https://starwarsintrocreator.kassellabs.io/#!/BLzG6Hz0ghlFCzyxOvSJSTAR WARSINTERREGNUM - EPISODE IITHE CALL OF JOMBARALIt is a dark time. After four thousand years, the Sith have achieved their greatest victory through DARTH SIDIOUS, regent of the First Galactic Empire. Under his purview, the Jedi have been all but driven into extinction, and branded traitorous renegades by the wider galaxy.Unbeknownst to him, survivors of the Jedi Order have fled into the UNKNOWN REGIONS. There, Master BRETHON LARID oversees the next generation of Jedi from the former slave-world of Mylar-3, until a more permanent and obscure sanctuary can be found.His apprentice, FARREN GAELLE, has embarked on the final trial that would make him a Jedi Knight. Journeying to the war-torn jungles of Kakarit, he hopes to find Master UYER KOSA, her Padawan AROTTA BASHUR, and bring them into the fold of the last Jedi...=========>>RECAP of the last thread:The Battle of Nest’s End. After four thousand years of serenity, the Children of Jombaral have breached the Firmament and invade the last haven of the Kakari. An unlikely alliance between Separatists and Clones proves to be a mighty bulwark against the forces of the Herald of Jombaral. The enemy is repelled, but Farren Gaelle learns the full truth about the Herald’s origins, and Grand Shamanka Bos’ connection to the corrupted Kakari.Leaving the evacuation of Nest’s End to Commodore Octavia, Prince Troxl and Commander Skipp, Farren and Bos set off for the Womb of Jombaral for a final confrontation deep within the planet. There, they encounter the Guardian of the Womb, the malformed remains of Herald’s biological mother, and Bos’ biological daughter. With the aid of the divine beast Sings-of-Splitting-Stones, Bos battles the Guardian, propelling Farren towards the innermost sanctum, towards a trapped Master Uyer Kosa and the Herald of Jombaral on the verge of its apotheosis...========Previous Thread: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/4399462/Archive: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Star%20Wars%20InterregnumCharacter Pastebin: https://pastebin.com/u/TaskForceKazTwitter: https://twitter.com/TaskForceKaz=======
=======>>Farren Gaelle>Brawn: 2>Finesse: 3>Intellect: 2>Cunning: 2>Resolve: 3>Panache: 2>>Skills:>Astronavigation 1 (Intellect) – a measure of knowledge about the galaxy’s stellar composition, allowing for the correct plotting of routes and hyperspace jumps.>Cool 1 (Panache) – a measure of a character’s ability to remain calm under danger. Rolled to resist Charm and Negotiation.>Coordination 1 (Finesse) – a measure of a character’s nimbleness and flexibility.>Deception 1 (Cunning) – judges the character’s ability to trick others into believing falsehoods.>Force Entities 1 (Intellect) – how much a character knows of entities strong in the Force.>Lore 2 (Intellect) – how much the character knows of the ancient galaxy and its history.>Mechanics 1 (Intellect) – skill and prowess in working on all things from weapons to droids and ships.>Melee 2 (Brawn) – a character’s proficiency with melee weapons such as knives and swords.>Medicine 1 (Intellect) – a skill used to treat wounds as minor as scrapes to life-threatening injuries.>Perception 2 (Cunning) – a skill used to notice clues, perceive hidden dangers, and all manner of hidden objects or persons.>Piloting [Space] 1 (Agility) – the ability to pilot starships and other stellar vessels.>Sith 1 (Intellect) – a measure of a character’s knowledge regarding the Sith and Dark Side of the Force.>Stealth 1 (Agility) – a measure of how easily a character can hide or appear inconspicuous.>Vigilance 2 (Resolve) – represents a character’s ability to take notice and react to events happening in their surroundings/peripheral vision.>>Traits:>Jedi Shadow [Add +2 to checks made for Deception, Perception, Stealth and Vigilance]>Makashi Expert [Roll 3d6 when using Form II/Makashi]>Indistinguishable [You are but a face in the crowd, and add 1d6 to Stealth rolls]>>Lightsaber Rating: 3>>Weapons: One yellow-gold, single-blade lightsaber.>>Lightsaber Forms:>Form II, Makashi [Finesse]>Form VI, Niman [Finesse+Cunning]>>Force Rating: 2 (2d10+Resolve)>>Force Affinity: Alter (+5 bonus to Alter-type powers)>>Force Powers:>Force Fire 2 (Alter) – a pyrokinetic ability that allows the practitioner to manipulate and conjure flames with the Force.>Force Pull/Push 1 (Alter) – The iconic telekinesis of every Jedi, determines lifting limit and push power.>Force Speed 1 (Alter) – The universe seems to slow around you, and you are react faster as a result of it.>Force Weapon 3 (Alter) – You imbue a mundane weapon with the Force, increasing its durability and damage. Your lightsaber now does more damage. At fifth rank...?>Mystic Weapon 1 (Alter). You can imbue a lightsaber with the Force and make it fight remotely at your side. At third rank, you may add an additional lightsaber.>Sever Force 2 (Alter) – A rare technique that severs one’s connection with the Force. Leveling this increases duration and potency.=======
=======Misc. Inventory=>Golden Lightsaber Crystal – one of two lightsaber crystals you had taken from the caves of Illum when you were a Youngling. The lightsaber it had been embedded in had been destroyed by the Herald of Jombaral.>Holocron of the Betrayer – a Jedi Holocron containing the persona of Kreia, an enigmatic Jedi from the time of Darth Revan.>Liar’s Blade – the spearhead carried into battle by the Liar Chieftain against the Herald of Jombaral thousands of years ago. Supposedly, it is to be used against the Herald to release the souls it devoured. It is anathema to beings connected to the Force.>Mandalorian Blaster – a Mandalorian pistol given to you by Nomiana Whrul after a passionate evening on Mylar-3. She gave it to you in the hopes that it would keep you alive in the Unknown Regions.>Sunspear – an ancient weapon from a forgotten age, when the surface of Kakarit was an endless plain of sand. It is among the finest forms of Kakari technology, using the energy stored within embedded sunstones to manifest a field of energy along its blade. Its prior owner was the Accuser of Pilgrims, Guardian of the Godseye, a gestalt entity comprised of fifty souls strong in the Force.=Leads from Alleana Gaelle=>Arkinnea, a planet in the Expanse Region, where refugees of both Separatist and Republic bent flee.>Bracca, a planet in the Mid Rim, where the only fortune to be made is from shipbreaking and scrapping.>Dagobah, a planet in the Outer Rim, a desolate swamp void of any significant or advanced civilization.>U’haon, a planet in the Tingel Arm, suspected to be the planet you saw in the Revenant’s vision.>Uliea, a planet in the Outer Rim, alleged homeworld of Alleana and Farren Gaelle, largely unknown by the galaxy.======
===============The Albatross=>>Class: Lonrar E-9 Explorer>Silhouette – [4]>Speed – [4]>Handling – [-1]>Hull: [25/25]>System: [14/14]>Shield (Fore) – [1]> Shield (Port) – N/A>Shield (Starboard) – N/A>Shield (Aft) – [1]>Armor – [4]>Cargo Capacity: 60 Metric Tons>>Hardpoints [2/4]:>Electronic Countermeasures – doubles the DC for enemy shits to hit you.>Security Measures – doubles the DC for Computers/Skullduggery checks made for unauthorized access.>>Misc.>Namesake Bonus – increases engines/sublight speed by 1.>>Weapons:>1x Dorsal & 1x Ventral Turret- mounted Medium Laser Cannon(s).>>Crew & Compliment:> 1 Pilot, 1 Co-Pilot, 1 Engineer, 1 Loadmaster.>4 Passengers.===============
>>Coruscant, 19 BBY>>Approximately one month after Order 66...“WANTED: APPRENTICE FOR INDEPENDENT TRADER {BOSS BANTHA} FOR OUTER RIM JOURNEY. SEEKING ASPIRANT ENGINEERS AND PILOTS, AGED 16 TO 22, NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE NEEDED. CAPTAIN D. WARK GRIFFITH WILL BE INTERVIEWING APPLICANTS AT THE [MERRY MAGISTER CANTINA]. DEADLINE WITHIN FIVE DAYS OF THIS ADVERTISEMENT’S POSTING.“ADDENDUM: NON-HUMANS NEED NOT APPLY.”The tattoos along the boy’s neck told Larid everything that he needed to know. Even if he was genuinely in the market for an apprentice engineer, the gang markings all but disqualified this latest one. It wouldn’t have been the first time he’d partnered up with smugglers or other criminals, but for all he knew, this one had a bounty. And that kind of attention was the last thing that he needed.Still, he played it cool. If nothing else, he could say that he was enjoying himself. The ebb and flow of conversation, smoothed and flavored by good food and wine, had helped cajole the Shadow out of the dark mood he’d found himself in. What he’d discovered in the Temple Archives wasn’t about to leave him anytime soon, but this game was a welcome distraction from those troubling thoughts.Nestled in a quiet little corner in the Merry Magister cantina, the Jedi Shadow nursed a solitary drink, silent as he listened to the latest applicant sell himself. The dull roar of the ambience helped to muffle their conversation. It was a slower night compared to most, but the music and the bustle of servers helped to keep any conversations barely legible above the rest.“Ask around, everyone will tell you that you’ll find no better mechanic than Riven, sir,” the pockmarked youth said earnestly. Beyond the ink, his most defining feature was a scar that ran across his nose. His sandy-gold hair was cropped short, just ending at his ears. He couldn’t have been more than twenty. “I’ve worked on all sorts of machines, from dirty cargo haulers to the sleekest muscle birds.”Illegally obtained? But that question never surfaced on his lips. One of the waitresses idled to the table, bringing the food that they had ordered. She cast a sour look at Riven, still dirty with oil and grime from the shop he had most likely left in a hurry to make before the interviews ended. He didn’t seem to notice, either. The grease seeping into the upholstery would take a good week to remove.Larid offered a small nod, taking a small bite from a plate of onion rings. And in a harsh brogue he picked up from the east end of the Outer Rim, he asked, “Any experience with starships?”“Not...exactly,” Riven hesitated, before regaining his bearings, “But I’m a fast learner. And I’ve found that gravitation technology and the laws of physics cut a wide swath across multiple vehicles.”(cont.)
That it did. The same principles that influenced a speeder’s movement weren’t entirely dissimilar to that on a starship. Perhaps in scale, of course, but the technology was nearly the same. Academics might argue, but the words of engineers and mechanics had more weight to them than bushy-browed scholars with smooth hands and unblemished clothing.But here came the test that broke more than made most of the applicants.“Alright, pop quiz, laddie.” Riven looked up, half of an onion ring dangling out of his mouth like some misshapen piercing. In any other event, Larid might have laughed, but he was deadly serious as he intoned: “We just jumped to hyperspace and we’ve got an electrical overload. In thirty seconds, we might be scattered across into wee little parts across three different star systems. Coolant’s leaking and the controls aren’t immediately responding. What would you do to save the ship, our cargo and our lives?”The boy bobbed his head, swallowing the food like some sort of piscine animal. Adopting a thinker’s pose, he began to mutter: “...well, first thing I wouldn’t do is mess with the compressor.”Larid barked a harsh laugh, startling Riven out of his pensive thoughts. “Well, you’ve got more promise than most of the city-slickers I’ve seen tonight.” It wasn’t a lie. There’d been several aspirants who fell disappointingly short even beneath the minimum requirements he’d set in the advertisement. Case in point with a girl who had the brilliant idea to rip off the compressor. Some senator’s rebellious, impulsive brat looking for an adventure, judging from her accent and the clothes she’d been wearing. He’d sent her home sulking, but gave a good recommendation for self-education courses. Maybe in a few years, she’d be on a ship and wouldn’t make a mistake like that. But just before the boy got too hopeful, he gestured for him to continue. “Twenty five seconds.”“Oh, uh...” Larid could see the gears turning in his head. “...divert auxiliary power to the secondary coolant tank. Surplus energy needs to be redirected away from the cockpit to avoid a complete blowout of what controls we still have...”The more he listened, the worse Larid felt. It was honestly a damned shame. The kid not only knew his stuff, but the desperation in his aura wasn’t one he could ignore. Maybe it wasn’t a bounty hunter that was coming after him, but there was something he was fleeing from. He looked at the gang markings once more, debating whether or not they could have been applied against his will...He coughed, cutting the boy off. “With one second left on the clock, you saved my ship and our profits. Well done, lad.”The relief was painfully obvious. Riven slumped back in his seat, a nervous grin on his face. “So...how’d I do, sir? Do I have the job?”“Oi, slow down there. Didn’t your parents ever teach you patience?”(cont.)
“Ah. Sorry to hear that, laddie.” And he meant it, too. Downing the remainder of his drink, Larid continued, “Well, sometimes the galaxy deals you a shite hand, but you seem to have done alright for yourself in spite of it. So here’s the rub: I’ll let you know in two days if you’ve got the job or not.”The boy’s face brightened like the dawn. He bowed, nearly tripping over himself as he leapt out of the booth. “Oh, thank you, sir! I promise, you won’t regret a thing if you sign me on!”Riven practically skipped out of the restaurant. A moment later, once he’d exited the premises, Larid heard a whoop of joy. Premature in his celebration, but that might have been the best night of his life in a very long time. Futile though it might have been...though not of his own fault.But perhaps it was a flight of fancy or a strange whim that compelled Larid to hold onto Riven’s application. On a nearby datapad, he moved the boy’s papers from out of the recycling bin, and left it on the desktop. One day, maybe, he’d come back and see what the boy had made of himself...one day......he sighed. If he was going to slip that far into maudlin sentiment, then he might as well return for the senator’s brat as well-“Captain Griffith.”He looked up from his drink and datapad to see a Kel Dor inserting herself into his booth, uncaring of the stares she drew to herself. Her clothes marked her in that precarious of middles between poverty and the middle class. Certainly one of the brassier applicants, and so quick on the heels of a more promising one! This was the sixth non-human in as many as two hours. Things must’ve been getting really bad on Coruscant for them to apply in spite of the obvious warning.But the night was still young. Noirah could come in at any moment. And if she didn’t...then he still had some business before the dawn. No good hunter worth his salt only sets one trap, let alone an obvious one. There wasn’t any time to waste entertaining this latest arrival, let alone be pleasant about it.Larid scowled, slipping back into his coarse brogue: “Look, I already told the last five of you xenos: non-humans need not-”But to his surprise, the Kel Dor brought her hand up, and waved her fingers before his eyes. The Force trembled about her, and he felt it envelop him in an attempt to seize his will. With a low, modulated voice, the woman rumbled: “You will give me berth in your ship and passage to the Outer Rim.”The façade slipped as the Shadow started. He stared at her, incredulous, both at the fact that his Jedi trap had worked, albeit in an unexpected way...and at the sheer stupidity of her actions. This corner of the cantina was far away from prying eyes and cameras, but there were still too many people, too many eyes that were looking at everything and nothing.(cont.)
But the Kel Dor noticed none of these things. She frowned at the response (or lack thereof), and pushed once more with the trick, murmuring, “You will give me berth on your ship-”Before she could finish, Larid seized her fingers with an iron grip. She squawked as he brought her hand down, hard, on the table. Drinks and food went flying as the Shadow hissed in a low, menacing tone: “Do that again, and I swear on the ashes of our brothers and sisters that I will gut you like a fish!”All of her species wore dark goggles and a face mask to protect themselves from oxygen-rich environments. But even with those impediments, he could see the way her brow rose, and her mouth slackened in visible shock. “You are-!”“You damned...not here!” With his other hand, he slipped something into her boot beneath the table. Once he was certain that she’d noticed the addition, Larid all but dragged her out of his booth. And with a booming roar loud enough to startle and silence the entire cantina, he screamed: “Get out of here, you inhuman filth! And don’t you dare show what passes for your face around me again!”There wasn’t any faking the hurt in her expression as she ran away, cloak billowing in her haste to exit the cantina. And damn him if he didn’t feel like the lowest form of life on the galaxy, second only to those bastard Sith. The racist was an old character he’d playacted before, one that left him needing a shower several times over. It went in complete anathema with the teachings of the Jedi, but it was a necessary evil he had to perform.For both of their sakes.“What’re you looking at?” he snarled at the diners, who suddenly became very interested at their meals. To the frightened waitress, he tossed her a handful of credit chits and began to help her clean up. “Sorry about the mess, lassie. Next round’s on me...”Larid settled back into his seat, reaching for the bottle of spirits the server had returned with. This time, he didn’t have to fake anything as he put it to his lips and took a very generous swing. He’d emptied out another bottle before the next applicant showed up. And it wasn’t Noirah.It was shaping up to be a very long night for the Shadow...======
>>At the same time...>>Kakarit, Behrilia System, Outer Rim.Even deprived of his main offensive weapon, the Paragon is still a dangerous foe. And with a hand free, the restrictions against Force techniques he’d imposed upon himself are nowhere to be found. It takes all of your own dexterous skills and contortionist training to adapt to the kinetic waves that threaten to flatten you against the wall.You dodge where you can, counter with your own Force Push where need be. The Paragon hisses as you dig your lighstaber into the stone, drawing heat from the slag to manifest a great tendril of Force Fire. He blasts away the heat, countering with a rending claw meant to open you from waist to shoulder. Too slow! You beat a calculated retreat, swerving to the side and ducking from the counterblow......all the while side-stepping towards the fallen mace.By the time he realizes what you’ve done, it’s too late. The Kakari’s eyes widen as you gesture to the weapon with an empty hand, lunging both physically and with the Force to stop you. But just as you can feel your boots slipping on the wet ground, the sunstones within the Godstone Mace answer your call.They break away from the weapon with a sound like gentle glass, soaring into the air as they race to your position. Hurriedly, you unsheathe the Sunspear from your back. And when you present the weapon, and three of the empty slots along its haft, there’s almost a noise of relief. The Sunspear seems to hum a joyous song as the stolen Godstones place themselves as if they’d never departed.And the weapon begins to glow, filling you with an unexpected font of energy...>>With nine of the twelve Godstones embedded in the weapon, the Sunspear is at half-power.>>While in physical contact with the Sunspear, you gain a Temporary +1d10 to dice rolls when rolling for Force Powers.“Thief!” the Herald roars, bounding towards you with a furious gleam in its eyes. Any and all decorum of professional animosity has been forgotten in favor of personal vendetta.“Kinslayer!” You hurriedly sheathe the Sunspear, affixing it to your back with Fibercord before you rejoin the fight. If you could just get the last three Godstones within the shield...!But just before it can get any closer, the Paragon Herald stops, digging its talons into the ground. Its throat hums a warbling note, a sinister chuckle as it slams its shield into the ground.“I had not desired to initiate the apotheosis so early and so incomplete...” he hisses, wrenching all three Godstones from out of the shield. And to your amazement and horror, he opens his maw, dropping the last of them into his gullet without pause or hesitation. “Die honored that you have driven me to this state, Farren Gaelle.”And the Living Force begins to scream as the flesh of the Paragon Herald starts to ripple and mutate...(cont.)
But before you can even think about making any sort of aggressive move, or some desperate ploy to stop the transformation, the world begins to shake. The vines in the chamber shudder, ominously glowing a pale and sickly color as Master Kosa’s screams reach a fever pitch. The distant roars of the Guardian and Sings-of-Splitting-Stone fall to the wayside as a new and terrible threat emerges.They appear without warning, suddenly pushed into the chamber by the endemic life around you. Birthed out of blood-red cocoons and egg sacs in a macabre mockery of reproduction, the creatures fall to the ground with a grotesque splat and a hideous chittering. Too many eyes turn to look at you, too many teeth in maws that slaver and drool at the sight of you and Master Kosa.“LaRVaE, oBeY yOuR hERaLd! roars the misshapen lump of the Metamorphic Herald, a cancerous growth with only vestigial signs of the Paragon. Its skull leers at you with preternatural light, blazing with enough hatred to match a Sith’s passion. “kIlL tHe jEdI!The Larvae of Jombaral split off into two groups: one listens to their master’s call, slithering towards your position. The others heed their more baser instincts, and race towards the helpless Master Kosa, thrashing in her vines in a futile attempt to escape...>>Roll 2d8 + 8 Lightsaber. [+3 Skill, +3 Finesse, +2 Cunning]>8, 8, 8Your blade is a golden blur, snapping out in quick, disciplined, movements. Not a single movement is wasted, carried over from one to the next in an almost dance-like series of motions. Desperation to reach Master Kosa lends you speed and agility beyond your ken, and you duck and weave flawlessly through the horde of aberrations.They are not nearly so dexterous in dodging or attacking. Beyond their maws and imposing mass, there is little else in the way of attack. Even as they all might try to swarm or overwhelm you with numbers, you have a way of escape, a counter maneuver, or the sheer brute force of the tools at your disposal. As you drive your lightsaber into the maw of one Larva and bisect it down the middle, your other hand conjures great tendrils of fire. They take to the summoned monsters like sparks to tinder, engulfing them entirely in purifying flame. It does not take long for the air within the inner sanctum becomes dry and arid. And with the screams and noises of the burning larvae, the closer the area feels like an actual hell made manifest in the heart of paradise.And the Herald’s already come to play the role of the devil.You reach Master Kosa with more than enough time to spare. The remainder of the larvae shriek as you drive them back away from the Jedi, cringing away from the heat of your ‘saber and conjured flame. Most of them, the slower ones that hadn’t been able to react in time, fall under the sheer ferocity of your assault. (cont.)
Whatever instincts of self-preservation the sole survivor possesses override any demands from the Herald of Jombaral. It contents itself to eye you warily, even as its mouth(s) work furiously, with viscous drool splattering out of maws with far too many teeth.“...what manner of creatures...” whispers Kosa in a hoarse voice.“...ThE cHILDrEN Of JomARaL in theIr TRUeST FoRM...”The Metamorphic Herald stands uneasily. Its flesh continues to writhe and squirm, shuddering as if a great host of serpentine creatures moved within its body. But you already know that in lieu of sinew and bone, tenebrous vines as thick as your forearm comprise the creature’s malformed musculature."...sEeds tHaT moTHER WouLd soW aCrOSs the gALaXY..." croaks the abomination. Its mouth moves in approximation of the syllables, even as cancerous growths congeal to form muscle and skin. "...TheY WouLD tAkE rOOt tO fORm NEW wOMBs WitHIn thE cORES of PLanETs tO GErMinATe..."What little blood remains in Kosa’s face pales at the implications. And you can’t nearly suppress the shiver that runs up and down the length of your spine. But before you can move to incinerate the last of the larvae, the Herald moves to shield it with the sheer bulk of its mass.It runs a misshapen hand along the larva’s scalp in a pantomime of affection. And for the briefest moment, you could have sworn that the creature was responding, leaning into the touch......and then it barely had time to scream as the Herald crushes its head into a bloody pulp."...IT is oF NO cONsEQUeNCe,” the Herald mutters nonchalantly, letting viscera and gore slide off its bloody talons. It stares directly into your eyes and holds your gaze, stomping towards you with increasing speed and power. "...youR cORpSE, faRRen, WILl sErvE As seEdbEd fOr THE neXT of mOther's CHilDrEn..."Its limbs shudder, splitting into long, sinewy creepers, tapered with wicked hooks at their ends. From the way their ends seem to split open into wide beaks, you can conclude that these could be the barbs that have ensnared Master Kosa.There is a glint of malice in the Herald’s eyes as you duck and weave, contorting your body to dodge and deflect the flesh hooks...>>What is your strategy?>Attempt to use Sever Force to disrupt its connection to the Living Force and its surroundings.>Draw the Sunspear and recreate the conditions that lead to the defeat of the Accuser of Pilgrims.>Keep fighting with Niman/Form VI and application of the Force. It’s been working so far.>Sunder Master Kosa’s binding to the plants and give her the Sunspear.>Question it in a bid for time The more you know about this 'apotheosis' the better.>Taunt it into making a mistake. Make a disparaging remark about its childhood.>Custom option. [Write-in][VOTE OPEN FOR SIX HOURS
>>4489899>>Attempt to use Sever Force to disrupt its connection to the Living Force and its surroundingsI think we should do this before freeing Kosa. But if we want to do one more trick...>Spray the herald with fire and blood if its available to blind him.>Shout for master kosa, throwing the saber as if to free her>Force Sever while he thinks hes got the jump on us.
>>4489904I'll back this.Happy see this back again
>>4489904Just to clarify, yes i am aware of the possibility that he can't actually be blinded because of his force awareness of the whole room. It's part of the feint.
>>4489904support
>>4489899>>4489904Seems like a good gambit, support
>>4489904Yeah, why the heck not. Support
>fire and bloodIs that readily available? I don't feel comfortable supporting something that hinges on a "maybe".
>>4490050We can generate force fire out of nothing, and that larva's blood went everywhere when the Herald crushed it. I don't see why it wouldn't work.>>4489899So, I'm supporting >>4489904
>>4490071Oh, I didn't see that part.>>4489899Supporting >>4489904.
>>4489904Do we still have that knife that knocks all the souls out of him?
>>4490225Still in our inventory, but I don't feel so hot about using it against the Herald while he still has his Force powers. We COULD Sever Force, stick it in there and wait for his connection to return.
Is it just me or is this boss fight taking an absurdly long time, even without counting the hiatus?
>>4490260Not really? I mean we've been kicking the dogshit out of him so far, but it is the end boss so chances are he's not going down easy..
>>4489904SupportAbsolutely ecstatic to see this running againAll the other quests running don't even come close to this one
>>4489899>>Draw the Sunspear and recreate the conditions that lead to the defeat of the Accuser of Pilgrims.>>4489904This seems way too risky, and feels like it's being tricky just for he sake of being tricky.
>>4489904>>4489908>>4489907>>4489946>>4490005>>4490019>>4490071>>4490077>>4490298>>4490316You don’t dance nearly as long. When enough of the hooks have been severed at their tips, the Herald withdraws its weapons with an almost tangible scowl. It is in that lull and abatement that you make a fierce, desperate and very, very high-stakes counter-attack.The Herald stills abruptly as you charge forward. But to its visible surprise, your lightsaber seems to wiff by just a few scant inches. Its arc takes the golden blade up into the ceiling, towards one of the hundreds of vines that have scrawled along the surfaces of the sanctum. Most are cauterized shut by the sheer heat of the plasma. Most, but not all. There are a handful of vessels that burst, overwriting the scent of fresh earth with a sharp and bitter iron. Green-red blood splashes down onto the floor, pumping like water from an uncontrollable hose. They commingle with the cooling corpses of the larvae, intermingling into a foul, putrid stench.And Kosa screams in sympathetic pain as the vines that burrowed deep into her body begin to bleed out...Forgive me, Master!Even as the Herald opens its mouth, a scathing taunt within its skeletal visage, you don’t hesitate. Within your empty hand, you gather heat and power. The flames rush towards the foe, a scorching lance of Spirit Flame into its center mass. The flames lick along the Herald’s body, but no sooner does “flesh” begin to wither and char are they sliced clean off.“i learneD HOw to do THAt WheN i was no morE ThAn fiFteen sumMERS,” it growls, regenerating the damaged limbs and parts. “iT WIll tAKe MOrE THAN paLtry TrickS-”What parts of his body that are still on fire are immediately doused by an unexpected torrent of blood.It’s one thing to hold the overhead vines in place to keep them from flailing wildly. But it is another to redirect them with the Force. You aren’t subjugating anything as much as exerting pure force of will into holding the severed vines away from you and Kosa, and towards the Herald of Jombaral.Flailing blindly against the unexpected distraction, the monster’s given you a breath. And with that breath, you hurry along to Master Kosa’s side. You hurriedly isolate the worst of the bleeding vines and quickly cauterize them.“I’m so sorry,” you apologize.She doesn’t answer, merely opining to shoot you a withering glare, one you've seen reserved for your master's wilder antics. It’s quickly replaced by one of surprise as you unhook the Sunstone Spear and thrust it into her hands. Then awe as the warm glow of the nine embedded Godstones seems to resonate with her.“Please hold onto this for me.”And just as the Herald wipes away the last bit of blood from the lights of its eyes, you concentrate.“There is no emotion, there is peace...”>>Roll 2d10 + 9 Sever Force (+3 Will, +1 Skill, +5 Affinity)>Best out of three.
Rolled 5, 8 + 9 = 22 (2d10 + 9)>>4490980
Rolled 9, 5 + 9 = 23 (2d10 + 9)>>4490980Works for me
Rolled 10, 1 + 9 = 20 (2d10 + 9)>>4490980
>>4490980>very, very high-stakesThat reads like a huge DC.>>4490984I hope that's enough.
>>4491004I think the force sever idea was terrible personally. We needed good rolls to get it to work before the bastard was trying to become a god. But I'm still impressed with how well we've been rolling ever since we started fighting him. Like the dice fucking hate the herald it seems.>inb4 jinxed it
>>4491037We probably rely on it too much, don't we? Especially on Kakarit.
>>4491040Considering we're up against a Force Entity? I'd be surprised if we didn't have to rely on it.Honestly though the plan was stupidly complicated.
>>4490982>>4490984>>4490989The Force almost seems to scream as your conceptual blade meets the Herald’s defenses. Blood runs down the corner of your eyes, dripping from out of your nose as capillaries in both start to strain and burst. Caught off-guard, the entity is only able to mount a sloppy, but no less powerful, defense against the searing blade.It is not nearly enough.Something cracks at the point of contact. It is an unperceivable noise that isn’t heard but felt. From that tiny fissure erupts a network of hairline fractures, branching out into a schizophrenic web of straining glass. Too late, the Herald tries to bolster its defenses with a second barrier......and something gives way.The flesh of the Herald’s splits open, parting with such ferocity as if you’d struck it with your lightsaber. But unlike the prior wounds, it does not immediately close. The vines and sinews thrash about wildly, groping for their severed twins, flailing at everything to try and seal the injury.Between the parted folds, three iridescent gems lay within the cancerous flesh, orbiting a pulsating spheroid. The former could only be the Godstones you were unable to secure before the metamorphosis. But the center orb, flickering between ominous shades of azure and crimson, could only be the creature’s core.Its heart is approximately the size of a man’s head, almost pearl-like in its appearance. The pebbled surface is radiant, a brilliant star within the Force. It pulses no differently than a normal organ, and you feel your own resonate in sympathetic rhythm. But in the shocked silence between the three of you, you can still hear the screams of four thousand years’ worth of souls.The Liar’s Blade grows heavy on your belt, as if begging to be drawn. And before you even realize, your empty hand reflexively goes towards the weapon.Suddenly, one of the three Godstones brightens to an almost painful degree. But as quick as it happens, the brilliance fades, and the Stone reverts to a dull prism. With an obscene noise, the vines holding the gem in place retract, and the Godstone falls onto the ground with a resonant clang.“nO!” The Herald moves as if to scoop it back into its body, but you react quicker. Hurriedly, you pull your hand away from the Liar’s Blade and blast the Godstone with a wave of kinetic energy. It soars into the air, bouncing off the surfaces of the sanctum, rolling and spinning away from the Herald’s reach.>>You have deprived the Metamorphic Herald of one of its Godstones.>>It now only has two Godstones upon which to draw power.>>The Heart of the Herald has been exposed!>>What will you do?>Press the advantage. Draw the Liar’s Blade and charge towards the Heart for a killing blow.>Reign yourself in. Gather your power and Sever Force to deprive the Herald of the last two Godstones.>Custom option.[VOTE OPEN FOR FIVE HOURS
>>4491705>>Press the advantage. Draw the Liar’s Blade and charge towards the Heart for a killing blow.We've triggered the bossfight to expose his glowing weakspot, dart in and give it a hit for massive damage before repeating twice more.
>>4491705>Press the advantage. Draw the Liar’s Blade and charge towards the Heart for a killing blow.
>>4491705>Press the advantage. Draw the Liar’s Blade and charge towards the Heart for a killing blow.>inb4 this doesn't kill him immediately and we have to hold out for a few turns
>>4491705>Press the advantage. Draw the Liar’s Blade and charge towards the Heart for a killing blow.He’s already run through his first transformation unless this isn’t even his final form
>>4491705>Press the advantage. Draw the Liar’s Blade and charge towards the Heart for a killing blow.wonder what it would feel like if we used force pull on the core, but we're not specced for that.
>>4491705>>Reign yourself in. Gather your power and Sever Force to deprive the Herald of the last two Godstones.
>>4491705>Press the advantage. Draw the Liar’s Blade and charge towards the Heart for a killing blow.Considering that we just ended up bursting blood vessels pulling off one Force Sever, I don't think it's a good idea to try another. That being said, maybe we could feint like we're going for the other Godstones, or something else to hide our goal of "Fuck you, you horrid monstrosity, hurry up and die so I can snack on some blueberry pie"?
>>4492598I think we may have trouble feinting the process of Force Sever.
Hyped, glad the best quest is back!
Welcome back, I can't wait for the tomboy twilek waifu
>>4492889She is top tier >Inb4 she finds out we slept with a mandalorian and demands we track her down so Arotta can fight for our “honour”
>>4492889*TogrutaGlad to be back.Writing...
>>4493319Doesn't mean there can't be one in the future...
>>4493341I agree, not nearly enough waifus in this quest already.
>>4493351Saving rock waifu needs to be prioritised now we've got blueberry and her master saved.
>>4493319Togruta are nice. Good to have you back Kaz.
>>4491734>>4491748>>4491826>>4491867>>4492160>>4492294>>4492481>>4492598The Liar’s Blade grows hot in your hand as you draw it. Its surface warps and shudders, the blue pulsating in synchronic rhythm with the core of the Herald. A great conflagration of fire runs down along its length. The Force trembles as a tangible, heatless flame that shines as bright as a star.And as all eyes turn towards the weapon, everything happens at once.Master Kosa redoubles her efforts to free herself. The power of the Sunspear bolsters her emaciated frame beyond its physical limits. Its tip glows white-hot as it slices through the vines, cauterizing wounds shut with an acrid stench. The ensuing hospital bill will be a high price to pay, but it will be one well spent.The Herald’s body seems to ripple. Then, it seems to explode in a mess of vines and bramble. Some shoot towards the Jedi Master. The flesh hooks race for the severed connections, or outright try to take root in new locations. But the overwhelming majority arc towards you and the weapon in your hand.The first vine misses you by mere inches. The second bramble carves a thin furrow where your neck meets your shoulder. The next three of the coarse boughs slices into your skin. Thorns fly about like the shrapnel of a fragmentation device, puncturing the soft flesh of your face, barely missing your eyes...But you continue your charge. Master Kosa fights off the bonds that would restrain or steal the Sunspear. And within the great wound you had dealt the Herald, the remaining Godstones within its chest seem to sing with approval."i wILl NOT Be DEnIEd My ASCENcion!" the monster roars, "I WIlL nOT be DenIed what iS mInE by birthRiGhT!"“...there is no ignorance, there is knowledge...”For a moment, your discipline slips, and the noise that comes out of your throat startles you as much as the next person. There is the pain of your body. The bones of your formerly broken arm ache; the burns of the Harvester’s acid are not quick to heal. And the pain of the mind, that taint that poured within you, the head-splitting visions...But it comes and passes quickly. And your mind is no less tranquil, a point of balance in a roiling storm of emotions. The apex of your charge abruptly stops as you vault into the air, propelling yourself with a Force-aided jump. “...there is no passion, there is serenity...”The clasp of your hood comes undone, allowing for the wind to blow your hair into wild disarray as you descend with the force of a righteous warrior. The dispassionate gaze trembles as the vectors of its limbs are redirected up. Skin is punctured, thorns embedded, flesh hooks dig in and begin to draw blood...but it is not nearly enough to stop you.You rear back, sheathing your lightsaber to clasp the Liar’s Blade with both hands...“...there is no death; there is the Force...”...and you stab the Herald in its core.(cont.)
The light in its eyes track downwards, staring in disbelief at the blade embedded within it.And then the Herald screams.The world ends. Or at least, it sounds as if it did. Blood-red energy shoots from out of the aberration’s mouth, boiling with amber motes and sickly bubbles. There is a sickening crack of bone as the sheer pressure of the blast twists its head to stare straight up into the air.The sheer force of the blast knocks you away from the Herald. Nothing in your own power can keep the Blade within your hands. It slips out of your fingers, remaining embedded within the monster’s heart. Not that you’d complain too much, even as you fly back tail over teakettle.For a brief moment, the Herald’s flesh seems to darken, soon resembling the surface of a paved road in disrepair. Dark, sap-like ichor oozes from the crack within its core. And where they fall, the liquid trembles, mutating and solidifying into tumor-like clumps with too many mouths, too many twitching limbs...But what exits next...they could only be described as souls. The spheroid entities that race from out of the Herald’s mouth and core are unified in their singular relief, the maddening glee of release after four thousand years of torment. They are more than legion, uncountable millions in number that surge out of the monster as if the gates of a great dam had been opened. Some disappear immediately, vanishing through the ceiling of the inner sanctum to whatever afterlife awaits them. Others linger, circling tauntingly around the Herald as it visibly destabilizes before your eyes. And yet there are handfuls that fly towards you, the architect of their release.Listening to the choir is an exercise in madness. You shut out the loudest of them, batting away the ones that get too close for comfort, as if to enter your own body. But there are those that keep their respectful distance. Each one is a spark, a flash in the pan that would have otherwise been ignored or unable to be discerned. But united, their emotions are a bonfire that you can almost touch.Surprise/Disbelief/Curiosity/Gratitude/But the Herald is not yet finished. Even as the flesh of its arm seems to crack and ossify, it has enough strength left to clasp the Liar’s Blade. The remaining Godstones flare an ominous cherry-red as they call upon all their remaining power. And even as it continues to bleed both blood and souls, the Herald begins to draw out the weapon through both brute strength and the Force...“Oh no you don’t...” Spitting out a globule of blood, you stand on trembling legs. Blood runs down the length of your arm, dripping from your fingertips as you reach out with the Force and arrest the creature’s movement...>>Please give me an opposed Force Pull/Push Check.>Roll 2d10+8 (+3 Resolve, +5 Affinity, +1 Skill)>Best out of three.
Rolled 9, 9 + 8 = 26 (2d10 + 8)>>4493992
Rolled 2, 8 + 8 = 18 (2d10 + 8)>>4493992>>4493997Pic Related
Rolled 2, 4 + 8 = 14 (2d10 + 8)>>4493992
>>4493997What in the goddamned hell is with all these nines people are rolling for Force checks. Like, holy shit. Two 9,9 rolls for two separate Sever Force checks in the last thread, and now one here for Force Push. /qst/ please....that's definitely something worth a reward.
>>4494006The Dice Gods clearly have issues with force abominations.
>>4494012I almost feel bad for the freak in the force. Almost.
>>4493997What with this quest and amazing rolls wtf
>>4494092Dice gods want to be off space Vietnam as much as we do.
>>4493997
>>4494092We did something that was so amazingly based in the first few threads that the dice gods decided to reward us Throughly BLEACHing a Torgruta Tomboy and ruining her for non pink men
Enter Chadren
>>4494196>Enter>not ENTERFuck is that pussy shit?
>>4494196Did you have a stroke?
I'm starting to think Farren is the real Chosen One.Also I wonder what would've happened if Vader visited the ghost room.
>>4494249Farren is the Second Choice.
>>4493997>>4494000>>4494001There is no need for subtleties. The time for applying the scalpel has long since passed. Now, it is the time for the hammer, and all the power you can muster along with it.Time seems to slow as the kinetic energy smashes against the Herald like waves against a mighty rock. Your mind turns inwards. A hidden reserve of strength suddenly wells within you, bolstering your attack and beleaguered mind. The pain of exertion, like a million needles stabbing into your brain, is a welcome sensation. It hones your thoughts, concentrates them into physical action, a great restraint that holds the Liar’s Blade within the Herald’s core....yet it isn’t enough. Even wounded neigh unto death and hemorrhaging power, the abomination still has plenty of fight and vigor left within its body. For all of your strength, it’s all you can do to slow its actions. The best you can manage is delay the Blade’s withdrawal, turning centimeters into millimeters, instants into seconds as more of the weapon slides out of the core...But that delay gives your companion more than enough time.Suddenly appearing at your side is Master Kosa. The twi’lek spins the Sunspear in her hands, wielding it as if the weapon had been made for her hands. The severed flesh hooks that once kept her in bondage hang limply as she rears back, pulling the weapon to gather power for a final blow.“You really want the damned thing that badly?!” Spittle flies from her mouth as the Force gathers in her arm. And all nine of the embedded Godstones shine as bright as suns with every second that passes. “Fine, I’ll give it to you right now!”Even as the act of throwing the weapon breaks several bones, Kosa’s scream is one of triumph, not pain, as it lances towards the Herald’s core. It becomes a length of glare, a dazzling bolt that crackles with the Living Force. It streaks across the inner sanctum, turning darkness into day as it blasts into the Herald’s core.It had to have been intentional design that causes the Sunspear to impact the hilt of the Liar’s Blade. The scream of the Herald reaches a new height as the weapon is driven further into its core. As more cracks appear along its surface, more of its blood and souls escape from the fissures.Kosa stumbles against you, cradling an arm broken in three places. The price of throwing the spear was high, but one willingly paid. Her eyes meet with yours as she lifts her remaining arm, lending her power to your own.gODS doN'T dIE GoDs doN't diE goDS DoN'T DiEYou can hear its voice now, truly hear it. Even with one eardrum blown out and the other bleeding heavily, the Herald’s scream causes the very ground to shake. Its vines splay wildly, thrashing as if to grab something to steady itself, to cling onto as the weapons drive deeper into its core.mOTHeRrrRrRrRrrrRrrrrR(cont.)
>>4494479>mOTHeRrrRrRrRrrrRrrrrRI should not be enjoying the pain and fear of another being, but I have to admit it's supremely satisfying.On an unrelated note, you guys think Master Kosa knows we've been sleeping with our best frienemy? I mean, Master Larid figured it out, sure, but he's also a Jedi superspy.More concerningly, if she DOES know, how much of the time heading back to him is going to be filled with disapproving speeches and stares? "Thank you, padawan, your assistance was both welcome and necessary, you saved both of our lives...now, let me explain why your genitals need to stay in your Force-damned robes for the next eight hours."
>>4494514If she starts fucking lecturing us she can stay for the Base Delta Zero.
>>4494517I'd assume she'd have the common sense to wait until we were in hyperspace to really get going.
>>4494521Time to find out what happens if you eject somebody from an airlock while in hyperspace.
>>4494479There is a quiet sound, no louder than a window breaking, as the Herald’s core shatters into a million pieces. And even before the first deafening crack, you grab Master Kosa, flinging her behind a fallen pillar. No sooner do you take cover and throw yourself to the ground does the Herald of Jombaral turn into pure energy, the life-stuff of the universe......before exploding with a tremendous noise.In an instant later, molten globs of bloody effluvium paint the inner sanctum in a tide of red and amber. You can’t help but scream as one the size of your fist falls upon your shoulder, and you hurriedly throw your cloak off before it can burrow deeper into your flesh. Kosa keeps her head down, cradling her broken arm, hissing as the final rumblings of the aftershock ride themselves out.When the dust finally settles, you see the Sunspear standing up from a large chunk of meat, and a chorus of souls dancing high above the cieling. The body is just as irregular and formless as the crater that ensconces it. All white, you realize with a start, staring in both amazement and horror at the creature impaled upon the lance. The whites of its bones are visible from where skin and muscle had melted from the heat of the blast. One of its arms is little more than a smoking ruin, and the other plucks at the air feebly. The shattered remnants of its feet dig shallow furrows into the earth, lacking any strength to move its ruined body. Blood drops from the mess of its head, a mouth gaped open in a silent scream.The Herald of Jombaral is no more.All that remains is the mutilated, dying Child of Boslzoh.=[APOTHEOSIS DENIED]=Clearing your throat, you turn towards the master. “...are you alright, Master Kosa?”The twi’lek grimaces. “...considering the last few months, this is the best I’ve ever felt in a very long time. And you? The thing that landed upon your shoulder...”Both of your eyes turn to the ruined lump of your cloak, no more than a patchwork mess of wool. Whatever had splattered upon it has already worked its way through more than half of the black cloth.“...just a tickling scratch...” You grimace as you nearly stumble from a sudden sense of vertigo. “I’ve got some medical supplies in the shuttle-”"...waiiiiit..." the Child moans, causing you both to start in its direction. The albino Kakari mewls pitifully, choking on its own blood in a feeble attempt to dislodge the spear pinning it to the ground. "...pleaasssseeeee...">>What will you do?>Approach the Child to hear its final words before putting it out of its misery.>Retrieve the Sunspear, Godstones and Liar’s Blade without killing the Child.>Custom option. [Write-in.][VOTE OPEN FOR FIVE HOURS]
>>4494514>Implying Master Kosa isn’t somehow the one who orchestrated the relationship so that her hothead student could have someone to balance her out without being overpowered by her
>>4494525>Approach the Child to hear its final words before putting it out of its misery.Lightsaber out, on, and ready for any trickery, of course. First sign of any sneaky bullshit, leave nothing but ash.
>>4494525>Walk over to hear its last words, but grab onto the spear in case of any funny business I hope we can loot the Sunspear or the Liar’s Blade, ya’know the good shit past getting our girlfriend and her mom
>>4494525>Approach the Child to hear its final words before putting it out of its misery.
>>4494527"Truly, I am a clever woman. This will mellow out my apprentice, give her an outlet for her competitive urges until those fade, and in the end she'll be able to simply walk away from the tryst with no connections as a true Jedi should. After all, a bit of teenage fumbling around shouldn't be enough pleasure to actually risk dependence or the like. Don't you agree, Master Larid?""...I'm almost insulted you think my protege's training is lacking in any area whatsoever, and it is also quite obvious you've never slept with a human. I'm going to go convince my padawan I believe unicorns to be both real and plotting against the senate, let me know when this all goes horribly wrong so I can giggle maniacally about it."
>>4494525>>Approach the Child to hear its final words before putting it out of its misery.>>4494546sad thing is that sounds like Larid.
>>4494546
>>4494541Support. I don't trust that little shit.
>>4494549>>4494552Glad you both approve. I can see why Kaz wrote Larid the way he did, that was entirely too fun, and I may have to put in another commission from kaz that's literally just a few pages of Larid fucking with his increasingly concerned/annoyed/confused padawan, because the man is like a drug.
>>4494525>Approach the Child to hear its final words before putting it out of its misery.>>4494567>The water is turning the freaking Gungans gay!
>>4494525How much time does the Child have? Could we bring him to space to see the universe outside before he dies?
>>4494739Anon, I'm all for showing sympathy to the guy, but there's being kind to your dying enemy, and then there's going overboard with it. He gets a hug from his grandma on his deathbed (if she's not been splatted) and a "Well done, son" from the 1/50th of his ghost amalgamation dad that loved his mom, and that's what he'll get.
>>4494525>=[APOTHEOSIS DENIED]=What would have happened if he actually underwent it?
>>4494980Ever see End of Evangelion?
>>4494991I doubt Tang was gonna be a part of it, anon.
>>4494980
>>4495036>it actually was EvangelionGlad we stopped that then.
>>4495036>Our master when he learns that we killed the baby version of fucking Zeruel I fucking knew that red orb and face looked familiar in >>4489842, good shit Kaz
>>4494527>>4494539>>4494541>>4494544>>4494545>>4494549>>4494615>>4494629“Padawan-” Kosa warns forebodingly, but you advance towards the Child’s position. The twi’lek master looks indignant, but doesn’t offer any further obstacle. Thus unobstructed, and with your lightsaber clenched in a bloody hand, you approach the creature that was once the Herald of Jombaral.You keep a close eye on the nearby vegetation. What foliage hadn’t been scorched into ashes by the explosion is already starting to regenerate. But you sense no malice, no active will behind their rapid reconstruction. Without the guidance of the Herald, the plants’ behavior doesn’t appear to be any different than a wild animal, simply heeding their baser instincts and biological function.The same could not nearly be said for their former master. It’s signature in the Force is pitifully weak. The Child has only minutes at the most. You don’t expect any trouble from it, let alone any final attacks out of spite or desire to take you with him. But you can’t be too careful.The Godstones both within the spear and scattered across the sanctum have lost their luster. Dull and dim, they feel and appear no different than mundane rocks as you gather them. And with a rather anti-climactic noise as you insert the last of the prisms, all twelve of the Godstones have been restored to the Sunspear.The Child gasps as you grasp onto the weapon pinning it to the ground. His sickly eyes rotate wildly in their sockets before they focus sharply upon you. “...Farren Gaelle...”“That’s my name,” you grunt, “Don’t go wearing it out.”The burbling, rasping noise to come out of the ruins of his throat could almost be interpreted as laughter. “...Accuser-slayer...Sings-of-Devouring-Darkness...titles that more than match the memories...pulled from the minds...of your lover and her master...”Your grip on your ‘saber tightens at the mention of Arotta. If the last thing the Child wants to do is crow and act smug, then better for you to just get it over now. “Glad to see I lived up to them-”“-but your memories...” he interrupts, “...your memories...just as you saw mine...” The creature pauses to take a breath, and your blood runs cold even before he finishes. “...you saw my life...and I saw yours...”The Child pauses, clasping at the haft of the Sunspear, almost caressing it. “...all I ever wanted...was the recognition of my tribe...and the love that Mother gave me...when no one else...”“...she loved you,” you offer hesitantly. “Bos...erm, your grandmother. Boslzoh. She told me that Boscuatl pled for both her life and yours before the elders.”He holds his silence for a long moment before he intones, “...I saw that she did...in the memories...ripped from the elders...”“...was it worth it?(cont.)
>>4495213>>4495219*farren's deja vu intensifies*
>>4495219Four thousand years of suffering. Billions of lives lost and a race hovering on the brink of extinction. A planet forever scarred and terraformed beyond recognition. Jombaral may have been the means and enabler for the atrocities, but it was the Child who brought the False Mother to the people of Kakarit.The Child offers no immediate answer. But even in the silence, you can sense its emotions, complicated mess as they are. But out of the dominant feelings, impotent rage and melancholic sorrow...there is not a single shred of remorse or regret.His eyes narrow, and his mouth curls in a sneer. “...I would have become a god...Mother promised me her love... and with power, I could do anything...I would have my heart’s desire...”You allow yourself a brief surge of disgust and contempt to course through your body. It comes and goes quickly. And you have to go through the extra effort to squash the pang of sympathy. An unintended consequence of viewing the Child’s life.But you’d draw a hard line in the sand for sympathy. The words tread far too close to the philosophies of the Dark Side for your own comfort. Even if the taint isn’t there within the Wild Force, it’s still something that you’re to loathe on principle.Your lightsaber hums as you bring it towards the Child’s throat. “...you would have been a god over a mindless horde. The adherents of a deity are just as much a reflection of the faith as is to the god itself.”“...we would have expanded...brought more Children into the fold...”And thank the Force that didn’t happen. It wouldn’t happen, if you had anything to say or do about it either. You can’t help but sneer, “...you still would have been no different than a slave. Or an attack dog. No matter how you slice it, you’d still be little more than Jombaral’s lapdog.”“...if not me...” the Child rasps, “...then someone else...Mother would have descended...and met someone else...better me...better an abomination...well-versed in the Communion...to protect the Kakari...learn her secrets...”The ‘saber trembles as you angrily retort, “Don’t you dare try to say that you did what you did for the good of the Kakari! There’s barely eight hundred left of them! Fending off extinction with such a small populace-”“...would have been dead...another thousand years...scorched...by the sun...” His eyes turn to meet yours one final time. “...desert became jungle...jungle brought the war...brought the Clones...brought the droids with their ark...brought Arotta Bashur...and brought Farren Gaelle...to save the Kakari...”That nearly causes you to drop your lightsaber. The implications of such a chain of events...but hadn’t all the masters in the Jedi Temple say that the Force works in mysterious ways? Back on Mylar-3, when you had debated between completing your training and pursuing Arotta...surely, that wasn’t...(cont.)
>>4495236...the existential crisis can be addressed for another time, in another place. You have mentors far better suited, and more emotionally balanced, to give counsel. There is of course, Master Larid. But along the way since the end of the war, you’ve picked up more teachers: Master Kreia within her Holocron, Master Aure back on Mylar-3, Grand Shamanka Bos...even Master Kosa.You reverse the golden blade, and hold it just above the Child’s heart. The lingering spirits overhead stir into a frenzy of motion and activity as the death of the Herald draws near. “...I refuse to accept that justification. You couldn’t have known how those events would have played out.”“...I don’t expect you to...” It blinks slowly, almost languidly as if it’s only preparing for a nap. “...but before you do what thousands of other Kakari warriors and shamen were unable to do...“...you saw more than my life...you saw my parentage...my experience with your memories...I saw your mother...and your sire...”In any other event, you might have been embarrassed. The visions of the Accuser and Boscuatl had been nothing but explicit. But the mention of Alleana causes your thoughts to grind to a complete halt.“...the universe would go cold, and Uliea ground to dust before my love faded away...”The Child’s words are distant as it hisses, “...your sire...is not what your mother...made out to be...beware, Farren Gaelle...beware the Corsairs of the Sapphire Star...”“...I’ll keep that in mind,” you answer stiffly, raising your lightsaber for the final blow.“...perhaps in another life...” wheezes the creature, closing its eyes, “...we might have been friends...even brothers...” “...a pity it wasn’t this one.”And with a single stroke, you grant him as quick death as you are able, a clean death better than what he probably deserves...>>You have gained the following:>Aberration Bane (Trait) – when fighting against Force Entities, add an additional 1d9 to rolls made against them.>Force Pull/Push 2 (Force Power) – the iconic telekinesis of every Jedi, determining lifting limit and push power.>>Speaking of Bos, let’s check on her and Sings-of-Splitting-Stone, shall we?>>Please roll me 3d10+15 for how well Bos and Sings-of-Splitting-Stone did against the Guardian.>Best out of five.
Rolled 6, 5, 4 + 15 = 30 (3d10 + 15)>>4495256
Rolled 3, 5, 10 + 15 = 33 (3d10 + 15)>>4495256
>>4495256F-formatting...
Rolled 6, 5, 10 + 15 = 36 (3d10 + 15)>>4495256
Rolled 9, 2, 9 + 15 = 35 (3d10 + 15)>>4495256
>>4495256dice+3d10+15
Rolled 2, 10, 5 + 15 = 32 (3d10 + 15)>>4495256Will my luck last? Find out now!
>>4495260>>4495261>>4495264>>4495266>>4495269Our best roll is 36.May God have mercy on us all.
>>4495272Still above average. Not phenomenal but not bad.
>>4495272We can't complain with the dice rolls we had against the herald
>>He killed billions...>>to save eight hundred>presented as a valid argument as to the Herald's Actions because muh force works in mysterious ways*Kreia disliked that*
>>4495584Farren has to accept it may be a twisted sense of good instead of treating it as the pure unethical madness it is because only Sith deal in absolutes. What a terrible night to have a code.
>>4495584But think of the trillions who will be born in ththe distant future! The kakari as a race were saved, and that's more valuable than any number of individuals. My moral value is plus infinity.
>>4495601It's kind of hard for Farren to accept that the ""best"" outcome is the one where the only a handful of Kakari survive.Larid, on the other hand...
>>4495601No. There's no good in this.It's horseshit that we are even for a moment considering the villain going "keikaku doori." when just moments ago they were attempting to both become a God and also murder us.>>4495639They were obviously a fairly advanced race.They had a 1000 or so years to build a fucking spaceship.Instead this treefucking retard called down the plant zombie virus and practically doomed his entire race.This is like Palpatine saying "Well look, I was justified because of all the good that I inadvertently caused by wiping out the jedi!"
>>4495650>No. There's no good in this.You're right. We should leave blue tits on the planet to get blasted out of the galaxy. I'm being facetious. Chill.
>>4495260>>4495261>>4495264>>4495266>>4495269You exit the inner sanctum to see a world ablaze with cleansing flame.Even without the Spirit Fire that relentlessly licks and devours the wood and loam, the Womb of Jombaral bears the scars of a terrible battle. Upturned stones lay scattered across the sanctum. There are whole trees that have been ripped out by their roots, stained with green-red blood.Sings-of-Splitting-Stone is nowhere to be found, but an upturned pile of dirt points to its escape from the Womb. You smile, before frowning at a sudden realization. Even free of the Call of Jombaral, there is nowhere for it to go. The best you can hope for it is to enjoy the last few days of freedom before the arrival of the Base Delta Zero.But Kosa pulls you out of your thoughts, gesturing with her good hand towards something at the foot of the great tree. “Look there.”Grand Shamanka Bos kneels before the steaming pile of flesh and vines that was once her daughter. She makes no noise beyond half-whispered prayers, a small shadow against the smoldering remains. But even a hundred yards away, the tumultuous storm that is her emotions weigh against you like a heavy rain.By the time she finishes, you and Kosa have made your descent down the hill. At a cursory glance, Bos doesn’t appear any worse than she had been after the Battle of Nest’s End. Her complexion is still an unhealthy pale, but not nearly the same albinism that her grandson had borne. But in her eyes, there is a tiredness, a strain of fatigue that weighs heavily upon her mind.Her milky eyes flicker towards the hollow of the great tree. “...is it done...?”You nod grimly. “It is.”“I see...” The shamanka turns a wayward glance towards the corpse of the Guardian. “...as is the same for me.”Uncertain, you hesitantly venture, “Bos, I-”“Even though the burden was shared between myself and the divine beast, the fact remains that it was with my own hands and gifts as well.” She shakes her head ruefully, chortling scornfully to herself. “...and she only came back when I’d burned away almost everything, and when Splitting-Stone spilled her guts onto the soil.”The Grand Shamanka claps her hands together, and the fetishes at the end of her staff chime softly in unison. The air within the Womb, already hot and stifling from the flames, grows cold as Bos draws energy from the nearby flames, molding them into a great ball of concentrated heat. And with a furtive gesture, she sends it spiraling towards the Guardian’s corpse.With a soft whump, the tainted flesh takes to the flame as if it had been doused in accelerant. From how greedily the Spirit Fire devours and withers the Guardian, it will not take long before Boscuatl joins her child as ash in the wind."...I had so many years..." she whispers hoarsely. "...but there is nothing that prepares a mother to slay her own daughter..."(cont.)
You don’t sense that she’s about to lose herself in reverie. But even without the threat of the Herald, the planet and its people are operating on borrowed time. Still, you aren’t just about to offer the otherwise empty and hollow condolences one gives in more civilized societies.>>How will you respond to Bos?>“They made their choices. What happened here today was simply the consequences of their actions.”>“We don’t have any time to give into emotion. There’s eight hundred Kakari that still need our help.”>Custom option. [Write-In.]
>>4495684>“We don’t have any time to give into emotion. There’s eight hundred Kakari that still need our help.”We do what we must for now, the time to feel it is later, as a great man once said “I Ain’t Got Time To Bleed”
>>4495684>“We don’t have any time to give into emotion. There’s eight hundred Kakari that still need our help.”Mission first, grieving later.
>>4495684>“We don’t have any time to give into emotion. There’s eight hundred Kakari that still need our help.”We can spend time for mourning when we are done here, not now though every second matters like every Kakari on the planet.
>>4495684>>“We don’t have any time to give into emotion. There’s eight hundred Kakari that still need our help.”We still can save countless future sons and daughters, but we have to move quickly.
>>4495684>>“We don’t have any time to give into emotion. There’s eight hundred Kakari that still need our help.”
>>4495684>“We don’t have any time to give into emotion. There’s eight hundred Kakari that still need our help.”
>>4495684>“We don’t have any time to give into emotion. There’s eight hundred Kakari that still need our help.”A a quintillion sentients under the Emperor's thumb....>>4495263You've been doing this for how long now? :^)
>>4495713>>4495717>>4495731>>4495759>>4495769>>4495921>>4495937>>4496090>>4496194Bos sighs, shaking her head as she falls into line beside you. “Yes, you’re right of course. All of you young ones can move with all the vigor and haste...” She pauses, clasping your forearm and looks straight into your eyes. “But I would hope for you sake that you will never have to experience what I had.”...considering what happened over the course of the last few days (or in her case, four thousand years), there’s a lot to unpack in that statement.Kosa interjects, “Such a think will never happen. Jedi are forbidden from having children.”For the first time, the sole brunt of the Grand Shamanka’s attention turn towards the twi’lek. It’s not obviously hostile, but there’s an edge in her voice. “You must be Master...Kosa, I presume?”“That’s right.”“I see...” Her milky eyes trace up and down. “...you look diminished, Jedi. I think that I should still have some bone broth back in Nest’s End...but what did the Herald tell you about his past?”The sudden abruptness of her change in tone nearly causes you to stumble. But Kosa is unperturbed, replying, “He told me nothing. He was too busy trying to rip my mind into pieces and suck all the blood out of my body for the Larvae.” But she pauses, glancing towards the burning corpse of the Guardian. “...but I can put two and two together. And with all the awfulness that happened, and what I saw that...abomination do to my Clones...”Silence falls as the three of you make your way back into the antechamber. And then Bos intones softly, “...even before the Call of Jombaral...it was rare, but not unheard of, for apprentices to turn to darker dreams and desires. And it fell to the respective master to rectify the...mistake.“Make no mistake, Jedi. Blood is not the only thing that can bind two people together. The bond between master and apprentice takes many forms; brotherhood, sisterhood...parenthood...your Jedi Order is no different, I assume?”Even as you blanch at the sharpness of her tone, Kosa merely nods in response.“...then I hope for your sake as well that you never have to experience what I had. Surrogate brother and sister...or surrogate son and daughter...”>>Line BreakTo his credit, the B-1 pilot of the Sheathepede hadn’t otherwise cut tail and fled. The shuttle is where you had left it, albeit covered in enough gore to pass off as a modern art masterpiece. Courtesy of the damned porgs.“I thought there’d still be more here,” you remark to the pilot as you ease Master Kosa into a bunk. And to a nearby storage locker, you consign the recovered treasure. The Sunspear and Liar’s Blade remain on your person, but you relinquish the plundered mace and shield.(cont.)
“Whenever you did what you did, the birds scattered, sir.” The pilot looks despairingly at a windshield splattered with a prodigious amount of feces. “...I just wish that you hadn’t done it while they were in mid-air. They seized something awfully and started defecating mid-air-”Hurriedly, you inquire, “Any damaged parts?”“No, sir. We’re good to go whenever you’re ready...”Kosa hisses, scratching at the splint you’d set for her broken arm. Grimly, she sucks at an emergency IV, a nutrient-rich liquid designed as a supplement on survival missions. It should hold her out until you return to the Globus...although now that you think about it, it would be very strange for a Separatist ship to carry twi’lek blood in its medical ward.To your right, Bos settles back into her seat. The only decadence she elects to indulge in is the heated cushion. The Grand Shamanka remains brooding, head resting atop her interlaced hands as she stares off in the direction of the Antechamber.“Take us to the Heart of Kakarit.”“Roger, roger.”Just before the shuttle gains its bearings, Bos casts one final look towards the Womb of Jombaral. Already, the outermost layers are already peeling away, withering at the sheer heat of the Spirit Fire. What cracks and holes become available paint a picture of hell on earth, a blazing, smoking inferno that consumes all in its path....you leave her to her ruminations. As the sheathepede gains altitude and speed, you plug into the communication console. It doesn’t take too long for the ship to clear the dead zone; once the pressure equalizes and you register signals, you radio: “Albatross, Globus, this is Gaelle speaking. Confirming exfiltration of Jedi Master Uyer Kosa and destruction of the Herald of Jombaral. How goes the evacuation, over?”You expected Suzel and Elba to break protocol and transmit whoops of joy. Not so much with Commander Skipp. Even Octavia, to your surprise, screams something in some foreign tongue. Not that you need a translator to hear the relief in her voice, a sentiment shared with the other three on the radio.Even as you roll your eyes, you can’t help but grin. When Master Larid hears about what you did...that’s a moment you can’t wait to tell him in person. “...yeah, I know. But that doesn’t tell me a whole lot about the status of the refugees.”“We’ve got most of them settled on the ship,” answers the Clone, “Just a few stragglers left that’re coming out of the caverns. We had a few close calls with some of the Children harrying the shuttles, but Mercantor’s droids and your crew held them off.”Octavia cuts in, “I took a recording, Gaelle. For perpetuity’s sake. You need to see the way the damned weeds just...stopped. Seems that killing the Herald made them all stupid. If they didn’t just sit there soaking up sunlight, then they just went ballistic and lost any forms of cohesion.”(cont.)
“I can’t wait to see it,” you answer honestly. “Our ETA is...”“Just under an hour, sir,” the pilot answers helpfully, “Maybe a little more if we open the throttle a little bit. The caverns are narrow, but I analyzed the flight pattern you took-”“What the droid said.”A silence on the other line as they run the math. Elba grunts, and Suzel answers, “Yeah, you’d, uh...you’d get here just in time with the last convoy. Just a whole bunch of beasts of burden and their laborers.”Your voice takes on a warning tone: “...verified untainted?”“I swear it on my ancestors’ spirits, boss.”You know little about the Nagai culture in the short time you knew both Suzel and his mother. But you remember enough to know that invoking one’s ancestors is meant to be a mark of utter seriousness.“...right.” Coughing, you change the subject. “How’s Prince Troxl?”You can hear the grin in Skipp’s voice as he answers, “The prince is doing the lion’s share of the work. Every other shuttle back to Nest’s End, he’s been on or otherwise fighting off any hostile Children.”Good for him. Troxl has a bright future as a respected hero of his people. “And of the Warrior-King?”Octavia doesn’t even bother hiding her sneer. “Once he and his cadre had settled in, all they wanted to do was go exploring. Something about paying one last visit to the halls of their ancestors. His Highness didn’t even bother checking on the rest of his people.”That’s...disappointing. Still, Trax seems to have otherwise come to terms with the evacuation. Honestly, you'd expected more of a fuss. At the very least, sulking is something you'd accept.“I understand. Have everyone be ready for our arrival-”>>Roll 1d100 Encounter.>Best out of three.
Rolled 14 (1d100)>>4496286
Rolled 24 (1d100)>>4496286
Rolled 36 (1d100)>>4496286One last go.
>>4496289>>4496291>>4496296Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee's Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere!
>>4496303We have an extra 1d9, that bitch is as good as dead.
>>4496325She made Palps at the height of his power sweat. Odds are she rolls something like 5d20+40 or some bullcrap.
>>4496332I believe anon was performing "sarcasm".
>>4496303Cool I didn't expect to see Mando Waifu so soon.
>>4496289>>4496291>>4496296Without any warning, klaxon alarms ring out from the ship’s computer. Not the shuttle’s but rather the consoles on the other end of the line. Whatever your friends had been about to say are drowned out by a cacophony of alerts and sirens. Out of sheer instinct, you rip the headset off your ears as the radio enters a hair-raising feedback loop.Once all the ringing disappears from your good ear, you demand: “The hell was that?!”They don’t answer immediately. Depressing the TALK button doesn’t even yield static. Either they cut the line, or something else did, and you really aren’t sure which one is the worst.“Albatross and Globus, respond, now! What the hell’s going on?!”For the second time in a single hour, Octavia’s professional and cool demeanor cracks. The commodore isn’t able to keep the dread out of her voice as she transmits: “A whole gods-damned fleet just warped into the system! The radar’s tracking four, five...nine, eleven fourteen...there’s too many of them for us to put targeting solutions on! They’re just out of the range of our sensors-”“Not ours!” interjects Suzel, “Elba, B-33, get those scanners up and sounding towards...edge of the system, bearing 022-075...”Your blood runs cold. Even before they can identify the ships, you already know the likely classes they are, the firepower they mount, and whose loyalty they belong to.“They’re all Star Destroyers!” shouts Suzel, “Identifying three Imperial-class, seven Venator-class, eight Victory-class...ten other large cruisers...the computer doesn’t recognize any of them!”The Empire has finally arrived to Kakarit.And the Sith Lord, the Man in Black who was fearful of Jombaral, isn’t taking any chances.Dimly, in the back of your mind, the timing couldn’t be any better...or worse, actually.Before anyone can get their head screwed on tight, a terrible noise overrides the communication network. Even without a headset, both Kosa and Bos cringe at the harsh noise, a warbling, oscillating frequency that warps wildly from pitch to pitch. None of your communications and orders get through to your friends. But just when the airwaves clear, it isn’t the voice of either Octavia or Skipp, Suzel or Elba, that answers.“This is Moff Tarkin of the Galactic Empire,” the voice intones with a clipped, but powerful tonality. It is a cultured voice, but one with a distinct undercurrent of a savage ruthlessness. “To any survivors within the quarantine, lower your shields and be prepared to be taken into custody. You have thirty minutes to comply before we begin orbital bombardment.”The message repeats once, and then cuts off with a harsh squawk that lingers in your head, even after the last echo fades away.The B-1 droid is the first to break the silence. “Uh...sir?”(cont.)
>>4496385Oh this is a toughie...
>>4496385>“They’re all Star Destroyers!”>“Identifying three Imperial-class, seven Venator-class, eight Victory-class...ten other large cruisers">“This is Moff Tarkin of the Galactic Empire”ohuhwell shit its Tarkie and the pizza pizzaz troupe
>>4496385“Open the throttle all the way!” you shout frantically, mind racing a mile per second, “Get us to the Heart as fast as you can!”You’re almost flung back into your seat as the B1 obeys, throwing all caution to the wind and (most) of the regulations for organic travel. Kosa grits her teeth audibly as the vibrations rattle her arm something awfully. And even without the knowledge of the greater galaxy, Bos seems to have picked up enough context clues to know that something terrible has happened.“Tarkin?!” Octavia doesn’t even bother to hide her panic. “Of all the people your Empire could send to the planet, they sent that emaciated skeleton?!”You grimace. “Not my Empire, Mercantor. And he seems to have brought company.”“Twenty-eight fully-armed and operational battle cruisers, to be precise,” Suzel adds.More than enough for a Base Delta Zero, you grimly think to yourself. The Sith Lord seems to be really pulling out all the stops for this one. You don’t think you ever saw more than five Venators in any given moment...baring the SNAFU that was the Battle of Coruscant.But that’s neither here nor there. Tarkin is a name you’re familiar enough with. In the correspondence you shared with Skywalker over the course of the Clone Wars, the name had come up more than once. You’d never met the man, but the glowing praise your friend had for the man spoke volumes in his stead."Erm...he said we have thirty minutes..." offers the Nagai hesitantly. "Not saying we're gonna actually surrender. He seems to be a big deal, but is he trustworthy about that time frame?"Maybe there’d been a report Master Larid had hidden away that you can't remember having glanced at...>>Roll 2d6 + 4 Lore. (+2 Intellect, +2 Skill)>Best out of three.
Rolled 4, 1 + 4 = 9 (2d6 + 4)>>4496436watch me roll 1,1
Rolled 2, 4 + 4 = 10 (2d6 + 4)>>4496436:O
Rolled 4, 2 + 4 = 10 (2d6 + 4)>>4496436here we go again
Rolled 3, 1 + 4 = 8 (2d6 + 4)>>4496436>2d6 + 4
I go to sleep for a couple of hours and THIS happens.
>>4496455Don't worry, it's only one of the most competent officers in the Empire leading a disproportionately huge fleet. Maybe he's here for exotic fruits.
>>4496500Then give him all the exotic fruits he can fit in his belly. Palpatine's robes will dissolve in sweat when he finds out that one of his Moffs now belongs to Jombaral.
>>4496455Well, I guess we all know what YOU'RE never allowed to do again.
>>4496443>>4496445>>4496447You know just as much as the next person knows, and perhaps a little more. During the Clone Wars, then-Captain Tarkin had distinguished himself as an incredibly competent officer. The finer details of his specific battles escape you, but what you remember paints the image of a man who would pay any price for victory.Skywalker’s messages spoke of approval for his blunt and often questionable methods. Some of the battles caused even you to blanch. More troubling was his...disdain for the Jedi as a whole. He might not have said it outright, but his actions spoke of a fundamental disagreement with the Jedi Code.And of course, there was the entire mess that was the Trial of Ahsoka Tano, and Tarkin’s aggressive persecution of the togruta padawan. Skywalker had been beside himself for that one, as he was her master. But those events are neither here nor there. And your involvement didn’t extend beyond a second opinion.“...when he says that he’s giving us thirty minutes...” You pause to let the gravity of your words sink into everyone listening. “...I’d honestly be surprised if he gave us five upon arrival.”No one has an immediate answer to that. Coughing, you continue, “How far out are they from the planet?”“Their ETA is approximately ten minutes,” answers Suzel.“...and the last of those refugees?”“...still a while out...” exhales Skipp. “But they doubled their speed as soon as the armada warped into the system. I wouldn’t give them more than twenty minutes...maybe shorter if they dumped their livestock.”In conclusion: there’s no feasible way for you to get into Nest’s End without the orbital bombardment at least starting in some way, shape or form.“...how strong is this shield again, Gaelle?” You can almost envision Octavia glancing up towards the twelve dancing masks. “Because I can tell you right now that even if I diverted all of the power to the shields on the Globus, we’d still be in a world of hurt.”“Strong enough to withstand several hundred meteor strikes at a single moment.”“And how well does that translate to turbolaser salvos?”“I don’t know,” you snap back, “The relief and hieroglyphs in the temple only showed the Godseye being used a s a shield or a weapon-”...hang on a moment.“Gaelle? What’s going on? Your transmission cut all of a sudden.”You ignore her, turning towards the Grand Shamanka. “Bos?”The Kakari pauses in her reverie. “Yes, Farren?”“...are you thinking what I’m thinking?”“No, because reading your mind when we’re this close would be extremely rude.”(cont.)
She has a point there.“Gaelle, respond,” demands Octavia.Slowly, you depress the TALK button and speak to all of the assembled: “I think I have an idea.”>>What are you thinking of?>Have Octavia deploy all of her droid fighters, and send the Albatross into the air to buy some time.>Launch the Globus as the first to escape, and use the Albatross to rendezvous with the refugees.>Maintain the shield and weather the storm of Base Delta Zero until the last refugees arrive.>Turn off the shield and direct the glare of the Godseye against the incoming attack.>Custom option. [Write-in][VOTE OPEN FOR EIGHT HOURS.]
Could the Godseye even manage that long at full power? 28 ships, and the sunstones arent charged.We could have Octavia launch and distract them with a token request to delay, but a surprise attack will only do so much and Tarkin seems like the kind of guy whos okay with losing a few ships to end a planet.
>>4496578I think that if we eliminate enough ships, the Base Delta Zero will be delayed long enough for everyone to get out, but at the same time we want all of the Children on Kakarit to burn. Therefore, the optimal strategy might be to sacrifice some droid fighters and shoot the Godseye once, so not only will the Kakari get out but Tarkin might also believe that we've exhausted all our options.Then again, I'm assuming Tarkin hasn't spotted the outbound ships, because if he had then he would just skip the grace period and open fire.
i cant decidepls someone make a clever writein i can vote for
In my opinion, launching fighters isn't going to do anything unless they're helping us run the blockade, and the shield will just show the fleet where to focus fire. Firing the Godseye might do the same, but it could screw with sensors as well as panic the gunners, which would help tremendously more. Innacurate fire at the planet is better than the alternative, and the Globus' shields can handle the occasional errant round. Once the refugees are on board, we can launch the fighters to help us get out of the gravity well intact. So to begin with:>Turn off the shield and direct the glare of the Godseye against the incoming attack.
>ten other large cruisersI really hope those aren't Interdictors, or this is gonna be a real short trip.
>>4496732Interdictor ships weren't even being produced until the Civil War, as far as I know.
At least not Imperial ones.
>>4496638>>4496730Would it be possible to give Tarkin the raspberry?
>>4496556>Turn off the shield and direct the glare of the Godseye against the incoming attack.we only need to hold on long enough to complete the evacuation.Whatever we choose, him seeing a threat planetside will make it easier for Octavia to get out.Wonder if we can warn Tarkin that none of this is actually going to kill the mega force entity floating in space.
What about in addition using the force with both Uyer and Farren to create some small malfunctions on the machines of the imperial ships ahead ? They are both exhausted, so it's likely they would pass out. But it could buy us more time.
>>4496811From that distance it would take someone on Palpatine's level.
>>4496556>Turn off the shield and direct the glare of the Godseye against the incoming attack.I guess this is the best option we have.
>>4496811Too far, too big, too many. Firing the Godseye at them will accomplish the same thing.
>>4496816I dunno man, Star Killer was able to pull a Destroyer from orbit and he was just some randos kid. Surely we, a dude who's been through some serious shit, and a Jedi master could do SOMETHING, right?>>4496556>Turn off the shield and direct the glare of the Godseye against the incoming attackWay I see it this planet's getting glassed anyways, and the giant orbital laser will provide SOME distraction while everyone else books it. You think Bos could teach the younglings force fire?
>>4496827I think Bos is about ready to kick the bucket or stuff herself in a holocron.
>>4496827>Star Killerat his best was somebody almost --is not completely-- on par with Vader
>>4496832Oh, good idea. I just wanna be sure we nab any and all knowledge possible from her. With the order practically dead it's best we seek NEW knowledge while saving as much as we can of the past.>>4496835Call me a cocky shit but I think we'd survive an encounter with Vader. Not in a straight up fight mind you but running for our lives.
>>4496556>>Turn off the shield and direct the glare of the Godseye against the incoming attack.
>>4496840We'd roll perfectly for 7 rolls in a row and end up cutting off his arms and legs.
>>4496556>Turn off the shield and direct the glare of the Godseye against the incoming attack.>>4496816>>4496822if you say so. What about just the incoming nearest imperial ship then ? They are moving towards the planet so the distance is closing at least.
How powerful is the godseye beam?
>>4496863We don't know. That's part of the problem.
>>4496851>Vader's fw some one cuts off his arms and legs again
>>4496863I'd wager strong enough to do SOME damage versus an unprepared SD, otherwise why include the option at all?
>>4496884If it can shield the ?whole planet? then its gotta be strong as fuck, right?
>>4497041The shield only protects the city of the Heart of Kakarit. It is not a planet-wide shield.Writing...
>>4496730>>4496791>>4496820>>4496827>>4496844>>4496853To say that your idea was met with unanimous approval would be a lie. Suzel and Elba can’t complain, as you’re technically their boss. Skipp, for all of his wariness, seems to trust what you’re saying. It certainly helps matters that you’d fought alongside him in the Battle of Nest’s End.Octavia, to no-one’s surprise, is sole dissenting voice.“Did you eat any of that tainted fruit?” she demands. “Or perhaps fall on your head on the way down somewhere?”Rolling your eyes, you dryly respond, “Standard SOP for Base Delta Zero is to send waves of fighters and bombers to clear out any resistance. As it stands, the shield only paints a big, red...erm, blue target on our position. We’re practically waving at them.”The commodore makes a disgusted noise in the back of her throat. “You keep adding surcharges to the tab that I don’t think you can pay, Jedi. If the shield goes down, we’re sitting ducks in a gods-damned barrel.”“You still have your AA and point-defense turrets, don’t you?” you counter. “I watched your gunners blast a tree trunk out of the sky. And I don’t think that the guns on a starfighter would barely put a dent in the Globus’ shields. Even with proton torpedoes. You’d have to wait for the Star Destroyers to come before you have to start worrying.“You really aren’t helping your case.” But it seems that cooler heads prevail. Or at least, she’s agreed to disagree, but will grumble along with your orders. “What can I expect for the first wave?”>>Take 8 on a basic {Lore} Check for Republic Navy SOP.“ARC-170s, V-Wings, Y-Wing or PTB-Bombers...standard array of Republic Starfighters you could find on a Venator-class Star Destroyer. No more than two or three hundred per ship.”Octavia barks a harsh, derisive laugh. “And multiply those by twenty eight...”...oh. Well, when she puts it that way...Bos, apparently irritated about being left out of the discussion, interjects, “Get me in contact with the Communion. I’ll need to instruct my apprentices on how to use the Godseye...”It doesn’t take long before the first of the bombs start to fall. Even in the depths of the planet, the shuttle still registers the impacts. The overhead ceiling shudders perilously as a fine layer of dust coats the speeding Sheathepede.“Engaging!” shouts Octavia. “Weapons free, all fighters and gunships. Protect the Globus at all costs!”So much for Tarkin’s grace period, you think dryly to yourself.Just before she cuts the line, you hear a brief impression of laser cannon fire over the line as the entire battery of the Globus opens fire.(cont.)
The line crackles again, and Skipp’s voice intones grimly, “They’re already deploying the second and third waves of fighters. It shouldn’t take too long before the first wave of Star Destroyers make geosynchronous orbit.”“And the refugees?” you ask.“Oh, they kicked up a fuss about having to leave most of their livestock behind. It took the Prince and a strongly-worded warning for them to comply. ‘sides, it isn’t like the Commodore already turned part of her ship into a barnyard...”Not like they’re in any danger of starving. As far as anyone is able to tell, the rations in both the hold of the Albatross and the Globus taste just as bad, but are equally palatable to the Kakari.“Push comes to shove, we can always go back to Kamino with the few we have and ask them to make some more,” you jape. “Do you think we might be able to get a discount if you’re the one that goes up to the kiosk?”The Clone laughs. “I’ll see you in a short bit, Gaelle.”>>Twenty minutes later...The Sheathepede bursts out of the earth, streaking up out of the curst and into the jungles of Kakari. After so many hours underground, the light of the sun is almost painful to look at. You lower the protective filament, basking in its warmth and light as if to cleanse the horrors of the day from your mind......and nearly take an entire sink’s worth of laser fire for your moment of brevity.“Taking evasive maneuvers,” the droid intones almost nonchalantly as it jerks the stick abruptly. “ETA to the Heart of Kakari is less than two minutes.”That might not be time enough. There’s an entire wing’s worth of ARC-170s chasing after the shuttle. You don’t blame them for otherwise breaking protocol. Escort duty for bombers is dull work. Your shuttle presents the only other target beyond the heavily entrenched and dug-in Globus. Easy pickings.“If you have the fighters to spare,” you shout into the headset as you take hold of the yoke, “I’d really appreciate you sending some my way, Mercantor!”"Uh, sir?" the B1 reports, "I'm picking up a squadron of V-Wings closing in at 000-000, straight towards us."This is going to be a very different experience than dodging suicidal bird-things. Kosa grits her teeth, cradling her hand close to her chest as she braces for any high-G maneuvers. Bos, to her credit, keeps her cool, although her pallor takes on a green hue of nausea."Hang on!" you cry, and take the Sheathpede into a wild corckscrew spin.>>Roll 2d6+8 Piloting. (+3 Finesse, +1 Skill, +4 Droid Assistance)>Best out of three.
Rolled 5, 6 + 8 = 19 (2d6 + 8)>>4497313
Rolled 2, 3 + 8 = 13 (2d6 + 8)>>4497313
Rolled 6, 1 + 8 = 15 (2d6 + 8)>>4497313
>>4497315>this_is_where_the_fun_begins.jpg
>>4497315
>>4497315Spinning is a DAMN FINE TRICK
>>4497315rolled so hard you broke Kaz, anon
>>4497315I'm taking the day off to catch the Lupin III movie with my D&D buddies. I'll be back with an update later tonight.
>>4497315>>4497317>>4497318You inhale deeply. Reaching into the Force, you seek the paths of safety, passage through the swarms of heat-seeking ordinance and sizzling nets of particle beams. These paths are few and far between. The ones that involve the avoidance of total destruction are even smaller, and beyond the capabilities of any mere human.“There is no chaos, there is harmony...”The droid-brains of the Tri-Fighters and Vulture Droids are the culmination of years of electronic engineering. In a similar manner, the reflexes of a Clone pilot are bred and distilled over years of training and genetic splicing. But the instincts of both are too slow for this chase, even if only the latter have now become your enemies.A trio of V-Wings streak towards you. Even as they lay down an oppressive blanket of laser fire, you already take the shuttle out of their crossfire. The Force gently nudges your hands, guiding the shuttle through the first of several ambushes and killzoness. You bark an order to the B1 pilot, and the snub-nosed dorsal blasters answer in kind.One of the interceptors explodes in a ball of smoke and debris, crashing into the jungle canopy as a stray bolt clips its intake valve. The surviving two break off, streaking away in such a manner that another trio of starfighters swoop in to take their place.Bos looks almost physically ill as you suddenly drop the shuttle into a free fall. As you level up only a handful of meters above the tallest trees, the nausea in her voice is easily heard over the headset. “...is this...a thing typical of...flying in these...metal boxes...?”...you don’t have an easy answer for her.Yesterday, there had been nothing wrong with the skies of Kakarit. They had been relatively clear, barring a few clouds that slid lazily overhead. No so much now. It hadn’t been long since the fighters had reached the planet, but the planet’s already begun to suffer the prelude of Base Delta Zero.Fires have broken out across the jungle. Countless plumes of smoke rise from out of the canopy, almost choking out the sunlight overhead. The fact that the humid environs do nothing to quell the fire only increase your cause for worry. It seems that the Empire’s gone and done what you weren’t able to do back when you’d first stumbled along the Godseye.But for better or worse, it seems that the death of the Herald hasn’t left the Children of Jombaral completely helpless. Every so often, you’ll see a boulder or blazing tree trunk launched from the dense thickets. More miss than not, but the locals are more than determined to put up a fight.Futile though it is. For every bomber blasted out of the sky, the Empire responds with overwhelming force. Swarms of proton torpedoes and concussion missiles scream towards probable targets. Scattered geysers of dirt and waves of burning accelerant soon join the burning plumes of smoke.(cont.)
Rolled 20 (1d20)Rolling to see how many V-Wings get downed due to porgs getting sucked into their intakes
>>4500334Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen.
>>4500334Deader than a disco dodo, like damn
>>4500334
>>4500334>Porgs when they see anything in the sky that isn't them
>>4500334K E K EKGET FUCKED IMPS
>>4500334I so hope Kaz includes this.Kaz will you include this? If not for the bonua then for the sheet entertainment value of seeing these corporate kathleen kennedy abortions eat shit?
>>4500514Bro what are you even saying right now?
>>4500334P-pic related.>>4500514>V-Wings>Kathleen Kennedy abortions...this really gets the noggin joggin'...
>>4500536I think he's talking about the Porgs.
>>4500334>rolled a pointless roll for shits and giggles and to pass the time while waiting for an update, then goes out for dinner when it wasn't showing for some reason>checks on thread after dinner for update>got a nat fucking 20 on porg suicide sabotage...Okay.>>4500536Trust me, I'm just as confused as you are as to how this happened.
I for one am very excited
>>4500174The Force squeezes a warning. It doesn’t take you too long to realize that the Clones haven’t only reserved their ordinance for the Children of Jombaral. You twist the yoke, putting the shuttle into a wild spin as a borderline swarm of high-yield explosives screams towards the ship.The weapons panel screams a warning as the snub-nose laser cannons start to overheat. Cursing, you switch them off, groaning, “Tell me we have flares!”The droid tilts its head quizzically. “Flares are over...”You slam the relevant button down only a heartbeat after it’s pointed out. The rear of the Sheathipede shudders as said countermeasure rumbles out of it. On radar, the flare speeds away from your position, gliding down towards the treetops. No less than half of the ordinance chasing you immediately corrects course, scrambling to reach the unexpected source of heat.The Force doesn’t squeeze as much as it grips your hand in a rictus grip. Hurriedly, you shout, “Divert all excess power to the aft shields-!”The resulting explosion rocks the shuttle like a gong. Sensors and electronic panels derezz violently as the concussive wave causes reality itself to violently shake. The shields barely hold as you race out of the debris field and the subsequent thermal bloom.Behind you, several of the enemy fighters weren’t nearly as quick. Multiple electronic signatures had vanished in the initial blast. Logically, you conclude that their remaining ordinance had caused some sort of horrific chain reaction. The more agile V-Wings are able to veer off and avoid the worst of it. But the closest of the ARC-170s aren’t nearly so lucky.You almost feel bad as one of the fighters, reactor coolant leaking and engines smoking, tries to ditch into a clearing relatively unscathed by the firebombing. But even before it crashes, the Children of Jombaral have already gathered. The poor bastards don’t even touch the ground before they’re snatched out of the air by a pair of Tall Walkers.“This is madness!” Kosa blanches as gravity becomes inconsistent. Even strapped tightly in her seat, there are brief moments where freefall lifts her up before slamming her back down. Stunned, the twi’lek master takes a moment to reorient herself before hissing, “They’re just as likely to hit each other in the crossfire!”“They’ve got their orders, Master Kosa.” Grimacing, you adjust your heading and open up the throttle. “Nothing that hasn’t arrived less than an hour ago to the system is getting out of quarantine.”You glance quickly towards the crash site...and turn away just as nimbly. Gorge rises in the back of your throat at the sight of the Clones as they’re violently ripped from their cockpits. Alas, you aren’t nearly quick enough to turn off the comms, shivering as the pilots’ screams are quickly overridden by the roars and snarls of the Children of Jombaral.Red in tooth in claw, indeed...(cont.)
>>4500536>>4500527No not the V-Wings I meant the Porgs.
>>4500732Is Kaz deceased? I knew Disney would take care of him at some point....
>>4501842Red in tooth and claw, indeed...
>>4501842>>4501881Disney couldn't handle a Star Wars story better than anything they've done being posted for free on a cornish glassblowing forum.
>>4501948If Brethon Larid was portrayed by a black actor, could we call him Brotha Larid?
>>4502041He'd end up just shouting "Farren!" The entire quest.
>>4502149Does that mean he'd get a former ally now enemy who is ten billion times cooler despite having a single line throughout the entire film?
>>4501842Internet crapped out really bad last night. Had to replace a bum cable. Sorrymasen.>>4501948Trust me when I say that when the mouse comes to strike me down, I'll make a formal announcement about it.
>>4502421Better idea, pitch them an idea for a series and get yourself hired! Turn this cease and desist into a job interview.
>>4500732Having learned their lesson, the Clones aren’t nearly stupid enough to try something like that again. They suddenly break as they receive new orders, adjusting their formation. The ARC-170s give way to the V-Wing interceptors as the primary harriers at your back and sides.“...they’re gaining on us, sir,” chirps the droid.It’s hard to not otherwise smack the droid for pointing out the obvious. No matter how far you open up the throttle, the Sheathipede doesn’t nearly have enough speed to outrun the V-Wings. Sure, you’ll put up a good chase, but closing the distance for optimal firing range is only inevitable.“Yeah, I see it...” You ease yourself as the Force shows you the path. “...hang on!” Sensors and panels scream warnings as the V-Wings close the distance, unleashing a barrage of laser fire. You jerk the yoke, and the port thrusters respond, kicking the shuttle sharply to the right. Bile rises in the back of your throat as several gs worth of gravity slam you back into your seat. But the interceptors match your turn, and you take the ship in and out of a vertical yo-yo maneuver.Coughing and spitting, you hiss to the B1: “Fire...as...they come...about!”At their angle of attack, the lead V-Wings aren’t able to respond quickly at the abrupt reversal. In an instant, two vanish in boils of superheated gas and laser fire. A third shudders violently, spinning out of control as its pilots try to compensate for a damaged stabilizer.The rest are forced to scatter, slowing their descent abruptly before they crash into the treetops. And in that moment where they adjust and reorient themselves, you make your escape. By the time they’ve untangled themselves, you’ve already made significant headway towards the Heart of Kakarit.“We’re in the home stretch now!” Excitedly, you turn back to your passengers. “Bos, Master Kosa, how are you holding up?”The combined venom of the looks they give you could have scorched the paint off a cruiser.“...everyone’s a critic...”>>Line BreakThe airspace in the Heart of Kakari is a frenzy of activity. What few droid fighters Octavia has left have been committed to defend the city. Tri-Fighters and Vulture droids chase after Republic/Empire fighters, driving them away from the hulk of the Globus. As for the core ship itself, it isn’t nearly as helpless. Barring the turbolasers, all of its weapons are firing at full tilt at the waves of fighters. The smoke and steam of over two dozen batteries cover the ship and evacuation lines in thick, soupy smog.The city itself is burning no differently than the jungle, but the Temple of the Godseye remains otherwise unscathed. They had only taken down the shield recently to allow you to enter. All twelve of the masks hover otherwise unscathed or unmolested. The Force gives them resilience to the ordinance beyond the inherent durability of the stone.(cont.)
>>4502518As the B1 takes the shuttle into the city, you point towards the top of the ziggurat. “Set us down, but stay in the air. As soon as Bos and I are off, I want you to head straight to the Globus with Master Kosa.”The Grand Shamanka seems to have had a change of heart in the last twenty minutes regarding the comfort of “metal boxes”. Bos seems all too willing to get out of her seat. She sways woozily, staggering towards the exit ramp with the audible aid of her staff.“If I were to ever get in another one of these ‘shuttles,’” she groans, visibly green at the gills, “It will be one not flown by you.”Kosa readily agrees, adding warily, “I fully intend to have stern words with Brethon regarding your pilot training...”You at least make some effort to appear apologetic. “It saved our lives, didn’t it? And besides, it wasn’t all just me! I put my faith in the Force. I just simply acquiesced to its guidance...”The Jedi isn’t so easily amused by what some would call casual blasphemy. But Bos finds humor in it, derisive as it is. “...let me out of this contraption before I spill my guts all over it.”The Sheathipede’s landing is relatively unopposed. Whenever a starfighter thinks of getting too close, they’re politely dissuaded by a barrage of laser bolts. Ordinance explodes a safe ways away as point-defense turrets blast them into smoke and shrapnel.Even before the ramp extends, you can hear unholy cacophony of the battle through the walls of the shuttle. The Clones fight with their relative dispassion, cool and collected and utterly merciless in their execution of their orders. The Droid fighters and the Globus defend their position with a fierce desperation. As it stands, it is an utter stalemate, one that the Globus is only slightly winning through the sheer amount of anti-aircraft weaponry.But it isn’t a matter of “if” as much as “when” the tide will turn in the Clone’s favor.As you help Bos down to the temple, you radio Suzel, “What’s the status of the refugees?”“Squared and stowed away, for the most part!” the nagai answers, “You missed the last shuttle by only a handful of minutes, boss.”Even through the comm., you can detect apprehension in the young warrior’s voice. “Casualties?”He doesn’t answer immediately. The one who takes over, perhaps unsurprisingly, is Commander Skipp. The Clone’s voice is smooth, but there’s a raw undercurrent beneath his words: “...three shuttles...nearly one hundred civilians. A squadron of V-Wings slipped through the flak cloud just before the guns were working at full efficiency.”...seven hundred Kakari left.(cont.)
A surge of anger grips you suddenly. What was it that the bastard had said? The Child had done what it had did, calling down Jombaral for the good of his people. Back in the Womb of Jombaral, you had been confused and questioning. But having seen the destruction being laid to the planet, those thoughts turn your mind sour and festering with a righteous fury.The Force certainly works in mysterious ways. The chain of events that led to your arrival can certainly attest to that. But now you see that the Child’s words were a deliberate obfuscation. Perhaps it believed that it had done good in answering the Call of Jombaral. But in the end, nothing had changed.The Child only delayed the inevitable and changed the form of their destruction.But before you can lose yourself further in those dark thoughts, Bos grips your arm. The shamanka looks up at you with milky eyes, whispering, “You told me to not to give into emotion as I burned my daughter’s corpse. Touched as I am by your compassion for our people, blind anger will not be of use here.”As your temper cools, you cough, radioing back to Skipp, “Where’d you park the Albatross?”“It’s in the main hanger of the core ship,” answers the commander, recovering just as quickly, “Didn’t think it’d be too prudent to let it out with all the crap flying across the city.”A logical decision. “Keep the engines hot just in case.”“Just in case?” he repeats, incredulous, “For what?”You don’t answer, cutting the line. But before you and Bos dash into the temple, Kosa calls: “Padawan Gaelle!”Gesturing for Bos to scurry on before you, you turn back to the twi’lek master. “Yes, Master Kosa?”In spite of her broken arm and emaciated frame, she holds herself in the same vein as the Jedi Peacekeeper that she had once been. “You will come back. I would not be able to face Brethon if I returned with Arotta, but not with you.”That’s a very bizarre way to show concern. Still, you take it for what it is. “I fully intend to, Master Kosa.”“Besides,” she adds, the ghost of a smirk twitching at her lips, “My padawan would be beside herself if her favorite pink-skinned stress relief went and died for her sake.”THAT nearly causes you to trip and fall all the way down the stairs. “Buh...what?”The twi’lek shakes her head in an uncharacteristically sardonic amusement. “You two never were as quiet as you thought you were during those ‘sparring matches’ in the cargo hold.” But it fades away, replaced by her usual seriousness. “May the Force be with you, Farren Gaelle.”And before you can get in a word edgewise, the ramp closes, and the Sheathipede begins its retreat to the Globus. You stand there, gawping like an idiot before a stray laser bolt nearly cuts you in half. Hurriedly, and with your ears burning red, you chase after Bos into the Temple of the Godseye...(cont.)
>>4502816>she knows too
>>4502822At this point I'd believe kaz if he told me that Palpatine, Jabba, C-3P0 and the Yuuzhan Vong know about it.
>>4502849Of course Palpatine knows.
>>4502816...sheknewsheknewsheknewsheknewsheknewsheknewsheknewsheknewsheknew...The solemnity of the temple is a merciful sight. It’s only the second time that you’ve been into the grand chamber, but it’s one that still robs you of your breath and conscious thought. The light of the Godseye washes over you as you skid into its chambers, arresting you as it almost seems to dance innocuously in the air.Of the handful of Bos’ apprentices present, you recognize only one of them. The Kakari who came to fetch you alongside...Apulxa, hadn’t it been? You don’t recall her name, but she seems to also recognize you. Her eyes glance quickly towards the entrance of the hall before they close and return to their meditations.Bos had come to a stop at the middle of the bridge. The shamanka stares up with nothing short of religious worship towards the floating sunstone. “...even after so long, it has not yet lost its luster...”She shivers. A single tear ekes out of the corner of her eye before she wipes it away. Her posture almost seems to straighten, and every step she takes is not that of an elder, but ones no different than any of the youngest members of the Communion of Spirits.The frantic sound of your own steps is a dissonant noise. The Communion looks to you, almost gravely offended, but you pay them no mind. “Bos! Bos, we’re running out of time. The first wave of Star Destroyers is almost in atmosphere.”Those words seem to pull her out of her reverie. Turning towards you, the shamanka affixes you with a critical eye. “The Godseye,” intones Bos, “Has always been a tool that protects the Kakari. Its power is one that is not monopolized by either a single clan or a god. And in this moment, it is no different of a function than the meteors of old, or the rampant divine beasts that would run roughshod across the planet...”In her hand, she conjures a ball of flame. And similar to what happened to you the day prior, the Godseye responds in kind. The familiar spheroid of quartz encircles the platform and its inhabitants. Bos’ apprentices, four in total, gather around their spiritual leader, manifesting their own flames in their own hands.“Join me, Farren,” the elder whispers, gesturing with her empty hand, “Let your flame and mind become unified ours. We are far from the Accuser of Pilgrims, but we shall do our best to momentarily take up the mantle...”The Sunspear on your back grows just a little heavier as you join Bos in the circle. You mimic their actions, conjuring flame in your hand. Slowly, you ease your breathing, lulling yourself into a trance, becoming more aware of the presence of Bos and her apprentices......the universe reels back. You almost seem to step out of your body, seeing beyond the walls of the city. Your gaze turns upwards, beyond the smoke and smog, distant from the shrieking blurs of starfighters, far above the clouds......and you see the first Venator.(cont.)
HOLY SHITI AM HYPE
It isn’t alone. Hot on its heels are another two of its fellow class, and a pair of what appear to be Imperial-class Star Destroyers. They’ve made great speed beyond their fellows. Perhaps Tarkin’s advance guard? Or just the carriers for the handful of fighters that’re currently raising hell on the planet...What a very large metal box... Bos’ voice echoes in multitudes. This is the enemy of the Kakari?You nod...or at least transmit the emotion that is approval. The rest of the Communion takes up the image in their minds. Their emotions are myriad, but convey the same thoughts: wariness, distrust, nervousness, protectiveness...And in tandem, the Godseye hums.Its surface quickly turns from cobalt blue to a deep, crimson red. Much like how the shield was raised, all twelve of the masks answer in kind, spinning frantically around the sunstone as it ascends up the temple and into the skies of the Heart.Power. So much power at your fingertips...We see the threat, the enemy of the Kakari, Children of Kakerox the Great... whispers the Grand Shamanka, Foreign foes of distant stars who would burn us all in cleansing flame...The power of the Godseye is ready to be unleashed.And it seems that you have the final say in how much is to be released.>>How much power are you going to put into the Godseye’s attack?>Enough to destroy. You’re only repaying Tarkin what he would do to you.>Just enough to disable. You need only buy time for the Kakari to escape. [Gain Light Side points][VOTE OPEN FOR EIGHT HOURS]
>>4502856SS GOD CANNON
hiromoot pls fix, it didn't update the thread so I'm just testing, don't mind me pls, just making sure that my post didn't get eaten
>>4502876>Just enough to disable. You need only buy time for the Kakari to escape. [Gain Light Side points]Aside from the [Gain Light Side points], we don't know if the Godseye needs a recharge or when. We should save as much power as we can afford to, or it might run dry in the middle of shooting down Tarkin's ships.
>>4502876Keep this in mind while voting: Jombaral still exists and she wants off this planet.
>>4502876>Just enough to disable. You need only buy time for the Kakari to escape. [Gain Light Side points]
>>4502876>>Enough to destroy. You’re only repaying Tarkin what he would do to you.This isn't about not killing them. This is about the number of destroyers and resources they've brought to this planet wipe.Whether we destroy or disable them, we go to the top of the shitlist. By destroying them, there's less destroyers capable of pulling this kind of firepower in the future. At least more resources will be put toward repairing the fleet vs the hunt on more jedi for a little while. We can start by crippling them, and then start destroying ships if we got juice left over. Remove thrusters, send ships crashing into the planet.
>>4502876>>Just enough to disable. You need only buy time for the Kakari to escape. [Gain Light Side points]We still want the fleet to carry out Base Delta Zero - just after we're out of dodge.Actually, there's a thought - we know Jombaral herself got up to one of the derelicts in orbit. We could try hail Tarkin and warn him that his true target is there. If nothing else it might buy us some time and costs us nothing.
>>4502915Would have to be done via one of the clone survivors, but a possibility. That said, a survivor would get picked up for debriefing before execution. And that would put Tarkin/Vader on our trail.
>>4502876>Just enough to disable. You need only buy time for the Kakari to escape. [Gain Light Side points]Theyre gonna need it for jombaral
>>4502876>Just enough to disable. You need only buy time for the Kakari to escape. [Gain Light Side points]>>4502915>>4502917We can send a text message from the planet to an imperial ship, using communication machinery that we will leave here. We or someone else don't need to say the message by voice or remain on the planet for say it.
>>4502876>>Enough to destroy. You’re only repaying Tarkin what he would do to you.If we don't gain Dark Said Points from it I don't see any reason to not smack the Empire abit. Its not like their gunna be short ships to bomb Jombral back into nothingness even if their down a couple venerators.
>>4502876>Just enough to disable. You need only buy time for the Kakari to escape. [Gain Light Side points]Although I am apprehensive about not shooting to kill, points about Jombaral still being around convinced me that holding back is better.
>>4502876>Enough to destroy. You’re only repaying Tarkin what he would do to you.
>>4502876>>Just enough to disable. You need only buy time for the Kakari to escape. [Gain Light Side points]In the long run, I don't think it will make much of a difference.
>>4502876>Enough to destroy. You’re only repaying Tarkin what he would do to you.I mean, we are waging war against the Empire here are we not? This isn't Canada. Empire doesn't win just because we kill our enemies.
>>4502876>Enough to destroy. You’re only repaying Tarkin what he would do to you I get the jombaral fear but the emperor is sure to go balls deep to destroy jombaral destroying the vanguard will not impact that. It will positively impact our chances of escape though.
>>4502876>>>How much power are you going to put into the Godseye’s attack?>>Enough to destroy. You’re only repaying Tarkin what he would do to you.EVERYTHING!if we can scrap a bunch of ships here, it will give everyone not imperial a bigger chance in the future.no holding back please
>>4502876Just enough to disable.
>>4503081Not to rain on your parade or anything but Venators are being phased out for Star Destroyers anyway. And apparently they grow underground like fucking potatoes so Ol Sheev doesn't need to worry about losing ships.
>>4503085you should have chosen something other than gender studies anonless ships>more shipspun intended
Here's something to consider. Presuming we can keep up the momentum for years with the Empire losing commanders and battleships over an extended period of time and protract this coup to last a fucklong time whilst bleeding the Empire dry of resources, how long can Palpatine actually hold it together?When doubts start to emerge, Senate will start asking whether or not this guy is actually worth keeping around when he is bleeding massive chunks of the budget to a target that's only really a threat to one person's power.When cracks on narrative show up, he will need to do what every single other ruler in history has done and extends his purges from jedi to those who doubt his rule.The more he purges he requires, the more corruption, paranoia, jadedness and disillusionment spreads on his rule.The more cracks start to appear under his rule, the harder it will be for him to hold it all together. Yes, they can and most likely will strongarm their subjects to keep the whole thing going, but they will eventually overextend and collapse if they keep going on the same road forever.
>>4502876>Enough to destroy. You’re only repaying Tarkin what he would do to you.If it would be an option I would vote for>Enough to evaporate. Its Tarkin you are not taking any chances [+1 Darkside point]
>>4502876Enough to disable
>>4503084>>4503206You should probably link the actual posted option if you want it to count, my one post ID friends, whom i'm excited to see in future votes
>>4503224They did?
>>4502876>Just enough to disable. You need only buy time for the Kakari to escape. [Gain Light Side points]I’m late, but here goes.
>>4502876>Enough to destroy. You’re only repaying Tarkin what he would do to you.The only morally correct option considering how genocidal this guy is.
>>4502876>Enough to destroy. You’re only repaying Tarkin what he would do to you.blast him with piss
Seriously, I am happy to go full Revan on Palpatine. Light side points are genuinely worthless.
>>4503224I did, are you blind or just dumb
>>4503257As much fun as going Full Revan would be, Tarpon isn't worth that too me
A lotta 1-post IDs on both sides!
>>4503293It always seems like the "New Guys" come in when the vote mentions a Light Side or Dark Side choice...
>NO NO NO NOT THE EMPIRINO GOOD BOYS NOT THE HECKIN STAR DESTROYERS NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOt. lightside cucks.
>>4503309Life by the samefag, die by the samefag.
>>4503309I don't know about these new guys ypu speak of, but those of us at work can't always consistently vote even time
>>4503316Reading this post makes me wish they won harder.
>>4503408I don't honestly understand the logic of sparing a mass murderer for sake of ligt side points.
>>4503411Tarkin has to survive this, whether we blow ships up or notBut we sure as hell gonna cripple him for a while while we're at it if we destroy the ships. Resources have to be spent recovering resources and building new ships while they're at reduced power. They really pulled the stops here.Guess the real question is how much power we have.If we focus on blowing them up, is it at the cost of disabling more of them?Disabling > blowing up BUT if capability is equivalent, then blowing up > disabling
>>4503413Why does he have to survive anything? I see it as a net win for the galaxy if he ends up dead. Him being alive does nothing to advance our goals. Him being dead means one less anti-jedi commander at high office of the Empire and one less dog on our tail.Besides, if you show him weakness, he will exploit it. He is the sorta guy who will pick on jedi sentimentality and next time you run across him, he will use a planet as a hostage to lure you out because he knows you are infected with the same weakness every other jedi is.Even if it's just killing the commander, I think it's still a good move to make because then they can't react when we dab on them.
>>4503467You should always be polite and kind to people so then when they think they can exploit it you kick them in the nuts and laugh as they flounder around confused at the sudden shift in behavior. Being a good guy doesn't mean you can't be an absolute monster if you need to be.On the other hand this is star wars so I dunno maybe it does. Besides, anons change their minds all the time the longer a quest goes on. Why worry about such uncertain futures?
Tarkin dies on the Death Star doesn't he?We can try pretty hard to kill him, but he prob has narrative causality protection. Same with Vader and others.
>>4503484>being a causalitycuckSad!
>>4503486Bruh, I sure as hell wanna try to kill him. Crippling him for a bit is still pretty nice
>>4503484If he has causality protection, that is even more reason to blast him with lethal force because he will neither fear nor respect us if he doesn't think we're capable of pulling the trigger when the enemy is at our crosshairs.Maybe he has fate points, but I sure as shit want him to burn one here.
Why don't we take the sunspearAnd put some cortosis on the pointy and sharp bits.BoomUltimate weapon.
>>4503520Isnt cortosis by definition not a good fit with force powers?
>>4504157It's a highly expensive material that, when it's of a high enough quality, can short out lightsabers, and when it's not, can just "merely" deflect or block the plasma blades. Of course, since the Sunspear manifests it's blade in a way that's similar to a lightsaber, yeah, not a great idea to block the area where the blade comes out of with a material that can short circuit it.
>>4504157It isn't anti-force, just anti-lightsaber.
>>4503520Why not make a musket that fires lightsabers?
>>4504298That's ridiculous. Obviously it should be a trebuchet that hurls a 3d printer that prints muskets that fire lightsabers.
>>4504302>>4504298>they don't know about the turbolaser that fires Y-Wings that fire proton torpedoes that produce miniature droids that form into trebuchets that hurl 3d printers that print muskets that fire lightsabers.
>>4504313>he doesn't know about the death star that fires star destroyers which deploy huge y-wings that shoot x-wings carrying turbolasers that fire droids that assemble proton torpedoes midair which explode into lightsabers that carve handguns out of the local terrain
pls stop shitposting anons
>>4504327>He doesn’t know about the living Vong world that poops out Death Stars that fire star destroyers which deploy huge y-wings that shoot x-wings carrying turbolasers that fire droids that assemble proton torpedoes midair which explode into lightsabers that carve handguns out of the local terrain
Lightsaber bolt-action rifle that is cut down into an Obrez configuration. Except, you have two of them and both are connected by chain so you can wield them like gun-chucks.If that doesn't scream donut steel, I don't know what will.
>>4504825>If that doesn't scream donut steel, I don't know what will.Lightsaber toe rings.
>>4504825How about a Lightsaber that spins around really fast and allows you to fly like a helico-Oh wait.
>>4504938Full disclosure, I still haven’t seen “Star Wars: Rebels”. But the one clip I saw on YouTube of the NuCanon Inquisitors with their beyblade lightsabers was...an experience. It’s an interesting concept but wew, that’s something in the same veins as Leia’s “Marry Poppins” maneuver in the opening of TLJ. And I can’t even blame Rian Johnson for the Inquisitors!
>>4504994>And I can’t even blame Rian Johnson for the Inquisitors!Should do it anyway. Guy's a pretentious clod.
>>4504994I'm just curious about why Vader doesn't have some of those himself.Imagine being able to Force Choke people while flying around like some kind of demented Superman.
>>4505011Why force choke people in person when it works through holograms/viewscreens?
>>4504994The more he's involved with shit, the more I have the sneaking suspicion that Filoni might need someone to reign him in, like George did.
>>4505212To be fair, I can imagine the retarded helicopter blades have some sort of anti-gravity mechanism and the retarded looking helicopter thing is more for use as a weapon. Still retarded though.
>>4505220The inquisitors as a whole felt like a swing and a miss even without the retardcopter lightsabers. They never felt threatening to me. I'm glad Kaz is drawing more from legends for any that show up here.
>>4505486It's kind of fucking difficult for inquisitors to feel intimidating when you've got somebody like Ahsoka around.And then fuck, DARTH MAUL who just fucking slaughters them with ease.
>>4505492Yeah, I'm with you there. Ahsoka never struck me as an overwhelmingly powerful jedi. Certainly above average, but not someone who'd be able to fight three inquisitors at once and win. The Grand Inquisitor was the only one that I thought had potential to rise above Saturday morning cartoon villain, but he got tag-teamed by two mid-tier force sensitives, only one of whom had any official Jedi training.
>>4502897>>4502907>>4502915>>4502947>>4502975>>4503001>>4503045>>4503206It was a very narrow race, but when the vote closed, the [Disable] vote won out by a slim margin of 9-8. Posting this so I don't have to count up the votes again as well as clarification. And since I know that I've got a ways to go tomorrow to posting the update when my shift ends, I figure I may as well place this interlude to tide you over. Sorry for the delay!
>>Meanwhile...>M.S.D.F. Situation Room, Freedomspire (formerly the Opulent Palace)>Amagi (formerly Mylar-3), Mylus System, Unknown RegionsThe situation room of the Mylar Star Defense Forces had once been a banquet hall, one of many overlooking the entirety of the spaceport and the plains beyond the city. It wasn’t nearly high enough to induce acrophobia or vertigo, but there were still a few who cringed or otherwise steered clear of the windows. In any other planet, it might have been an inspiring sight, but it brought her little in the way of solace or nostalgia.It wasn’t the same room. The paneling was in different places, and the ceiling just a tad bit lower by a handful of meters. But with the gaudy and garish décor removed, the dimensions were familiar enough for her mind to go back to that dark day when the entirety of the galaxy was violently seized from under her. And there was nothing in the immediate she could do anything to get it back.Among the assembled officers, Jedi Master Aure stood in a distant corner, clenching and unclenching her fists in an exercise to maintain her composure. She scanned the crowd, idly observing the soldiers and technicians that slowly streamed into the room. There were only a handful that she recognized, and even fewer that the zabrak knew well enough to be comfortably blithe with.As if sensing her discontent, one of the nearby officers approached her distant corner. Aure recognized this one, at least. There were only two nagai that ranked high enough for her to know well enough, and one of them was occupied with restructuring the planet’s energy grid. Hol Sho wasn’t nearly as familiar an acquaintance as much his son was to Larid’s padawan, or his wife was to the zabrak consular.“Hoy, Master Jedi,” Suzui greeted, the ghost of a smile on her crimson lips, “I haven’t seen you in a short spell.”Aure inclined her head in greeting. “Colonel Sho.”The nagai rolled her eyes. “Ancestors, that’s a title I’m still getting used to. I’ll answer to ‘Suzui’ just as easily. No need to pull rank and file.”“Yet you referred to me as ‘Master Jedi,’” the consular retorted.“Because that’s what you are. Give me a few weeks, and I’ll feel like a colonel, but now? It still feels weird.” The nagai tugged at the collar of her new uniform. “The new clothes chafe a little bit, but at least they cover more than the pit fighter drab I used to wear. It’s gonna take a while for both of them to be broken into.”Aure offered a tight smile, more a reflexive grimace than anything else. “Let me hazard a guess as to your prior occupation’s wardrobe...chainmail bikini?”“Chainmail bikini,” she confirmed with a sardonic drawl, “And leather loincloth. I swear, the damned greenskins had some sort of fetish for scantily-clad women fighting to the death against monsters from all corners of the galaxy.”(cont.)
It seemed that particular kink was shared both between the Hutts and the Tof. But at least the ugly slugs didn’t try to hide their depravity beneath some sort of twisted veneer of nobility. “I’ve been to at least two planets where weddings were considered dull affairs if a minimum of three people didn’t have their guts spilled onto the floor.”“Really? You’ll have to tell me more about that.” Suzui rubbed the tip of her chin pensively. “I think Hol and I could squeeze you into dinner sometime in the week.”Snorting, the consular shook her head and answered, “If I my gut’s correct about today’s meeting, then that dinner date’s going to be a long time coming. Unless you want to swap stories over half-cooked rations on some godforsaken hellhole.”“Those are the best times for a story.” Nodding towards the seated crowd, the nagai beckoned for the zabrack to follow her. “You have a seat up in the front. Don’t sulk in the corner. It’s unbecoming of the image everyone has of Jedi.”Aure offered little in resistance beyond a flat look as she followed the colonel towards the front of the situation room. But she’d undersold what was waiting them. It wasn’t as much a reserved seat or row as much as a table on the side of the main projector, just a handful of feet away from the raised dais. Dozens of eyes tracked her movement, and the dull chattering had abated for a moment as her robes were illuminated by the lighting of nearby console and computers.It made enough sense for her to stick out like a sore thumb, albeit not by her own fault. All of the room’s occupants, save for Aure, were clad in the uniform of the Mylar Star Defense Forces.Borrowing designs from both the late Republic and a handful of other inspirations, the uniform of the MSDF was both practical and elegant. The tunic was double-breasted and colored a deep, dark blue, with the edges trimmed in gold, red or black depending on service branch. Five silver buttons ran up the right side, leaving the left empty for medals and marks of achievement. The chevrons and bars that detonated rank were sewn into the sleeves and collar of the tunic.An overwhelming majority of both sexes preferred to tuck their tails beneath a simple, black belt, stretching just over the upper thigh of trousers similar in shade to the tunic. But there were a handful of female officers that had elected to wear knee-length skirts. Still, there were those who weren’t in uniform at all. Most notable were the wing commanders, conversing with their fellows in skintight flight suits that left little to the imagination.It was an old saying that clothes made the man or woman. And Aure had to admit, for people that’d been slaves only a handful of weeks ago, they certainly had settled comfortably into their new digs with a zealous gusto. Even if they lacked the discipline that only came with years of service, they more than made up with enthusiasm and morale.(cont.)
“I really like what they did with the place,” Suzui remarked as they took their seats, waving to a few other officers at the table. Aure made similar, albeit restrained, gestures of greeting, all of which were returned in kind. The awe on their faces at seeing a Jedi was something she’d never get used to. “Doesn’t immediately hit you with the stench of Tof when you walk in. Although I still think they should’ve replaced the carpet with linoleum...”That, at the very least, was a sentiment that the zabrak could share. Even if she would’ve preferred the sterile steel of a military vessel.Towards the front of the room, a portrait of the viceroy and his family had been taken down. In its place, a flag of the new stratocracy hung from one end to the wall to the next. Similarly, garish furniture and tasteless decorations (of which there were many) had been properly disposed of, replaced by electronic displays and military machinery. Analysts and technicians were hard at work, either installing the new equipment or training at their consoles.But she had no more time to observe. Overhead, the lights suddenly dimmed, and the windows were polarized. Much like the rest of the assembly, Aure turned her attention to the front of the room. As soon as an expectant silence had gripped the crowd, their leader ascended the stage and took to the podium.The former engineer had cleaned up nicely. Keimann’s wild, unruly mane of hair came down in measured, half-tamed locks. The only items that denoted his rank as commander-in-chief were a fourragère that ran underneath his left arm, and shoulder marks each emblazoned with five stars. He was no longer Keimann, former slave of the Tof Kingdom, but Supreme Archon of the Mylar Star Alliance, and looked every bit the part in both clothing and demeanor.He tapped the microphone clipped to his chest, testing to ensure it was transmitting. Then, after a quick sip from the glass of water left on the podium, he offered the gathered men and women his trademark, roguish smile. “Good afternoon," he began, "I’m not one to be flowery, but before we begin today’s briefing, I’d like to take a moment to officially recognize the valor of the assembled, and the soldiers underneath their command. It’s only been a month since our successful revolution against the Tof, but in that time, we’ve successfully driven them off-world, and purged their lingering holdouts across the planet. And for that, I thank you for doing justice to the name of our new home.”His words were met with applause, and several roars of approval. The noise was permitted to last for a handful of moments before the archon held his hand up, and asked for silence. “Through all of our combined force of arms and effort, we are now finally on the cusp of ending the conflict, and delivering the final blow to the Tof Remnant. For today’s meeting, my cabinet and I will be briefing you on our next operation: Icebreaker.(cont.)
“However,” he warned, and all eyes snapped to him, “Note that this campaign won’t be like the counter-offensive and security actions of the prior weeks. This is going to truly be the battlefront that will either make or break us upon the anvil of war.”The holo-display hummed, chittering and chirping as the image settled to a star chart of the Mylar system. Zooming away from the recently-christened Amagi, the display fast tracked to the last of the seven planets, an arctic world just at the very edge of the system. A pale, blue sphere spun lazily in the display as telemetric and geological information quickly appeared adjacent to the planet.“To put it simply, Mylar-7, or 'The Chiller' as it’s been commonly referred to, is a frozen shithole.” That elicited a smattering of laughs from the assembled crowd. “Colder than the late vicerene’s cunt and just as devoid of the warmth necessary to support complex life. The fact that the Tof remnant have evacuated to it shows two things: one, they’re hellbent on sticking it out to the bitter end, or for when reinforcements from the Firefist Cluster arrive. Two, the immediate strategic value of the planet is not lost upon them.”He held out the glass of water, and Keimann shook the glass lightly. The sound of the ice, small cubits no larger than a thumb drive, was broadcasted throughout the room. “This is the most important resource that the Chiller has to offer us. No amount of moisture farms or the plundering of our polar caps could come close to matching the water needs of our entire population. The Tof know this, and are undoubtedly trying to force us to surrender or come to the table at a severe disadvantage.”Low growls and hissing curses answered the Supreme Archon’s words. Aure wasn’t blind to the way Suzui’s lips twisted in a contemptuous sneer. The more veteran the combatant, or repressed the former slave, the sharper their anger cut. “I understand how you feel,” Keimann reassured them, “And I have no intention to settle for nothing less than driving the bastards completely out of the system, or otherwise blasting them into ash. I have it on good faith to think that they’re arrogant enough to still think they can reclaim our new homeworld.”As a Jedi Diplomat, Aure was supposed to advocate for peace, mediate a solution between two disparate factions. But at the current moment, she wasn’t nearly magnanimous enough to imagine herself playing arbiter. And even if she managed to reign herself in and endure the stomach ache, the Archon was right. The Tof currently dug into the frozen shithole of the Chiller were a hard and stubborn bunch. They didn’t flee like the rest of their kind, back to whatever they called their homeworld. The slavers that remained were determined to see the conflict to its bitter end. And the more she thought about it, it was less likely at a negotiating table and shaping to be a very bloody resolution.(cont.)
But the next words to come out of Keimann’s mouth nearly shattered the indifferent façade.The Archon gestured for someone off-stage to enter the spotlight. “Pailem Chek is our foremost expert on the technology the Tof used. He will be giving a presentation of what our scouts found on.”It wasn’t his fault.The muun stepped onto the dais, nervously palming the data slate in his hand as Keimann took a nearby seat.He was just as much a victim as the rest of them.As his thin head peered about the room and its occupants, his gaze met hers, and he flinched at whatever he saw in the zabrak’s eyes.Things were out of his control, it was either his life or hers.Those were the words that Master Aure had to repeat whenever she saw the one who pulled the lever of the carbon-freezing machine.He’s turned over a new leaf in Keimann’s administration.An elbow nudged her side, but not unkindly. Suzui was giving her a worried look. “...you alright?”If Galle didn’t kill him, then it would have been a poor example for her to do so.Aure might have laughed, but it would have been an ugly noise, a hysterical and guttural note.HE’S TRYING HIS DAMNEDNEST TO FIND A CURE FOR KRISTEN.“...keen and peachy,” she answered tersely.Hiding her true emotions was nothing new to the consular, even as it went against the cultural zeitgeist of zabrak culture. Master Aure merely grit her teeth, and dug her nails into the palm of her hand, nearly hard enough to pierce the hard, calloused flesh. The physical pain was a welcome distraction against the dark thoughts that followed her out of her nightmares and into the waking world.Chek adjusted his uniform, coughing nervously to orient himself as he produced a schematic on the display. It was a machine of some sort, a long, cylindrical device mounted atop the union between a swivel and pair of treads. A convenient human placed alongside the machine offered a scale, measuring the contraption at just a little over five meters in height, with roughly the same dimensions as an AT-TE.The stutter Chek’s voice hadn’t been there on the dark day. Either it was only something that appeared whenever she was also in the room, or Gaelle and Lamal quite literally put the fear of Jedi in the muun prior to her escape. And loathe as she was to admit it, there was a lesser, more primal side of her brain took pleasure in watching him squirm underneath the spotlight.“The IcePick-class h-heavy vehicle was designed to f-facilitate the mining of ice on the p-planet’s surface,” he stammered, “Essentially, each m-machine is a scaled version of any c-common plasma torch, ch-channeling energy into a t-tight, focused beam to penetrate o-or otherwise carve through densely-packed, compact l-layers of ice. Th-this has been the p-primary tool used b-by the slaves stationed on the Ch-Chiller to harvest ice for sh-shipments back to A-amagi.””(cont.)
A few of the soldiers murmured agreement or acknowledgement. It wouldn’t have been too outlandish to learn that some had worked as the muun described. Aure noticed one of the officers at her table absently rubbing at a hand missing several of its digits beyond the knuckle. Lost to frostbite, perhaps?“S-scout ships were dispatched to the planet a few d-days ago.” The Chek scrambled to project something from his datapad onto the main projector. “...th-this was taken and re-reconstructed from their flight p-plans and testimonials...”The hologram changed, showing a model of the planet, and an outline of the mining colony. Five little blips appeared from the corner, four scout ships and a light corvette. The mission couldn’t have been anything more than poking at the defenses protecting the Chiller, perhaps shooing away fighters scrambled to keep them away. All they were commanded to retrieve was surface scans and TRPs of the colonies and supporting mines.But just as they broke atmo and skirted around the edge of the area, the main colony shot what appeared to be a series of thin, straight lines at the oncoming fighters. They swerved to dodge, flying erratically as the beams seemed to multiply. The corvette was immediately destroyed as five beams converged on its hull. Two if its escort wing were vaporized, boxed in and sliced to ribbons with no room to maneuver. Only the final pair had both the skill and the wits to evade and break off their pursuit, hurriedly ascending back into space to beat a fast retreat.Hushed and worried whispers broke out among the crowd as the projection disappeared. Keiiman gestured for their silence as Suzui’s eyes narrowed. The nagai shouted into her mic, “What in the hell was that?!”The technician answered, “Th-the working theory is that they’ve o-overclocked the engines to both a-absorb more energy than st-standard regulations would have, and expel it as a h-hyper-focused beam. A crude, but ef-effective improvised anti-aircraft series of w-weapons.”The nagai cursed. “How many do they have?”Scrolling through his datapad, Chek eventually answered, “...tw-twenty five by the l-last shipping manifesto. Th-this is of course not including any sc-scuttled ships reconfigured into b-batteries.”The hologram derezzed briefly, switching from the simulation to images taken by the scouts of the planet. They were of notably poor quality, riddled with artifacts and other data corruptions. But there wasn’t mistaking the beached hulls of their strange, wooden ships. Marooned on the ice, half of any ship’s broadside was pointed into the air for any incoming assault.“[What’s their rate of fire]?” shouted one of the officers in Huttese, a Rodian with vermillion skin. A tin metal stamped with the image of a broken chain marked him for distinction at the Battle of Sereno Spaceport. “[And their effective range]?”(cont.)
>>4503224I was very drunk and out with friends, so copying on my phone was too hard for me at the time.
>>4505720“F-for the IcePicks? A-approximately six hundred k-kilometers, firing one sh-shot every one minute and tw-twenty five seconds.”“[And the batteries]?”“N-no different than any standard laser c-cannon.”The dull roar of whispers returned, this time charged an undercurrent of dread. Unfamiliar as she was with starfighter combat, Aure understood their reason to be worried. A scout corvette was hardly most durable of spaceships, but watching five of those beams punch through its shields and armor was certainly a sobering sight. ‘And that was ignoring the improvised batteries! Whoever was in charge of the Tof Remnant on the Chiller was living up to her expectations and Keimann’s words. This was going to be a campaign that was going to really, really hurt.Chek retreated as the Archon retook the stage. He stared at the crowd expectantly, waiting for them to quiet down. They did so almost immediately, such was the respect they had for the Ferroan. He spoke, “The first step of Operation Icebreaker is to secure air superiority, and establish a foothold for us to deploy our dropships. Destruction of the weapons batteries and the disabling of the IcePicks are going to take top priority-”“Disabling? We aren’t destroying them?” inquired one of the flight commanders, a blue-skinned alien with flowing black hair and piercing red eyes. Three scars ran down the left side of her face, accentuating rather than detracting from a more visceral, savage beauty. “Surely, it’d be a simply matter to commit a series of targeted lance strikes from orbit.”Keimann shook his head, seemingly uncaring at the interruption even as others looked appalled. “Loathe as I am to say it, we don’t have the resources or the time at the moment to build up new drills up from scratch. Even with severe rationing, our water supplies are going to run out by the next month if we don’t do anything about it.“We did the math. If we want to avoid the worst of rationing, then we need at least twelve of the drills to remain fully operational once we occupy the planet. As such, thirteen of the IcePicks are the maximum I’m authorizing for destruction.”“And what are we to do about the rest of them?” challenged the flight commander.The corner of the Archon’s lips twitched in the ghost of a smirk. “I was just about to get to that,” he teasingly admonished her.Aure nearly gagged at the flirtatious undertone in his voice.Keimann gestured to Chek. The display changed to stills, images of the laser drills captured by reconnaissance drones. “The initial assault will have to be accomplished with small, one or two-man fighters. Even as I speak, we have technicians working around the clock to outfit our Peregrine and Swallow fighters for subzero combat.”(cont.)
>>4505726>chissfu
As if anticipating his response, the images on the display were swiftly replaced by a topographical map of the colony and the outlying area. “The Chiller has a plethora of valleys and fjords, either naturally formed or otherwise dug out from centuries of harvesting. We’ll be sending in fighter squadrons in waves through the spaces.”There were only a few soldiers in the room who otherwise didn’t blanche or cast pitying looks towards the pilots. Even with a month’s worth of operations against local cells of Tof resistance, they weren’t nearly ready for something as challenging as a full-scale planetary invasion. And with the added complication of navigating the terrain atop dodging all the anti-air...The person sitting next to any one soldier might only be coming home in a body bag. But the flight commander that interrupted Keimann didn’t look too worried. She merely inclined her head in thanks for the clarification.The image changed once more, switching to a thermal scan taken from high orbit. It outlined a series of pipes, not unlike veins pumping energy throughout the body that was the main hub of the colony. The hottest zones, scattered at key points, glowed a hot-cherry red.Keimann explained, “The Tof sunk a pipeline into the planet, and they’re pumping out and refining methane hydrate as their main source of fuel. Their primary reactors are spread out around the colony, powering everything from nightstand lamps to their shield generators, but most importantly, the IcePicks. Those will be our main targets; disable what you can with ion weaponry, but we’ll settle for their destruction as well. IcePicks are irreplaceable. Reactors are not.“Additionally...” He paused, pointing towards a section of highlighted areas, middling at only yellow hues. “Slave quarters are right here. Approximately thirty-thousand of our brothers and sisters are still trapped in bondage. Stay clear of these.”More muttering, but with more nods of comprehension and eager anticipation.“Jedi Master Aure has kindly offered the use of her Consular-class cruiser as a mobile operations base.” All eyes turned towards the zabrak, who inclined her head slightly at the attention. “We’ll be directing operations from the Envoy on the far side of the planet. She herself will be deploying in tandem with our ground forces following the completion of the first stage.”She wasn't deaf to their emotions. Suzui looked nonchalant, but there was an excitement in the nagai. It was infectious, spreading out through the entire room. A Jedi was going to fight alongside them! She could guess their thoughts easily enough. If Farren Gaelle wasn't even a full master when he helped Keimann's initial revolution, then Master Aure would surely perform even greater than their leader's friend and fellow hero of the slaves.(cont.)
It wouldn't do to pinch her nose in consternation in public. But damn her if she wasn't annoyed. It was all she could do to keep people from tripping over themselves to bow. The private dockyard that Larid had bought out had to be kept guarded from any curious passerby or overeager devotees.There was a part of her that puffed up in pride at the tribute. But it wouldn’t do anyone any good, especially the Younglings. And that was an entirely mixed bag that she couldn’t be bothered to fix until Brethon and Gaelle returned from their respective missions.Especially with Kristen still...But she revealed none of these things, opining to answer in a neutral tone, “I wouldn’t wish to step on or over your commanders’ orders. Deploy me as best you see fit, Archon.”The smile he gave her said he would, as well as a request for a private conversation afterwards. But that expression passed the instant she nodded confirmation. His eyes narrowed, and he held up his hand. In an instant, the entire room sobered as he adopted a grave expression. “I won’t lie or mince words. This is going to be our first offensive as a unified state. However, it just so happens to be either fate or bad luck that it’s looking to be a meatgrinder against an entrenched enemy. The Tof have no intention of accepting any offers of amnesty or surrender. Similarly, we must have our supply of water, or we will eventually die a slow and agonizing death of thirst. Immoveable object meets unstoppable force, and I intend for us to be the latter.”Keimann paused to let the gravity of his words sink and take root in the minds of the crowd. Then, he continued, “This is going to be a very bitter fight for both sides, but one I expect all of us to both distinguish ourselves and carry to its end. You will have your orders at 0900 in two days’ time. Until then, you are dismissed, and are free to settle your affairs or lingering concerns as you see fit.”With that, the meeting was adjourned, and the overhead lights slowly brightened. The assembly fell into their respective cliques, each discussing one aspect or another about the upcoming operation. Suzui departed swiftly, undoubtedly going to meet her husband. Aure, for her part, simply stood from her chair, bade the other officers farewell. And with a final, baleful look towards Chek, who visibly cringed away, she glided across the room towards Keimann's position.He welcomed her, gesturing towards the back door. "I can't thank you enough for everything."She nodded politely and fell into step. "Thank me when it's all done. It's a bit premature to celebrate.""Perhaps, but I don't think it would do us any good to mope."She 'hmm'd' in response. "So what's it going to be today, Archon? Business or pleasure? Because I don't expect you to have read those political treatises so quickly.""Can't it be both, Master Jedi?" At the look she gave him, he shook his head. "Business it is then."(cont.)
Aure wasn’t nearly in the mood to bandy words. But Keimann saved her from talking. “Truth be told, it’s all going to be business today. Something came up that requires your immediate attention.”She raised an eyebrow. “And what would that be?”The mirth left his face, and an even graver expression replaced his features than she’d seen in the strategy room. “Just an hour before the meeting started, a salvage team found something at the bottom of the spaceport. Just a few hundred stories down from where Farren said that Dark Jedi had taken that tumble off the spire...”Aure stiffened, directing the entirety of her attention towards the Archon. The enigma of the Revenant wasn’t exactly in her field of expertise, but with Brethon and Gaelle gone, it fell to her to answer in their place. With a no-nonsense tone, she demanded, “What happened?”“Nothing, thankfully. The team made it back to the surface, but they were terribly spooked by what they found.”“...they didn’t touch anything, did they?”He gave her a queer look. “No, it burst into purple flames before it would let them.”“...what?”Keimann blinked. “Ah...my apologies. If you’ll allow me...” He stopped in the middle of the hallway, reaching for something tucked away beneath his overcoat. Producing a datapad, he thumbed it on, scrolling through a series of files until he found what he was looking for. “Here...what do you make of this?”The picture was dimly lit, half-obscured by the shadows of the spires. Someone had the foresight to shine a light against the subject of the image, a splotch of what suspiciously looked like dried, congealed blood...if someone had gone and thrown crude oil into the mix. Reds and blacks ran in rivulets on the rocky dirt of the ground, seemingly sourced from...Aure had to squint, and blink twice to make sure she wasn’t seeing it wrong. “Is that...is that a page?”“I thought so as well,” confirmed the Archon, “Not that the salvagers could make a heads or tails out of it. And I consider myself well-traveled, but I haven’t seen anything like this before I was captured by the Tof. I was hoping...”“You’d be hard-pressed to able to understand this,” the consular whispered in a subdued voice, as a sudden chill ran up and down her body, “Not even among the best protocol droids to be found in the Republic.”Keimman frowned, simultaneously puzzled and disquieted by her reaction. “Why, what’s wrong?”“...because you won’t find anyone beyond a Jedi or a Sith capable of understanding the Sith language...” From the way he stiffened, it seemed that he at least had some understanding of the severity of the situation. She turned to look at him, all maudlin thoughts gone. “You said this burst into flame? Of its own volition?”He hesitated before nodding. "That's what I was told. One of the workers went to pick it up-""That was foolish," she harshly replied.(cont.)
He didn’t refute that.Aure ran a hand down the back of her neck, hyper-focused on the image. While she wasn’t nearly about to spill the full details of the Revenant’s circumstances, she could still speculate in generalities. It wouldn't do Keimann any good knowing that there was a Sith Pureblood possessing a young woman strong in the Force had been on the planet. “...Gaelle said that she was insane. Hallucinating sounds and images that weren’t actually there.”“But what is the significance of the auto-combustion?” he asked.Sith Sorcery, came the unspoken answer. And the implications of that opened another can of worms. But she dissembled, “...you’d have better luck asking Gaelle when he gets back...or his master. But trust me when I say that I’m going to bring this to their attention the moment either one of them returns.”Keimann nodded. “I understand. But if you’ll indulge me, can you read this?”The consular blinked, surprised. “I...” She paused, closing her eyes in deep thought, “...this was not my field of expertise.”“But you said that a Jedi was capable of understanding-”“Not all Jedi, most certainly not...” But she paused, squinting at one of the more legible lines. Most of the artifact was soaked in blood and what she suspected to be ink. The only words, runes that made her skin crawl, that were otherwise unblemished were esoteric enough for uncertainty. “...I had only a handful of lessons on the subject before it was decided that it was generally useless knowledge for my career.” How ironic that had been in the last few weeks, but hindsight was always 20/20.“Do you have at least a rough idea?” insisted the Archon.>>Aure takes 8+4 (Stat) on a general Cunning Check to recall half-forgotten information.“I can barely understand the first sentence...” Aure paused, analyzing the first line as she struggled to recall those lessons. Grammar was an entirely lost cause, but she remembered some choice vocabulary. “...it says something about...a leviathan? A sort of descent...into darkness. A threshold, a precipice. The context denotes something that cannot be undone...”She paused, skipping past the splotchy mess towards the last set of words. “...but this one here is ‘bliss’, or supreme feeling of exaltation. Paired with this word...to run, to chase...”“‘Chase bliss?’” suggested the Archon. "Perhaps some sort of reference to hedonism."Aure shook her head. “Not so vague or aggressive...or depraved. Barring some of these bloodstains, a rough translation here would be...‘follow...bliss?’”==========We will return to Farren after my shift ends.
>>4505770Seek utopia? Is there a force garden of eden somewhere?
>>4505939Probably on Tython, the jedi homeworld. Or on Mortis, where the force gods used to live.
>>4505939We just have to create the Kwisatz Haderach to seek the golden path.
>>4505770Money says Tarkin makes a gamble that we're jedi simply because we didn't go genocide on the fleet.Seriously, it's not like the jedi weren't leading armies. Even Obi Wan may call us retarded.Then again, we may have a soft spot for the clones... I don't blame Farren for that at least.
>>4506022Tarkin doesn’t need to gamble anything to guess that there’s a surviving Jedi, he probably went over the reports regarding the last known location of Kota and Arotta and extrapolated from there. What’s more of a gamble for him is to guess that there’s more then just two Force users...
>>4506022Tarkin doesn't take chances. He knows that Karakit is where two jedi last were and that with the fact that Palpatine said to glass it is enough for him.
>>4502897>>4502907>>4502915>>4502947>>4502975>>4503001>>4503045>>4503206You project into the union of minds a series of images. The armor of the Venator is stripped away, revealing blueprints and cross-sections of the Star Destroyer. Most of the information is far beyond what the Kakari can comprehend, and is subsequently ignored or otherwise discarded. You focus on the rear of the ship, towards a point beneath the command towers.Their main reactors are here, you explain, Targeting these will cripple the ship, and force them to draw on their auxiliary reactors. They won’t have enough power to fire their turbolasers at full power against the Heart.Not destroy? queries an apprentice.We only need to escape...and I would still leave enough behind for them to continue their intended goal.The destruction of Kakarit, while regrettable, is perhaps a tragic inevitability. Even if you were to destroy the fleet, the Empire would only send more to finish the job, all the while provoking their wrath. And still, Base Delta Zero is the only way for the Children of Jombaral to be completely and utterly destroyed....although, that still leaves the matter of the False Mother herself. The logs of the late Acting-Commander Marks had stated that she had left in an escape pod to try and wander the stars. Bos confirmed it earlier when she felt the entity’s presence vanish. Surely, would she not return or at least have felt the death of the Herald?But those are questions for another time.It starts as a low rumbling, a deep, oscillating frequency that causes your very bones and teeth to ache. Power unlike anything you’ve ever felt begins to gather within the Godseye. The energies of the planet, the sun, and the Living Force gather in a confluence, a locus of great and awesome potential. The orbit of the twelve masks increases in speed, dancing frantically as they rotate and point the sunstone towards the starry sky.The target is named and marked, chants the Grand Shamanka, Let the lance of the gods be pulled back and thrown...The giant sunstone flares to life, blasting away the smoke and smog with a soft thoom. In an instant, all activity within the Heart of Kakarit focuses on the Godseye. With your disembodied sight, you see all remaining starfighters change course, scrambling towards the glowing crystal. Proton torpedoes and concussion missiles race out of their salvos, a desperate gambit to stop whatever the natives are planning...But the Communion of Spirits is not so easily blindsided. With a silent command, Bos directs her apprentices, and they reach out to the masks themselves. There are three for each initiate, three great monoliths carved in the images of their gods. They shudder in their orbit, stopping suddenly before they break away to intercept the ordinance, acting not unlike a point-defense system for the Godseye.(cont.)
>>4507405If Tarkin commits mass murder after we leave him alive, do we need to roll willpower to not give into anger and turn to dark side?
>>4509213Thanks for the false hope that he updated.No, because we already know how Tarkin operates.
>>4509213...No, because Tarkin's got plot armor made out of aggregated diamond nanorods up until he bites it on the Death Star. He'd have survived the attempt to destroy the fleet and come up with innovative ideas on the concept of parking a Star Destroyer no matter what we do.
>>4507405Not to be outdone in the confusion, the guns of the Globus double their efforts. Separatist starfighters race out in the gaps of the flak cloud. The maneuvers they perform would instantly pulp anything organic, but the droids suffer from no such limitations.They come from impossible attack vectors, unleashing an avenging barrage of laser fire into the Empire’s forces. Left and right, ARC-170s and V-Wings explode in balls of flame and shrapnel. It might have turned the tide of battle in your favor, if not for the armada above your heads.The first Venator hovers just at the top of the planet’s exosphere, and its fellows are soon behind. Not all of their weapons have been brought to bear, but what already are have begun their bombardment. The shields of the core ship stagger, flickering perilously, but continue to hold on for just a handful of moments longer.With your shared connection to the Communion and your power amplified by the Godseye, you can sense the emotions of its crew. There’s a certain aura of resolute grimness on the Clones’ part, but a nervous chill emanating from their commanding staff. Fear of failure, and that fear drives a dread of the man commanding the expeditionary fleet......fear of the one giving Tarkin orders.When the Godseye fires, the accompanying sound is not one similar to the high-pitched whine of turbolasers. It is a resonant gong, a deep-reaching noise that resonates with something more primal within you. The pillar of scarlet light is blinding, even disembodied as you are, and almost painful to comprehend. Merely basking in its brilliance is to stand next to a live wire, or a similarly charged source of energy.The early twilight of afternoon turns into a frightening dawn.The heavens themselves are split down the middle. The very universe itself comes to a standstill as the beam strikes the underbelly of the Star Destroyer.It kicks off a chain reaction, as a series of explosions rock the rear of the ship. The hull buckles violently, and the sheer force of the blast knocks the Venator out of a stable orbit. Globules of molten metal and coalescing slag spill out of the wound, and fall from the sky like the guts of a beast.By some miracle, the auxiliary reactor kicks in just before the ship can fall further down the layers of the atmosphere. RCS thrusters flare to desperate life, frantically trying to take the ship out of its unstable descent. The turbolasers go cold as all remaining power in the ship is desperately diverted towards the engines.The thoughts of your companions are audible as if they are standing adjacent to you. Suzuel and Octavia give voice to their shock via profanity in their respective native languages. All on Elba’s mind is repairing the ship, and regards the light with little more than a curious glance. But Commander Skipp and his clones break their professional composure for the briefest moment, and stare up in awe and wonder.(cont.)
>>4509219You are welcome.>>4509253Then what was the point of having the vote? I mean overall, Tarkin is hardly an essential NPC to an extent that his death would cause the Empire to collapse or anything like that. I mean, if we're operating under the assumption that there are essential who can't die and non-essential NPCs who can't, what's to stop us from strapping R2D2, C3PO, Chewbacca, Han Solo, Leia and Luke as armor plating on a starship and wrecking the entire Empire fleet because the sheer level of plot armor will make it impossible to destroy the ship?
>>4509355>I mean overall, Tarkin is hardly an essential NPC to an extent that his death would cause the Empire to collapse or anything like that.
>>4509364You don't think a galactic empire would have more officers?
>>4509378The Empire has as many competent officers as an Alabaman man has fingers on one hand. Which is anywhere between 2 and 11 depending on how you're counting.
>>4509364Tarkin, anon.Not Thrawn.
>>4509364I think it's worth noting that at this point tarkin isn't nearly as important to the stability of the empire as he would be by 0 BBY.
>>4509386Even if they replace him with an incompetent, at least we wouldn't be responsible for all the planetary cleansings he Tarkin commit from now on.
>>4509445And if the replacement is /pol/ incarnate and starts purging non-humans as if it's his one singular purpose in life? The options are unlimited. Better not to take chances.
>>4509378>>4509390>>4509424Here's some Jeopardy for you folks:The philosophy that was adopted by the Empire, half a decade after its founding, that ensured Palpatine's uncontested rule up until the Battle of Yavin.
>>4509452Tarkin already is doing that, so...
>>4509462Nah Tarkin still does his job.
Hope that one light side point was worth all the lives lost. Face it, you sacrificed billions, possibly hundreds of billions of lives for the sake of your own ego considering how many planetary cleansings this guy is going to undertake.If that responsibility isn't enough to make someone fall to the Dark Side, I'm not sure what is. You chose this.
>>4509471It wasn't for the light side points anon, it's even worse than that. It's because Tarkin is a popular character that the fan base always wanks over.
>>4509465and Tarkin's job is by and large, enforce the rule of empire through terror and slaughter.Empire being as anti-xeno as it is, naturally would mean majority of those purges are towards aliens anyway.
Seriously, if you shot the Death Star at coruscant, you would still be responsible of fewer deaths than what your choice here has caused.
>>4509471>>4509478I was considering disabling, because we don't know how many shots it has, and probably would have voted to disable if it weren't for the time limit. Fuck you.
>>4509471>FEEL BAD YOU CHOSE THIS WAY BECAUSE THAT WAS THE ONLY WAY FOR TARKIN NOT TO KILL BEELYONS AND BEELYONS
>>4509485If it's one shot either way or multiple shots either way, the choice should be the same. There was no indication stating that shooting to maim spends less power to do and no reason to expect it would.
>>4509471Cool, I'm sure the metaknowledge Farren has will allow him to realize that this random guy will go on to become galactic megahitler.
Do people really think we would have killed Tarkin if we chose the other option? Because that's retarded. At most all we would have done is destroy a few Star Destroyers.
>>4509487You are making the same choice batman makes every week when he catches Joker gassing another couple hundred people to death. You know this guy is going to commit mass murder and you let him get away with it because you have convinced yourself that the obvious alternative was not worth trying.
>>4509493Doesn't matter because he would still know this guy was pretty much a ruthless anti-jedi guy from clone wars days and a competent admiral. Depriving Empire of him would have been reason enough to kill him.
>>4509494Why is it retarded to think that people die when they are shot with a giant force laser capable of blowing up battleships?
>>4509471>abloobloo moral grandstanding
>>4509506Because the choice was never about Tarkin.
>>4509512Then what was it about it? Be it morally or strategically, shooting to kill would always have been the correct option. Killing the enemy commander and showing the power to destroy their battleships might have very well caused them to retreat. At the very least, it would have made it impossible for them to issue an order to chase after escapees as they were locked into their original orders.
>>4509507You chose an option with zero merit to us strategically, tactically, politically, morally or economically. I mean if you had a plan to actually take over the disabled ships somehow and return with a fleet of star destroyers, I could see the reason in all this, but that's not exactly feasible here is it?
>>4509520>Then what was it about it?Maybe if you stopped spinning a narrative in your head about "muh continuity" and read the thread, you would know.
>>4509521No one's going to argue with you little zealot boy.
Also>There was no indication stating that shooting to maim spends less power to do and no reason to expect it would.There was no indication choosing to destroy would target Tarkin at any capacity, yet here you are purporting a what-if. The option was specifically targeting a Venator.
Taking a quick break from online class, I'm gonna finish the update once it ends in an hour-ish. What's going on in the thread-
>>4509532*that what-if.
>>4509523>>4509522Because none of you have any reasonable basis on not shooting to kill besides a light side point and the fact that you believe Tarkin is immortal, but even if he survived the destruction of his ship, him being unable to relay commands to other ships is still a victory for us.Give me just one good reason based on fact that shooting to maim is better than shooting to kill in this instance.
>>4509532>Enough to destroy. You’re only repaying Tarkin what he would do to you.I was under the impression this meant we would be shooting at the guy. It's not much of a repayment if we shoot a random battleship on escort duty.
>>4509539Because we're not trying to metagame, dumbass. You want to chill the fuck out about the vote yet?
>>4509461What is the Tarkin Doctrine, Alex?
>>4509539>Give me just one good reasonNot knowing the ammo capacity of an unknown weapon is reason enough to not go full-auto.
>>4509545It's not metagaming to pick off the fucking commander in middle of a warzone. We have done this shit since bronze age.It's arguably more metagaming to aim for lightside points for no justifiable reason whatsoever. It's not like Farren doesn't know this guy is a psycho.
>>4509551You fire a bullet at the heart or leg, you're still one shot short at the end of a day.
>>4509544>I was under the [HEADCANON]>and you see the first Venator.>It isn’t alone. Hot on its heels are another two of its fellow class, and a pair of what appear to be Imperial-class Star Destroyers.The facts stand against you, now kneel.
>>4509539The most common reason people said to disable was because they're still freaked out about Jombaral, and want the BD0 to be carried out. Stop making shit up about people wanking Tarkin you autistic sperg.
>>4509555It IS metagaming to kill him for what he is going to do in the plot, however. Now chill your tits.
>>4509557Bro you should be more concerned about the empire making a superweapon sooner after witnessing something like this :^)
>>4509560Meh, I suppose there is the implication there that we see only the advance guard.Fair enough.If we do spot a command ship of sorts, are we in agreement to go for lethal?
>>4509575No.
>>4509575sure
>>4509575Fuck off.
>>4509575After all this?>>4509557>>4509555>>4509544>>4509539>>4509521>>4509520>>4509506>>4509502>>4509498>>4509492>>4509484>>4509479>>4509471>>4509462No. You should have chilled the fuck out before you bitched about how we were all responsible for the deaths of imaginary people and aliens.
>>4509578>>4509582>>4509583So you don't want to kill enemy commanders under any circumstances? Or is it just Tarkin?You do realize that's going to make every battle against the Empire a meat grinder?
>>4509586>people and aliens>implying aliens aren't people>t. ImperialDon't think I don't see you.
>>4509586lmao okay then.It's not like the point about sparing him knowingly is invalid though.Good to know I can rely on you to make stupid decisions as long as I bitch enough.
>>4509588I voted for destroying because I wanted an enemy ship to go bye bye. I just don't care if Tarkin happened to be in it or not, and it isn't the immediate motivation in destroying the ship anyway (that would be to escape).
wow what the-Wait a minute. Do we even know WHICH ship Tarkin is on? Aiming to kill just him is still an option
>>4509722If that was an option, I'd definitely take that. Leave most of the fleet able to do the - pretty damn necessary - BDZ after we leave, while simultaneously depriving the Empire of a really effective military leader who could cause problems in the future. The definition of compromise.
>>4509754My issue with this is the the Empire isn't stupid. They're going to know that some survivors have fled the planet, and if we assassinate a high-ranking officer than we're going to shoot straight up to the top of their shitlist. Which is a bad thing when we're trying to stay hidden.
>>4509722I'd rather we just get the fuck out of dodge instead of trying to guess which of these twenty-eight cruisers has him. We're in a glorified escape pod with hundreds of refugees; keeping the Kakari from becoming fully genocided is a better use of what little time we've earned.
>>4509333The Kakari are no different. Even within the hull of the Globus, their minds are unified in the emotions they share: fear and awe, worshipfulness and ecstasy at the legacy of their ancestors. To them, it is definitive proof that their gods are real, and that four thousand years of prayers had finally been answered. The invaders of the stars would no longer plague the Kakari....that might need some rectifying down the line, you privately think to yourself. But that is neither here nor there, and you quickly return your attention to the rest of the vanguard.Before the other ships can even process what happened, the Godseye fires again. This time, it carves a molten furrow into another Venator’s underbelly, all the way from bow to stern. Explosive decompressions rock the underside as cargo, starfighters and unprepared Clones are sucked out into the vacuum of space. The Force trembles slightly as they vanish, snuffed out like candles as they come to their ends, either suffocating or crushed by intermittent debris.At the very least, the ship doesn’t seem to otherwise break orbit. But with the ship hemorrhaging atmosphere and men in equal amounts, there’s little they can do before fixing (or otherwise mitigating) the grievous wound. The ship visibly shudders as it limps away, careful to not otherwise strain or exacerbate the damage.By the time the third Venator suffers a similar fate, the rest of the advance guard gets the message. You can almost imagine the terrific noise that accompanies all of their inertial dampeners firing at full cylinder. As they come to a full stop just above the atmosphere, desperation and panic emanates from the control towers. The entire order of command has been thrown into disarray with this unexpected resistance.There's no better time.Reaching out with your mind, you search the Globus for Octavia. The commodore is where you had first found her, atop the command bridge supervising the battle. The second presence, faint as it is, could only be her husband, Laurentius. Professionalism seems to have prevailed against her earlier outburst, but there isn’t anything she can do to suppress the elation and relief.Almost after three months since coming to the Berhillia System, the two Mercantors will finally be free-!...wait a moment...now, what’s this?Filing that particular discovery for later, you gently brush against the edge of her mind. Octavia?Knowing her type, she’ll insist that she didn’t scream. And you’ll swear that she didn’t let out anything more than an incredibly vulgar slur. The pistol at her belt clears the holster halfway before she realizes that there isn’t anyone else in the bridge with her.“What in all the gods-damned-”Sorry, sorry... you apologize. It’s me-Surprise gives way to long-suffering resignation as she recognizes your voice. “...get out of my head, you voyeur.”(cont.)
>our system thinks your post is spamSpam this up your ass, Hiromoot.
>>4509920Technically you aren’t in her head, merely knocking at the threshold. But you don’t want to appear any more pedantic than she already views you. Now’s your chance! The vanguard’s in disarray. You won’t get a better window than now to launch.“Understood.” But before she gives the order, she hesitates, and her eyes flick over towards the temple. “...what about you? If you aren’t coming with us on the Globus...”That’s what the Albatross is for, you hurriedly reassure her. There’s enough room on my ship for Bos and her apprentices.“...that dingy little scout ship is going to fly through the middle of an orbital bombardment to come and rescue you?”They’ll be too busy shooting at you to worry about us.She barks a harsh laugh as she gives the order. “Maybe you should’ve thought twice about shooting to cripple, then.”You’d roll your eyes, but it’d be a moot point given how she can’t see you. The fact still remains that we need them to carry out Base Delta Zero.“I won’t argue that.” Octavia’s feelings stray towards her husband, then the visibly empty command chairs that her crew once occupied. “...I’d honestly send Tarkin flowers if I could.”The core ship visibly shudders as its main reactors open up completely. The dull idling of the engines becomes a fierce roar as three hundred G’s of acceleration struggle to lift it up and out of the embankment. But it doesn’t take too long before it clears the tallest of the buildings.Although that isn’t to say that the Clones already in the sky are about to let them go away that easily. Half of all the starfighters attacking the Godseye break away. Not that there’s anything beyond laserfire and harassment they can do. It seems that most of them used the bulk of their ordinance either chasing after the Sheathipede or otherwise trying to blow the Godseye out of the sky.(cont.)
>>Please roll 2d6+7 Vigilance (+3 Stat, +2 Skill, +2 Trait)>Best out of three.Apologies for the delay. Internet had to be reset and then Hiro decided to flag the dice prompt as spam.
Rolled 3, 3 + 7 = 13 (2d6 + 7)>>4510410
Rolled 1, 5 + 7 = 13 (2d6 + 7)>>4510410Back to our regularly-scheduled programming, I assume?
Rolled 5, 4 + 7 = 16 (2d6 + 7)>>4510410boink
Rolled 1, 3 + 8 = 12 (2d6 + 8)Making an opposed Stealth Check. Please do not reply to this post.>Rolling 2d6+8 (+4 Stat, +3 Skill, +1 Trait)
Rolled 3, 3 + 8 = 14 (2d6 + 8)>>4510476And again, two out of three.
Rolled 5, 5 + 8 = 18 (2d6 + 8)>>4510476Last one.
>>4510481bugger.
>>4510481sheeeiiiit
So we notice them but can't react in time?
fuck you kaz fix akun
Fun fact by the by, it’s a lot more expensive to repair then it is to build a new ship wholesale
>>4511074That depends entirely on what exactly needs fixing.
>>4510413>>4510414>>4510416>>4510476>>4510478>>4510481The Communion continues their operations. Its apprentices defend the crystal through the masks of their gods, and their grand shamanka chants prayers and ritualistic words. Every syllable uttered and note warbled sweetly cajoles and maneuvers the Godseye towards its next target. You yourself fire another blast of energy at an Imperial-class that gets a little too close for comfort.But your gaze turns skywards, far above the Heart of Kakari and to the edge of the planet. Above your heads, the vanguard remains uncertain and fearful, but the rest of the fleet is swiftly closing in. Whoever’s behind them isn’t happy at all, and their fury roils like waves on an ocean. At their current speed, they’ll be just above the planet in a little under twenty minutes.The ship’s launched, you communicate to Bos. The image of the elder Kakari returns an impression of relief, and perhaps just the smallest tad of wry amusement. Fitting that the ark of our salvation is in the shape of an egg.We can’t chose the shapes of our saviors...or our destroyers, for that matter....a pity that the False Mother herself isn’t here. She pauses, then continuing, But denying her Kakarit is a price we are willing to pay. I would rather see it scorched to cinders before it continued on as her seat of power-It comes from nowhere and without any warning. Pain unlike anything you’d ever felt before that rips through the very core of your being. The graceful arc of your flight in the skies comes to an abrupt, violent standstill. Even in your incorporeal form, you struggle to breathe on some instinctive level, clutching your chest as if fire had blossomed within your lungs.In response, the Godseye loses potency. The crimson light dims, and the twelve masks shudder as the apprentices likewise experience the sensation of a hot knife through your heart(s). No longer capable of their prior speed, the Clones make a redoubled effort to destroy the sunstone.The pain disrupts your thoughts, pulling you out of the trance. The universe itself seems to reel as you’re pulled back into the temple, as if at the end of a rubber band drawn out too far. It hits you like a physical blow as your spirit returns to your body. Punch-drunk and discombobulated, you retch onto the temple floor, wiping bile from the corner of your mouth as you look up to the Grand Shamanka for any explaination.“Bos, what the hell-?”But as quick as it comes, it ends in a strangled noise as you behold the sight of your unexpected mentor.Bos stares down, seemingly incredulous at the dagger that’s run her though. But the Grand Shamanka seizes, screaming as the light of the Liar’s Blade burns her from within. Her quarterstaff drops to the floor in a jumble of assorted fetishes and charms as her hands reach desperately for the blade and the attacker behind her.(cont.)
>>4511162YO WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS SHIT?!
>>4511162Its the king isnt it?
>>4511162Even as you’re unable to tear your gaze away from the terrible sight, your hand goes towards your waist and back. The Sunstone spear remains undisturbed. Your lightsaber is similarly unmolested. All of your tools and equipment upon your belt remain, with the exception of the tool used in the critical moment against the Herald of Jombaral.Stolen...! But when...and by who-?“For Trexl,” hisses Chieftain-King Trax, revealing himself out of the darkness. He raises her upon the instrument of her impalement, uncaring of the how the blade twists within her. “And for all of my kith and kin too weak to do what I have done.”It is swiftly withdrawn. The Grand Shamanka collapses to the floor, unresponsive in a growing pool of her own blood. With a savage kick, Trax sends her body rolling, rolling over the platform, rolling into the pool of water. Bos disappears over the edge, with the only remnant of her existence a frail splash and a sickening crack.“I am one with the Spirits, and the Spirits are with me.” The myriad fetishes along the shaman’s staff chimed against each other as the Kakari guided you into the building. Easing itself down onto a nearby seat, it bade you to remain where you are, settling comfortably against the unyielding stone. “And they are strong with you as well, Jedi Wanderer...”“BOS!Your emotions return with the force of a supernova. Fury unlike anything you’d ever felt before courses through your veins. It reaches the rage you and Torok had indulged in at the sight of Kristen, before surpassing it in its entirety. And the memory of that dark day only serves as a feedback loop that intensifies the storm within your heart.Tarkin and his fleet are a distant memory as your lightsaber flies into your hands. Octavia and Skipp’s calls for an explanation at the Godseye’s dimming go ignored. The only enemy you see before you, illuminated by the golden length of your blade, is the Kakari no more than a handful of meters away.“You bastard!” you scream. But before you can charge or otherwise reach for the Force, the Chieftain stops you.“Don’t move, Jedi!” Trax warns sharply. The blue light of the Liar’s Blade flickers in the chamber, gesturing beyond your peripheral vision. “Stay still and listen to me. Disobey at your own peril, and only if you want them to join her just as quickly.”Busy as you had been with manipulating the Godseye, there hadn’t been anyone keeping watch or otherwise guarding the temple. In their stupor and shock, Bos’ apprentices had been caught unawares. The Chieftain-King’s closest followers and entourage, one for each follower, hold wicked blades against the throats of the Communion.“I don’t need her or them anymore,” Trax hisses, “Not when I know that you were capable of raising the shield by yourself.“Raise the shield over the Heart of Kakarit, or their lives are forfeit.”>>How will you respond?>Write-in.
>>4511181Man just blow everyone off of the platform with the Force and book it. 10,000% fucked now. Fucking Trax. Burn in hell with your planet. Fuck space nam. Sorry acolytes but not really.
>>4511181>Write-in.>Ask him if he has any fucking cute what he's doing or what he's dealing with.
>>4511181>You will die, Trax, not by my hand but your own.Honestly might support >>4511187If we book it then he needs the acolytes alive to even attempt the barrier.I bet hes going to think its fine if he dies because the son can lead
>>4511181>>>How will you respond?with silence and calm.we are short on time.the faster they die, the better.telekinesis to try to prevent their weapons to kill the apprentices, then sever force or force fire to end them.
>>4511219All of those are nowhere near fast enough.Telekinesis only barely works on our lightsaberThey arent weak to fire, and you can definitely slit someones throat before diving for the water.Sever force is standing still and meditating to punch them with your mind. One at a time. And they arent even force sensitive so it wont affect them very much.
Can the Godseye only fire a single beam?
>>4511187Support, we cared about Bos but if Bos is dead and the vast majority of the kakarit population is already evacuating then we can just book it.
>>4511181Congratulations on killing yourself, you gigantic moron. I'm outta here. Maybe try to save some of the acolytes to bring them along if anyone can think of something super clever, but otherwise...Seriously, why would he think we'd stick around and raise the shield? If we can't fire the weapon, why would we do anything BUT get in our ship and get the FUCK out as fast as physically possible?
>>4511181It's time for some good old darkside points, methinks>Draw upon your rage and Force Choke Trax>"Let them go or your king dies."
>>4511181The anon above me advocates a Force Choke, but I can think of something within our immediate ability.>Use Mystic Weapon to control your lightsaber with the Force and fling it at his neck, stopping just short of killing him. Threaten to kill Trax if his men do not release the acolytes.
>Write-in."I'm the one with the power here. If I don't raise the shield, everyone dies from orbital bombardment.""You kill the acolytes, I'll just run and leave you all to die.""My friends also run all the refugee ships. The guards who don't want their families to remain in the loving care of the xenocidal imperials, or in the best case scenario, causing their entire species to go extinct due to infighting at such a crucial time maybe want to reconsider their allegiances and put this idiot out of his misery.""The one that does so, gets my recommendation as the chieftain-king for the merit of saving their entire species when it mattered the most. Any takers?"
>>4511420cut out the last bit, at least. none of them seem like they want "permission" to overthrow the prince.
>>4511420+1
>>4511420This
>>4511181"If i raise the shield their lives are forfeit anyways, you'll kill them, afterwards like the treacherous pale skinned snake you are. Failing that the Imperials will do it after. WE bloodied their noses, but it won't be enough to stop this planet falling. So if they are to die either way, which i would be most unhappy about, i can at least escape. You'll be stuck here purged by fire until kakarit is a ball of dust and ash. A fitting fate for someone who was as treacherous as Jombaraal's herald to die with her. I'm not killing your race for your stupid arrogant pride.
>>4511181>>4511187This.We stayed for Bos and Bos is dead. He miscalculated. We aren't from this planet, so we don't care for the planet. The planet is now forfeit. (Even if this is mostly fakes)Just blast everyone off the platform and dash for it. We can save who we can on the way out via force pull. We sure as hell aren't shooting the godseye anymore.Can even say we were shooting the ships out of the sky to twist the knife.
So what's the tally right now?
Kaz I'm a big fan but this arc has been pretty drawn out and bloated
>>4512206This. I just want off this goddamn planet.
>>4512269>>4512206>Namek fags can’t stand long plot arcs
>>4511187This
>>4511420>>4511433>>4511444>>4511495>>4511187>>4511277>>4511615>>4512377The Dark Side has no tangible form. You yourself notice it only as a queasy feeling in your own guts. But in this moment, it speaks to you, whispering into your ear as your heart and emotions are in turmoil. It fills your mind with doubts, even as you know the plan of action you need to take. And if you could put it into words, the sensation would translate thusly:Kill Trax...make him scream for what he took from you...In the hurricane, you find yourself eerily calm. The Dark Side is still there, just within a breath’s reach at the threshold. You can almost imagine it chortling, waving promises of power. Even with the Sunspear at your back, it reasons, there won’t be nearly enough potency for you to react in time before Trax gives the order to cut the acolytes’ throats....but in the moment, you have to try at least one thing before you reach for the Force.Trax doesn’t flinch as you deactivate your lightsaber. But his guards seem uneasy as you look each one of them in their eyes, before gazing at their king. Whatever loyalty they have to the chieftain is firm, misguided as it is. But there’s no masking the uneasy feeling as they hold their weapons against fellow Kakari.This is their only chance. And if they fail to listen...“I’m the one with the power here,” you say quietly, and your voice echoes along the quartz surfaces.“Are you sure?” Trax looks unimpressed. “With but a single word, I could send Bos’ apprentices to join her in the netherworld.”It takes a considerable moment for you to get your temper under wraps. “If I don’t raise the shield, everyone dies from orbital bombardment. If you kill the acolytes, I’ll just run and leave you all to die.”There is of course, the option of otherwise just leaving the acolytes to their fate. It would be the ultimate and logical conclusion of extreme utilitarianism. As far as you know, these aren’t the only members of the Communion, only the best ones hand-picked by Bos herself.But you know for a fact that you could never do that. Or at least, walk out and not suffer from extensive guilt and nightmares for weeks to come. Not to mention the condemnation of your own Master Larid.“My friends don’t answer to you, Trax.” The chieftain bristles at the informal mention of his name without any title. “I forged the alliance with Octavia. My crew rescued Commander Skipp and his clones from the Desolation of Moloch. The only reason that they have a chance to even get off this godsforsaken rock is because my friends bought you an extra day at the Battle of Nest’s End.”(cont.)
His lips pull apart in a snarl. You have him there. While Trax might have been the one to mop up the remaining forces of the Children in the tunnels, it was his son that saw to the first line of defense. And through the combined forces of the Seperatists, the Clones and your own crew, turned the siege upon its head and back against the Children of Jombaral.“Octavia runs all the refugee ships. And the Globus with all seven hundred of your subjects are this close to being blasted out of the sky because of your actions. I can’t imagine being too much of a chieftain over a pile of ash.”You grimace, shaking your head as you look to the guards. “Your families are in those ships. Your brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, fathers and mothers...you’re condemning them to the loving care of a man who I know for a fact regards non-humans in a less-than-stellar light. Of course...assuming he just simply won’t blast them out of the sky and simply call it a day.”The words from your lips prey on their uncertainty. Duty to their king wars with the bonds of their loved ones. In lightsaber combat, this might have been called Dun Möch. Taunts and jeers tease apart and open hidden, inner weaknesses and doubts by eroding their will. All that is left is to strike the blow that would either shatter their resolve...or harden it beyond the point of no return.“I will only say this once.” With your empty hand behind your back, you reach for the Force and center yourself. It responds, and power gathers in the form of concentrated kinetic energy. “Your loyalty is commendable, but it will now only bring you to ruin as we fight among ourselves.”“Don’t listen to him,” barks Trax, “I know his type. He’s no different than the withered crone. Words and misdirection wherever their kind come and go.”His words only serve to widen the divide between devotion and duty. And in that divide, you entreat for the final time: “There is still time to examine your hearts and do the right thing.”The right thing, of course, being to drop their weapons and release the acolytes. But you’ll also settle for them completely turning upon their Chieftain-King.>>Roll 2d6+2 Panache (+2 Stat)>Best out of three.
Rolled 3, 4 + 2 = 9 (2d6 + 2)>>4512464Fool!
Rolled 1, 2 + 2 = 5 (2d6 + 2)>>4512464
Rolled 3, 1 + 2 = 6 (2d6 + 2)>>4512464reeee
>>4512471>>4512474>>4512476The noise of a dagger hitting the floor echoes loudly in the chamber. Startled, all eyes turn towards a familiar soldier you’d met before...Apulxa! He had been your guide towards the Obsidian Table. And the acolyte he had taken hostage is none other than Bos’ apprentice who’d come to fetch you in that same instance. Had it been so long ago, no more than earlier today...“No...” whispers the guard. Tears stream down from his face as his entire being is filled with remorse. “Eztli, I’m sorry...”“What are you doing?” demands the king.“Your highness...I cannot do this.”Still punch-drunk from the shock of Bos, death, the now-identified Eztil offers no resistance as Apulxa guides her towards your position. The rest of his companions look on, uncertain as whether or not to stop him or continue holding onto their own hostages. But in their hearts, you sense that the war within has been resolved.Their loyalty is to their king.Not that it seems to matter. Even with three hostages and loyalists under his command, Trax explodes into a tirade of obscenities. “Traitorous filth! I will have your heart for this!”He offers nothing in response. As it is, the friendly and otherwise upbeat Kakari is unable to meet your eyes as he falls in line beside you.“...you did the right thing,” you say quietly, just out of the corner of your mouth.Apulxa casts a longing gaze towards the woman in his arms. “...I...I can only hope she will see it as you will, Sings-of-Devouring-Darkness. I fear I have transgressed further beyond the ire of everyday arguments with what I’ve done...”“I won’t forget what you did. I promise you that.”Leaving the two of them together, you turn your attention back to the remainder of the guards and the hostages in their arms.“And this is the path that you have chosen?” you quietly intone.Their faces could have been carved from stone for the silence that answers you. And Trax’s smug expression is only less sickening than the self-satisfaction emanating from his heart. With a quiet sigh, you cast a glance towards the Godseye, then to the guards and their king.“...very well.”>>Roll 3d10+7 Force Push (+2 Skill, +5 Affinity, +1d10 Sunspear)>Best out of three.
Rolled 7, 3, 5 + 7 = 22 (3d10 + 7)>>4512510it's time
Rolled 5, 4, 9 + 7 = 25 (3d10 + 7)>>4512510Fuck this blithering lizard retard.
Rolled 2, 9, 1 + 7 = 19 (3d10 + 7)>>4512510
Rolled 2, 7, 9 + 7 = 25 (3d10 + 7)>>4512510>winces while rolling
>>4512514>>4512516>>4512517Perhaps it is a trick of the light, or some induced delirium from exhaustion of both the siege and battle with the Herald. But as you bring your empty hand to bear against Trax, you could have sworn that the Godseye itself approved of your actions.All twelve of the Godstones within the Sunspear shine brightly as you blast the Kakari with a wave of kinetic energy. Caught unprepared, the guards and their hostages are blown off of the platform, sailing into the air with screams of confusion. At least one unlucky mook crashes into the stone walls hard enough to break something critical. But the rest fall into splashing heaps into the water below.“Keep her safe, Jedi!” Apoxul gently sets Eztli on the ground before hurrying towards the edge. With a jump to put an acrobat at the Galaxies Opera House to shame, the warrior vaults off the platform and dives into the pool.The king had fared luckier than his servants. The blast had sent him flying, but not nearly off the edge. By some miracle, Trax lands gracefully on the bridge opposite of the entrance. But it belies the thundering, murderous expression on his face as he stands.In one hand, he holds the Liar’s Blade still slick with Bos’ blood. In his other hand, he wields a strange club not entirely dissimilar to the one wielded by the Herald. But in lieu of the Godstones, mundane sunstones power the weapon’s edge just as potent as any lightsaber.“Your actions have doomed us all!” roars the Chieftain-King. He closes the distance with a speed beyond his appearance. The very air itself seems to be torn to ribbons as he swings it towards you.Your lightsaber activates, catching the blade before it can split you down the middle. The force of the blow staggers you back a few steps, and you grit your teeth as you bounce it off with a swift parry.As you advance with a riposte, you scream, “If you’re so content to kill yourself out of some stupid sense of pride, then don’t drag your people alongside you!”Trax snarls, thrusting the Liar’s Blade towards you. “We were doing just fine before you brought your war to Kakarit. Perhaps I was too kind when addressing you earlier, but allow me to enumerate: it is your fault that our home is about to be scorched to ash and cinders!”You dodge, countering with a blast of Force energy. “And this justifies everything you’ve done?!”“What I do, I do for my people. Your head is light without the weight of a crown, you would not understand!”Beyond the chamber, the battle rages on. Bombardments from both the local starfighters and any brave Star Destroyers cause the walls to tremble. Dust falls like snow as your blades lock in a clash of power, Jedi against king.“The chieftain’s words are law,” Trax continues in a rasp, “And his decisions are made for the betterment of his tribe. Every action I take, no matter how cruel or violent, is for the greater good.” (cont.)
>>4512560> “So you would have left your people to the predation of The Herald and his pseudo Mother?”
>>4512560>>4512566He actually believes it, you think to yourself disbelievingly. There’s a vendetta in his heart certainly. It was perhaps one too many stories that led his son and Troxl’s brother to attempt the journey to the Heart of Kakarit. In his eyes, Bos is just as complicit in Prince Trexl’s death as much as the Herald who’d ripped out his soul.But you recall the agonized expression on her face when she burned her daughter’s corpse. And the helpless guilt of four thousand years of impotence against her grandchild. There had not been a single day in the life of the Grand Shamanka when the weight of all the dead heroes was light upon her shoulders.“So you would have left your people to the predations of the Herald and Jombaral?” you demand.“We would have found a way!” the king insists, spitting mad as he shoves you back. He follows with a reversal that might have scalped you if it had been an inch shorter. As it is, the heat of the sunstones causes your hair to singe slightly. “The Kakari have endured for four thousand years! What more is another thousand more?”There’s no convincing him. He truly believes in his cause, no matter how many he has to kill or otherwise butcher for the sake of his dream of an impossible Kakarit. The more he speaks, the more you feel your ire spreading within you like a virulent poison. And it’s admittedly not a very Jedi-like thought, but you have every intention not to depart from the planet before you kill Chieftain-King Trax.“...you are no more a king than I am,” you hiss, “You lost your right to call yourself that when you stabbed your own shamanka in the back.”It goes without saying that there’s a disparity within the two of you. You’re exhausted, fighting more on fumes than anything else. Whatever medicine that Oann shot you up with is starting to wear out. But clashing blades with Trax is a very, very far cry from the opponents you faced. The Chieftain-King is skilled, but not nearly as adept as the Accuser of Pilgrims had been, or as dangerous as the Herald of Jombaral.And that’s what makes the difference.>>No roll needed.It ends as one might expect. Trax tries to end you in the same way that he’d done Bos in. But the Liar’s Blade has too much of an obvious tell, even more so than the chieftain’s club. And the blade itself doesn’t nearly have as much reach. If he wants to prick you with the damned weapon, he needs to close the distance.The fatal lunge occurs. He oversteps as you bait him in, fainting downwards in an effort to parry his club. Just as the sunstone weapon smashes into the ground, Trax releases the weapon, trapping your 'saber. He closes the distance, grasping your shoulder with his free hand. And with his other, he aims to plunge the Liar’s Blade into your heart.The golden blade retracts as you depress the power switch, just enough to let it break free of the pin.(cont.)
Trax’s eyes widen as he realizes his mistake. But before he can shove you back or otherwise break away, you plant your boot firmly against his scaly foot.You have less than a foot of ‘saber to work with. Yet it’s more than enough, better than the entire length in such close proximity. With a furious shout, you bring your weapon up, ripping him open from hip to shoulder, and slice his arm right by the elbow.He doesn’t scream. Trax merely stares, stupefied at the cauterized stump of his arm as the severed limb flops onto the floor. It doesn’t take too long for the full extent of his injuries to register. Even as his life’s blood spills onto the floor of the chamber, he collapses in a lifeless heap. But before his eyes dim, he lets out a final, rattling, hate-filled breath:“Jedddiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii...”Your thoughts are distant as you leap into the pool after Apoxul. Between the two of you, it doesn’t take too long to fish out the last of the hostages. Beyond mild cases of nausea and jitters from the water-logged robes, they’re relatively fine. The guards, weighed down by their armor and unfamiliar sensation of swimming, had drowned.Bos is the last to be retrieved from the water. The Grand Shamanka seems diminished in death. Even with the aid of the Sunspear, the wound in her chest had obliterated her heart. All you can do is close her eyes, and give her body as much dignity as you can.With their senses returning, the acolytes are horrified. They weep openly at the body of their master, howling with despair and loss that gives you pause and sympathetic heartache. There are some among them who cast baleful glares at Apoxul, who accepts their hatred with a bowed, shameful head.Depressing the bud in your ear, you radio the Albatross for an immediate evac. Then, to the assembled Kakari, you whisper, “We have to go. There’s...there isn’t anything more we can do here.”"...but what about the weapon?" protests an apprentice.You helplessly gesture. "...I can't fire it by myself..."Eztli looks aghast, but nods mutely. Gathering up her master’s staff, she stands up shakily, and helps her fellows upon their feet. Apoxul moves as if to help, but hesitates, withdrawing by your side as the Communion gathers their composure. But you cast a wary look upwards, to the Godseye beyond the spire of the temple. There’s no way in hell that you’ll just simply leave it for the Empire to collect-Leave that to me.All of you start at the unexpected voice. And as one, you turn around, towards the body of the Grand Shamanka...But there is no more body, not even a bloodstain where she had initially fallen. In its place, the shimmering, semi-corporeal form of Grand Shamanka Boscuatl stands before you.Eztli's legs give out beneath her. All of the Kakari look similarly shocked. But as for you..."Bos!" you whisper, both in fear and awe at the sight. "H-how? How is this possible?"(cont.)
>>4512694There is a room at the bottom of this temple, once occupied by the Accuser of Pilgrims... she casts you a knowing look. Of notable note is an altar with chains, upon which the shamans and shamanka of old used to call forth and bind the spirits of the dead. It seems that there was just enough power left within it to keep me here, but not bind me...Bos pauses a moment, casting a pitying look at Trax. ...you were a good king, once. It is such a shame your reign came to this kind of end...“Master!” The first acolyte s trips over himself in to reach her. The rest soon follow, crying and reaching for the grand shamanka. Her face softens into something warm, and she appears no different than any grandmother greeting her progeny after a long time apart. The sight causes an unexpected pain within your heart as a half-forgotten memory comes to the front of your mind.Her name comes no more than a quiet whisper: “...Master Yaddle...”My disciples, why do you weep? Bos soothes them. Even though she cannot physically touch her acolytes, there is still warmth within her, something full of vigor and the Living Force. Death is not the end...what awaits us all is unity with the spirits of our ancestors...“We still need your guidance,” cries an acolyte, one with red fringes along his head, “...please, the Communion will be lost without you!”...I have prepared you for this as best I can. Perhaps not so dramatic as what had happened...but you have been more than ready to inherit my legacy. You have my lessons and teachings, my books and scrolls...Eztli protests, “But-!”...this is no different than leaving your nest upon reaching maturity, she admonishes gently. This is the end of childhood for not only you, but the Kakari as a whole. We’ve broken away from our homeworld. The dark shadow of the False Mother no longer bears down upon us. But if you are lost, it is because you are simply finding your bearings to return to the right path.Guide Chieftain-King Troxl, into a new age for our people. Be the shamanka to him that I was not able to be for his father, and bear no grudge for Trax’s actions...She takes all of their hands, and murmurs something low and quiet. Each one receives a message, one that leaves them hopeful and mournful in equal measures. But they soon break away from Bos, choking on farewells as they return to your position, one by one.Apoxul... The Kakari stiffens at the mention of his name. But Bos offers only a quiet smile. I forgive you.He blanches, but is unable to make a coherent reply beyond a tearful expression of relief.Then, she turns to you for last. And as if she had read your thoughts, she says, I will have more than enough power to deny the Empire the Godseye. But I have seen the thoughts of their leader...and of the terrible use he intends for it.Your head lurches as a vision-(cont.)
A megastructure the size of a small moon, little more than a skeletal framework.Two figures in black, an old man and a lumbering giant, observing its progress from the bridge of a ship.One who embodies power. Another who craves it.And Tarkin, who grits his teeth but bows in obedience.You come out of the vision, gasping for breath as if you’d been plunged underwater. “What...what the hell was that?!”Something beyond my understanding of machines and off-world technology, admits the spirit, But I know it will spell nothing but misery and death upon its completion.The fact that Tarkin is buddy-buddy with the Sith Lords does absolutely nothing to ease your stomachache. It surprises you, if only for the fact that Tarkin had little patience for Force users in general.But that is neither here nor there. You nod to Bos. “I’ll keep an eye on it. My master might know more, but I promise that I won’t forget it.”The temple quakes as another series of explosions rock the entire structure. Even as you and the Kakari struggle for balance, Bos remains as serene as ever. I know you will. But before you leave... She closes her eyes, and reaches a bony finger towards the sky. ...I would give you more than just a warning.High above the temple, the Godseye shudders. And in the explosions above, something that isn’t ash or debris falls down from the sunstone, through the hole in the ceiling and into its repository chamber. A pair of lights, each no smaller than the foremost joint of your thumb, fall softly into your hand.Something more permanent than beasts of burden to serve as a memento of our planet, whispers the shamanka with a small grin. And a small price to pay for both our species’ salvation and the return of the Sunspear to the Communion. I know you wish to keep it, but humor an old lizard’s dying wish...>>You have received two (2) Kakerox Crystals.>>Kakerox Crystal>A shard of the Godseye, a sunstone said to have been plucked from the skull of Kakerox, Father of the Kakari Pantheon, and given to the Communion of Spirits. Unique among sunstones, the Kakerox Crystal is Force-reactive, and can be infused with a small amount of a Force user’s power.>When installed in a lightsaber, this crystal creates a dense, vibrant blade with a color that intensifies in plain view of the sun or any celestial body. Although normally blue, meditating upon the crystal can change the color to any color the Force user desires.>Installing a Kakerox Crystal dramatically increases a lightsaber’s base damage, doubles critical damage, and has an easier time sundering items/armor. >A character may spend a turn communing with the crystal and attempt to harness its power. If successful, the crystal adds +5 to the next Force Power check. This can be done twice per the wielder’s Force rating before the crystal needs to be recharged via exposure to sunlight.(cont.)
The crystals are warm to the touch, suffused with the energies of the Living Force. Fatigue seems to melt away into nothingness, and a sense of renewal seems to spread throughout your body. You secure the gift at your belt, placing it alongside your spare golden crystal.You bow low, from the waist as per the padawan tradition in deference to a master. “Thank you. Not just for the crystals, but for everything. Hospitality and healing, lessons in conjuring Force Fire...”No...thank you, Jedi Wanderer... Bos returns your bow. The salvation of my species and my own redemption could not have been done without you...Farren Gaelle...There’s an audible crack as the chamber begins to lose structural integrity. Stonework and crystals shudder, breaking apart from the walls and ceiling. The Kakari scatter, hurriedly making for the exit as fast as they can. Suzel's barking something in your ear about scores of porgs attacking the enemy ships, but you listen only half-heartedly. You aren’t late in following them out, but hesitate at the threshold's edge. You turn around, glancing back at Bos as the Sanctum of the Godseye collapses all around her.“Bos...!”This is my destiny. Go and face yours.The last thing you see before a gargantuan boulder seals off the entrance is the smile of a woman relieved of her burdens, and content with the ending to her life’s story.>>What did you do in regards to the Liar’s Blade?>You left it in the temple. Better for it to be destroyed rather than turned against you again. [Leave it]>You took it with you. The risk of losing it is far outweighed by its potential against your enemies. [Take it][VOTE OPEN FOR EIGHT HOURS]
>>4512728>a lumbering gianto shit was that snoke>>4512738>You took it with you. The risk of losing it is far outweighed by its potential against your enemies. [Take it]I bet that thing would somehow survive the Base Delta Zero and Palpatine would somehow find it. That, and if Jombaral ever pokes her head out again, that dagger will be useful. Also Revenant.I'm not greedy. I'm not!
>>4512738>>You left it in the temple. Better for it to be destroyed rather than turned against you again. [Leave it]Eh. Felt more like a vessel for Bos' justice than anything else. >>4512748>o shit was that snokeHe got a nifty suit.
>>4512738>You took it with you. The risk of losing it is far outweighed by its potential against your enemies. [Take it]
>>4512738>You left it in the temple. Better for it to be destroyed rather than turned against you again. I feel like this is a properly ends the adventures of space nam
>You took it with you. The risk of losing it is far outweighed by its potential against your enemies. [Take it]No reason to abandon loot. Besides, further study of this weapon could yield interesting knowledge.At the very least, we could try turn it into a bayonet or something.
>You took it with you. The risk of losing it is far outweighed by its potential against your enemies. [Take it]I just wanna show it to based holocron mommy. I reckon she will be proud seeing that we didn't let hostages be used against us.
>>4512738>>You took it with you. The risk of losing it is far outweighed by its potential against your enemies. [Take it]
>>4512738>You took it with you. The risk of losing it is far outweighed by its potential against your enemies. [Take it]Forget using it, we gotta analyze the shit out of this thing.Whatever it's made of might be found on a completely other planet, and modernized. Or even found on Kakarit after the Base Delta Zero, actually.
Wait are we just leaving the sunspear behind for two disco crystals?
>>4512850It's not exactly ours
>>4512855Finders keepers.
>>4512738>You took it with you. The risk of losing it is far outweighed by its potential against your enemies. [Take it]This was nice but we're not out if the woods yet.>>4512850We're not leaving the Sunspear in the Heart, she wants us to leave it with the Kakari. Also what >>4512855 (checked) said.
>>4512738>>You took it with you. The risk of losing it is far outweighed by its potential against your enemies. [Take it]I doubt we want the empire to have it. If it was in the jungle, it'd be more likely to be lost. Not in a place they'd investigate inch by inch.
>>4512738>>You took it with you. The risk of losing it is far outweighed by its potential against your enemies. [Take it]Wonderful, I've been wondering about slapping sunstones in our lightsabers since we first found them.
>>4512738>You took it with you. The risk of losing it is far outweighed by its potential against your enemies. [Take it]Literally no reason not to. Also what're we thinking for our next adventure, seeing as how we kinda know where Cal Kestis is. Actually scratch that, he'd still be a kid by this point. Who were the other two?
>>4513196One was yoda.
>>4513196>>4513204You’re thinking of K'Kruhk.
>>4513207It was K'Krukh, Yoda, Cal and True Sith.
>>4513207>>4513210K'Krukh also comes with a bunch more younglings and padawans. Going to him gets us the most bang for our buck, I think, unless we catch wind of the Conclave on Kessel or the Subjugation of Kashyyyk. 8 Jedi at the former, 13 and some resistance fighters at the latter. Both are gonna happen really soon judging by the people Laird saw on Coruscant outside the temple.
>>4513265Do we know where these people are in character???? Why are we metagaming
>>4513377>discussing events that happened in universe out of character>"stoop metagaming!!!!1!Calm down anon. You'll notice how I even said "if we catch wind." Implying that we do not, in fact, know of these events.
>>4513377It's not metagaming stupewaffle, we've had visions aboit this shit like, TWICE now. That being said K'kruk and his padawans seem like the smart bet, returning them to the Globus or whatever backwater we retreat to. I liked K'kruk's canon plabet that he lands on but THAT, THAT is metagaming so likely not an option.Those idiots at the conclave are going to die regardless of what we say or do. No fixing stupid.
>>4513377I posted clues from Alleana up just beneath the inventory for the character sheet, right here: >>4489822Any other relevant information learned in this session is gonna go up there in the following threads. I keep everything at the top so you guys can always scroll up and check check for inventory/skills/leads and other miscellaneous information.
>>4513442Oh cool, K'kruk is already on his way to that canon planet. Btw Kaz, is Cal still like, a preteen rn? Cause he's not full grown till the Empires well and truly established, cutting up Lucrehulks and Venators.
>>4513442Ah, ty homie
>>4513542All sources I found point to Cal being 12 in 19 BBY/Order 66.
Hmmm... I say we leave Cal alone for now. Way things are going he's eventually going to land in with Cere on his own, and I'm willing to bet that Larid has some idea where that one planet with the back up holocron is.
>>4513404Oooh, I love Strupewaffle, absolutely delicious >>4513442Can’t wait till we get back to having loud angry catgirl sex on the regular
>>4512738>another evening waiting for Kaz to update the quest>getting kinda bored>rereads through the last update again>looks at the “scores of porgs attacking the enemy ships” line again>looks back at the roll for porg saboteurs again>...a thought occurs>double checks the wook>V-Wings aren’t capable of hyperspace without a hyperspace transport ring>whew>looks at ARC-170 page>they can>...Anyone want to roll for porgs learning about hyperspace in the dumbest way possible?
>>4513777The trips demand a roll... who shall be the brave one among us?
>>45137811d20 or 1d100?
>>4513787Let’s do d20. Natural 1 means porg space pirates are a thing now.
Rolled 4 (1d20)>>4513787rolling for perfect balance
Rolled 17 (1d20)...fuck it, worst of three. I kinda want to see how Kaz reacts to the thought of having to write about interstellar space puffins.
>>4513809Get rekt kreia
>>4513829
>>4513829>>4513854Still got one more roll to get out of the woods... either of you want to try?
Rolled 9 (1d20)might as well
>>4513777Mind you, the porgs learning about hyperspace also means that Jombaral also learns about it as well. Lemme dig for the quote about how they're tied to our resident Force Entity.>“Porgs,” the warrior spits with contemptuous disgust as you relay your own encounter with them, “Wicked things, mindless slaves to her will. False meat, tainted meat. Soulless eyes and puppets of the False Mother.”>And more than a dozen of them got a good, hard look at you, the crew of the Albatross and the ship itself.>“Do not eat. Tainted meat. They are consigned to the great fires. Eyes of those who eat porgs add to her looking-glass.”Writing...
>>4512748>>4512758>>4512769>>4512798>>4512806>>4512821>>4512838>>4512858>>4512870>>4512871>>4512894>>4512910>>4512937>>4513196The fear the Godseye had put in the vanguard is on the verge of wearing off. You’d bet good money that their fear of Tarkin overrides anything on the planet’s surface. But until those orders come to descend once more into the atmosphere, they’re content to hover just above the clouds.All the better, honestly. The Globus is little more than a distant speck as it streaks away from the Heart, up and away towards the far side of the planet. With the bulk of the vanguard concentrating at the ancient capital, there’s little in the way of any significant obstacle. ARC-170s and V-Wings chase after them with relative ineffectiveness, completely out of ordinance and armed with nothing more powerful than laser cannons.A small speck breaks away from the core ship, blasting its way past the swarm of Clone fighters. The last of Octavia’s droid fighters give as much cover as they can, clearing the way for the ship to blast towards the Heart at something just short of sublight speed.“Father’s bones!” swears one of the acolytes as the Albatross streaks sharply into focus. The scout vessel burns a hard mixture of ozone and anti-matter as it bears towards the top of the ziggurat.“We’re coming in hot!” radios Suzel from the cockpit, “B-33 says we have seconds before those Clones get on our ass!”Then there isn’t any time to waste.The Albatross doesn’t come to a stop as much as it only dramatically decreases its speed at the last possible second. It’s still moving, albeit incredibly slowly, as the hydraulics for the ramp almost seem to pop open with a burst of speed. Elba and one of the Skipp’s troopers are already at the landing ramp, shouting and gesturing for you to jump.“Go!” you shout when the Kakari look hesitantly towards you. Shoving Apoxul forward, you harry them onto the ramp. “Move forward and don’t look back!”Something in your voice causes them to obey without question. They scramble down the steps, leaping into the air and into the arms of the crew. The wookiee easily catches two with his impressive bulk, and the Clone (Trykov, you think) matches with speed in lieu of strength. Only when all four of the acolytes plus the one “traitorous” guard are safely within the ship do you make your own running leap.“Get in the air, now!” The Force augments your strength, propelling you further, higher than an unassisted jump could ever perform. You cartwheel wildly, flailing your arms as you reach towards the ramp, and the outstretched arms of your friends. The ship shudders as RCS thrusters fire, angling the ship for a rapid ascension into the atmosphere...(cont.)
No sooner do Elba and Trykov snatch and pull you back into the guts of the Albatross does Suzel fire up the main reactor. An inordinate amount of G’s slam you backwards, tail-over-tea-kettle, and the three of you crash in a mess of tangled limbs, robes and armor. The inertial dampeners keep the worst of the whiplash from causing any grievous injury, but it still takes you a moment to regain coherency as the floor levels out.For a moment, you aren’t able to breathe as the sheer force of the rushing wind robs you of your breath. But Elba manages to reach out with a long arm, slapping at the walls until he finds the correct button. With a high-pitched whine, the hydraulics in the landing ramp hurriedly close the opening. Only after the tell-tale hiss and schwoop of a sealed atmosphere pass do you dare to take a large gasp of air.“Raaawwwwrrrrr...” grumbles Elba.Trykov blinks, delicately extricating himself from out of the wookiee. “My bad, big guy...” Brushing himself off briefly, the Clone hurriedly attends to you. “Sir, are you alright?”“...never been better,” you hoarsely answer, accepting the offered hand. He pulls you up in a single motion, and you stagger towards the elevator. “...but first things first. We gotta get the hell out of here before the Empire has the entire system blockaded.”“Copy that.”The wookiee undulates a questioning lilt, gesturing towards the spear at your back. “Urrrauuhhhhh...?”This is my destiny...As the door closes, you’re unable to meet either of their gazes. But you still have to say it, even if the act itself serves as the final nail in the coffin. “Bos...she didn’t make it. She’s stayed behind to give us a change to escape.”The Clone has the good sense to at least appear sympathetic. Some of it is almost genuine. He hadn’t known the Grand Shamanka on a personal level, but he seems to at least understand your own feelings on the matter. Elba, on the other hand, lets out a mournful wail. It was only because of her potions that prevented any amount of Eechi fruit juice to work its fell powers upon the wookie.“...I don’t want to talk about it for a while,” you say quietly. “...I’ll give a full debrief of what happened once we’ve escaped from this godforsaken hellhole.”The elevator opens to the main deck of the ship. There isn’t a single Kakari who doesn’t look otherwise frightened or otherwise cowed by the sights and sensation of the ship. Not unlike a deer in headlights, they aren’t quite sure what to do or where to go.You gesture towards them, and order, “Trykov, get them settled in as best you can. Elba, engines if you please. Let’s see if we can’t squeeze any more speed out of the main reactor beyond what Suzel’s pulling.”(cont.)
They nod, and go about their respective duties. As the wookiee rounds the rotunda and disappears, the Clone approaches the Kakari with a hesitant smile. You hear him mutter something along the lines of ‘hearts and minds’ beneath his breath before he addresses them: “I understand it’s been a long day, and that you’ve got questions. Let’s get you all cleaned up and fed first...”Suzel has the good sense to not otherwise stand to attention as you stagger into the cockpit. But B-33 swivels around briefly, and all three of its optics oscillate in what you perceive to be a pleased tone. “This unit is relieved to see you return, Master Gaelle.”“Addendum,” adds the head of HK-82 from the burlap sack around the tactical droid’s chest, “I would also like to add my own pleased observations. Oh, Master Gaelle. It’s so good to see you once more.”You can’t help but grin as you collapse into the communication officer’s chair. “It’s good to be back. Feels like forever since I last sat in my own ship...” To the nagai, you say, “...thanks for the lift.”“Least I could do since you saved my life back on Firebase Charlie,” he answers, squinting at something beyond the horizon. The blue skies of Kakarit are quickly giving way, loosing hue and saturation as the ship climbs through the atmosphere at breakneck speed. “But promise me that we’ll go to a desert planet next.”In spite of it all, his complaint elicits a chortle as you slip on the comm. “I’ll see what I can do.”Just at the edge of the cockpit canopy, red bursts of light flicker into view. The dorsal and ventral turrets waste no time in blasting a barrage of returning fire towards your pursuers. Suzel is no Jedi, but he handles himself well enough. It seems that the scout has an innate talent for flying beyond his initial clumsiness.As the nagai maneuvers wildly in the sky, you re-establish communications with the Globus. It doesn’t take too long for you to get a line. “Gaelle here...and don’t cut me off, Octavia. You’ll get your answers later, I promise. But not until we make it to safety.”The way the commodore clicks her tongue in annoyance, she might have been standing right next to you. “Now it’s your turn to uphold the end of the bargain, Jedi. Where’s this ‘sanctuary’ you’ve got in mind for all of us to go to?”A burst of static fills the line as something explodes in the background. Alarmed, you hurriedly ask, “What was that?”“Nothing important,” she snarks, “We only just lost nearly fifty percent of our shields, a few dozen compartments that’ve buckled under the strain...seems that Tarkin is doing yeoman’s work as a slave driver-”But she can’t finish her remark. Your attention is drawn to the Heart. In the instant that the vanguard links up with the rest of the fleet, the Godseye fires its devastating beam once more into the sky.(cont.)
You allow yourself a moment of appreciation and melancholy. It is a horrifically beautiful sight, seeing it outside the confines of the temple; raw and living energies juxtaposed against unparalleled devastation. And if you close your eyes and reach...you can almost hear the laughter of the Grand Shamanka.Moisture runs down the side of your face. You blink, wiping at the corner of your eyes at the unexpected emotion. But you take a deep breath, exhaling slowly as you reply to the Globus: “...I’m transmitting the coordinates in a cypher. Standby to receive...”One can never be too careful with whoever might be listening. As far as you can remember, Tarkin’s always been a bulldog of a commander, insofar as refusing to give up the chase or let his prey escape. But you doubt that his masters would just let him take upwards of twenty eight Star Destroyers on a merry chase into the Unknown Regions. And that’s only after they've completely destroyed Kakarit.Skipp confirms the reception of the coordinates. “Done and logged in. We’ll follow SOP and bounce around a few systems first before making our way there.”With that, there’s little more to be said. As Suzel and Elba spool up the hyperdirve, you take one final look towards Kakarit. Most of the green is still visible, even as the sphere shrinks with every few dozen kilometers.You came to the system, landing on a lush and verdant planet teeming with life and the Living Force. Now, you leave it as its jungles burn, and the sky chokes in smoke and flame.“...goodbye, Bos.”The universe reels above your head as Suzel punches the hyperdrive. And as the individual points of stars lengthen, and the Albatross propels itself forward towards the Unknown Regions, all of the exhaustion of the journey finally catches up to you. The last thing you are aware of as someone catches your body is the warmth of the Kakerox Crystals, pulsing in unity with your own heartbeat.={THE CALL OF JOMBARAL}=={ARC FINISHED}=(cont.)
>>4514036>={THE CALL OF JOMBARAL}=>>>={ARC FINISHED}=
>>4514036>>Please select an interlude:>Reminiscence of the Dark Disciple.>Shadows Within, Shadows Without.>Youngling Short Stories.>No interlude. [Stay with Farren.]
VOTE OPEN FOR 8 HOURS.
>>4514047>>Shadows Within, Shadows Without.Let me see your shenanigans, Uncle L.>>4514036>“...goodbye, Bos.”Fucking Trax. Bos was cool.
>>4514047>>Youngling Short Stories.We've gotta pick a padawan after we get back, yeah? This might help inform our choice.
>>4514047>Shadows Within, Shadows Without.More possibly-insane Shadow Shenanigans, please.
>>4514047>>No interlude. [Stay with Farren.]
>>4514036>={THE CALL OF JOMBARAL}=>={ARC FINISHED}=Oh my fucking sweet Jesus we're out. We're fuckign out.>>4514047>Youngling Short Stories.Let's just have a comfy time laughing at them screwing up in mock training for lightsabers or something and have a grand ol' hootenany
>>4514047>No interlude. [Stay with Farren.]this quest is epic, like star wars should be
>>4514047>Reminiscence of the Dark Disciple.
>>4514047>Youngling Short Stories.Babysitter Kreia?
>>4514036>={THE CALL OF JOMBARAL}=>={ARC FINISHED}=We did it, it's over.>>4514047>Youngling Short StoriesI want some light hearted shenanigans
>>4514047>Youngling Short Stories.
>>4514047>>Youngling Short Stories.
>>4514047>Youngling Short Stories.Yes, I also want to see Kreia with those kids.
>>4514036>>4514044>>4514083We made it anons. We made it. Like I knew we would.>>4514047>Youngling Short Stories.If Kriea has her way we're going to have to deal with a whole new generation of force-hating maniacs. Joy. Here's hoping the Kids are Alright, maybe have us revamp the FUCK out of the Jedi teachings at least now that we have some new force sensitives from a different culture. No better time for it.Also I vote we introduce ourselves as Jedi Master Farren Gaelle, Self Appointed. There's no council to stop us and we've certainly earned it...
>>4514047>Youngling Short Stories.We need some levity after visiting space ‘bam.
>>4514195>space ‘nam.Fucking autocorrect.
>>4514194>Also I vote we introduce ourselves as Jedi Master Farren Gaelle, Self Appointed.I wonder what Larid would say if we actually did that.
>>4514201What's he gonna do, tell the council? OH WAIT.
Man, I've been away from /qst/ and /taskforcetg/ so long Kaz sprouted another new quest. How ya doin' folks.
>>4514287we just got out of space nam and spirits are raised
>>4514198To be fair space bam is exactly what happened to it.
>>4514378It's been reduced to space jam.
>>4514403Wish we had a space cam.
>>4514520Sadly Tarkin does not give a space damn
We'll surely avoid scurvy if we all eat an orange.
>>4514558Hey buddy, I think you got the wrong quest, One Piece Quest's two threads down.
>>4514570>He hasn't played The Curse of Monkey Island Unbased and plebpilled.
>>4514624Nigga, yes I have, it's just that what the fuck does "A Pirate I was Meant to Be" have to do with this situation? Are you suggesting we be a pirate? Why?
>>4514558I just realized it was because of the rhyme scheme. I'll see myself out.
>>4514624>>4514558On second thought, better to redeem myself.Uhmmm... Door hinge?
>>4514068>>4514076>>4514083>>4514095>>4514098>>4514105>>4514107>>4514122>>4514137>>4514194>>4514195={Tossing and Turning}=>>A few days after Farren departed for Kakarit...>Amagi, formerly Mylar-3 of the Mylus System, Unknown RegionsRitho woke up with a hangover, and she hadn’t even been drinking. At only thirteen galactic standard, she was far too young to drink. Certainly, the entirety of Amagi had indulged in a week of joviality, dancing and drinking far too much alcohol in celebration of their freedom. And while the Order had politely declined any and all invitations, the strong emotions radiating from the cities and settlements were still a heady and potent feeling.But that was not the cause of her immediate pain. Her hangover came from spending half the night worrying.She had left the training session early that night; the contrast had been jarring. The celebratory spirit grated on her soul. The loud noise and music made her wince and glance uneasily over her shoulder, irrationally fearful that the cacophony might call down legions of Clones or the Dark Lords themselves. She longed to tell them not to play so loudly.Eventually, she had sought out the masters, finding the ill-humored Aure and uncharacteristically grim Larid to be more in keeping with her own bleak and pessimistic feelings.She paid for it. Try as the might have to offer her advice and counsel, Ritho could sense their underlying tensions and fears. She didn’t even need to use the Force; even out of the water, the sensory tendrils of the Nautolan species could still pick apart the masters’ emotional states, muted as they were.And when she had finally fallen asleep, she dreamed of formless shadows, and the hiss of solidifying carbonite, dreamed she was fighting a desperate battle against a Sith Lord as her body became enveloped in tibanna gas...Ritho hadn’t actually seen what had happened of Master Aure’s apprentice. Larid had taken great care to hide Kristen Corrho. But everyone had some vague idea of what had happened, and that there was no immediate cure for whatever had befallen Torok and Farren’s friend.“Don’t worry about it,” she grumbled, rubbing her aching temples, “All we have to do is trust the masters. They’ll take care of us...”The others called her a worrywart. “Restless Ritho” was always fretting over the smallest things, from the wrinkles in her robes to a tiny scratch on her lightsaber. “Moody Mother” had also been a popular one, among other less flattering nicknames.At the very least, the teasing stopped in the wake of the...incident. With the entire galaxy pulled out from underneath them, the Younglings had bigger things to worry about. First and foremost was the fact that they might very well be the last Jedi in the entire galaxy. That was an incredibly sobering thought to process, and one that still hadn’t completely sunk in.(cont.)
>>4514558God I hate welsh hills Blorange, look it up [/spoiler
>>4514726Everyone was handling it differently, with some better than most. Fusan and the younger members of the cabal were nervous, but it was tempered with excitement for adventure. They were too young, no older than eight or seven, to understand the gravity of the situation.There had been a few times where some of the older Younglings came close to snapping or otherwise lashing out. Ritho had always been there, hurriedly rushing to break up anything and offer a jumbled rush of words before things got ugly. And for the most part, it seemed to work.Life had continued on as usual, and that’s what frightened her about it. As far as anyone knew, the Sith had all but taken over the galaxy. And in spite of that, they continued their training. Even as the shadow of the Dark Side loomed over them like an omnipresent specter, the Younglings dutifully performed their meditations, their form exercises, shooting drills and sparring matches.The duality was nearly enough to drive her mad, but she welcomed the training, tiring as it was. If she was too tired from the day’s training, then she didn’t have the strength or energy to worry. Now, sitting in her cot in a prefab building and staring up at nothing, it was her own damned fault for skipping out too early before she’d used up all her energy.But before she could go back to sleep, an unexpected noise caused her to still. The rest of the Younglings, each in their own cots, continued to sleep, the jerks. But not Ritho, especially with her tendrils. They could pick apart the faint disturbances in the ambient air, the hiss and crack of an electrical current.The nautolian closed her eyes, reaching for her lightsaber as she concentrated on the source of the noise. In her mind’s eye, she could envision the sound wave: flat and barely registering the evening ambience until a sharp crack disturbed the air. Then, a swooshing noise, and the hum of some machine...She stood up in her cot, scanning the room. And when she found that one of the cots was empty, with a pillow tucked beneath the blankets to simulate a sleeping child, she nearly smacked herself in the head. “...you’ve got to be joking.”Departing from the prefab, she peered out into the night, and quietly snuck out of the prefab shelter. As she drew closer to the noise, towards an abandoned speeder garage within the private dockyard, a series of flashing lights soon accompanied the noise. The doors were cracked open only by a handful of inches, but it was still enough to cast a startling show into the dockyard, and for the sound to reach the prefab.Parn was there, breathing hard and sweating laboriously. The young boy’s face was the very picture of concentration. His hands barely shook as he held up his lightsaber, eyes glancing left and right to the handful of training remotes that orbited around him. It stank of plasma, and the room was pockmarked with the scorch marks indicative of blaster fire.(cont.)
Wouldn't it make more sense if Jedi took on multiple padawans given the massive lack of Jedi?
>>4514770And just when I caught up, the quest continues. Bless.
>>4514770Through the crack in the wall, Ritho watched as he began the training drill. The little antennas atop the remotes glowed red, and fire a burst of crimson needles at the human. He blocked the first burst with a single, sweeping strike. Twisting on his foot at an awkward angle, he pivoted away from the bolts that came at him from either flank.A pair broke away and zipped towards him. There wasn’t any motion wasted as the movement from the initial parry turned into an attack. While the training lightsaber lacked enough power to completely split the droids down the middle, contact with the seeker droid elicits an acrid coil of smoke. The first one dropped to the ground, tagged and deactivated. But Parn’s clumsy footwork caused the last bit of his strike to end in a sloppy whiff. The remote buzzed away, angling for another attack. And the boy hissed a low, frustrated breath as he wiped the sweat out of his eyes.It went on for another two minutes before Ritho confirmed that he wasn’t anywhere near stopping. There was something to be admired about his determination, but in the absolute dead of night, she wasn’t having any of it. Not only because of her lack of sleep, but because of the heightened paranoia gnawing away at the back of her mind.“Parn?” she called uncertainly, opening the door wider.Caught off-guard by the sudden mention of his name, the boy’s attention wavered, briefly turning towards the girls’ direction. Not a second later, he was promptly blasted off his feet by the training remotes. Form and footwork were promptly abandoned as Parn’s instincts threw his hands up to protect his head.“Ow!” he cried, rolling frantically along the ground as the droids chased after him like a swarm of demented globes.“Sorry!” Ritho apologized, hurriedly running over. Sensing the exercise complete, the remotes dropped to the ground as she knelt beside him. She offered a hand, which he took, and eased him out of the dirt. “Are you alright?”The boy shook his sandy hair, blowing wayward bangs away from his eyes. The ambient light of the Bantha barely gave him enough illumination to squint quizzically up at her. “Ritho? What are you doing over here? It’s...” He paused to check the chrono on his wrist. “...it’s two in the morning!”“...I’d ask the same of you,” she countered as concern gave way to annoyance, “It’s two in the morning, and you’re still up training?”“Duh,” he answered as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Just wanted to get some extra practice in before the next set of timed trials. I'm this close to beating Joz and Luaine.”“Well, you’re making a racket! All of us are trying to sleep!”Parn blinked owlishly, as if he’d never considered the thought before. “Oh.” Rubbing the back of his head, he grinned an embarrassed smile, and apologized, “Sorry for waking you up. I didn't mean to, honest."(cont.)
Ritho might have scolded him a little more, but there wasn’t any point in it. Not that he was about to otherwise ignore her orders. He really was just that simple, and meant it with all his heart. The nautolian sighed, and rubbed the side of her head to stave off a headache.“I wasn’t asleep, but I accept your apology,” she exhaled, “Just...come on and come to bed. You’re going to sleep through morning mediation if you keep this up. Master Aure will be displeased if you miss it.”Parn blinked. “You sure? I haven’t seen her in a while. She’s busy politicking with the bigwigs in the Archon’s cabinet.”“That doesn’t mean that we’re allowed to miss it.”“Come on...” he groaned, all the while patting down his robes. He brushed away at the dirt as best he could, but nothing short of a sonic shower would get rid of everything. “...I’m so close to surpassing my score on the time trial.”Perhaps, but not when he was practically drowning in his own sweaty robes. But Ritho didn’t say that, even as her nose crinkled at the pungent odor. Perhaps it was some sort of whim or fancy, but instead of another scolding, a critique from her observations slipped from her tongue. “Not with that footwork, you aren’t.”That got his attention. He stopped bellyaching in an instant, and honed in sharply upon her words. “Whaddaya mean by that?”Taken aback at the intensity, she stammered without thinking, “Nothing! It’s just...the initial pivot was sloppy. You nearly tripped over yourself because your legs were too close together.”He looked pensive, first staring at her, and then looking down towards his legs. With a frown, he took up the first stance of the drill, pantomiming the motion of deflecting a blaster bolt. Flustered as she was, Ritho saw plain as day that his default stance had automatically placed his feet less than shoulder-length apart.“Parn,” she warned, but he wasn’t having any of it.“So this is wrong?” he demanded, but not unkindly. “But I practiced it so many times! Even when Master Larid or Farren wasn’t looking, before everything had happened-”Ah. That explained it. It turned out that tonight’s extracurricular training wasn’t uncommon for the human. From there, figuring out what happened wasn’t too hard. Without the watchful eyes of either the master or his padawan, his stance had gone uncorrected, and the extra training sessions only reinforced the incorrect movements and postures.It would’ve been impossible to undo Force knows how many hours of time he’d sunk into the flawed movements. The muscle memory ran far too deep. But considering that Parn was dead-set and stubborn about fixing it, she’d at least lay down the foundation for correction. And if nothing else, it’d get them to sleep sooner, rather than later, and take her mind off of darker thoughts.(cont.)
>>4514978While it's a really nice gesture,in any and every martial art newbies instructing newbies is a recipe for disaster.
>>4514990Yep. That's intentional on my part. It's a little hypocritical for Ritho to take it upon herself to "correct" Parn's technique without supervision, when she herself was so critical about his own mishaps. Well intentioned, but just a smidge hypocritical, as well as utilitarian so that she can just go to sleep.I used to do martial arts back in the day prior to my own back surgery. I've got firsthand experience with my own instructors spending a few days to undo a bad habit I picked up over the course of an hour.
>>4514978“You’re lucky that I’m so fretful,” she muttered. Although come to think about it...she couldn't recall a time when he had joined the others in teasing her. He had always been to busy or obtuse to do so.But he watched as she came alongside him, adopting a similar posture. The most notable difference, however, was her stance. Her feet were just a handful of centimeters beyond shoulder-width. It was a stable stance that would serve as the springboard to other forms or movements. Shi-Cho was the extent of what any Jedi Youngling was exposed to in terms of lightsaber combat, but it was an important part of training.“Spread your feet further apart,” she instructed. He did so, going so far as to mimic her proportionately. “Yes, but...no. Don’t look at my boots! Pay attention to your own shoulders and feet. Force help me...”To his credit, he picked it up quickly. He tested a few new pivots, spinning and flourishing an imaginary lightsaber without tripping or falling. It was a visible struggle for him to not otherwise revert back to such a narrow stance, but he succeeded in resisting more often than not.Admittedly, Ritho felt a little thrill, a surge of pride among other emotions not befitting a Jedi. But it was warm, even if it didn’t last too long. She sensed his growing excitement, and the intention behind his sudden movement. Just before he could reach for the training remotes, she cut him off. “Absolutely not.” He protested, but she wasn’t going to have any of it. “Parn Telate, if you even as much as look in the direction of the droids, I will zap your legs asleep and drag your body back towards the prefab.”“...fine...” he reluctantly acquiesced. “Just...can you help me clean up?”She did so cheerfully. It took the better part of ten minutes, but they managed to put the garage in some semblance of its former appearance. There was little in the way of tools or clutter already present with it being abandoned. Yet it still took a while before all of the scorch marks and soot had been brushed or swept away.As the picked up the droids and began the trek back to the shelter, he suddenly spoke up, “Y’know, Ritho, you’re pretty cool.”Her steps faltered only slightly before they evened out. “Where did that come from?”Parn shrugged, but there wasn’t any malice in the gesture. “Dunno. Just thought I ought to say it.” He kept his silence until they reached the tarp, before suddenly interjecting, “Ah, crap. I almost forgot.”“Forgot what?” she queried.He grinned. “Thanking you, what else? I won't forget your help once I beat Joz and Luaine. So...thank you. "And with that rather redundant statement, he departed for the boy’s section of the prefab. Ritho stood there for a few lingering moments before she returned to her cot. And when she settled beneath the covers and drifted off to sleep, her mind was light for the first time in days.(cont.)
========Gonna hit the hay for the day, but just before I sleep, here's the list of all the younglings.Younglings eligible to become padawans:>Luaine Natani, Human female (14). -- Hot-tempered and competitive, fiercely protective of her friends. Secretively insecure and constantly second-guessing herself, her worst nightmare was being sent to the Service Corps prior to Order 66.>Joz Kalgar, Mon Calamri male (13). -- Cautious and methodical, slow to anger and quick to befriend. A calming presence for the group and model student, albeit somewhat alienated by peers due to this maturity.>Parn Telate, Human male. (13). -- Proactive and full of vigor, a young boy full of drive and energy. Inconsiderate at times, and somewhat reckless when it comes to personal safety, but ultimately means well with a big heart.>Ceyla Vikol, Miraluka female (13). -- Quiet and withdrawn, soft-spoken and keenly in-tune with the Force. Dislikes being treated with pity because of her "blindness", and takes every opportunity to prove herself otherwise.>Ritho Gad, Nautolan female (13).-- Fretful and moody, still recovering from the abrupt life change and fearful of the unknown future. A reluctant heroine with hidden courage and talent for organization.>Vuqu Dahae, Mirialan female (12).-- Inquisitive and blunt, sporting an unexpected talent for droids and machinery. Not exactly the most socially aware and prone to accidentally offending, but offers unique insights with a utilitarian worldview.>Nujem Clavis, Kalleran male (11). -- Optimistic and eager, quick to please and thrives on conflict. A diabolical(?) mastermind with a talent for mischief, approaching the crisis no differently than one might a puzzle.>Cal Kestis, Human male (12).Other Younglings:>Ceana, Selphi female (8).-- Enigmatic and introspective, but is not so cold as to be a friendless entity. Inspired by the late Master Fay, she envisions herself using only the Force and her bare hands over lightsabers.>Fusan Al-Jhenat, Arconan male (7).-- Innocent and full of wonder, he considers the trials ahead to be the great adventure of his lifetime. The only sadness he feels is missing the warmth of the Jedi Temple and its inhabitants.>Zabrys Tel, Togruta male (6)-- Shy and somewhat hesitant to speak, though not for a lack of vocabulary; he doesn't believe in wasting words when nods or hand signals might convey things faster and more efficiently.>Prisma Edelhav, Human female (6).-- A lover of history and aspirant peacekeeper, she aspires to be like the heroic Jedi she reads about, particularly of one she learned from an unknown source: Revan.>Ruksali, Twi'lek male (5).-- An empathic soul who sees the good in all things, desiring to become a healer after being inspired by the Jedi who saved his life.========
>>4515077>Cal KestisHuh? Why was his name put in spoilers?Whatever, he doesn't sound that important.
>>4515107He's probably dead somewhere. Oh well, I'm sure he is of no consequence.
>>4515077>she aspires to be like the heroic Jedi she reads about, particularly of one she learned from an unknown source: Revan.haaaahahahaha
>>4515077Kinda like the sound of Ceyla or Luaine for our padawan. Some stick out from the other youngling list, but I guess they have some training they have to go though before they're eligible to be chosen as padawans. Who's gonna be in charge of that, anyway? Not Kreia, I hope.
>>4515077God, they all seem like such sweethearts. The vote to pick a padawan out of this bunch is gonna be a fucking nightmare to the point where I hope we don't even get an option. Leave it up to the dice gods or something.
>>4515077>Luaine NataniI can already tell you guys that if we don't pick her there is gonna be drama
>>4515331eh, brotha larid will make a jedi out of herWe may have to take more than one padawan because there are too few Jedi these days.
>>4515331She's the obvious choice, but at the same time I don't really get the "potentially interesting character" vibe from any of the others.>Jozneeeeeeerrrrrd>Parn still a kid>Ceylathere's potential there, but like all Miralukans half her arc is going to be variations of "I'm blind but don't pity me".>RithoWe got an entire snippet from her perspective and all I got out of it was "team mom". >Vuqutech nerd who also can't keep his mouth shut>Nujem If it was a girl, I'd at least consider it cute (sexism is real deal with it) but a lil' boy prankster is just begging for daddy to get his belt>the othersNot nearly old enough to consider elevating to Padawan>spoilerlol, no.
>>4515348If we do end up taking two padawans I say we take Luaine and then later pick up Cal.
>>4515470I'd take the Nujem and Ceana. Nujem can plot out indirect confrontations and mentally spar with our droids, while not having a lightsaber right now is in Ceana's favor.
>>4515077I'm kind of drawn to the Miraluka or the Revan Loli. Anyone with taste that good has a bright future ahead of them.
>>4515465>but like all Miralukans half her arc is going to be variations of "I'm blind but don't pity me".I have faith that Kaz is gonna do something a little more inspired than that.
>>4515077We got 3 eligible jedi to take padawansTake 2 for each.The 11 year old can take Ms Carbon when we uncarbonize her within the year.
>>4515603>when we uncarbonize her within the yearAnon... that's—
So where are we settig up our new hidden jedi temple?
>>4515615Alderaan.
>>4515623I think there's a Jedi on Alderaan that Bail is helping to hide. Could be wrong, but I think I remember reading about that.
>>4515615>Uliea>Dagobah>Tython>Dweem if we convince the Iron Knights to join usWe have options.
>>4515644>DagobahDo we know anything about it in-character beyond "it's a swamp"?
>>4515615>DagobahFar away and nobody will look in it. It s also an entire planet with no one. So there is plenty of space.
