Karvis
The Rebel Alliance => Independants => Topic started by: GM Craig on June 29, 2015, 02:34:36 PM
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A moment later, the shimmering field vanishes, and you see a humanoid figure covered head to foot in black fabric that seems to suck in all light nearby. The figure wears a full face mask with protruding goggles.
The figure bows to Niil with some sort of odd hand salute. The figure carries a vibroblade on their back, and you can see several other weapons close at hand, but the figure is careful to keep hands away from anything that even remotely looks like a weapon.
At the figure's feet, the bounty hunter is still breathing, but clearly unconscious.
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The sudden appearance of the blurry figure had Niil diving for his weapons. Even though the newcomer had taken the bounty hunter out, there was no guarantee that he - or she - was a friend.
As he rose to his feet, blasters in hand, he saw the shimmering field that surrounded the newcomer vanish. The figure gave Niil a bow and some kind of salute, and despite the fact that the figure's gear screamed assassin!, Niil found himself holstering his blasters. Returning the bow, he turned to Collan and said, "All clear, Wez. Maybe truss up the hunters we downed and secure their weapons before they wake up? This shouldn't take long."
With that, he walked over to where the newcomer stood. When he was about ten feet away, he stopped and gave the black-clad figure a slight grin and looked down at Vimell's unconscious form. "Nice take-down. And my thanks for helping us out and leaving her alive in the process." A short laugh, then he added, "Not that I'm grateful, but I have to ask . . . why help us out? Are you a friend of Jeremy here? Or working for our . . . bosses?"
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Collan took a tumble towards his own weapons with the blurry man's appearance.
"I think a tight but workable knot should suffice. We don't want to leave them to die out here..."
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"I am Nigtshade of the Shinobi, and I need Niil Spaar. I require assistance with a matter of honor."
The man watches the other to see if his words spark any type of reaction.
ooc: will let our GM decide if you've heard of us.
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"No, no, we don't want that. Tie them well, Wez," Niil replied to Collan half-distractedly. He didn't take his eyes off of the man that called himself Nightshade. He felt the hackles on the back of his neck rise, and his blood seemed to cool by a dozen degrees. Nightshade was kitted out in a stealth suit that Trax or Jex would likely drool over, and he didn't doubt that the man was very, very adept with the vibroblade he had scabbarded across his back. A 'matter of honor' could mean that he required Niil's assistance . . . or it could mean that he required Niil's head on a platter. Was this "Shinobi" the man spoke of a clan or family? Or some sort of order, like the Mandalorian warriors?
Suddenly the ten feet of distance between them seemed woefully inadequate.
Niil nodded slowly, and felt every nerve in his body tingling. He had no idea what was going to happen next. "I am Niil Spaar. What would you have of me, Nightshade of the Shinobi?"
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"Where's Wilton at?" 'Wez' asked suddenly, "We still need to talk to him."
He then went about tying up Vimel and her hunters. They'd be doubly angry now. It was bad to leave unnecessary enemies behind but they were alive and sound count for something at least. It might be wise to leave a note that let them know they would be able to wriggle out eventually, but that might be seen as arrogance too. Best to let them think whatever they wanted.
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[OOC: Nill has never heard of this "Shinobi" term before.]
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Seeing no flicker of recognition in the eyes of this Niil Spaar, the man says, "My clan was contracted to perform a service for the Royal Family of Karvis. My sources say you may be the only way to find them now, and I need to find them to see if I can still perform the required contract or be released from the debt of honor."
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Niil's eyes narrowed, and he involuntarily found himself taking a few steps backward. "There's a lot of people that would be very interested to learn the whereabouts of the royal family, and not all of them wish the royals well, if you get my meaning. Please understand that I'm not trying to insult you or your honor, Nightshade, but you must see it from my perspective. Despite the help you've given us here, I know nothing about you. And, more importantly, I don't know for certain where the royals' haven is now. It's a matter of security, you see; they're moved around. I can do my best to have a message passed on to them, but I'll not lead you directly to them unless they agree to meet with you."
Glancing at Jeremy and the prone form of Vimell, he shrugged. "In any event, before any of that can happen, we still have . . . well, a mission of sorts to complete here before the Imperials arrive. One that our good friend Mr. Wilton here might be able to help us with. Out of his sense of gratitude, of course, since we just saved his ass from a very lingering and painful end. Isn't that right, Jeremy?"
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"That is acceptable. For now, let us be companions if only out of a common purpose while we seek mutual understanding and trust?"
Nightshade did not seem put off in the slightest, but rather pleased as if he was hoping for this reaction. In his world, blind trust of an outsider was at least stupid if not fatal.
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'Wez' spoke at this point while tying up Vimell's team, "And where can we get camo suits like yours? We know some people who work for the people you are seeking that could use such things."
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Wilton, with a groan, staggers to his feet. "Look, whoever you are, thanks for getting me out of that and all. Don't think I'm not appreciative. But who the hell are you?"
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[Can I assume I'm done tying our new 'friends' up.]
"We're your best friends, today, Mr. Wilton," Collan said, "And friends do their friends a solid, right?" Collan gestured towards the tied up, knocked out bounty hunters.
"But since they're not our enemies either, I've only tied them up enough to hold them for a hour...maybe two. In that time, you can get a new hideout and tell us where to find a mutual friend of ours...maybe even take us there. We think he attracted the wrong kind of attention and need to make sure he's okay and knows about the trouble."
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While Collan spoke with Jeremy, Niil listened to Nightshade's proposal and nodded with a slight smile. "That works for me. As you might have overheard, we're looking for a friend of ours. We have a strong suspicion that the Imperials are coming to this region to find him, and we'd rather not see him get captured. Or killed."
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"My clan has some that might be for sale, if I can conclude my business here and they allow me to return." He says in response to the question about his suit.
Turning back to Niil, he acknowledges the nod and smile, and returns them with one of his own. "Excellent. What may I do to assist you in your task?"
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"Well . . . we're trying to find someone known to hang around the Tezest area. Unfortunately, a large Imperial force is headed this way, and that's bound to make things very difficult for us. The Imperials are likely looking for the same man we're looking for, and we have our own reasons to be well clear of this area before the Imps arrive." Pointing at Jeremy, he added, "Rumors have it that Jeremy here was last seen in his company. The man we're looking for is probably in his fifties or sixties, and knows Jeremy. Apparently he convinced a bounty hunter against bringing Jeremy in awhile ago. His name is Ch'lana."
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Jeremy goes pale.
"No. No way. Skin me alive, cut me, kill me, I don't care. NO way am I leading you to him. No way."
Then Jeremy winces and adds weakly, "... that is, if I even knew where he was..." He winces again and shakes his head, clearly unhappy with himself.
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Collan shook his head at Wilton like he was a naughty schoolboy.
"Mr. Wilton, you're acting like you have a...what's the word again..." Collan put a finger to his chin and looked up in thought, "Oh right. A choice. Not only has Ch'lana saved your skin. We just saved your skin. And by helping us find him. You will be absolved of that debt (though I hear you have some issues with debts). Unfortunately, the devil will have his due; you can come with a devil that doesn't wish harm to you."
Collan made a sweeping motion with his hands to indicate himself and Niil.
"Or..." He gestured at the bounty hunters, "Or the ones that will deliver you to what is very likely a most unpleasant and sticky end."
"Not trying to scare you," Collan continued to converse pleasantly, "I'm simply lating out matters for you in a way you cannot deny. You've gathered a fairly bad and unhealthy reputation out here. And let's be honest, you don't really have many friends left. We're about all that stands between you and them right now. So we can leave here just as we came...or you can come with us. Besides, he's not that bad; just a little intense and wound up. And possibly depressed."
As he talked, Collan sorta heard his voice and words filter back at him. This was sneaky and manipulative even if he was trying to be absolutely honest in his dealing with the scoundrel.
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"I'm not afraid of -him- I'm trying to protect him. You guys blundering around are likely to bring the whole Empire down on him, and he sure doesn't need that."
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Niil let out an exasperated sigh, and took a few steps closer so that he was nearly nose-to-nose with Jeremy. Placing a hand on the man's shoulder, he said in a quiet voice, "Let me explain something to you. I've met Ch'lana, and I happen to like the old man. He saved our collective asses awhile ago, and we owe him a big debt of gratitude. NIn case you haven't noticed, the Imperials are coming to Tezest as we speak, and I've got a suspicion that Ch'lana's one of the reasons for that. I don't want to see him captured or killed. I know what he can do, and the Imperials do, too. They might have . . . specialists with them that can even take him down."
His voice took on an edge as he pointed to the trussed-up bounty hunters as if to remind him that he almost got taken. "But hey, it's Your call. Just remember that Ch'lana risked himself to save you. So did we. Help us, and we'll do what we can to make sure you don't spend the rest of your life being run into the ground like a womp-rat."
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Jeremy eyes Niil for a few moments, sizing him up. Finally, he lowers his eyes.
"Fine, I'll take you to him. But leave these hunters be - enough people have been hurt on my account. I don't need any more. Give me a minute to get my things."
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[OOC: Pausing here so you guys can talk if you want. If you're good, we can move on.]
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[I'm good...just making sure the ropes will fail rather quickly on the hunters.]
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Niil shook his head with a weary smile. "I wasn't planning on killing them, Jeremy, if that's what you mean. Maybe disable their transport so that it'd take them a few hours to fix it, but that's all. But go ahead and grab your stuff; we'll be here."
As Jeremy walked away, Niil turned to Collan and Nightshade and said, "The hunters' transport - or transports - must be around here somewhere. Do either of you know how to out one temporarily out of action for a few hours? Oh yeah, I guess we should disable their comm devices, too. I don't want them calling for backup a few minutes after we bug out."
OOC: Also ready to move on if we can do something to delay a potential pursuit by a few hours.
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"Other than siphoning all of the fuel on all but one, so that they would have to all fit into the smallest, I don't know of any way to temporarily hamper their movement."
OOC: good to go.
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You sabotage the hunter crawler (hidden nearby), but leave them with a way out. Then the four of you pile into your crawler and, at Jeremy's direction, head out into the Bladesea. Jeremy warns you it will be several hours, so you rotate driving duties between Collan and Niil.
It is mid-morning the next day when you enter a small field of about a dozen wind power generators. Most of them are is disrepair, and only two of them are actually spinning. Jeremy directs you to pull up to one of the spinning ones, and you all exit the crawler. Creaky blades turn slowly overhead with tortured screeches, indicating the turbine haven't been maintained in some time. At your feet is a narrow, deep erosion ravine. You can see in the dim light below the remains of another wind turbine, but there is also some signs of life. Rope bridges, some lights, and makeshift power conduits are strung up down there. Somewhere beneath you, you hear the splash of water, barely audible over the constant roar of the wind, and you can see the sparkling reflection of flowing water at the bottom of the ravine.
A system of ladders, bridges and wooden ramps provide a precarious path down.
Jeremy nods to the deep cleft. "He lives down there."
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"May I suggest I scout ahead?" The Shinobi says to Niil out of Jeremy's earshot. "Do we trust him not to lead us into some sort of trap?"
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Niil thought about that for a moment, but shook his head. "I don't think this is a set-up, Nightshade. Collan and I have met Ch'lana before. Besides, it's likely he already knows we're here. Still, I'd keep my hands away from weapons as a sign of good will." He hesitated, and added, "I just hope to hell we haven't compromised his home here. I could get used to living in a place like this."
Turning to Jeremy, he said, "Jeremy, you want to take the lead, please?"
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Collan was silent, except for names being mwntioned.
"Ah. We're back to our names now?" He inquired jokingly.
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Niil shrugged. "Might as well be. Nightshade here knows who I am, and Ch'lana knows us as well. I didn't feel too keen on using our real names in front of those bounty hunters."
That brought a twitch to the back of his mind, and he cursed his own carelessness. "Nightshade, do you have training in surveillance gear? Like tracking devices stuck on our crawler?"
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"I do not specifically, no. However I will look for anything out of place."
Actions: search for anything that stands out/seems foreign to a crawler and seems technological.
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Collan nodded and made a mental note to seek out counter-surveillance training. That would be extremely useful.
"Should be safe enough at least."
"Ch'lana probably won't be too happy to see us though..."
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Niil laughed, although with a bit of nervousness. "Well, probably not me. The last time I saw him, I told him off. But . . ." Niil hesitated and motioned Collan aside for a private conversation. "Collan, Demaia told me something right after you left her room. She told me that Ch'lana's a deeply troubled man. I saw that something was eating at him back on the ship - and I regret the tone I took with him - but I didn't have a clue how bad it was. She told me that he went on that ship, expecting to die. Hell, maybe he even wanted to. Remember the thermal detonator? He survived, but she's not sure he knows what to do with his life now."
He sighed. "Demaia told me that Ch'lana could probably use a friend, even though he might not realize it. And I agree with her. That's why I came out here. Nothing as selfish as looking for an . . ." Niil caught himself before he said "Master", ". . . instructor, although I wouldn't turn an offer like that down. I want to show him that his life can have a purpose again - and a family of sorts, if he'd like. And he deserves an apology from me after I acted like an ass back on that ship."
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Collan nodded, "I was hoping something else with him, but that is not likely to be true either. Still, the Empire is coming and he needs to know about it. Hell...he may still have that death wish."
He looked down the pathway.
"If I were him, I'd have laid traps for the unwary who came calling. Mr. Wilton have you been done there before?" Collan's tone was much kinder than earlier, though still business-like. It didn't carry the detachment or slight sense of benign menace he'd attempted earlier on Wilton.
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Jeremy shrugs. "Yeah, once. But I wasn't really awake for it. He has a few alarms and such, but nothing lethal."
You start to pick your way down into the ravine, using ladders and crude walkways to go, level by level, near the very bottom of the ravine. Along the way, a board you stepped on tilted, and a metal canister filled with rocks fell over and bounced and careened down the ravine, raising a hell of a racket. Father along, a motion sensor hidden in a pile of rubble activated and started a high-pitched screaming. You do avoid several other noisemakers, but by the time to get to the lowest level, there is little doubt anyone here knows you are coming.
At the bottom of the ravine, moisture-slick boards and metal plates scavenged from a wind turbine form a walkway over a narrow but rapid stream of water. Following the walkway, you come to the narrow end of the ravine, where what appears to be a natural spring flows down a jumble of rocks. Sitting in that spray of water is a small water wheel connected to a power generator. Power conduits leading from that small generator are tacked to the rock, and lead through a small opening in the wall. Beside that opening is a closed door with a lit access pad.
"In there," Jeremy says.
One of you goes to the door and opens it. It slides open slowly with an extended, tortured groan of metal on metal.
Inside is a dimly lit series of rooms extending into the rock face. As you enter the main room, you become aware of a loud snoring coming from one of the side rooms. The place is a mess - it looks like someone came in and trashed the place. You get the feeling it was once orderly and tidy, but debris, items and knick-knacks have been strewn all over this chamber.
Picking your way through the mess, you make it to the doorway where the snoring is coming from. There you see Ch'lana, slumped back in a chair, snoring loudly. On the table and the nearby counter, several plates of half-eaten food lie mouldering, apparently abandoned for several days. The dirty dishes battle for space on every flat surface with a series of bottles - all of them empty.
On Ch'lana's lap as he sleeps, a 3/4 empty bottle is clutched tightly in one hand. The whole room smells like a combination compost heap and distillery.
Ch'lana is completely oblivious to your presence, despite the noise of your entry.
[Actions?]
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Collan noted as they entered, "I don't think the alarms would do much good today," there was something in his voice when he spoke, a mixture of pity, tinged green with disgust. This place was awful and rancid. The food itself was a metaphor for what Ch'lana was doing to himself. What would make a Jedi fall so far from grace?
"You know he won't be happy when we wake him, so maybe we should just start cleaning up for him and let him wake up on his own."
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Niil stood, speechless, at the mess around him, and his eyebrows flew up to his hairline when he saw the state that the Jedi was in. The suffering this man must be going through! Niil got the creeping feeling that Ch'lana almost welcomed the Imperials to find him.
Walking slowly up to the passed-out man, he looked around for his lightsaber. It would probably be a bad idea to try and rouse Ch'lana if it was within reach; he might blindly make a grab for it and activate it. "Guys . . . I'm going to try and wake him in a little bit. Yeah, Collan, good idea . . . can you, Jeremy and Nightshade, ummm, maybe try and clean the food and bottles out of here in the meantime? And . . . oh, hell, let's see if we can get our hands on a bucket of cold water. We might need it. I don't know if we have enough time to let him wake up on his own."
OOC: Gonna give Ch'lana a visual inspection to find his lightsaber. I'd rather get it out of his reach first. Then I'll try and wake him.
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[OOC: It is there on his belt, obscured slightly by his clothing.]
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Acknowledging the words of Niil and with a wary eye out for any trouble from the drunk, Nightshade keeps his opinions to himself and sets about doing what he can to tidy up, or at least clear off some surfaces.
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Niil relieves Ch'lana of his lightsabre without incident. He doesn't even snort, just continues snoring.
[Actions?]
You could easily spend a couple of hours here cleaning up. It looks like Ch'lana will be unconscious for longer than that.
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"Let's get the bottles and food cleaned up," he looked at the one still in the old man's hands, "All of them."
Cedwyn felt a spark of kinship...the black depression to drive him to a state like this must be as bad or worse than what he'd felt before he escaped his enslavement.
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Ack! Simultaneous posts again . . . :P
Niil was both relieved and dismayed that he was able to get Ch'lana's lightsaber away from him without any fuss. Again, he stared down at the drunken Jedi and felt sorry for the man. There was a story there that would be absolute hell to try and wring out of him.
Clipping the lightsaber on to his belt in the meantime, Niil muttered, "Yup, all bottles, empty or not. Collan, Nightshade, if we're gonna be here for awhile, maybe the two of you could go topside and get our crawler out of sight? And maybe bring down our food stores and medkit while you're at it? I think we have a fair bit of caffeine packets left. We're gonna need it. Or I can go back to the surface with Nightshade if you'd like to stick around here, Collan."
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[not much space to hide the crawler, though you can try and break up the silhouette by creative parking among the wind turbines.]
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"I'll go up," Collan replied, smiling, "I might be able to park it better."
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Niil threw a crumpled-up piece of paper at Collan's head for the wise-crack, but turned his attention back to cleaning up the place. Sooner or later, though, they'd have to try and wake Ch'lana up. Likely sooner. They were running out of time; if the Imperials weren't already at Tezest, they'd be damned close. And they also had one extremely irate bounty hunter and her team sniffing for them.
OOC: Do some cleaning (toss out any existing booze, too), and get a pail or bucket of cold, clean water. We might have to dump it on Ch'lana. Eep.
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You get to work. Collan tries as much as possible to obscure the crawler, and the three of you set about trying to restore some order to the rooms.
You have a bit of a start when Collan returns - he tripped another alarm - but stand down once he calls out.
The three of you have been working for about half an hour (Ch'lana snoring the whole time) when you all clearly hear from out in the ravine another one of the stone-filled cans bounce and clatter several times before it hits the water with a "Splook" sound.
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Collan held up his hand in the Spec's stop signal. He drew his weapon and flicked to stun. No sense in lethality if it wasn't needed. He pointed to Niil and the doorway as he moved to cover. To Nightshade, he pointed, then pointed at his eyes and then out the door...
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Niil quietly drew his blaster, and on an inspiration looked around for a mirror or a fragment of a mirror. Maybe they could spy on whoever was approaching them without exposing themselves in the process. To his disappointment, there was nothing of the sort around. I really need to get one of those small mirrors on a telescoping stick, Niil thought bitterly. To Collan and Nightshade, he whispered, "If this is the bounty hunter crew, we need to take them out fast. They'll likely have grenades and heavier weapons."
OOC: How many vantage points do we have in this dwelling from which we can check out the approach?
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OOC: How many vantage points do we have in this dwelling from which we can check out the approach?
Only one - the main door.
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You quietly move to cover the entrance. Then, you hear a synthesized voice call out, "Movement!" Glancing toward the source, you see a flash of red plastoid armour.
[Actions?]
They know you're there, but can't see you directly. You see at least four red-armoured stormtroopers picking their way down the walkways and ladders, but by the sounds above you there will be more.
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Niil ducked back into the doorway, and shifted his blaster's setting to kill. "Shit! Red troopers, and a lot of them! Jeremy, get Ch'lana awake NOW! Shake him, slap him, dump water on him if you have to!"
OOC: If Niil had a clear target when he saw the flash of red, he'd have taken a shot.
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[doh...was writing too...editting]
Oh frak...
Collan flipped his blaster back to lethal energies. He centered himself. Demaia had told him to seek peace and let go of emotion. But it then dawned that to know where Ch'lana was they would likely need a Dark Jedi to find him so quickly. Or having a tracking device...Wilton? No...distractions. Order the mind. Clarify goals.
Option 1: flee and flee quickly. They needed to be outside for that.
Option 2: Fight. Not ideal. They held higher ground and they'd had no time to prep. But they were coming in blind...but could detect the group.
Collan made the smallest possible whisper, "They have scanners. Nightshade...these are bad news. Trained to fight Jedi. Possibly one with them."
He set himself and watched for a clear shot.
[ooc: is there anything of use in the room...what's the layout of the area? Possibly another exit?]
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[OOC: I forgot Wilton. He's in the room with Ch'lana. He's not going to be much use in a fight.]
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OOC: If Niil had a clear target when he saw the flash of red, he'd have taken a shot.
He only saw a glimpse of armour, from four locations - no clear shots.
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Niil growled, "If we stay here we at least have cover, but we can't keep an eye on them. We'd be womp-rats in a bottle. All they'd have to do is lob in a grenade or thermal detonator, or place charges on the roof. Or just wait us out until reinforcements arrive." Nill ducked down into a crouch, and crab-walked closer to the entrance. Maybe he could take down some of the ladders . . .
OOC: From the brief glimpse that Niil saw of where the red-boys were, could he tell which ladders they were descending? And could he blast those ladders to try and wreck them? If he can see one, he'll blast one. And if he gets a clear shot at an enemy, he'll take that first.
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Not exactly sure what a Jedi would be capable of, the Shinobi nevertheless saw the change come over his companions and knew these would be a serious opponent.
"I am more suited to melee combat than ranged. I will move out and see if I can separate and engage one at a time. If I cannot, I will at least scout them out and bring back intel."
Unless they object seriously, he activates his suit and moves to find a vantage point to observe the enemy approach.
Actions: sneak and spot
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Niil shook his head. "Be damned careful, Nightshade. It took three of us to bring one of them down awhile ago. And there might be a dark Jedi with them. Maybe more. I'll try and give you covering fire."
OOC: Same OOC as my last post.
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Collan looked around. Maybe he could make some trouble for the stormies with what they had laying around. Smoke. Fire. Traps. Weapons. Something useful. There was a small part of him that wished he knew more about using the Force.
[ooc: where's Nicholas Tarwin when you need him...]
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There was a small part of him that wished he knew more about using the Force.
You could use a Force Point to "extend" yourself, if that's something you want to do.
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Niil fires off several shots, blasting ladders, ramps and walkways and filling the ravine with smoke. That should hold them for a while, but you are still fish in a barrel. They'll have a harder time getting to you, but you also no have no way out.
It's possible to seal the door, but again that only buys you time. Blasters will get through it eventually, and if there is a lightsabre out there, the door will be only a minor impediment.
You hear Jeremy's voice from the other room. "He's not waking up!"
A moment later, you hear splashing of water followed by an angry yell. "Never mind!" calls Jeremy.
Nightshade activates his stealth suit and heads out into the ravine, unseen except by the air of his passage disturbing the smoke filling the air. Everyone immediately looses sight of him.
[Actions?]
PM sent to Nightshade.
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Niil didn't take his eyes away from the door as he unclipped Ch'lana's lightsaber with his left hand. "Jeremy! Haul ass over here! I've got something here you need to give back to our friend PDQ!"
OOC: If anything outside moves and it ain't one of us, blast it. Lethal setting.
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From his vantage point by the door, Niil watches as one of the red Stormtroopers drops down into the ravine. He lines up a shot, but before he can pull the trigger, a shadowy figure appears and makes a pair of attacks on the unsuspecting Stormtrooper. One of the blades misses, but the second runs the Stormtrooper through. The stormtrooper stiffens, and fires off a blaster shot as he falls off the vibroblade to land with a splash in the water.
Several Stormtroopers that are out of Niil's sight open fire at the shadowy figure, but he twists and dances through the ravine, dashing through the doorway past Niil and Collan.
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Niil gaped as Nightshade turned a red stormtrooper into bantha jerky in the blink of an eye, and wove a path through blaster fire to dash back into the room.
"I have got to learn some of those moves," Niil muttered as he prepared for the attack. "Nightshade, what can you tell me about our opposition out there?"
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"Five of them approach in the ravine, while a few more are on top with a women in red leather armor with a long metal object like the one your friend has, only longer."
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Niil's heart sank when he heard about the woman. "Well, shit on us." he muttered. "It's that dark Jedi woman we met on the asteroid base. She's not going to be happy to see me. Nightshade, she's got a lightsaber. Unless your weapons are made of cortosis or Mandalorian armor, don't even try to cross blades with her, 'cause her blade will cut right through them." Turning his head slightly, he said, "Jeremy! Tell Ch'lana we've got company looking for him, and we need his help! There's a dark Jedi with them!"
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You hear a bellowing roar from the other room, and the sound of breaking crockery. Jeremy's voice calls back, "He's not in the mood for talking at the moment, but I'm trying!"
The death of one of their compatriots has made the stormtroopers a little more cautious, but a few moment later several grenades drop into the cleft. You dodge back and hear only light concussions from beyond the door. When you look again, large clouds of billowing smoke have filled the cleft.
[Actions?]
You have somewhere between two and four rounds before you can expect up-close-and-personal resistance. You can open up with suppression fire, which will force them to make a dodge check to avoid damage, but also reveals your position.
Nightshade's gear can't pierce the smoke.
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Niil resisted the urge to smack his palm into his forehead, and shook his head in exasperation instead. "Collan, you want to talk to Ch'lana, or should I?" Then, to Nightshade, he said, "I don't suppose you have any grenades, do you? If you do, I'd suggest lobbing one of them out the door in about three seconds."
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"No grenades." With that, Nightshade takes up cover near the door, ready to slice the first hostile to come through.
Actions (if you need them now): two blade attacks at first hostile target, reactionary dodge
-
Collan said, "I'll go..."
And he went back to see what Jeremy was dealing with on Ch'lana.
-
"Here, take this with you." Unclipping Ch'lana's lightsaber from his belt, he tossed it to Collan. "Tell him there's a dark Jedi woman here."
-
[OOC: Sorry, I've been neglecting you guys. Lots going on in Altarka.]
Collan catches Ch'lana's lightsabre and moves into the other room.
Nill and Nighshade watch the door for targets, but the only thing they see are vague shapes in the smoke. Niil thinks he spotted something and fires, but he cannot tell if he hit anything. You both hear the sound of a jetpack and a splash of someone in the water. You can hear booted footsteps moving on the remaining walkways, but can see no targets.
In the back room, Collan finds Jeremy holding a chair as a shield while a series of plates, bottles and pots are thrown at him. When Collan enters the room, a very angry looking Ch'lana glances at him and wings a bottle his way. Collan is able to dodge out of the way (barely). Ch'lana's bleary eyes try to focus on the sabre. When he spots he roars, "Thief! I'll skin you alive!" and throws a large ceramic jug at Collan.
[Actions?]
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"Good to see you again too Ch'lana," Collan noted wryly, "If you can stop throwing things for a few minutes, you can help deal with the Jedi Hunters right outside."
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[OOC: Taking a few liberties to move things along.]
The moment Collan speak, Ch'lana throws a bottle at him. Collan dodges it easily. Then Ch'lana's eyes eyes focus on Collan.
He blinks at you stupidly for a moment. "You! What are you doing here?" Then his language processing buffer catches up with what you had said.
"Jedi hunters?" He sways a little as a knee gives out. His face becomes a mask. "They followed you." One eye drifts off focus for a moment, and he shakes his head to bring it back. "Give me my lightsabre." He holds out a trembling hand. "How many?" he asks.
You hand the sabre over, and tell him. "4 at least, maybe more. One with a a lightsabre."
"How long?" he asks as he clips his sabre to his belt.
"Seconds," you respond.
He closes his eyes and draws a deep breath.
"I've got a bolt-hole. Call your friends."
Calland calls Niil and Nightshade. Meanwhile, Ch'lana goes to a nearby shelf and quickly sweeps it clean of debris. Several bottles and containers fall to the floor with a clatter, revealing a recessed control panel. He places a thumb on the panel as Niil and Nightshade run into the room. Quickly, a heavy blast door slams shut, sealing off the room. Once the door is in place, a cupboard on the opposite wall slides back and to the left, revealing a very small passage.
"It's not going to hold them for long. Follow the passage. It'll end in a cave, maybe three hundred meters. There's a vehicle there we can use."
One after the other, you enter the cramps passage. You cannot stand upright inside, and the walls brush against your shoulders as you move down the rough cut passage. There is a series of unsecured metal grates on the floor with at least gives you somewhat stable footing, but being un-anchored, the grates can slip and tip as you step on them. You very quickly loose all light in the tight passage, and have to make your way my touch.
You move as quick as you dare, with Ch'lana bringing up the rear.
Eventually, you see a light ahead. Before long, you emerge from the narrow passage into a large spherical chamber perhaps 200' across. You are on a large grate about a third of the way from the top of the chamber. There is a grubby looking ground vehicle on the platform, and a ramp leads to a closed heavy door. A control panel rests against the rock wall, anchored there separately. Bits of dried plant life and other debris hang through the grate, as if this structure had been submerged at one time.
With an oath and a curse, Ch'lana manages to extract himself from the passage. As he stands, you notice he is standing much straighter, and his eyes are no longer bleary. He points to the vehicle. "Someone get it started," as he goes to the panel and hits a few buttons. A moment later a door closes over the small passage, and a massive jet of water erupts from a hole near the top of the chamber. The water rains down on you like a waterfall, making movement difficult. The water is freezing cold, and has you gasping for breath for a moment.
Teeth chattering, Nill slips behind the wheel and manages to get the vehicle powered up. As the old power core rumbles to life, the large doors open.
Ch'lana hops into the shotgun position, and you head up the ramp and out into the bladesea. As you leave, the doors close behind you.
In the confines of the vehicle, Ch'lana still smells awful, but he certainly looks much less drunk. If you didn't know better, he looks stone cold sober.
[Actions?]
Pausing here for reactions / comments / questions.
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Niil found himself doing yet another double-take when he looked at Ch'lana. The man had been dead, stinking, comatose drunk when they'd come into his haven, but now he looked stone-cold sober. Pretty strong grasp on the Force if he can adjust his metabolism that quickly, Niil thought with no small amount of awe.
As soon as Niil got to the surface, he hammered the accelerator. Keeping his eyes peeled to the road in front of him, he muttered, "Master Ch'lana . . . you have our apologies. We came looking for you to . . . well, I came out here to apologize for the crappy attitude that I fed you back on the prison ship. You didn't deserve that. That, and to offer you a new home and purpose. I sure as hell didn't intend to bring the hunters down on you. The Imperial snitches must have made us at Tase . . . or maybe someone at the farmstead we stayed at."
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Collan shook his head. If what Demaia had said was true, they didn't need to track them. They could find Ch'lana themselves.
"I don't know if it was us...my understanding is that a Jedi can track someone through the Force. The Imps were on their way when we were coming. We passed them on the way in."
"In any case...Master Ch'lana... Do you have another bolthole?"
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He glares at Jeremy. "What did I tell you?! Never! Never come to me!"
Jeremy looks sheepish and holds up his hands. "They said they wanted to help you. They were pretty convincing."
The grizzled man rubs his stubbly chin as he glances at Niil and Colland. "Of course. She's got to be involved. She probably put you up to this. Meddling witch."
He looks at Niil and Collan for a moment. "You probably wouldn't even know it if she did."
You get the impression he is not speaking to you.
In a clearer voice he says, "Yeah, I have another hideaway." He punches in some coordinates on the navigation interface and a waypoint pops up, about two hours distant.
"Maybe they'll open the door and drown themselves." He sighs before continuing. "But I'm never that lucky. Regardless, we should have a few hours at least."
He looks at Nightshade for several seconds. "Meiyo ni ikimasu," he says. "Are you bound?"
[PM sent to Nightshade.]
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Only years of training prevented the Shinobi from revealing the utter surprise at hearing the traditional greeting of his people. He quickly reconsidered his first opinion of this man who appeared to be no more than a drunk. It was a good lesson in books and their covers.
Bowing to Ch'lana, he gave the same bow and gesture he had extended to Niil earlier, and repeated the greeting, "Meiyo ni ikimasu. It is as you say, I am bound." He left the details unsaid, as was his way. If the Jedi wanted to know more he would ask and then they would decide their level of mutual trust.
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Collan smiled.
"Of course she manipulated us..." Collan was pretty sure to whom Ch'lana referred, "I'm fairly sure she is concerned for you. And was pretty sure we would be too if we thought along her lines."
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Ch'lana holds up a hand at Collan for a moment. It seems the conversation with Nightshade had priority.
"Bound to death? Or service?"
[PM sent]
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This man knew much of the customs of his people, more than most outsiders would. Looking at him more shrewdly, "To service." He couples this answer with another gesture, one used among the Shinobi to recognize one of their own without having to use words. Nightshade waits to see if Ch'lana knows the response, although he would be hard pressed to say if he hoped for it or dreaded it.
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Ch'lana smiles at Nightshade. "I am not Kage no Pasu, but I was once called Yūjin Otōto by one who was."
[PM sent.]
Ch'lana lowers his hand and turns on Collan, a glare in his eyes. "You speak as if you could know her mind. Let me tell you something about that witch..." He stops, mid-thought. A moment later, he deflates somewhat.
"It doesn't matter."
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Niil heard the harshness in Ch'lana's voice when he started to speak about Demaia, and checked a rebuttal. Niil didn't know anything about the past that the two Jedi had.
Chuckling lightly, Niil piped up, "Wellllll . . . back at HQ, Demaia did send us a . . . subtle invitation, but I suspect that she already knew that some of us had questions on our minds, and made herself available to speak of them." He shook his head. "My conduct towards you on the prison ship mission was on my mind, and I wanted to apologize for my behavior, but you had already left for the Bladesea. Perhaps she also knew that I thought . . . well, never mind. She knew that I wanted to know where you'd gone to, so she told me where to start looking."
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He waves a hand. "Demaia? Is that what she's calling herself now?" He shakes his head as if shaking loose that thought. "It doesn't matter. None of it matters. I should have moved on long ago. I lied to myself. I thought I could help. Now I've made everything worse."
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Collan cocked his head to one side and noted, "It might help if you explain how things are worse."
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He scoffs openly, his voice rising as he speaks, and he ticks off fingers with each point. "Well the presence of the Imperial Guard for one. And there's a Hand of the Emperor with them. Then there's the Imperial legion marching on the Bladesea. How about the Empire sending an entire naval task force to an out-of-the-way corner of the mid-rim just to subdue a tiny little unimportant backwater farming planet? That's how it's worse!"
He sighs and visibly calms himself.
"You need to know that there are no limits to what the Emperor will do to round up or kill every last Jedi. Even an old wash-up like me. You could get very rich turning me in, though they're just as likely to kill you as pay you."
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Niil snorted a laugh, and shook his head. "Not meaning to downplay your importance by any means, Master Ch'lana, but Collan and I have had our share of bounty hunters coming after us. And we're not even Jedi-trained yet; just Force-sensitive. The Imperial bastards had my parents killed and their estate seized because they asked a Jedi friend to get me out of the Imperial Academy. The hunters knew I was Force-sensitive before I did!"
He sighed. "I have a pretty good idea of what the Empire is capable of and what lengths they're willing to go to, although I'm taking a safe guess by saying you've seen far more of it than I have. I saw what happened to Lendt, and that alone speaks volumes to me. Being run down like a wounded dog grates on my nerves, but that's not going to make me stop resisting the Emperor and his murderers. There's plenty of good people on Karvis - hell, in this galaxy - and their freedom and welfare's well worth fighting for. I may not have been born here, but Karvis has given me a purpose, and a new family of sorts."
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Ch'lana glances at Niil and Collan. "You are force sensitive?"
When you nod, he gives a smirk and shakes his head, but it seems to be more to himself than to you. "Figures."
He sighs. "Niil - it's Nill right? You've made my point for me. My presence here makes matters worse. Everywhere I have gone, every time I try to help, I end up using the Force is some way. Not long after, the Empire shows up and blows everything to hell. Every time I try to help, the opposition those I am helping faces grows overwhelming. My presence brings death to those I am trying to help. The very best thing I could do is hide away in an empty corner of space somewhere because then at least the Empire won't level cities or destroy planets trying to find me.
"Niil, you've seen what they'll do. You know it first hand. I know there are good people here. Also broken people, and people in pain. I could help them, sure. I even tried to for a while. But I know what happens when I do, because it has happened before. Right now it's only one task force, a legion, a handful of Imperial Guard and a Hand. Soon it will be five legions, a full battlegroup of ships, hundreds of shadow troopers, and the Emperor's Wrath. Karvis is barely holding together as it is - how do you think they'll fare against that onslaught? And even if they do, it will only get worse! I have seen this play out before!
"Look, you face the same choice as I do. You're no Knight, so the pressure starts out lighter for you. But it will always get worse. Think about that a moment - do you put everyone around you at much greater risk, or do you lead all that hell and hardship away from them so they stand a better chance of actually doing some good? The best thing I can do for Karvis is get the hell away from here and lead the Empire on a merry chase. If I stay, things will only get worse."
He sighs, and there is deep sorrow and pain in his voice. "That's how the Emperor works, Nill. Scorched earth. if the enemy goes to ground, leave them no ground to go to. The Empire kills everything around a Jedi so they either surrender or flee to save lives. He ordered Lendt bombed because he knew I would feel it. And I felt each and every death, Niil. If I don't leave or surrender soon, he'll bomb another city. And another. He is relentless, Niil. He will kill millions of beings just to hurt me, because he knows I will feel it." He stops to sniff, and wipe tears from his eyes. His hands are shaking. He stops and looks at them a moment and sniffs again.
"You know the code? The bit about emotion? I can't control mine anymore. The Emperor does all this because he knows it will make a Jedi either surrender, die, or turn to the Dark Side. He would burn this planet to a cinder just to hurt me - to make me feel sorrow, anger or hate. The people of Karvis are all safer if I leave. And once he knows you are here, he will do it to you as well."
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Niil let all of that sink in, and he realized with a cold, sudden clarity that he'd said something roughly similar to the head of the Karvis resistance. And after all that, she'd refused to exile Niil.
"Yes, I've heard about the Jedi code concerning emotion. But I think the Jedi started focusing too much on the literal word of the code instead of the heart of what it meant. Anyone seeing that sort of death and suffering has to feel something - regardless if he's a Jedi or not. It's the people that don't feel anything that scare me. And the Emperor won't stop with just the Jedi. He's been brutally subjugating planets and people regardless of whether or not they've been harboring Jedi."
He shook his head. "When I was in the Imperial Academy, the banter I overheard among the other cadets and the instructors made me sick to my core. They spoke of slapping down unarmed agricultural protests like they'd fought some major battle, and they laughed about it! TIE bombers uses against farmers? And Palpatine's 'new order' has no real place for non-humans. They're not even treated like citizens. Many are enslaved, or simply wiped out as a matter of expedience."
Niil's hand tightened on the wheel of the vehicle. "My parents and Master Dhoresh gave their lives to get me out of that academy, and I'm not going to let their deaths be in vain. Maybe I can't do much in the grand scheme of things to start turning the tide against the Empire, but I'll fight as if I can. All I have to do is think of the story of the small pebble dislodged from the top of the mountain." He sighed heavily. "Any fight with the Empire is going to cause a lot of casualties. But if the Empire is left unopposed and unchecked, things won't get any better. And there's something else, too . . . we know that Palpatine and Darth Vader are both powerful Sith Lords, strong in the Dark Side of the Force. Only fully-trained Jedi that are strong in their resolve will have a hope in hell of bringing those two down." He shrugged helplessly. "If the Jedi are wiped out, or go into seclusion, who will stop them?"
-
He is quiet a moment, staring at Niil.
"You knew Master Dhoresh?"
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Niil smiled, although his eyes were filled with pain. "Yes. He was actually a family friend, although we saw him only a few times a year at best. He lived on Coruscant, and he was a rather busy man. But he still visited us when he came to Alderaan. When my parents discovered that the Empire found out that I was Force-sensitive, they asked Master Dhoresh to get me out of there before I could be taken away for . . . re-education. Or worse." Niil shuddered.
"Master Dhoresh had less than a day to act, and he used the Force to plant a suggestion in the academy commandant's mind. I was released on a three-day leave, and Master Dhoresh got me off-planet." Niil shook his head. "The Bloodhounds were after us soon after my escape. Master Dhoresh tried to start my training - well, enough so that I could feel the Force within myself - but the Bloodhound teams that came after us made further training pretty well impossible. He easily dealt with the first few groups; their numbers were small and they weren't that good. But I have a feeling that the person in charge of the Bloodhounds was deliberately sending out their least experienced teams first . . . to tire Master Dhoresh, and to get a feel of how good he was."
"The last team was the most experienced. I think Master Dhoresh knew they were coming, so he arranged to get me off-planet while he prepared to delay the Bloodhound unit. His smuggler friend was just lifting off when the Bloodhounds came in and surrounded Master Dhoresh. He took three of them down, but the others got him in the end. I had to watch helplessly out of the damn ship's porthole while they killed him."
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"And that's not the worst of it. I just learned my father is a dark Jedi. Demaia helped me restore my memories. He killed my uncle. I suppose I was lucky. My uncle was taking me to the Temple on Coruscant."
He sighed, "I suppose my father is a Hand as well. But that was...15 years ago."
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Ch'lana rubs his eyes with one hand, grumbling angrily to himself about a 'that witch' and heaves a sigh.
"She picked her minions well, I'll give her that. You've both got remarkably pathetic stories." He shakes his head.
"Look, I'm tired, and we've got a drive ahead of us. Be quiet and let me get some sleep, all right? Wake me when we get there. I'll figure out what to do with you then."
Without another word, he turns his back to you and closes his eyes.
For the rest of the ride, if anyone speaks, they get an angry, "Quiet!" from Ch'lana, so you pass the journey in relative quiet.
A few hours later, you arrive at the coordinates. You are in a barren part of the Bladesea. The only thing you see is a low plasteel dome.
Ch'lana wakes before you could reach for him and without a word opens the door of the vehicle. Wind whips through the confined space, and the rest of you get out. Ch'lana stands for a moment, and extends a hand at the dome. A moment later, a panel slides back and to the side, revealing a set of stairs. Lights flicker to life, and Ch'lana starts down.
As the last of you enter, the panel slides shut and seals.
You go down perhaps twenty feet and enter a small chamber with a passage leading off. You and see other passages and chambers. This was someone's living quarters, and it has been well cared for. Ch'lana walks into the passage, motioning you to follow. You pass a couple of rooms with beds, and one that appears to be a meditation chamber, finally entering a larger room that includes a kitchen and a dining area. "All right, grab supplies. There's food in the larder, tools in the workshop and a few other things in the storage room." As he says each location, he points to a door. "Take everything useful. We can't stay here long."
When he is done speaking, he walks through the kitchen to a tall cabinet and opens it. You see various pieces of small equipment stored there. He starts rooting through it, selecting things to take.
[As you walked through the passage, you all notice one room had several two-dimensional images and a few holo-imagers on shelves over the bed.
He's working, and apparently expects the three of you to do so as well, but he is available for questions or conversation if you wish to do so.]
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Niil went to the larder, stocking up on as much preserved food and sealed water as he was able. As he left the room, he thought about grabbing some repair equipment for the vehicle - and it occurred to him that his knowledge on the subject was laughable. Something I really need to bone up on, he thought. He started to go look for either Ch'lana or Nightshade and ask for their advice when his attention was drawn back to the room with the 2-D images and holo-imagers. Curious, he took a step inside the room and looked at the images.
OOC: Check out the 2D images, but Niil won't turn the holo-imagers on if they're shut off.
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[PM sent.]
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Niil looked intently at the mosaic on the wall; there were a fair number of pictures on it. A remembrance of the past, he thought to himself and smiled.
The smile faded as his eyes caught a particular picture. He'd passed over it a few times, but something kept bringing him back to it. A feeling of unease settled into his guts as he walked quietly up to the picture and stared at it. There, the man on the left. He was young . . . probably not much older than Niil was, and had the characteristic braid of a padawan - but there was no mistaking Ch'Lana's features. Niil's eyebrows narrowed, and he found that he'd been holding his breath. That wasn't what made him feel odd. Turning his attention to the other man in the photo, he cocked his head in puzzlement. This was the man that had really caught his attention. Niil raked his memory and tried to recall where he'd seen the man before. He let out his breath in exasperation. He didn't recall ever meeting the man. Then why was his attention drawn to him? He stared at the man's face and eyes, and mentally aged him by two or three decades. Nothing. Identifying Ch'lana of the past and present was easy enough; he knew what the old Jedi looked like, and it was a simple matter of looking at the picture and taking off about two or three deca . . .
His thoughts came to a screeching halt. His breath caught audibly in his throat, and as the revelation hit him, he whispered in a mixture of awe and dread, "Holy frak."
He took two steps back as if in a daze, his eyes still riveted to the picture. Then he turned, walked out of the room, and croaked, "Uhhh, Collan? Collan?"
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Nightshade has nothing more to add to the proceedings and is happy to be a part of the background doing what he can to find suitable supplies for any further journeys. The discovery of Ch'lana's title among his people gave him another reason to stay with this group, and although he was very curious as to how the jedi had come to earn the privilege, honor dictated that he didn't pry into the affairs of a member of the family.
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Collan had been rooting the tools and trying to get a useful kit together when Niil called him over. He was keeping things organized and put them into the kit saying, "Just a sec."
He heard some urgency in Niil's voice but he walked quickly without haste. He was doing his best to keep himself calm. If he was to follow the path of the Jedi, it was a skill he'd need.
"What's up?" Collan asked, he'd not seen the picture yet.
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Niil made a beckoning motion for Collan to follow him into the room. There, Niil pointed at the photograph and whispered, "The one on the left is Ch'lana. The one on the right . . . either your father, or maybe an uncle? He's got your features, Collan."
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Collan's knees felt weak and his stomach dropped a few meters. For a moment, Collan couldn't speak.
"Uncle," he said quietly, "has to Jierrod...has to be."
He was torn...but this had value...no time to talk now, so Collan took the holo.
"No time now. We should do what we shoulda done at the windfarm...gotten while the getting is good. I'll talk to Ch'lana later."
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Niil nodded, and clapped an arm on Collan's shoulder. "I agree. Let's get finished up."
OOC: Hopefully Niil grabbed enough food and drink already, so he'll go check out the storage room to see what's in there.
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Collan nodded and went back to the workshop, grabbing tools, power cells, and variois other supplies. Figuring Ch'lana probably also had parts to build or repair lightsabers, Collan also nosed around for relevant parts, including gems.
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As he was clearing the workshop, Collan suddenly slapped his forehead with a loud meaty smack, and exclaimed, "Ha! "
Calling out to Niil and ch'lana, he asked, "Hey! How far behind us do you think they are? We could rig this place to blow shortly after they arrive. Preferably with at least some inside."
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Ch'lana frowns. "No. Absolutely not."
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Collan nodded, "Okay. I understand," he paused a moment, pursed his lips and said, "I've packed a couple of your holos too. We probably should talk once we're out of here."
[ooc: any Jedi-related tech? :P Collan will ask first if they can take it.]
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Ch'lana nods. "Thank you, I suppose. I've hung on to those for years now, and I haven't quite been able to bring myself to parting with them. I had been considering abandoning them this time - that life is so far away now."
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Collan offered a small smile, "Like I said...we'll talk more later...but this man is my uncle."
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He raises an eyebrow. "Uncle? Let me see." You show him the 2d image. "Yeah, I knew him. Rostiern. That was a long time ago now. He was friends with my old master - they were padawan together. My master and I were assigned to work with him a few times. He was a good knight."
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Collan nodded and quelled his questions. There was a task at hand that needed doing.
He asked, "Is there anything you don't found here when the Imps arrive? I'm gonna clean out your workshop for tools, parts, and powercells."
-
In about an hour, you clean out the place of anything useful. Based on comments and things you find, you learn that this was Ch'lana's sanctuary. He had a few safe places spread over the Bladesea, but this was his sanctum. Looking in the spare room, where the pictures were, you see one wall is plastered with 2D images of many people. Apparently, this was a place of healing where he would take injured to recuperate. It is known among those living out in the remote areas of the Bladesea as a place of safety and healing, hence his refusal to leave a trap behind.
Ch'lana has apparently moved many times. Most of the gear is already packed in easily movable containers, and most of your time is spent merely transporting those containers into the vehicle.
Collan keeps an eye out for anything that looks like Jedi tools. He finds some jeweler-type tools in a workshop, and with metal-shaping and electronics tools, but nothing that looks definitively Jedi.
Nightshade finds some interesting things as well. In one box in the back of the small store room he finds a box that contains an ornamental Shinobi dagger, and a medallion with the "Way of the Shadow" emblem on it - a white and black circle circling opposite one another around a central orbit. Nearby is a larger case that contains the traditional ornamental long and short swords of the Shinobi. It is possible such things could have been taken as trophies, but they are sometimes, only rarely, given as gifts to non-Shinobi who have earned great honour with the clan. There is the possibility that these items are not Shinobi at all - there are other clans that follow the Way of Shadow, but Nightshade has the sense that is not the case.
Connor, while he searches for anything left behind, finds a small alcove behind a curtain. Within the alcove carved into the stone is a starburst symbol with the top ray several times longer than all the others. Candle stubs are all over the corners and ledges of the alcove.
With the place cleaned out (Ch'lana refuses to take any medical supplies from the place), you pile into the vehicle. Ch'alana enters some coordinates on the navigation console. "We'll take turns driving to the next stop. It's 12 hours away."
The trip is long and quiet. Ch'lana seems to not want conversation, and only responds with grunts or harsh words to any questions and ignores small talk completely.
At length, you reach the southern extremity of the Bladesea. There is a crude ridge leading down. Ch'lana indicates that is your road. It takes soem skillful manoeuvring, but you manage to reach the floor of a heavily wooded valley. A further thirty minutes of driving and you see a large structure ahead. As you approach, you can see it is something akin to camouflage netting, with electrical components enhancing it. A large shape stands under the netting, a little over a hundred meters long. As you approach, you see the three large engines and the rear landing struts of a ship.
Ch'lana seems to have perked up since you came off the plateau, and as he gets out of the vehicle he seems almost energetic.
"If you boys could give me a hand loading the ship, I would appreciate it. It's too dangerous for me to drop you anywhere, but you are welcome to the vehicle in exchange for a little more labour."
[PM sent to Collan.]
-
As they came upon the ship, Collan sensed something...it was like a push...except it came from inside him. Was this the Force? Collan centered his mind quietly and unobtrusively. He had not considered leaving with Ch'lana before, but now like a sudden urge for a caf, he felt a need or maybe an urge to do just that.
Collan nodded, while thinking, if he left, what would happen? He'd leave Karvis and the resistance. But why did he feel this way?
Nothing he could do but ask, so quietly he approached the Jedi, "Ch'lana...I've a personal question for you. Have you ever all of a sudden had a feeling or an urge you can't explain. It came from almost nowhere. And what did you do?"
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He shrugs. "I find usually it is gas. I drink something fizzy or lie down until the feeling goes away."
-
Well...that wasn't helpful at all. Collan frowned. He bet that Ch'lana listened...even if he ignored it. So here he was at a cusp of a bifurcation of choices: stay and help the Karvan Resistance; or, go with Ch'lana,or ask to at least. Demaia had come to the place because she felt it in the Force.
What did Collan really want? Ch'lana would be difficult; probably wouldn't accept Collan. And at the same time, he was doing good work here on Karvis, helping the Resistance grow and find fertile soil to strike at the Empire. Did he really want to learn about the Force? He could read books...training in the Force was dangerous, but Ch'lana wouldn't necessarily train him. And he'd leave behind the friends he'd made here...likely he would never return.
There was something about Ch'lana that bothered Collan too. Why did he turn to drink? He was strong enough to face a Dark Jedi...that would imply strength in the Force. That was interesting...and maybe Ch'lana's spirit could be salvaged. Maybe it was time to be bold.
"Sounds like good advice...except I don't get that feeling in my belly; it's all over me...and it's telling me I want to go with you, Ch'lana. Strange that it had never occurred to me til just now when I saw your ship."
-
Niil burst out into laughter at Ch'lana's off-hand comment, and shook his head. He was also getting the feeling that Ch'lana wanted them to go their separate ways, and he was still concerned for the man's spiritual well-being and safety. He listened to Collan speak with Ch'lana as they continued to load the ship.
OOC: Graaaah! Simultaneous posts!
-
That brings him up short. His brows wrinkle and he looks hard at Collan.
"Who said anything about anyone coming with me? You are not coming with me. Weren't you listening? I'm a giant target, and the Empire has poor aim! People around me die - sometimes by the millions! No one is coming..."
He stops for a moment with his brow wrinkled. Slowly, an angry glare enters his eyes. He mutters something derogatory about a witch.
"No! Absolutely not!"
He grabs a case from the vehicle as if he wants to punish it and stalks off towards the ship.
-
Collan looked at Niil and shrugged, then went after Ch'lana.
"So you're the only one with a target painted on them? This is war. People die. Have you ever considered that the Empire bombed Karvis to try to find me? I've a Dark Jedi father whose fate I'm tied to, probably looking for me."
And then...it hit Collan. Somewhere...someone had died for Ch'lana and he couldn't accept it. At least...that was one possibility.
"'There is no death; there is the Force'" Collan quoted at Ch'lana, "What happened to you that turned you so inward? Who died when you thought it should have been you?"
-
[PM sent to Niil.]
Ch'lana drops the case and whips around, his face a mask of fury. He reaches out a hand and Collan suddenly finds himself lifting into the air. An invisible hand crushes his body and squeezes the air out of him. He hangs there suspended for a moment completely helpless, unable even to speak, his arms pulled down and out from his sides and his legs apart. To anyone watching, Collan is obviously in pain.
"Do NOT quote the code to ME, boy! You know NOTHING about my life, my scars or what I have lost!" he roars.
He draws his arm back and extends it quickly. Collan flies through the air like a rag doll for several meters, hits the ground, rolls twice and skids hard into the bole of a tree where he comes to rest.
Ch'lana looks at Collan's crumpled form for a moment in anger and satisfaction. Then suddenly, his fury melts away, replaced with a look of horror. Ch'lana sinks to his knees in shock.
-
Niil watched in anger and horror as Ch'lana attacked Collan with the Force, and as simple reflex, he found his heavy blaster pistol in his hand. Then, before he could react or say anything, a sudden mental image and message - as vivid as real life - popped into Niil's mind.
Ramming his blaster pistol back into its holster, Niil shook his head and muttered to no one in particular, "And I'm supposed to have any better success?" Eyeing the horror-stricken Jedi, he said in a frightfully calm voice, "Master Ch'lana, please wait here and don't try to leave yet. First I'm going to see if you left Collan breathing, much less mobile. Then we really need to talk about what just happened here, and the . . . 'messages' we're getting." Despite the fact that Ch'lana was an accomplished Jedi Master, Niil's voice brooked no argument. Although Demaia hadn't gone into any detail in the vision she'd just sent, Niil could guess that it had something to do with Ch'lana's past - and his shocking dip towards the Dark Side. The man had a well of poison inside of him, and it had to be exorcised before something even worse happened.
No, Niil wasn't about to let Ch'lana leave by himself. Not if there was anything he could do about it. But what the hell could he do?
OOC: Check on Collan first.
-
Nill gets to Collan's side and finds the young man is still breathing. Despite the force of the blow, he does not appear to have sustained any broken bones, but he will have major bruising. Already you can see every square inch of exposed skin is turning red, and his skin is puffy from inflammation. He is going to be sore for a long time, but otherwise he seems OK.
When you start to move Collan, he groans and opens his eyes. They are badly blood shot.
-
Collan wanted to moan. Every single nerve ending felt like it was on fire. He didn't quite trust his voice.
Weakly he managed, "That was a little more than I expected."
And he sank back, trying to let the pain wash through him like he'd let it under the whip as a slave, trying to find his center and let peace wash through him.
-
Niil shook his head and muttered with a half-grin, "More than I expected, too. It's my job to piss people off, so stop stepping on my toes. By the way, Demaia just sent me a not-so-subtle message, but that can wait for now." Turning his head, he said, "Master Ch'lana, Collan has been injured, but I don't think anything's broken. Please help me get him to his feet."
-
Collan moaned and said, "Yeah...you can have it. I'll keep my day job."
-
Ch'lana slowly rises to his feet. On a quiet voice thick with emotion he says, "They will be here soon. You all need to be far away before they arrive."
Jeremy, stuck dumb while all this was going on, leaps to action. "Fair enough. I'll drive." He starts walking quickly towards the vehicle.
-
Collan tried to muster the strength to speak to Ch'lana saying with conviction, "Ch'lana...I apologize for provoking you like that. If the Empire hunts you, it's because they think they can get you to turn. You're a good man...filled with pain. Don't let them break you."
-
[OOC: Waiting for Ben here.]
-
(OOC: Niil would like to get in a post between Ben and Ch'lana's actions. He ain't letting the Jedi get away that quickly.)
-
ooc: is it safe to assume I secured the Shinobi items? I wouldn't want to leave them lying around for just anyone to touch regardless if they are trophy or gift.
ic: Nightshade didn't really understand jedi or the Force, but he knew power when he saw it and he was definitely impressed. However he has no stake in any of this exchange so he stays quietly in the background to learn what he can. All he needed was Niil's help, so he will only respond to direct threats against Spaar, or if engaged in conversation directly. Otherwise let them have their tantrums.
-
Niil checked a sigh that threatened to escape rather loudly from between his teeth. He was starting to follow his gut instinct, and he knew it was going to get him into a sarlaac-pit full of trouble. "Collan, Nightshade . . . load up, join Jeremy and get back to HQ. I'll join you when I can." To the shinobi, he shrugged apologetically. "I have every intention of keeping my promise to you, Nightshade, and will do so at my earliest opportunity. But right now . . . I can't explain it. I just know that it's imperative that I have to be on that ship when Ch'lana leaves."
-
Collan coughed. It hurt.
"Niil...why you? You've been fighting here longer. You made this your place. I should go. Someone who has been able to make some peace with their past..." it hurt too much to talk more.
-
Niil shook his head, puzzled. "I don't know. Demaia sent me a message after you got . . . tossed. She told me that I had to be on that ship when it left. She was pretty resolute about that."
Stealing a glance back at the ship, he added, "I can't say for certain, but I have a feeling that something bad is going to happen if he takes off by himself. Especially with that much poison eating away at him."
OOC: Keeping an eye out to make sure Ch'lana doesn't try to sneak away while we're talking. If so, Niil's gonna make a dash for the ship.
-
Collan nodded. Demaia was probably right.
"Pain eats at him. The Empire picks at him because of it. Go quickly. Do let him think about it."
Collan knew all too well what pain felt like. There was a part of him that wondered why his mind was even intact.
-
Niil nodded wearily, and placed a comradely hand on Collan's shoulder. "He's going to think about it regardless. The real trick is going to be to find a way to get him to forgive himself first. That's the only way he's gonna heal himself and find purpose again. I know that he can't go on like this. But I'll try to tread carefully. I just hope that the resistance doesn't have me court-martialled or shot for going AWOL when I get back. If something happens and I can't make it back in time, I have a favor to ask . . . vouch for Nightshade's integrity so that he can speak with the royal family. My gut tells me to trust the man."
OOC: I'll wait to see if Ben has any action/response before I head off to the ship.
-
[Ben, the Shinobi gear was backed with the rest of the stuff into the vehicle. Ch'lana was intending to take it with him, unless you chose to spirit it away (easy enough to do).]
While you are talking, the packed gear lifts itself out of the vehicle and floats into the waiting ship. Ch'lana, looking stricken, turns and head's towards the ship.
-
Nill watched the gear suddenly raise up into the air, and muttered, "Time to go." He nodded to his comrades, and headed for the ship. "You know, we can help with that, Master Ch'lana."
-
Collan nodded, "I meant thinking about you being onboard. Go. Quickly. I've opened the boil of his pain. You can capitalize on his shock right now. He's surprised at his own level of rage."
-
Ch'lana turns to face Niil. You're not sure how it happened - you didn't see any movement - but suddenly his lightsabre is in his hand and ignited. Your view of him is distorted by the bright blue blade.
"No. Stay where you are. I don't want to hurt anyone, but I will if you force me. Now go, the hunters will be here very soon." He starts to walk backwards up the ramp, sabre held before him.
-
The ninja decided it was past time to keep his own counsel and speak. He wasn't about to let Niil out of his sight and if he managed to convince this Jedi, it might earn him some trust with the other man.
"Yūjin Otōto," Nightshade called out, in a voice of authority, "Mikata you have called yourself and our gifts you carry. Therefore I call on the old oaths of Meiyo and Kazoku. Let this man come with you to honor the bonds."
In a blur his blade was out and in an intricate gesture reversed it to present it hilt first towards Ch'lana. His stone still stance giving lie to the tumult of thoughts racing through his mind. He hoped the old man knew the custom and understood the gravity of it. He waited for a reaction with baited breath for there were only two outcomes...either his challenge was accepted or there was a duel of honor to fight.
-
Niil paled at the sight of the ignited lightsaber, but kept his hands clear of his weapons and walked slowly forward. He didn't know how much weight Nightshade's words carried with the troubled Jedi, but Niil was nonetheless clear in his resolve. "I offer no violence to you, Master Ch'lana; only the offer of help and friendship. You've spent your life as a Jedi trying to help others . . . now let someone try to help you with whatever is eating away at you. You've earned that much, at least."
Stepping to within a few feet of Ch'lana, Niil spread his arms wide and locked his eyes upon Ch'lana's. "If you truly mean to use that lightsaber on me, then do it. I'll not try to defend myself. I saw the look on your face when you realized what you did to Collan back there. You were horrified at what you did. Kill me, and the Dark Side gains a stronger hold on you. Running away isn't going to help, because the real enemy is inside of you, and it goes wherever you do. Going off alone to confront your hunters with your spirit in turmoil will be just as disastrous. Do either, and you'll either end up dead . . . or turned."
"Either I'm going with you, or you can cut me down. I'm fully committed to either course now."
-
[Taking a couple of liberties.]
Everything is still for several seconds, the silence broken only by the steady thrum of Ch'lana's lightsabre.
The old man looks down at the offered hilt of the sword. Then his gaze rises to hold Nightshade's for several seconds. Then his hand reaches out and slowly closes over the hilt. His lightsabre still points toward Niil, but the old man examines the blade with a faraway look in his eye. The grip tightens, and you can see white knuckles on Ch'lana's hand.
Ch'lana then releases a sigh and deactivates his sabre.
"It has been a long time since someone has made that declaration to me."
Still holding the blade, he looks at Nightshade. "It is that important that Clan honour is at stake?"
Nightshade says nothing. There is no need. Such an act is not made lightly.
Ch'lana reverses the blade, laying it across his forearm and offering the hilt to Nightshade, bowing deeply as he does so.
Nightshade takes his blade back. He stands there a moment, with the blade is ready position. Then, blurring fast, he reverses the blade and sheathes it.
Ch'lana lifts his head and locks eyes with Nightshade. Without breaking eye contact, he says, "Get on board. And I do not want to see or hear you for two hours." It is apparent that he is speaking to Niil, though his eyes remain locked with Nightshade.
Niil apparently dismissed, Ch'lana speaks to Nightshade. "It has been a long time since I travelled with one of the Clan. You remind me of faraway happier times, and I find myself greatly missing the steadying influence of a dear friend, now gone to his ancestors." He hesitates. "Will you come?"
-
"I would be honored to come with you." Nightshade turns to gesture at Collan and Jeremy, "it may be prudent to bring those two with us. I especially don't trust Jeremy to not sell you out at the first opportunity if it meant saving his own hide."
-
Ch'lana looks at Collan and Jeremy in turn. "Well, that old witch knew what she was doing, I'll give her that."
He considers a moment. "All right, all of you. Get on board. You too Jeremy."
[PM sent to Corey.]
-
Niil was about to mention the same thing despite Ch'lana's admonishment to remain quiet, and nodded his gratitude to Nightshade for his foresight, and Ch'lana for his generosity. Slinging his dufflebag over his shoulder, he headed up the ship's ramp. Now, let's try to find an out-of-the-way part of the ship where I can hide from Ch'lana, Niil thought with a grin . . .
OOC: Edited. As Nim said, "Phrasing". ;) I can't believe I missed that inadvertent innuendo.
-
Collan saw the ramp, at once his vision split. Up that path he felt the pressures of war-he smelled blood, fear, and death. He saw friends and beings he cared for die, both needless and noble deaths. He saw the weight of death and loss crushing Ch'lana but as he watched, the old man's face changed to his. And then, it too aged, becoming more like the images of his uncle's but bearing Ch'lana's weariness. Yet, something in the eyes of this older, more worn and weary Collan shone brightly. It gave hope to Collan that his heart and spirit were equal to the burden.
Laud over that vision was the Northern Desert and Demaia. A sense of peace pervaded his soul. Here was a life of contemplation, study, and healing. And sacrifice of course, but of a different more ascetic course. It too was a path he sensed he was equal to and another worthy path for him to walk.
It was a long moment for Collan, seeing both possibilities. This time though, it was clear this was a vision from the Force. It could be Demaia but he doubted it.
He looked within himself. His life had been hardship, pain, and death (each felt like a knife to his heart though he hadn't know what it meant). The trauma of his slavery had left him with unique tools and perspective. He had been able to pass through that pain. Transformed him it had, but in a way that prepared him.
Collan looked once more to the north and then at the ramp. He nodded to himself at his choice. There would be a finality to it. Steeling his mind against the pain, he went to pick up his pack. Though Ch'lana had not requested his silence, Collan gave it as he walked towards the ramp. Mostly, it was because the pain was so great he didn't trust himself to open his mouth.
[collan joins the group]