Calavingian's page

Yes, you`ve guessed it. This is a WFRP Journal. Before you all gasp and recoil in shock and horror, please give it a good read first. I promise you might like it.

It`s not an ongoing campaign, but one I uncovered in my archives. Since I know your all a bunch of journal junkies like myself, I thought I`d share it with you. The majority of it consists of the journal as written by me, for me. The DM kept his own journal and I`ve included some of his notes, comments, and thoughts, as a matter of interest.

Note that I havent been able to contact him to establish permission to do so. But since he posted these comments on his public blog himself, I cant see it becoming a problem. Even so, if they start to disappear, you`ll know why.

Game System: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay Second Edition.
Time Span - Late 2005 - Early 2007.

The Characters (in the words of the DM)

Alane:
Elven wizards apprentice. Witch-born under the Witchling Star and with the unusual background of having been brought up by a human Bright Wizard. A cold and distant old man who couldn't save Alane's mother from a hideous (and as yet undisclosed) fate. A bit nutso with the winds of magic already. Has the lowest fellowship rating in the party. Thinks and acts more like a prissy school marm than a classic elf "babe".

Bertholdt:
Puny mincing scribe (yes, he actually does mince) from yokel-land with an untranslated dwarven chapbook and a taste for avoiding injury. Tends to keep his mouth shut, except to tell the other characters how stupid they are. Still gets dragged into far too many of Seigfrieds escapes for his own comfort.

Mordrin:
Imperial Dwarven runerunner with a shady family, a taste for the pipe, and a much cooler temperament than he first gave reason to expect. Younger than Grundi but more reasoned in his actions. Likes to get drunk and chop thigs with his axe (not neccesarily in that order).

Grundi:
Aging coachman whose life changed forever the day he first smote with Ulric's Fury and clove a mutant near in two. Mad, bad, and dangerous to know. Also owns a blunderbuss. Nuts. Completly nuts. As in trollslayer nuts. If he was human, he`d be a flagellant. Leading candidate for the froathing mad orange-hair-and-blue-tatoo brigade.

Siegfried:
Murdering lowlife theiving trash with pretentions to the petty nobility. Has a heart of gold though, big girl's blouse that he is. Born under the sign of The 'Greased Goat'. Cold, ruthless, calculating... and rather too rash for his own good. Tries to be a hard-nosed scum-bag, but has cuddly soft-spot for the weak and downtrodden.

I`ll update with a new post from Gospard tomorrow or (more likely) Wedensday

Luke:

I uncovered this journal during that last excursion to Arkania, The data pad was in disrepair, but with a little effort and the help of Mirrax, I was able to recover most of the data. Its author is an over-inflated, arrogant Arkanian windbag puffed up with his own hubris. Which just goes to show that even ancient Jedi weren`t immune to institutional arrogance. Assuming your actually patient enough to tolerate the biographers egotistic, rambling style (and I`m not sure even you are THAT patient) it should provide some insight into a little know period of Jedi History.

Enjoy, or rather, endure.

Your friend,

Corran Horn

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Journal Begins.

Welcome treasured reader, or should I call you, “Seeker of the Wonderous Truth?” I have begun this journal in the full, and not immodest knowledge, that I, as one of the first of my kind to join the most esteemed and fabled Jedi Order in some years, am likely to have become a figure of some importance in the History of our great Species.

Note that I am not so immodest as to believe my life could possibly interest anyone outside my species and Order, but neither do I have any reason to doubt that the Force may lead me to places and heights of importance that I cannot yet for-see.

While there is no doubt in mind that you already know something of the identity and deeds of the humble author of this work -else why would you partake of it’s wonderful insights and sagacious qualities- I shall not be so rude as to avoid an introduction. I am - or will someday become- the Jedi Jarred Thorrn, a scion of Arkania, from a line as great and famous for it’s intellectual achievements as it is for its cunningly acquired wealth and hard-earned commercial accolades. Alas, the nature of my birth line is of little importance in the story of my life, for I left all that far behind upon my entry to the Jedi Order.

You see gentle reader, my family shares the common hatred among our kind for the Jedi. A hatred born out of misconception, arrogance and historical enmity. For were my people not once among the greatest servants - indeed, near-partners- of the Sith?

Which leads me to ecplain the context of our gentle tale within the course of the Republic’s vast and magnificent history. The Sith - or an entity calling itself the Sith- has returned to our peaceful, albeit war-shattered borders. Some time ago, the great Jedi revanchist heroes, Malak and Raven, led the forces of the Republic to a great but costly victory in the Mandolorion Wars. All but exterminating the fierce warriors of that wild, barbaric religion (perhaps I flatter it by calling it such, would not, perhaps, the word “cult” be better? History will judge it so, I gather).

Alas, only mere months, weeks ago even, these vanished heroes and their missing fleet returned to Old Republic Space, having disappeared into the savage borderlands of the galaxy, those be-knighted regions outside the grace and protection of the Galactic Republic and its earnest Jedi guardians. They returned not in triumph, as victors and saviours, but as conquerors.

Already the vast Republic Fleet yards of Foresst have fallen. Sith warships, of a class and design aesthetic never before seen within the Republic, maraud systems up and down the border regions and raid far into the rich inner systems at the Core of our great confederation.

Only a few scant hours ago, the War imposed itself upon the happy world and acid seas of Rocosia, disturbing the tranquil peace of my Master’s Praxeum, and setting my mentor and his four devoted servants upon the path to great adventure.

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The peace of my meditations were broken by two rude and near-simultaneous interruptions: A summons to the communications room by that in-gracious (and often downright irritating Sidhe) the Padawan Danshi, and a sudden impression of suppressed fear and intense concentration which slammed into my conscious mind via the sublime medium of the all-encompassing Force.

My eyes opened somewhat more quickly than I am used to, switching near-instantly from my night-vision mode (for the thick, yellow acid clouds of Recosia allow only the smallest reflected yellow light to pierce the dome above the meditation balcony) to what humans and most other less evolved species would consider to be normal vision. But not quickly enough. My eyes suffered somewhat from a sudden trail of fiery light shooting past the dome, too quick to visually identify its source, even had numerous small lights not been dancing before my beautiful, colourless eyes. It not being necessarily to possess my superior Arkanian intellect in order to immediately connect these two events I rushed towards the communications room, arriving so quickly that the spots in my vision were only just not beginning to diminish when the doorway parted before me.

Alas, despite my turn of speed and startlingly swift reactions, of all the Praxeum’s students I arrived last. I was already aware in the forth front of my consciousness that Master Loshem was not present this day, having left in one of the schools Cargo Sleds earlier that morning to procure supplies from that miserable dusty shanty town the locals have the gumption to have named “Capital”.

It seemed my initial assessment was indeed correct - a ship had passed overhead and was clearly in some distress. It transpired that a chime had alerted the other three members of the student body to the incoming craft, one which I could not hear due to the depth and proficiency of my trance.

There was no time for complacent self-congratulation however. With the Master absent, it fell to me to organise our response to this momentous and potentially catastrophic (for the passengers, at least) event.

Fortunately the Master and I have the other so well trained - even that ignorant wretch Danshi - that no issuance of Orders or discussion was necessary. With the mutual insight and silent communication only a JedI collective can display, we each set to our respective tasks.

Danshi immediately sent a message to our master. Za`anni was already departing as I arrived - on her way to prop the school’s remaining cargo sled, while I moved to the planetary comm link in an attempt to contact the stricken ship. I recall Danshi muttering something about prepping our ship instead, but I simply ignored this ludicrous suggestion. I knew Khitani would not be so foolish as to waste twenty minutes prepping a starship when our Cargo Sled would be ready to leave in mere moments - and therefore transport us to a crash-site much more swiftly. This was, after all, a mercy-mission.

In the meantime Khitani attempted to gain more information on the ship and the nature of its damage via images of it captured by the Praxeums security and computer systems. Alas, the ship had passed by too quickly and even our schools most precocious younger student could glean little from the blurred images in the short time available to us. Though, perhaps it is not too surprising. Khitani is hardly our most scholarly inclined student, albeit our most mechanically and combatively gifted.

Having made contact with the ship, I made what sense I could of the garbled transmission I received. Along with the deciphering the obligatory call for assistance, I was able to determine the ships projected landing coordinates. As I suspected, the crash-site would be nearby, on a plateau we could reach in less than one-sixth of a standard hour. Fortunately, they would avoid a crash into our planets deadly sulphuric-acid seas.

Surprisingly perhaps, that urchin Danshi had the sense to run and fetch the medical packs while I computed our best route of travel. In the meantime Khitani rushed off to collect our light sabres and other outdoor gear from our rooms. I could only hope that in her over-eager youthful exuberance she did not mistakenly grab a training light sabre or two instead. However, one must trust in the Force with such matters and, in any case, had this excursion proven to be as straightforward as I had hoped, there would have been little need for weapons regardless.

However, I was pleased to note that none of us were willing to take chances with an unknown ship. The first duty of the rescuer, after all, is to avoid contriving a situation where he or she may need to be rescued themselves,

Only moments after the rather sudden arrival of the stricken vessel, we were gathered on the Cargo Sled and ready to go. Danshi was the last to arrive, having paused to instruct the schools computer to monitor all of our transmission in case something should happen (who would have expected such insight from one such as him).

With commendable decorum, the schools protocol droid, G3, happened to be standing by with a collection of lunch boxes as he ran past. How I miss the old days, when I had a veritable legion of equally diligent droids at my every beck and call. But such a life is not for a JedI.

Za`iin, being our best pilot was already at the controls. When Khitani began recklessly passing out our equipment via Force Telekinesis. I frowned at her lack of self-control but resolved to bite my lip before the other students. Now was not a suitable time or place to issue a reprimand to our charming, if somewhat childish, younger colleague. In any case, one supposes we must at least be grateful for her enthusiasm.

I wisely decided to discuss it with her later and, depending on the results of that conversation, report this latest incident to our Master as well. Though I was loathe to do so. I would prefer to set a good example by the sole expedient method of my own upright and virtuous behaviour instead. But these are dark times for a youngster to dabble in such dangerous things as unnecessary and frivilous use of the force.

Yet I digress in my concern for the other students. The many short-comings of Khitani and, indeed, Danshi also are for another time and a later entry. Thank the Force that Za`iin, at least, does not possess anything in the order of such inadequacy as they.

No sooner had the Sled sped from its hanger under Za`iin’s pursuant control than did Danshi, in his usual ignorant fashion, belatedly wonder aloud as the Sled capabilities with regards to surviving a plunge into our acid sea. At least the question gave the other half of my brain something to do as I explained the various safety measures of our fully enclosed means of transport. Meanwhile, the rest of my considerable intellect was focused upon the problem of contacting the ship once again using the Sled’s comms. An endeavour that was entirely unsuccessful on even the most reliable of frequencies on this notoriously obnoxious world of ours.

However, we soon picked up the ruined craft on our Sleds sensors. Danshi and Khitani were able to identify it as one of those deplorable Correlian vessels, a Minoc class vessel of the Transport weight class. However, this proved to be of little help as those insufferable Correlian engineers insist on making their starship designs as modular as possible. We were as likely to encounter a heavily armed military or pirate vessel as we were to find a passenger liner full of stricken civilians.

I overheard Danshi and Khitani indulge in a whispered conversation at this point, clearly wondering if this was some sort of ruse. I did not discount this possibility, even though the sensors clearly indicated that the ship was genuinely damaged. Indeed, it appeared to be embedded in rock up to its engine compartment. It was a wonder the vessel had not immediately combusted. Nevertheless, I approved of their caution and went so far as to tell them so. Strangely, they did not seem to appreciate my offered praise as much as they should.

For some reason, it was at this point, when we were more than half-way to the stricken vessel and, indeed, could even see the damaged peaks and overhangs of the plateau where it had flown through them, that our newest student decided to ask me if there were any relevant planetary authorities who should be contacted. I suppressed a flash of irritation at his ignorance, generously conceding that he was, after all, new and, at least, had the sense to seek the answer from the one individual best equipped to deal with the situation. He had, after all, arrived after the Master’s yearly address on the powers and responsibility of a JedI Watchman and his apprentices. Such ignorance can always be excused when it travels hand in hand with the desire to learn. Even Danshi might be gracious and perceptive enough to admit thus, I have learned.

In any case, I quickly summarised the content of the lecture in as few words as possible. Explaining that the planetary capital was a capital in name only with no authority outside its own town limits (I hesitate to call such a dreary hole a city, regardless of its grand pronouncements to the contrary) and that we, as the deputies and assistants to the systems Watchmen, were in the fact the only local authorities both empowered to and likely to bother to intervene. This brought, thankfully, a moment of silence from this most difficult individual, allowing me to return my thoughts as to how best approach the ship.

I instructed Za`iin to circle the crash site before landing. The ship had come to rest in a hollow, its bow submerged under collapsed rubble from the surrounding crater wall which had, from a distance, created the illusion that the ship had actually pierced the rock wall like a blade. The confining nature of the hollow made it difficult to circle from a good angle and much of the ground beneath us was covered by overhanging rock. Concerned about this lack of visibility from the air, I nevertheless instructed our Zaabrak pilot to set us down where she may. But not before my companions endeavoured to reach out through the force in an attempt to locate any survivors. Alas, in this we were unfortunately most unsuccessful.

To distract my junior colleagues from the tension no doubt building inside their minds and muscles I regaled them with a monologue regarding the corrosive properties of Recosia's cloudy atmosphere with regards to its effects on terrain, quoting a surprisingly detailed lecture by Professor Tossk of Coruscant I had heard some years before. I concluded by stating (for the benefit of Danshi of course) that while breath masks were not strictly necessary at this elevation, given the recent precipitation over this area the night before, I would be wearing mine regardless.

I finished just as Za`iin put us down with nary a nudge to indicate our land-fall, and, after informing the others that I would investigate alone for the time being, stepped from the vehicle through one of its side doors. I felt rather than sensed Danshi leave the Sled through the other side door regardless of my instructions - he is a wilful and disobedient wretch. However, I had only just suppressed my rising indignation - which threatened to become that most dreaded of Jedi emotions - irritation- when I noticed the ships escape hatch was open and untended.

Where were the survivors in their eager rush for assistance?

I knew then that we faced adversity.

That was when I sensed movement in the rocks above.

STARWARS CAMPAIGN

Session One:18th November 2008

Characters:

Jarred Thornn Male Arkanian Jedi 1(J). Played by Brian

The oldest and most intellectually-inclined student at the Praxeum, Jarred thinks of himself as an elder brother and mentor to the other Jedi, although his skill is not much greater. His logical and dispassionate attitude often grates on the other students - particularly the newcomer Danshi. He strives hard to control his tendency to patronise and demean the other students, despite his clearly superior mind- by the simple expedient of keeping his mouth shut as much as possible. Alas, he does not succeed as often as he would like.

Za’iin Jith Female Zabraak Jedi 1 (Z) Played by Caroline

One of the older students at the Praxeum, Za`iin is quietly confident in her abilities and strives to best herself in all she does. Despite this trait that drives her towards being superior she avoids the pitfalls of being patronising or demeaning that Jarred unfortunately tends to hit. The Zaabrak is friend of all and finds herself well-liked, she especially enjoys the company of her fun-loving young female co-student Khitana as well as long talks with the Master Loshem over supper. Though obviously mature for her age Za’iin takes great delight in simple sometimes childish pleasures.

Danshi Male Sidhe Jedi 1(S) Played by Ruaridh

Danshi is the newest student at the Praxeum, though he is easily as old as Jarred and Za`iin, having returned with Master Loshem from his last mission. Though Danshi is something of a rebellious and wilful student, he already possesses considerable skill in the force. The Sidhe works to maintain an aura of mystery about him and is notoriously tight-lipped about his past. Never one to follow the obvious path when a complicated one will serve the purpose, the Praxeums newest student seems determined to follow his own path, something which annoys Jarred no-end.

Khitana Female Human Jedi 1 (K) Played by Niall

Though not the newest student of Master Lossom she is certainly the youngest, being barely into her early teens. Khitana excels in the martial aspect of her Jedi training, being easily the best member of the group in lightsaber combat especially. She takes a childish delight in her mastery of the force, often using it when mundane means would suffice. None of the other students can match her ability with telekinesis. Though not unintelligent by any means, Khitani is hardly the most scholarly of the students at the Praxeum and often struggles with the less physical demands of her training.

DM: Rob

OPENING CRAWL:

In the years following the victory of the Jedi-led Republic Forces over the Mandolorian Invaders, the once heroic Jedi Knights Malek and Reven have returned at the head of a huge Sith fleet.

Having successfully raided the Republic Fleet Yards at Forost, the Sith Armada, under the command of Admiral Saul Krath, has re-doubled its strength at the expense of the Republic Fleet.

Now, as the Sith forces continue to raid and conquer Republic Worlds, a small group of Jedi Padawan continue their training on the acid-world of Recopia.

Scene One: The Jedi Praxeum of Ithorian Jedi Master Te’Borr Loshem on Recopia.

Danshi is reading data pads in the atrium, Jarred meditates in the meditation room above the great hall. Za`iin is practising her acrobatics in the training room, dodging objects thrown at her by an eager Khitana.

They hear a rumble from the sky. Danshi wanders towards the communications room and notices the sensor panel is lit. On the display he sees a ship appears to be passing over head and in considerable difficulty, belching flame and on a crash trajectory. It appears to be flying towards an uninhabited section of the planet. He estimates a 20% chance that the ship will hit land rather than sink into the acidic sea.

Master Loshem is not present, being on a supply trip. In the training room, Za`iin and Khitana pause as he announces his findings. Jarred is awoken from his meditation by the noise and sees a blight flash and smoke through the dome above him as Danshi makes his announcement. He also runs to the communications room.

The others arrive in the communications room. Danshi sends a message to the master, Jarred runs over to the comm panel and tries to contact the ship. He transmits on broadband. Khitana tries to get more info on the ship from the computer. Za`iin volunteers to start prepping the remaining Cargo Air Sled for an urgent journey.

Jarred receives a slightly garbled mayday message and partial coordinates for a “landing.” He announces the ship is likely to hit land. He calculates a trajectory for the Sled. Danshi raids the medical bay. Khitana runs back to the rooms and grabs everyone’s light sabres and utility belts.

The party boards the sled as soon as they are ready. Jarred hands Za`iin a data pad with the directions he has plotted to get to the crash. Danshi instructs the household computer to monitor events in that area and to update the party as required.

As the Sidhe Padawan runs to join the others on the sled, G3 the protocol droid appears with packed lunches on a tray, which Danshi grabs as he dashes by.

Khitana uses the force to pass the equipment to their respective owners as Jarred looks on disapprovingly, making a mental note to have to a word with her later about such unnecessary use and abuse of the force. Danshi belatedly wonders about safety features should the Sled crash into he Sulphur Sea. Jarred takes great pleasure in explaining the Sleds safety features in an officious and patronising voice.

The crashed ships soon appears on the Sleds sensors, seven or eight minutes travel away. However, they cannot pick up any life forms at this distance. Basic information on the ship was captured by the sensors. Za`iin tries to figure out what sort of ship it is but is distracted by having to pilot the ship. Danshi and Khitana recognise it as a Minoc class ship, which they think is some sort of combat shuttle, landing craft or cargo vessel.

Danshi nudges Khitana and wonders if this might be a ruse. Jarred says we’ll worry about that when we get closer. Khitana and Jarred agree caution is warranted however. As Khitana and Danshi examine the data, they agree the damage does not appear to be faked. Jarred notes that its genuine damage doesn’t necessarily mean it will be friendly.

Danshi wonders if there is a planetary authority that should be informed, but Jarred explains that there is no true central authority there. The capital is called such because of its size, not because other settlements answer to it. Master Loshem, is the systems watcher, and the only real authority figure on the planet. Hence, as his students, the group are the proper individuals to intervene.

Jarred attempts communication with the crashed ship using his comm-link but receives no response. He is unsure if this is due to a lack of survivors or something less sinister such as comm-damage or interference from the acid lakes

As the Sled approaches the plateau, they see smoke rising from the centre of the land formation, which includes several sharp peaks and overhangs, one of which appears to have been torn away. Jarred advises circling the crash site before landing. Danshi attempts to sense any survivors through the force, using Sense Force and Sense Surroundings. He does not sense any strong force signatures that would indicate a Force Sensitive other than the students nearby. Nor does he sense anything else at present.

After circling, Danshi suggests Za`iin take the party in, which she does, passing over several acid channels until coming into visual range of the ship, approaching from its rear. The ship appears to have crashed into a rock formation set into a hollow, which the superstructure has penetrated for some distance. Sets the ship down in an area relatively free from wreckage and scattered fragments of rock, only metres away from the ship, but away from its still-hot engines.

Jarred notes the hollow was likely formed by acid erosion of cracks and weak points in the rock. Danshi ignores him and observes that he can now sense survivors. Za`iin decides to stay with the ship while the others investigate. Jarred spots an open hatch in the side of the vessel and leaps from the skiff. |He looks for weapon damage, but has to admit he wouldn’t know what blaster damage would look like.

Jarred observes that breath masks are not necessary, though advised, as the heavy rains and height of the plateau clear away harmful organic compounds. He puts his on anyway prior to examining the ground around the hatch, hoping to see tracks of survivors. He notices that, while the rock is bare, boulders have been moved away from the door, Danshi continues to concentrate on sensing life forms, detecting more than a dozen in the area but failing to pinpoint the exact location.

Danshi leaves the Skiff, avoiding the area behind the ships engines. Khitana tries to assess how stable the engines are while peering out the Skiff window. She calls out that she does not believe the engines are in immediate danger. Jarred suggests they need to reach the engineering compartment to disable the engines. To be safe. Danshi examines the ridge lines at the top of the hollow.

Initiative Order

Foes 19
Z 16
K 13
S 11 (higher dex)
J 11

Za`iin spots movement along the ridge tops to her left. Jarred and Danshi notice movement on both sides of the ridge amongst the rocks. Khitana is oblivious as she studies the ships engines intently.

Huge, red skinned bearded figures appear on the ridge tops above the party. From their studies Danshi, Jarred and Khitana recognise these creatures as the Massassi, Sith servants, possessed of great speed and strength. Fortunately they all appear to be armed with double handed axes rather than blasters. Jarred recognises these as weapons as lanvarock.

M1 and M2 run forward through the engine wash of the crashed ship, careless of the radiation damage they sustain and come into melee range of Danshi.

M6 and M7 rush towards the rear of the Sledge while M3, M4 and M5 reach back with their huge, axe like weapons and fling them forward. Discs shoot forth from their weapons, two aimed at Jarred and the third aimed at Danshi.

Jarred attempts to deflect both missiles launched against him with the copper blade of his light sabre, belatedly realising he hasn’t actually drawn it yet alone ignited it yet. He takes 14 damage from the stone projectiles. Meanwhile Danshi is also hit by a spinning disk and suffers 7 points of damage.

Za`iin shouts a warning to Khitana, unnecessarily as M1 and M2 have already run past the viewport she was looking through. She shouts, “hold on”, and reverses the Sled, trying to run over M6 and M7. The Skiff clips both foes as they try madly to scramble aside. Though the blow is only a glancing one, the speed of the manouvre pulps both creatures by collision and overrun damage.

Khitana looks out through the viewport and sends a Force Slam towards M1 and M2, managing to avoid Danshi in the process. They waver slightly, but do not fall, although they are bruised and buffeted by the force energy sent against them, taking seven points of damage each. She also ignites her light sabre.

Danshi ignites his own sabre and makes a withdraw action, spinning on his heel to block an axe attack and then breaking and running for the skiff, which he boards.

Jarred finally activates his light sabre and tries to use Battle strike as he runs towards the front of the skiff, reaching the front fender. However, distracted by the pain of his wounds he fails to activate the Force Power successfully.

M1 and M2 rush to the doors where Khitana and Danshi await, swinging wildly at the two Jedi, chopping huge groove into either side of the door as they miss the moving vehicle. The remaining three launch more discs at their remaining target, Jarred, smashing into the front fender of the moving skiff.

Za`iin accelerates forward and upwards, looking to spin the sled around and smash M1 and M2, hoping that Jarred will be able to jump aboard a she passes. The Arkanian student ducks under the front of the vehicle as it spins, calling on the force and back-flipping through the door as the Sled zips past to safety.

(The DM let me spend a Force Point to move outside the action sequence - I then rolled a 23 on Acrobatics check).

Danshi sends a message to Master Loshem, Jarred takes the time to clean his wounds and those of Danshi, spraying their cuts and bruises with an anti-septic cream.

(No actual use of treat wounds skill at this point, just flavour)

Za`iin takes the skiff to a safe height while the party investigate their options. Jarred observes dispassionately that there is no one else available to fight them. He recalls (calling upon his Arkanian intelligence) that the range of a Massassi lanvarock (the axe like weapon) is about 18 metres at most. Za`iin suggests sweeping the area from a height of about 25 metres above the Massassi until they hear back from Master Loshem. Jarred agrees, but points out that just because the Padawans haven’t seen a blaster, that’s no guarantee that their foes do not have one. Danshi and Khitana also agree and so their Zaabrak companion pilots the Skiff back towards the crash site.

Luckily, Danshi has his bow with them and intends to take pot shots at the Massassi. Jarred also wishes to join in with his grandfathers pulse-wave blaster pistol, even though he is the first to admit he lacks sufficient training to use it well. However Danshi cannot sense anything through the Force or with his eyes. Jarred takes the controls while Za`iin, with her superior Zaabrak senses, attempts to locate the Massassi. Khitana also uses the force and his eyes to locate the foe. She detects four healthy life forms hiding in the ship and four more weaker ones are also present. Inside. Khitana can also sense two more hiding on the peaks, acting as Sentries. Za`iin cannot detect anything at all.

Following direction from Khitana, Jarred takes the Sled down a few more metres, into range of the Maasari weapons, so that his companions can open fire on the foes. He tells Khitana to take his weapons and start shooting the sentries. She has even less training in blaster weapons than he does. Jarred follows her instructions to position the ship where she has a line of sight at the monsters. Alas, she even fails to hit the huge rock spire and barely avoids hitting the door. “Brace your wrists before you fire,” suggests Jarred, with typical snotty-nosed disdain, completely disregarding the fact he doesn’t know how to use the weapon properly either. The sentry peeks out where Jarred can see it. Za`iin also spots it through the window. She also spots something moving across the opposite side of the hollow, where Khitana said another sentry lurked..

The young Zaabrak reports her sighting to the others. The party hears two loud thunks and spot the rather sudden appearance of a new dent in the wall as the Sith fire back. Danshi demands that the ship be taken higher but Jarred takes the ship closer to the first sentry instead, pointedly ignoring the Sidhe, so that the other Padawan can jump into combat with the Massassi.

Za’iin takes the controls from Jarred and tells him to go fight. Khitana leaps out of the Sled and onto the rocks, attacking with her light sabre, only to slip and stumble as she lands. Jarred leaps across to flank and attack the sentry, slicing straight through its arm and spine. “Back on board”, he says dispassionately, though his chalky-white Arkanian cheeks gain some colour as he guiltily realises he has taken an intelligent life for the first time.

Meanwhile Danshi takes a shot with his bow and arrow at the second sentry, curving it over the rock with the force to strike the second sentry , who pops up from behind the rock, arrow protruding from its shoulder, and shoots back.

The Massasi throws the disc with a road, but the range is too far and it passes harmlessly beneath. Seeing this, the Massassi moves around the rim of the hollow, from cover to cover, trying to close the range.

Za`iin holds her action, shouting for Khitana and Jarred to jump board. Khitana does so, Danshi takes another shot but the arrow skitters off the rock. With a final look back at his dead foe, Jarred also rejoins his comrades on the Sled.

As he does so, Za`iin moves the Sled into reverse, swinging round to the opposite side of the hollow with expert skill, pausing with the sled door mere inches from the edge of the rocky outcrop. However, the Massassi axe takes out the Sled’s rear repulsor.

“Take us out.” Roars Khitana, “Land and I can fix us.” In the meantime she tears off an inspection hatch and begins working on repairs. Alas, the repulsor is trashed. She can only restore temporary power to the damaged repulsor and keep the Sled flying for a few minutes - just long enough to get home. “Ten minutes” Khitana shouts, “That’s all I can give you. Set her down.”

Danshi readies an arrow while Jarred takes a pot shot with his blaster. His lack of training tells and he misses completely. Za`iin takes the Sled up and away intending to set the Sled down in a few moments at the opposite side of the island plateau.

As they turn away and climb, Danshi shoots with his readied action, but the arrow skitters away across the rocks. The Massassi’s hurled disk fails to connect with the damage skiff by a whisker. The Sith-aligned alien ducks behind his rock again. Khitana keeps the repulsor going with some frantic mechanical work. Jarred shoots again and misses completely just as the damaged sled bucks and rears. Za`iin zooms away in the Sled, taking the Sled out of range, looking for a good place to set down.

Khitana tries to Jury rig repairs as the Sled moves, albeit with little success. Za`iin takes the Sled down to about twenty metres above the plateau, looking for a cave or other concealed spot. She finds one the Sled will fit into barely. Danshi asks Jarred if any local life forms might be found in the cave. The Arkanian replies that most of the local cave-habiting fauna is harmless unless the nest is disturbed and that they live in flocks of up to twenty.

Danshi reaches out through the force, but detects only small burrowing reptiles within the cave.

Having felt Danshi centre himself and reach out through the force, Jarred asks Danshi, “Do we land?” Danshi states that only a handful of small lizards are present. Jarred states these are harmless but Za`iin refuses to land until she has given the cave a good once over through the viewport. Khitana warns her the ship wont last much longer. This is born out when the Sled shudders and lurches from side to side. The Zaabrak parks the Sled without further damaging the paintwork with languid ease, despite its now pronounced list to one side, and shuts off the power to the engines.

Jarred checks to ensure the comms are still working and sends another message to Master Loshem. The Padawans take stock of their situation and discuss what to do next.

They find themselves in an erosion formed cave, made from limestone pockets. Jarred announces they need a plan of action. He states they can either wait for Master Loshem to save them, or clean up the problem themselves. Danshi seems to agree with the Arkanian that they should deal with the problem themselves but Khitana states she wants the Sled fixed before they try to do anything else - so they may escape if necessary. She is already poking around the damaged repulser, Danshi offers his assistance.

Za`iin wants to wait until hearing from Khitana regarding the state of repairs before making any plans. Jarred volunteers to keep watch in the meantime.

Khitana suggests repairing the Sled and coming back with the Praxeum’s Nova class transport, an armed and shielded vessel. Danshi crows, reminding the others that he suggested bringing the ship in the first place. Khitana points out people could have been hurt. They did not have twenty minutes to waste prepping the Transport.

Khitana and Danshi manage to jury-rig repairs that Khitana is certain will last a few hours. Jarred wonders if it might be worthwhile leaving a scout behind. Danshi looks mischievous and says he has an idea. He asks if anyone has a holo-recorder. Jarred begins to smile and agrees he does. Jarred points out Khitana is the sneaky one but points out that he can easily set up a feed between the holo-recorder and his data pad.

Jarred asks if Khitana is willing to take the risk. He connects Za`iin’s commlink to the holo-recorder and his own commlink to his data-pad. He then passes the holorecorder to Khitana. Danshi pilots the sled to 100m out from the downed ship. With whispered good wishes, Khitana makes her way stealthily to the crash site. Alas, she fumbles and alerts the Massassi to her presence with a scattering of dislodged rocks.. They come charging out of the ship and barrelling towards her. She runs and calls for help through her commlink, pausing only to attempt to confuse them by dislodging rocks through the force.

Danshi seemingly panics and leaps from the sled, running towards Khitana on foot. Za`iin turns the sled round and flies in to pick up Khitana. Jarred wonders what in the name of science Danshi thinks he is doing and takes up position by one of the doors. He announces he is ready to provide covering fire with his blaster. Khitana manages to conceal the holo-recorder into a convenient nook before turning to run. At this point the sled pulls up as Khitana comes sprinting over the ridge. The Massasssi are still charging up the other side of the slope. Danshi continues to run (to be fair to the player, his actions were due to a mix-up regarding the nature of the local geography) towards the Sled, which is now between him and the crash-site.

As Khitana climbs aboard, the fast-moving Massassi close into firing range.

Adria: Female Elf Rogue 1

Fast-talking and ever-looking to make a quick copper at some-ones expense, Adria speaks so swiftly and says so much in a single breath -without punctuation- that it is hard to follow her part of the conversation. The normally slow-witted Clifford has already joked that he wishes he had a horse so fast as Adria’s tongue. At least, the party thinks he was joking.

Bubbly and friendly, like Nine, Adria has taken young Constance under her wing and already introduced her to the art of “slumming it”. It is largely due to her efforts that the party has been able to enlist the aid of Young Morton and calmed Constance enough for her to become a useful member of the party rather than a screaming impediment. Her enthusiasm for a caper is infectious, and her sassy attitude keeps everyone in high spirits.

Bagson son of Bagmore: Dwarf Male Battle-Sorcerer 1

An unusual member of his species, Bagson seems at first glance to be a very orderly individual. However, this Bastard-sword wielding spell-caster is as foul-mouthed as it is possible for a dwarf to be. Though valiant and brave, he has already managed to disgust Constance and Adria to the extent that Constance at least has begun to despise and distrust him. His lewd and suggestive comments have yet to obviously trouble the rest of the party over-much, yet Clifford in particular seems to frown upon the dwarves obscenity. Thutson however, seems to find him quite amusing.

Clifford of Hard-dale. Human Male Favoured Soul (Sovereign Host) 1

Although not the brightest member of his species, for some reason Clifford seems blessed by the Gods. A member of the city watch in his home town of Hard-Dale and a veteran of the Last War, Clifford remembers being “elected” the town priest not long after he returned from the Wars. Clifford (never Cliff) vaguely remembers having been far brighter before taking the head wound that saw him discharged from Aundair’s army, and seems somewhat saddened by the slowing of his wit and speech. Clifford rarelyy speaks as a result of his embaressment. But when he does speak,the others have learned to listen, for good sense invariably follows.

Constance Amber D’Cannith, Female Human Artificer 1:

A first year student and disciple of Baron Merrix D’Cannith, her inexplicable fear of the man is overshadowed only by her idolising devotion. Amber (or Constance, she goes by either name) is a delightful and charming young woman. She is intelligent and vivacious, but has a lot to learn about how the world works. The lass will likely shed a few more tears- and illusions- along the way. Though bookish, she is charming and seems to be thoroughly impossible to dislike. A seventeen year old darling only child of elderly parents - parents she tearfully can barely remember- she has quickly become the darling of the entire party.

The last thing she remembers before joining the rest of the party is attending a costume ball in honour of her seventeenth birthday.

“Nine”. 9-60160. Male personality Warforged Fighter 1:[b/]

[b] Ruz: Male Changeling, Beguiler level 1:

Ruz is a soft-spoken changeling who seems to take a very moral attitude to the use of his racial abilities to deceive others, wearing his own form as much as possible. He appears to be a voice for reason and planning within the group and the others have very quickly learned to listen to his sound advice and judgement. The clever changing favours subtlety and intelligence over brute force and rash action. He is already growing into a leadership role within the party.

Thutson. Half-Orc Barbarian 1

Thutson is a mountainous piece of muscle. Though a member of the the Tribes of the Demon-Wastes, he can recall little of his past life - or how he came to be where he is. The outside world in which he finds himself seems strange to Thutson, and so rather than display his ignorance he has elected to keep his mouth shut for the time being. In this, he has shown himself to be far more canny than the others realise. Something of an oddity, he generally works well with the group despite his incommunicative nature. However, he is nothing if not reckless, and has already charged into combat once while the rest of the party clearly intended to stand their ground.

Next Post: Session One