(Starting point for Koi Sundar)

It wouldn't be Star Wars without coming here.

Tattooine was a miserable little furnace of a planet. Thankfully it wasn't as desolate or depressing as Jakku, but the twin suns of the planet certainly made it less bearable. It was too out of the way for the Republic to have ever been able to enforce the rules, and the Smugglers Run hyperspace lane was too close and too profitable for The First Order to ignore it.

The system and it's neighbors were under harsh controls, more so now after the debacle at Exagal. Fearing that the Resistance would start to spring up in droves, local governors and generals have been putting the foot down even harder, their patrols even more numerous.

Not that it was the immediate concern of the Gamorrean Rose, a modified YT platform, or its crew. They weren't planning on staying here long enough to cause trouble, or be noticed. The plan was to refuel and stock up before heading further rimward, exploring into Wild Space.

A resource rich, habitable planet, with a chart and course to get there could fetch a crew enough money to retire on. Failing that, the engines of war always needed ore and materials.

(I'm touched that Koi is starting her story in the most traditional location :D)

Koi squinted behind her solar goggles at the sun bleached storefronts and warehouses that marked the less prosperous market district on Tatooine. As the new mechanic and back up pilot on The Rose (the previous mechanic having been recruited by the Resistance), she was responsible for making sure they had spare parts for emergency repairs. 

Given that The Rose was old enough to be a Clone War veteran, Koi had a feeling that repairs might be necessary sooner than later.  And after losing her last crew, she ached to put some lightyears between her and her grief.  It wouldn't do to have the trip cut short because they didn't have any spare hydrospanners or reactor fuses. 

A faint echo of heavy footfalls made Koi hesitate before turning the corner and stepping onto a larger avenue.  Another patrol looking for trouble.  She ducked into the nearest used goods shop.  Discretion (and absence) was the better part of valor when dealing with the local governor's paranoid soldiers.  

In reply to Koi Sundar (msg # 2):

The patrol takes a moment to stop as a temporary sentry post. Even more sweaty under their armor, their exhaustion and boredom breaks discipline, and they start to talk.

"Man, what are we even doing?"

"Colonel doesn't want to be the first one to lose his base to an uprising."

"Ya, right. The natives don't have the guns and the passerby don't care."

"Orders are orders. Besides, the Major's getting freaked out too. Equipment keeps going missing or is thoroughly trashed."

"Think it's sabotage?"

"Maybe, or we have an insider threat problem. One of the platoon sergeants swore he saw something in camp the other night causing mischief."

"Heat's getting to him."

"He's not alone. God I hate this planet..."

The patrol started moving along their route. As they walked away you feel a tiny tapping on your shoulder. A Jawa, waving his hands about and making his near indecipherable language.

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.

"Fear not, young one." The voice began "I have spoken these words before, and was saved from despair. Saved by the very man who I had previously saved. They are the words of the Dark Side. Press on, but be wary. Whatever this is, I fear has fueled in rage, even in the afterlife, and is beyond redemption."

Moving forward, the other voice repeated the phrase.

Peace is a Lie

"Okay, which way am I going?"  Koi asks, cautiously riding the speeder (hopefully) in the direction of Spooky Voice.  She keeps a hand near her blaster -- although she's pretty sure this is not a problem blasters can solve.

Thoughts blaze through her undisciplined mind like meteors. Is Spooky Voice dead?  Is Nice Voice dead?  Does Nice Voice know who shorted out the barracks?  Does Nice Voice have a name?

Today: Midichlorians, on behalf of Koi Sundar, rolled 18 using 1d20+1 ((17)) Use The Force

An uncanny intuition starts to guide you, answering your own question. As you continue forward, the malevolent noise in your head grows louder and stronger.

Pieace is a Lie, there is only Passion,
Through Passion, I gain Strength

Heading this way, you move deeper into the Junglang Wastes. The mountains growing taller over the valley, the rock faces more jagged. Boulders dot the impromptu road, and a number of caves can be seen along your journey.

Koi concentrates..and sort of not concentrates..on following her intuition.  The jedi magic is difficult, but simple.  Like trying to look at your ears in a mirror, or sing along to a audiovid while driving on a bumpy road.

So far so good...

She pushes the speeder a little faster as the terrain becomes more rocky. Koi catches a skittering movement of dust-colored fur as a whomp rat scurries behind a boulder.  In the shadow of the cave, there is a green tapetum flash of eyes as a larger animal retreats back into its cave.

She cautiously continued to follow the voice, taking the time to weave around boulders and pick her path carefully through the sandy scree. The jedi meditation and guiding her speeder over the uneven ground requires so much of her focus, that voice's angry chant seems less immediate.  Less like an angry wookie banging on your door and more like an approaching storm.

OOC: Onward! :D

Midichlorians, on behalf of Koi Sundar, rolled 20 using 1d20+1 ((19)).

The voice leads you through a series of crags and valleys, into what seems to be a dead end. Rocks moving across the ground echo between the walls of the canyon, and the voice Echoes through your mind.

Peace is a Lie, there is only Passion,
Through passion, I gain Strength
Through strength, I gain Power
Through power, I gain Victory
Through victory, my chains are Broken
The Force shall set me free.

As the last words of this code are spoken, you arrive at the end of the canyon. Ahead, there is a cave, probably too small and too narrow for you to fit your rented speeder in.

Wow, you can roll for me like that anytime.

Koi brings her speeder to a stop in front of the narrow cave entrance. "Well, here we are," she mumbles to herself.  Now that she isn't concentrating on maneuvering her speeder, the voice sounds like a drum in her head - or her heartbeat.

She stopped to take a deep breath.  Whoever is in there is probably bad news..but it sounds like from what Nice Voice told her, they're also suffering.  They may have been stuck in this cave for a long time.


"You'll wait for me here, alright?" She maneuvers her speeder under a shady ledge -- if this takes a while, she doesn't want it to be burning hot. After a moment of thought, she shoulders her small pack.  There isn't much in it - extra water, a couple of food bars, a simple medical kit, a couple odds and ends in case she needed camp overnight because the speeder broke down.

She takes a deep breath of the sunny desert air and tentatively enters the cave.

The cadence stops as you enter the cave, just as jagged and harsh as the terrain outside. Perhaps even more so.

"Is it true?" The voice asks. Less in your mind, and now as a physical presence within the cave "Is the Emperor dead?"

"Yes."  Koi answered honestly, "That has been the case in all of the news-vids that I've heard."

She pauses, and picks her words as carefully as she places her feet on the uneven cave floor. "and I think a..wind..changed recently.  It is a soft wind, but it makes me think the news is true."

"Than everything is lost" The voice calls out in despair.

"I sensed her. The one responsible. She was on this planet, though I don't know why. So similar to his energy, and yet different, as if reflected through a prism"

A strong wind blows through the cave, causing some of the rocks to move about inside. It coalesces in one point, and as it does, a physical, ghostly figure forms in inside of it.

A Zabrak, deep red with black tattoos all over his body. From the waist done.

"I was his apprentice. Together, we were to rid the world of the scourge of the Jedi and the Republic. He betrayed me and cast me out. In my rage, I tried to regain what was rightfully mine, and lay down the one who defeated me."

"Now I have been denied everything, even my Revenge! I can never know peace!"

You now face the ghost of Darth Maul, who died on Tattooine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeG215-yu-k

Koi feels grief close around her heart.  This person did so much evil and was taught so much hate, but the tragedy of his life hits her harder than condemnation or horror.  She wonders if that's wrong.  Maybe she should feel more outrage.  Maybe she will later.  But right now -- it just seems like an enormous waste.  Potential, courage, loyalty.  It seems like this guy could have been a really great person, but the emperor used him up like a vibrium pit mine and threw him away. 

Koi wipes her cheek, suprised to feel a smear of mud.  "I'm sorry," she said simply.  "that's really terrible." 


She tries to find the right words. "I'm probably going to say a dumb thing, this is really hard and I don't know the full story of what happened. But what happened to you wasn't right. I don't know much about revenge.  I'd like to think you have justice.  I'd like to think that the lady that killed him -- she killed him for the things he did to you and people like you. And well, she also smashed a lot of his fleet and army that he put his whole sorry life into.  Can you find some peace in that?"

"Impossible" He said as he angrily turned to you "By the time she was born, I was already dead. She could not have done it for me if she doesn't even know who I am."

"If he really is destroyed, than I am truly cursed. If I cannot exact my vengeance, than what existance is this? Am I doomed to walk these barren wastes for all of time? If I have to wallow in this misery, than so shall everyone else on this planet" The ghostly figure retrieves a weapon from his person. Though you had never seen one before, you recognize it instantly. A lightsaber, double bladed, each side glowing with an evil crimson tone that matches his skin. He takes a stance as if to attack, but is stopped as you both hear a different voice.

"It's no less than your kind deserve, Sith" The friendly voice you had heard before "If you wish to attack this one for having done nothing wrong, than you are truly deserving of your fate."

This disembodied voice takes shape as well. A woman, slender and in old brown robes, her brown hair worn long in complex knots. "I know the hate in your heart, and I know the answer you seek." In defense of you, she lights a lightsaber as well, also double-bladed, her glowing in a yellow-ish gold.

"Whoa, whoa!" Koi puts up her hands like she was trying to calm a very-fast-carnivorous-lizard. "I warned you I didn't know everything about your story." Koi reminds him.

 She suggests reasonably, "Let's hear her out, put away the laser-sword, and see if we can come up with a solution that works for you. We all want you to have some peace. If you kill us, I'm just going be maudlin and lame in your cave forever. And she's going to be moralizing and judgy at you forever. And no one wants that, right?"

OOC: Koi is winging it like a baby barnacle goose.. https://www.youtubetrimmer.com...uNJ-nEYg&end=115
This message was last edited by the player at 22:13, Fri 18 Sept 2020.

The ghosts no longer pay any real attention to you, circling around one another. That they would try to spar one another while both are immaterial would probably seem odd to anyone benefitting from looking at this from a distance.

"I grow tired of your contempt and prideful arrogance, Jedi" The Sith calls out, ready to strike.

"It's not me that you need concern yourself with. I know the road to your salvation."

"You expect me in death to become what I fought against in life? A Jedi, Like you? Never."

"There is more to the galaxy than simple Jedi and Sith. Even in death, it is not too late. You can be at peace if you truly wish it. Forgiveness will succeed where vengeance has failed you."

The Sith, enraged by what he was hearing lunged at her, and a spirited fight began. Although he was the more fierce opponent, she was the more skilled, and even while on defense, was in control of the fight, as the two spirits moved about the cave. Despite their incorporeal nature, the blades of their phantom lightsabers still burned the walls and stalagmites where they struck the real world.

As you stare at the fight, trying desperately to stay out of the way, something pulls your attention away. A large stone near your feet is moving about, and is dislodged from underneath. Rolling away, you find the most curious thing underneath; a small tunnel, currently inhabited by a Jawa. Wix, no less

"Utinni! It's you! You find strange thing! Wix find you!" He scurries out to watch events beside you.

In attention on him, you missed the exact events between the two fighters, but the Sith's phantom lightsaber was cut in half, and he fell to his robotic knees in quiet shame. The Jedi sat across from him,

"Your life is marked by a viscous cycle. One of Hatred, Violence, and Failure. The path of forgiveness and peace has to begin inwards. The events of your life were never in your control, and you cannot blame yourself having been used as a pawn."

"I was deceived! Betrayed!"

"One of the countless he discarded along his way to gain power. There is nothing that can be done to change this. You must accept the events as they happened."

It seems as these world are finally beginning to sink in to the dead Sith. His breathing slows to a deliberate pace

"You must let go of the rage that has fueled you for so long. Be at peace with yourself, and with The Force."

"I'm ready." The Sith says simply, as his spirit begins to fade away, the last of Darth Maul having finally been put to rest. The Jedi disappeared as well, though her reassuring voice remained.

"Let this serve as a lesson to you. The past is vital to who we are, but do not let your past failures deny you of your future. The Force is with you both."

Koi was a bit annoyed about being so casually ignored.  That annoyance quickly turned to more practical concerns -- avoiding a flurry of magic lasers swords (staves?) swung in every direction.  Unlike the incorporeal combatants, the phantom weapons' blows send debris flying.

"Wix!" Koi yelped in delight and warning."Watch out, these ghosts are having a violent discussion."  She pulls him behind a steady boulder. "How did you find me?"  She asks, even though her heart already knows the answer - the same way Koi found the Sith ghost.

She shouts after her friendly ghost, "Wait! I have so many questions!"
This message was last edited by the player at 01:05, Sun 20 Sept 2020.

"Wix felt something. Strong presence. Jawas have tunnel network all through desert. Easier to avoid First Order and Sand People. Started digging after Jawas attacked by Empire. Wix crawl through tunnel, find you. You strong presence! Or maybe cave, not sure yet"

The Jawa seemed to have the attention span of a small child, having walked away hurriedly from you suddenly to investigate the cave. Having spotted something, he started to make a run of it.

"Look!" He calls out, pointing to some of the rock formations. Pulling a modified, bodge job blaster, he points it at the edge of one of the stalagmites and pulls the trigger. Grabbing the rock that falls off, he runs back to you. "Look! See what Wix Find!"

Holding it above his head, the stone floats out from his hand and up to yours "With battery you have, can make lightsaber! Wix sure of it!"

Koi gingerly plucks the floating rock from the air and weighs it in her hand.  She tries to reach out with her senses -- why does Wix think there is something special about the rock. "I don't know how to use a laser sword.  Do you?" She asks her short friend. The ghosts were waving their weapons so fast that Koi didn't get a clear sense about how they were put together.  Also, she needed to prioritize dodging the rocks.

"Is this where you got the battery?"  She asks thoughtfully. "There aren't more caves like this, are there?"   Only a little trepidation in that second question.

The Jawa shook his head, as well as waving his hands

"No no no! Wix no Jedi! Become one though ! You make Jedi too!" Despite his impossibly dark hood, you could swear you could see him smiling at the idea.

"Wix found battery! Didn't come from Lightsaber, but small and powerful enough to work! Many parts still need! We find together!"

He pointed out of the cave "Wix come with you!"

Koi listens to Wix thoughtfully, her hand cupped around the little crystal.  It seems too heavy and warm for its size.

"I'd like that." She agrees quietly with a soft, lopsided smile that chases back the lingering, angry shadows of the cave. "Alright, where are we going?"

She still had a lot of questions, but for now she was buoyed by Wix's enthusiasm. I'm not sure if he'll want to leave the planet with the captain.  After all, he has his family to look after.  But it's nice to have a partner for a while.

Koi adjusts her pack so Wix can sit comfortably behind on her on the rented speeder.

The enthusiastic Jawa simply pointed outside again "Force guide us! We trust in Force!". For someone who says such a limited understanding of what the Force really is, he seems to embrace it fully, much as a child would proclaim to be an expert after being given just a few tidbits.

Wix hops on the speeder, which is easily able to handle the extra wait of such a small being. Despite being in unfamiliar territory, charting your way out is relatively easy.

Back into the Dune Sea, you see that, for better or worse, the Stormtroopers weren't quite as imperiled as you thought. A support ship had come to provide cover and had just finished loading the last of them as you came out. The Tuskan Raiders, seeing how easily they were outmatched, fled.

Koi sighs in relief, "thank the first tree..".  She is glad her adventure didn't get anyone killed.  But she doesn't take her luck for granted -- this time she gives both the stormtroopers and any lingering Tuskans a wide berth and some extra personal space.

"Alright Wix, is the Force giving you any hints -- or should we go back to the city?"  She pulls the speeder to a stop under the cover of a rocky outcropping and tries to reach out to the Force herself.  Koi doesn't quite have the same confidence that Wix does, but she turns her face to the sun and wind and tries to let her instincts guide her.

The little Jawa was slow to respond, and most of his excitable energy seemed drained from him "Back to city. Wix fear something bad happen to friends."

Koi frowned. "Hold on,"  she suggested tersely, giving the Stormtroopers a wide berth as she headed back to hanger 13.  Although her mind roiled with anxiety, she firmly pushed it away.  Speed and good driving - not worry - would help now.

Entrance into the city was easy and uneventful, but the anxiety persisted.

Your new friends weren't to be found in the pre-planned meeting location of the local cantina.

Going aboard the ship, none of them could be found.

No response from any of them on the comlink.

Koi sighed. "I have a bad feeling about this." 

It was good that the ship was still here, but it wasn't good that no one was responding to their comms. They all had them in case of emergencies, even if the Captain insisted that social chatter was kept to a minimum.

Did she miss a call?  Koi had her comm with her, but she wasn't sure if Darth Maul's cave would block transmissions.  Surely someone would have sent a transmission if there was trouble.

She ran her hand through her hair.  <DarkBlue>"Alright, think.."</DarkBlue

The Jawa tugged on your leg, speaking quietly in the echoing hallways of the ship.

"Know where they're not, must be place we not look yet. Know they no talk to you. Probably all together..."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:57, Sun 04 Oct 2020.

Koi took a deep breath. She hadn't realized that she had been holding it.  The fear that she could lose her crew members had a tighter hold on her than she realized.  But Wix broke through her panic.

She closed her eyes and tried to recall every conversation they'd had since they landed. Surely there was a clue about where they'd gone.   After a minute, the answer bloomed in her thoughts..

It seemed so obvious, now, especially with what you already knew about them and how you met them.

They were all arrested and captured by The First Order. Whether it was because of something new they had done here, or for their previous infractions as rebels, who could say? The means and method was largely irrelevant now.

Koi gently taps her forehead against the bulkhead.  Why couldn't the Captain follow their own advice of "Do what you want, but don't get caught"?!

"Wix, if the First Order captured my crew-mates, where would they be?"   She asked with a touch of self-directed exasperation. "And how am I going to get them out of this mess?"

The idea of leaving them to the First Order was not even remotely entertained.  No crew members or friends left behind!

She adds, "Am I going to need to hire a space lawyer?"
This message was last edited by the player at 15:41, Sun 04 Oct 2020.

Wix waved his hands, not understanding the questions being largely rhetorical

"To free friends, need friends! Take fight to them!"

Without another word, Wix starts to run away, heading down the ramp off the ship.

"Hey, wait up!"  Koi quickly closes up the ship and follows Wix.

She takes a surreptitious look over her shoulder to make sure they aren't being followed.

"Find friends! Find Friends!" He called out to himself, not stopping for you. In such a hurry, Wix lost focus on where he was going, and barrelled straight into a large wall.

Or, rather, through, the wall.

Wix returns, seemingly moving back through the same wall he had before, carrying what looked like a battered, ancient communications device of some kind.

"Wix watch..out?" Koi follows him, pausing to wave her hand through the wall. Or try to at least. "Huh.."

Hanging around Wix was like following a fast current, you needed to hang on tight and go with the flow. "So..who are you going to call?"   She asked uncertainly, as she examined the ancient communication device.  "It looks like something that ghost would have used..Or maybe a tricorder.."

"Talk-box" Wix responded as he meddled with the machine in his hands "First Order no interest in old things. Jawa talk secrets. We get help" After a few bangs, there's a very rough signal coming through. The chattering between Wix and the person on the other side was too rapid to be decipherable. After a while, Wix put it down as the communication died.

"Have plan! Friends coming to help! We lucky, drive First Order away! Need BIG generator!"

"Huh, how does it work?"  Koi peered at the ancient communication device, her hands itching with a desire to fix it.  Or at least tinker with it.

"A big generator?!" Koi was taken aback,"What kind of plan needs a big generator?  Just how many friends are coming?"  This certainly escalated quickly.  Was her friend king of the Jawa?
This message was last edited by the player at 01:47, Wed 07 Oct 2020.

"Emit signal through antenna, other machine recieve! They call back."

Wix points out into the dunes. "Sandcrawler Coming. Many Jawa. Many years scavenging to defend ourselves. Sand People! Empire First Order! Take fight to them! end fighting for good! Special thing need power! Find generator!"

Koi pauses for a minute.  She was expecting to break her captain out of a local jail.  Not start a war. "Are you sure about this Wix?  I really want to get my crew back, but I don't want your friends to get hurt either."

She ran her hand through her hair, her brow creased with worry.  What were the chances that her crewmates were in a local jail?  Some of the stories they told with sidelong glances and veiled references were..more than a little hair-raising.  And she thought she might be hearing some of the tamer ones.

Maybe Wix was right.  Maybe they would need a war to get them back. Am I ready to do that? Am I ready to kill people if I have to? Am I ready to get people killed?   She took a deep breath and searched her feelings.  After a moment, her heart answered a quiet, firm yes. I am not going to surrender my crewmates or friends to the First Order. I'm not going to stand by while they are marched off to be excuted. I wouldn't surrender Wix to that either.

Her mouth feels as dry as last autumn's leaves. "If you're sure, Wix..well, we could try to hook up the ship's generator.  And if that' not big enough, well the barrack's generator blew today. Some kind of magical accident. We could either steal the broken one and fix it. Or steal the replacement.  They'd need to bring in a replacement right quick."

Wix seemed to wander a little bit, before slowly walking back up the ramp to the ship and sitting down, his tiny legs dangling over the edge.

He let out a small sigh before speaking "Wix scared. Wix tired of hurting. Tired of bullies. What if plan won't work? What if fighting make more fighting? More Jawa hurt. killed. Because of Wix..."

Koi came over slowly, quietly and sat next to Wix.  "I'm worried about that too. We can do our best to spy out the situation beforehand. We can tell your friends as much as we know about the situation and let them decide for themselves." She pauses, "I don't know how bad it is here - I just flew in -- but even if people do get killed.  It's not your fault Wix.  The First Order are the bullies, not you. I'm guessing that others likely feel scared and bullied too.  If they want to take a stand with us; well they've seen the First Order and know what risks they're taking.  If they still want to fight, well I'm honored and I'll do my best to help."

Koi is quiet again for a long moment. She's not someone that speaks in haste - the contrast with the excitable Wix makes her deliberate way of speaking seem to stand out more. "I think my crewmates know The New Republic. Or they're a part of it. If you want, we'll talk to them about having you and your friends become allies and get some help from their group."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:54, Sun 11 Oct 2020.

"Wix told Republic no care before. " his voice was contemplative "before Empire. Maybe different now. Have to try. No see change, be change."

Wix slowly rose to his feet and patted you gently as he did. "Thank you. We go now. Hopefully, ship no sink in sand. Not enough shovels."

Koi rises in a smooth graceful way as she's thinking of something else.  Before teh Empire? Just how old is Wix? He mentioned a family, but does he have kids or grandkids? She follows him out to..where ever they are going to meet his friends. But she tries to keep her eyes open for anything that might suggest that they are being followed.

Koi isn't sure what he wants to do about the generator he needs.  It seems like that part of Wix's plan was lost under the leaves of his worry.  At least for now. I guess we'll cross that stream when we get to it.

The Jawa scurried around the various compartments of the ship, searching for something. After a few moments without either sound or success, the Jawa turns to you with his arms outstretched

"need cable! BIG cable! run out from ship power! Power droids with!"

"Hang on a second Wix, your friends aren't even here yet." Koi admonishes him gently as he appears to oscillate between maudlin and frantic. "Why don't you tell me more about these droids while I look for a suitable cable?"



OOC: Okay, I'm getting a little confused. Are they still in the hanger where Koi's ship is?  It seemed like Wix was running around, running through holo-walls and wandering around. Where did we go?

The Jawa points away. From the hallways of the ship, it's impossible to be sure if he's necessarily pointing the correct direction or not.

"We meet them. No let Sandcrawler into city. Dangerous for heavy ship."

The Jawa begins moving about the ship again in his search "Wix find shovel too."

"Alright, just hang on and let me look. If you're moving things around, we need to put them back before we go.  It can be dangerous to have unstowed gear when flying -- especially in atmosphere." She reminds him gently. It's a little nerve wracking to have him wandering around the ship. Like most spacers, she quickly became a tidy person.

After several minutes of methodically looking through the ship's store of back up equipment, she holds up a thick cord. "Will this do?  There should be a shovel with the camping equipment."

"We can take the speeder out of the city."

OOC: Thanks for the summary.  Did not realize that Wix used a force power on the wall

Search: 15:55, Today: Koi Sundar rolled 20 using 1d20+6 ((14)).
.

"Wix confused" Wix extends his arms out to mimic a plane "You say we use ship generator. No fly there? Take speeder, no need shovel."

Koi pauses and tries to arrange her thoughts. "If I take the ship out of the city.  We're probably going to be noticed. Even if the hanger isn't being watched, it's likely unusual for people to fly out into the sands. Heck, I was followed even taking the speeder out there. So if we take the ship out there, we might not be able to land it in the hanger again without being surrounded by stormtroopers.  Which it's a big commitment. And I'm not clear how to get the droids into the city without having them be killed right out."

She frowns, "also, the ship will probably be tracked to your big sand ship. It may mean that your friends are more forced into action.  Which didn't seem as fair to them. If we can sneak the robots into the city and power them up here, it will be harder to figure out where your friends are out in the sands.  I thought it might keep them safer."

She wasn't sure if it made any sense.  It was more a hunter's instinct to keep predators far from one's den than a trained soldier's perspective.  "Honestly Wix, I'm not a soldier, I'm just going by what feels right.  I think my ghost friend is a soldier though.  I could try to ask her..Maybe she'd have a better idea."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:02, Sun 18 Oct 2020.

Wix nods in agreement "Good plan. Smart lady. No need shovel than, but still need other things." He seems still and silent for a moment "Droids still need power. Jawa no have word for special droid, but it go whooshy whooshy" As he made circular motions with his two small hands.

Koi looked confused by the 'wooshy wooshy' droids.  Where they cleaning droids? "I'm sure I'll understand when I seem them."

She paused, "Do you mind if I try to talk to the Ms. Ghost? I'm hoping that my ideas are smart, but she seems like she has some good ideas too."

With Wix hopefully quiet for a few minutes, Koi sat down in the mess area and closed her eyes.  She let her thoughts quiet, and not worry or think -- but just exist.  After a centering moment, she tried to reach out to the velvety darkness behind her eyes and recall the presence she felt before. "Ma'am..can you help us?"

OOC: ouch..7..for use the force. Can I take 10 on this?

OOC: You can't make that call after you already rolled, but since you weren't sure, I'll make that exception this time.

As you focus, the sounds around you seem to fade away, until seeming nothing remains except a single tone. Hard to describe, and yet immediately familiar. In this moment, you begin to recognize that this has been with you always. Your entire life, you've thought you could sense something beyond the constant current of noise in life. The noise begins to take more solid form, turning into a voice.

"I will do what I can to guide and protect you, and the one you travel with. As a Jedi Knight, it is my duty, and my honor, even as I have passed on and become One with the Force."

Something compelled you to open your eyes, and as you, stands the ghost of the Jedi Knight from before
This message was last edited by the player at 22:17, Sat 24 Oct 2020.

"Oh.."  Koi murmured in wonder. "I'm really glad. My friends have been captured by the First Order.  And Wix's people are also sore oppressed. He offered to help me free my friends with some robots and ask his people for help.  But I'm not sure what the best way to do it. Neither of us are soldiers or generals or nights. I can take the ship out to power up his robots, but I'm not sure how to get them back in the city sneakily. I know we'll have to fight my friend free, but I..want to make sure I don't take fool risks with the lives of these good people." She looks pained, "And I don't want to make things worse for them. Even if they're already bad. Can you help us figure out a plan?"

OOC: Thanks, I will keep that in mind. I've really had about 3 spare neurons all week..yay Management review.

"The plight of the Jawa's is a tragic one." Bastilla said as she sat across from you "My own journey brought me here as well, and even than the natives of this planet were quickly ignored or subjugated. Had the Republic or the Jedi not been fighting for our very existence, we could protected them better, and prevented millennia of injustice. Now though, it seems even if The First Order were removed, it would be difficult to wash away the views people have of them."

The ancient Jedi looked down for a moment, and than up "Forgive me, young one. You asked for help, not a history lesson. It is difficult for me not to look at the galaxy as it is and wonder how it has seemed to failed so many times, what small things I might have contributed to this, or what I might have been able to do differently to remedy the problem. You are correct to be cautious. The problems coursing through Tattooine are numerous, and they are ancient. They cannot be solved through an afternoon, and they cannot be solved solely through force. The Jawa are on a dangerous path that can quickly escalate to a war that they would certainly lose. The First Order, as anything that has been tainted by the teachings of the Sith, do not believe in the concept of proportional response."

"Like the dwarf star, Wix is unaware of the effect he has on those around him. There is a great pull towards him, even though he lacks confidence in himself. He is caring, brave, and inquisitive, talents we would have greatly sought and valued as a potential Jedi. That he has been able to teach himself knowledge of The Force is both encouraging and fearful, for all of his promise, he is also impulsive and very emotional. Keep him close. He listens to you, sees a kinship in you that he doesn't seem to find anywhere else, even in other Jawa. Be the voice of wisdom, so that he may not stray to the Dark Side, and you will both blossom from your partnership."

"Remember your mission." Bastilla warned "You are trying to save the lives of your friends, and prevent further calamity. Nothing more, and nothing less. A final warning. I sense that there is something in the shadows here. I feel that the Jawas are being influenced by an unseen hand. Attacking others like this is not their way."

Koi listened closely, frowning when Bastilla mentioned her own personal history. The history, she sensed, was important. Sometime history was merely a story of a long time ago in a galaxy far away.  But ancient trails and old spoor sometimes held a quiet, helpful wisdom.  A cache of seeds, or even an abandoned shelter.

But the self-remonstrating bothered her.  It reminded he a little of her father, who was always shadowed by his inability to do more to protect his Wookie colleagues and the plants of distant planets -- which were often destroyed by the First Order's greed. In the state of spiritual balance necessary to use the Force, it is a little easier to see the quiet potential of Koi's spirit. The respite and protection of the branches-yet-to-grow. The refreshment of the fruit and flowers she might someday grow. "M'am, I am grateful you are here now.  I reckon that tragic old man is too.  The evil of others cannot be undone by a single hand, no matter how skilled. That you tried to hold it back is all anyone or this Force could ask. Perhaps you are so great a Jedi that you can see every out come, and my words our foolish.  But if you were my sister I would tell you we can. We can only put our shoulder into the push, and hope it is enough. And you did."

She pauses and refocuses to the problem at hand,"If there is so much ancient conflict in this city, are there secret ways through the city that we might use to sneak into the First Order jail and back out again? I recall that old cities are often built on top of each other, like a river-weasel might build a nest on the previous years. I would much rather use stealth and cunning -- and spare my friends and Wix so much trouble."


Koi adds thoughtfully, "I had thought it might have been Wix that blew up the generator in the market place. In a fit of mischief. Or the anger of Mr. Maul. Is there another? It certainly egged the First order to more paranoia and violence."

OOC: Plant metaphors just seem to fit Koi. :) Minor edit for grammar as my proof reading is 100x better after I post.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:40, Sun 25 Oct 2020.

"You have friends and resources in the present that can answer that question better than I." Bastilla responded. "Where a road does not already exist, one must often build one."

"You show your wisdom in assessing your small friend. I am certain Wix is responsible. He has been content to be a disruptive nuisance to the First Order. What he and his friends are plotting is something different. This is a hostile act, and one has to wonder what droids they think would be able to fight against trained soldiers, and how they would have gotten their hands on them."

"I wish that I could be of more help, but take heart knowing that I am with you, and that I applaud your commitment to the nonviolent means."

"I appreciate you being here." Koi admits with a strained smile, "this..it's a lot of responsibility that I only recently learned that I had. I'm glad I have you and Wix as friends."

She waits until the Spirit fades away before she goes to find Wix.  It only seems polite by her archaic fringe rules of politeness.  "Hey Wix, I talked to my spirit friend -- the one who helped with the angry spirit." She hesitates to break the bad news."She thinks it's a bad idea to attack the First Order directly. She thinks the First Order will use it as an excuse retaliate harshly against your friends, or any Jawa they can find. I think I agree with her that this not a good risk.

If we can, I think we should sneak my friends out. Then I think we should go to the New Republic for help. I can help translate for you so that we can make an alliance. Then when we stand against the First Order, we will have more people, ships, and resource to help prevent a harsh retaliation."

Koi pauses, "She mentioned that this planet and city are much older than most people think. That there have been many cities and wars here - a long time ago.  Are there any tunnels or places under the First Order bases we could use to sneak into and out of their base or their prison?  I think knowledge and cleverness are going to be our best weapons for now."

Wix clapped his hands excitedly "Dig! Make Droid Dig! Diggy Diggy Hole! Smart Jedi! We go meet friends, before trouble." Pointing down the ramp of the ship

Koi felt relief like a cool breeze that Wix wasn't disappointed by the change in plans. And then, as usual, she felt confusion. "Sounds like a good plan. So, you want to take the speeder out, get some droids, bring them back, and dig from the hanger into the jail? And then sneak out through the tunnel?"

Koi didn't usually consider herself slow in the brain meats, but she was starting to wish Wix could draw her a picture or something..

Koi could be forgiven for feeling dizzy around Wix. The Jawa was impetuous to a fault, seemingly acting on the first thought that entered its mind.

"Ohhhh! Good Idea! Wix planned on digging from Sandcrawler. Further away, harder to detect. Still trouble of getting friends back to ship."

Wix looked around for a moment as it thought "Have to change whirry whirry droid into diggy diggy droid. Big droid, hard to sneak in."

"Alright," Koi agreed. "I'll bring some tools, and we'll go out on the speeder to see if we can change up these droids for digging. Maybe we can put them in a hauler with some umm..broken used parts to hide them and sneak them into your shop, but let's go see how big they are and figure out how many we'll need to dig."

Koi hesitates for a moment, "Wix?  My spirit friend warned me about something else.  She said that someone or something was trying to push your people to fight too soon. Will you help me look out for that kind of thing?  I am worried that there is another bad spirit like Mr. Maul out there. I'm not as good at..sensing things..as you are -- will you let me know if you feel something rotten trying to sneak in?"

Wix was silent as he looked out into the distance for a moment. "Wix may know." He replied "Not Sith. Not Jedi. Trader. Big words. Big smile. Sold us whirry whirry droid, really cheap."

He starts to head down the ramp again, heading for the speeder "Take droids apart, bring to city. Make changes, put together. Diggy diggy hole."

"Hmm.." Koi comments opaquely, the look on her face suggesting that she doesn't like this fellow.  She gathers the tools she thinks they might need for this plan -- both the tools and Wix are carefully packed on to the speeder.

"Alright, tap my left side if we need to go left, right side if need to go right -- shout if we need to stop."  She turns around and smiles, "and hold on tight if we need to go faster."

OOC: To the ship! :D

Thankfully this departure did not involve another chase from First Order soldiers, or a confrontation with the Tuskans.

The Dune Sea was immense and barren, which ironically made finding the Sandcrawler relatively easy; it was the only thing out there that moved. The hulking brutes of a land carrier did not stop quickly, but after a loop around it, the mobile Jawa home did come to a halt. The entrance hatch lowered slowly with a lot of clattering and an unhealthy noises; these machines were old, and while Jawas were ingenious at keeping things going, most were not proper and true "mechanics", certainly not to keep something like this running as well as it should.

Wix hopped off in a hurry, and as he did there was a sea of high pitched cheering. It was difficult to ascertain exactly what they were talking about, given the speed and number of voices. It started to sound like an argument sharply, and the change in body language started to match.

A slightly taller Jawa steps away and begins to speak to you

"You! Ruin Plans! Jawa fight back! Now you take droid, take Wix, take friends. You no give to Jawa! No deal! You want help, you give help! Or we fight First Order, with or without Jedi."

Koi regarded the tall Jawa calmly, thinking: this would be a lot easier if I understood their language better.  But she tries not to let her uncertainty come through her words, "You're right. I don't think you should fight. I think you should fight and *win*.  And winning means more than fighting once with a few robots. I want to free my friends so they can take me and Wix to the Alliance.  Wix is clever and can convince the Alliance to come and help you fight.

If you fight today, you'll only fight with a few people. Sure I'll help -- but many will die. And you do not have enough to fight for more than a day or two. You do not have enough to defeat them all. And after the fight, the First Order will kill many of you. Even those that do not fight will be killed. With the help of the Alliance -- you will have more help. And more importantly the First Order will not be able to retaliate afterwards and hurt the innocent among you."

She adds, "I am true friend to Wix and his friends. I want success not for a day, but a hundred seasons. I am sorry it will take longer, but to act now is to drive a vehicle half built and with a half-filled power cell. It does not go far enough and leaves you in a bad place."

21:56, Today: Midichlorians rolled 18 on Behalf of Koi Sundar using 1d20+1 ((17)).

The tall, angry Jawa stared with his blank luminous eyes for a moment before turning back to the huddle. More angry conversations were had, with several heads moving between you and Wix.

"Fine!" The angry one protested, his hands up "We Help Wix! We Help You! We Help Friends! But you help us! Wix in debt to clan. Come back, pay debts, or shame forever!"

Wix's headed sunk a little, fearing what may happen if he's never able to fulfill the nebulous end of his bargain.

"Now! Inside!" The tall one called as he went into the Sandcrawler with the rest following behind. As you followed the trail, Wix lingered behind a little until he was alongside you.

The inside of these giant tanks was a maze. It would be amazing for any of them to be able to say definitively what they had and where they got it. This was a droid's horror show and an obsessive compulsives worst nightmare, but among the clutter there were a few standouts.

In the corner, you were able to immediately peace together that it was the droid Wix was talking about, even though he hadn't described it by name.

"The Whirry Whirry Droid", an updated and modern model of the Droideka from the Clone Wars.

https://i.pinimg.com/564x/c0/6...cb99a61479d856ce.jpg" data-lightbox="images-msg-91">https://i.pinimg.com/564x/c0/6...cb99a61479d856ce.jpg" alt=''>
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:11, Sat 07 Nov 2020.

Koi gave a long exhale of relief as the Angry Jawa was convinced by her surprisingly  eloquent words. She ducks her head to follow him through the narrow, precarious corridor.  She tries to will some reassurance to Wix; she doesn't understand Jawa debt, but Koi is sure that their plan is the better one.

And yet, as she squeeze past the indifferently lit, stacks of scavenged tools she supresses a shudder at the broken droids. Especially since some models probably are (or were) sentient. The thought: I'm going to have nightmares about this later.. skitters across her mind.

But the 'whirry whirry droid' brings her up short. She can almost hear the distant screams of Jawa from a hopefully averted future. Releasing a war-droid on the paranoid outpost of the First Order would be an mitigated disaster. "Holy Lover of Thorns.." she whispers in horror. Were they just going to turn it on and let it loose?

"How..It's just this one?" She asks quietly. Praying that they don't have more of these terrible war machines.

Wix nodded quietly.

"Just one. Help from offworlder. Someone in Republic. Said would bring more help. Or try to."

Wix moves close up to it "Good order. Not used. Needs power. Take apart, bring to city. Change whirry-whirry to diggy-diggy."

He motioned to follow along for the miscellaneous piles of droid parts. "Swap parts, need find parts."

The rest of the Jawas seemed to be in this act as well, scurrying through their unorganized collection.

Make a perception check, but feel free to communicate any dialogue.

Taking 10 is an option here. You can also take 20, but this means the act will take 20 times as long, lengthening the time your friends are imprisoned and who know what may be happening.

OOC: Let's take ten.  I think a botch here would end this storyline really quick :D.  Can Wix, the Spirit, or the other Jawa assist?

Perception: 16 using 1d20+6 ((10)).


"That's fine..but let's disarm this fellow before we get any further. And maybe find a manual. Koi murmured, trying to organize how she was going to do this.  It was a huge undertaking. "Did he have a name? Or is there a picture?  I'm not sure he was telling the truth about who he was -- the Spirit didn't like him."

She takes a deep breath to calm herself, and thinks as clearly as she can to the Spirit: Can you help? I've never worked on a military droid before..

OOC: Your results are sufficient, especially with the Jawas helping. They'll also be doing most of the work, so no Mechanics check for you. Your main task will be getting the deconstructed portions into the city and actually getting your friends free.

Wix shrugged at the question "Wix no there. No know name."

Soon, there was a varied pile of replacement parts suitable for the task. The droideka would still move by rotation and have it's shield, but its weapons systems would be swapped for a variety of appendages: drills, shovels, and claws. The Jawas not involved in finding the parts were busy taking the droid apart. Although the work was diligent, they made no attempt to have the parts sorted or organized.

Make a straight intelligence check for ensuring everything is getting on board your speeder, and a wisdom check for the best way to pack them.

Koi twitched with the urge to organize the parts herself, but before she indulged her inner Captain Control she tried to think about why the Jawa 'disorganized' things as they did.  It would be difficult for an outsider to figure out what was going on and take something they needed.  Perhaps this would be a better way of doing things..assuming it would still fit on the speeder. 

As the heap of parts grew, Koi ran her hand through her hair and started sorting the pieces. There were just too many to shove in her speeder's storage compartments. Small or delicate components were wrapped and organized in bags or her under-the-seat case.  Long things were wrapped with cord and a tarp put over anything that might be damaged by sand.  Really, it wasn't that different that packing branch samples for her dad..except there were so many of them.

Eventually there was a hump on the back of her speeder like a bubble turtle shell, complete with a handle for Wix.

OOC: Survival (wis) = 18 using 1d20+6 ((12)).

Wix quietly climbed onto the top, grabbing the handle with one hand and holding a pistol of some sort with the other. He seemed to linger his tiny glowing eyes on the other Jawas he was leaving, though neither he nor they were waving or extending farewells.

Koi pauses before she starts the speeder. "Are you okay, Wix?"  She asks softly.  "If you want to say goodbye, I can wait a few minutes."

Once Wix says his goodbyes..or not. Koi drives her speeder more cautiously back towards the city. I'm going to need a good story if I'm stopped. There is no way I'm outrunning anyone with this big guy strapped to my speeder.

With all of the activity in the day, the guards were put on higher alert, and did stop you at the gate.

"That's quite the load you got there" One said through his helmet "Care to account for all this, and your friend?" he pointed towards Wix, who was still having a tight grip on his weapon, especially as the other  soldier approached him.

Koi shrugs with the sullen disinterest of someone not getting paid enough to care. "He hired me to haul this junk to his shop. Apparently some idiot crashed in the desert recently and he was eager to get his hands on the scraps before the competition did. Looks like crap to me, but I get paid either way."

Midichlorians, on behalf of Koi Sundar, rolled 13 using 1d20+1.  Persuasion.

"Hey, I've seen this one before" The second soldier says "This little womp rat runs a shop near the hangar, sells droid parts and a lot of other scrap. Never could figure out how he got his hands on his better finds..."

The soldier tries to pull the various flaps and folds to get a peak inside, but Wix makes a quick push with his weapon to back off. The soldier grabs for his sidearm but is motioned to stand down

"Take your word on it," Said the first to the second "Never could tell one of them apart from the other. If that's the case than you're clear to go through. Just mind your friend, Jawas will take anything that isn't nailed to the ground."

The guard motions you through, allowing you to head straight to the Gammorean Rose.

Koi waits to turn a couple corners before she shivers apprehensively, "That was a close one, Wix.  I'm not so good at coming up with sweet-talking words. That's more Mel's territory."

She is eager for the relative privacy of the hanger. It's not until the hanger door is clangs shut that she can feel the muscles in her back start to relax.  Hopefully they'll be safe here for a little while -- at least until they can get their mission underway.  "Alright, let's put this fellow back together.."

17:06, Today: Midichlorians, on behalf of Wix, rolled 12 using 1d20+10.  Mechanics.
17:05, Today: Midichlorians, on behalf of Koi Sundar, rolled 9 using 1d20+7.  Mechanics.
Not super great for either of you, but working together is reducing the total time to complete this.

The going in the seclusion of the ship was slow. The twin suns of Tattooine were finally beginning to set before all the parts were taken out and laid out an cogent manner. On one hand, it was your unfamiliarity with specific mechanisms of this droid. On the other hand, it was Wix's erratic behavior and inability to stay focused on a single task. Frequently, he would go between removing and sorting parts to trying to fit parts together that he believed fit together. Than, on the third hand, was the fact that you were trying to fit components to this droid that it wasn't meant to have.

"Aww..come on Wix, we need to lay things out or I'll get confused..I don't want to miss a piece." She chides him gently.  Koi was starting to get irritated and upset -- she missed Mel.  Mel's soothing rumble helped he keep perspective when she was trying to figure out a hard mechanical puzzle. "A neat workspace is the first and second step to a neat solution." She had heard that phrase so often, she could almost feel the rumble of his voice in her bones. When she inquired about the additional steps, "Insight, improvisation, and ouch! Deep-ones damn this brackish bolt!...No, it's not profanity--very funny my dear lumpfish. It's mentorship and practice. Look where things come together when you need insight.."

In truth, she was worried about her friends. It wouldn't be fair to take her fears out on Wix.  He was helping her a lot and trying the best he could.

Were they alright?  How would they find them? 
"Wix, is there a tunnel under the hanger? I wish we had a map.."

12:48, Today: Midichlorians, on behalf of Wix, rolled 28 using 1d20+10.
12:48, Today: Midichlorians, on behalf of Koi Sundar, rolled 25 using 1d20+7.  Mechanics.

Wix heeded the advice he was being given, and took a more methodical, procedural process to the work at hand. Once he was able to focus, and once all the parts were sorted, getting the droid put together was much smoother.

The Jawa shook his head, "Not into base, keep away from there. No worry," He said as he finished attaching the last piece "Diggy Diggy droid make fresh tunnel quickly. We guide droid. Force guide us..."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:01, Sun 15 Nov 2020.

"Sounds like a good plan."  Koi stood up and stretched. "Alright, let me get Mr. Diggitidy plugged in."  She ran a power conduit from the generator to the hold where they assembled the droid.  Once she determined that the adapter was well seated in the droid's power socket, she gingerly eased into the cockpit and turn on the generator.  "Alright, here goes nothing, hopefully he charges okay."


"I'm going to try to sense my friends in the spirit realm while he's charging." Koi asked Wix, "could you keep a look out for trouble while I do?"

She found a quiet spot in the lounge and sat down.  The familiar surrounding helped her remember those little moments that revealed her friends' personalities to her.  Using those memories to help her focus she closed her eyes and tried to find them in the sea of life around her.

Focussing in meditation, you are able to extend your minds eye beyond your physical body. You can see your friends, all bound and in energy fields to be detained. You sense guards outside, but nobody on the inside, believing the room to be secure and safe.

You see where in the base they are being held, and can internalize how to get there using the droid

Wix rolled 24 using 1d20+10 ((14)) Mechanics

The modified Droideka II powered up and operational, it's guided out of the ship and into a corner of the hangar to minimize wayward noise and attention. From there, it begins to dig efficiently, if a bit awkwardly with its modified components.

"It Works!" Wix calls out in joy in the evening air.

Wix's enthusiasm coaxes a smile from Koi. "Yes! celebratory soft tapping of hands!" She exclaims as she holds her hand out to Wix.

"While he's digging, I will collect some supplies. Can you think of anything we should bring? I thought helmets, a medical kit, and some fusion lanterns would be useful.  And a spare breathing pack for the captain."  And of course she has an extra blaster or two -- in case the Captain and Oro need to fight their way out. Her own blaster might be set to stun, but she isn't sure she can prevent all violence in adventure.

OOC: Otherwise Koi is ready to go :)

"Good thinking! Jedi always have plan! Wix keep on lookout!"

In the short time that you went aboard the ship to gather supplies, there was little to be heard other than the latent hum of the hyperdrive, always ready to engage, and the digging of the droid. Just as you finish up, you hear a distinctive sound - two bolts from a blaster. By the time you make it out, you see a First Order soldier on the ground, with Wix desparately trying to drag him across the ground out of sight.

"Oh Wix.." she sighs quietly.  After a quick look around to make sure she isn't seen, she strides over to the soldier and hauls him out of sight.  She checks and sees whether he's alive and likely to make noise anytime soon.

19:35, Today: Koi Sundar rolled 14 using 1d20+6 ((8)).

This message was last edited by the player at 01:36, Fri 20 Nov 2020.

The soldier is just stunned, likely a setting on Wix's heavily modified weaponry. While not dead, he's also thankfully nowhere close to waking up anytime soon.

Knowledge Life Science: You can reasonably expect to stay out long enough for you to do your work, assuming there aren't any other distractions or problems.

The soldier addressed, there was enough of a hole dug that it could more be described as the beginning of a tunnel, as the droid started boring on the path it was given.

Wix was first to hop in, being underground seemingly natural for him. It was admittedly unsteady for you, especially once the thought of a collapse started to set in. By that point you reckoned you were half way across, and it would be faster to just keep going.

The modified Droideka has some issue as it starts digging upwards in the curve, but manages after only a slight hitch. Before you know it, it's cracking through the foundation above, and you're poking through the floor of a First Order brig, with your friends and crewmmates looking at you and Wix in utter bewilderment.

Koi sighed, running a hand through her hair. She was glad he was alive and likely to stay that way..but now what?  And of course Wix has run off..

Guessing the droid wouldn't get to much farther in the next minute, she check the soldier gingerly to make sure he wasn't being actively tracked.  And she took his comm away from him -- and crushed it.   Then she put him, gently, in one of the smuggler compartments under the deck plating and shoved some heavy boxes on top of it for good measure.  The last thing she wanted was a random First Order soldier wandering around the ship.

Hopefully if he woke up, no one would hear him or find him for a while.  "Sorry," she murmured, "best I can do for now."

Koi locked up the ship and hanger, and turned off the lights.  Then she gathered her equipment, strapped on a helmet, and followed Wix down the tunnel.  Rubble from the ceiling clanked against her helmet more than once, plasteel and centuries old bricks scraped her arms, and her clothes were heavily smeared in sand and dust. She probably looked like very bedraggled dust-urchin when she pokes her head out of the hole.  "Oh thank the First tree, you're in the same brig. Captain," She whispered, "it's Koi - we're breaking you out." She levers herself out of the hole, so she can help them down. "hurry..please.."

I realize I might be kidnapping a first order soldier, but it was the best Koi could reasonably come up with at the time.  Besides, adds spice --right?

Stand by, multiple posts coming in, in rapid succession.


The Jawa waved at his new friends, even as they stood in shock.

"What in the h?" Captain Torin started before cutting himself off "How did you find us? Where did you find this, thing?" As he looked at the modified droid.

"Now's not the time!" Oro, being the impatient pragmatist "With all that noise it won't take long for them to start getting curious. Everyone in, I'll cover you on the way back."

"Don't count on it, tadpole" The Herglic said as he squared himself above the space "There's no dignified way I'm fitting in there, and I won't have you being held back on my account. You first, I'll cover you"

"No way!" Oro called out in response "I'm not leaving you behind"

"Than don't" Mel responded stubbornly, "but I'm not letting you go behind me, now move!"

With everyone in, Melveleh brought up the rear, crawling through where others were able to walk hunched over. Beyond the grunts behind you, you hear the distinct shout of a human guard, discovering what's taken place, followed by strange metallic sounds, as the droid which was left behind starts to go berserk.

Koi is awash with relief as Oro-Qiebra takes charge and practically pushes Captain Ploon into the tunnel.  The Captain could as questions for hours -- but now is the worst time for his curiosity.  "Follow Wix -- he'll lead you back to the ship.  He's my friend."

Sorry Mr. Diggitidy.. Koi winces as the modified Droideka goes berserk.  She isn't completely surprised that it went off programming -- something seemed very shading about that guy selling the droid so cheap.  But she was hoping to get Mr. Diggitidy out too.  At least he'll buy them some time..?  And maybe he'll even collapse the brig.

"Mel?  If you see a way to collapse the tunnel behind you, let me know?" She asks as she shepherds her friends back through the tunnel. "I think we have a little time before they can come through the tunnel after us..but I wouldn't mind if it took them a little longer."  She is practically vibrating with the silent urge to hurry her friends through the tunnel as quickly as possible.

"We'll be lucky if it doesn't collapse on me!" He shouted back angrily. "This is an affront to nature, what I'm doing right now!" His gruntings and shuffling through the tunnel muffled out any further sound as you got further away.

Thankfully, as you made your way back and came out the other side, there were no First Order soldiers or other threats waiting for you.


As Mel started to appear as well, Oro and Wix tried, to the degrees they were able, to help pull the big guy out of the hole. No sooner than he got out there was a small rumbling sound

"Oh now what is it?" Mel called out loud. To everyone's surprise, the modified droid returned as well. There was some minor carbon scoring from blaster fire and a few scratches, but otherwise it seemed okay.

"Sorry Mel." Koi winced, Mel was being scraped up in these tunnels. "I didn't watch the droid move around much before it started digging. I thought he'd have to swing his arms more. It was sloppy programming on my part and I have no excuse except that I was real worried."

After Mel popped out of the whole like the cork in a sparkle-wine bottle, she was surprised to hear someone else in the tunnel. Mr. Diggity hardly worse for wear.  Practically no blood on his shovel even.

"Mr. Diggity!" Koi exclaimed joyfully. Her smile and enthusiasm made her look young. "You came back! I am so glad. Thank you for protecting us."   She asked, "will you please push this rubble back in the hole, and then come on the ship? You're part of the team."

She looks more seriously to the Captain, Wix, and Oro. "I think if we leave quickly, we might be in hyperspace before they look for the ship. I know I have a lot of explaining to do, but can it wait 'til then?"

OOC: Yay! Mr. Diggity! :D

"Let's get airborne. When everyone is safe, and we finally get to our mission, we'll have all the time we need to talk, and I'm sure there's lots to explain..."

As everyone started making their way to the ramp of the ship, Torin had an objection to one of the members "wait
, who is that and what is he doing getting aboard my ship?"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:33, Thu 26 Nov 2020.

"Err.."  Koi was too embarrassed to meet anyone's gaze. "He was investigating the digging noise or something..anyway Wix stunned him and I..improvised.  I thought he'd be less noticeable in the ship."

She runs a hand through her hair. "I figured worse case scenario we could stash him in an escape pod before we jump, or let him out on the next planet or something."

"Wix? Who's Wix?" He asks in response, and receives a tug on his leg by the Jawa as an answer

"Oh, well I have some questions about him too, but first we need to talk about why you chose to leave a soldier unaccompanied on my ship."

"It's the enemy" Chimed in Oro, who waited no time in retrieving her weapon "there's a simple solution to this"

As if possessed, the soldier suddenly bolted from his slumber, shaking and scurrying as he found himself in a strange place.

He pulls his helmet off and raises his hands "whoa! Hey!"

Koi sighs. She was really hoping that most of these conversations could happen in hyperspace. Getting off this planet is their first priority. Although to be fair, the stormtrooper conversation should probably happen now.

"You can't kill him, Oro.  He's surrendered -- his hands are in the air and he's probably going to sit down on the floor, so you won't think he's going to try anything suspicious." She hints, not at all subtly, to the stormtrooper.

She apologizes to the stormtrooper and looks tired. It's been a hard day for her, and even if shooting it him would be a lot less complicated, it wouldn't be right. "I'm sorry this happened, I think you may be in trouble either way. Our best options are to stun you and dump you gently in a hole, or take you with us and drop you on the next planet with a spaceport. Do you have a preference?"
This message was last edited by the player at 20:35, Thu 26 Nov 2020.

The engine of the Gampporean Rose guns as Mel prepares his departure.

The soldier looks stunned, while Oro looks frustrated that you would defend him. His mind races.

"I do not care," He blurts out, some degree of courage finding him again "If you leave me somewhere, they will charge me with treason, and kill me. If you leave me here, they will charge me with cowardice or abetting the enemy, and kill me. You may as well kill me and get it over with. I would rather die with honor at the hands of rebel scum than be killed by those I thought were my friends."

He gulps hard, looking up at you with hard eyed "that, or let me accompany you. If I am to die a traitor, I would rather I be guilty of what I am charged."

The cruelty of the First Order is like a thorn in her heart.  She didn't think that they were particularly nice to their soldiers, but her imagination failed to predict that they would be more cruel, in some ways, to their own.

She quickly translates for Wix, "He says the First order will kill him either way. He wishes to come with us or die here."

But then Koi straightens her shoulders and tries to meet the challenge in the soldier's hard eyes. She feels a responsibility: she brought him on board. Koi tries to read his intention in his eyes and posture; she even takes a deep, slow breath and reaches out with her intuition. "Are you sure?" She asks quietly, watching his response closely. "I'm not going anywhere it would be easy for you to follow."

Ooc: Wix can understand Basic, but can't speak it

"I understand" he replied with strong certainty "And I am sure of this as I have been of most anything." He breaks his gaze to look up at the ceiling of the ship for a second.

"I have been curious, for many years, whether what we have been told of the fledgling republic and society outside the First Order was true. My entire life has been chosen and directed for me. Before I die, I want to be able to make my own decisions, see the galaxy for myself."

Torin pulled the rifle away from Oro, which she relented to.
"Sounds like we have another explorer at heart. I imagine there's some friends who will want to talk to him after our mission is over. We're going to have to figure out a hot rack situation with our new crew members."

OOC: hot racking is when there isn't enough beds or 'racks' for everyone, so people share beds, one person sleeps while the other works on a rotating shift. In the real world, this is standard procedure on submarines, where space is at a premium.

Koi sighs and relief seems to blow through her whole body. She gives Captain Ploon a shaky smile, full of relief and gratitude. She is glad to have his wisdom in this situation -- Captain Ploon is a good judge of character -- and grateful that he finds the stormtrooper worthy of mercy. "I don't mind sharing," her voice catching a little with her offer.  It's been a long day.

"I'm Koi, by the way." She offers her hand to the stormtrooper.



OOC: Good to know on both accounts.

"Wow" Oro said in shock "that happened fast. I mean he's handsome and everything..." Torin cut her off "that's enough. We'll figure it out later on. I'msure we all have somewhere to be..." as he guided her away.

The Stormtrooper took your hand and got to his feet "AG-0525"

Oro's insinuations took a moment to register.  Like watching an ancient processor come online, Koi's look of confusion when through increasingly rapid phases of understanding, shock, and acute embarrassment. "Oro!" She yelped as scandalized flush bloomed across her face. "That's not what I meant." Koi was almost sure she could hear Oro's chortling in the hall.

"Err..I didn't mean to imply. I'm just glad it worked out for you." Koi stammered awkwardly. She held on to his hand until he was steady on his feet. Then she let go quickly as though some kind of accidental seduction would take place. She desperately changed the subject, "this is my friend Wix." She regained a little of her composure with the polite pleasantries. "You met Captain Ploon and Oro, Mel is flying the ship. Do you have any questions? I would."



OOC: OMG hilarious! Poor Koi..