Not far off you hear the hairy quadrupedal predator wailing for it's mommy. It is about three feet tall and five feet long. Just barely a medium sized creature. There is no sign of any others around.
The creature is infact an infant and whomever wants it for a pet needs to make a handle animal check to do so.
Waking up next to the Janitor, Karval is slightly abashed. "Sorry, should probably have come to help sooner." He stands up and looks around the area; "I have some medi-packs that help with wounds." he mentions to Arana as he walks around the site picking up his weapons.
"I am not useful with a pup unfortunately. Never had a pet before." Karval mentions.
"After what its mother did to me, I'm not willing to risk myself or you on my meager animal training skills. But we can't leave it as is, it will starve without it's mother... "
Karval cleans and sheath's his weapons. "Give it a try, better than just killing it." He looks at the carcass carefully; "Well we could try feeding the pup, maybe smelling like the mother. That might help it identify with us?"
"At worst we then put it down?" Karval shrugs worriedly, as he obviously doesn't really believe in killing for no point or letting it starve.
Zaelos shrugs helplessly. "I will try to see if it trusts me here..." Taking Karval's advice he finds some food and also rubs his hand over the mother's body before he approaches the creature.
Karval looks to Zaleos and makes a pursing noise; "Mwaarr"
"You two are just going to scare it, let me try." Arana says approaching the animal slowly, having rubbed the mothers body as did Zaleos.
Handle Animal
The poor creature hisses and growl at Arana and she backs away.
"The thing is too traumatized for us to approach, perhaps if we wait a time for it to relax first."
NIchos pulls some of the meat he had gathered earlier out of his pack. "Perhaps some food might encourage it to calm down."
Once again centring herself, Arana attempts to connect with the animal using the lines of the Force that binds all living things. Gathering some of the meat, she only edges closer to the animal, taking her time, allowing it to get used to her presence, smell the meat.
Janitor stays back from the new creature, not wanting to frighten it. "Not much good with animals," he explains, "unless it comes to bringing 'em down." He lets his carbine's muzzle drop toward the ground, but he keeps one hand on the grip, ready to shoot if the beast attacks.
With the power of the force, Arana is able to tame the wild infant. The creature has taken a quick liking to it's new mother.
After clearing the area and tending to one another's wounds. You examine the body of the beast. It is huge and definately a prize kill. The Malaki respect kills like this. This thing should feed you for the duration of your trip.
In addition, if you claim some kind of trophy, you are sure to impress the Malaki people when you find them.
Once you have finished here, you can return to your vehicle and finish your journey
Holding the wriggling animal, Arana beams at her companions, her face transformed. She takes it a little ways away from its mother, to allow the other to collect whatever trophy is appropriate.
Zaelos watches Arana lead her new pet out of sight, a bemused look on his face. He then looks over to the corpse and decides to lay claim to one of its claws as an appropriate trophy.
The creature has a big head, claws, or Tusks. Whichever you believe would be appropriate. Your choice will matter.
I would say all of them. The big head proves that the beast is dead, the rest to make appropriate ornamentation to proclaim the deed to those who cannot travel to see the head.
Upon his granite features his mouth just slightly quirks into the merest hint of a smile, whilst he looks to Arana and her new found friend.
"The head shows it's dead and will seat the spirit and cunning of the animal, whilst the claws are it's tools the weapons and warriors. The tusk is a weapon too, but could also represent the survival instinct, the necessity of food and life." Karval says guessing randomly to a primative warrior culture, only slightly basing it upon his own experiences as a Mandolorean.
Karval is quite intrigued by the tusk, but it all depends upon how much that we can carry. If it is one item each, then Karval would like a tusk - however if it's one for the group then the head it a necessity.
"Agreed," Janitor says, but he's smiling in the direction of Arana and the cub. He turns to face the creature. "Well, what shall we take? If we can get all of it, I'd say grab as much as we can."
Zaelos sighs, "I agree we should gather as much as we can from the body. No telling what is considered valued by the Malaki."
"Well, then." Janitor moves forward and draws a small survival knife from his belt. "Zaleos--care to lend a hand with the lightsaber?"
"Yeah...sure thing, Janitor." Zaelos replies as he unhooks the precious lightsaber and ignites it. The brightly glowing blue beam shows clearly in Zaelos' Force enhanced sight. "Just want to be careful here..." He adds as he proceeds to carve the Rancor corpse into more manageable pieces.
Nichos will keep watch while the others set about preparing their kill.
Okay I think we have enough to go on.
Yes you brought the tank. Trip would have taken 5 times as long without it.
You dice the beast, collect the infant, and pack up for the trip. You have enough rations to provide food for the journey.
The next day is rather uneventful. Hours of riding on the tank crossing the vast landscape of Malakai. Still no civilizations on the way and no signs of any disturbances.
Malakai is a big planet with a low population. The planet maps 90% unsettled wilderness as is becoming very apparent and the only settlments on the world are small tribes of natives. There are also three small ports and a few military instillation here and there but not enough to consider the planet civilized.
You do your best to avoid any further encounters with the monsters of this world.
Day three rolls around and you have finally reached the base of the mountain range where Taggard is rumored to be hiding. This is a good hiding place. Difficult for non organic things to get too but sturdy and able people and animals can reach it with relative ease.
The tank won't make the trip. The head of the beast weighs 30 pounds and each claw is about a pound with a total of 8 claws. You also have about 100 pounds of usable animal hide and meat. The mini beast looks as though it is fully capable of climbing without being carried. Not of the droids have the dexterity to climb this wall. There is no choice but to leave them behind.
Calculate your total weights of what you are carrying, apply check penalties, then give me 5 climb checks.
To help you out, You may want to eliminate any check penalties you are suffering due to armor or weight.
On the ride to the mountain, Arana spends some time meditating allowing the Force assist her in healing her wounds.
Heal Self (Take 10) 10 +4 = 14, Vitality Healed
Heal Self (Take 10) 10 +4 = 14, Vitality Healed
Heal Self (Take 10) 10 +4 = 14, Vitality Healed
Heal Self (Take 10) 10 +4 = 14, Vitality Healed
Heal Self (Take 10) 10 +4 = 14, Vitality Healed
Heal Self (Take 10) 10 +4 = 14, Vitality Healed
Karval holds the heavy head, with the amount of armament and medical equipment he carries he reaches the maximum he can easily carry. But with some deftness he picks out a Grappling Spike Launcher; "Here this can take us upto 20m up the cliff, with a solid rope."
Looking to the imposing cliffs, he smiles and secures his equipment so nothing gets loose. Pleased with some physical activity, that is without bloodshed, he sets out finding the best handholds in his unskilled manner. Relying upon his raw strength than any skill, the Mandolorean will scale the mountain keeping close and behind the others to help if they stumble.
Only at the end does he grow weary, or maybe it's incautious when he is at the climb's most precipitous.
Zaelos starts up the cliff slowly, taking his time as he makes sure he secures the beast claw to the rest of his gear.
Arana watches as Karval and Zaleos start up the cliff side, watching where they step and where the hold. When they've advanced enough, she follows, the infant follows along; occasionally showing off and moving ahead of the group.
Climb 1
Climb 2
Climb 3
Climb 4
Climb 5
Nichos groans a bit as he looks up at the wall in front of him, but takes what meat and hides that he can while arranging all of his stuff to the best of his ability, keeping his own grappling spike launcher close at hand, before attempting to head up, but getting nowhere fast.
Janitor measures the climb, and starts up slowly. His strength and agility are a definite help, but all told, he's never been a big climber.
Karval looks to the cold peaks of the mountain await the discovery of the natives, hoping not to fall from the rock faces.
Okay, I've done the math. There is only so much gear you will need and if you use the hooks at the right time, even Nichos taking ten will be good enough to get up.
The climb up is tedious and dangerous. Many points in the climb you had trouble but the hooks made the cliffhanger moments doable. Many points you lose grip and hang dozens of meters above the planets ground.
It takes a few hours to get over the range and now the trek down is just as daunting as going up. It is tricky but you make it down into the secluded valley.
From the decent you can make out what you believe is a large community. From here you can see beasts five times the size of the beast you've killed, bigger than a Naboo Fambaa.
You make your way through the dense jungle in the valley towards the settlement with minimal trouble. You are nearing the town when out of nowhere, 12 tribal men and women armed to the teeth with primitive weapons and technilogical weapons leap out of the brush and surround you. They are shouting and snarling in an unknown language.
They stand on average six to seven feet tall and have impressive muscle definition. The lead male has biceps bigger than Nichos's head. Aside from bulk and height and their savage exterior, these people look to be nothing more than primitive humans.
They don't attack you but they have their weapons trained on you. The leader, a seven foot hulk of a man steps forward. He is packing a heavy repeating blaster. He looks you up and down clearly perplexed. He speaks in a gruff monotone but commanding voice. "Which of you is Jedi? Grand Chieftain says Jedi be among you so which is it?" He awaits your answers.
You are shocked that you could not sense your attackers until the trap was sprung. As you have read, the force is strong with each of these warriors and they know how to use it, even mask it. They are good.
Her hand on the infant beast's head, ruffling its ears, Arana says "I wouldn't call my self a Jedi, but...." Placing her pack on the ground in front of her, she extends her hand and her face goes slack.
Move object
The pack shakes a bit , then raises from the ground to float in the air before Arana.
Zaelos replies in a respectful tone, "While I have not been trained in the Jedi ways, members of my race are naturally Force-sensitive which would explain your confusion."
Janitor is quick to raise his weapon in response to the ambush--he almost instantly decides on the leader and trains the carbine on his head--but after this reflex, he lowers the gun, realizing the group is outnumbered. "Guess this is where we hope our trophies are a good thing," he mutters.
Janitor's eyes narrow a fraction at the tribesman's question. Well, it certainly isn't me... he thinks, his hand still resting on the stock of the carbine. He glances around at the assorted men and women, attempting to decipher any pattern or chain of command based on their stances.
Nichos, by this time thoroughly exhausted, both by the climb and the effort of keeping his frustrations about the climb to himself, simply shrugs, "Karval, now would be a good time to introduce our trophy."
Karval hefts the large creatures head, lifting it above his before placing it upon the ground with some reverence and unwrapping it. Without saying much he nods to the tribesman and takes a step back; indicating the kill was a team effort.
The cautious man keeps his eyes carefully upon the muscular natives and gives a little nod.
Janitor also place forward any and all of the trophies he carried--probably a tusk or two, and maybe some of the claws. He too steps back, his hand still ready near the grip of the carbine.
The leader nods at Arana and then regards the trophy for a moment. "Your not Dark user or Malaki. You use force then you must be jedi. Grand Chieftain wants to see you. As for trophy. Slaying a Tantok is a feat an not only you get it's good but tame its infant. Most impressive. You maybe able to take the trials of the Malaki and become fellow tribesmen. Then you be allies. Unless you with the lizards or the empire. Then you are outright enemies. But come, that is for Taggard to decide. Come with us to him."
The Malaki low there weapons and welcome you into their village. You enter a huge civilization that mixes primitive and modern in ways you never thought possible. Huts beside bunkers, bone weapons beside modern blasters, wood barricades aside shield generators. The people are a physically attractive people as they all appear fit and healthy. The people wear lose and minimal clothing, enough to cover the essentials. Any armor they wear protects the head, neck, and upper torso, not much bellow that.
You are lead to a sturdy and modern looking command center. You enter tha base and are led to a room with a holo map of the planet. Among them is a Malaki wearing a loincloth and a jedi masters cloak. At his belt you see a lightsaber.
When you are brought before him he looks at you and nods. "You are the visitors to our base. Who are you, How did you find us and who do you work for?"