What’s up, Cosmic Nomadics! Deno Wynn here, coming at you straight from the surface of Jargun-Ba. For those of you new here, welcome to the Halcyon Daze. While here, I will take you newbies and all the other Cosmic Nomadics with me as I travel across the galaxy exploring strange and fantastic planets, meeting the citizens, and learning everything I can that we aren’t told about.
I’ve been on Jargun-Ba for the last few weeks with my guide, Ka’vex. We’ve seen lots of the plants and animals of Jargun-Ba (some closer than I would have really liked), I had to spend some time in isolation (just being all Crusty), and I’ve learned a lot about the planet.
The one thing I haven’t been able to do is get to talk to any of the people. Ka’vex told me he’d let me know if and when they decided they wanted to talk to me. The guy is really protective of the people here.
Here’s the exciting news, Ka’vex said he was talking to the clan and they sent some representatives to come meet me! I was totally floored! I was beginning to think they wouldn’t accept me being here and I’d leave Jargun-Ba without ever getting to talk to one of the natives on the planet.
Now, there were some rules I had to follow when talking to them and rules about what I could and could not talk to you guys about. Technically, the Black Palace doesn’t want anyone living down here, so I can’t be talking too much about where exactly I am and what location they’re living at. But don’t worry, everything I wrote Ka’vex has been reading over and making sure I don’t spill too much.
That’s one thing that’s important for all of us to remember. Getting to see the hidden side of things means we need to respect those wishes. The last thing I want is to spend all this time learning these people’s stories only to have my post be the thing that gets them glassed by a Black Palace military bombardment.
Anyway, let me set the scene for you. Pretend there’s a wavy flashback transition here.
Picture this: Ka’vex leads me blindfolded through the wilds of Jargun-Ba. I have to put my full trust in the man who’s kept me alive so far, especially nerve-wracking after seeing all the different ways I can get myself killed on this planet. We had flown away from our base camp and landed in this unknown location before he started walking me through the wilderness.
Then, we stop, and Ka’vex pulls the blindfold off.
I find myself in a secluded valley, surrounded by towering cliffs and dense forests. The air is thick with the scent of wildflowers and the distant rumble of waterfalls. It’s serene, almost peaceful, which is a big difference from the harsh forests and wilds I’ve seen so far.
Standing at the mouth of a cave in front of us stand three people. They couldn’t have looked more different from each other, except for the deep mauve eyes that most native Jagunians share.
The first thing that struck me was their clothes. Made from a combination of animal hides, woven plant fibers, and scavenged materials from Brarcolyn, it looked practical and durable. They make use of everything they can get their hands on, and nothing goes to waste. In their faces, I could see a combination of warmth and wariness. They were taking a risk, and they knew it, but they were willing to take a chance talking to me based on Ka’vex’s word.
I raised my hand in greeting, and spoke very slowly, “Hello, honored hosts. My name is Deno Wynn. Thank you for honoring me with your words and your presence.”
They gave me a curious look, then turned to Ka’vex. He rolled his eyes before jabbing his elbow into my ribs, “Don’t be an idiot. They aren’t royalty or savages. Just talk to them like you’d talk to me, except less stupid.”
Ka’vex knows how to keep things grounded, huh?
His bluntness broke the ice, and I could see the corners of the representatives' mouths twitching with suppressed smiles.
The older of the three, a woman with kind eyes and streaks of silver in her hair, was named Mer’ka. Her two companions were Lian’rai, a younger woman with fiery red hair, and Tyr’in, a man a little older than me covered in scars.
As we walked into the cave Mer’ka told me that this location was a haven for hunters. The primary home of their clan was several days' walk away. They wanted to meet me themselves before committing to letting me in their actual home. Which is totally fair. I’ve invited a few people home that I should have vetted a lot more before letting them through the door.
We settled around a central fire pit, and Mer’ka began to speak. “Our people have lived in hiding for generations, adapting to the ever-changing dangers of Jargun-Ba. We have learned to trust few, but Ka’vex speaks highly of you, Deno. We hope that by sharing our story, you can help others understand our struggle.”
Tyr’in, who had been silent until now, spoke up. “Life here is a constant battle. The acid rains, the predators, the poisoned air... every day is a test of our resilience. But we have our ways of surviving.”
We talked for some time about how they lived here. Methods for water purification, how to avoid the various predators on the planet, and the techniques they’d cultivated over the years for growing their food. The resilience of the Jagunians is astounding. Whatever struggles I thought I had on my planet pale compared to this place. But there’s more to their lives than that.
“It’s not just about survival,” Lian’rai said, voice soft, “It’s about maintaining our culture, our identity. We pass down our stories, and traditions, from one generation to the next. That is why we agreed to meet you, Deno. We want our story to be told. But to keep our people alive, we must be careful about who we trust.”
Then, they told me about the history of Jargun-Ba. Not the history I was taught when I was growing up. About all I learned about Jargun-Ba as a kid was that it was a planet, the moon crashed into it, and now it was a barren wasteland that got mined for resources. It was a brief overview of what I was told was a dead planet.
But there’s so much more.
I learned about how the survivors of Grater falling first started to come together to survive. The formation of various tribes across the world, ranging from almost utopian communities to brutal and violent dictatorships. Then, the people started to unite behind one man named Ra’el, forming a powerful clan that began to grow in size and territory, uniting multiple tribes under one banner.
When the Itarians arrived, the war was long and brutal. Jargunian technology was no match for the dragons and Spear Energy use of the Itarians. Somehow, an agreement was made, and the Itarians evacuated some Jargunians off the planet, while others were allowed to stay. And their descendants remain here to this day. Hiding from a universe that denies they even exist.
As the night wore on, I felt a profound sense of respect for these people. They had faced unimaginable challenges, yet they remained steadfast and hopeful. Their resilience was a testament to the strength of the human spirit, and I was honored to share their story.
We swapped stories all night. They told me about Jargun-Ba, and I shared with them the things I’d seen so far. I wish I had traveled more before coming here. But they seemed grateful to hear anything about the people who lived in the stars over their heads.
As the sun began to rise, they told me I was welcome to visit them at the home of their clan. I was humbled that they were so open and welcoming, despite the dangers.
As Ka’vex and I made our way back through the wilderness, I couldn’t help but reflect on the incredible people I had met. They were the resilient few, surviving against all odds on a planet that seemed determined to break them. Their story was one of hope, courage, and the unyielding power of community.
Until next time, Cosmic Nomadics. Stay curious, stay adventurous, and always respect the stories of those you meet on your travels.
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