Episode One: The Jedi Academy

[dorkknight23]

Tala ignored Darrius' groveling and asked, softly and succinctly, "What can you teach us, Master? What lore of the Order do you have access to?"

[wildknight]

The tentacles protruding from the Feeorin Master's head moved in a way that might have been communicative, but none of them knew of the Feeorin language or habits. He dipped his head thoughtfully.

"This holocron holds much which might be useful to one wishing to learn the ways of the Jedi. Much that was once held in our most sacred libraries at Ossus, Dantooine, and other worlds. But I spent my years as a chronicler, a cataloguer, if you will. I have studied the many heresies, the many false visions of The Force. I have traveled the length and breadth of the galaxy, communing with schools both bening and malignant. This is my area of expertise, as well as the ancient and hidden technique of Sha'quar Ba."

[manticore]

Kyrin suppressed a mischievous desire to ask the Feeorin Master how he kept his tentacles so silky smooth and fine-looking. She'd sit back and let the Jedi wannabes do whatever it was they'd came here to do.

[Cernunnos]

Darrius still sat at attention, and took it all in briefly before replying. Although he had no knowledge of the things the master spoke about he was more than willing to listen and learn as long as the teacher was willing to instruct.

“Oh great and powerful Master, with all due respect… in order for one to learn the true nature of the Force… one must open themselves up and learn the various ways of the Force, including ways that are not the true Force! I believe… if you could impart some of your studies of false teachings and heresies as well as what you do know of the Force that is… then I am sure that I can discern the ways of the true Force. With you as my teacher… I know that I can become an exceptional student of this Force. I might even learn to further master the technique in which you excel.”

[wildknight]

The long-dead master snorted.

"Never begin a statement with 'with all due respect.' It only alerts your target that you believe you already know more than they. I am sworn to uphold and instruct the way of the Jedi. I would no sooner help someone become a heretic than I would give a lightsaber to an infant.

"There are many paths to The Force, whether it is called by that name or no. But only the way of The Jedi holds all aspects in proper balance."

The "Master" looked over those gathered, and shook its head. "All so old. So old to begin the training. There are those in the Order who believe we should be collecting infants, training only those we discover at a very young age. But so long as my voice is heard at Counsel, we will endeavor to teach everyone who has the spark within them. It seems that your training has fallen to me, or have I misunderstood something?"

[Cernunnos]

“Much apologies Master Anrit. I am only eager to begin training. Yes… we will be your only students… for now. It seems as if the ‘Chosen One’ brought balance to the Force as foretold in prophecies… however at a tremendous cost. The Sith are no more… but the Jedi are few! Only a handful remain… and our duty is to collect those who are Force sensitive and train them in the ways of the Jedi. You Master… you will be instrumental in the vital reconstruction of a new Jedi Order. With your knowledge… and instruction… together we will bring in a new wave of Jedi! Together we will teach them the true Force! Yes Master… the future of the Jedi will be forged together!”

[manticore]

While it was amusing watching Darrius acting like a cringing lickspittle, Kyrin's attention span was wandering and she was getting bored...

That was never a good thing.

[wildknight]

The ancient master's tentacles quivered again. "I know of this prophecy, though I put no stock in such things myself. But tell me... what is this 'sith' of which you speak?"

[dorkknight23]

Tala regarded Darrius as if he were insane. As a matter of fact, that's exactly what she thought. It seemed clear he was from a time before the schism of the First Jedi-Sith War.

"Ignore him," she says flatly, casting him a look, "You said you learned of other paths of the Force. What traditions were these? What did you learn from them to help you on your own path?"

[manticore]

Kyrin yawned. Obviously, this whole meeting had nothing to do with her. She wasn't being considered for Jedi training, so it was meaningless to her; she might as well go somewhere and do something else.

[wildknight]

The rest of the trip to Nar Shadaa was spent on instruction. Master Anrit tended to use stories from his personal journeys as illustrations when trying to make a point, but his understanding of the philisophical foundations of the Jedi Order was flawless, and peerless.

While his information was about 1,500 years out of date, it was obvious he had spent some time in conversation with the Skywalkers to get updated, as well. For those whose destiny lie with The Force, the tracks for their progress were being laid...

*****************************************************

The ship touched down on Nar Shadaa without incident, though later some of them might hear Kyle Katarn complaining about the amount of the bribe he'd been forced to pay for landing. What amounted to landing platforms here on Nar Shadaa, as it turned out, would barely have qualified as Public Transit Terminals on Coruscant, and even the relatively small vessel appropriated for this mission hung precariously off the edge of its berth.

Kyle looked them all over as they were preparing to leave the ship. "Remember, your communicators will keep you in touch with the ship, and we can put you in touch with any other member of the team. Under no circumstances should you use the planetary communications network... too dangerous.

"You guys find out if there are any Force Users hidden here, and lets get out of here. Something about this planet is giving me the chills."

As the team turned to leave their dock, they found themselves confronted by a mixed group of grizzled humans and aliens, 10 of them in-all, dressed in bright red work coveralls with black blast-vests and helmets. On each helmet and vest was painted a bright red 8-pointed star. The seeming leader, a trandoshan female, leveled her blaster at them. "You pay Red Star landing tax. Red Star breathing tax, too. You pay now." it snarled.

[manticore]

'Is that so?' Kyrin said, brightly. 'Really? Mm-hmm. It's always nice to meet a fellow professional!'

Possibly it would have been better to leave matters of negotiation to Kyle or Darrius or one of the others, but she couldn't resist...

'We're tax collectors, you see,' she explained. 'So, I guess we're in the same line of business, huh? And, well, I assume you've got all your paperwork in order. It's time for a really thorough audit!'

This had always worked on Coruscant. Even hardened criminals would recoil in terror and disgust upon being confronted by the tax collector come to take a slice of their ill-gotten gains. But, of course, that was no guarantee that it would work here...

Even if she couldn't trick these Red Star thugs into running away, confusing them was just as good. But it occurred to her that maybe this wasn't going to turn out all that well. She edged backwards, making sure that she could dive behind Jam if the situation turned nasty.

______________

Deception roll: 25 (18+7)

Persuasion roll: 10 (3+7)

And, in case everything goes sour...

Initiative roll: 23 (15+8)

______________
Initiative +8
Ref: 16 (flat-footed 13), Fort: 11, Will: 13
Passive Perception: 16 (Perception: 6)

[Cernunnos]

Feeling fresh from his training with Master Anrit, Darrius waved his hand in front of him.

“No. We will pay when we leave…”

He then, finishes with another suggestion.

“…Now, move along.”


===============================================================
Initiative: 13 (+6 modifier)
UTF: +7
“Passive” Perception: 17 (Perception: +7)
Defenses: Ref 12 (flat-footed 11), Fort 13, Will 14
HP: 19
Threshold: 13

Actions:
SA = Using the mind trick Force power to implant a suggestion. I am going to spend a Force point to improve the target’s attitude by one step, plus one additional step for every 5 points by which my Use the Force check exceeds the target’s Will Defense.
(Roll) = 12 invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2351523/ *Errrr… not good!*
MA = Move down the ramp and toward the men.
SwA = -Nothing-
FA = -Nothing-


Initiative: -Just in case-
(Roll) = 8 invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2351525/ *Damn… another bad roll*

[brainstem]

(OOC: Based on these die rolls, this is an "in case they failed" post; if either succeeded, I'll edit it to be different)

Seeing his allies flounder in front of these thugs, Jam intervenes.

"Wesa no wantin' trouble in here. How much money is de tax?" Hoping to calm the thug down, Jam prepares to begin negotiations that one of the others can, hopefully, wrap up. He gets on the defensive, however, in case things turn sour.

------
Initiative +8
Passive Perception 17
Defenses Ref 18, Fort 19, Will 13
HP 31
Threshold 24

Actions:
Standard Action: Attempt to talk down the Trandoshan (Persuasion roll: 17)
Minor Action: N/A
Swift Action: N/A
Free Action: Roll Initiative (Total 9 D:)

[wildknight]

The Trandoshan paused for a moment, looking each of them over. Their stories were conflicting, and as Darrius well knew, that was never good. But finally she snorted and waved a battle-scarred arm.

"You pay when leave. No try nothin' funny. Red Star not should be messed with!"

Although clearly uneasy with the decision, the others followed their leader as they walked away. The sound of applause came to them, and they saw a chadra fan

approaching them.

"You guys are smoooooth. I mean, you need a Jedi Mind Trick to get past the dumbest gang on all of Nar Shadaaa? Wow. You guys are toast."