Alderaan - Love and Intrigue

Jocasta was geared up for the hunt, her pack filled with survival and cooking gear, as well as a few extra goodies. She hadn't done much trophy hunting, but she had hunted and trapped plenty in the field to supplement her rations.

After double checking her equipment and servicing her Lancer, she made her way to the hunting grounds to meet with Prince Joran.

Joran was waiting with his gear and a hunting blaster rifle for nice game.

Joran Panteer wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 04, 2021 12:31 pm

Joran was waiting with his gear and a hunting blaster rifle for nice game.

"Prince Joran, you're looking ready to take down a rancor." She says amiably as some walks towards him.

"So, what is your preferred game out here? Hopefully something that we can cook nicely?"

Joran said, "Plenty of hunting game, we should not go hungry. Unless you want something specific?"

Joran Panteer wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 04, 2021 2:08 pm

Joran said, "Plenty of hunting game, we should not go hungry. Unless you want something specific?"

"Just curious about your preferences, seems like something a wife might need to know." she responds coyly.

After walking through the woods in comfortable silence for a few minutes, Jocasta speaks up, "Looks like a game trail that way." She leads the way, following it to an abandoned animal den. "I guess we're too late for this one."

D7, EE, Hunt, Survival Hard, Tracking Prey: 3eP+1eB+3eD 3 failures, 5 advantage

Advantages to move quietly and not disturb the wildlife and to impress Joran with my tracking skills, following an old trail he couldn't see.

Joran said, "Just means we keep looking. We are bound to find something and if not well, not every hunt is successful."

Joran Panteer wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 05, 2021 9:22 am

Joran said, "Just means we keep looking. We are bound to find something and if not well, not every hunt is successful."

Jocasta moved on from the abandoned den in search of new prey, "True, but similar to we talked about yesterday, I'm used to hunting at higher stakes. The majority of my hunting has been on deployment, either hunting down Imperial scouts or hunting game to supplement our rations."

She pulls a field ration, "I'm convinced this thing is made of insect, at least in part. Aren't the survival instructors a little too obsessed with eating bugs? 'Oh, they're such a good source of protein. If you find yourself stranded in the wilderness, turn over some dead logs or big rocks and you have a meal.'" She said imitating the instructors. "No thank you. If I'm stranded, I'm going to hunt something with meat on it."

She pauses, catching sight of some fresh animal droppings. "Speaking of, this looks a lot more promising than the last trail."

D7, EE, Hunt, Survival Hard, Tracking Prey, take 2: 3eP+1eB+3eD 3 successes

"Lead on then, mighty huntress," he joked.

Joran Panteer wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 05, 2021 3:39 pm

"Lead on then, mighty huntress," he joked.

After searching the area, Jocasta finds tracks. "Looks like a manka cat. We'll have to be careful in case it's part of a larger pack."

Following the tracks through the brush, her blaster drawn, she asks Joran, "So, I can tell the Queen is quite comfortable in nature. Is she where you get your love of hunting?"

“Love of hunting, not as much as my mother but I do enjoy the challenge. Mostly trophy hunting, never really hunting to feed myself. Not since basic and training with special operations have I had to do that. You must have been deep in the field if you had to forage and hunt for your own food, how was that?” he replied as they hunted the manka cat.

Joran Panteer wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 05, 2021 8:41 pm

“Love of hunting, not as much as my mother but I do enjoy the challenge. Mostly trophy hunting, never really hunting to feed myself. Not since basic and training with special operations have I had to do that. You must have been deep in the field if you had to forage and hunt for your own food, how was that?” he replied as they hunted the manka cat.

"I've travelled here and there, mostly for training or education, but I've always prioritized staying stationed here for the defense of Alderaan. So not so much deep in the field as a prolonged stay out in it, but like I said, anything to avoid eating those rations. Plus, some fresh meat was always a good morale booster for my troopers."

Speaking of fresh meat, they find the manka cat's most recent and last meal, they were getting closer. "So what was your most memorable hunt and was it for the challenge, the trophy, or something else?"

"When I went hunting with my father and mother, Gauual was there but he didn't much care for it. Unther was diligent... and this was my first hunt. I had a clean shot, missed and Unther brought it down. Good times, Jameela hates hunting so she stayed back at the camp," he admitted.

"Pretty sure Gaul came along just to heckle his younger siblings."

Joran Panteer wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 05, 2021 9:45 pm

"When I went hunting with my father and mother, Gauual was there but he didn't much care for it. Unther was diligent... and this was my first hunt. I had a clean shot, missed and Unther brought it down. Good times, Jameela hates hunting so she stayed back at the camp," he admitted.

"Pretty sure Gaul came along just to heckle his younger siblings."

She smiles and listens intently before responding, "I haven't had much of a chance to speak with Prince Unther. He seems... very sincere, very dedicated, and maybe more than a little intimidating. But it sounds like Prince Gaul and Princess Jameela haven't changed too much since they were younger. Do you miss having Prince Gaul around?"

"Of course, he's my brother," he said warmly.

Joran Panteer wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 05, 2021 10:46 pm

"Of course, he's my brother," he said warmly.

Jocasta was about to ask what he thought were the chances Gaul would be able to stay on Alderaan after the Festival when she spotted the manka cat in the distance.

Holding up her hand to signal Joran where their prey was, she took a knee and steadied her aim, waiting for Joran to also sight-in before taking her own shot.

D7, EE, Hunt, Ranged Light at Long, Hard, accurate 2, aim x1, shot 1: 2eP+1eA+3eB+3eD 1 success, 3 advantage

9 damage, 2 pierce. 1 advantage boost to Joran, 2 advantage to maneuver into a guarded stance and look around for other manka cats.

The Manka cat goes down easily with the well placed shot.

"Good shot," Joran responded. "I think it was alone."

Joran Panteer wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 06, 2021 6:23 am

"Good shot," Joran responded. "I think it was alone."

"So it was. Now that the easy part's done, time to get dirty." She says as she pulls out a knife and her syntherope and gets to work.

While hoisting the manka cat into a tree she asks, "So, do you think Prince Gaul is going to stick around after the Festival?" While listening for his response, she cuts into the animal and deftly cleans and skins it.

D7, EE, Hunt, Survival Hard, Clean and Dress manka cat, collecting teeth for medicine: 3eP+1eB+3eD 4 successes

“I don’t know, maybe, it really depends on what mother decides. He does good work on Coruscant and throughout the Republic, and it’s a role he does well. So for now I don’t really think about it,” Joran said honestly assisting with the grisly work.

“Why?”

Joran Panteer wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 06, 2021 9:58 am

“I don’t know, maybe, it really depends on what mother decides. He does good work on Coruscant and throughout the Republic, and it’s a role he does well. So for now I don’t really think about it,” Joran said honestly assisting with the grisly work.

“Why?”

"I'm just curious. You enjoy having him around and miss him, so I wanted to know if he was going to be able to stick around for a bit." She cleans up and packs away the pelt, the teeth, and the excess meat, while Joran gets a fire ready.

As she gets her cooking equipment and accompaniments prepared, she asks, "Beyond keeping Alderaan strong and secure, do you have any hopes or aspirations for the future, for yourself or for Alderaan? I know it's hard for our generation to think of matters outside the scope of war, my most vivid memories as a child are of the first Sith invasion."