She went this way [D1, LM]

[Tyllia Demici]

As soon as she'd made it past customs, Tyllia had headed straight in the direction of the swamps. She had quickly learned how foolish that was. She was light on her feet; had her field ration packs with her and what not... but the heat was much harsher than she'd been expecting. The past few weeks of studying had resulted in an overeagerness to explore that she should've known to temper with patience.

But, here she was. Too late to turn back now.

Having studied satellite imagery and every other type of map she could get her hands on, she knew there was supposed to be some sort of small community out here. Presumably they might be able to sell her some supplies. Water at the very least, maybe something to help with the heat. And they might be able to get her some additional information too; always welcome.

Tyllia did not appear a threat as she walked into the place and searched around for signs of life. She was just a young woman, unarmed except for a simple cane used to occasionally make sure she wasn't falling through any sinkholes.

[Meiyokashi]

Around the small village there were plenty of folk up and about in the morning, seemingly this was the time of most activity. Plenty of folks had tools going in and out of small paddy's that contained some kind of moss-like substance. They carried them out in baskets and set them aside in a special shed dedicated for whatever they were producing. Supervisors, older folk of the farm, seemed to watch over the younger generations to make sure they didn't accidentally ruin the next harvest.

One old Twi'lek male in particular with a straw brimmed hat flagged her down over toward his chair as she approached.

[Tyllia Demici]

"Morning," she said with a polite-enough nod as she approached the old man. "I uh... I know I'm going to sound like a total tourist, but I just got planet-side and misjudged the weather. Is it always this hot and dry out here?"

[Meiyokashi]

"Lot more wet the deeper you go!" he gives a point toward the deeper portion of the swamp. Laughing his crochety old-man laugh. "But yeah! Sometimes we do get a mighty and torrential rain come through but those ain't all that common and are sure somethin' to be remembered. Swamp holds onto moisture much better than the rest of the places but oooheee, it ain't pleasant most year 'round."

[Tyllia Demici]

"So, I didn't merely get unlucky then," she said, "Don't suppose you would have anything I might be able to take off your hands that could help out a little, would you?"

[Meiyokashi]

"What would ya need?" he looked at her, glancing about. "Most folk here wouldn't shy away from handin' a wanderer some water. Maybe even a bit of food to send you on your way but-" he glanced left, then right. "Well, best thing we can offer is that advice that you turn yourself around and head back toward the city, eh? Swamp ain't a kind place out here."

[Tyllia Demici]

"Water would be appreciated. You wouldn't happen to have some like a thermal cloak either, would you?"

She considered.

"And uh, what do you know about the swamp, I guess? You've made me curious."

[Meiyokashi]

"None we could spare, I'm afraid! Might be a few around with some patchy holes but.." he thought long and hard about the possibility but ultimately shook his head. "But folk ain't been usin' them on account of the fact they all but stopped workin'," he gives a slight older gentleman type chuckle.

"About the swamp though.. suppose it all depends on what you're askin'? There's the swamp around us, dangerous place for most but we've found our way to live out here. Then there's also the deeper swamp," he raises his hands, giving a spooky wave to them, "not any folk I ever known go in and come outta there. Least not totally the same. Best ya steer clear, eh?"

[Tyllia Demici]

Figures. Well, it wasn't like she really *wanted* to spend credits on a thermal cloak anyway. But information might be a better commodity anyway. Getting it from someone close to the source might reveal things her previous investigations had not.

"What do you mean, not totally the same?"

[Meiyokashi]

"Speakin' of voice, creepy thing that talks to 'em and seems to know a persons darker fears. Not everyone speaks the same. Most folk just wander out dazed and confused, like they were turned about somehow despite givin' it their best," he shrugged, "all sortsa strange things!"

[Tyllia Demici]

"Huh, what else do they say about this voice? Anything specific?"

Be nice to know what she was walking into, after all.

[Meiyokashi]

"Just what I told ya," he says. Looking thoughtful for a moment, "Most folk around these parts know better. So, the folk you'd have been looking for are the adventurin' types but most of them all scatter off after they come into contact with the voice."

He chuckles, "Far as I know it's just some sorta hallucinogen out in them swamps. A mushroom maybe?" he gives a crochety old mans laugh.

[Tyllia Demici]

"Uhuh," she said, sounding unconvinced, "Don't suppose any of them left anything behind, like a holonet number to call or something? Could make for a good story."

[Meiyokashi]

"You some kinda reporter!?" he laughed, slapping the arm of his chair. "Now that's a first for these parts," he chuckled a few more seconds, wiping a tear from his eye. "'fraid adventurin' folk don't tend to leave numbers. Mostly problems," he waved off that thought, "but I've always liked the energy they bring with 'em."

[Tyllia Demici]

"Something like that, maybe." She said with a friendly smile. "Anyway, I don't intend to leave you with any problems, though if you'd like to tell me about some of the ones they left behind I'm listening."

[Meiyokashi]

"Couple of 'em left kids," he glanced around those currently still working out in their little farm. Giving that same almost ornery kind of older man laugh. "But beyond that? Nothin' too interestin'. Couple fights, most on account of the kids, but nothin' that would be interestin' in one of them holo-reports you youngsters do."

[Tyllia Demici]

"I see," she said, following his gaze. She couldn't imagine finding love, even the one-night-only kind in a place like this. Still, this close to... whatever's out there? Might be *some* kind of connection, however hazy.

"Totally ordinary kids? No superpowers inherited from their mysterious adventuring parents?"

[Meiyokashi]

"Super powers? Sure you ain't been sniffin' swamp gas miss?"he laughed his crochety old laugh.

[Tyllia Demici]

"Just a little joke," she said, dismissing it altogether.

"Well," she might as well try and maintain the semi-reporter angle, "I guess I'll be on my way then. I don't know if you get good reception out here, but if you think of anything else, or something interesting happens, be sure to give me a call?"

[Meiyokashi]

He gives her a strange look for a minute. Leaning back into his chair as he looks her over, "Sure, miss. Uh.. how you expectin' I do that?"