(I7 - Ankus - CFS) The Sage of Ankus

[RocketBoy]

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From the Mid-Rim world of ANKUS comes a request for aid! Enslaved by the mining corporation TAGGECO, the Cragmoloid natives are cruelly oppressed, made to work in the mines, and killed by the hundreds. Perhaps their only hope now rests with the FREEDOM FIGHTERS of the CFS, a fighting force dedicated to helping the oppressed. DATA MASTER BEY'WAN PW'TUA is sent to coordinates received from intelligence network NIMBUS CELL, but he does not know exactly what he'll find...

 

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The waning sun bore down on the plains of Ankus, where a small delegation hiked in silence. The entourage hailed from the CFS Peace and Quiet, a commerce cruiser now waiting for them from a safe location lightyears away. A Bothan Data Master—Bey’wan Pw’Tua--led the group, accompanied by his Neimodian assistant, a protocol droid, and two escorts. The size was a deliberate choice, intended to keep their presence a secret. They hadn’t told TaggeCo., the owners of Ankus, that they were coming, and if the Corporation knew about the message had brought them here, it was unlikely they’d be welcome at all.
The five picked their way across the rocky-strewn fields, between tall grasses and pools. Pw’Tua found himself tempted to jump into one of the many pools to cool himself down, but when you’re covered in fur, becoming immersed in water has consequences.  
There was much about the situation on Ankus he did not know. It was a position he strove never to be in for long.

The coordinates they were following led them into the lowland hills, amidst tall rock formations and beaten weather sensors. They passed into a grove with a single pool, it’s surface unbroken. Pw’Tua checked with his assistant; this was the end of the road.
                A quiet minute passed. Flags beat the air above them. Old sensor poles creaked in the wind.
                A great crash broke the silence. The pool seemed to burst open before them. The two escorts raised their blasters in alarm. An enormous shape emerged from beneath the surface, throwing waves over the pool’s edge, and a creature was revealed within the surging water.
                Pw’Tua, once he had collected himself, recognized it as a Cragmoloid, but much larger than the average member of the species. Its tough, wrinkled skin was painted with ceremonial markings. It sat in the water, staring at the group with dark eyes.
                “Oh my!” said the protocol droid.
                “Greetings,” said the Bothan, and he motioned to the others to follow his lead as he knelt on one knee. “I am Bey’Wan Pw’Tua. We received your message, and honor you. We have heard of your people’s plight.”
                The Cragmoloid spoke in an old tongue, words that reverberated past its trunk. The protocol droid’s joints whizzed as it translated.
                “This is Jeju the Wise, Shaman of the Whills, Last of the Sages of Jojah. She thanks us for coming, but greets us…emotionally…due to the plight of her people.”
                “I understand your sorrow,” replied the Bothan. “According to what we were told, your people have suffered greatly.”
                Jeju spoke once more. The protocol droid turned to Pw’Tua nervously. “The emotion is not sorrow,” the droid explained. “It is fury.”
                The Bothan considered the old creature again, waiting, lest he speak again without understanding.
                “Cragmoloids have many rules, honored Bey’Wan. Each of our plains is ruled over by Mothers, and all Mothers bow to the blessed Sages, honor-and-humility-upon-my-head. We are a complex people, with powerful traditions. The invaders have broken thousands of our rules, trampled hundreds of our traditions. Each of these transgressions I hold in my mind, that I might not lose focus. I do not speak of these things with you, an outsider, lightly. Though my people break, their pride holds strong. But our pride is damaged by our enslavement far more than by our seeking…help. Cragmoloids are not given to forgetfulness, honored Bey’Wan. I ask for your help, but the people of Ankus will not be insulted. If you insult us, we will not forget. But if you help us, nor will we forget this.”
                This promise—and threat—did not phase Pw’Tua, nor did its context. This was, in fact, perfectly in line with the primary function of the Freedom Fighters’ organization: a means of removing oppression and tyranny that did not, as with governments, introduce itself as a replacement, or a requirement of assimilation in exchange for aid.
                The situation was an agreeable one. Valuing the culture of the planet was, as always with him, high on his list of priorities. Should they stay to help, he decided to champion that cause, and leave the more aggressive action to Captain Kelp.
                But still, there was the matter of whether or not they would help. It was why they had come, but the Freedom Fighters were finite in their resources. So far, they did not know much about the force they would be opposing. He was here to gather information so that an informed decision could be made. That was his role. He always did it well.

                “I understand. Tell me about your people. Tell me about your enemy.”


                The Bothan spoke with the surviving Sage long into the night about the oppression they faced; TaggeCo., the scope of their mining, how many slaves they had, how they kept them from escaping, the size of their force, their defenses, the outcomes of previous attempts to rebel, and the Cragmoloid culture. The Empire had given Ankus to TaggeCo, and while it existed, they took slaves here and there with impunity, but ignored the wider population. When the Empire fell, TaggeCo. took steps to ensure its dominance: the Cragmoloid Sages were killed, and open war was waged against the people. The survivors were taken as a new workforce, and the mining increasing. Workers were rarely fed or cared for. There were 10 millions Cragmoloids TaggeCo knew could take the place of any dead slave. Cragmoloid’s depend on their leaders and the unique connection they share with them. Losing nearly all of them so suddenly created what the Sage called “a wound in the force” that made the people vulnerable, distraught, and weak. They had no hope against their enslavers thus far.
                It became readily apparent to Pw’Tua that staying to help would require a great deal in terms of manpower, funds, and time. He suggested direct action, but the Sage denied it, as he knew she would. She waved her right arm—a mechanical replacement for what she lost to TaggeCo—to make her point: they could not risk the lives of those still enslaved.
                After they had conferred, Pw’Tua took time to speak to his assistant, who was dismayed at the Data Master’s report.
                “Could we fight a force that large? Do we have the ships?”
                “No. And no, not for a head on fight. This wouldn’t be a single operation, Jind. The only way we could do this-- undermine TaggeCo’s operation while protecting the lives of the Cragmoloids and not risking destruction ourselves—is a guerilla campaign. Commandos, striking from secret bases. Sabotage. Prison breaks. Across the planet.”
                “A campaign!” exclaimed the Neimodian. “You mean, dedicate commandos to fighting on Ankus…our grant credits might not be enough. Why, it would take months, would it not?”
                The Bothan stroked the hair around his own face. “I think that’s an accurate projection,” he said, before changing topics. “But Jind, what do you think about the condition of the people, from what you’ve seen? I need another opinion.”
                “What do I think?” asked the Neimodian, his expression somber. “It’s barbaric, isn’t it? The Empire didn’t work its slaves this hard. At least they had laws. TaggeCo is running the planet like a pit of disposable life to get what they can from the planet. Did you see how skinny they were in that holovid? They’re being starved. I’m glad the Empire is gone, but sometimes what takes its place is…well, I’ve never seen a planet this bad off. ”
                Pw’Tua nodded quietly. “It’s a beautiful planet, is it not?” he said after some time.
                “Yes,” agreed his assistant, but he frowned. “For how much longer, I wonder?”
                With plenty to think about, Pw’Tua wished his friend a good night, and retreated to a quiet place to collate the data. To consider their options. To think.
                By sunrise, he had made his decision.

                “We will help you,” he announced the next morning. We will allocate the resources for our people to be here for the time it requires. We will cooperate with you personally so as to avoid damaging Cragmoloid culture further than it has already been damaged. Understand that this will cost us, but I have deemed it the right thing to do.”
                The Sage trumpeted happily. A prayer was spoken over her and Pw’Tua, a ritual of partnership that involved Pw’Tua getting soaked, which is worse when you’re covered in fur, but he was pleased to be involved in what was obviously a sacred practice.

 

                The Freedom Fighters established several hidden outposts on Ankus in the weeks following, from which they launched small prison-breaks, sabotage missions, and hit-and-runs. For months they waged war, with more and more Cragmoloid’s joining the cause as they were freed to restored to strength. Pw’Tua stayed on Ankus for most of the time during the campaign to learn about Cragmoloid culture and do his part in helping the Sage record and protect it. The high point for him was taking part in a ceremony to appoint new Sages in the place of those who had fallen. Having leadership once more was not only culturally significant for the Cragmoloid’s, but literally strengthening as well. As Jeju said, “The wound has now healed. Once again, there is balance. This balance makes us strong.”
                His presence spoke to how highly Jeju had come to think of him, an honor he would never take for granted.

At the end of the 6-month campaign, TaggeCo. had caught on. They demonstrated their desperation by blowing up one of their own camps, a stronghold that held thousands of enslaved Cragmoloids, all of whom died either in the explosion or the blaze that followed. Pw’Tua and the Freedom Fighters, who now had made friends among the people, joined the freed Cragmoloids in mourning, ceremonies that filled the plains with sorrowful horns and made the very air tremble.
                In a rage, Jeju the Wise summoned the Freedom Fighters to her grove. Her bellowing shook the ground.
                “The time has come to end this,” translated the protocol droid. “The time has come for war. My people are ready. Your people are strong. Let us be rid of these worms.”

 

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Thanks for looking!

Edited November 7, 2020 by RocketBoy

[JintaiZ]

That's amazing!!

Edited November 3, 2020 by JintaiZ

[marvelBoy123]

Nice build! I must admit I am still not keen on the landscape, it is not so much the large smooth areas but the fact that there are also really rough areas as well (the snot section on the bottom layer and the top area with lots of exposed studs) to me this contrast seems really unnatural in a landscape but I would be interested to see photos of which you based the landscape - sometimes it is easier to see the effect when you know what it is meant to look like. That said, the cragmoloid is really good (getting such organic shapes on a creature is something I know I find very hard so good job on that), the minifigures look brilliant and the water and flags create a really cool atmosphere. 

Edited November 3, 2020 by marvelBoy123

[Ross Fisher]

I really like the landscape, here. I think all the spires and pennants are very SW (Bogano in particular comes to mind). The Cragmoloid is good, but I like the hidden shots a lot more than the first one. 

Edited November 4, 2020 by Ross Fisher

[Simulterious]

An incredibly creative and atmospheric build! 

[n1majneb]

Really great detailing within this build, 

You can lost in the details within this

[Ross Fisher]

I keep thinking about this build. There are a few details in the foreground that clutter it a little. And yet, I really like it. Wish I'd built it myself. I gave it 12 points, but I definitely wish I'd awarded it more, brought your average up. 

Regardless, keep building like this and I will reward it!

[RocketBoy]

  On 11/4/2020 at 10:59 PM, Ross Fisher said:

I keep thinking about this build. There are a few details in the foreground that clutter it a little. And yet, I really like it. Wish I'd built it myself. I gave it 12 points, but I definitely wish I'd awarded it more, brought your average up. 

Regardless, keep building like this and I will reward it!

Expand  

I agree, the foreground pole is really obstructive from like all angles but one. I like the space itself, but shooting it is really hard.

But dude, thank you. I really appreciate that, it means a lot.