Chapter 5: The Game Within the Game

The Twi'lek bartenders bounce between customers, filling drink orders while flashing toothy smiles and ample bosoms. Tressa catches Otho's sideways smirk and slides to a stop in front of him, her glitter-dusted head-tails cascading over her slender blue shoulders.

"I remember you!" She beams, leaning over the bar and giving the veteran merc an eyeful. "You ordered a Rancor Spit the other night. Well I looked it up. That ain't even a real drink! But me and Jiss were thinking about how nasty that sounds and then we decided to try to invent it with all the hardest stuff we got. Wanna try it?" She winks and leans on one hip, beckoning the other girl with a finger. Jiss sees Otho, laughs, then skips over to her coworker, grabbing two unmarked bottles from under the bar on her way. The two conspirators giggle as they line bottle after bottle on the bar in front of Otho, building a wall of glass and dark elixirs between him and them. Then, from through the murky wall, the distorted shape of a mixer is set down, and one by one the bottles are tipped over it.

"No, this one before that one," says Jiss. "And then that one before, hehe, you know?"

"Oh, I almost forgot!" replies Tressa. Laughter.

As the wall is deconstructed Otho looks about. There isn't a person in the entire Lounge that isn't giving this spectacle at least some attention. Finally the last bottle is lifted and a splash of metallic blue liquid trickles into the plasteel mixer. A sizzling sound precedes a whiff of grey smoke from the vessel. The girls shriek and clap, head-tails flailing in their glee. Tressa retrieves a flat polished stone saucer, placing it front of Otho. Then she takes the mixer and slowly starts to turn it over, smiling at Otho the whole time. The immediate contingent draws breath and holds it. But as she turn it completely over, nothing spills out. She laughs, then slams the mixer down on the saucer. With two hands she gives it a hard twist, then withdraws the mixer, leaving behind a translucent brown puck of gelatin. Jiss reaches in and flicks a lighter, and the blob catches red flame.

"A Rancor Spit!" They squeal in unison. "Slide it into your mouth like this," explains Tressa, sticking out her tongue and pretending to hold the saucer as she tilts her head back. "Try it!"

Chapter 4: The White Suns

Taro Afar leaves shortly after introductions. He seems pleased with the ease at which the group has accepted their new security specialist. He reiterates that he will be available at the Red Diamond Metrotel anytime they need anything, within reason. Given the current course of the mission, he expects to hear back from the group in a day or two.

The group is pretty hungry, and it turns out Jek is a halfway decent cook of rather bland food, which is all that is on hand in the Elysium Pale galley. The power situation aboard ship is at critical, so the pilot uses a couple thermo canisters he is able to scrounge from the galley supply closet. The last of the Corellian Ale is consumed along with about half of the remaining foodstuff. Jek tells Rex to add groceries to the list of things they need before they can finally leave Red Barren. The droid looks at him blankly, then fires off a heated exchange that only Jek and Joyhal understand. Where the droid learned to curse like that they can only guess. "Uh, we need groceries," announces Jek meekly. "Just so we don't forget."

There are enough bunks for everyone, leaving the captain's bunk vacant. Somebody snores, but you're all so tired you quickly fall asleep.

"Beep beep beep!" Announces Rex. The morning has come too soon.

You all lumber out of your bunks and take turns in the head, then promptly gear up. The rest of the MREs are distributed - one ration per person. A water bladder is scavenged and filled. Masks are affixed and the ramp is lowered. Rex beeps at you from inside the ship as you step out. He is staying behind for this one.

White Suns Base
Scale: 1 Square = 20 Meters (Click image to see larger map)

Chapter 3: Ember of Rebellion

Battle Station "DS-1"
Diameter = 120 Kilometers (Click image to see larger map)

OOC: Each of you has earned 10 Skill Points! The cost to improve an Attribute is 10X current value. Cost to improve a basic Skill is 3X current value. Cost to improve a Skill Specialization is 2X current value. Remember that the current value of any skill you have not previously improved is equal to that skill's corresponding Attribute score. Ex. If your Perception score is 3D and you have not allocated any points to Bargain, then your Bargain skill defaults to 3D. To improve Bargain to 4D will cost you 3X the current value, so 9 skill points. Please update your character sheets with your skill improvements. Unused skill points can be saved and allocated any time. Make note of any unused skill points on your character sheet.

Caveat: You can only improve Skills you have used since the last time skill points were awarded. If you did not use a skill you had no opportunity to improve it. During downtime, if you want to exercise any of your lesser-used skills, simply post to that effect. Email me with any questions.

Chapter 2: Rushtown

Rushtown, Red Barren
Scale: 1 Square = 100 Meters (Click image to see larger map)

With the Elysium pale safely docked, it isn't long before a trio of floating security droids hover across the ship, scanning for contaminants. Across the passive comm, a voice cracks throughout the ship: "Docking fee of 100 credits per day will be levied, payable immediately prior to departure. Failure to pay the fee will result in termination, courtesy of Davika Corporation's orbiting assault corvette. If you require assistance with cargo transport, the console at the bay door will connect you with today's transportation company of choice, Xpeedy Haulers. Port facilities are to the north and the city proper is a long or short walk to the east, depending on how many legs you have. Additional personal transportation options can be called from the console. Good day."

Red Diamond Metrotel, Rushtown
Scale: 1 Square = 5 Meters (Click image to see larger map)

EPISODE 1: ESCAPE FROM RED BARREN - Chapter 1: The Elysium Pale

"Elysium Pale" YT-1300 Light Freighter
Scale: 1 Square = 2 Meters (Click image to see larger map)

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...

Character Template
Otho Martel
Red Farroway
Java Lindell
Page Evilsizor
Jek Ronfanar
Joyhal Bowewil