"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?"