Star Wars

The Mercenary March

Disaster has struck the galaxy! The Republic has crumbled, and has been replaced by a merciless galactic EMPIRE.

Any resistance is quickly quelled, and any sign of weakness is soon crushed. Those who protect the weak have found that it is better to do so secretly. A small number of elite mercenaries, bounty hunters, outcasts, and ex-gladiators have crashed on a lone, unimportant, Outer Rim World. Fighting through the Dangerous, Deadly, Destructive, Deserted, Daunting, Devious Desert, they have found a small town, ransacked by pirates.

As you stumble into the town, finding(and drinking) the nearest source of water, you hear shouting and blaster shots coming from what is presumably the town center. You hurry there, and once you arrive you see a lone man shooting at 7 swoop riders. Once you see the riders, you start firing at them and the man. The swoop riders fly away, but the man turns his gun on you, albeit he's not firing, Names Teleth, who are you and what do you want? He asks.

The trek from through the desert was a difficult one for Ping. It wasn't the lack of food, for he was able to fast for upto a week at a time, nor was it the lack of water, although he was getting quite dehydrated. It was the heat. While he was not raised on a cool planet, but he knew he wasn't made for this level of heat. Sweating profusely with dust and dirt stuck to his skin, he was glad to see there was a town insight.

The bitter water at the edge of town helped his thirst, but seems to have just smeared the dirt over his face. However even with the ill-fated trip, the crash on a desolate planet, the heat and lack of food and water didn't quell his personality. He remained optimistic and light-hearted throughout the hike to civilization. His energetic personality, sometimes called 'sporadic' or even 'impulsive,' still shown through.

And now with the blaster fire from in the town, a curious smile came across his face as he lept into action. Light on his feet the youthful Besalisk rapidly made his way to the center of the action. Even as he approached his experience with weapons began to give him an idea of the number of fighters. However being relatively unarmed, so to speak (for someone with 4 arms), he held cover in a position close enough to monitor the situation.

"the man turns his gun on you, albeit he's not firing, Names Teleth, who are you and what do you want? He asks."

Remaining calm and non-threatening Ping generally ignores the gun leveled at him. In his usual excited manner he blurts out, "My name is Ping. My colleagues and I have just happened upon your town at our hour of need."

Immediately though he jumps to another topic, something that doesn't surprise the others in his group. "They were not very friendly. Are they always that way? Are they your friends? They didn't act like your friends. Shooting blasters rarely solves problems. Well, it solves SOME problems, but not the good kind of problems" By now he has all four arms gesturing wilding and he only pauses to get a breathe in.

​They're a motely group of pirates, and slavers. So yeah they're definitely not my friends. Now, I'll give you to the count of Ten for the rest of you to introduce yourselves, and state why you're here. Or bang you're all dead.

Seeing that this human is a grumpy sort didn't put Ping off his light-hearted manner.

Starting with one he puts his arms up, one at a time, in an over-dramatic and non-serious way until all four were up. Smiling he says, "Hang in there, I am not armed," although wearing his shield on his back, no blaster is seen on his belt, and no other armament is seen, "or should I say, I a all-armed." He laughs a little but sees that his levity falls flat.

"My name is Ping. I have fallen from the skies when our ship crashed on your lovely," Ping tries not to sound sarcastic, "planet. You may call me 'Ping of the Sky'." Still not breaking the hardened face of the gunman he adds, "just 'Ping' is fine."

Metharom seats himself against a low wall, propping himself on his shyarn as if it were a cane.

"I am Metharom, friend. I have no quarrel with you."

Though heated under the harsh and direct sun, the water did much to cool Paya and slaked her thirst. She would be careful to take only what she needed as it was not her water, nor in fact even her planet.

The zabrak would likely be among the last to arrive at the scene of the commotion and would study the swoop bikers as carefully as she could while they roared past. Her gaze would then fall to Teleth and his firearm. "Be mindful of where you point your weapon, one could be sincerely and grievously wounded."

A quiet sigh through the nose at the besalisk she had traveled with, "You are always armed if you maintain a healthy body. For all it may be worth, Teleth, I am Paya Tes. Currently a wanderer."

Kolah hated deserts, more than anything. Well ..... maybe not more than .....anything. Though deserts ranked very high on his list of planets and environments he hated being on. The sight of a town brought some relief to him as he knew he'd be running low on supplies soon if he had been forced to trek much longer. He took out his handkerchief and lifted the brim of his wide hat to wipe away some sweat before letting the hat settle on his head once more and tucking the handkerchief into his vest pocket. Looking for relief however would have to wait however as the sounds of blaster fire signified trouble was a foot. He unslung his rifle and turned the corner to the center of town watching as the swoop bikes sped away. He took careful aim, intending to take down one of the swoop bikers, before his attention was drawn to the man now pointing a gun at him.

He swivels his raised rifle to Teleth as he takes a step back.

"The name is Lord Kolah. I didn't come here looking for trouble but I suggest you lower your weapon before you're shot."

The heat of the desert had made Jost Krin sweat profusely inside of his armor. He had to remove his helmet to take in the water, keeping it in his free hand with a tight grip. Taking just a moment to wash the dirt from his horns before fitting his helmet around them and back on his head. An alert signals from inside the armors helmet, DANGER DANGER! Jost hurried and moved to the source of the alert. A gunfight had broke out and Jost is caught in it. Standing of awe of machines Jost had only known as "swoops". He snapped back into focus as a blaster shot bounced off his armor. A quick wave of his hand sends a few small rocks at the swoop bikers before they turn and run. Jost grabbed his left horn in the crude way only his people normally find offensive trying to taught the already gone bikers.

With the remaining gunman holding his gun out looking for answers, Jost put his hands in the air. He tried to answer the man even with his voice muffled from his helmet, "Name is Jost Krin. A passenger onboard a now crashed ship. It was never my intention of ending up... uh... here?" He glanced around at this foreign land before continuing. "Where is here anyway?"

Gakan had suffered the least in the desert of his companions, his phsyiology was better suited for the harsh climate and he was no stranger to hardship. Still the settlement was relief even if the reception was lacking. He took measure of the situation and couldn't help noticing the Iktotchi use of the force to hurl rocks, that was something to be discussed later.

"My name is Gakan and we are in need of shelter. " He answered while watching the two gunmen face off.

Teleth spins his pistol on his finger before bolstering it. "Welcome to Reln, if you want to get off this planet you're going to have to kill those PIRATES." Teleth responds. He then walks away towards the saloon.

Paya narrows her eyes at Teleth as he walks away into the nearby building. "Well, that was abrupt."

"Great ........." then a little lower "juuuuuussst great ..... a pirate hunt. All we need now is Gammeroian ninjas" Though the idea of a saloon wasn't bad. He followed Teleth inside and then moved towards the bar. He wrapped his knuckles on the bar twice "What's whiskey you have in the house" addressing the bar keep "and smokes if you have any"

"We have Corrilean whisky, and Llum." The bartender replies.(I can post more later.)

(To rewind just a bit)

Kane told himself he didn't mind the heat so much. It brought back vague memories - more likely impressions in the Force - of his childhood and his home planet.

His stomach rumbled and his dry mouth brought him out of his reverie.

That and the blaster fire. Kane observed the scene looking for clues as to who was attacking whom....

When the ruffians ran off and Kane had a pistol pointed at him, he responded to Teleth's pointed question:

"Names Kane. It looks like you're in need of allies and not more enemies. I'm no friend of pirates."

Jost follows Teleth into the saloon. Pausing for a moment thinking if he will even fit on the fragile barstool in his heavy armor. He decides standing will have to do and leans against the bar. The water had been enough for now and didn't order a drink. He family had not let him consume intoxicants and he didn't think this would be the best place to start.

Trying to strike up a conversation with Teleth and maybe get some answers about this new place he started to speak. "Reln you say Teleth? I've never heard of such a place. What do those pirates want with this town? How will dealing with them get us off this rock?"

This town is built on an ancient treasure ship, the main part of it is under the saloon, the rest is scattered. And the males here possess above average strength. On the subject of getting off this forsaken place, they have a couple ships.

Ping was glad to see that Teleth was not interested in shooting him, at least not yet. Of course the day is young.

In the saloon Ping took a good look around. He wasn't sure why he did that, likely his life experience or some such, but he really didn't ponder it much. Besides he usually just waiting for events to land in his lap before noticing a problem. 'Makes it easy to know who's trying to kill ya'

"One large blue milk my good man" He asks the bartender

Ping stood up straight, trying to look older so that drinking a drink more for nutrition seemed acceptable.

"Thank you"

He simultaneously pays for his drink with one hand, grabs it with another, sticks a hand in the snack bowl and scratches his head.

He then asks the bartender, "So besides shooting at pirates, what does this town do for fun?"

Then in his typical distractible way he also starts a conversation with Teleth, "So tell us more about these raiders you keep fighting off."

Kolah places his bag by the side of his stool as he nods. "I'll have the Corrilean whisky" he said as he settled down, glad to be off his feat and in some place much much cooler than the desert he was in before they found this town.

Although the cool shade of the saloon is appealing, especially after a long trek through the heat, Metharom turns his attention instead to the town. What is this town like, and what is the condition of its residents after the pirate attack? he wonders, looking around to get answers.

"So Teleth", Kane began as he sat up at the bar near Teleth, "are you the law around here? Or just a concerned citizen? It takes a lot of guts to take on that many pirates..."

Paya watched as the lone gunman marched to the saloon, and she eyed him carefully. "Curious," she muttered to herself quietly. Her hand, the real one, rose up and she ran her fingertips over her scalp, between the horns on her head, and offered a quick brush through her black hair.

Everyone else poured into the saloon as well, save for Methanol whom she watched for a few moments. It seemed they had a similar line of thought; Paya would walk through the town cautiously, keeping her eyes open for other people, animal, and machinery.

(I would like to make a perception check, difficulty?)

I'm not the law here, there is no law here. I came here because these pirates have tormented be for my entire life. Teleth responds, And now I'll get my revenge.

Not wanting to continue on in this town without a plan of action. Jost cut in on Kane and Teleth. "Whats your plan for revenge Teleth? I am sure you want them dead, but how would we be able to attack them without dying foolishly ourselves?" Jost began to let down his guard as everyone relaxed inside the saloon. He even removed his helmet. Setting it on the bar in front of him, he still rested his hand on it though. With few possessions, the armor and helmet he received from his mentor would never leave his control.

Jost continued on, his voice no longer muffled by this head gear, "I can not speak for everyone but I for one am willing to join you as long as it will get us out of here. If we need that ship of there to get out of here, how would we even go about getting it?"

"What, I plan to kill everyone of them eventually." Teleth tells Jost, "As per how we would get it, I am going out there in a few days, I have finally found their base. Care to join me?"