Koi Sundar listened with every sweaty pore as she eavesdropped on the patrol.  She hardly notice the shopkeeper getting a stool so they could tap her on the shoulder.

When the captain asked 'Do you speak Jawa?"  Koi thought they said "Do you speak Java?"  While she was puzzled why the language of the retiring, arboreal Java people of her homeland was useful on Tattooine, it turns out that Java and Jawa languages were extremely similar.  Talk about a lucky (near miraculous) coincidence of convergent language evolution!

Although her warbles and clicks were heavily accented, "Peaceful meeting, wonderful person. Would thou please speak again the same words, and speak them also slower?"

In reply to Koi Sundar (msg # 4):

"You dawdling! Eyes on soldiers, not on goods! Need credits for family! Buy!"

His "shop", a collection a myriad of parts and components, from droid arms, to power couplings, to a compressor for a moisture evaporator. Save for a few newer pieces, one could mistake this for a scrap heap. There was no semblance or order to any of it.

OOC: Make a perception check

"Hold the com-link for a minute, friendly being."  Koi admonished in her awkward Jawa.  "I am looking at your inventory.  I think I should get a discount for organizing them.."  She grumbled as she methodically started sorting through the pile of miscellaneous junk and ancient parts.

You wouldn't be able to pin down exactly what they go to, but there was a few components that were definitely pieces to First Order equipment. Other than that, most of his equipment were batteries, energy cells, and the like.

"No!" He rebutted emphatically "You help? Make them go away! Scare customers! Ruin business! They steal!"

A Jawa with a concept of theft was novel, given that the stereotype is that they would scrap and take apart anything that wasn't bolted to the wall or ground.

"Is that right? I'm not surprised. They've killed a friend or two of mine, you know.  Koi remarked genially over the tightness in her throat.

"I don't suppose you remember where you got this?" She holds up something from the first Order's "scrap heap" no doubt.  Wasn't this the Jawa way -- it's not stealing if they can get away with it?

The Jawa raised his little hands up defensively "Sold to me! Wix no ask questions! Questions get Wix hurt. First Order ask questions. Also get Wix hurt! Good shape, promise. Wix give you discount to buy and go away! Before bad happens!"

OOC: Is any of this stuff likely to be helpful on her next mission? Or is it just random junk?

Koi sighs, it's a rough, prickly vegetable to be sure. She bears no love for the First Order, and these patrols are likely looking for any excuse to get rid of these little guys.  Sure the Jawas are about as trustworthy as tax-free liquor store, but they don't deserve to be stomped to death in the street. "Well if Wix happen to hear of anyone who needed to go away from Tatoonie, maybe I could talk to them and see if I could help that happen."

She pauses, "Also, how much of a discount are we talking about?"

"Wix stay with family" As he points beyond the walls of Anchorhead "This place home. Everyone else visitors. Except Tuscans. No talk to Tuscans."

The Jawa came close, whispering in his already small voice "Family find something strange in sands. No say what."

Pushing back, he returned to business at hand "Tall lady listen to Wix. Take for half."

He scurried slightly, looking for a specific item among the mess "Oooh! Wix give for free. Perhaps lady need, come back and thank Wix later." As he handed her a small energy cell. It was in good order, but looked like it was made for something very particular.

"Does Wix say where?"  She whispered back; it was a heckin' big desert. Even if it seemed like Wix is too frightened to talk much about what's going on with the raids on the First Order.

She accepts the energy cell Wix shoves in her hand.  There is something about this that seems important.  Maybe it's just Wix's (admittedly terrified) generousity. "As you say Wix.  May the water dance upon you. And if you need help -- send someone by hanger 13."

She checks the street for a patrol before leaving.

OOC: Do I need a perception check?  I feel like I am missing something

The patrols had a gap between them allowing you to move relatively freely for a few minutes.

Leaving the Jawa to his business, you pick up the sounds of the rest of the market square. No sign of the Captain or any of the crew, but something does immediately warrant your attention.

"We found something out there once" you hear whispered to you, but you can't find the source. The voice sounded very familiar.

Could it be the same voice you heard before?
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:29, Thu 03 Sept 2020.

Normally any chill would be welcome on a blazingly hot Tattoonine morning, but Koi had mixed feelings about 'the voice'.  She was pretty sure 'the voice' was generally aware of her. (Which was something that Koi tried not to think about when she had to go to the bathroom.)  The reverse was not often true. Koi suspected that she was not very perceptive in whatever sense the voice communicated with (and it definitely wasn't hearing!). 

So when the 'the voice' bothered to make itself heard, it was probably important.  It was another check in the column that Wix's hint was somehow important.  The little energy cube was heavy in her pocket.  

She grunted in frustration and gathered her 'scouting supplies' from her tiny bunk. (Water, blaster, food, more resilient clothing, small medical kit). She left a note on the table: might've found something interesting.  Will be back later.  Took a comm.  Koi. 

She whispered to herself, "well voice -- I hope you're going to help me find this thing that Wix is a worried about.  'Cause it's a big desert."

The Gamorrean Rose has a small speeder stashed away. It wasn't pretty, but it was serviceable, and you could take it out and make your journey in the sands far easier.

You'd probably want to talk to the ships Captain about that first, though there's a dilemna. Try explain that you're going to explore a strange thing you heard about from a Jawa and a voice in your head, or take it without permission and hope you have a good explanation when you get back.

You could also probably manage to rent one from a vendor in the city, if you don't mind losing a few credits.

Koi sighed.  She didn't really want to have to go out to a rent-a-speeder place.  That would involve talking to people, and spending more time in the city.  But it just didn't feel right to borrow the speeder without asking.  She didn't think that she could convince them without lying and probably not even then.

Also if she needed help, Captain might need to use the speeder to come get her.  (They would come get her, right? Not just leave her on this grub-forsaken planet?)

Koi counted out a few from her personal, small, pile of credits and went to get a rent-a-speeder.

As you approach the business renting out speeders, the rumors of the First Order starts to prove true.

A Generator droid shorts out, causing an uncomfortable popping sound and smoke. A nearby exposed power line heading into the First Order barracks carries a visible arc of electricity inside the facility, causing all manner of connected systems and tools to fry. Hearing the noises from the machinery, and the shouting of the soldiers inside, nearby patrols begin heading back to base, on the look out for any sign of trouble makers.

Several of the shopkeepers who can't or won't fight back try to scurry out of sight. In the corner of your eye, you see little Wix wave to you, even as he tries to hide in his shop, hidden behind a derelict loading droid. Those itching for a fight, or who think the First Order doesn't want to mess around with them, stay where they are.

OOC:  Aww..Wix should adopt Koi as his tall, disaster child.  :D

It was fortunate that the droid blew up at the same time as the surge of 'magic'. A lot of people jumped/hid/squeaked at the explosion.  And a good thing -- it would have been all too obvious that Koi was startled by another space-wizard using their magic.  Between the discordant instincts of trying to find another person like her, and hiding from a possible evil space wizard -- the latter seemed the better choice. She tried to shrink inside herself, wrapped in the quiet of her thoughts. 

Nothing to see here. Just another galactic tumbleweed. 

It would take some thought for Koi to understand her own instincts -- that this showy use of magic seemed ill-judged to her, and likely to put innocent people (like Wix or the other settlers) in harm's way. Not the kind of person she was eager to trust with her own dangerous secret.

Also, Koi didn't want to have to compete with another wizard on her mission from Wix.  As though conjured by her thoughts -- she sees him greet her before he scurries away. The Jawa's jaunty wave makes her smile.  Similar to Wix, Koi ducks into Esso's Budget Friendly Rent-a-Speeder.

No reason to stay on the street and plenty of reason to be elsewhere when the First Order has been stung by this wizard's mischief!

Scooting away on a speeder, even a rented one, immediately after an apparent attack on the First Order appears suspicious. A few soldiers get on their speeders and begin to pursue you as you leave the city.

While the city of Anchorhead is kept relatively flat and paved, the scorching desert quickly shifts outside the city walls, with sloping dunes and hills of sand.

OOC: Make a Pilot Check to try to escape your pursuers.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:40, Sun 06 Sept 2020.

Ugh..bush calling a tree green, it seems. Well, maybe if they're chasing me they'll leave Wix and his little friends alone.  After a moment of thought, Koi realizes it probably did look a little suspicious to leave so soon after the 'accident' at the barracks.  Especially if your were already paranoid. "Alright little speeder, let's see if you can get me out of trouble.." Superstitiously, she gave the speeder a little pat as she pushed down the throttle.

 Koi leaned down over the speeder as she raced over the sandy hills. The engine seems to hum good-naturedly under her as she banked off of a sand dune for some extra speed. Her spirit soared as the wind tugged at her clothes --the air already seemed fresher than it did in the city. Broiling hot -- but fresher.



Pilot check:14:08, Today: Koi Sundar rolled 25 using 1d20+7 ((18)).

This message was last edited by the player at 01:24, Sun 06 Sept 2020.

First Order rolled 23 using 1d20+5 ((18)).

The speeders used by the First Order seemed about as powerful as yours. Possibly more, given that they are generally bulkier machines and have to move more weight, but the net speed is about the same. Getting away from them is going to have to rely on superior piloting and navigating, which you started to be able to do.

The horizon starts to look more mountainous and jagged in the distance. There may be a good place to hide out in there. There's also a few indistinct specks along the sand.

One larger speck, that appears to be some kind of building or structure, and a seeming line of smaller specks.

Tuskans.

"Alright buddy, we're a team now." She whispers to the speeder. Plants grow better when you talk to them, so maybe speeders race better too?

Koi turned her speeder towards the jagged cliffs.  She couldn't out run these First Order troops forever.  And she didn't want to get into a fight if it could be avoided. Finding a place to hide seemed like the best bet.

She frowned as she saw the Tuskans -- according to Wix, these natives are best avoided. But maybe she could use their tracks to obscure where her speeder went..?

OOC: 09:51, Today: Koi Sundar rolled 25 using 1d20+7 ((18)).

This message was last edited by the player at 14:51, Sun 06 Sept 2020.

Whoo boy...

First Order, rolled 9 using 1d20+4. Contested Piloting
Tuskan Raider, rolled 2 using 1d20+1, attacking Koi Sunder
Tuskan Raider, rolled 21 using 1d20+1, attacking First Order

If it works, don't question it. The First Order speeders started to grow further away. Moving towards the Tuskan Raiders wouldn't mask your trail, but it did provide a tangible benefit.

Getting their attention.

The contingent spotting you and the chase of First Order soldiers got off their Banthas. Seeing both you and them as a threat, they hunkered down and took shots with their long rifles. The first shot, aimed at you, missed terribly, but you still heard the bolt whiz by your head. The second shot on the other hand, was a superb shot, if more luck than skill.

Striking the lead speeder driver in the head, the vehicle careened out of control and buried in the sand. His comrades invariably stopped to turn around to rescue his friend. The Tuskans however, continued taking potshots at the First Order while they had the position to do so.

This gave you the chance to head into the mountainous area unimpeded. With numerous crags and archways, you can find a moment in the dark shade to relax and cool off, if only slightly.

Koi winces as her miscalculation puts her and her speeder blazing through an orderly queue of Tuskans.  "Oh Stupid Slimy Slugs." Koi groans as she dodges around a startled and outranged Bantha. "This was NOT part of the plan."

She winces at the crash and muffled scream of a First Order soldier plowing into the sand. Outnumbered by a dozen Tuskers -- who are probably sentencing them to death as Dastardly Line Cutters -- there isn't much Koi can do to rescue the First Order soldiers.

Still hearing laser fire, she keeps the throttle up until she can duck into a canyon.  Then she pauses in the shade of an over hang to get her bearings.

"Leaf scald," she sighs in her eccentric repertoire of profanity. She gives her speeder a pat, "Sorry -- that was all my fault, you did great."She takes a moment to center herself. Maybe the voice is feeling talkative. "Alright Voice -- Where should I go from here?  Any ideas?"

(OOC: It is now part of her character:  Koi talks to ships and speeder bikes to encourage them to work better)
This message was last edited by the player at 21:09, Sun 06 Sept 2020.

A strong wind blows behind you, accentuating the cool of the shadows. It's an unusually strong sensation, as you actually feel a chill, the little hairs on your skin standing up.

The voice you had been hearing is absent, but you do hear a different voice, uttering a single word.

Peace.

Peace.

Peace.

Koi sighs as she hears a new voice in her mind. Peace -- good advice that seems hard to follow these days. Even though the ride through the desert lifted her spirits, accidentally getting the soldiers killed by Tuskan Raiders weighed them down again.

Not to mention, she still found these voices spooky when she thought about them.

She tries to find the quiet within herself before setting out towards this new voice. Maybe she could learn more about the speaker when she got closer..

OOC: Make a Use the Force check, still untrained.

As you start wandering the nearby area, the voice is equally distant, but just once, you begin to hear more than just the one word.

Peace

Peace is a Lie

Koi closes her eyes for a moment, and tries to really listen. To hear the mysteries of the universe.  But what sticks to the bottom of her mind, is Peace is a Lie...

Common sense speaks up: Does that sound like the kind of being you want to meet? Weren't some of the Jedi not very nice?

Common sense seems to speak louder than the mysteries of the galaxy just now.

OOC: Rolled a 5 :D

Koi sighs and tries again.  She tries to reach out to the voice that she heard before. Nice Voice. "Hey, I know you're out there.  Do you have any advice about Spooky Voice?"
This message was last edited by the player at 23:04, Tue 08 Sept 2020.