"Why are you always so grumpy Gand, I assume that is yor name, this is great. There is honor in battle at least in my people. Maybe not for your huntsmen, perhaps?" Jay asks while flicking out a drive and downloading every book and file from about 6500-8500 years ago. "Even Mandalore the Knowledgeable came here, what I study hiatory, is that a problem?" Jay shakes his head, "Come on, that is offensive. Anyway there is some doohicky over thre that looks kinda unstable, but is alot newer than everything else here." He points to some object in one of the corners.

"It is a sign of greatness amongst our people to be capable in combat, but slaughter is not the only method of victory. In fact slaughtering your opponent is often the hardest way to win. Much less energy is required if you can convince them to join your side, that was my speciality. I would outmanoeuvre my foe, put them into a position of inevitable loss, awe them with my ability to outthink them. Then before the final blow i would offer them the chance to join my side, mostly that worked."

"The one that came here was not looking for war stories, the outsider was never looking for glory, but looking for ways to be more effective. He wanted to find methods of victory against the odds, of ways to survive the unsurvivable. He was looking for ways to conquer without killing, after all he left here knowing that a living ally is more useful than a dead foe."

" 'My' huntsmen are contemptible slavers," Naught spits angrily at Jay, "Look around you: seven thousand years of 'honorable warriors' has turn this world into a blasted wasteland and nobody cares because no one can imagine anything better any more. Another seven thousand years of 'honorable hunstmen' and everyone on Gand will be owner or owned to the detriment of all. But by all means, carry on. Study your history to find better means of subjugation if that is the life you'd care to leave for your children." At this she throws up her hands and stalks off. To think I wanted to heal this world, Naught thinks bitterly to herself. Clearly they would rather revel in their scars.

"I meant no offense, I mearly meant that different societies have different ways of life. I have met, and sometimes fought, Gand Huntsmen and find them honorable warriors, and beigns. I don't think it is not our place, as visitors, to question the Krogans ways." Jay calls after Naught.

Khit and Jay spend some time looking for any clues to the recent visitors, looking through the camp area, even going outside. It's quite tough in the dark to find anything significant, and it's getting quite late now so the old weary eyes are struggling. But just as they are about to give in Jay spots something small in amongst the debris, a communicator of some sort. It looks to be for short range voice communication, but it's unfortunately seen better days, it looks like something inside has shorted out. The smell of burnt electronics is still strong, it can't have been here all that long. Most noticeable is the intricate etching spiralling around the device, without any clear image it seems to just be a decorative pattern, but one for which many hours where spent to create.

Larik sees Naught storm off and briefly considers going after her, but decides to let her go and find her center.

Letting Jay and Khit scrounge through the detritus, he again turns back to Brak.

"Lore Master, I mentioned there may be a way to continue your purpose, either for your own people or for another group that desperately needs a great mind in its war with an oppressive regime," he says. "Will you come with us, act as an adviser and let us help you reclaim your purpose?"

He knows Naught will not approve, but Larik thinks Brak might be a valuable asset, if nothing else than with further dealings with the other Krogans. It could be useful to have a bargaining chip with them.

Brak listens to your proposal, his interest increasing quickly as you offer for him to teach others, by the time you finish he is practically jumping to accept. "That would be fantastic, I have tutored many over the years including centuries of students at our Academy - I wonder if that still stands. Anyway we had students from all across the Galaxy come here to study... hmm one by the name of Tenebrae was a particular favourite of mine, I'll always remember his highly inquisitive nature - he would spend hours pouring over manuscripts and records even outside hours - alas he like everyone else was here just a few short years" he trails off for a little while, deep in thought again "Medriaas! That was the planet he came from, do you think we could visit that place if I come with you? Tenebrae always described it beautifully, it would be wonderful to see the open grassland for myself."

Larik feels a chill at the mention of the name, but he doesn't know why. Neither the name of the planet or the student are familiar to him, but still there's...something. Something making him uneasy, but just as quickly as it came, the feeling's gone and he breaks out his widest grin.

"Of course we can do that!" he says, trying to match Brak's enthusiasm. "But first we still have some unfinished business here on your home world."

Larik motions for Khit to come join him near Brak and hold up the item she and Jay recovered.

"My friends found this while trying to discover who was here a few days ago," he asks the holoprojection. "Does this pattern look at all familiar to you?"

"Oooh, that's old... very old. That is a pattern used by Krogan tribesmen old even to me. All members of the same tribe would etch the same pattern - unique to each tribe - into their personally important equipment. Then if a warrior fell in battle the victorious side would know who to return the items to for the honour of the family... That one looks to be of Kohid Maws family tribe, truly a unique and rare item indeed, your incredibly lucky to have that."

It's getting late, Brak guides you in how to activate his Holocron without the console systems. Translation may still be a challenge but at least you have a starting point. He then suggests "you should set a watch and get some sleep."

Did you introduce the Krogan to your new lore master? (No immediate consequences)

Who's taking first watch? (Average Vigilance or Perception - upgraded twice for your terrible observation during the day - and 2 setback for the dark, 1 more setback for your long day. DCCSSS )

Everyone gets some food into them, then settles down into their beds for the night, all except Larik. The fire slowly dies down and the darkness creeps in, strange shadows move and flicker in the orange glow. Wondering if it's a trick of the light Larik pulls his glow rod to help him see, and for a while that helps. Little noises can be heard every now and then, a rock loosing its balance and falling, the scuttle of tiny animals, even a larger wings creature suddenly takes flight and startles you as it disappears almost as quickly as it came. It's approaching 1am and its almost shift change when the glow rod suddenly dies, the light pool it had cast disappears and the following darkness seems almost hungry. Your eyes are tired and a couple of times you have caught yourself nodding off.

Roll an Upgraded Easy Vigilance with 2 setback for your tired state, let's see if you keep your eyes open!

Then one last time your eyes roll shut, head drooping down and sleep is upon you when you wake with a jump. Right before you is a creature, 4 legs, a black silky body, long feline tail and a vicious mouth full of razor sharp teeth. It's in mid leap when you awake and before you can react its attacking, but you realise it's not just one... It's many.

Lairk's eyes open just in time to see a creature pouncing at him. He's just barely awake enough to scramble away on hands and knees from the creature's claws but is knocked flat by its tail whipping around.

Getting up, he finds his center by opening up fully to the force and pulls his lightsaber from inside his jacket, the orange glow illuminating the area directly around him.

Lalam holds his head, the ringing in his ears and his dreams overshadowed by the sound of angry wild animals. He sits up and glares into the darkness. The few stars overhead illuminate little. Suddenly, off to the side, an orange bar of light springs to life. He moves closer to check it out.

The two Krogan are quick to react, trained warriors of this world learn to roll with what life gives you. The first kicks out with his feet as he gets up, then begins punching with all the ferocity of a caged lion, unfortunately the cat is a little to quick and dodges out of the way... right into one of the other cats, putting them both off balance. The second rolls out from under a cat almost into the fire, picking up a burning log as he stands, ready to swing at the next attack.

Khit is next to react. She draws her Pistol and without standing aims at the nearest feline. Pew, pew, pewpew, she opens fire on the beasts. The first is taken down with a shot to the head, crumpling in a heap, a second is shot through the chest as it leaps at the sleeping Naught, falling on top of her and hiding her from other predators, a third takes a heavy hit to the neck, it rears back in pain but hasn't fallen yet. The sudden barrage gives a moment of hesitation to the others, which ever PC acts next gets a Boost.

The Black Felines react quickly to this new threat. Leaping over rubble a group pounce on Khit, the rest closing in around her, slashing claws and biting. One manages to gouge a chunk out of her while another gives her a nasty laceration. The ferocity of the attack shocks Khit, pushing her back and forcing her to consider the compromised position she has found herself in.

Queg and his Weequay companion had awoken to the sounds of nearby snarls and shouts in the middle of the night. Their camp was on the outskirts of a long-abandoned city, not far from the crashed Imperial Star Destroyer that was their target. Well, the ship that was Queg's target at any rate. Queg readied himself for a fight, blaster rifle in his hands, and with his companion tried following the sounds of combat in the dark, a difficult task in and of itself.

"Here," Queg said, slowing down long enough to pull off his scanner goggles and offer them to Lalam. "Use these: you look like you might be able to notice more than I can down there," he admitted with reluctance.

Lalam looks over, startled. He forgot he had a companion, but it's starting to come back to him. He must have taken quite a beating on the way down...down from...where exactly? Space? He shakes his head to clear the ringing. This must be a friend...enemies don't hand over equipment. "Thanks", he says, taking the scanner goggles. "Nice equipment...Queg..." Pleased to remember something, he puts the goggles to his face and adjusts a few dials. "Let's see what is going on over there..."

Lalam looks through the goggles, eyes adjusting to the enhanced vision quickly. You scan the nearby area, noticing the flashes of red light and a constant orange glow coming from that large building just down the street. As you continue to scan you look the building over, there appears to be many still standing walls, but one end - the end closest to you - has collapsed partly. There, atop the mound of rubble you spot a single silhouette of a large figure. From this distance it appears to be some kind of humanoid mounted on a large four legged predator of some kind, its long tail low to the ground, both motionless in the dark, apparently observing whatever is happening within the building. The Humanoid looks to be in large robes and holds something long in their hands.

(You have stopped at roughly Long range from this individual, most of the terain is easy to cross from here to there, except the last little climb, short to engaged range, which will be difficult terrain to cross)

As you remove the goggles to hand them back the strap catches on one of your head spikes, and in the dark you accidentally snap it, whoops!

"Spast!" he curses, quietly. "Sorry Queg, I'll get you some new ones. But down the street a ways is some guy up on a pile of rubble, sitting on an animal. I wonder whose side he's on? Wanna check it out?"

Larik sees the feline creatures turn their attack to Khit after she expertly took a few down. Their ferocity is terrifying and he realizes he has to do something to help the Nautolan. Thinking back on what little he learned about wild animals, he remembers that unnatural sounds can sometimes confuse them and make them easier targets. With this in mind he swings his orange lightsaber wildly, not really expecting to make contact, but more to use the weapon's distinctive whine and hum distract the beasts and get them away from Khit.

He's pleased to see it work, notices an opening and resets himself into his favored attack stance, this time with every intention of taking down as many as he can.

"Gah! My scanner goggles...Don't worry. I'm sure I can replace or repair them later."

Lowering his voice to a whisper after Lalam describes what he sees, Queg says, "How about I fire at them, and you try to sneak in close? I'll try to keep an eye on them as you move."

Without waiting for a response, he aims his hunting blaster carefully at the mounted figure and squeezes the trigger. The bolt hits the mysterious figure, and Queg puffs out a sigh of satisfaction

"Gotcha..." Lalam sees the bolt hit and darts off to the side, staying low. Panting a bit and crouching behind the pile of ruins, he finds himself closer, picks up a piece of rubble and tosses it near and behind the mounted rider, hoping to cause a further distraction.