter.)

"You wish to meet in person? Very well then," he rises from his desk just as the feed cuts out. Shortly thereafter a shuttle blasts toward the planet while the bulky constructor ship requests permission to enter geosynchronous orbit while the military ships enter high orbit to screen the civilian ship from the void.

[Zuko Darkborn]

To the Kha'ni:
Captain Rehoar explains his knowledge regarding the Kreazi, without showing any emotion:
"I must say I don't know much about the Kreazi. We have had contact with Thyaras, the ones who worship them, and seen the pictures. None of the Guilds United have never seen them in person, only in the pictures, so we are unsure if they are fictional gods or actual creatures pretended to have reached divinity. There have been theories. Until my line gained our fame through scavenging, most of our species were suppressed. You see, the Krithyzaesi Empire were... Hated, or despised, you could say, by other nations.

They purged several worlds in their early years, before falling to a coalition. This was the time after the first crisis had started, so the willingness to focus on defeating the Empire instead says a lot of the threat they posed. The crew of enemy fleets never returned from the Imperial Capital System. Instead the AI had been infected by some virus, spreading it as they returned. The second crisis had started. My ancestry from the emperors is not meant to gain respect, but fear, owing to their infamy. Whether the Kreazi are descendants or not, is unknown."

The tower entrance stands in front of you, and opens to reveal a corridor.

"I must leave to meet the other aliens, now."

[Zuko Darkborn]

To the Yuxun Clans:
Several planetary spaceships lead the shuttle towards the surface, not descending much before reaching a few miles from the base. They then turns towards it. They lead it to a landing area close to the one earlier (for the Kha'ni). A weird creature similar to the known pictures of the Domain Gods are present here, but lacking in a few features, and including some kind of hat.

[The Clans]

As soon as the shuttle lands and the boarding ramp extends the figure from the video feed moves hastily down the ramp despite leaning heavily on a cane. His six attending armored guards move hastily to keep up with him, as do the two robed backpack wearing servants.

The guards' rifle-like weapons are fitted with machete-like bayonets with three simultaneously loaded magazines.

The lead figure gives a small bow of his head before stopping to lean on his cane. "Where are we dealing?"

[Joe Joerson]

Dro'ni'hef bows goodbye to Captain Rehoar and moves to enter the corridor, his retinue following of course.

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