Chapter 3c: Follow the Vines

After Order 66, few Jedi dare to venture outside the shadows—rumors of the dark and terrible Darth Vader haunting even their waking moments. Yet, some Jedi find this life of fear unbearable. The Empire is always watching, and Vader himself is eager to confront any Jedi that might bring him closer to the whereabouts of his betrayer, Obi-Wan Kenobi.
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Shurijo
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Chapter 3c: Follow the Vines

Post by Shurijo » Sun Jan 31, 2021 6:09 pm

Image

The Polis Massa planetoid was located off the rimward edge of the Hydian Way. The astronavigation course to Iego took them coreward along the Hydian Way into the Colonies region. At Sarapin, they would switch lanes to the Trellen Trade Route, and then switch again at Zeltros to the Great Kashyyyk Branch, and finally a smaller route exiting at Junkfort Station. From there and with Iego located very far from any hyperspace route, they would travel the remaining distance using sublight engines over several hours. Janos and Shoshannah had been surprised looking at the initial astronavigation charts when they realized they would be returning to near same region they departed just over a month ago.

Physically located about halfway between Saleucami and Mon Calamari, the planet was considered on the fringe of the known galaxy and as remote as any civilized planet could be. Additionally, Jedi Shoshannah Nadeel recalls that the planet was once under Separatist rule.

Based on their shared knowledge of the Outer Rim territories, if not for the lack of hyperspace lane access, it would be a perfect planet for smugglers and spice runners. In fact, Jedi Knight Janos Tyree then recalls his Jedi Master telling him the planet's only known export was..., in fact, spice and that he should be careful since it was one of the many Outer Rim planets with criminals having more power and influence than local law enforcement.

The Jedi also believed the remote distance from any hyperspace route might allow them a bit more freedom since it was unlikely to have much of an Imperial presence on a remote, and seemingly unimportant, world.



After a half day of travel in hyperspace, Hedala Tolmen's wonder and amazement began to fade. This was her second ever hyperspace flight and she spent the first few hours looking out the viewports at the visual effects of hyperspace travel. Once her amazement wore off, she headed to the lounge and began to look through the ship for something to do.

After a while of searching, she discovered an old book and began reading. After all, Jedi Master Divak Tan only allowed her to go, if Jedi Shoshannah and Jedi Knight Janos would continue her studies which including learning how to read -- which the young girl seemed to be gifted at understanding the written word. Most citizens of the galaxy understood how to operate machinery and perform common tasks using common symbiology used for instructions and counting, but few understood how to read. News and instructions were often relayed verbally either in person, over holovids, or speaking with droids and other voice-recognition technologies.

Throughout the next two days, the youngling buried her head deep into the book. When Shoshannah asked her what she was reading, Hedala showed her the book. As the Jedi flipped through the pages, she became concerned when she didn't recognize any the language used by the book. In fact, the owner of the book, Janos, didn't recognize the language either.

When asked what the stories said, Hedala recounted stories about giant pyramidal ships taking all kinds of people from their homes and leaving them on a planet with two moons. There they were given special powers. She then goes on to say another ship crashed there and caused big storms, so everybody had to leave. She also says another story talks about doors or gates (she switches back and forth between those words) where people could walk through and go to different worlds.

When Janos remarked that he was told the title of the book was "Tale of the Expedition" and he hadn't yet browsed it, Hedala laughed and said that he was incorrect. Removing the outer wrapping, she shows the hidden cover written in the same ancient and unknown script. Running her finger over the symbols, she says "See, it says History of Jee Dayee. I think that's how you say it. I think that's someone's name. It's spelled J-e then d-a-i-i. I like her name, she tells lots of stories. Some sounded scary, so I skipped those."



Image

"Wow. I've never knew there could be so many moons in all the galaxy!" Hedala exclaims, not noticing the debris mixed within the moons. "They are so pretty."

Looking through the front viewport of The Zillo's Shadow, Janos, Shoshannah, and youngling Heldala Tolmen look in wonder at the moons of Iego. Their journey from Polis Massa to Iego had taken them just over two standard days. The moon belt surrounding Iego consisted of nearly a thousand moons. However, the sensors on The Zillo's Shadow revealed more than a thousand object orbiting the planet.... Remains of near fifty destroyed starships float between the moons and other large inactive mechanical debris. Long range sensors indicate a few scavenger ships harvesting the debris.

Looking over the scanners, Janos notices the scavenger ships are located along the only visible clear path through the debris. He believes the ship could attempt to travel through the debris field, if he takes a slow approach. However, the easier path would be to enter through the route seemingly already cleared for traffic.

The ship's map shows a city named "Cliffhold" to be the largest city and a major spaceport.

Astrogation - "take 10", no danger and no rush, when used in combat/danger, adv/threat will reduce rounds to jump and failure/success indicates failure/success (more successes, the faster the travel time).

Knowledge (Outer Rims) -
Shoshannah = 1y 3g 3p = 1 success, 1 adv
Janos = 3g 3p = 1 failure, 1 threat

Knowledge (Warfare) -
Shoshannah = 4g 3p = 3 success, 1 threat
Janos = 3g 3p = 2 failure, 4 adv

Underworld
Shoshannah = 4g 4p = 1 threat
Janos = 1y 2g 4p = 1 success, 4 threats

Space Piloting - TBD

Notes -
* a more detailed scan would be needed to reveal any additional data about debris;
* you'll need to either go slow through the debris or head to the opening
* going through the debris will require piloting checks to avoid becoming part of the debris

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Othniel
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Chapter 3c: Follow the Vines

Post by Othniel » Mon Feb 01, 2021 1:35 am

Janos was surprised at the title of the book. "Jedaii" was suspiciously close to "Jedi," and he knew enough about languages to discount it as a coincidence out of hand. Perhaps the masters would have insight upon their return.

"Shoshannah, we have two options here," Janos says, piloting the ship. "I'm a fair pilot, but I'm not sure I'd trust myself to steer us through the debris field without at least a few dents in the hull. Option two is through the path. Easy to set up a trap there, of course."

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Chapter 3c: Follow the Vines

Post by Muskrat » Mon Feb 01, 2021 7:43 pm

After Hedala explained the contents of the book, Shoshannah sat down next to her. "I'm impressed," she says. "You seem to have a real gift for languages. How did you figure out how to read that on your own so quickly?" Indeed, the girl's gift seemed uncanny. Shoshannah wondered if she was somehow able to use the Force to decipher languages. She tried recalling if she had ever heard of such an ability.
Intellect 4/ Lore 2
****
As the came near Iego, Shoshannah studied the situation. "My main worry about taking the obvious, easy way in is those scavenger ships. We know this planet is run by organized crime. What if they decide they want to scavenge our ship? We may need to bribe our way through. Do we have any cargo we could offer them if there's trouble?"

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Chapter 3c: Follow the Vines

Post by Shurijo » Mon Feb 01, 2021 8:42 pm

Shoshannah Lore check
skill 2y 2g
diff 4p
result 1 success
Shoshannah recalls from her youngling education at the temple that the Jedi were originally called Je'daii. The ancient Je'daii Order contained the light, dark, and the balance, but it eventually split between the light and the dark. She also remembers that the the Jedi Code is loosely based on the ancient tenets of the Je'daii Code. However, she can't exactly recall the details about the ancient Order or their philosphies.

She also remembers a Force ability that few Jedi Masters had perfected called Comprehend Speech based on the Theran Force-listening technique. During the Clone Wars, Jedi Masters Mace Windu and Obi-Wan Kenobi used this telepathic technique to understand speakers of unfamiliar languages. She doesn't recall anyone having an ability comprehending an unknown written language; however, she might assume it could be some hybrid combination of Psychometry (a mental technique of having visions when touching an object) and Theran Force-listening/ Comprehend Speech that has begun to manifest in the youngling. If anyone knew anything about such an ability, it is likely the Jedi archivist Jocasta Nu might have employed such Force sensitives in translating ancient manuscripts. The ability would have been more useful in the libraries and Jedi Exploration Corps than on the battlefield.

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Chapter 3c: Follow the Vines

Post by Muskrat » Tue Feb 02, 2021 10:35 pm

Shoshannah tells Hedala, "Keep working with this gift for reading you have. Your ability to pick up strange writings like this is very rare and it's a blessing from the Force."

When she joins Janos in the cockpit, Shoshannah tells him, "I think Hedala has a very unusual gift, being able to use the Force to read unknown languages. In normal circumstances, she's probably work for the Jedi Order as an archivist or maybe an archaeologist or the like." She sighs. "But I suppose we'll have to adjust that normal circumstances may never come back. Still, here gift may be eventually prove of immense use."

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Chapter 3c: Follow the Vines

Post by Othniel » Wed Feb 03, 2021 4:23 am

"Indeed it may," Janos responds. "It may be the path the Force leads her on," he adds. "Being a Jedi is very dangerous right now."

"I think we should take the clear path, by the way. As I said before, I'm a fair pilot, not a great one. And not taking the path may draw undue interest anyway."

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Chapter 3c: Follow the Vines

Post by Muskrat » Wed Feb 03, 2021 9:56 pm

Shoshannah sighs and says, "True enough. Let's just be prepared for trouble."

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Chapter 3c: Follow the Vines

Post by Shurijo » Thu Feb 04, 2021 1:45 pm

Janos and Shoshannah decide to take the cleared path through the debris field. As they pass by the scavenger ships, an automatic message is sent to them via short wave comm frequency. The transponder designation of the sending ship is displayed as the "StarScavenger."

Welcome to Freemaker Salvage and Repair.
We specialize in finding the hard to find
and re-energizing the obsolete.

Why buy new when we can save you credits
with quality revitalized salvage?

Asteroid damage? Blaster Scoring?
We can buff that right out.

Freemaker Salvage and Repair is also
a full service hanger for speeders,
shuttles, fighters, and light cruisers.

Conveniently, located on the middle ring
of The Wheel in the Besh Gorgon system.

FREEMAKERS! THE NAME SAYS IT ALL!
Contact via Secure Comm Channel: RlJFRU1BS0VS


As the unsolicited advertisement plays, Janos continues piloting the Zillo's Shadow towards the planet.




Image


As the city of Cliffhold comes into view, they spot several landing pads placed around the edges of town. The spaceport city is built directly into the face of a basalt cliff.

"Wow! That's so cool. I've never seen buildings like that before." Hedala says as Cliffhold comes into view.

There's little activity in the city and spaceports. A handful of ships are spotted arriving the departing the spaceport, but they are only a fraction of what might be possible. It is possible that the debris field had a major impact on the economy and well-being of the planet. With a route being cleared by the salvagers, the city is slowly returning back to it's former liveliness.

As the group lands, they spot large Aurebesh lettering on several buildings. The text displayed on the buildings read Sivousplay, Kristal Skull, Iego City Hall, Iego Casino, Frontier Inn, and Cirusci Cus.

The Zillo's Shadow sets down softly atop one of the landing pads. There's little to no activity near their landing area.

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Chapter 3c: Follow the Vines

Post by Othniel » Fri Feb 05, 2021 5:38 am

"Okay. Remember, we are not Jedi except at greatest need. No lightsabers in sight." As if to emphasize the point, Janos straps on his blaster. "We should come up with a cover story for our purpose here before we head out. Thoughts? Something involving research perhaps?"

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Chapter 3c: Follow the Vines

Post by Shurijo » Fri Feb 05, 2021 6:33 pm

Hedala smiles at Janos and then turns her glances to Shoshannah. "My mom and dad are dead, but you can pretend to be my parents." She states as she smiles at the two. "I'll go get the shovel! We're going to need one to dig up roots." Hedala says before running off to the ship's storage area to look for a shovel.

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