20031209

3.3.4787 Republic Reckoning

It's early morning, 3 hours before dawn, and we've just been informed by Nakael that his Master is delayed. Without a certain destination, we gather about a small campfire while discussing our next plan of action. Marosia and Arvandus seem concerned about our lack of supplies. Arvandus is especially affected by the absence of coffee. Quindo: Breakfast... coffee... A Jedi craves not these things!

Most of the group decides to get a few hours of sleep, with plans to move to more hospitable climates (Off the mountain) at one hour after dawn. Quindo spends the next 4 hours in Emptiness (which grants a corresponding 4 hour bonus to all Force skills), just in case. Dabai keeps watch.

Shortly after dawn, Dabai notices some smoke in the distance, probably a campfire. Dabai wakes everyone except Quindo. Marosia points out that a fire is highly unlikely to be droids, and people will undoubtedly have information for us. Noticing that Quindo is still in Emptiness and will be for another half hour or so, Marosia sends the rest of the group ahead to scout, waiting to catch up with Quindo later.

Everyone joins up quickly, rendezvousing near the unknown campsite about an hour later. Dabai has already snuck up close to reconnoiter. The camp is occupied by 3 Nikto and a Vhodran, heavily armed, discussing something about a vision quest. The decision is made to approach openly and get as much info possible in a friendly context. If things go badly, we can capture the small group and question them closely. Not wanting to frighten them, Elbram and Quindo walk boldly up to the group "unarmed", while Bro'jen keeps an eye on Nakael, and everyone else moves quietly into flanking positions.

Hearing our approach, all but one Nikto dissapear into the trees. The remaining alien menaces us with his assault rifle and demands to know which sector we belong to. Elbram, being direct, indicates that we crash-landed on Holgam a few days ago and are seeking supplies and information. He asks why they are so heavily armed and is told that the woods are very dangerous (an obvious lie). We discover that the group are great warriors, being honored by their new gods (the Sith) by being allowed to visit the sacred mountain. The area we are in is a "refuge" and is forbidden to anyone that has not been directly summoned by these gods. They have fought alongside the Sith Attack Droids, but believe them to be War Demons sent by the gods to liberate them from their oppressors (the Hutts).

When the alien asks if there are more of us, Elbram doesn't even bother to lie, stating that we were wary of them and wanted to be sure before we all approached. The Nikto insists that everyone come forward and Elbram waves them in. Arvandus, Marosia, and Torryn all stand up and join us in the clearing. Altair, Bro'jen, Nakael, and Dabai remain hidden. We insist that the Nikto's companions join us also. He claims that he was alone, but he's a poor liar, especially since we'd already seen the other three. He finally agrees and summons the other warriors.

While we all sit quietly in the clearing trying to pump the heavily armed and uneasy group for information, the leader calls in our position on his field radio and asks for an escort out of the area. He says it will be awhile before they arrive. In the meantime, we bicker.

They tell us about their gods and the War Demons, and we inadvertently reveal that we've dealt with them in the past. The leader makes another call on his radio. Quindo surreptitiously suggests to Arvandus that he quietly disable the radio. Arvandus agrees and then causes the thing to explode. One of them noticed his small gesture along with the self-destructing radio and begins yelling that he's a witch. All 4 point their weapons at Arvandus and everyone tenses.

The standoff lasts for a few seconds, with the leader Nikto screaming at Arvandus, before the Jedi rises to his feet with lightsaber at the ready. Arvandus tries to over-awe the group, using some kind of Jedi mind trick. Two of his opponents flee, but one immediately begins spraying the area with his assault rifle. Arvandus dodges behind Marosia, who deftly wards off a hail of bullets.

Torryn shows some backbone and quickly snaps out his saber and cuts the last enemy's rifle in half. Altair intercepts and disarms the two that ran away. We strip the warriors of their gear, keeping the grenades and rations for ourselves. They were expecting company, so we tie their arms and march them away from the camp site. On the way we ask many more questions, but they just ramble on about how their God will destroy us. Quindo wants to know where we can find this god, so that we can go meet him, and he can "get on with destroying us".

We finally let all 4 go, letting them believe that we are headed to the highest mountain peak to meet their God. Instead, at Marosia's insistence, we head for the lowlands, hoping to find more supplies and information.

Some time after we leave the trees for open plains, we notice that there is a battle taking place in space above the planet. Dabai uses his military comm unit to try to determine who is fighting and why. We figure that one side is Hutt, and the other side is probably not the Republic. Dabai decides to find out who the opposing side is by contacting them. Arvandus helps with comm encryption.

Dabai: "Hello, this is a civilian transport that crashed. Who's up there? Can you help us?" Reply: "Greetings. Please put Nakael Enati on, and ensure our privacy. Quindo: "Laut, is that you? This is Quindo. What do you want with Nakael?" Reply: "Let me speak with Prophet Enati privately, or I will terminate this channel." Quindo: "No can do. Anything you want to tell him will go through me, or he won't get the message at all." Reply: *kshhhhhhh* Quindo: "Damnit" Dabai: "They probably just got a good fix on our position. Let's clear out!"

We head back toward the treeline, but within the half hour an assault shuttle lands directly ahead of us. The ramp descends and a man exits.

Man: "Where is Master Enati? This ship has been placed at his disposal."