"Well you see, the product multiplies," the Twi-lek explained a bit hesitantly.  "It's no problem.  It motivates you to sell!"

The Twi'lek's hesitency made Jaken a bit nervous.  "I repeat, what is the product?" Jaken asked again.

"The delightful pet gizka!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:03, Fri 25 June 2010.

Jaken tried to remember if he knew anything about gizka.

Jaken remembered that gizka reproduce faster than flies at a garbage heap.  They were worthless as pets, unless neutered.  If that was the case they were actually decent pets since they required little upkeep and were exceedingly friendly.

"I'm afraid sir, that passing off a trouble like unneutered gizka is rather underhanded," Jaken chided.  "Why don't you just get the ones you have neutered, and then sell them off yourself?"

And with that Jaken turned to walk away so as to get away from the conversation, immediately activating his comlink and opening a line to Marn.

"PLEASE!" the Twi-lek shouted, throwing himself on his knees and grabbing Jakens shirt. "Taking care of them has used all my money.  If you give me some more I might be able to get them neutered!"

"I'm very sorry, but I don't have the money to spare," Jaken replied, pulling his shirt away from the Twi'lek.  "I might be able to help you in the future, but I can't now."  He walked a few steps farther and waited for Marn to pick up on the other end.

"Marn, should I pick up some books, pamphlets whatever on Manaan, so we sound like we know what we're talking about on our tours?" Jaken asked over the comlink.

"Go for it, henchman," Marn said.  "With everything else all ready to go the only thing left to do was get customers while Camper and T1 work on the escape pod."
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:32, Mon 19 July 2010.

After gathering some info on the planet , Jaken tried to gather up some customers.

Jaken was able to gather together a large size of middle-income customers (the rich could afford more luxurious accommodations) for the first ride down.

Troy made a fair pilot while Marn worked as a charismatic tour guide using his hijacked information from various pamphlets.

"What's that?" one of the passengers asked, pointing to something in the distance.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:32, Mon 17 Jan 2011.

Jaken squinted his eyes, trying to make out what the passenger was pointing to.

Jaken could make out what appeared to be a rocky outcropping.  While it didn't particularly interesting, it was oddly round in structure.  Almost as though it were a dome that had been made to look like something else.

"Uh...that's a the particularly interesting Dome Rock," Marn lied.  "Continuing on..."

The rest of the day went on without incident and Jaken raked in a small pile of cash.  Not enough to recoup their losses, but enough to get them on their way there, so he rested easy that night.

* * * *

The next morning was cloudy, so less people were enjoying the outdoors and more were looking for underwater tours!

Jaken...

Jaken was able to recruit a full mornings load of customers.  Things were looking good but Jaken was getting the impression someone else was running a competitive business.

Jaken decided to poke around to see what he could find out.

Jaken couldn't put his finger on it, but he definitely got the feeling that something was going on.  But he'd spent half the day looking for what it was and Marn would get mad if he didn't get more customers...

Jaken decided he would have to wait until later to figure out what was going on.  Either until tomorrow, or until something obvious cropped up.  Meanwhile, he got back to his official job.

Jaken managed to draw in a large crowd of people to fill the subs schedule through the day.  With the sub at full capacity, Jaken was free to spend a few hours as he wished.

Jaken decided to look to the Force, since he had been having an unshakable feeling.  He found a quiet place, and calmed his mind, then reached out with the Force, to see if some Force user was behind his nagging feeling.

Jaken felt an overwhelming feeling come over him followed by images.  He saw an underwater facility.  Then people fighting.  Then people being kept in slave pens.  Then a young Gotal boy.

As Jaken came out of his trance he saw an adult Gotal standing in front of him.

"You...you're a Jedi, yes?" he asked, an anxious look on his face.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:18, Fri 29 July 2016.

Trying not to act as startled as he was, both by the dream, and the sudden appearance of the Gotal, Jaken replied timidly.  "Sort of..." then after uncurling himself from a lotus position, continued "I'm a Padawan.  Why, do you need help?"

"My son, they've taken my son!" the Gotal cried.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:47, Mon 13 June 2011.

"Please, calm down sir," Jaken urged.  "What are you talking about?  Who has taken your son, and to where?  Why do you think I can help?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:48, Mon 13 June 2011.

"You're a Jedi, right?" the Gotal said.  "Jedi are supposed to help people."

"In order to do that, I will need you to answer my other questions," Jaken said.  "Who has taken your son and to where?  And why have they taken him?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:48, Mon 13 June 2011.

"Slavers!" the Gotal hissed.  "They've owned me for years as part of their fighting cartel.  But now they've taken my son in order to keep me quiet.  I tried to expose them to the crowds so that they'd let me go, but they kidnapped my son instead."

"What slavers?  Where have they taken your son?" Jaken asked.  "Don't worry I promise we'll get him back."

"They've given him over to the Franchise entertainment firm, the same people who own me right now," the Gotal explained.  "They're using him to get me to keep quiet about their use of slaves.  I fight in the swoop-dueling ring.  Most of the spectators think we're there of our free-will.  Some do.  That's where you come in.  If you can 'trick' your way into the arena, you can bring down the whole firm!"

"Now I see why you didn't go the authorities, you didn't want your son to get hurt." Jaken said as he slowly nodded.  "How can I get myself into the games without anyone becoming suspicious?" he asked.

"Here," the Gotal shoved a datacard at Jaken.  "This will tell you everything you need to know about how and where to register.  The fights aren't publicly known, but they're not terribly secret either.  Anyone in the right circles knows how to find them.  I have to go."

The Gotal looked around, then disappeared into the crowd.

"Wait!" Jaken called out in vain.  He wished he could have asked more questions, but he would have to wait.  He stared down at the datacard.  He was going to need some help on this.  He headed back to the rest of the group, to see if they could, with the information on the card, somehow get him into this swoop-dueling ring.

"That's what the thing under the ocean was!" Marn guessed.  "Let me see that card."

"Swoop fighting?  You'll need a partner for that," Troy said, thinking.  "Perhaps your Gotal wants you to take his son on with you."

Jaken noticed that Jarael was gone.

"I don't really understand swoop fighting," Jaken admitted, his mind absent wondering where Jarael was and hoping she'd show up soon.  "Why do you need a partner?  I really wish the Gotal had stuck around so I could ask him more questions."  Before Troy could reply to his question, he suddenly asked "Where's Jarael?  Don't tell me she's been captured by Mandos again."

"Jarael's out selling tickets," Troy explained.

"But we'll need to act on this now," Marn said.  "Alright, kid, you and me will go get you registered.  Troy, you and Jarael come down as spectators later on.  We'll keep in contact."

"Wait Marn.  It sounds like Troy knows something about swoop fighting, things we need to know." Jaken paused, then turned to Troy.  "Why do you need a partner?" he repeated.  "What is swoop fighting?"

"Swoopdueling combines the thrill of Swoop racing with the excitement of a gladiatorial combat. Combatants use anything from swoop and Speeder bikes to jetpacks and winged creatures to provide aerial combat for spectators. Most events start in the central arena, but quickly move to many sub-arenas, where various environments and hazards were recreated. Combatants try to outmaneuver, outrace, or outfight their opponents. It sounds like you'll be in the Tandem Open.  So one will likely be piloting and the other fighting.  Unless your partner doesn't know how to do either one; then you'll be doing both."

"Wow, it sounds brutal!  We definitely need to shut this operation down, especially since most of the participants are slaves.  I just hope I can find the Gotal's son, and I hope he's a good pilot, because I'm not.  I can handle the fighting part." Jaken said confidently.  "Thanks for the info Troy."  Jaken gave a small nod of his head.  Then he turned to Marn.  "All right, let's go."

Marn quickly managed to finagle Jaken into being able to participate in the Tandem Open.  With only one person, however, the company wasn't too keen on him entering but Marn managed to convince them to put up a young Gotal slave.  The match was soon set up and Jaken was shown to his partner in the duel.  The Gotal child looked scared and disoriented.

The older Gotal man who'd contacted Jaken earlier slipped in from a side door.

"You came!" he said.  "This is my son.  He's been taken away from out people too young so he hasn't had time to learn and understand his energy cones.  I'd teach him myself, but..."

The Gotal reached up and pulled off one of his horns.  Jaken knew that not only was it extremely debilitating to have those removed, but it was also a sign of dishonour among the Gotal.

"The blasted slavers took both from me a while ago," he explained.  "I wear these false ones so that others won't notice."

"This cruelty must be stopped!" Ja'ken exclaimed , astonished at the barbaric nature of these slavers.

"What is your son's name?" Ja'ken asked.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:13, Sat 21 Jan 2012.

"His name is Aubin Kleej," the older Gotal said.  "And I'm Goethar."

"Aubin, do you know how to pilot a swoop or speeder bike?" Ja'ken asked the young Gotal.

The young Gotal nodded.

"They trained him at the farm," Goethar explained.  "That's where they keep the slaves they want to put into the dueling circuits.

"You're a Jedi," Goethar stated, kneeling next to Jaken.  "Is there anything you can do to teach him how to block out the signals received from his cones?"

"I could teach him some breathing techniques I've been taught to calm my mind," Ja'ken offered.

Goethar nodded his approval.

Ja'ken did an excellent job showing the young Gotal how to block out the energy readings he was being bombarded with, allowing some some sense of normalcy.  It'd take practice and he'd need to avoid large crowds for a while but he'd be alright in the mean time.

"Thank you," Goethar said, weeping and shaking Ja'ken's hand.

"It is a Jedi's duty to help," Ja'ken explained.  "But it was also my pleasure.  I think our best strategy for this match is to have Aubin pilot, while I attack.  Are there any other tips you could give us that would help Goethar?"

"No," Goethar replied.  "Not that either of you could learn in the short period of time we have."

"Very well," Ja'ken conceded.  "Then I guess there's nothing else to do but get started."

"Good, you guys get this going," Marn said.  "I'll see to some...behind the scenes details."

Marn rubbed his hands together.

"Marn, what are you planning...?" But before he could finish his sentence Marn had walked off.  Ja'ken shook his head in disgust, but seeing nothing else he could do, he mounted the speeder bike.

Aubin tenderly got on the front seat to pilot.

"Ready?" he whispered.

"As ready as I can be," Ja'ken replied, getting his lightsaber hilt out and ready.

"Then hold on."  Aubin kicked the swoop into gear and sped out into the massive arena.

OOC Acrobatics check.

OOC: 9 (skill) + 10 (roll) = 19

Ja'ken held on tight as Aubin juked and swerved through the arena, past obstacles and next to another contestant.  Now was Ja'ken's chance to attack.

Ja'ken swung his lightsaber at the other contestant.

OOC Damage, please.

OOC: 15.  Sorry, I know I should just auto roll dmg in case I hit.

The swing slashed through the leather armour and injured the other contestant but he was hardly out.  Aubin juked and zoomed across the field leaving a small opening for Jaken (-5 attack).

Ja'ken did a reverse hold swing trying to take advantage of the opening.

The swing went through air as the other rider sped out of the way.  Aubin maneuvered the bike and took off after the injured opponent, coming along side it so Jaken could attack.

OOC No penalty.

OOC: Awesome, I rolled a 1, so auto fail!

The jostling was too much for Jaken and he nearly dropped his lightsaber and the opponent got away.  One of the other riders shot at Jaken and hit him in the left shoulder (12 damage).  Aubin swooped away.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Ja'ken said, brushing away the pain.  "Let's keep going."

Aubin moved just in time as a shot came their way.  He juked and dodged around the other racers and plunged directly towards the middle of the arena giving Jaken a good shot at one of the high-end racers.

Ja'ken tried for a jousting-like stab this time.

OOC Damage.

OOC: 2d8+3 = 5 + 2 + 3 = 10.

Jaken's attack slashed his opponents arm but he was able to return the favour with Jaken taking a glancing shot to the arm.

OOC 6 dmg.

Aubin cut close behind the opponent allowing Jaken another swipe.

Ja'ken took a hard one-handed downswing at his opponent.

Ja'ken's swing sliced the engine of the swoop and the rider went flying into the pit but was still alive.  Aubin raced around the arena past where two other opponents had just finished each other off.  One more was left.

She took a shot at Aubin and missed.

Once they were close enough, Ja'ken took a swing at the bike, not wanting to permanently damage anyone here, as they were all being forced to fight.

Ja'ken's lightsaber sliced through the engine of the swoop which went spiraling off to the other side of the arena.  Aubin maneuvered his craft to stop in front of the podium where the owner of the arena was seated behind protective glass like the rest of the audience.

"Congratulations to the winner!" the owner of the arena, Jervo Thalien, said grandiosely.  "They shall be grant-"

Jervo's voice over the com was cut off and a recording began playing instead.  The recording was of Jervo discussing the acquisition and use of slaves for the fight pit.  The crowd could be seen gasping and began throwing miscellaneous items at him.

"Way to go Marn," Ja'ken whispered, assuming that this is what his friend had meant by 'seeing to some behind the scenes details.'

Aubin moved the swoop over to the parking area as Jervo tried to flee from upset fans.

"Ja'ken!" Jarael called running over to excitedly embrace him.

Aubin's father came over with a huge grin to embrace the two of them but stopped short.

"Get away from my son!" Goethar said, grabbing Aubin and pulling him away.  "You know her?!  What kind of game are you playing?  Freeing us to then get involved with someone like her?"

Goethar stormed away with Aubin.  Ja'ken turned to ask Jarael what happened but saw her gone.

Ja'ken was thoroughly confused, unsure whether to follow the Gotals or Jarael.  Finally he decided to chase after the direction he figured Jarael had gone.

OOC Roll for Perception.

OOC: 19 (roll) + 8 (skill) = 27.

Jaken caught sight of Jarael's white features with the blue tattoos, swiftly head out of the exit.

OOC Roll Perception again to see if you can maintain line of sight.

Ja'ken bolted after Jarael.  He knew it would be difficult to keep up with the athletic woman.

OOC: 3 (roll) + 8 (skill) = 11.

By the time Ja'ken reached where Jarael had been he could see her anymore but looked around desperately to find her.

OOC One last check.

OOC: 19 (roll) + 8 (skill) = 27.

Ja'ken was able to catch a glimpse of one of Jarael's blue tattoos.

OOC Endurance to see if you can catch her.

Ja'ken pushed himself as hard as he could to keep up with Jarael.

OOC: 19 (roll) + 2 (skill) = 21.

Ja'ken barely managed to catch up with Jarael before she boarded a ship to head out of the underwater facility.

"Jarael, wait," Ja'ken pleaded once he caught up to her.  "Look, something obviously happened with those Gotals back there.  I'm not sure what it was, and though I'm curious, if you don't want to talk about it, we don't have to.  But you should know that there is not much you could have done that would be bad enough to change my feel...my opinion of you," he stuttered.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:10, Fri 19 Aug 2016.

"You don't know what I've done," Jarael countered.  "I don't want to discuss this here."

She pulled her arm free and left.

"Hey!" Ja'ken turned and saw Marth pushing towards him.  "Everyone left our big victory!  All of those rich people want to see their arena hero and their brave sentient who helped expose the dark secret of the game!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:34, Sun 11 Sept 2016.

OOC Your turn.

OOC: Sorry, I don't know how I missed msg #88 for so long.  Because there are times when I don't see a new message notice, but I'll go in and check all of them just in case to make sure I'm the last one that replied.

"Yeah, sure, I guess," Ja'ken replied, not really paying attention to Marn, though he let the Snivvian direct him where to go.  He wanted to follow Jarael again, but knew it was not the right time.  Surely she would come back and find them after having some time to cool off.

After the big party was over and Marn had sufficiently showed Ja'ken off (without Aubin who was gone with his father), Ja'ken was able to head back up top and seek out Jarael.

Ja'ken wasn't sure where to start, so he just started asking around for Jarael.  Unfortunately, he wasn't having much luck.

Ja'ken, indeed, was unable to find any information about where Jarael had gone.

Frustrated, and unsure of what he should try next, Ja'ken found a public bench and sat down to ponder what he knew about Jarael, searching for anything he could remember that might give him a clue as to where she would be likely to go.

OOC Search Feelings check.

OOC: 13 (skill mod) + 17 (roll) = 30.

Ja'ken started to fill a bout of confidence.

Jaken realizes that it would be best to simply check back at their ship, in her room.

Ja'ken practically slapped himself on the head for not thinking of the obvious.  He immediately went to their ship, slowly approaching Jarael's quarters before peering in to see if she was there.

The door is shut.

Ja'ken quietly knocked on the door, hoping she would answer.

Surprisingly, she did.  Jarael looked sullen.

"What?"

"I was worried about you," Ja'ken said.  "You're obviously upset about what those Gotals said.  You said you didn't want to talk about it in public, but now it's just you and me."  Before Jarael could start, Ja'ken added.  "I know you said I don't know what you've done, and you're right.  But I'm less concerned about what you've done in your past and more concerned with who you're trying to become.  And as far as I can tell, you're trying to become someone who helps others."  Ja'ken blew a breath up to blow the part of his hair that was starting to hang down in front of his forehead.  "Okay."

"What do you know about my tattoos?" Jarael asked.

3 (mod) + 8 (roll) = 11.

Jaken vaguely remembered they had to do with slavery.

Ja'ken took the leap of logic and ventured "Do they mean you were a slave?"

"I was wasn't a slave, Ja'ken, I was a slaver."

A burdened looking Jarael then closed her door.

Ja'ken was sure that the shock on his face was visible, so he was glad that the only thing that could see his face was Jarael's closed door.  Still Ja'ken was able to find hope in the fact that Jarael had said she was a slaver.  That meant that she was no longer a slaver and no longer thought of herself as such; she had changed.  Ja'ken thought about knocking on the door again to point that out to Jarael, but wasn't sure it would be helpful.  He turned to the Force to see if it could help him decide.

Ja'ken realized that Jarael needed space after having such a shameful thing about her past revealed.

Ja'ken decided to listen to the Force and slowly walked out of the ship, his head hung low in thought.  He absentmindedly made his way to the rest of the crew.

The next morning, after resting, Ja'ken and the rest of the crew (save Jarael) met up together just outside the musty ship.

"Well we can't stay here anymore," Gryph said.  "Not after the upset we the racing circuit.  Fortunately we have somewhere else we need to go.  The Jedi who we've been running from apparently had my account frozen.  We need to go to Telerath to get it unfrozen."

"Why?  Do we not have enough money from other sources?" Ja'ken asked, though he was only half paying attention to the conversation, his mind still stuck on what Jarael had said the night before.

"I deposited it all, unfortunately," Gryph explained.  When Ja'ken still seemed distant he punched him in the arm.  "What's up, kid?"

"Huh?" Ja'ken muttered, shaking himself out of his reverie.  "Oh, nothing.  I guess as long as we've got everybody on board, let's go to Telerath."  He really didn't feel up to arguing if someone had a plan.