STAR WARS: An Ill Wind
Session 11

[Day-Lin's player was again absent, as was Avirida's (making her an NPC).]

Bogan's single shot goes wild, into the trees, as something invisible but quite solid knocks him to the ground. He yells an oath as he struggles with his unseen quarry. The thing grappling with him is a shimmery blur, like a heat-mirage.

There's a ripping sound as claw marks appear on the front of the hunter's blast vest, tearing open the outer covering and scoring the armor underneath. Bogan is flailing about with his long blaster rifle, trying to use it as a club or get off another shot point-blank - it's hard to tell.

Bogan howls, "SHOOT IT!"

<OOC> Kelly says, "And, go."
<OOC> Pira says, "How close am I to Bogan?"
<OOC> Kelly says, "Very, given that you were walking down slope with him."

Pira's lightsaber lights in a flare of violet, and she twists sideways to put herself out of Harukuk and Avirida's line of fire. She swings at the blur.

The distortion on top of the hunter thrashes and shifts like boiling water.

<OOC> Pira says, "Remember it's at burn+shock leve, not slice right now."
<OOC> Kelly says, "Thanks for the reminder. Roll your attack. Include your C and S dice."
<OOC> Pira checks. What should we roll to hit in this case?
<OOC> Kelly says, "Wait, let me check that."
Pira rolls 8+4 dice: <5> 4 3 1 6 5 2 1
<OOC> Pira hmms. Is the dice code actually adding the 4?
<OOC> Kelly says, "Sorry, only sense."

Harukuk attempts to answer the monster in kind.

<OOC> Kelly says, "You may add OR subtract up to all of your control dice."
<OOC> Pira attempts to translate this.
<OOC> Harukuk says, "No, it isn't, just add it to the total. Also, if its +3, then it just adds a die, so +4 would ad a d+1"
<OOC> Kelly says, "Harukuk, the +4 vs. +1D+1 is a topic of debate. :)"
<OOC> Kelly says, "Doesn't matter here, though, since you only roll LS+C."
<OOC> Kelly says, "+S, I mean. Ugh."
<OOC> Pira searches for her sheet. I have +2 in LS too, right?
<OOC> Kelly says, "Your Control dice are for damage."
<OOC> Harukuk says, "Oh, okay. Then its up to you, Kelly. :)"
<OOC> Kelly says, "LS 4D+2, all your Force skills at 2D+1."
<OOC> Harukuk doesn't really care either way, just thought that it was done like Damage Classes in Champions. ;)
Pira rolls 7d dice: <2> 2 1 2 6 6 6
<OOC> Kelly says, "That's a hit, roll damage."
<OOC> Kelly says, "Roll your Control if you want to minimize."
<OOC> Pira says, "Which for that?"
<OOC> Pira says, "Okay, control first..."
Pira rolls 2d dice: <6> 3
<OOC> Kelly says, "'Officially', there are no rules to dial down your saber. You're supposed to pull your strikes with Control, I guess. *shrug*"
You paged Pira with 'That was a wild die, roll again.'.
<OOC> Pira says, "+1 on that, too. Just the laser for damage, right?"
Pira rolls 1d dice: <5>
<OOC> Kelly says, "Base LS damage is... 5D?"
Pira pages: Whee, 15, that should be good control, right?
<OOC> Sabriel nods.
<OOC> Kelly says, "It's been a little while, I'm not sure the house rule we decided to use. :)"
<OOC> Pira says, "Nothing added, right, so just the 5d?"
<OOC> Kelly says, "Well, okay, roll your 5D and subtract 15. :)"
<OOC> Kelly says, "Right."
<OOC> Pira says, "Wait, I don't want to necessarily minimize damage as make it non-fatal?"
<OOC> Pira thinks she'd rather not use the control if all it does is subtract damage.
<OOC> Pira says, "Ie, I'd rather slice off a claw than a head."
<OOC> Kelly says, "Fraid so. Apparently the lightsaber is the weapon of last resort."
<OOC> Kelly says, "I'll take that into account, but you're fighting a mirage. Go ahead and roll your 5D, less any of that Control you want."
<OOC> Pira really finds it hard to believe the Jedi don't have *some* technique for attempting non-fatal LS damage.
Pira rolls 5d dice: <2> 5 6 5 1
<OOC> Kelly says, "Not according to WEG. :( I'll consider it after the game, though."
<OOC> Pira says, "I mean, Ben sliced off the dude's arm, not his head."

There's another howl, a distinctly non-human one, as the glowing purple blade connects with the weird shimmer. The hunter is left gasping in the dirt as his assailant springs away from him and the source of its pain.

<OOC> Kelly says, "Harukuk, were you wanting to close to melee range?"
<OOC> Harukuk says, "Yes."
<OOC> Pira says, "Go wookie go :)"
<OOC> Kelly says, "Okay, you'll need to make a movement action to get there, so you're at -1D on your attack. Let's do the move first to see if you trip. :)"
<OOC> Harukuk says, "Oh, okay."
<OOC> Harukuk says, "Damn, I thought i had extra running. What stat is it, Dex?"
<OOC> Kelly says, "It's an easy roll, and you're at High Speed. Roll your running with no penalties."
<OOC> Harukuk says, "Okay. What stat is it? Dex or Str?"
<OOC> Kelly says, "Dex."
Harukuk rolls 2+2 dice: <6> 1
Harukuk rolls 1 die: <3>
<OOC> Harukuk says, "12"

With a bestial battlecry of his own, the Wookiee rushes the now standing(?) foe, neatly hopping over Bogan's prone body.

<OOC> Kelly says, "Roll your attack."
<OOC> Kelly says, "Brawling, -1D."
Harukuk rolls 4+1 dice: <3> 3 2 5
<OOC> Harukuk says, "18"

The blur seems to sideslip, dodging, but not fast enough; Harukuk's swing slams into it.

<OOC> Kelly says, "Damage."
Harukuk rolls 5 dice: <3> 3 3 5 1
<OOC> Harukuk says, "Heh. 15, nearly dead average."
<OOC> Pira cheers for the wookie!
Harukuk definitely hits something, and hears a -whoof- of expelled breath.

Pira circles around to block the creature's retreat.

Over by the ship, Avirida nervously aims her blaster (also on stun), waiting for a clear shot at the whatever-it-is.

<OOC> Kelly says, "That's next round, Pira. Which is now."
<OOC> Pira does it again, then :)
<OOC> Kelly says, "Okay, roll YOUR movement action. To circle, you're going to have to rush."
<OOC> Pira fails to recall what controls movement action :)
<OOC> Kelly says, "Running, Dex, just like Harukuk just now."
<OOC> Pira says, "I can't find where I put my book with my sheet, what is that?"

Seen against the bowl of the depression and the surrounding jungle, the shimmer forms the outline of a vaguely bipedal shape. It huffs and snarls at the intruders on its domain.

You paged Pira with '3D for you.'.
Pira rolls 3 dice: <1> 4 3
<OOC> Pira says, "Well, THAT sucks."

Unfortunately, as Pira tries to step around the fallen hunter, Bogan tries to get up. Their legs get tangled and she goes down, barely catching herself from falling on her face.

Bogan curses again, naturally.

<OOC> Pira covers her face. Thank god Day-Lin missed that...
<OOC> Pira can imagine the comments.
<OOC> Kelly says, "Harukuk, you're still in brawling range. Going to strike again?"
<OOC> Sabriel says, "He's probably sitting in the ship watching on spy camera and snickering."
<OOC> Kelly says, "Roll your PER, by the way, to see who goes first."
<OOC> Harukuk says, "Yes. Only once, as its fairly hard to hit."
<OOC> Kelly says, "So it is."
Harukuk rolls 2 dice: <1> 3
<OOC> Harukuk is going whenever they want him to go. Eeesh. :)
<OOC> Pira admires our sucky rolling :) <OOC> Kelly says, "Reaction dodge, or gonna stand your ground and soak it?"
<OOC> Harukuk says, "Oh, I'll definitely dodge."
Harukuk rolls 4 dice: <3> 6 5 5
<OOC> Harukuk says, "19. Definitely not bad at all."
<OOC> Pira says, "We run *away* well, if not towards."

Not used to fighting an invisible foe, Harukuk is surprised as the monster hurls itself at him with a growl. He does manage to get out of the way in time, however, and feels the air from the creature's swipe.

<OOC> Kelly says, "Okay, now your turn. -1D for that dodge."
<OOC> Harukuk says, "Right"
Harukuk rolls 4+1 dice: <5> 5 3 4
<OOC> Harukuk says, "18"

Harukuk's return blow does not connect either.

<OOC> Kelly says, "Good roll on its part."
<OOC> Harukuk says, "Hey, that's the way it goes. ;)"

Avirida sees a chance and fires, blue rings zapping out from the muzzle of her borrowed blaster pistol. The shot goes over the blur's head(?), though.

<OOC> Kelly says, "Next round."
Harukuk rolls per dice: <5>
Harukuk rolls 1 die: <3>
<OOC> Harukuk forgot his own system for a second. ;) 8
<OOC> Kelly says, "Pira, your PER roll for initiative?"
Pira rolls 4d dice: <3> 3 6 5
<OOC> Pira finds her sheet, yay! Wait, I thought I had brought 2 pips in each Force power?
<OOC> Kelly says, "You decided to buy one now and one when you returned, as I recall."
<OOC> Kelly says, "Or maybe you did, but I forgot to update your sheet (my copy) *blush*. What do you think?"
<OOC> Pira hmms. Did I log the points buying session... no, I haven't been because you have.
<OOC> Pira says, "I *thought* I brought one and you let me buy one for the first time since I didn't get around to distributing points at the end of that mission."
<OOC> Kelly says, "Could be. I'll figure it out after the game - I don't think a pip either way will make much difference right now."
<OOC> Pira says, "Nah."
<OOC> Kelly says, "Okay. When you pick yourself up, you'll be in range to strike again, if you want. As will Harukuk, though."
<OOC> Kelly says, "Getting up counts as a (non-rolled) action, -1D."
<OOC> Kelly says, "You have initiative."

Pira rolls to her feet, out of the tangle of her and the hunter's limbs. She slices low at the blur, striking for the lower -- legs?

<OOC> Kelly says, "Roll your attack."
<OOC> Pira says, "-1D on the control, or strike, or both?"

Harukuk bellows a roar as he attempts to fold, spindle, and mutilate the beast. Well, failing that, beat it hard.

<OOC> Kelly says, "Um, messy. Strike for now."
Pira rolls 2d dice: <3> 2
Pira rolls 6d dice: <5> 3 4 4 1 5

Again Pira connects, as the creature tries to jump away from the strange bar of light that hurt it earlier.

<OOC> Kelly says, "Roll damage, and yes you only have 1D(+2) of control to reduce it."
Pira rolls 5d dice: <2> 5 1 5 2
<OOC> Pira says, "Does SWRPG *really* have no support for subduing?"
<OOC> Kelly says, "As written, no. There's a Force power that lets YOU reduce injury from a killing blow to something less."
<OOC> Kelly says, "It just rolled well on its STR roll to soak, though. So no worries this time."
<OOC> Sabriel says, "WEG's RPG doesn't have a stun setting for lightsabers. I think some of the Tales... comics have stun settings for 'sabers, and the netbook has rules for lightsaber modifications including stun capability."
<OOC> Harukuk says, "Stun damage is something wholey different than normal damage."

And again Pira feels her lightsaber bite into solid flesh, though not deeply. Howling in pain and ... terror? the shimmer blunders backward, right into Harukuk's path.

<OOC> Kelly says, "Harukuk, roll yer attack."
Harukuk rolls 5 dice: <5> 6 5 4 5
<OOC> Kelly says, "... yeah, that's a hit."
<OOC> Harukuk says, "Yah, nice roll."
Harukuk rolls 5 dice: <1> 1 4 4 1
<OOC> Harukuk laughs! Ah well. ;)
<OOC> Harukuk says, "6 damage."
<OOC> Kelly says, "It'll do, luckily. ;) It took a stun earlier."
<OOC> Harukuk says, "Rolled just as badly to soak?"
<OOC> Kelly says, "It beat the soak, but..."
<OOC> Harukuk says, "Hey, you're the gm."

The Wookiee's cuff connects with the approximate region of the mirage's head, and something small but reflective goes flying and tumbling through the air.

<OOC> Pira says, "What, he punched out its eye? :)"

As the object lands amid the grass and dirt several meters away, the creature becomes suddenly visible. What was an eye-bending shimmer is now a biped covered in night-black fur. It keens and drops to the ground, curling up in a ball.

<OOC> Kelly says, "It looks not unlike a (slightly smaller) Wookiee, except its fur is so inky-black it almost seems to soak up the light."

Pira says "Captain, can you restrain it?"

Whimpering and growling, it begins feeling around on the ground for something.

Pira moves to pick up the fallen object.

Harukuk holds the critter(?) firmly, but not particularly painfully.

<OOC> Harukuk can make a roll, if you like, but it seems to be distracted.

The item Pira retrieves is a visor or pair of goggles of some sort, cracked here and there and held together by old spacer's tape. The lenses appear totally opaque.

<OOC> Kelly says, "Make a STR roll, it's gonna start thrashing."
<OOC> Kelly says, "Pinning it to the ground, or pulling it to its feet and doing a bouncer's hold from the rear?"
<OOC> Harukuk says, "Hmmm. The former."
Harukuk rolls 5 dice: <1> 4 3 5 5
<OOC> Pira says, "Oops :)"
<OOC> Harukuk says, "Oooopsie. Ah well, still not the worst roll... 12"

As Harukuk leans down to pin the creature, it grabs his arm and, before he can react, pins *him* instead. He finds himself looking up into a face that is mostly muzzle, with eyes squinted tightly shut and lips drawn back from ivory teeth.

<OOC> Kelly says, "It's not a *solid* pin, but you're on the bottom now. :)"
<OOC> Kelly says, "This is called a 'complication'. :)"
<OOC> Pira prepares to spend a force point in persuasion :)
<OOC> Pira says, "Can you use persuasion if they don't speak the language, if you add in your force skills?"

With surprising calm, Bogan raises his blaster rifle to his eye and takes aim.

Pira says "Wait!"

Bogan grits, "Like 'ell I will."

Bogan's bronze protocol droid taps him stiffly on the shoulder. "Excuse me, sir, but..." "Not NOW, you," warns the hunter, annoyed at the distraction.

Pira says "Please, let me speak to it. It acts from fear, I believe."

Harukuk struggles with the beastie on the ground. He doesn't really appear to have an opinion either way, other than a more than somewhat feral growl.

<OOC> Pira says, "Do I need to roll persuasion for Bogan, too? :)"

Bogan laughs mirthlessly. "Talk to it? You think it wants to talk?"

The droid again attempts to get its master's attention. "Actually, sir, it..." "Shut UP! All of you!"

<OOC> Kelly says, "Okay. I've a question for the group."
<OOC> Pira says, "Can I get in his line of fire?"
<OOC> Kelly says, "Do you think Avirida would decide to shoot Bogan? :)"
<OOC> Pira laughs! On stun, maybe. I can't imagine she'd deliberately try to kill him.
<OOC> Kelly says, "It's on stun, exactly. You all were."
<OOC> Kelly says, "Actually... it's 9:30, so heck, I'm going to invoke dramatic fiat. :)"
<OOC> Pira thinks she might. I don't know, what do you guys think?

The sound of another blaster shot rings across the clearing... and the hunter slumps, senseless, to the ground. Avirida swallows, lowering her blaster pistol. If she weren't already grey of complexion, she would be now.

The splotchy brown protocol droid looks down at its master's limp body. "Oh dear," it murmurs.

Avirida looks nervously at the Jedi and her Captain.

<OOC> Kelly says, "Harukuk, roll your STR again."

Pira turns her attention to the struggling creature, murmuring "Peace, Calm -- we did not come to harm you. Droid, do you know this creature?"

<OOC> Pira rolls persuasion?
<OOC> Kelly says, "Yes. Backing it up with the Force?"
<OOC> Pira says, "Yep! And a force point. It seems proper."
<OOC> Pira tries to figure out what that would involve in this case?
<OOC> Kelly says, "Okay. You're using the Jedi Mind-Trick, then. Right?"
<OOC> Pira nods!
<OOC> Kelly says, "Just checkin. :)"
<OOC> Kelly thinks. Should he use Affect Mind by the book, Sab, Harukuk? Ya think?
<OOC> Kelly says, "Ah, to heck with it. It's damn clunky. Pira, roll your persuasion + your Alter."
<OOC> Pira says, "Does the FP double it after or double the number of dice I roll>/?"
<OOC> Kelly says, "Double dice."
Pira rolls 14d+2 dice: <5> 2 4 4 1 6 3 5 1 5 3 6 3 6
Harukuk rolls 5 dice: <6> 4 3 2 6
<OOC> Harukuk apologizes for the delay, just got caught up in something.
Harukuk rolls 1 die: <6>
Harukuk rolls 1 die: <5>
<OOC> Pira looks impressed.
<OOC> Harukuk says, "32. :) Nearly heroic, I think."

By this time Harukuk has managed to get back on top of the injured creature, pinning it securely as he originally intended. At Pira's words (and a subtle wave of her hand), the remaining fight goes out of it and it lies still, drawing pained breaths. Its eyes remain closed.

JC-P2 (for that is the droid's name) replies, "The creature? Oh, no. I remind you, I am an interpreter, not an expert on Galactic species..."

<OOC> Pira says, "Do I recognize the species at all?"
<OOC> Kelly says, "That's a KNO roll."
<OOC> Kelly says, "Against a pretty hefty target."
<OOC> Pira says, "Oh well, can't hurt :)"
Pira rolls 2d dice: <5> 3
<OOC> Pira says, "Nope :)"
<OOC> Kelly says, "No chance."

Pira kneels beside Harukuk and the prisoner.

JC-P2 continues, "However, I do believe I recognize the dialect. It's a very simple form of Trammic... the pronunciation is absolutely atrocious, of course."

Pira actually smiles at this. "Very good. Ask it who we speak to."

With obvious mechanical relief that no one seems inclined to shoot it, the porter/protocol droid walks stiffly around Bogan's unconscious form. A series of deep gutteral sounds emerges from its slit of a mouth, like something scraping across a large drum.

The creature on the ground turns its head, and replies with similar noises... hesitantly, then with growing urgency before it lies back again.

JC-P2 cocks its head, then looks up. "It says that its name is Tobbi, or possibly Toffi... and it would like its 'seeing-thing' back. It is quite insistent."

Pira says "Tell it that it may have it back once we are certain no one will come to harm. How did it come here? Was it on the ship?"

Pira carefully examines the glasses.

Attached to the visor, almost certainly a later addition, is a braided strap of plant fibers to keep it in place.

The droid asks the question, listens for a moment, then shakes its head. "It keeps saying 'Give'."

Face to face with the creature, Harukuk sees its eyes crack open to slits, then shut tightly again as if even the morning light filtering through the trees is painful to it.

Pira looks up at Harukuk. "What do you think, Captain? Would it be safe if we bound it first?"

Pira examines the strap to see if she can remove it.

The strap is threaded through holes at the corners of the visor, where something else was probably intended to go once.

Moisture begins to bead at the corners of those eyes, and in a moment, as the body begins to shake, it's clear... the prisoner is weeping.

Pira says "All right. Tell Tobbi that we will give the seeing-thing back if it will allow itself to be bound.

Another exchange. "It says, 'Yes, give.' Nothing more." The droid sounds primly miffed as it comments, "It's like talking with a child."

Pira says "It is possible it _is_ a child." She draws binders from a pouch at her belt. "Or a pet."

<OOC> Kelly says, "Quick, Obi-Wan, your Jedi-Cuffs."
<OOC> Pira snorks. I'm sure that they carry them, though, wouldn't you think?
<OOC> Kelly says, "Oh, I imagine. It just brought back the image from the first session, that's all."
<OOC> Pira says, "Probably something slim and flexible."

With a groan, Ser Bogan begins to stir.

Pira rubs the creature's wrists soothingly before she binds them, very gently.

<OOC> Pira wonders if Avirida could be persuaded to come up and sit on Ser Bogan :)

Avirida looks even more nervous, turning to her superiors for instructions.

Pira says "I think someone had better remove his rifle."

Pira does the same to the ankles, taking a look at the burn she left on the way.

It's a bad cut, probably a hamstring. Not beyond Republic medical care, though.

<OOC> Kelly says, "Might I suggest that the Great Aussie Hunter might be a little more compliant if he has the Wookiee looming over him when he wakes up?"
<OOC> Pira grins. Harukuk?

Harukuk leans over Bogan with a concerned expression (or what passes for one) and pats him lightly on the cheek.

The hunter groans again, then jerks awake, opening his eyes. He startles at the sight of the large and furry Wookiee hovering over him, then settles down.

Bogan mutters, "What in... by the Eternal, wot HAPPENED?"

<OOC> Sabriel says, "Weapon malfunction? ;)"

Pira slides the glasses back onto the creature's head once it is securely bound.

As its goggles are replaced, Tobbi immediately scans around the clearing, paying special attention to Pira. It strains against its bonds, to no avail; then it flickers into shimmery invisibility for several seconds. From the way the blur wriggles around on the ground, it seems to be continuing to try to escape.

Finally the prisoner becomes visible again, lying on its side and panting. Its tongue lolls between its sharp teeth.

Pira sets one hand on each arm, and tries to touch the mind with the Force.

<OOC> Pira lets Harukuk and Avirida talk to mister Bogan?

Bogan gets to his feet and says suspiciously, "Someone SHOT me." His eyes flick to Avirida (whose pistol is once again in its holster); she puts on her best innocent smile.

<OOC> Kelly says, "Okay, Sense and Alter. What are you trying to project?"
<OOC> Pira says, "Calm, kindness. And then I want to see what I can read from his/her mind -- is this a semi-intelligent pet, a child, a feral adult/wolf child type?"
Pira rolls 4d+2 dice: <4> 6 6 6
<OOC> Harukuk says, "And while you're at it, would you like to know what it had for breakfast a week ago?"
<OOC> Pira says, "Damn, the one non six WOULD be there :)"
<OOC> Pira says, "Oh, and add +2."
<OOC> Harukuk says, "Still a good roll. ;)"

The thoughts that Pira touches are ones of fear, and pain, pain inflicted by these strangers... not like the others. Tobbi hides from the others, but he needs to eat, and there is no good game around Home anymore, so he takes animals from the others. They have many.

<OOC> Kelly says, "Definitely sentient. Perhaps a child, perhaps feral, you can't tell yet."
<OOC> Kelly says, "If he's a child, he's awfully big. And you get a sense of several years of memories not yet touched."
<OOC> Pira says, "Can I project coherent thoughts this way, or do I need to get the droid to translate still?"
<OOC> Kelly says, "No, it's more like empathy and images. Remember what Leia got from Luke... an imperative and a sense of location."
<OOC> Pira nods.

Pira releases one arm to stroke Tobbi's cheek, project soothing feelings still. "Tell Tobbi we are sorry for the pain. Ask how it came here."

Bogan moves to step forward to interrupt this absurd scene, but a furry arm at his chest level, as thick and strong as a tree branch, halts his progress.

<OOC> Pira humphs. Is not absurd! All life is sacred! Master Windu said so.

Images, ephemeral yet brightly etched in a young mind, flit past the fringes of Pira's awareness as Tobbi tells his story through the bewildered but helpful porter droid. The ship. The crash. A dark but comforting form - mother - telling him to get into the escape pod and stay there. Coming out to find all the adults were... dead.

The lonely years... waiting for someone, anyone to come and rescue him. Exploring the new world. Learning to find food, to avoid monsters.

Pira says "He's a child of the Republic. We need to take him home."

Bogan is red-faced, and has the look of one who's heard all of this that he intends to take. "Now see 'ere, Jedi..."

Bogan puffs himself up, "Oi've been hired to bring back the 'Ghost of the Jungle'. An that's just wot I'm gonna do."

Pira says "Ser Bogan. This is no monster. This is a child who was orphaned by this crash, left alone and frightened to fend for himself."

Pira says "He is going home, if his family can be found. If not, a new home will be found for him."

Bogan says, "Don't look like a child to me. Looks like a dangerous beast." He locks steely grey eyes with Pira's deep violet ones, trying to stare the younger woman down.

Pira meets his gaze calmly. "All of us are dangerous beasts, Hunter."

<OOC> Kelly says, "NICE."
<OOC> Kelly applauds. Waiter, bring that woman a CP.
<OOC> Pira grins.

Bogan blinks, apparently having no reply to that.

<OOC> Pira says, "It's true, too :)"
<OOC> Kelly says, "So, how are you taking him back with you? Forced march, or just making the Wookiee carry him over on shoulder?"
<OOC> Pira says, "Could the shuttle land in the clearing, or does it need a real landing pad like the one at the village?"
<OOC> Kelly says, "It could land here, yeah. Might be a little tricky, though."
<OOC> Kelly says, "It's not a shuttle, for one, it's a full-sized cruiser."
<OOC> Pira suspects Harukuk would say no to risking it :)
<OOC> Kelly says, "However, 'cruiser' and 'corvette' seem to be interchangeable in this case. Don't ask me to explain how the minds at Lucasfilm work."
<OOC> Kelly says, "Not without him at the controls, that's for sure."
<OOC> Pira pokes Danster.
<OOC> Harukuk says, "Yeah, its certainly not a capital ship. :)"
<OOC> Harukuk says, "but still, its a damned jungle."
<OOC> Pira thinks carried, then. Considering he's hamstrung.
<OOC> Kelly says, "I suspect it's the bottom end of cap ship, like the corvette."
<OOC> Harukuk can do that.
<OOC> Kelly says, "Or you could rig him a stretcher... you've got trees and ponchos."
<OOC> Kelly is being overly helpful, perhaps, but the adventure's practically over, and this is just details. :)
<OOC> Harukuk nods. A fireman's carry would probably be easiest, actually.
<OOC> Pira says, "Or alternating between that and the stretcher with Avirida and Pira carrying."
<OOC> Pira imagines Bogan sulks all the way back :)
<OOC> Kelly says, "He's not happy about being restrained. But afraid-nervous-unhappy, not homicidally so."
<OOC> Kelly says, "Oh, definitely."
<OOC> Kelly says, "In fact, I've got a quote about that coming up, once you decide on the arrangements."
<OOC> Pira will try to soothe him on rest breaks. Poor thing. You wonder if he'll ever fit back in, unless this is natural for his species.
<OOC> Kelly says, "So how do you plan to carry him? Decide, and I'll continue with the descriptions."
<OOC> Pira says, "Alternating between Harukuk over the shoulder and Avi and Pira with the stretcher."
<OOC> Pira says, "It's a long walk back, not fair to burden him all the way."
<OOC> Harukuk will fireman's carry him, probably. Well, alternating woulde best, it is a long trip out. From afar, Sabriel thinks in the SWU, a cruiser is bigger than a corvette by a fair margin. Starfighter -> shuttles and light freighters -> med freighters/transports and corvettes -> cruisers (and maybe heavy transports). I think.
<OOC> Pira will also bandage his burns, though the leg will require a real medical center to fix. From afar, Sabriel still wouldn't want to land a big corvette in a jungle clearing that's already littered with old starship debris. :)

As Harukuk hefts his burden over one broad shoulder, the former castaway suddenly exclaims something and starts to struggle a little, looking around at the others. It's impossible to read his eyes behind that panel of dark glass, but he seems anxious.

Pira says "JC-P2, tell him that we are going to take him home. Ask him if there is anything he wants to take with him."

The protocol droid explains to Pira and the others, "He says that there is something he has to do first. He asks if you would take him a short distance in that direction." A dull bronze arm waves stiffly into the trees.

Pira inclines her head in a small bow to the droid.

Pira says "Captain, can we do that?"

Harukuk nods, and starts ambling off in that direction.

Pira follows, curious.

Tobbi lies more or less passively along the Captain's shoulder as he is carried through the jungle. A short walk later, the small party finds itself standing before a patch of ground that is relatively clear of underbrush. At the base of one towering tree, a large rock has been set, clearly by design. The tree bears old claw marks, but the rock is untouched.

The castaway grunts to be let down.

Harukuk lets down Tobbi.

<OOC> Kelly says, "Did you unbind him?"
<OOC> Harukuk will leave that up to the Jedi's judgement. I just fly the ship. :)
<OOC> Pira murbles. Maybe just the feet? I'm not sure he believes us about the going home bit and I don't want him to get lost in the jungle.
<OOC> Pira says, "Or is the leg cut bad enough he won't be able to run away?"
<OOC> Kelly says, "If he did, he probably wouldn't get far."
<OOC> Pira okays. She'd unbind him then, though obviously keep a close watch.

Moving carefully and dragging his injured leg, Tobbi makes his way forward to the rock. He looks at it for a moment, silent... then puts his arms around it and lifts his head to howl to the wilderness, a single long note of loss and grief. Birds scatter from the tree branches. The sound seems to carry, even after he stops.

<OOC> Pira sniffs. Mommy's grave?
<OOC> Kelly says, "Got it in one."

The black-furred 'Ghost' hobbles back to his rescuers and bows his head, meekly waiting to be picked up again.

In the back of the group, the hunter stands, stone-faced.

Harukuk pats the beast on the shoulder, and picks him up gently again.