Following any signs of recent disturbance on the sandy ground wasn’t easy especially as it grew darker but is easier now with just the two of them. Zerrek took the bike on to the top of the ridge and from their vantage point they were able to look down on the sprawling hive that was Mos Eisley and out into the wastes opposite.

OOC Both of you make Survival and Perception checks.

Zerrek let go of the handle bars and crossed his arms as he scanned the landscape "Can't say the night is going to make this easier...tch, maybe coming here wasn't that smart after all...." He mused as he continued to try and track them.


17:09, Yesterday: Zerrek Lyell rolled 10 using 1d20+7. Survival.
17:09, Yesterday: Zerrek Lyell rolled 11 using 1d20+7. Perception.

"Hey, I said this would be a bad idea." Lyla pointed out. Both of them had been unwilling to give chase to the attackers, yet they'd still wound up doing the hard work chasing and tracking them.

She climbed off the back of the speederbike and gazed down upon Mos Eisley. It seemed less shabby and wretched under the cover of dark, leaving glittering lights and rounded buildings beneath the stars and the cool night air. "Fortunately I can see better in the dark. Now, where did they go..." She scanned across the landscape, occasionally using the scope on her rifle for a better look. One of these days, she'd buy herself a top-of-the-line pair of electrobinoculars. Maybe if they got enough money out of the water gig, or the Rebels bothered to pay her. Else it would be back to dancing...


OOC: Survival 12, Perception 19
Lyla has Low-Light Vision.

The barren landscape of the Tatooine wastes gave little away when trying to follow the trail of a landspeeder. Both Zerrek and Lyla were at a loss. Apart from knowing what direction the landspeeder originally headed they spotted no further signs. So finding a path down the ridge and the pair choose speed over attentiveness, Zerrek pushing the speederbike to full power over the stony ground. Then Lyla spotted a lone light in the distance. Bringing the speederbike to a halt Lyla checked her rifle scope.

She could see a group of men huddled together in what appeared to be an impromptu camp made of a cloth held between two poles to protect against the wind. A stationary landspeeder offering them further protection on a different side. The men are busy doing something but Lyla cannot tell what at this distance.

"I see a group camped by a speeder. Can't think why, with Mos Eisley so close." Lyla announced. She watched them a bit more, but couldn't tell much more at this range, and pointing a rifle scope at folks made them worry. "Mallox should have come along. He's got a better idea of what they look like." she said.


OOC: Perception 11

Can Lyla tell how many there are, or if any seem injured?

There are three men moving in or around the makeshift camp. They appear busy and are doing something, their activity centred around the tented off area. From this far away and with only the rifle scope as an aid there’s nothing more Lyla can discern.

"I see three. Mal said four. Could be they're treating the one he shot." Lyla surmised. It all fitted up, and she couldn't think who might be out here. "Do you want to try getting closer, quietly? We might ambush them and return the favour."

Zerrek didn't seem to want to leave his bike out by itself after they tried to rob them of the landspeeder but he nodded, turning off the engine and dismounting. "Shall we go?" He questioned as he sneaked off towards the group, he didn't really want to open fire on them if they weren't the same guys however.


20:46, Today: Zerrek Lyell rolled 19 using 1d20+9. Stealth.

"Maybe we can at least see what the frell they're about." Lyla agreed. Moving quietly and under cover of dark, she approached the camp with Zerrek.


OOC: Stealth 24

The men were intent on their own business and paid any scant attention on the encompassing desert wastes so Zerrek and Lyla were both competent enough sneaks to get closer and observe.

Closer the pair laid down on the sand were able to discern the shape of a comatose body in the lee of the shelter. The other men, all of them armed with rifles and wearing armoured helmets, were organising themselves and reviving their companion.

Lyla pressed herself into the sand, laying her tails out behind her, and watched the proceedings. "That's our attackers, alright." Lyla whispered. She didn't expect them to be armoured though; that made it harder to snipe them. She wouldn't feel right attacking them anyway, not while they were treating their injured. "Now what?"

Zerrek frowned at the look of them, it would be a tough fight if they were caught. He turned his head but his eyes stayed focused on them "Let's try and listen for any clues, if not we can always just steal something...." He whispered back, if they were being targeted at least they could find out who.

Standard: Eavesdrop.
Swift: Sense Surroundings.

17:43, Today: Zerrek Lyell rolled 28 using 1d20+8. Utf - Sense Surroundings.
17:42, Today: Zerrek Lyell rolled 25 using 1d20+7. Perception.

She nodded, not needing to answer aloud. She watched the group through her rifle scope — if they noticed the eavesdroppers, she could always shoot them then — and stayed alert for sounds carrying on the desert breeze, picking out their words.


OOC: Perception 26

The activity around the camp continues as their fallen comrade is offered what medical aid they can muster, it appears that they are well equipped with all of them carrying medipacs. They show no sign of noticing Zerrek and Lyla as they squatted in the rocky dunes. Zerrek senses no-one else hidden or nearby.

OOC: Can we hear words spoken?

OOC No you are not yet close enough to hear what they are saying, if you want to try to get closer make another Stealth check. Sorry for the delay in responding to your question been busy this week.

"I'll get closer. Cover me." Lyla whispered, determined to get some hint of the reason for attacking them and half-drowning her. Waiting for enough of the bad guys to be looking somewhere else, she rose from her concealed position, and scampered across the sands. She made for a large rock or dip in the sand to hide behind, silently cursing the stones that crunched beneath her boots


OOC: Stealth 16

Closer Lyla is able to hear snatches of conversation behind the mercenaries.

“…came out of the desert…he had lots of credits…”

“…no orders…get out of…”

The discussion between the men is all conducted as they move about so it’s hard for Lyla to follow what’s going on but they appear to have stabilised their injured companion and are ready to break camp and move away.

Well, that was no help. She guessed they were speaking about one of the guys hiring bounty hunters, who'd hired them too. She'd have to mention it to the others to find out which one.

Lyla stayed listening, but commed back to Zerrek "Looks like they're leaving. You wanna follow or let them go?" She didn't fancy their chances against this group, even in an ambush.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:14, Fri 26 Oct 2012.

Huddled on the rough and sandy ground Lyla wriggled to reach her comlink and speak to Zerrek as she did so the men continue in their busy industry. As she waited to hear if her companion wanted to continue their chase or back off she overheard one of the men refer to their employer as “…a guy with a knife where his hand used to be…”.

"Z?"

Zerrek's hushed voice came back through the comm "Yeah, let's get out of here, I think we know all we need to... Meet you back at the bike.." He whispered, before making his own move back to his SpeederBike.

What happened to covering me? Lyla wondered. She waited a few moments for Zerrek to pass and be forgotten about, then slipped quietly away back to the bike.


OOC: Stealth 21

A stealthy retreat back to the speederbike and Zerrek and Lyla are able to get away from the wastelands and the night dangers that lurk there.

Mos Eisley as usual is an equally dangerous and dark place but having friends there made it a safer place indeed.

OOC Join the others in Arno’s Next.
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:08, Thu 01 Nov 2012.