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Starfall - Episode One:  Blind Man's Bluff.

Posted by That Old FossilFor group 0
That Old Fossil
GM, 353 posts
More Machine than Man
Twisted and Evil
Wed 2 May 2018
at 06:02
  • msg #1

Starfall - Episode One:  Blind Man's Bluff

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far
away...



A group of Rebel agents
has been assigned to accompany
the great engineer Walex Blissex,
designer of the Victory-class Star Destroyer,
to Kwenn space station. Blissex, now a respected
member of the Alliance, received a message from his
son-in-law, Imperial Governor Denn Wessex, claiming that
the engineer’s daughter is near death. Even though it appeared
to be a trap, Blissex could not pass up this last chance to reconcile
with his daughter.


Whether Lira Wessex,who designed the Imperial-class
Star Destroyer based upon her father’s previous work,
is truly dying or not seems inconsequential. Upon reaching
Kwenn, Walex and his Rebel escorts were captured and placed
in the custody of Captain Kolaff, commander of the VSD Subjugator.


Now, trapped within the detention block of the powerful ship,
the Rebels have little hope of escape. They can only wait for the eventual return
of their captors and the terrible interrogator Droid that is sure to accompany them...

That Old Fossil
GM, 354 posts
More Machine than Man
Twisted and Evil
Wed 2 May 2018
at 06:09
  • msg #2

Starfall - Episode One:  Blind Man's Bluff

The living world Ember was beautiful in Its spring.  Jedi Master Eli Sundancer smiled and addressed the souls marvelling at the otherworldly paradise.

He smiled to Dakert, newer to Ember than most, then to the others, and finally to Thuraya.  To all of them, he said, "Cherish the good in this Universe, even in the darkest of times."

"Remember, the Force is with you, always..."

And the world faded into darkness and silence...
That Old Fossil
GM, 355 posts
More Machine than Man
Twisted and Evil
Wed 2 May 2018
at 06:52
  • msg #3

Starfall - Episode One:  Blind Man's Bluff

TwoOneBee and DeeJay stood in the advanced laboratory.  There were several technicians looking at them with curiosity.  But one man approached them, his authority and skill reflected in the respectful gazes of the others.

"I am Issan Len.  It is my distinct honor and privilege to be working with you both."  Before the droid's could fully process being addressed as a peer by the living, there was a sudden discontinuity.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:24, Thu 03 May 2018.
That Old Fossil
GM, 356 posts
More Machine than Man
Twisted and Evil
Thu 3 May 2018
at 04:28
  • msg #4

Starfall - Episode One:  Blind Man's Bluff

Dakert stood before the briefing officers.  "The Rebellion needs the best agent for this mission,  I'm glad you were available."
That Old Fossil
GM, 357 posts
More Machine than Man
Twisted and Evil
Thu 3 May 2018
at 05:10
  • msg #5

Starfall - Episode One:  Blind Man's Bluff

The music and sights of the Tibanna Sunrise had faded away to the natural beauty and life of Ember.  Ali was about to demand an answer of Sundancer.  The old Jedi Master would know what was going on as well as anybody.  But Ember had itself faded away as quickly as Cloud City had...

She woke to someone shaking her shoulder.  It was Thuraya, looking at her Twi'lek companion with a calm intensity.  "Thuraya, what..?"  But the young human girl touched her fingers to Ali's lips in a warning for silence.  Instead, Thuraya pointed around the small chamber they were in indicating that Ali should be seeing and not heard.

Ali knew slave quarters and an Imperial prison cell when she was in one, this was the latter.  She could hear the distant hum and feel, through the deckplates, the throb of mighty starship engines.  Her friends, they were not just comrades anymore, were present and unconscious around her, save for Thuraya and the deactivated droids.  Old Sundancer was not present.  The living were dressed in rugged civilian clothes, the kind the Rebellion supplied for easy missions that could turn otherwise.  Ali quickly checked her clothing for equipment but there was none.  Her captors were at least that competent.

"I was in Cloud City, then Ember, now here...? I was going to ask Old Eli...  Where is he?"
"I don't remember.  Our memories have been played with, I think.  My master could do that, among others."
"Why?"
"What we can't remember, we can't reveal." It was hard for Ali to remember that Thuraya had been an ordinary teenage girl not so long ago in the face of her cold remoteness now.
"You've noticed we have been kept together, unlike most prisoners."
"So we might talk?!" Ali said, now whispering in comprehension, looking around for the recording devices no doubt in the walls.
Thuraya nodded.
"Wake and activate the others and warn them not to speak unguardedly..."  Ali finished.
That Old Fossil
GM, 358 posts
More Machine than Man
Twisted and Evil
Thu 3 May 2018
at 05:44
  • msg #6

Starfall - Episode One:  Blind Man's Bluff

OOC:  Welcome to Starfall!

After a more careful inspection of the adventures offered at D6 Holocron, I have chosen to run Starfall for reasons I will discuss in the Cantina thread.

Starfall starts with the characters being captured after falling into a trap.  This is how Star Wars movies begin, in media res.  Your character's memory (organic or inorganic) has been altered or surpressed.  This may have not been a hostile event.  Rebel agents have had their memory edited when capture might be an option and the means have been available.

I also had to remove Sundancer from most of the adventure for the same reason Gandalf would often wander off in Middle-Earth, to let everyone else matter.

Here is what your characters remember (although the order might be hard to place):

Most of the characters finished their initial visit to Cloud City and may have gone on to their various leave destinations.

They were summoned back by Rebel Command for an impromptu mission, where they met their newest team member, Dakert.

Their mission was to reunite Walex Blissex, a valued scientist of the Rebellion, with his estranged daughter, Lira Blissex, a brilliant scientist in her own right with suspected Imperial sympathies.

Rebel Command rightfully suspected a trap but the elder Blissex was not to be discouraged.
A meeting was arranged on board the Subjugator, docked at Kwenn Space Station.

Captain Kolaff of the Subjugator sprung the trap (which only really surprised Walex) as soon as the characters were aboard the Subjugator.  Everything faded away in the haze of stun bolts.  Sundancer was with you as the battle began but is not present in the cell with you now.

All living PCs and NPCs but Dakert remember your previous adventure on Ember and then Cloud City.

TwoOneBee and DeeJay remember meeting Issan Len

Dakert alone remembers his individual briefing at Echo Base on Hoth.

If you as a player are having a little trouble understanding what has happened, end your IC post with your character trying to recall.

Questions (I know there will be some), just ask...


This message was last edited by the GM at 05:44, Fri 04 May 2018.
That Old Fossil
GM, 359 posts
More Machine than Man
Twisted and Evil
Fri 4 May 2018
at 05:47
  • msg #7

Starfall - Episode One:  Blind Man's Bluff

Ali did a quick head count, "Walix Blissex isn't here."  Thuraya nodded.  Together, they woke or activated the others and explained the terrible predicament they were in...

OOC:  OK, now you can respond. :-)  Sorry it took so long...
TwoOneBee
player, 136 posts
Medical Specialist Droid
Rebel to the core
Wed 9 May 2018
at 02:11
  • msg #8

Starfall - Episode One:  Blind Man's Bluff

As TwoOneBee's cerebral cortex is comes back online, powerful data processors immediately begin to retrieve and reconstruct his most recent memories.  Unfortunately it becomes almost immediately clear to the old droid that his memory core has been altered in some way.  He has no method by which to validate precisely how much data has been tampered with, what the purpose for its removal was, or by whom it was done.

Firstly, he recollects being on Ember, but not when they left or any of their conversations while on the Living Planet.  He does find the data supporting their misadventure while on the Gas Giant Bespin.

Thereafter he has memories of being in a robotics lab with Deejay and a man who introduced himself as Issan Len...but he has no data to explain why they were there or what transpired.

He then recalls the Rebels assigning them to escort the engineer, Mr Blissex, to meet his ailing daughter.  He vaguely remembers objecting to the mission due to the high probability of the situation being an Imperial deception.  And he distinctly remembers the blaster bolt that overloaded his circuits and forced his network to deactivate.

He begins to ask the most logical question at this point.

"Where..," but finds his vocalizer covered by Thuraya's palm and her other hand making the universal gesture for silence.  Though he is definitely confused, the droid wisely complies.  He instead takes the moment to scan the surrounding environment and his companions.  What he discovers does not alleviate his growing anxiety.

They were prisoners of the Empire, and the old Jedi Master Eli, as well as their charge, Wallix Blissex, were nowhere within the vicinity.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:26, Wed 09 May 2018.
Shira
player, 181 posts
Ghostling
Fri 11 May 2018
at 00:15
  • msg #9

Starfall - Episode One:  Blind Man's Bluff

Shira opened her eyes. She was lying on the ground in a cell, and for a moment, she thought she was back imprisoned by the slavers. But that couldn't be. For one, they had made her wear some kind of metallic dancer's outfit and an awful collar that had left her neck all bruised, and she was wearing her favorite silver jumpsuit and boots. The situation must have been serious, because Shira hated wearing boots. For two, they'd padded most of the cell because Ghostlings were fragile. For three, Celes has rescued her, and consequently the slavers were in jail or dead.
"My brain's kind of fuzzy. Is this my first hangover?" Shira asked. She rose unsteadily to her feet. "The gravity's awful, so this could be, unfortunately, nearly anywhere."
Celes Varik
player, 209 posts
Trandoshan Bounty Hunter
Wait...Human?
Mon 14 May 2018
at 04:22
  • msg #10

Starfall - Episode One:  Blind Man's Bluff

As Celes began to stir, one hand moved to push her up to a sit and the other went for her blaster. The sudden shock of her hand grasping nothing snapped her to full consciousness immediately, and she quickly scanned the room, speaking quietly. Well, moreso than usual.

"Shira? You alright?" Another look let her know her team was both present and apparently safe. The bounty hunter calmed down from alarm to simple alertness, and moved to double-check Shira's physical safety. Even a single bruise on her could be potentially lethal, and Celes was one for caution when it came to the ghostling.

"Captain. Who has us?" After being filled in, she stayed quiet and started looking around their prison cell. The more the team learned about their situation, the better.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:19, Tue 22 May 2018.
That Old Fossil
GM, 363 posts
More Machine than Man
Twisted and Evil
Mon 14 May 2018
at 05:46
  • msg #11

Starfall - Episode One:  Blind Man's Bluff

One by one, all of the remaining sleepers were awakened and the two droids powered back up.

"I know, I know.  We are still working it out ourselves."  Ali said regarding the many questions and grumbles the newly aware were offering.  Listening the various queries, it seemed not everyone had remembered the tiny amount she had.

"Yes, we were on Cloud City.  And we were leaving...?" Ali strained to remember...

...Leaving the Tibanna Sunrise, the companions had moved towards their various landing pads.  At the last common hallway, a young human woman approached and asked if the group was could use some workers for the 'Blue Harvest'.  Sign.  The team gave the coutersign.  And then confirmed the presence of a fellow Rebel with about five more signs and countersigns, trivia about the Hoth cafeteria and Sundancer's assurance that he had a good feeling about the girl.

"Sorry, Rebels'" she said, "Your leave has been cancelled..."


The young Twi'lek tried to recall more but there was no more memories for the moment.  Her lekku actually twitched which some might have though frustration but DeeJay recognized as a torrent of profanity coarse enough to almost shut the protocol droid again.

"Fine." Ali spat, "Let's deal with the present situation." She wanted to answer Celes' question.  "We are in an Imperial prison cell.  No one else has such poor aesthetics.  We need to get out of here and then worry about why and when afterwards."  She then leaned forward to whisper, "We are together, likely so we will talk, which means we are monitored.  So let us 'merchants' be careful not to reveal any 'trade secrets', eh?"

DeeJay said, "Who is our new companion?"  She indicated the Barabel stranger.  "I don't know, possibly an Imperial plant." Ali finished, not caring whether or not this new person heard her.

"I think we can trust our new friend. I have a good feeling about this."
Thuraya said with a serene certainty that startled back the sarcastic reply Ali had been working on.

DeeJay sent a highly compressed datastorm to TwoOneBee confirming their meeting with the mysterious Issan Len.  "I think our memory has been tampered with, dear friend, and our capabilities.  You shouldn't be able to understand this particular code and I shouldn't be able to know that you can."

Thuraya helped Shira to her feet.  "Lean on me if you have to, little girl." The tone was an affectionate one but the two women were very close to the same age...

OOC:
OK, we are underway and I am now responding to player posts.

All player characters and NPCs (save Dakert) will remember what is in Ali's lavender flashback as pretty much the immediate aftermath of your encounter at the Tibanna Sunrise on Cloud City.  You can turn the thin player description of your mission as character memory.  You can add to Ali's flashback above if you wish.

If you are understandably confused by this very non-standard introduction, then just play your character as suddenly finding themselves in an Imperial prison cell when they were on Cloud City just a moment ago.  We will work things out.

If that still doesn't work for you, don't post for a bit, I understand.  Watch how me and the other characters work things out and (hopefully) make things clearer.

Dakert will have a personal flashback after their first post that will help tie things together.

The Imperial prison cell is recognizable to the Rebels as Imperial and on a ship (the slight concessions of shipboard architecture and the thrum of engines).  The cell is basically a steel safe with flat slabs for beds, light panel strips, and a recessable panel that acts as a fresher which, mercifully, none of you have had the need of yet.  There is a steel shut door which is your way out.  It currently doesn't seem like there is a way to easily escape.

But the next post will end in action which is something I realize this game has lacked.

Questions, just ask...



Grev Longtooth
player, 98 posts
Mon 14 May 2018
at 10:16
  • msg #12

Starfall - Episode One:  Blind Man's Bluff

Grev rises groggily, but swiftly becomes alert.  Whatever was used to capture them, more had been used on the massive Yuzzem.  Memories creep back, as slinking dogs, missing some of their number.  He soon begins stalking the room, searching it and conscidering what can be used effectively to escape.  His eyes dart over the team, taking in Ali's words.  They linger most on Ali, Celes, and Shira, assessing their state.
   He does not speak yet though, his mind working in silence as he formulates a plan.


06:14, Today: Grev Longtooth rolled 9 using 2 dice with the WEG Classic system with rolls of 5,{Wild}4.  Space Transport Repair.

06:14, Today: Grev Longtooth rolled 9 (15 excluding the wild die) using 4 dice and +1 pips with the WEG Classic system with rolls of {Wild}1,4,6,4.  Search.
 In addition to seeing what viabke options they have for escape and getting a solud idea of the layout of the cell, he is examing the beds and other items to see if he can tear them off and use them for weapons or cover.

Celes Varik
player, 211 posts
Trandoshan Bounty Hunter
Wait...Human?
Tue 22 May 2018
at 05:24
  • msg #13

Starfall - Episode One:  Blind Man's Bluff

Celes nodded to Ali, then turned her eyes to watch Thuraya help up Shira. A twinge of overprotectiveness was identified and stifled, trusting the young Padawan with the ghostling. Instead, she turned to watch Grev pace, mostly keeping her eyes on his feet and the floor, also looking for any movement with his footfalls. Loose bed racks, floor panels, ventilation, anything like that. Afterward, she went to the door and looked it over, not just the makeup of the door itself but also the ways it might swing open, the force it might carry if it were swung into someone, and any blind spots it would leave. Then she looked for cameras. Expectations of talking meant audio recorders, but didn't necessarily imply video.

[Any rolls I need to make, boss?]
That Old Fossil
GM, 365 posts
More Machine than Man
Twisted and Evil
Wed 23 May 2018
at 03:10
  • msg #14

Starfall - Episode One:  Blind Man's Bluff

Grev's keen mind and unfortunate personal experience told him that, yes, this was an Imperial prison cell.  It was designed to the usual Imperial standards, a bland sufficiency that would suffice to keep their prisoners contained.  There was nothing that could be broken off from the seamless metal construction.  The usual Rebel strategy of turning even the smallest bit of advantage would usually overcome the mediocre Imperial precautions.  But the team needed an edge to exploit, even a tiny one.  And soon, it wouldn't be long before the black sphere of a interrogator droid might take their secrets and their sanity.  It would be too well designed to let someone die without orders.

There was a sudden boom, the flash and flicker of failing lights and a massive wrenching of the cell itself.  And then there was darkness, pierced only by the light of DeeJay's eyes.

Thuraya was slammed against a bulkhead, knocking her into the past or its memory.

"I'm sorry to have cancelled your leave."  Princess Leia said.
For all her royal nature, the young scion never pretended to be more than the soldiers under her command, she led because of the respect she earned, not her title.

The 'Star's crew shifted in their cold seats.  Even at best Echo Base could only add so much heat.

"This is Walex Blissex, who many of you will recognize as the designer of the Victory-class Star Destroyer, which served the Old Republic as well as the new Imperial-class Star Destroyers enforce the Emperor's will now."

The old man Leia pointed to bowed with a regal dignity that even the Princess might envy.

"I humbly ask you honored heroes to help me rescue my daughter..."

Thuraya quickly snapped back to the here and now, the sound of a sudden battle klaxon helped.

Grev knew that the darkness meant a catastrophic lack of power would disable the lock on the cell door.  Now it was just a large mass in the wrong place that a judicious use of strength might shift.

Ali's ears, or was it her lekku, caught the shrill, distant hiss of escaping air.  "We had best get moving..."



OOC:
Again, sorry for the usual delay.

Thuraya's flashback follows Ali's previous one.  The crew left Bespin and returned to Hoth, where they have met Walex Blissex.  Feel free to add to the flashback in character as you need to.

Two characters may roll Strength to open the door, there isn't room for anyone else.  Dakert may be very good at this.  Once outside the cell (if you are successful), make Perception rolls (you can make them preemptively to speed up the game).

The ship continues to rock and roll, with explosions and various chaos.  The most likely explanation would be the ship is under attack, probably by the Rebellion, but this is not the only possible reason.

Your best guess is that the diminishing air is not leaving so soon that it is an immediate problem, just a motivation to use your time wisely...





Grev Longtooth
player, 99 posts
Wed 23 May 2018
at 06:52
  • msg #15

Starfall - Episode One:  Blind Man's Bluff

Grev steps quickly up to the door, the claws on his hands seeking purchase on the smooth metal surface.

02:50, Today: Grev Longtooth rolled 7 (13 excluding the wild die) using 5 dice and +1 pips with the WEG Classic system with rolls of 1,3,6,2,{Wild}1.
That Old Fossil
GM, 367 posts
More Machine than Man
Twisted and Evil
Sat 26 May 2018
at 04:05
  • msg #16

Starfall - Episode One:  Blind Man's Bluff

Muscles straining, claws scratching, Grev put his full self to the task of moving the door.  It began to give but it could not be his doing alone...

Just a quick post because, unbelievably, I have been able to post faster than my players for once...
Celes Varik
player, 213 posts
Trandoshan Bounty Hunter
Wait...Human?
Sat 26 May 2018
at 05:33
  • msg #17

Starfall - Episode One:  Blind Man's Bluff

After the apparent impact, Celes bolted for the door alongside Grev.

"Bee, keep an eye on Shira! Captain, get ready to move!" With that, she moved into a position the scout wasn't already taking and gave all she had to pull that door open.

[22:30, Today: Celes Varik rolled 15 using 3 dice and +2 pips with the WEG Classic system.  Strength, helping Grev.]
TwoOneBee
player, 138 posts
Medical Specialist Droid
Rebel to the core
Sun 27 May 2018
at 00:35
  • msg #18

Starfall - Episode One:  Blind Man's Bluff

He had been preoccupied with the retrieval of lost data files, and then the chaos of crashing, power loss and the emergency klaxons, so he was relieved to instead focus on  the bounty hunters request.

"Yes, of course Ms Celes, I shall make certain she is not injured."

TwoOneBee activated his emergency light to assist the others in their efforts.

"DeeJay, where did you learn the could you just sent to me?  I agree our systems have been compromised; we need to ascertain to what extent and for what purpose...though I would suggest our immediate concern should be finding safer accommodations ."

This message was last edited by the player at 21:43, Sun 27 May 2018.
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