After resting for a while in the unusual surroundings of an underwater inn Pek returned to Jason, Lyla and Rynn. He led the three of them into the centre of the Sedrian city. They saw around the city were many small one-storey dwellings. Closer to the centre were platforms that floated high above the city, tethered to the city by long ropes. Atop each platform stood a lone Sedrian, a staff similar to those use on the renegade in the market in their hands and a large sea shell horn hung by their sides.

The High Priest's home was an ornate structure, tunnels connected it to nearby buildings that were equally ornate and impressive. Pek lead them to a spacious chamber. In the chamber floating nets were filled with seasoned fish, water plants and pickled crustaceans "wait here" Pek barked and went to fetch his father.

'Alright.' Lyla accepted, drifting around the chamber, before murmuring to Jason and Rynn over a closed channel. 'Waiting again. So this is what it means when the royalty have people waiting upon them.'

She swam over to the floating nets, seeing chunks of seafood. She guessed these were for guests like them to eat, but had a natural aversion to eating things found floating in water. 'You know, I don't want to start eating this stuff only to find it's the pot pourri or something....'

"I guess even underwater you end up waiting for the higher ups.."

He chuckles at Lyla mentioning she might be eating the floral arrangement.

"True enough.. Don't want to be eating the decorations or.. Who knows what.. It's always tricky to eat unknown foods. What's delicious to one species might be poisonous to others. I'd be careful"

Tera looked around quizzically, frowning as if looking for something before she shrugged, having decided to accompany the others rather than remain with the Jedi on the ship. Time would heal their wounds. "You know I could probably run a quick scan to see if it's safe to eat and might provide nutrition..." she suggested.

All the contents of the nets appears to be safe to eat, although eating it would provide tricky in the underwater breathing suits. After only a brief wait the high priest swims into the chamber. In attendance with the high priest was Pek and two other Sedrian. Pek was now carrying a staff and in addition to the golden circlet on his head he wore an ornate golden pin, engraved with a spiral coral pattern over his left breast. Beside Pek one Sedrian was unadorned in jewellery but carried a spear made from shell fish. In the other hand a long hollow tube with a handle, within the tube was crystallized coral. From what they had seen at a distance earlier, it was a device similar to this that had been used to kill or subdue the renegade. The other was similarly unadorned in jewellery and carried a great seashell horn. The Sedrian gave a welcoming fanfare on the horn whilst Pek and the other began to sing in their great booming voices.

The High Priest was the largest Sedrian that they had seen so far. He wore a heavy golden circlet on his head, inlaid with an ornate coral pattern. He settled himself atop a large rock that jutted from the stone floor. The rock was positioned to allow him a perfect view of the entire chamber. The music and singing stopped and the priest stared with old, tired eyes and stroked his whiskers most deliberately. He then gestured for the Rebels to sit upon the nearby rocks.

"I am High Priest Cardo. Strange ones I welcome you to Fitsay, what help do you seek?" High Priest Cardo asked in a booming voice.

Safe and tasty to eat or not, there was no way Lyla could cram any of the fishy snacks in her mouth without the risk of drowning anyway. What she really needed was some fresh water after the long swim here. But the matter was moot when the high priest and his retinue finally showed up, all fancy in their gold and coral adornments. She didn't miss the weapons either.

Lyla tried to assume a deferential pose for someone with no flippers, then sat on the rock and tried not to float away. What did say to an alien priest-king? He wasn't exactly as everyday as Dryon of the Dim-U. 'Your holiness, we come from a nation in the stars called the Alliance. We're enemies of the Empire, the ones you call fish-killers. They oppress our people, stamp out our ways, kill our fish too. So I think we have common cause against them. We can help each other.'

'First, two of our emissaries came to your seas not along ago. Only one, named Rekara, returned, but her mind was hurt. The other, Mors Odrion, is lost. We're looking for him. Did they come here to Fitsay, or have you heard of others like us? Do you know what might have happened to them?'

Jason isn't entirely sure how these Sedrians manage to sit on the rocks without just drifting off, and after a moment he gives up and leans against the wall again, it seems to be the best way to stay in one place underwater. At least for a human.

He keeps an eyes on the Sedrians and their weapons just in case. They don't seem to be a hostile species. But they are quite alien, it's not unthinkable that Lyla could say something perfectly normal to all of them. But highly offensive to the Sedrians. And really, he doesn't have much else to do but keep watch. He trusts in Lyla to handle the diplomacy far more than himself.

The High Priest sat comfortable, used to holding court "The fish killers. Evil swims our seas, encased in shells and armed with powerful weapons. We must wait and see what the fish killers want before deciding a course of action. If we wait, they shall drift away with the rest of the flotsam. We must not take the violent path. We must trust in the mystery of the Golden Sun and let the oceans fend for themselves" he responded to Lyla with confident calmness and belief.

"I have never heard of Mors Odrion or Rekara or ever before seen strangers like you" Cardo answered "your enemies and your friends are no concern of my people".

Tera pondered the High Priests response "With respect, High Priest, you should take a closer look at my friends and I. I think we might be holy in the same way that you are holy. There are many paths to holiness, and while we understand the desire is not to confront the fish killers....these fish killers will be here until they have killed all fish and made this world sterile. Their vision of the universe is constant and firm. Those who do not surrender and yield will be crushed. Those who do yield and surrender are subject to their every whim. There is no compromise to the fish killers,"

Jason considers what to say to this priest, and whether or not to be honest with him. In the end he decides that he should. If they want to be friends he should be honest, and it might give his words some extra weight.

"I used to fly with the Fish-killers, I guess I was one of them. I've seen what they do to alien worlds. Either they will subjugate your people and make them work for them, they will strip mine your planet of everything valuable. Or they will bombard you from the sky, until the oceans turn to vapor and everything within it is dead or destroyed"

He really hopes these people aren't about to crucify him for what he used to do, or used to be. Because that would be really unfortunate, he'd quite like to go on living. Still, it should show that he at least knows what he's talking about.

At Tera's insistence Cardo lifts a hand and waves it through the water. His eyes flicker as he recognises Tera's ability "you know the mystery" he spoke much more softly, his booming voice momentarily lost. His shook his head and regained himself, although he now kept his eyes firmly on Tera "I cannot lead my people in battle" he stated to Tera and in reply to Jason's words.

Interrupting Pek banged his spear against the rocks, muddy silt rose up and swirled around the Sedrian "these strangers deserve our help" he argued with his father.

Hearing the high priest's policy of inaction and indecision, Lyla quickly stood up off her rock – too quickly, and she started to drift up and way, before she frantically paddled back into place. 'That's a good policy, wise one,' she began, figuring a little flattery couldn't hurt, nor could the anger that followed. 'I know you have to keep your people safe, and go with the flow. But the leaders of my world tried to do the same with the fish-killers. Now all their lands and wealth are stolen, their sons and daughters are mere servants to Imperial governors, and the common folk are slaves in the spice mines, worked to death. Would you see your gold and coral stolen, your people in chains on the surface, and your son Pek serving drinks and fish for some Imperial Moff, living here in your own palace?' These fat lords and priests didn't have to care much about the plight of ordinary people, but if she could make it personal, then he would have to do something.

Lyla went on with fresh urging. 'Holiness, the fish-killers will not tell you what they want. They will come and they will take it. They are doing that now. But we know what they want. Our spies have heard the fish-killers talk of the Golden Sun, that they plan to use it as a weapon against other worlds. Is that what the Golden Sun is for? You cannot trust in the mystery of the Golden Sun if the fish-killers have stolen it away beyond the stars.'


OOC: I'm not sure if a roll was required. Hopefully our words are enough, because my Persuasion skill is not. Persuasion 11. Some cooperation bonuses wouldn't go astray?
10:46, Today: Lyla Rahn rolled 8 using 1d20+3. persuasion.
10:48, Today: Lyla Rahn rolled 3 using 1d6. force point.

"Lyla's right, they won't give up if they think the golden sun is a weapon. Not only will they want it for themselves, but they simply won't want you to have it.. They don't like it when anyone else is a threat"

Jason does his best to help Lyla convince these Sedrians, but he's not sure he's making a whole lot of headway.


20:05, Today: Jason Starflare rolled 7 using 1d20+1.  Persuasion. (Aid another)

"Your own son had been attacked by the fish-killers. The last time you had seen him would have been the last time had we not arrived when we did to defeat them." He pleaded with the priest. "All we are trying to do is to stop them from causing more damage than they already have."



01:15, Today: Rynn Culmar rolled 17 using 1d20+2.  Persuasion (aid another).

"Your words sadden me, you tell me that the next wave with bring bloodshed" Cardo pondered the dilemma "you speak of the Golden Sun. Of these things I will not speak. Suffice to know I am the caretaker, the high priest, of Fitsay. The mysteries are for our people only and not for strangers" the priest reasserted. He then nodded to his son and followers. The Sedrians stood "I will retire and consider your news" Cardo said his farewells and he left with his guard.
This message was last updated by the player at 20:31, Mon 21 Dec 2015.

Pek remained and thanked the Rebels for their aid "stay, you are welcome here now my father has seen you" he then lowered his voice from its usual booming "my father has forbidden me from taking you to the fish-killers floating shell, but I must do what is right. In the morning I can take you to find your friend" the Sedrian promised.

'We've got no interest in the Golden Sun. We only want that the fish-killers don't get their hands on it. We respect your faith.' Lyla was saying reassuringly to Cardo, spreading her empty hands in a placating gesture. Then again, she was deeply curious to find out what this Golden Sun actually was, if it was responsible for bringing down the ship, and if it would let them take off again. She figured that they would probably find out at some point in this investigation, so she had to get her apologies and promises in early.

But then Cardo left, leaving Lyla wondering if he would continue to dither, or ultimately decide to do nothing anyway. Well, he had sent Pek to spy on the Imperials, so he had to have proactive bones in his body.

She was surprised at Pek's next works. 'Wait, you mean you know where he is? They'd said they didn't know earlier.

"Also, I hope you won't take offense if we will sleep on board our own ship instead of your inn. I'm not sure I could sleep underwater.."

Pek might not be willing to bring them to the Imperial base but perhaps they can use the sensors to locate it themselves. It's worth a shot at least. And it will give Jason some time to check out that seatrooper armor they managed to get.

"Will it be just you when you take us there?"

If it's indeed just Pek, Jason should be able to wear the Seatrooper armor and explain things to the prince. It's a lot easier to explain he's not a fish killer to one sedri, than to all.

"I do not know if the fish-killers have taken your friend but you say they are enemies of yours" Pek answered Lyla.

"You may sleep in your shell, you are welcome to explore our city. Is there anything else you need?" Pek offered gratefully to Jason "yes I will have to go alone my father must not know that I go".

Lyla nodded at Pek's idea. 'Of course. They might've kidnapped him.' She reflected on the irony of going from escaping from an Imperial prison to trying to break someone else out of an Imperial prison. This could be their job from now on.

'Thank you. Do you mind if we bring out our other people? They might like to see your city too.' And maybe something would stir a memory in Rekara.

'Why does your father forbid going to the fish-killer's, uh, shell? Sorry, we don't wish to offend him or get you into trouble with your father either.'

"After the attack on me earlier my father is worried that I will get hurt if I return to those waters again"

"Yes bring your friends out to see Fitsay" Pek agreed and lead the Rebels outside again.