A nondescript freighter approaches Ord Mantell's capital city of Worlport, setting down in a dusty spaceport near the center of the city. The boarding ramp lowers a moment later as half a dozen mercenaries make their way down the boarding ramp, led by a handsome Falleen male.

A Kuati female dressed in black and crimson padded battle armor glances keenly about the dilapidated spaceport, finger resting on the trigger of the blaster rifle she cradles as they descend the ramp.

"You really think Stro'to is going to fall for this?" she asks in a low voice, leaning closer to the Falleen.

OOC: Fennec Kang rolled 26 using 1d20+13. Spot.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:10, Fri 04 Mar 2022.

The Falleen preens smugly.

"Obviously. Stro'to couldn't find two hydro-socks in a washing basket, in this outfit--" the Falleen gestures down at his nondescript spacer's outfit (which is perhaps a tad fancier and cleaner than most spacers normally wear such outfits) "--he wouldn't know me from Zuckros."

"You might be less conspicuous if you actually wore that helmet you’re carrying," the woman responds pointedly.

"...True," the Falleen allows, begrudgingly putting it on. "How do you helmet-wearers see where you're going properly in these things anyway?" he complains.

He thinks he catches a smug smirk from the slit in the Kuati’s own helmet.

"I still don’t get why we don’t just bomb the kark out of him and be done with it," grunts a burly human male on the Falleen’s other side.

"Because this is about revenge and suffering," the Falleen sniffs loftily. "There's no suffering in being 'bombed the kark' out of, you die instantly without understanding it was my hand that orchestrated your demise because of your greed, and you never realize that nobody gets to cross me without paying the price for it."

The man shrugs and gives an acquiescing grunt.

"Well," he says as they make their way out of the spaceport and into the sparse crowd on the dusty streets, "Our escape ride’s all set. All we need to do is succeed in getting into Stro’to’s audience room and killing him, then blow the roof off the place."
This message was last edited by the player at 12:20, Sat 05 Mar 2022.

"Precisely," the Falleen agrees. "So just make sure you don't get stingy with the parking inspectors this time and get our ride hyrdo-towed, Lendon, and everything will go as smoothly as selling spice to Zeltrons."

The burly man gives a dark grunt at the mention of the previous misfortune, but before he can respond the comlink at the Falleen’s belt begins to beep.

The Falleen scowls down at it and squints through his helmet, checking the caller ID. With a muttered curse, the Falleen petulantly hits "accept", though he sets the call to audio-only with a VPN that most definitely is not his current location.

"This had better be important, Kesh," the Falleen snaps.
This message was last edited by a game editor at 12:40, Sat 05 Mar 2022.

A static filled response crackles through the comlink.

"You wanted to be informed once we reached the site of the wreckage," Kesh replies in Basic with a thick Durese accent, "Well we've arrived, and our Republic officer lived up to his word and the area appears to be clear. The hull is a mess, but it looks like there's some decent salvage left. Gonna take us days to restore any kind of power, though."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:16, Tue 20 June 2023.

The Falleen visibly brightens. (Or would, if his face was not concealed by his helmet.)

"How many day, Kesh? Three, or more than three?"

"Three should be doable," Kesh allows, his breathing heavy and appearing to come from within a space suit, "Assuming we don't get interrupted."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:17, Tue 20 June 2023.

"Three it is," the Falleen rubs his fingers together greedily. "Work carefully and make sure you're not interrupted, Kesh. We don't want problems with local government or other scavengers."

"Understood," Kesh responds as the comlink clicks off.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:18, Tue 20 June 2023.

"You look happy," the Kuati observes, sending the Falleen a sidelong glance as they pass under a stone archway and into a series of narrower streets.

"How would you know, Fennec? You can't see a thing past this helmet," the Falleen snipes, sounding every inch as smugly pleased as any criminal receiving news of a possible shady salvage missing worth millions of credits would be expected to sound.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:32, Sat 05 Mar 2022.

"Right," Fennec chuckles as they continue on.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:31, Sat 05 Mar 2022.

It does not take them long to reach the several story, domed building, formed of faded, dusty stone which serves as Stro’to’s base of operations, and after a few more minutes of trekking the winding, dusty streets they arrive in an alleyway across from the entrance.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:20, Tue 20 June 2023.

Fennec frowns, calling the party to a halt as she peers over a pile of broken canisters.

"No sign of a guard outside," she observes frowning, "And the door is slightly ajar. Either Stro’to is very sloppy or something is amiss."

OOC: Fennec Kang rolled 26 using 1d20+13. Spot.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:31, Sat 05 Mar 2022.

"50 credits says it's option A," the Falleen sneers critically, nevertheless making no effort to move until his minions have scouted the place.

"Wait here with Xizran," Fennec instructs Lendon and the other guards, an Aqualish and a Rodian, as she darts off across the street, keeping to the shadows as best she can.

OOC: Fennec Kang rolled 18 using 1d20+15. Hide.
Fennec Kang rolled 21 using 1d20+13. Move Silently.

"Should have bombed him," Lendon mutters, just loud enough for Xizran to hear.

Fennec makes her way over to the doorway, blaster rifle levelled as she cautiously nudges it open with her foot and picks her way up the darkened flight of stairs within.

"Someone has definitely been through here," she murmurs to Xizran over the comlink on her wrist, "There are bodies everywhere. Stro’to’s guards by the looks of it."

Xizran digests this. (If he remembers the 50-credit bet, he's certainly not bringing it up.)

"Well, he'd better be alive himself. If he's otherwise when you find him, Fennec, I am going to be very put out. Are the cameras down? Is there any point in skulking out here to avoid security if there isn't any to begin with anyway?"

"You aren't going anywhere until I'm satisfied that whoever killed these thugs isn't still inside," comes the low but firm response, "The enemy of your enemy isn't always your friend."

"Fine, fine. But make sure they don't kill him before I can. I didn't go to all the time and effort of coming here in person and getting a professional actor as my decoy just so somebody else could put a blaster bolt through his chest and steal all his classified intel instead of me."

"Mm-hmm," Fennec replies noncommittally as she reaches a large hall in the centre of which is situated a long banqueting table. Several more bodies are strewn across the floor with the lifeless body of a Weequay twisted over a broken chair.

Even as Fennec moves to enter the hall, a figure appears appears out of an entrance from the left of the far side of the room. The figure is wiry Trandoshan dressed in a dark exoskeleton, who hurries into the room, leaping nimbly over the deceased body of a Rodian before hurrying down a staircase on the right hand side of the room.

Fennec waits until a few seconds after the Trandoshan has disappeared before raising her comlink close to her helmet.

"Well someone is still alive in here," she murmurs as she begins to cautiously follow after the Trandoshan, "But he doesn't look like one of Stro'to's boys."

OOC: Fennec Kang rolled 28 using 1d20+15. Hide.
Fennec Kang rolled 15 using 1d20+13. Move Silently.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:35, Sun 06 Mar 2022.

"Typical. I told him for years he should invest in better minions, but did he listen to me?" This seems to be rhetorical because Xizran continues without waiting for a reply: "That worm Stro'to will be hiding if his minions are dying. He lacks the spine to risk his own neck fighting with them, so make sure you monitor for heat signatures in the air vents as well."

"Right," Fennec acknowledges, sending the vents above her a suspicious glance as she heads down the stairway after the Trandoshan. She frowns a moment later, slowing her pace as the sounds of blaster fire and what sounds suspiciously like a lightsaber echo up the stairs. The sounds continue as she slowly descends to peer about the corner at the foot of the stairs.

Fennec peers about just in time to see the Trandoshan collapsing, clutching a hole in his chest as a graceful, blue skinned Twi'lek female deactivates her blue lightsaber, panting slightly. She glances sharply up as Fennec enters the room, igniting her lightsaber once more at the sight of the mercenary's blaster rifle levelled at her.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:03, Sun 06 Mar 2022.

"I didn't think there were any Jedi left in the galaxy," Fennec says coolly, eying the glowing blade.

"I am no Jedi," replies the Twi'lek evenly.

"You don't look like a Sith," Fennec argues.

"You will not harm them," the Twi'lek replies firmly.

"Harm who? Stro'to's men?" Fennec replies, but even as she does so the Twi'lek leaps forward with an agile stroke. Fennec responds even faster, firing off as shot as she tumbles nimbly to the side of the Twi'lek's stroke. Her comlink gives a crackle as it connects heavily with the stone floor, gives a final high pitched beep and is lost in static.

OOC: Fennec Kang rolled 26 using 1d20+8. Initiative.
Layla Secura rolled 25 using 1d20+7. Initiative.

"Kamn'xoth," Xizran hisses. "Lendon, get in there and tell me what's happening."

Ignoring Xizran's order, Lendon swiftly draws his heavy blaster and turns to the Aqualish and Rodian guards, shooting each in the chest before they have time to register what is happening. He then spins back toward Xizran.

OOC: Lendon Vuln dealt 19 points of wound damage to Exchange Thug.
Lendon Vuln dealt 17 points of wound damage to Exchange Thug.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:54, Sun 06 Mar 2022.

While fighting may not be Xizran's strong point, fleeing certainly is.

Between the thud of his first thug and the second, Xizran (well familiar with what that sound means) appears to do some calculations about just which scenario is most likely to end in his continued survival, and by the time Lendon turns to train his blaster on him, Xizran is already bolting for the entrance of Stro'to's unguarded building.

OOC: Xizran rolled 22 using 1d20+6. Initiative.
Lendon Vuln rolled 12 using 1d20+2. Initiative.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:02, Mon 07 Mar 2022.

"Sorry Xizran, but-" Lendon frowns as he realises Xizran is already halfway across the road, hastily leaping a crate to follow after him, "Son of a curn!"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:02, Mon 07 Mar 2022.

Xizran skids inside the doors, gunning for the sound of the distant blaster bolt fire, vaulting gracefully over the strewn bodies in the way at full speed.

OOC: Xizran rolled 23 using 1d20+10. Balance.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:38, Mon 07 Mar 2022.

Lendon moves with surprising agility for his bulky build, matching Xizran's pace as he nimbly negotiates the littered bodies after the Falleen.

OOC: Lendon Vuln rolled 22 using 1d20+2. Balance.

"Lying son of a space slug. You never showed that agility when I was telling you to do things," Xizran mutters, running faster.

Fennec, meanwhile has fired off a rapid series of blasts which her Twi'lek attacker as only narrowly avoided.

"Who exactly is it you think I'm here to kill?" she pants as she ducks to avoid an answering pair of strokes from the blue hued lightsaber, "Surely you don't work for Stro'to."

OOC: Fennec Kang dealt 15 points of vitality damage to Layla Secura.

"What makes you think I don't?" the Twi'lek retorts, as she advances.

"Stro'to would have turned in his own mother for the bounty on Jedi if she walked around holding a lightsaber," Fennec points out as she fires another pair of blasts which force the Twi'lek to halt her advance as she spins and darts backward to avoid them.

OOC: Fennec Kang dealt 26 points of vitality damage to Layla Secura.

"I haven't been swaggering about flourishing it around the palace," retorts the Twi'lek as Fennec dodges two more of her blows with lighting speed, "And I wouldn't have had to blow my cover if you lot didn't show up."

"You don't think I work with these guys do you?" Fennec pauses to glance down at the Trandoshan corpse, almost sounding offended.

The Twi'lek follows her gaze to the Trandoshan, before glancing pointedly at Fennec's remarkably similar outfit, raising a skeptical eyebrow.

"Well I don't," Fennec continues flatly, "I'm only here for Stro'to."

The Twi'lek hesitates, eying Fennec appraisingly. At length she shrugs.

"Unfortunately I cannot allow you to kill him."

OOC: Layla Secura rolled 19 using 1d20+8. Sense Motive.

"'Unfortunately?'" Fennec prompts quizzically.

"He's a complete sleemo," the Twi'lek admits frankly, "But he's my only shot at tracking down the Compeer of the Exchange."

"He knows the identity of the Compeer?" Fennec repeats, eyes widening in genuine surprise.

"Well, he knows-" the Twi'lek breaks off as the sound of hastily running booted feet echoes from the staircase behind them, raising her lightsaber defensively as Fennec raises her own blaster rifle.

Xizran skids into the room and promptly dives under the lightsaber and behind Fennec for cover.

"I don't know what screening process you used to vet your hirelings, Fennec, but frankly speaking, it sucks. Lendon's trying to kill me. Kill him first, then work out whatever you are working out here, and you--," the Xizran seems able to size up in two seconds the muscular build of the twi'lek and capable warrior's stance, "if you're not a Jedi, then I assume you got that lightsaber by killing one, which means you are competent. I will give you 200 credits if you will help dispose of that sleemo karking son of a space slug who is trying to kill me."

(Anyone familiar with mercenary rates would be aware that this is well below normal market rates, but the Falleen seems to be counting on the twi'lek not being aware of this.)

The Twi'lek, clearly expecting more attackers, seems quite taken aback by Xizran fleeing past and skulking behind her. She glances quizzically at Fennec, who ignores her, already moving to the door.

"I'm not a mercenary-" she begins, but is interrupted as yet another set of sprinting booted feet echo down the staircase.

Lendon appears at the doorway a moment later, eyes widening as he takes in Fennec and the lightsaber wielding Twi'lek. He curses as in a fluid motion he turns on his heel and bolts back up the staircase.

"You treacherous karking sleemo!" Fennec snarls as she fires a pair of blasts before sprinting off after him.

Xizran, much more confident now with backup, also pulls out a hold-out blaster and fires a shot after Lendon with the tiny weapon that just barely has the range to get there, and bolts after Fennec (clearly not liking the idea of staying with a twi'lek who may in fact actually be a jedi, bounty or no bounty, since she's saying she's not a mercenary.)

OOC: Xizran dealt 11 points of vitality damage to Lendon.
This message was last edited by a game editor at 05:08, Mon 07 Mar 2022.

The Twi'lek hesitates as the others disappear up the stairs. She glances over to the shadows of a corridor behind her where a group of gaunt and timid looking Twi'lek faces have appeared to peer out fearfully.

"Wait here," she says gently in Ryl before hurrying off after the Xizran.

OOC: Layla Secura has joined the party.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:27, Fri 18 Mar 2022.

Reaching the hall with the banqueting table, Lendon sprints over and slides smoothly over the table before ducking behind it on the far side, using it for cover as he opens fire on Fennec who reaches the entrance to the hall a few seconds later.

OOC: Fennec Kang rolled 12 using 1d20+8. Initiative.
Lendon Vuln rolled 3 using 1d20+2. Initiative.

Fennec remains cool and collected as she fires a couple of well placed blasts. The first strikes Lendon in the shoulder, causing him to give a curse of pain as he staggers backward. The second strikes him in the side as he collapses heavily to the ground. He does not rise.

OOC: Fennec Kang dealt 17 points of wound damage to Lendon Vuln.

"Good work," Xizran enthuses, sounding pleased at the sight of the smoking corpse. "I am reminded yet again of why it is I like you, Fennec. Check if he is dead, and check if he has anything useful in his pockets about who hired him, because whoever did is going to be joining Stro'to on my hitlist."

Fennec is already moving across the room Lendon's body. She kicks his blaster away from his limp hand before crouching to place a hand on his neck.

"He's alive," she asserts briskly after a moment, before performing a quick search of his pockets and belt pouches. She withdraws an assortment of items including a grappling hook, frag grenade, credit chip, medpac, glow rod and a few energy packs. At length she makes a triumphant noise as she withdraws a code cylinder from within a concealed chest pocket.

OOC: Fennec Kang rolled 16 using 1d20+2. Search.

Xizran looks tempted to do something about the fact that Lendon is alive, but at the sight of the code cylinder, he seems to temporarily forget about thoughts of cold-blooded murder.

The Twi'lek reaches the hall a few moments later, brushing past Xizran as she quickly moves over to the staircase on the far side. She spares the code cylinder a glance as she passes but continues on her way toward the staircase.

"I suggest you two leave," she informs them as she passes.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:39, Tue 08 Mar 2022.

Fennec quickly rises as the Twi'lek passes, pocketing the code cylinder as she strides after her.

"You mentioned Stro'to knew the identity of the Compeer?" she prompts.

Xizran pockets the frag grenade, the credit chip, the grappling hook, and the energy packs. (He leaves Lendon the glow rod.)

"Compeer?" Xizran echoes, hastening after his minion to catch up with the twi'lek.

The Twi'lek does not seem impressed at the pair persisting in following her, frowning for a moment before shrugging as she continues on.

"I don't know if he knows the identity of the Compeer," she clarifies, "But he's convinced the Compeer has a secret treasure vault and believes he has located it on Kashyyyk. I'm sure he knows more about the exact location but I haven't been able to ascertain anything further yet. Locating that vault is my best shot at tracing it back to the Compeer."

Xizran's eyes narrow calculatingly under his helmet at the mention of 'treasure'.

"Fennec, see whether you can work out where the worm is hiding. Fifty credits says it's in an air vent with his reserve stashes of spice. And maybe raid somebody's body for another comlink. Your old one broke, and that's inconvenient when I have assassins chasing after me."

Fennec concedes the logic of this, and doubles back to remove Lendon's wrist comlink and attach it to her own.

"I know where Stro'to will be hiding," Layla says confidently, "But I won't help you in locating him if you only plan to kill him."

"We have no plans to 'only' kill him," Xizran promises. "If I just wanted him dead, I'd have hired somebody to crash a starship into the building. So spill. Where is the worm, and what is your name, and how do you know where he is in the first place?"

The Twi'lek glances at Xizran appraisingly, but once more she shrugs.

"My name is Layla," she says at length, "I entered Stro'to's palace here under the guise of a slave and have been spying on his activities for the past few months. Why do you two want Stro'to?"

"I would have thought the thug chasing after me trying to shoot me was an ample indication of why I want to have words with Stro'to. Or do I only get to mind if I'm murdered if I'm a helpless, starving slave?" Xizran says snidely, taking a vague stab at what is most likely to be motivating Layla based on her claim of pretending to be a slave and those heads that poked out of hiding (that Xizran most definitely didn't spot while they were hiding) when he was leaving the room.

OOC: Xizran rolled 7 using 1d20+6.  Spot Check.
This message was last edited by a game editor at 23:26, Tue 08 Mar 2022.

"He was working for Stro'to?" Layla replies, frowning, "I've never seen-"

She breaks off as the sound of voices can be heard from the top of the stairs above them.

"He's got to be here somewhere," says a gruff voice in basic, "Search the ventilation systems and secure the entrance. He doesn't leave here alive."

"What about Drel, Gorak and Vlussk?" grunts another voice with a strong Durese accent, "Still no word from them since we lost contact in the slave quarters."

"Take Gorm and Draneg and find out what's happening down there," responds the other voice as the sound of approaching footsteps can be heard from above them.

Fennec glances quickly at Xizran as she readies her blaster and backs into the shadows.

OOC: Fennec Kang rolled 19 using 1d20+15. Hide.
Fennec Kang rolled 20 using 1d20+13. Move Silently.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:59, Wed 09 Mar 2022.

Xizran narrows his eyes under his helmet and activates his stealth field generator.

OOC: Xizran rolled 28 using 1d20+10. Hide Check.

Layla also attempts to slip into the shadows on the far wall from Fennec.

OOC: Layla Secura rolled 17 using 1d20+7. Hide.

A Duros appears at the top of the staircase a few moments later, a Devaronian and Gamorrean on either side of him. All are dressed in dark combat jumpsuits, and all carry modified blaster rifles. The Duros halts as he spots Fennec and Layla, cursing in Durese as he raises his blaster rifle and fires at Fennec. The Kuati mercenary gives a loud curse as the blast strikes her in the arm, forgetting all attempts at stealth as she raises her own blaster in response.

OOC: Delruun Zhug rolled 28 using 1d20+8. Initiative.
Gorm rolled 18 using 1d20+1. Initiative.
Layla Secura rolled 15 using 1d20+7. Initiative.
Draneg Vhrak rolled 13 using 1d20+3. Initiative.
Xizran rolled 12 using 1d20+6. Initiative.
Fennec Kang rolled 8 using 1d20+7. Initiative.

Delruun Zhug rolled 28 using 1d20+8. Spot.
Delruun Zhug dealt 5 points of wound damage to Fennec Kang.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:05, Wed 09 Mar 2022.

The Gamorrean raises his own rile and fires at Layla as she charges at him up the corridor. The blast whizzes a few centimeters past her face as she narrowly tumbles beneath the blast.

OOC: Gorm dealt 11 points of vitality damage to Layla Secura.

Xizran seems to feel that staying where he is and not being shot at is the most sensible course of action here. He stays where he is, waiting for his minion(s) to dispose of the intruders.

Rolling up, Layla slashes at the Gamorrean who darts backward, narrowly avoiding the blade of energy which passes near enough to singe his armor.

OOC: Layla Secura dealt 11 points of vitality damage to Gorm.

"Jedi!" shouts the Devaronian in alarm as he hastily fires at Layla, his blasts not coming close to striking her.

Teeth gritted Fennec advances, blasting at the Duros who struck her, causing him to drop to the floor with a curse as he narrowly avoids her blasts.

OOC: Fennec Kang dealt 32 points of vitality damage to Delruun Zhug.

The Duros curses again as his blaster slips from his grasp, scrambling to snatch it up as he fires a blast at Fennec which strikes the wall a meter above her.

The Gamorrean fires at Layla, singing her arm but gives a squeal of surprise a moment later as Layla extends her hand, palm first, in a push that sends his rifle flying from his grasp and skidding across the floor.

OOC: Gorm dealt 17 points of vitality damage to Layla Secura.

The Gamorrean jumps for his blaster, scrambling to avoid Layla's strokes as she follows after him.

OOC: Layla Secura dealt 22 points of vitality damage to Gorm.

The Devaronian continues to fire frantically at Layla, but in his terror his blasts still do not come close to striking the Twi'lek.

The Duros rises, taking aim at Fennec, but even as he does a blast from Fennec strikes him squarely in the chest, sending him flying several meters backwards to skid heavily across the floor and into the wall behind. He does not rise.

OOC: Fennec Kang dealt 19 points of wound damage to Delruun Zhug.

Ignoring his blaster, the Gamorrean swings a vibro axe from his back, sweeping it around in a savage blow at the pursuing Layla. The Twi'lek is taken completely by surprise at the blow which cuts her cleanly across the chest and the force of which throws her heavily against the wall of the corridor with a sickly crunch. Her lightsaber deactivates as she collapses, unmoving onto the stairs.

OOC: Gorm dealt 21 points of wound damage to Layla Secura.

The Devaronian turns his attention to Fennec, cursing and shaking his weapon as his shots once more fly wide.

OOC: Draneg Vhrak dealt 12 points of vitality damage to Fennec Kang.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:55, Wed 09 Mar 2022.

Fennec opens fire as the Gamorrean turns his attention to her, charging down the stairs at her as she fires at him. She does not flinch as he reaches her, raising his ax. She blasts him first in the shoulder, then chest as he gives a feeble squeak as the weapon slips from his grasp and his smoking body collapses backward.

OOC: Fennec Kang dealt 35 points of vitality damage to Gorm.
Fennec Kang dealt 22 points of wound damage to Gorm.

Even as the Gamorrean collapses, a man dressed in Mandalorian armor appears at the top of the stairs, followed by a Rodian male and a Twi'lek female.

"Who is this karker?" he growls, putting out a hand to stop the Devaronian who is halfway through pulling out a frag grenade, "You want to bring this whole building down?" he barks before cursing as a blast from Fennec whizzes a few inches past his head.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:07, Wed 09 Mar 2022.

At that moment, a much more sinister shot is fired, which strikes the frag grenade partly pulled out by the Deveronian. There is a split second and an ominous beep, followed by a deafening explosion.

The man in the Mandalorian armor has barely time to curse as the pair behind him both give cries as they are engulfed in an explosion of fire and shrapnel. There is a loud rumble as dust and rock showers down from above them as part of the roof above caves in. An ominous crack forms its way down the roof of the stair case to where Fennec and Xizran stand, sending a small cloud of dust down on them as it comes to a halt above them. The dust clears to reveal that half the corridor has collapsed, with the man in the Mandalorian armor's boots and the Devaronian's arm both protruding from beneath the rubble on unnatural angles.

Fennec coughs as the cloud of dust passes them, wincing as she clutches her side, leaning back against the wall behind her for support. Then she grins before beginning to laugh despite the pain in her side.

"And that's why you don't mess with the Exchange," she says, panting as she still clutches her side.

Xizran snorts, before tossing her the medpac he appropriated from Lendon. (He fails to spare any attention for the fallen Twi'lek.)

"Indeed. So..." Xizran looks at the collapsed tunnel, then at Fennec expectantly. "How are we getting to Stro'to?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:07, Thu 10 Mar 2022.

Fennec catches the medpac with her free hand, skillfully opening it and injecting it into the scorched hole in her side. She seems to recover slightly, tossing away the depleted medpac as she pushes herself off the wall and ascends the stairs to examine the collapsed rock.

"Well we aren't squeezing through that," she asserts, glancing at the rubble reaching almost to the roof, "We'll need to find a way to clear it. Where's Lendon when you need him?"

OOC: Fennec Kang rolled 17 using 1d20+6. Treat Injury.
Fennec Kang healed 2 wound points.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:17, Wed 09 Mar 2022.

"Where he usually is, which is, of course, nowhere to be found."

Xizran looks at the rubble a bit before wandering over to the protruding arms to see if anyone was carrying any energy shields that are salvageable. (Or heavy blasters with extra energy cells.)

"I don't suppose that twi'lek lived through her heroics? If she didn't, will her lightsaber get through this rubble anyway?" Xizran nudges the rubble with a boot as he speaks, testing how solidly it's collapsed.

"She's also the one who claims to know where Stro'to is hiding," Fennec adds, turning her attention to Layla's dust and blood covered body sprawled on the stairs. Moving over to the Twi'lek's body she crouches down to examine her.

"She's alive, barely," Fennec asserts at length, "She's lost a lot of blood. What do you want to do with her?"

She wrinkles her nose as Xizran's boot dislodges the rubble, causing several more pebbles to shower down with a fresh cloud of dust.

"Who builds with pebbles instead of durosteel these days?" Xizran says critically, retreating safely from the rubble.

He glances at the twi'lek at Fennec's words. "I don't know. Do we really need to do anything? She didn't agree to take my credits, so she's not my minion. We don't owe it to her to look after her. She's also not likely to wake up anytime within the next 8 hours with those wounds, and when she does, her intel will be useless since Stro'to will have fled. She's worthless as a slave herself, nobody's going to buy a twi'lek with a vibro-axe scar across their chest. That basically leaves turning her in for the jedi bounty. Is the effort worth it is the real question." Xizran's tone strongly implies he feels it isn't.

Fennec seems to agree with the logic of these words, scooping up the Jedi's lightsaber as she rises. She approaches the rubble to examine it.

"We're more likely to bring more rubble down if we try to move this. We might have more luck cutting our way through the roof," she says, glancing appraisingly at the stonework above her as she speaks, "We could then climb across and cut our way back in over his audience chamber."

Xizran's eyes light up at this plan, which he clearly thinks is sound.

"Do it. And with luck, with this exit blocked off, the worm won't have anywhere he can flee."

Fennec ignites the blue hued lightsaber, frowning as she swings it about experimentally.

"How do Jedi use these things?" she complains, before ascending the stairs and bracing herself as she carefully inserts the lightsaber into the roof. She curses a moment later as another chunk of roof caves in, spraying her with dust and chunks of rock. The lightsaber deactivates as it goes clattering back down the stairs, while Fennec is sent crashing backwards, coughing and spluttering as she rubs a gash on her forehead.

"That karking cheapskate of a sleemo," she snarls as she picks herself up, peering up at a ray of sunlight which streams through the newly formed hole in the roof.

OOC: Fennec Kang received 11 vitality damage.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:38, Thu 10 Mar 2022.

“I take it that’s not meant to be how buildings work?” Xizran surmises, in the dubious tone of someone who doesn’t know durosteel from duroplast. “On the plus side, we can see daylight and that is a good thing, yes? Not like Stro’to is likely to have invested in exterior gun turrets and crawling through sunlight beats crawling through air vents.”

"If the entire thing doesn't give way as we are trying to climb through it," Fennec says doubtfully as she glances up at the crumbled hole, "But we're going to need some kind of way to reach it. I think I saw some cannisters in that main hall. I'll see if any of them were empty enough to move."

"Or...?" Xizran holds up Lendon's grappling hook.
This message was last edited by a game editor at 00:58, Fri 11 Mar 2022.

Fennec glances at the grappling hook and then back to the hole in the roof dubiously.

"You think it will hold our weight as we climb?" she says as she takes the proffered device and moves back over to the opening, fitting it to her blaster rifle as she does so. Taking aim, she fires at a piece of rusted looking metal jutting out of the broken stonework.

"All right, here goes nothing," she says as she recoils the cable, lifting off into the air. She gives a curse a moment later as another chunk of stone breaks off sending her crashing back to the floor, the jagged piece of rusted metal to which her cable is attached striking the ground a few centimeters to her right as she does so.

"... So no climbing over the roof, I take it?" Xizran deduces, digesting the damage.

Fennec glances darkly at the roof as she picks herself up, but frowns in surprise a moment later as Layla suddenly gives a cough and her eyes flutter weakly open.

"I guess you aren't dead after all," she says to the Twi'lek dryly.

Layla appears too injured to respond, closing her eyes and breathing heavily as she clutches her bleeding stomach.

Fennec glances at Xizran before moving over to the Twi'lek and withdrawing another medpac.

"Hold still," she says, somewhat unnecessarily as she pulls out a vial of a blue mistlike substance which she sprays along the length of the gash. Layla gives a sharp intake of breath and a wince, which Fennec ignores as she injects the contents of the medpac into Layla's arm.

OOC: Fennec Kang rolled 19 using 1d20+6. Treat Injury.
Layla Secura healed 2 wound points.

Fennec's efforts appear to be successful, as the gash on Layla's stomach closes noticeably and she opens her eyes and props herself up against the wall. She frowns as her gaze moves from the Gamorrean's bulky form to the protruding limbs from beneath the collapses rubble at the top of the stairs above.

"What happened?" she says blankly.

"You failed to dodge an angry pig," Xizran summarizes succinctly. "Are you sure you're a Jedi? I thought Jedi were meant to be competent."
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:43, Sun 13 Mar 2022.

Layla shoots the Falleen an unimpressed look.

"I am not a Jedi, as I told your friend here," she says weakly as she attempts to pull herself up, "I departed the Order a long time ago."

"I see. A 'they didn't fire me, I quit,' situation?" Xizran watches her efforts, making no attempt to help.

Layla shoots him another dirty glance as she successfully manages to stand, one hand resting on the wall beside her.

"The Order and I had ideological differences," she says with all the dignity she can muster, "Now, have you two found Stro'to yet?"

"Do you really think we'd be sitting here being nice to you if we'd found Stro'to?" Xizran raises an eyebrow. "On that note, you said you knew where he was. Where is he?"

"Where is my lightsaber?" Layla asks, deliberately ignoring the Falleen.

Fennec moves over to scoop up the deactivated hilt where it has come to rest halfway down the steps, glancing questioningly at Xizran as she holds the weapon.

"Answers first, then lightsaber," Xizran says firmly.

"I'm not telling you where Stro'to is," Layla replies firmly, eying Xizran coldly.

Xizran narrows his eyes coldly.

"Fennec? Since it seems she has no desire to cooperate with us, we are wasting our time here. Shoot her lightsaber. If I'm to be disappointed, I will not be the only one disappointed today."
This message was last edited by a game editor at 03:09, Mon 14 Mar 2022.

Layla narrows her eyes.

"No one has to be disappointed today. Give me my lightsaber and we can go and find Stro'to together. All I want from him is the location of the Compeer. He's all yours after that."

"You plan to walk with that stomach?" Xizran says dubiously.

"I'm fine," Layla lies as she pushes off from the wall and approaches the rubble pile, "I suggest you keep those eyes up and we focus on finding Stro'to."

She glances up at the opening in the roof.

"This your handiwork? Or should I say not so handy work?"

"Perhaps we should just shoot her and find Stro'to on our own," Fennec says coldly.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:28, Mon 14 Mar 2022.

"Give me the lightsaber and I'll show you how one goes about slicing through stone with elegance," Layla continues, extending a hand expectantly.

"...Give her the lightsaber," Xizran decides. "I will be interested to see if she can do it better than you did." (The 'and she's more expendable if someone needs to get squashed by a cave in' obviously goes unsaid.)

Layla gives Fennec a smug look as the latter reluctantly hands the weapon over. The Twi'lek then proceeds to raise her lightsaber and circle about, albeit shakily as she cuts a more or less smooth hole in the roof. No more of the roof collapses save the pieces she intentionally cuts off and by the end of it the hole looks quite stable enough to take hold of with something to stand on to reach it.

"And that's how it's done," Layla says in a self satisfied tone as she finishes, deactivating her weapon.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:44, Mon 14 Mar 2022.

Fennec remains obstinately silent.

"Not bad," Xizran says, grudgingly impressed. "It would seem you are better at hitting your targets when they aren't moving."

"And not trying to attack you back," adds Fennec as she starts off back down the stairs, "I'll go and get a cannister to-"

Fennec breaks off as Layla crouches beneath the center of the hole, wincing briefly before leaping with superhuman ability into the air and clearing the three meter high roof to land gracefully perched on side of the roof above.

OOC: Layla Secura rolled 27 using 1d20+8. Force Flight.

"...Or that works too," Xizran allows. "I still need that cannister though, Fennec, so you can fetch it anyway. We can't all of us jump like frogs."

"Mm-hmm," Fennec agrees as she jogs off to search for the cannister. It does not take her long, and a minute or to later she returns, dragging a battered steel cannister with her.

"Want me to go first or bring up the rear?" she queries, panting slightly as she places the cannister beneath the opening.

“You may bring up the rear,” Xizran says unchivalrously, pulling himself laboriously and ungracefully out the hole.

Fennec waits for him to climb out before leaping onto the cannister after him. She curses as the cannister topples sideways and she is sent crashing unceremoniously onto the ground. She glances sheepishly up at the opening above as she quickly picks herself up, wincing as she pushes the cannister back into place and climbs carefully onto the cannister and pulls herself up after Xizran.

OOC: Fennec Kang rolled 3 using 1d20+2. Climb.
Fennec Kang rolled 22 using 1d20+2. Climb.

Xizran snorts but wisely doesn't comment on Fennec's climbing skills.

The morning sun shines brightly down upon the trio as they stand atop the rough stonework that forms the roof of Stro'to's palace. The faded paintwork is covered in graffiti in several places, and stained with rusted watermarks from a nearby pipe. A moderate wind whips about them, sending dust circling in air and covering the rooftops about them in a redish brown haze. In the distance spires and taller apartments rise, with a range of dark, rugged mountains rising beyond the city.

"This will be the audience chamber," Layla calls to the other two from to a low domed section of the roof across to their left which appears to have more than its fair share of graffiti. She crouches to examine it as the other two arrive, squinting as a wave of dust whips about her.

"We can cut through here," she says as Xizran and Fennec arrive, "We'll just have to be careful entering in case there are more-"

Layla breaks off as the roof beneath them gives an ominous crack. A moment later it completely gives way, sending the trio falling in a cloud of dust, stone and rubble into the darkened chamber below.

OOC: End of Chapter I...
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:35, Fri 18 Mar 2022.