Star Wars - Some Damn Fool Idealistic Crusade (IC)

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Mutie Scum
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Star Wars - Some Damn Fool Idealistic Crusade (IC)

Post by Mutie Scum »

STAR WARS - SOME DAMN FOOL IDEALISTIC CRUSADE (IC)

THIS GAME IS NO LONGER ACTIVELY RECRUITING BUT APPLICATIONS ARE ALWAYS ACCEPTED FOR CONSIDERATION.

This is the IC (In-Character) thread for the Star Wars (West End Games D6) game 'Some Damn Fool Idealistic Crusade'. The OOC (Out-Of-Character) thread, with much more relevant information, is here. Drop in and say Hi if you are interested in the game or have any questions. ;)
“There he goes. One of God's own prototypes. A high-powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production.
Too weird to live, and too rare to die.”
- Hunter S. Thompson
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Mutie Scum
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Re: Star Wars - Some Damn Fool Idealistic Crusade (IC)

Post by Mutie Scum »

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...
“There he goes. One of God's own prototypes. A high-powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production.
Too weird to live, and too rare to die.”
- Hunter S. Thompson
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Mutie Scum
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Re: Star Wars - Some Damn Fool Idealistic Crusade (IC)

Post by Mutie Scum »

Image

Adventure I

Image

It is a period of civil war.
A hopelessly outnumbered Rebellion
struggles against the evil Galactic Empire.
For most of the Galaxy's people, they seek only
security and shelter from the storm of war. On the
pastoral world of Veridia, some desperate refugees try to
escape from the Empire while they can. For it is only a matter
of time before a mysterious Force will bring them together...
“There he goes. One of God's own prototypes. A high-powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production.
Too weird to live, and too rare to die.”
- Hunter S. Thompson
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Mutie Scum
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Re: Star Wars - Some Damn Fool Idealistic Crusade (IC)

Post by Mutie Scum »

Space was very cold and very dark. It became even more so when an Imperial Star Destroyer boomed out of hyperspace near the planet Verida. A very literal darkness soon fell over Veridia City as the now orbiting Star Destroyer moved between the City and its star, causing an artificial eclipse. Imperial psychologists and sociologists had timed the moment well. The Empire wasn't wasting time. Within seconds of achieving orbit, groups of shuttles, cargo ships and TIE fighters scrambled from the great ship's hangar, set on preplanned objectives.

On countless holoprojectors and monitors on or near the planet, a broadcast either snapped to life or replaced whatever was previously playing across governmental and media channels. The scene showed an elderly man in an Imperial uniform behind a desk with the banners of Empire behind him. The rank was that of a Grand Moff, a man who could bend the ear of the Emperor personally. His unwavering gaze, strong voice and powerful physique had shown an impressive will that age had only helped strengthen.

"I am Grand Moff Falgrim, speaking for the Empire to those on and around Veridia. As promised, the Emperor is establishing his New Order from Coruscant to all other systems in the Galaxy. Today the Imperial Navy has progressed to Veridia to establish the stability of martial law. Veridia's planetary government has been suspended during this time. Control of Veridia has been given to Regional Governor Toggred until further notice."

Falgrim smiled grimly and without irony and continued.

"The Emperor appreciates the cooperation all loyal citizens shall extend to his servants while the agents of disorder of chaos are found and dealt with."


The transmission than turned to the more technical details of a sudden change of government, far more information than the average citizen needed. Only obedience was required from most.

At Veridia City spaceport, several spacecraft leapt raggedly for space with little preparation and less precision. Each seeming to indicate the possibly suicidal challenge to the Imperial presence above was a preferable option to remaining...

OOC:
1. Welcome to the first IC post of this game. May it be the start of many more. :D

2. You will learn how fond I am of OOC tags at the end of IC posts. Soon enough, they will become shorter and less frequent but I need a few paragraphs now as this game starts.

3. Why did I start this game with a Star Destroyer in space? Because all of the Empire and Rebellion trilogy movies started the same way. :)

4. It is not a surprise to the citizens of Veridia that the Empire is 'tightening its grip' somewhere but it is surprise that it would be on Veridia. Veridia is a quiet, far-flung pastoral world with no real economic or strategic value to either the Empire or the Rebellion. It is a great place for people to lay low for awhile. The good folk of Veridia are pious folk who either believe the legends about the Jedi or would like to. Veridia City is just big enough to have a spaceport and is the only real metropolis on this farming planet.

5. Most planets in Star Wars are supposed to be interesting in and of themselves but Veridia is an exception, I want the focus to be on our new characters getting together. Veridia was successfully terraformed into an agricultural oasis millennia ago, it has no native life-forms and the current demographics mirror average Galactic society. Basically think of it as a crunchy Iowa center with a Star Wars candy coating.

6. As we saw in Episode IV, before the Death Star, the Empire still had to pussyfoot around and at least pay lip service to the Imperial Senate. So the Empire is nuancing its occupation as helping to add structure for its people when the local government is lacking. A real-life historical example is that of Nazi Germany 'annexing' Austria and the Sudatenland before WWII. The local Imperial forces are thus slightly inhibited in their actions here on Veridia.

7. I will let you place your characters in any location and situation you might imagine could be on or about Veridia City. For this first post, you can be in perfectly boring, mundane situation to contrast with the mayhem to come. Your character may know each other and/or be in the same proximity as you can negotiate. I only expect Dirk and T7 and then Kaz and Zara to be in close proximity at game start. But this is up to you.

8. In most settings, cheesy coincidence is a terrible plot device. But in Star Wars, the Force seems to bring its own together, the Light and the Dark. So you are destined to meet.

9. Here are some things your characters might know that their players might not.
a. This is standard Imperial procedure for occupying a planet but, again, why podunk Veridia?
b. The Imperial broadcast is the talk of the town, if the characters haven't watched the broadcast, they can very easily have heard of it.
c. Opinion is divided about what will happen to those junker spaceships challenging the Imperial blockade. Most Veridia citizens are praying for their deliverance. At the spaceport, they are taking bets. 8-)
d. There is now a slight disturbance in the Force around the time of the Star Destroyer's arrival. Even the most bottom-drawer Force-Sensitive might feel uneasy (if not exactly knowing why).

10. OK, this is a lot to throw at you but we can take our time in a laid-back game. Ask me questions or just wait a few days before posting to see what others post (I will post a few helper replies if they are needed). Or take a chance and post as best you know how. This early, we can retcon just about anything. May the Force be with you. 8-)
“There he goes. One of God's own prototypes. A high-powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production.
Too weird to live, and too rare to die.”
- Hunter S. Thompson
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Re: Star Wars - Some Damn Fool Idealistic Crusade (IC)

Post by Spectrum »

Kaiya Aseidu

The.. Pent Up Frustration was it?

BOOM!!!!

Kaiya glanced up from her table with an arched brow. That was never a good sound to be heard upon a vessel of any size.

And then the warning klaxons kicked in.

"How delightful." irritation clear in her voice as she rose to her feet, slipping on a pair of slippers. "I grow curious on what our brilliant captain has for the itinerary today."

She put her head out of her tiny, but private.. she insisted upon private, cabin. Only for the hallway to be full of smoke. "This does not bode well."

A crewman ran by, her fingers reached out to grab his sleeve only to met with harsh noises entirely too much like trying to swallow an entire raw potato. The delicate fingers came back off, allowing the rush around her to continue.

She stepped further out, tall, straight, lean.. proper.

Her intention to see what went wrong this time, it soon became clear that a more pressing matter was at hand, a disturbing lack of command structure. Crew running around without purpose or intent, stumbling over each like younglings. Did they not train for emergencies?

Another glance showing the burned corpse of the captain. Her second in need of serious medical attention.

It was necessary that she stay calm through this storm. The crew just needed a little encouragement to bolt their heads back on. Otherwise, they would all die and then where would her plans be?

Her voice called out with the sound of a bell, "Stop! Think about what you're doing and then do it." Her fingers danced through the air, directed towards what she recalled being engineering personnel, "You, you and you. Contain the fire before it spreads to other systems." Her fingers danced again and again, issuing commands. They did not need to be correct, they only needed to serve for the time of the emergency.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Veridia

Such a quaint planet. If there was a cultural wasteland, this would be nominated. Still, since Kaiya was trapped her for the moment there was business to be done. There was always business to be done. The, well.. the ship name didn't matter anymore.. had successfully come up for a 20 point landing across several klicks of runway but with only one casualty. Her cargo had survived. Inappropriate to her current location, but survived. There was the matter of the ship not fulfilling the contract to deliver her but she had been willing to negotiate using it as a favored owed, an investment in the future, they certainly didn't have the money at the moment after repairs. Contracts elsewhere were awaiting to be fulfilled. Kaiya had to be off this planet immediately, if not sooner, the opportunity costs were astounding.

It was a rather lovely day for an outdoor cafe. Lackluster fare but the planet offered little more.

"I am Grand Moff Falgrim, speaking for the Empire to those on and around Veridia. As promised, the Emperor is establishing his New Order from Coruscant to all other systems in the Galaxy. Today the Imperial Navy has progressed to Veridia to establish the stability of martial law. Veridia's planetary government has been suspended during this time. Control of Veridia has been given to Regional Governor Toggred until further notice."

Ah joy. While a nuisance it was not immediately dangerous to her. Instability always offered opportunities. A black market would be starting soon if one did already exist. Another gaze at the little beige people on the little beige planet. Likely not.

Opportunities. Opportunities.
We rise from the ashes so that new legends can be born.
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Re: Star Wars - Some Damn Fool Idealistic Crusade (IC)

Post by MissRo »

Kaz Trisst

'Fan-karkin'-tastic,' Kazmine Trisst thought ruefully. 'Lapti Nek again. Only the third time so far this evening.'

The stage at Norgill's Cantina and Eatery was about the size of a Jawa's toenail (if indeed Jawas actually had toenails, of which no one but they themselves could be certain). Trying to dance while crammed on top of the five musicians that comprised the house band was bad enough, but Fleez and the Two-Tones (a name which Kaz considered to be somewhat misleading, as it was one more tone then the band seemed to be able to produce) knew a grand total of seven songs and would cycle through them ad nauseam as the night wore on. Of course, one of them absolutely had to be that Huttese abomination. How it endured in popularity as a cantina staple she'd never understand, particularly this far from Hutt space.

She'd been on stage for nearly an hour solid now, and the place was starting to fill up. The after-work crowd. She kept a close eye on the door as patrons filed in and out. Despite the cantina's close proximity to Veridia City's main spaceport, most of the faces she saw come and go were familiar ones, which was a good thing. There was, after all, a reason she'd chosen to stay on that backwater planet after arriving there almost four months ago. It was quiet, populated by hard-working and generally honest folks who just went about their daily business. The traders that the farmers dealt with were above-board, and rarely lingered on planet longer then it took to load the produce and be on their way. There was no reason to. There wasn't much trouble around to be found, and the residents liked it that way. So did Kaz.

Even still her eyes returned to the same table, near the stage but off to the right, like clockwork. Three seats surrounded the table, each with its own occupant, who were currently engaged in a game of cards. The largest of the three was a rather portly Ithorian, clearly on in his years but possessed of an endearingly jovial nature. This was Norgill Bata himself, owner and proprietor of the establishment in which Kaz was currently employed. To Norgill's right sat a pretty young sandy-haired human girl, Maree Irar, whose brow was furrowed in concentration as she gazed down at her hand of cards. Maree was the cantina's other dancer, a local with dreams of holo-vid stardom, and as close to a friend as Kaz had ever come. The third player, smallest of the group by a fair margin and sitting with her tiny back to the stage, was Kazmine's main reason to get up in the morning; her daughter, Zara. The girl was slumped slightly to one side, an elbow on the table and her head propped against her open hand. She was bored. Very bored. Of course she was... she was a four year old stuck sitting in a dirty old cantina, playing cards with people many times her age.

'Lapti Nek' mercifully came to an end, and Kaz hopped down from the stage to a distracted round of applause. She noted the unusually somber tone in the room, and the seriousness of the patron's expressions. Another tariff increase? She moved to Norgill's table, leaning down and kissing the top of Zara's head. Maree placed her hand face down and stood, offering a weak smile before she headed to the stage to take Kaz's place. Now she was sure something was up. She took Maree's place at the table.

"Lux," said Norgill in his strange, trilling voice. The people here knew only Lux; Kazmine Trisst had never stepped foot on Veridia. "We have to talk. The Empire is here, and they're serious this time."

"Here? Why?" The Empire made her nervous, but then a lot of things made her nervous. She'd heard a lot of horror stories surrounding the Imperials and things that happened on the planets they subjugated. She had little interest in seeing it for herself, especially considering Zara's... talents.

"That's the question of the hour," he replied. "They've already taken control, deposed the council."

"Druk..."

"That's a bad word," came an admonishment in Zara's small voice.

Kazmine smiled a little. "Yes. Yes it is. Sorry, baby."

"Can we go for a walk now?"

"I'll take you home in a bit. I need to talk to Mister Norgill right now."

Zara sighed and folded her arms. The normally cheerful girl had been out of sorts for two days now, and Kaz was beginning to wonder if this turn of events had anything to do with it. She looked back to the Ithorian, who began to fill her in on the day's happenings.
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Re: Star Wars - Some Damn Fool Idealistic Crusade (IC)

Post by Atreju »

Ah'treyuu

*Clank* *Clank* *Clank*

Ah'treyuu looked back at the farm land he and Looba, the farm's only Bantha, had just prepped for the last 11 hours. Speaking in his low, slow, gravelly voice, "Looba, we ah we ah have dones good, good, honest days work-kah." The 6'5" tall Anzati slowly kneeled down to the freshly broken soil. As he patted the last of the seeds in the dirt he let his fingers seep in, and seep in deep. Breathing in and out as slowly as his body would allow he whispered to himself, "Oh, planeh, planet Verida. May yahh, may yahra Force life-fa be wit me." He stayed this way for several minutes, but it felt like hours.

Ah'treyuu loved this simple planet, because of how simple it was. Machines and synthetics only had their grip on less than two percent of the planet, Veridia City. It was a fine city, much smaller than others he had traveled to in his nearly 800 years of life. He enjoyed sharing stories of eras gone by with the citizens. It seemed one of the few places left in the galaxy that didn't think his stories of the Jedi were mere legend. He knew their belief and how organic this planet was led him to such tranquility. He had always been searching long and hard for a place like this, ever since the Jedi Order was destroyed.

He seemed to become the planet's Mr. Fix-it. Doing whatever odd job he could do for the citizens of Veridia City, all he asked for was a good meal and some hearty conversation. His favorite jobs were always working on the local farms on the outskirts of the city however... it was... more natural there... more tranquil. Or as he saw it, it flowed more with the Force.

Ah'treyuu was an Anzati, and most people never lived past their first encounter with an Anzati. This was because Anzati were trained assassins and would feed on the life essence of other beings, leaving them for dead. But Ah'treyuu was in that one percentile of non-lethal Anzati. It was easy for them so pass off as slightly deformed humans... so long as he kept his tentacle-like proboscises hidden, proboscises meant to drain their victims of their very life essence. And so long as he spoke as softly and warmly as he always did, people just considered him a big friendly teddy-wampa.

It was easier for him to keep self-control over his cravings to kill when on planets like this one, with peaceful friendly people like these folks.

He continued to feel a peace as he talked with the planet and meditated on the ways of the Jedi, ways that he never let go of, ways that had made him who he was and kept him from being a killer.

But then he suddenly felt darkness. It was almost tangible. Was this it? Had he finally gained Force-sensitive levels? Opening his eyes with glee and about to jump for joy, he realized there was an actual shadow cast over him. He figured it was just the bantha, but as he looked out over the farm it was all covered in darkness. Whispering to himself."But, but-tah there have been clear, clear-ah skies all day-ah." Could it be a Force vision?

Looking further up his stomach churned, his tranquil peace quickly turned to boiling rage. He gripped the dirt and flung his fist in the air. Knowing that noone was around to hear he let go his self-control and allowed all the passion he had against the Empire to unleash. Deeply mourning, and at the same time speaking as a fiery prophet "Why are you here!? Don't you dare desecrate this people and their living planet!" Being enraged seemed to be the only time he would speak sharply and without a stutter.

Unstrapping the farm tools from the Bantha and saddling it up he cried with command and righteous indignation, "Looba,quickly, to Veridia City!" And off they went, under a clear, once sunny sky, a sky now marked with that universal symbol of oppression, that mark of fear... an Imperial Star Destroyer. He could not allow this tranquil place turn to fear, for fear led to the Dark Side...
Last edited by Atreju on Thu Mar 02, 2017 11:38 am, edited 2 times in total.
Corrigon
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Re: Star Wars - Some Damn Fool Idealistic Crusade (IC)

Post by Corrigon »

Dirk
“You can’t be serious,” Dirk held up a piece of Jungo fruit, the juice running down his hand where it had crushed, “There is no way that this is freshly picked. Fresh Jungo isn’t this easy to crush. This is at least a week old and will have lost some of the spikiness it is known for. “

Since being shot down out on the rim, he’d managed to find some work on a waste hauler, but just being the crew on a waste hauler he couldn’t stand nor working in the spaceport. He’d ended up falling in with a local merchant Carza after he’d noticed one of his suppliers was ripping him off and had let him know. Now, he checked the cargoes for Carzo and where some of his suppliers had been willing to pull a fast one or short him in some way, they were far more reluctant to do so when the person negotiating carried a big sidearm than they did.

T7 beeped and blooped as it carried out a scan of the container of Jungo fruit; the old droid was eccentric, but mostly reliable. Technically he owned the droid, though in actuality, he’d found it and reconditioned it for use and T7 had proven very useful.

“And apparently, there is a hollow space near the bottom, so this isn’t even the amount we requested. 125 credits per container,” The two Rodians across from him started to complain, but then noticed the heavy blaster pistol at Dirk’s side which tended to stop a lot of arguing. He leaned in closer “and you better hope that space isn’t anything I wouldn’t like
He’d wondered who’d been using the elderly merchant as part of their smuggling. He’d, well T7 had, spotted the spaces when the containers had been picked up last time.

As they agreed the new price, Dirk felt the need for a drink. T7 would deliver the container to Carza whilst Carza had recommended a new cantina to try, apparently one with an excellent Twilek dancer.

As the holonews reported the blockade, up in the sky, the hairs on the back on his neck stood up and he felt a familiar sensation.

“I’ve got a bad feeling about this!”


Ooc
Does the sense he’s getting seem familiar to the one he got when he left Dantooine
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Re: Star Wars - Some Damn Fool Idealistic Crusade (IC)

Post by catsi563 »

Ana Tathis

"Remember Ana; the force is like a current in a great ocean, flowing in mysterious ways influenced by the very life that creates it." Lady Cayrn spoke easily her voice ever calm and soothing like the small stream that ran through her gardens "When you are lost or in need of guidance just follow that ebb and flow where ever it may take you, and you cannot go wrong."

And thus Ana Tathis, would be Jedi, the last of a dying order found herself on Veridia after finding a ride aboard a passing freighter. She'd hitchhiked across a dozen world in the short time since shed left Rael and on each she'd found adventure, desperation, and more importantly, she'd found the force. At first she had been tempted to just swing her lightsaber at whatever problems popped up but she swiftly discovered that this brought its own set of problems much worse then the ones she was dealing with at the moment.

Thus another of Lady Caryns lessons came home to roost, when on some back water moon; an Inquisitor showed up, and after a fearsome duel that left her in need of medical attention and the inquisitor dead she had become more circumspect and chastened by the experience. The duel had driven home a couple of Lady Caryns lessons. The brief flashes of anger and fear and frustration shed felt as she'd fought him, the incessant taunting and trying to push her to use those feelings against him. The heavy breathing as he'd pushed her further then she'd ever been pushed, the hum, crackle and sparks as her blue blade clashed with his spinning red one. The smell of ozone and burnt metal and flesh as they had struck and counter struck, parried and dodged.

She thought she was dead but that one last lesson from Lady Caryn had finally sunk in. She'd been trying to force the confrontation relying on her skills alone. Instead of trusting in and letting the force aid and guide her. The inquisitor had felt the change as he'd laughed mockingly at her and pressed his blade closer to her throat. Had felt the subtle shift in the force in the mere girl he was trying to convert or kill. The fight had changed then and the attacker had found himself on the defensive pressed back until finally her blue blade lashed forward and the mans head left his shoulders.

And there as she stood triumphant looking at the dead force user she'd felt the truth of Lady Caryn's words. The loss of life was not something to be taken so easily for granted and not to be celebrated. Even though it may some times be necessary it should never be random or capricious.

She had left quickly and after catching a ride on a freighter gotten to where she was now. Veridia, an outer rim world filled with life and far away from the Empire. She'd picked up a job as a short order cook at a local watering hole, nothing special except a Twilek dancer that seemed to bring in the customers by the repulsorlift load.

Ana made sure that she and her adorable little girl got extra food when she could spare it. always giving them a warm smile. She'd felt it in the little one, the gift that Lady Caryn had felt in her. She was special and perhaps the reason the force had guided her here as well. Still Ana knew better then to push such things, fark she was just a mere learner as it was, she had no business teaching anyone anything. Not mind you that she wouldn't try if she had to.

Still she'd made sure that she did her job as a cook while earning money for her next trip which by now she had made. She didn't fancy using the force to take a ride this time the feeling of power had been a little too heady so she decided to travela little more legit this time.

She could have left at any time but Veridia seemed to have more in store for her. So she kept her profile low and helped out where she could. Helping and learning all the while practicing her skills as she could in private and always away from prying eyes. While Verida seemed sympathetic to the Jedi cause, she'd learned the hard way that wasn't the case everywhere she went. The Empire had done a real hatchet job on the Jedis reputation at the end of the clone wars and most everywhere she went nowadays the Jedi were viewed as trouble makers and traitors, fakers and madmen.

Only in a very few places could she speak openly about the Jedi without drawing attention. Such as the time on Jedai where she'd ran into a blind man Chirrut Îmwe and his companion Baze Malbus while searching for some lost knowledge. The pair had offered her shelter and spoken at length with her about the force and its effect on their lives. She had left them with a renewed sense of herself and her place in the universe. Chirruts benediction "I am one with the force, the force is with me." drifting through her mind from time to time. Had they suspected what she truly was? perhaps, but they never mentioned it if they did and she never brought it up as well.

And so back to Veridia, she caught the Grand Moffs speech, and knew that, it was time to go. She would need to travel shortly and quickly hitching a ride on the first freighter out. Such freighters would be searched but she had her documentation in order and so would pretend to be exactly what she needed to be. A mere traveler off seeking her fortune in the galaxy. One of numerous drifters that popped up in this time of the Empires rise.

One day though she would stop running, one day though her blade would ignite and she would take the fight to those who brought terror and repression to the galaxy.

that's what the Jedi did, and She was a Jedi.
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Mutie Scum
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Re: Star Wars - Some Damn Fool Idealistic Crusade (IC)

Post by Mutie Scum »

A brace of TIE fighters escorted the shuttle, really a formality given the dull nature of Verida. But the Imperial hierarchy had to be respected, from the lowest wookie slave all the way up to the Emperor. Inside the shuttle, Administrator Narattle clucked and complained, "I don't know why we must shepherd such a lowly dirtball on the Rim." Grand Moff Falgrimm smiled, by we, his aide had meant Falgrimm. Sometimes the efficient secretary forgot who was serving who. But his talent for detail and occasional foresight made the rare presumption forgivable.

"It is best to have alternate routes of communication and commerce established."
Falgrimm muttered.
"Why, is Galactic geography about to change after all these millennia?" Narattle almost challenged.
Falgrimm merely nodded slightly. If you only knew, he thought.
"But how...?"
"You are a good servant, Narattle. You know to ask enough of the right questions."
Narattle smiled.
"And only rarely too much of the wrong ones."

Narattle took the hint and changed the subject. "Does it ever move?" He was talking of the armored figure quietly seated behind them. Narattle knew most of the varieties of trooper armor but this variation was new to him. The sleeping beast at the 'trooper's feet didn't seem to do anything but growl at anyone else and otherwise snore when the 'trooper was still. "Hope it doesn't." Falgrimm said.

Perhaps by coincidence, the beast suddenly sat up and growled, looking around as if locating a snack. The 'trooper said with a voice distorted by the helmet, "The vornskyr has detected a disturbance in the Force. We must investigate."

Under these very specific circumstances, the lowly 'trooper had just become almost a direct extension of the Emperor's will. That had been made quite clear to Falgrimm. He had just been given the only order anyone else on Veridia could give him and only that order. Falgrimm toggled the intercom, paging the pilot. "The Forcetrooper will be entering the cockpit, with a 'service' animal. Follow any instructions."

____________________________________________________________________

"I cannot fathom why the Empire is here, Lux."
"Which means this can only be bad news."
Norgill was using both of his mouths at once to speak, child's play for his kind but difficult for other species to keep up with. It was a sign of stress, Kaz's manager would not normally risk such bad relations with the monomouths. As Twi'leks could speak with both mouths and lekku, Kaz neurology helped her barely keep up.

It was too much and thus too boring for Maree who decided to go somewhere, anywhere, else in the establishment. At least subtle enough to pick up on the intense nature of the conversation, Maree said to Zara, "C'mon, Womp Rat (a term of affection), let's go see if the kitchen has some leftover snacks." Zara followed enthusiastically.

In the kitchen, Maree fell into the usual rut of arguing with the latest 'boyfriend' over a personal com and left Zara to a tray of various appetizers.
Zara began to tuck in enthusiastically until she noticed the stranger standing nearby with a finger to their lips in the universal 'Shh' gesture.

In between the nagging and sweet nothings, Maree noticed Zara having a conversation with empty air. "Womp Rat, who are you talking to."
"My new friend, we are about to play a game of hide and seek."
"Your friend's pretty good. I don't even see them."
"Well, you wouldn't"
Zara said with the universal exasperation of children frustrated by adults lack of imagination.
Maree just smiled. Who didn't have an imaginary friend at that age?

It seemed that Zara followed her friend into the walk-in pantry and Maree was reassured somewhat. There was nothing dangerous in that dead end. Her attention was then stolen again by her beau's insistence that he just had a hopelessly flirtatious nature and couldn't always help where that might lead. One of the help entered the empty walk-in pantry and left again, idly wondering who Zara had been talking to.

________________________________________________________________________


Like most herd animals, Loopa was stubborn about being prodded and reminded of that status. And so Loopa ambled towards the direction Ah'treyuu had indicated as if it was somewhere the Bantha had suddenly decided to go at their own pace.

Surprisingly, there was actually a small crowd of people also heading toward Veridia City. While the chatter was about the arrival of the Empire, the most exciting thing to happen to Veridia in centuries, the people seemed upbeat and positive. "Don't you worry about the Empire, none, Mr. Attrioo." Liira was a local farmer's daughter (which went pretty much without saying, as the vast majority of the populace were farmers) who, try as she might, couldn't quite master the exotic phenomes that made up Ah'treyuu's name. Her efforts were sincere and her consternation at flubbing the unfamiliar syllables was real. It was a forgivable offence.

"When Bah-Gon Starstrider gets to Veridia City, the Empire will flee before a true Jedi Knight."
Liira pointed to a distant wagon, leading this spontaneous pilgrimage to Veridia City. The wagon was gaudy and vulgar with color, patterns and symbols. So happy was Liira at this new hope that she broke into a song of her own making.

The song was amateurish and unfinished but it showed a rare artistic bent unexpected on Veridia. A rare mind, a deliciously uncommon soul. The little proboscises hidden in Ah'treyuu's face began to stir restlessly, hungry for fulfillment. With an effort of will, Ah'treyuu turned away and focused on the horizon.

_______________________________________________________________________

At an intersection at Verida City, a freshly-pressed Imperial Lieutenant and accompanying squad of stormtroopers turned a corner to encounter a Gammorean, Twi'lek male and a Rodian. The Rodian was a clue, they were natural hunters and unlikely to be found in any other occupation. Under different circumstances, each could be a threat to the other.

The Twi'lek knew to defuse the situation before the trio might have to deal with, ultimately, billions of the stormtroopers fellow siblings. "Easy, Officer, the Empire has authorized bounty hunters for little troubles beneath the Empire's notice"

The Lieutenant nodded curtly, hoping the when the Rebellion was crushed, these animals would finally be next. But until then, they were still useful. "We are looking for female human of noble birth on matters vital to Imperial Security."

The three breathed a little easier, "No worries, then. We are looking for a male human to discuss a financial matter."

Realizing that at this moment, the two groups were not adversaries, the bounty hunters moved out of the Imperial's way. They discreetly followed a short distance back. There was only one real watering hole in this miserable town. What were the odds both targets weren't there.

_____________________________________________________________________________

At the cantina, the two Rodians were each leeching courage off of each other to challenge the human's accusations, true though they might be. After all, who was to say who shot first?

Maybe it was the way the two Rodian's shrank back suddenly or Dirk's intuition but he turned around. He had learned to trust that feeling in his gut, which more than once, had been why his gut still existed. An 'Imp' with that 'new officer smell' and about five stormtroopers were heading his way with 'Imperial Justice' expressions on the face he could read and slight urgency to the 'trooper's goose-steps.

But Dirk knew, despite their threat, they weren't after him or the suddenly 'disappeared' Rodian brothers. He still felt that vague feeling of danger but not where he was at here and now. Now how could that be? He couldn't be threated where he wasn't actually at?

In binary, T7 squeaked and buzzed as if to say, "You've got a bad feeling about this. I just exceeded warranty."

_____________________________________________________________________________

The local cuisine of Veridia was exactly like the mother planet itself, easily sustaining the body while starving the soul from sheer blandness. At least the chaos of Imperial arrival keep Kaiya's mind occupied. There were so many opportunities in disorder if you were quicker than disaster itself.

Thinking of chaos, it seemed serendipitous when three rather disagreeable bravos entered the establishment. It was obvious they were hunting someone and Kaiya's mind leapt with her heart at their glimpse of recognition when her eyes locked with the three intruders, but she would not show any fear.

The Twi'lek smiled and said, "Don't worry, mi'lady. We are not after you but it seems some 'Imperial entanglements' are in your future unless..." He left the sentence finished in an offer. If enough reward was promised, these three might help Kaiya with her current troubles. It was doubtful three scruffy nerf-herding bounty hunters could stop the might of the Empire but a naïve aristocrat wouldn't necessarily know that before payment.

________________________________________________________________________________

Jedi's didn't daydream, they mediatated. At least, that was what Lady Caryn had once said to her young padawan when it sure seemed the great lady had nodded off. At the time, Lady Caryn was probably teasing but it was hard to tell with your Jedi master being so terribly enigmatic all of the time.

Much later, something very much like that state had happened to Ana. For some padawans, this was farseeing, reading the motion of the future. But Ana's talents were more in seeing the mysteries of the minds of others.

And for an instant, Ana was besides Zara, reading her thoughts as the little girl was about to jaywalk the busiest street in Veridia City. This was perhaps the only place on the planet were someone could have a traffic accident, barring a bantha sleeping on you.

Besides Ana, there was a voice guiding the little girl. A greater skill in the Force than Ana possessed was helping the other keep its identity hidden from Ana as well as guiding the trusting girl.

GO! It sent to Zara.

Zara unhesitatingly jumped into the maelstrom of traffic. There were a million ways to die on that street and just one way to cross. Somehow Zara knew it, jumping and dodging her way past the swerving and bucking vehicles....

Ana snapped back to here and now, no longer connected to her charge while something else was....

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

OOC:

Sorry for the delay, folks. Time was against me and I just had enough time to get this out without real editing.

Quickly,

A presence is moving through the Force, currently guiding Zara to an unknown fate. Maree will be as forthright as she can be to the very likely distraught Kaz, although she will have no idea how the girl disappeared from the walk-in pantry. Kaz can easily learn of the near-traffic outside.

Both Dirk and Kaiya are in the same cantina (Veridia doesn't have much of a nightlife) but have not necessarily seen each other. The Imperials seem to be looking for Kaiya and the bounty hunters seem to be looking for Dirk. Both can hear the screech of traffic from outside as Zara is avoided (with, surprisingly, no injuries to anyone else).

The Force is very powerful cuurently for unrevealed reasons, giving Dirk a sense of danger concerning his daughter. If he just follows his gut, he will tend to move in her direction. This plot device will be explained in time.

Questions, just ask. :D
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catsi563
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Re: Star Wars - Some Damn Fool Idealistic Crusade (IC)

Post by catsi563 »

Ana Tathis
Jedi's didn't daydream, they mediatated. At least, that was what Lady Caryn had once said to her young padawan when it sure seemed the great lady had nodded off. At the time, Lady Caryn was probably teasing but it was hard to tell with your Jedi master being so terribly enigmatic all of the time.

Much later, something very much like that state had happened to Ana. For some padawans, this was farseeing, reading the motion of the future. But Ana's talents were more in seeing the mysteries of the minds of others.

And for an instant, Ana was besides Zara, reading her thoughts as the little girl was about to jaywalk the busiest street in Veridia City. This was perhaps the only place on the planet were someone could have a traffic accident, barring a bantha sleeping on you.

Besides Ana, there was a voice guiding the little girl. A greater skill in the Force than Ana possessed was helping the other keep its identity hidden from Ana as well as guiding the trusting girl.

GO! It sent to Zara.

Zara unhesitatingly jumped into the maelstrom of traffic. There were a million ways to die on that street and just one way to cross. Somehow Zara knew it, jumping and dodging her way past the swerving and bucking vehicles....

Ana snapped back to here and now, no longer connected to her charge while something else was....
Ana started from the brief vision and then turned and without hesitation walked out of quiet area she had chosen for her brief break. She passed the cantinas manager who asked her where she was going, Ana said something quietly and put a little bit of the force behind it. The glazed look in the managers eyes told Ana all she needed to know that her suggestion that shed be back in a while would be accepted, and she continued on her way.

She reached the street just as the twilek child stepped off into traffic and then began a madcap dash through the insanity of the one busiest intersection on the planet navigating it as if it were empty.

She could feel 'something' guiding the child. But she couldn't discern its nature. So she let it guide her too. She didn't heed the protests and squawks of indignation as she leapt after Zara. She jumped onto a hover wagon skipped across to passing Bantha which honked in protest, she waved merrily at a Dug holding a wheel of a repulsor truck as she hitched a brief ride surfing on its hood before leaping off tumbling through the air and landing catlike on the other side of the street.

A whimsical smile quirked the corners of her lips as she followed Zara careful not to interrupt her. Ana was understandably curious about the presence shed felt near little Zara for a while now but as it had not presented any danger she hadn't pressed the issue. Still letting the child run rampant through a busy street didn't fall high on Anas list of child priorities, so it seems now was as good a time as any to investigate the matter further.
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Spectrum
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Re: Star Wars - Some Damn Fool Idealistic Crusade (IC)

Post by Spectrum »

Kaiya

Kaiya arches a slender as a presence looms over her. If they were looking to intimidate or fluster her, she wasn't about to let that happen. Her cards were limited, only a few plays to make, but at this point she just needed to build space to work. Pushing herself could be an option, but not with the Empire so close.

A single finger is held up as they begin to speak, a gesture to hold one second. The other hand reaches into her bag, looking for... yes, that would do.. she brings out an elegant looking box with a number of buttons on it. Very fancy, very technical.. and very much a part of her morning preparations. They didn't need to know that. A single tap upon one of buttons quick enough to capture the opening remark. The only other chair at her small table is pushed out with her foot. Let them figure out who is boss enough to accept her unstated invitation.

She looks up coldly, dispassionately, "Your name? For the official record of course."

A pause but regardless of their answer. "Are you aware of Decree 78462859 subsection A235Z? If not, you really should for someone in your line of work? It is a recent addition but important for someone in your line of work."
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Atreju
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Re: Star Wars - Some Damn Fool Idealistic Crusade (IC)

Post by Atreju »

Ah'treyuu

*Murrglurawwwwwrrrr*

Patting Loobo on the back as he rode, Ah'treyuu spoke to the weary Bantha "Looba, Isa, I know you'd be tired from dissa, dis loooong work week. Itta, itta may help if you weren't carrying the heaviest being around here. Umma right-tah?" Ah'treyuu let our his low, slow, almost Hutt like laugh as he jumped down from the Bantha and joined the growing throng of farmers.

Perhaps it was just cause Bantha's were herd animals and were drawn to others that were leading, but more and more farmers had swarmed to follow the tired Looba. Although, the farmers didn't mind the slow pace. This was precisely why Ah'treyuu loved this planet. Slow pace give one times to study and meditate on the Force and all the beautiful living things that it moved through on this simple planet. Unadulterated by towering metropolises, unadulterated by the tyranny of the Empire.

Ah'treyuu began to help two elderly farmers, who were walking with canes, to get up on Looba's back so they could keep up with even the slow pace of the pack. As he did he listened intently to Liira. As she finished he reached into his hand-made Nerd-hide side-saddle bag and pulled out some fresh Jungo fruit. Giving several to Looba, keeping one for himself, and handing one to the little girl. "Lil' Liira, now-ah, now-ah you'd not been-nah skipping your lunch ta go, ta ta go womprat-ta hunting again-nah.... Umma right-tah?" Laughing again as the little girl gave that smile she always gave when she was guilty but didn't feel bad. "But, but Mr. Attrioo, I was so close to getting one this time!" Ah'treyuu remembered the months he spent with her family, installing new equipment, breaking new farmland, cleaning up and maintaining their droids. "You-sa, you-ah remembah what I always tell you?" She exaggerated his low, gravely, slow voice, "Paaaaaay-tience." Both let out hearty laughs.

His proboscises were at ease now. This was how he controlled himself. Though his kind was born Force-sensitive he was an exception, or perhaps his was put to use for self control, he was never quite sure. But as he spoke with the child it was easy for him to maintain his cravings. Yes, he could feast on her and the entire crowd, killing them all in under 20 standard seconds, then enjoy draining their life force for days, or months if he savored it. But as he spoke with them and remembered all his times with these families, he cared for them instead. He saw them, like him, were living beings, and was was in living beings, even simple farmers that the Force flowed... whether they knew it or not.

"Don't you worry about the Empire, none, Mr. Attrioo. When Bah-Gon Starstrider gets to Veridia City, the Empire will flee before a true Jedi Knight."

But Order 66. All the Jedi are gone... had some survived? He put his massive hand over her head, he could have crushed it on the spot, but instead he patted it ever so gently. "Lil' Liira, now-ah, ah, I, I have been on dis hee-ah planet for several standard years. Only having ta, ah, to have left on some odd-jobs for a couple of week-sah at a time. I-yah, I, I have not heard of dis Bah-Gon-nah Star-ah Stridah. Would-dah you tell me more-ah?" He saw the childs face light up with hope... this was why he loved this planet. This is why he could not allow the Empire to pollute it.
Corrigon
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Re: Star Wars - Some Damn Fool Idealistic Crusade (IC)

Post by Corrigon »

Dirk
Near the cantina, the two Rodians were each leeching courage off of each other to challenge the human's accusations, true though they might be. After all, who was to say who shot first?

Maybe it was the way the two Rodian's shrank back suddenly or Dirk's intuition but he turned around. He had learned to trust that feeling in his gut, which more than once, had been why his gut still existed. An 'Imp' with that 'new officer smell' and about five stormtroopers were heading his way with 'Imperial Justice' expressions on the face he could read and slight urgency to the 'trooper's goose-steps.

But Dirk knew, despite their threat, they weren't after him or the suddenly 'disappeared' Rodian brothers. He still felt that vague feeling of danger but not where he was at here and now. Now how could that be? He couldn't be threated where he wasn't actually at?

In binary, T7 squeaked and buzzed as if to say, "You've got a bad feeling about this. I just exceeded warranty."
“Relax TeeZee,” he reassured the droid with a cocksure smile, “I’m sure we can handle this. Anyway, you exceeded warranty long before my grandparents were born. You’ve dealt with far worse.” With Rodian brothers gone, they’d left their produce behind though. He thumbed the button on his comlink.

“Carzo, the Rodians have agreed to the new price. We’ve got the stuff, so if you send your droid along to pick it up, I can call it a day. You’ll just need to transfer the funds to them.” Though he was speaking into the comlink, he kept his eyes on the Imperials. From where they were, he could see that they were heading into the cantina and then saw the near crash with the Twilek child.

“Hey kid, you alright?” he called out to her.
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Re: Star Wars - Some Damn Fool Idealistic Crusade (IC)

Post by MissRo »

Kaz Trisst

Kazmine sat there ruminating with Norgill for a time. Every time a new place or a new situation felt like it might be a fresh start, she thought ruefully, something came along to take it away. The Empire. They were getting harder and harder to avoid by the day, but then the further you went into the Outer Rim the harder it was to find a place that was fit to raise a child. She'd begun to plant the seeds of hope for Veridia, but it seemed those hopes had borne yet more sour fruit. She'd even allowed herself the luxury of trust, in Maree and in  Norgill, which was a very rare occurrence in her life. Now that was over, and they'd have to disappear again. As long as she had Zara, though, there was nothing she couldn't face.

Zara...?

A short moment of panic seized her as she noticed the child's empty seat, but then came the recollection of Maree having said something. A quick glance told her the woman wasn't on stage.

"The kitchen," Norgill said, a tone of sympathy in his voice(s?).

She exhaled, not even having realized that she's been holding her breath. "I'm should get her home."

Norgill nodded in his ponderous way. Kaz hesitated a moment. "Thanks, boss. For everything."

He nodded again. "Be safe."

Kaz worked her way through the crowded cantina through the swinging doors that led to the kitchen, where she found Maree engaged in a heated conversation with the sous-chef Gil. Maree looked up, obviously flustered. "Can you explain to this nerf-herder why 'just kissing' another woman is still cheating?" 

"Where's Zara?" The seriousness of the twi'lek's tone startled the young human a bit.

"Uh, she's... she was just.." Maree looked around, to the tray on the counter to the pantry. "In the pantry, I think."

A coldness gripped Kaz by the guts. She crossed the floor and swung the pantry door open: no Zara. A terror gripped her then, one that only a parent in fear for their child could have understood.

"Lux, what's wro-"

The look in Kaz's eyes silenced Maree as she turned on the girl, fists balled tightly. She seemed poised to tear into her, but then came the unusual clamor of traffic from the street just outside. Kaz ran to the kitchen's open window and looked out, cursing when she could see nothing. Now in full panic mode she sprinted, plowing through the crowd in a mad dash for the door.

No no no no no no no

She crashed from behind into the man standing just outside the cantina with his strange-looking astromech, so hard it sent her stumbling. She wobbled on though, into the street, heedless of anything but finding her child.

"Zara!?"
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