"Yes, why?" Britton asked, scanning the area.

OOC Perception 5+6=11

"Okay, see these footprints?" Kelko said, pointing to tracks that ranged all over the estate.  "Given their location everywhere and the fact that they're about the right size and distance apart for a man the size and age that Kenobi's been described to us, I'd say they're his."  Kelko paused only a moment before moving on.  "But look at this, another set of footprints that are a different size and distance apart.  Probably from someone younger.  And they only go in and out of the house once.  As do these, which are either a really old person's footprints given the shuffling motion, or they're a protocol droid's.  And this last one," he said pointing to a clear tread mark.  "This was made by an astromech droid.  And this flattened area and those tiny dunes indicate a speeder was here and then left."

"Wow!" Syfer said in the equivalent of amazement.  "That was impressive."

"Thank you," Kelko replied simply.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:48, Fri 13 Dec 2019.

Britton swore.

"Where to now?  Can you tell what direction they headed when they left?"

"Yes," Kelko replied.  "They headed east-southeast."

"Towards Bestine?" Syfer asked.

"If there is a town in that direction, of course, it's possible they headed there."  Kelko replied.

After climbing back into the Arrow-23, they had traveled only two hours before coming across an eerie sight.  Just ahead there was another Jawa sandcrawler--definitely a different one than that which belonged to the group that they had spoken to before--that was charred and ripped apart by blaster fire.  Near the sandcrawler was a short, grey pile of ash.

OOC: Any comments?

Britton's mouth opened in shock.

"Who would do something like this?" he asked.  "We need to search the area to see if Obi-Wan was here."

Syfer pulled the vehicle to a stop just short of the area.  Britton jumped out quickly, clearly concerned.  Kelko got out more slowly, and started looking around carefully, studying the surroundings.  Syfer remained respectfully in the car, waiting to be informed if his help was required.

OOC: Any comments before Kelko gives his analysis?

OOC Nope, other than Britton is keeping an eye out while Kelko reads what happened.
2+6=8
Apparently the heat, his distress, and the continued mild headache.

Britton noticed nothing in the immediate area.

"Our quarry was definitely here." Kelko summarized.  He took a deep breath then expounded: "It looks like Kenobi and the droids helped to pile the Jawa bodies and then burn them.  My only guess as to why is because the Jawas were already dead.  There are native weapons and Bantha tracks everywhere, but I don't think they killed the Jawas either.  From the damage done to the sandcrawler, I'd say stormtroopers killed them and then made it look like natives did.  The younger Human was here too, though it seems he left in his speeder without the others and then came back.  I can't even begin to guess as to why he would do that."  Kelko paused again only briefly.  "Ultimately, they all got back in the speeder and then headed off in the original direction they were going."

OOC: Any more comments?

"I don't think there's anything more we can do here,"  Britton said.  "We should get going before we're blamed for this."

"No arguments here," Kelko echoed.  After hopping back in the speeder and headed on towards Bestine.  After about an hour, Britton's stomach started to rumble.  "Good thing we're almost there," Kelko commented after consulting the speeder's navigation system.  Soon you were pulling in to Bestine, the current capital of Tatooine.  The town had a good number of new merchant shops, a cantina, and near the center of the city, the domed Imperial capitol building.

OOC: What does Britton want to do?

"I don't suppose we can just ask around for this guy," Britton lamented.  He sat back in his seat and thought, hoping inspiration would strike him.

OOC Search Feelings 11+6=17

Britton felt they would be successful in asking around for Kenobi.  Syfer confirmed this sentiment, "I think in Bestine you could easily ask around about someone and learn something."

"Can we ask around while eating something?" Kelko asked, his hand on his stomach.

"I could definitely use something to drink," Britton said, feeling the throbbing behind his eye return.  "We'll stop at a cantina and start asking around after we order."

"Sounds perfect," Kelko echoed cheerfully.  Syfer made no additional comments.

The most obvious cantina was one named "Cheapside Cantina".  As the trio walked up to the bar, the bartender asked "What'll it be today boys?"

Kelko answered, "A Jawa beer.  And do you have anything to eat?"

"Only if you take a booth," the bartender answered.

"Okay," Kelko replied.  "We'll take a booth.  So what do you have to eat?"

"Womp rat stew," the bartender answered simply.

"Anything else?"  Kelko asked.

"Nope, just womp rat stew."

"Womp rat stew it is then," Kelko replied faux enthusiastically.

"And how about you lad?" the bartender asked Britton.

"Just water, for me," said Britton, just glad to be out of the heat.

"Big spender, huh?" the bartender asked sarcastically.  He plopped down a glass of water for Britton to take to the booth.  Since it was evening the cantina was relatively crowded.  As Kelko slurped up his stew, he pointed out, "See, plenty of people to ask if they've seen our quarry."

Britton took a long drink then pressed the cool glass against his forehead.  He looked around the cantina.

"Yeah," he said.  "We'll start asking around once you're done with your food."

Kelko didn't take long to finish slurping down the stew.  By then Britton's glass of water was no longer cool, so he had finished it off as well.

OOC: Make a Gather Information check.

OOC 1+1=2

IC Brittons receding headache kept him from being on form.

Though Britton could hardly get anyone to even talk to him, Kelko seemed particularly in tune with the crowd.  After only a few minutes, Kelko reported.  "It seems that Kenobi, a young man and two droids were in town two nights ago and left yesterday morning in the direction of Mos Eisley.  Now, it's almost dark so I think we should get accommodations for the night and head for Mos Eisley tomorrow morning."

OOC: Any comments from Britton?

Britton nodded quietly in agreement.

The trio made their way over to the Bestine Hotel, where they were able to secure lodgings for 50 credits.  Britton and Kelko decided to split the cost .  Syfer kept watch during the night, but all was quiet and Britton was able to sleep well .

The next day, the group easily made their way to Mos Eisley.

OOC: Make a Gather Info check to try to locate Kenobi.

OOC 7+1=8

After two hours of searching, the heroes still had no leads as to where to find Kenobi.

"Well, that was frustratingly futile," Kelko commented out loud.

"I'm sorry you feel disappointed," Syfer chimed in.

"Me too.  But I don't know what else to do other than keep trying," Kelko concluded.


OOC: Make another Gather Info check.

OOC 17+1=18