deernet | Video; un: Nox

[For the most part, Nox had been far too occupied to bother addressing the network, but given even he'd noticed things getting a little too confrontational for his liking--especially in the wilds--he thought it prudent to make at least some sort of announcement. He hadn't arrived alone after all, and the last thing he needed was for some overzealous hunter to go and get themselves torn limb from limb in a way he'd be blamed for.]

For those who do not know me, I am Darth Nox.

A certain companion of mine has apparently arrived on this world alongside me and, unfortunately, there is a non-zero chance she could be mistaken for a corrupted beast by anyone who encounters her while she's exploring her new surroundings. Given the nature of this place, I thought it best to ensure she would be recognized before anyone does something foolish.

Jen'Taral!

[Considering the nature of the creature that bounded up to him once called, it wouldn't be hard to see exactly why Nox was convinced this particular nexu could spark a misunderstanding. In addition to being large enough to comfortably carry one to two people--and by extension, large enough to quite easily rip them apart--she already looked corrupted. With eyes burning like embers, darkened fur, and several obvious patches of burned and necrotized flesh it would have been a fairly easy mistake to make.

Since Nox did not expect his companion to understand the specific reason he'd called her, or even to sit still for long, he made sure to toss a large fish her way as an incentive to linger around a bit longer. An incentive that was very, very enthusiastically torn apart before eating, which also had the benefit of serving as an excellent demonstration of just what sort of damage the creature's massive jaws were capable of. Even though she was fully capable of swallowing most things whole, she evidently preferred to play with her food by tearing it into smaller morsels for no other reason than her own enjoyment.]

Jen'taral is hardly docile, but in her current state she's been trained well enough that she will not pose an immediate threat to anyone she may come across even if I'm not present to rein her in. Given the sort of conditioning prized by her previous "caretakers," it took considerable effort for her behavior to even progress that far.

So I hope I don't need to explain why giving her any reason to reconsider whether or not you qualify as an acceptable meal would be a bad idea.

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Oh..."alphanumeric"!

[Fern's created a monster, but anyway:]

Yeah, I've got a big dog I let run around. [The fact that he is comparing this creature to his dog says either a lot about the dog or a lot about Michael's familiarity with weird monsters. Possibly both.] People are good about not bothering pets, as long as they know about them. You could get her a reflective collar or something too, if she'd wear it?

Edited 2021-12-24 04:45 (UTC)

...I'm not going to ask what that first part means.

[Because it sounds useless and annoying. Then again, he's a tightly wound ball of stress and exhaustion these days, so he may not be giving otherworldly vernacular a fair assessment.]

Do you think a collar would really be necessary? If this world has any creatures similar to nexu running around, identification is going to be the least of problems.

I think it might help in a pinch. New folks aren't always going to go back through these old posts.

[And frankly, Michael just kinda doesn't want to make a whole production of introducing Eleanor every month or so for all the new arrivals? Feels a lot easier to put a friendly-looking collar on her.]

The beasts around here can look like basically anything. They're more aggressive, for the most part, but people can be jumpy.

A wise idea to post this to be sure. I did a similar one when I bought a vornskr at a marketplace once.

[Granted, it had been more of Malice trying to tear his arm off than anything actually educational or productive, but at least Maul hadn't had to deal with intruders in a very long time on his property.]

[Snow White has never met an animal she didn't like. She's not about to start now.

She coos at the creature and smiles.]

Oh! She's adorable!

Then I'll take it under advisement.

[Not that he was overly optimistic about the nexu allowing him to, well, collar her. She'd arrived without the collar that made her obedient after all, so things were...dicey.]

Aside from the aggression, is there anything in particular I should be concerned about? I'm quite accustomed to things trying to kill me, it's the methods that tend to vary.

I don't believe I'm familiar with that particular beast.

[It...was a beast, right? It didn't sound like a sentient, at the very least.]

...I admit you're certainly the first to thinks so.

[Not that he found Jen'Taral particularly hideous, he just didn't pay much mind to the creature's appearance. He prioritized other attributes, after all. He was aware that she was particularly deformed compared to the average nexu, but it wasn't really something he paid any mind to.

Of course, not long after the strangely affectionate noise, there's the distinctive broad, fang-filled head of a nexu suddenly filling the image as said beast suddenly finds the crystal interesting and forces her way around the Sith for a better look.]

Oh, I doubt that very much!

And oh! Why hello there you lovely girl! How are you as well?

And it's so kind of you to look out for her like that, making sure no one hurts her. That's so wonderfully nice of you!

[Yeah, Eleanor's previous war training really gave Michael an edge on this one.]

Generally speaking? Well, things tend to come and go monthly, so a little more caution at the start of the month can't hurt. It gets in peoples' heads sometimes...so if a friend's acting weird, keep an eye on them. On yourself too, if you can manage.

[It's hard to manage, when something's already screwing with your thoughts. But worth the attempt.]

It is a beast which feeds off other creatures that are strong with the Force. They are able to sense it themselves. Subsequently, they sometimes think Force-sensitive sentients are food to be eaten, so they are very tough to train. But very worthwhile if you can gain mastery over them. I haven't had to deal with intruders on my property in a very long time.

[That sounds unbelievably familiar. Eerily so. He could rule out it being any sort of Sithspawn, seeing as how those weren't trained so much as controlled, but that didn't mean it wasn't a familiar concept.]

...I see. Are they related to the Dashade in some way? Obviously not in sentience, otherwise they wouldn't need to be trained, but from the sound of them I wouldn't be the slightest bit surprised.

I don't believe so. Vornskr come from the planet Myrkr originally I believe and are more mammalian in lineage. Give me a moment.

[Maul disappears for a moment and can be heard loudly calling out "Malice! Malice come here!" Eventually, the clicking sound of nails on a hard floor is heard and Maul brings a long face into focus that looks somewhere between feline and canid in appearance. She looks quite fearsome all things considered.]

This is her. I have named her Malice.

As a nod to her charitable and considerate disposition, I assume.

[Nox had seen fiercer, but he also wasn't an idiot. He'd seen far gentler-looking creatures prove to be surprisingly bloodthirsty and dangerous, so he was making a mental note to give Maul's beast the attention it deserved. Should they ever cross paths, at least.

Especially since he wasn't quite certain just how tempting a forcewalker would be to such a creature. But since he was fairly certain Khem saw him as a particularly tasty-looking meal, he assumed the same could very easily be true for Malice.]

I assume you've found some way to supplement her diet, seeing as how the jedi here aren't breaking down your door to deal with the both of you.

Oh, very much so. She gave me this upon our first acquaintance.

[He held out his right arm, which held a long since healed scar that was right below the wrist, a puncture wound that spoke to how awful it must have been when it was first made by the beast. Indeed, Malice's fangs had chomped down so hard in some places it had gone completely through Maul's arm and out the other side. He was lucky to have had it healed as well as it had.]

Oh, there are ways I have found for that. One of them is allowing her to eat anything that is unfortunate enough to make its way onto my property.

[That would have included any sentient beings if most everyone hadn't already known not to mess with Maul's house or the land surrounding it, all of which the beast considered to be her personal territory.]

[The potential threat the creature posed was duly noted, then. Despite the fact Nox had no desire to go seeking it out anytime in the near future, it was still something he'd be interested in doing eventually. Even if for no other reason than to satisfy his own curiosity.]

Shall I take your continued freedom as a sign she hasn't already made a meal out of anyone living here?

It's not really the sort of misbehavior I'd expect anyone to take lying down. Especially not with Jedi around. Plural.

[Maul smirks.]

Not yet.

[But then the smirk fades from his face and his eyes harden.]

They have tried to put a collar and leash on me before, for they are afraid, and have good reason to be. But all of their judgment and condemnation have not stopped me from doing exactly what I want when I want to.

[For all that people have tried to impress upon Maul the importance of getting along with other Sleepers, it was only himself that could truly make that decision.]

Video; un: Nox

un: eudaimonikos; video

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Video; un: darkness

Video; UN: Filledwithsunshine

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Whether Snow can understand her or be understood please feel free to decide

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