Zeic keeps a casual eye and ear on the conversation.  The weapons seem interesting but he doesn't want to cause any more distrust than was naturally there upon meeting a new race he just leans back a bit and allows Forim to handle the negotiating at this point.

"It senses all life forms, but it can be hard to see the smaller ones at first. Without practice, most of the details are invisible. It has taken me some time to get used to it."

"Our weapons? No. They are the craft of our tribes. The Geik language has no words for the process, but... can you imagine bones being grown in tubs? They are alive, until they are ready to be harvested. Then we dry them out and use them. This description is crude, and I am no..." he waves in irritation. "Flesh-crafter," he settles on.

Forim nods and says "I have heard of a similar process among my people.  We call such people Biologists.  I am sure they would love to talk to you about it in detail but myself I am not as interested in the how.  I am a Pilot, a person who flies the large metal things in the sky."

The master warden nods and listens to which you have to say, but declines to ask any further questions.
An hour passes, and you feel a little bit more relaxed.  Without preamble,Lum stands up and faces you.  "The time has come.  Just as choosing to accept that the test is part of the test, choosing a suitable test is the next.  What tests will you face that proves you are worthy of seeing the tree?"

Forim drifts off to sleep, almost mid conversation as exhaustion finally takes hold.

He awakes with a start, rolling to the side and drawing his blaster in one smooth motion as he searches for threats.  The constant running from imperials has affected his reflexes.

It takes a moment, but Forim recovers and apologizes.

In answer to the question Forim says "We have been through quite an ordeal to get here, and in the process we have tried to protect innocents from the imperials at the threat of our own lives.  Would that count?" hopefully.

Lum sits through this question. "So your test is already completed? This is what you offer?"

Forim looks at Lum and says "What are we supposed to be testing?  Strength of mind, Strength of Body, Strength of Spirit?"

Lum sits quietly, watching you with his large eyes. He holds his hand in his other hand, glancing at the other hunters in his team.

"I am the Master Warden of the Aki-Varshi," he says at last. "It is for me to decide who is worthy to visit the Tree of Knowledge. All others are sent away. Or killed, if they refuse to leave peacefully. Perhaps you would like to hear about the test that the last group of outsiders took? Or perhaps the test the scholars of the Republic chose, when they came many years ago?"

Lum stands up and raises a fist. "Seven seasons ago, some 'humans' came from the south into our lands. They were desperate, fleeing from the place that had confined them. At first we simply let them wander, but then they got too close to the tree and we had to challenge them.  They expressed interest in seeing the tree, although I do not believe they knew what it was.  Their leader chose a fight.  I believe he thought himself clever for concealing a knife until he needed it.  He should have been watching to see if I was concealing one as well.  He failed his tests.  The rest of his party did not accept this, and chose to try to overpower us.  Their bones are buried around here somewhere.

The people from the Republic who considered themselves scholars chose a contest of numbers.  They demonstrated their calculation skill and the warden of the day decided to allow them access.  The history suggests that he found them harmless, and believed that the tree itself would be a better test for them."

Xyklo leant forwards "I...  I don't want to kill anyone here. You're not the Empire. You're not trying to hurt me or my friends...  I hope.

But I'm not a scholar, or philosopher, or artist.
I'm probably not much good at any of that.
I'm here to protect my team and now half of them have died or run off.

So I guess if it's all the same to you, if I'm going to be tested, I'd rather Forim or you, or even the tree, chooses how."

Forim looks to the others before offering his own suggestion.

Forim looks to Lum and says "We choose a test of aid.  What I am trying to say is  that we would prove our worth by helping someone or something in need."

Lum is silent for awhile. He speaks to his hunters in their own language for a moment. They respond, and a brief discussion is had.

Two of the Aki-Varshi stand and leave the campground. A moment later Lum and all the others stand up.

"This is not a good place for camping for the night. Come with us and we will bring you to one of our own camps."

The Aki-Varshi lead you through the forest for awhile, eventually leading to a rocky hill. After climbing through the rocks, you find that the hill is a concealed hollow. Some of the hunters begin dragging fine mesh nets across the hollow. There are flat rocks lined with odd cloth which they invite you to sleep on. The rocks are not terribly soft, but they are dry. The hunters hang  more netting over you, possibly to keep out insects.

"We will go to the mountain tomorrow," Says Lum. "You will face your test there."

Anders had been silent for most the day. The last fight had taken a lot out of him and he was glad of some peace when the chance come to get some rest he took it. Any questions he had were answered so he followed the hunters to their village in silence and again took the chance for some rest when it was offered.

-

Zeic for the time being is content to be quiet and follow along.  These folks seemed reasonable enough so far and had a code of honor. "At least we are safe apparently for now.  Hopefully we can make an ally tomorrow after whatever test they throw at us."   With that he looks for an open comfortable spot to lie down.

Before the light of dawn reaches through the trees and stones, the Aki-Varshi wake you up. "Time to move," one says in Geik.

You eat a few bites of the offered fruit and some of your rations. The Aki-Varshi give you back your weapons, and you spend a few minutes checking them. Then it's time to go.

You note that the hunters sent out before have not yet returned. Lum leads the way.

A short time later, you leave the forest and enter the open fields. In the distance, the mountain range is visible. At the peak of the nearest, largest one is the gleaming pyramid you saw from space.

Lum points at it. "We go to that mountain. Stay close."

The Aki-Varshi set the pace, and you struggle to keep up. They seem to take one step for every two of yours. They speak very little, offering the occasional bit of guidance or offering you some water.

You reach the border of a marshy area. The reeds and grass grow tall here, in water coming up to your knees. The Aki-Varshi seem to know paths through the water. They lead you a half-klick into the fens, and Lum calls a break.

The Aki-Varshi create a perimeter, allowing you to catch your breath and get a bite to eat. Then there is a loud rustling and the sounds of incautious footsteps through the marsh.

Two of the Aki-Varshi, the ones dispatched last night, enter the clearing. They are forced-marching a human male. He has white skin, close-cut brown hair, and has some bruising on his face. He is wearing a black bodyglove and some pieces of white Stormtrooper armour. His hands are bound behind his back. His expression is mixed fatigue and fury. The hunters bring him into the centre of the clearing, the driest part, and force him to his knees.

Lum gestures towards the man. "This is one of your enemies, correct? He will be your test. You will give him aid when he is in need." Lum says something in his language. One of the hunters draws an arrow to her bow and lets to fly. The arrow sticks into the Stormtroopers' abdomen with a thump. His expression changes from anger to shock.

Almost without thinking Forim pulls out his blaster and points it at the one who shot the stormtrooper.  Flicking it to stun he says "Put the weapon down." as he stares un-flinching into its eyes, even as he breaths heavily from their hike.

If any others move he says "Weapons down.  You do NOT shoot prisoners.  Torture is NOT ok for some test.  If any more of this test has beings tortured, then we withdraw from the test."

The hunter lowers her bow and crouches down. If she's intimidated by the Blaster, it doesn't show.

Lum spreads his hands. "If you choose to Forfeit the test, that is your option. If you wish to take the test, I suggest you begin now."

The hunters stand idly, watching to see what you will do.

Zeic springs to action and trys to treat the arrow wound. "I will see what I can do."

<ooc I have 1 rank in medicine so my check would be 2A1P.  Should I make a roll and what would be the difficulty if so?>

Zeic quickly triages the wounded Stormtrooper and concludes that he is wound is critical, but he has at least a little while before he dies. He probably has internal bleeding, and some of his abdominal organs may be ruptured. In the best case scenario, he needs emergency surgery. In this environment, the best he can hope for is a Quick Stitch job and some infection preventing drugs.

Zeic is in the process of cutting away the Stormtroopers Body Glove when the trooper begins batting at him. Go back to the Imperial Soldier, even in his weakened state, is trying to fight off the alien touching him.

difficulty is 2C, with an additional 1d if you can't get him under control.

Xyklo has first a reaction of loathing at the sight of the trooper, another thug, bully...   murderer.

But he is still unarmed and no threat, when the hunter shoots him, the Verpine is torn inside.

You can't...  you can't shoot prisoners like that...  otherwise you're just as bad as they are! Runs through his head.
As Zeic takes charge of saving the storm trooper, and Xyklo notices the struggle, he steps up.
"I got this Zeic,"

 Toggling his trusty APC to stun, he fires off at short range, staying the prisoners flailing in a flash of blue light.
Lastly he turns to scowl at the hunter. He didn't really understand the subtleties of this test, but shooting unarmed people just straight pissed the insectoid off.

OOC: Today: Xyklo Voozul rolled 5 successes, 1 advantage, 1 triumph using the Star Wars Edge of the Empire with a dice pool of 4P 1D 1S.  True aimed stun shot.
2 strain.
12 stun damage, spending Triumph to stun him without aggravating the arrow wound.

Zeic is frustrated at the seriousness of the would as he is not able to patch things up initially.  He quickly glares at the hunter who's arrow pierced the trooper.  I don't think it's our morality that is in question here.  Do you think yourselves gods?  It's ok for you to waste a life for your test but now it's up to us to prove ourselves in saving him."  Looking at the rest of the group he says, "I can keep trying of course but we could also consider trying to move him to where he will be found.  I am not sure how far we would have to take him so he might not survive that anyway.  Maybe we could leave a beacon or something here so they find him but then we would have to leave right away."  Zeic turns back to tending to the trooper while the others consider the options.

Anders pulls something from one of his pouches, "I've got this if it helps." In his hand is his last stim pack. He had no medical training so stayed out of the way of those that did.

-

Lum tilts his head slightly, and purses his mouth.

"Your morality is definitely on trial here. You were the ones who called for a test of aid."

"You brought your war and destruction to our lands. Other Wardens would have slain you without question. You come uninvited to see our sacred tree. Should we not test those who seek to visit it?"

One of the Aki-Varshi says something in his language. Lum glances at him and shakes his head, then gives a brief response.

"So the answer is yes."  Zeic continues on with his attempts to save the trooper.

Forim says "Save him if you can, Xyklo you assist"

ooc: Roll with a boost.

ooc I already rolled once...do I get another roll and what difficulty?