April 27, 2014 - "Long Arm of the Hutt" - Completion of Act II & III

Ota, the Bothan spy, made arrangements for the party to head to Geonosis under the auspice that they are representatives of Ota, a noted "arms dealer".  They received formal invitations to Duke Piddock's party at his cantina, along with a myriad of other guests with business dealings with Piddock.  With all the mounting evidence the party has collected on Temmo, they hope to get a chance to share the info with the Duke and find out more of why he stopped having dealings with Teemo.  They also hope to sway Duke Dimmock from trading with Teemo and expose the Hutt's involvement in nefarious dealings with enemies of Geonosis, Ryloth, and Kashyyyk.


As the party enters the cantina, they are introduced to an assortment of different guests to Duke Piddock's celebration- a Sullustan jatz fan, a Toydarian socialite, a human female antique dealer named "Maru", two Corellian traders (male and female- appear to be twins), a secretive Gand named "Vrtt'xx", and Duke Piddock himself.  The party interacted with some of the party guests and had some interesting exchanges (most notably Cannar's meeting with Maru).  Kell was able to get some face time with the Duke and was successful in brokering a deal to buy Geonosisan blaster rifles, carbines, and pistols, and also sell a prototype weapon that Rendor put together. 


During the party, Bannis, "Doc" Blaylock, and a new party member, Altek, a Talz mechanic/heavy weapons/driver guru, entered to add to the festivities.  After a brief meeting with the whole group, Kell contacts the party via comlink and says that the Duke wants him to head over, with armed escort, to the weapons depot to preview their purchase, prior to the morning exchange of currency and weapons.  Kell assures them he's ok and heads out with the Duke's protocol droid and a couple of heavily armed warrior drones.  Shortly after Kell leaves the cantina, Raarwa notices the Gand is looking at his wrist for a bit and then heads out of the cantina quickly.  As they attempt to pursue the Gand, the Duke stops the party to enjoy a toast with him and celebrate their recent business transaction.  Maru, who was talking to the Duke just before the interruption, was noticeably mad that the Duke's attention was turned away from her.  And the add insult to injury, "Doc" makes a surprise move to the bandstand, picks up a kloo horn, and does a masterful rendition of a jatz standard called "Corellian Nights".  Maru is even more infuriated, but the Duke and the other party members just stand amazed at the unknown musical talent and expertise that "Doc" is displaying on stage.  While the performance is a bt of a distraction to the Duke, some of the party members sneak out of the cantina to try and follow the Gand.


As the head through the streets and passageways in search for tracks, they come to an area near an alleyway and notice some blaster shot in the stone wall on one side of the street, opposite the nearby alleyway.  They also see drag marks heading over to a nearby loft building.  Sensing danger, the party decides to contact Kell, Cannar, and "Doc" to alert them to what they have found so far.  Cannar and "Doc" respond, but Kell's comm channel is noticeably silent.  When all of the party has assembled at the location, minus Kell of course, they begin by investigating the tops of nearby buildings.  Altek, heads over to the door where the drag marks lead to and opens it- a sudden explosion blasts Altek back about 10 meters and singes his fur.  Almost in concert with the explosion, several nearby loft doors open up and a bounty hunter ambush is revealed   Several notable combatants jump at the chance to bring in the party for bounties and profits:

• Magus, a human bounty hunter and Death Watch member, noted for killing Siri Tachi, a Jedi Master who was a secret love interest of Obi Wan Kenobi.
• Krazla, noted Weequay bounty hunter
• Vrtt'xx, the Gand bounty hunter from the cantina party, now revealed to be a part of the ambush
• Pqweeduk, brother of famed Rodian bounty hunter Greedo the Younger
• Trex, a Trandoshian  the notorious bounty hunter who has been a thorn in the side of the party since the onset.  Major hitman for Teemo the Hutt.

An epic battle ensues, leaving the party wounded, stunned in some cases, but victorious.  Trex, Magus, and Pqweeduk are captured, while Vrtt'xx and Krazla fall in the skirmish.  A flurry of Geonosian guards bring the party members and captured bounty hunters before Duke Piddock.  After Rendor reveals all of the visual evidence on his datapad, implicating Teemo, Thrweek, Borgus, Trex, and all of the rest of his cronies in crimes against his people and others of note, the Duke releases the party and heralds them as friends and allies.  He releases the captured bounty hunters, minus Trex, into the care of Bannis, so they can be turned in and justice served.  Meanwhile, Duke Piddock declares that Trex will be publically executed in the arena, with honored guest Attichitcuk, the venerable leader of the Wookies of Kashyyyk, in attendance.  The hapless Trandoshian is chained to a column in the arena and is summarily rent apart by a lylek, a nexus, and a rancor, all at the same time.  Trex's head was salvaged from the execution and presented to Attichitcuk as a memento of justice served.  Chieftain Attichitcuk, still a formidable Wookie, even after 300 years, bowed in honor to all of the party members and thanked them for the citizens of Kashyyyk.  He indicated that he received the remains of the fallen Wookies that were recovered by the party members and said that each victim was able to be identified.  One of the victims, Nailabow, was a niece of the chieftain.  He said that each family owes a life debt to each of the party members and they will be honored in a formal ceremony on Kashyyyk.


Duke Piddock was able to take the surmountable evidence gathered against Temmo  and presented it to his rival, Duke Dimmock, as well as filing a formal protest to the Hutt Council.  As a result of these actions, Duke Dimmock formed a peace treaty with Duke Piddock and agreed to join both hives in partnership.  As for Teemo, the Hutt Council was infuriated with Teemo's underhanded dealings with the Empire, with Hutt rivals, and also doing illicit deals without given his fellow Hutts a cut of the action.  Jabba Desilijic Tiure, along with Gardulla the Hutt, sent a contingent of their bounty hunters and armed mercenaries to storm Teemo's palace in Mos Shuuta.  Teemo and his accomplices were lead, in binders, to the cave of a krayt dragon- the dragon had a LOT to eat that day, amidst the helpless cries of Teemo and his thugs.  Duke Piddock and Duke Dimmock both agreed that the party's actions on Geonosis were indicative of friends and allies and declared that they may visit again as honored guests.  Also, they agreed that they will establish regular arms trade with the party, offering a 33% discount that can be used as profit for resale to interested groups.


Jabba the Hutt sent word to the party that the Hutt Council is appreciative for bringing Temmo's deception to light and offers to extend work and business opportunities in the future.  At Ota's behest, Jabba agreed to lift any bounties on them, initiated by Teemo, and make sure that their record of activities on Tatooine would disappear.  Ota was able to get his operatives to retrieve Teemo's secret credit cache and, as he promised at the start of the mission, he handed over 200,000 credits in unpaid bounty money.


"Doc" was able to arrive on Geonosis with his new YT-1300 called "Witch Hunter".  He tells the rest of the party members that his father, a notable Corellian crime lord, wants to start a satellite operation out on the Outer Rim planets.  Considering the massive success the party has had recently, establishing new allies and partnerships, Lord Blaylock wants to franchise his smuggling operations and give the party ships, supplies, and a percentage of the profits as commission.  The front name for the company will be known as "Krayt Shipping & Exports, LLC".  The new motto is, "Krayt Shipping & Exports gets your goods to your destination fast, while others are DRAGON around..." (LOL- sorry I couldn't resist!).


The party is request to come to the capital city of Rwookrrorro on a Life Day celebration, to be honored by the families of the fallen Wookies and all of the citizens in attendance.  It is a grand affair and each party member receives a small carving, from native wroshyr trees, of each family member they helped honor after death.  Each party member is given honorary clan status as well.  As the celebration extends all day and through the night, the party is given a chance to mingle with the Wookies and other honored guests. 


Chieftain Attichitcuk receives word from one of his guards that a special guest and family member is here to see him and meet the valiant party.  A tall Wookie with a bandolier and a bowcaster draped over his back and a tall human, a fellow Corellian from the looks of him ("Doc" seems to recognize him from somewhere) come into the fest hall.  The Chieftain roars and embraces his son he hasn't seen in a few years- Chewbacca.   The Corellian smuggler looks over the party and eyes a familiar face, "Well I'll be!!  Tarkis Blaylock, what are you doing way out there?  I haven't seen you since you were a kid running around your dad's shop!".  Han Solo makes his way over and shakes Tarkis' hand and give him a big hug.  "Chewie's dad called him back home for a celebration for Life Day and said he had some honored guests who brought an enemy to justice.  Little did I know it was young Tarkis involved!  Son, this is a big deal to the Wookies and you should realize what it is to gain a life debt from these furba-, I mean Wookies." Han corrects himself at the last minute.  "Tarkis, this is Itchy's, I mean Attichitcuk's son, Chewbacca.  The big Wookie extends a roar and embraces each of the party members in a furry embrace.  Chewbacca speaks for a bit and Han translates, "The big guy says you have honored his family and his people and he is very grateful.  He considers you a life friend and member of his clan.  Welcome to furry love!" Han says and smiles.  "Tell you dad I said 'Hi' the next time you see that old scoundrel and tell him he still owes me from that last game of sabacc we played!  Chewie and I have to split and get a shipment delivered for a Hutt "friend" of ours- he doesn't like delays."  Han smirked.  "It was good seein' ya kiddo and maybe we'll see you around sometime!'  Chewbacca and Han Solo bid farewell to the party members.  After several minutes you see a weathered YT-1300 streak across the  Kashyyykian sky and disappear out of sight...


Cannar and Vinar have been itching to ask the Chieftain about Quinlan Vos and regale the story of the box they found on Ryloth that was owned by Cei Vookto.  The Chieftain sharply speaks, almost in a roar, and Atlek's protocol droid translates, "My, my, that was abrupt!  Oh excuse me Master."  The droid composes himself and says, "Chieftain Attichitcuk asks you to keep your voices down and do not speak that name openly again."  The Chieftain motions to a few of his royal guards and escorts the party to a near-by antechamber.  The Chieftain orders the guards to stand watch outside and he closes the door.  The Chieftain grabs the droid's arm and moves him close, almost ripping the arm out of socket in the process.  The droid mimics the Shriiwook language with his vocal actuators and responds to Attichitcuk frantically.  "Oh dear, he is quite a specimen!  The Chieftain will now hear how you know of the one named "Quinlan Vos".  Cannar explains how Cei Vookto's box and its contents were found on Ryloth and shows him the holorecording and information leading them to come to Kashyyyk.  The Chieftain speaks, "Rest tonight and come to my throne room in the morning.  We shall speak more then.  Goodnight friends and enjoy the rest of the celebration!"  Attichitcuk motions the party to exit the antechamber and calls his guards in and the door closes.  As the party walks away, Raarwa looks back and notices that the guards exit the antechamber hastily, swing out over the balcony and ride vines down to awaiting speeders below...


The next morning, the party arrives in the throne room of the Chieftain.  The throne room seems to be heavily guarded, almost more so than normal.  As the party bows respectfully, Attichitcuk leads them to a near-by chamber, with a heavily armed contingent of guards posted outside the door.  Raarwa suddenly gets a familiar feeling, a twinge and ripple of the Force, with a strength she has felt since her days at the Jedi Temple.  As the door is opened, the party sees three hooded figures at the opposite end of a large table in the room.  The figure in the middle stood up and appears to be tall and broad shouldered, revealing little of his face, other than some braided locks of hair peeking around the cowl.  the other two hooded figures remained seated and appeared to be a bit more diminutive than the more prominent guest.  Raarwa could almost feel a presence cross over her mind for a brief moment and then the rest of the party feels the same sense of probing in their heads.  The hood figure that is stand motions to close the door and Attichitcuk shuts the door and speaks for everyone to be seated. 


The hood figures  draw back their cowls to reveal their faces- the two seated guests appear to be identical twins, almost Asian in appearance by Earth standards, except that one girl has green eyes and the other has one blue eye and one green eye.  Both are about 14 years old and remarkably beautiful.  The man that is standing in the middle is an imposing figure, with long, braided locks of hair, in dreadlock fashion.  "I understand you seek the one named 'Quinlan Vos'?", he asks the party.  "My friend Attichitcuk says you have recovered a relic of Master Cei Vookto, along with a holorecording, is that correct?",  he affirms.  Cannar begins to explain, in quiet detail as he loves to do, and shows the box and its contents.  As Cannar seems to ramble on, the man walks over to Cannar, grips his wrist tightly and touches the Jedi Master's box at the same time.  In a brief flash, the man is able to see images of the past events tied to Cannar and this box in vivid detail.  "No further need to explain good sir.  I just gained more info from you and the box than you can regale to me in several hours."  He breaks his stoic demeanor, smiles, and gives a wink to Cannar to help lighten the mood a bit.  "As for you, Togorian, extend your paw to me.",  he tells Raarwa.  Raarwa complies, getting a sense from the Force that this man means her no harm.  The man seems to notice and recognize the Hawkbat Clan markings on Raarwa's paw and then touches his hand to the pad of her paw.  As he closes his eyes about a minute, he opens them and smiles back at Raarwa.  "Youngling, you are in safe keeping now.  I have served with your Master K'Kruhk during the Clone Wars and knew the clan you were a part of, before the Great Purge.  I am Quinlan Vos, whom you seek."   Lots of jaws sprang open at the revelation...


Quinlan Vos continues, "Cannar, I also knew and served with Master Cei Vookto before his brave demise on Lianna.  He was a good and noble man and one hell of a Jedi!  It is good to see one of his own lineage actually find this container of his, since Cei's padawan Dumas died years ago."  Quinlan Vos spoke warmly, as he looked directly at a puzzled Cannar.  "Ah, I see from your look that you know not of what I speak.  I have the Force gift of psychometrics- I can touch a person or an object and get visions of history of an item or a person.  When I touched your arm and saw you association to Cei Vookto, I found that you are his nephew, apparently unbeknownst to you."  Cannar was in shock- how could his father or mother keep such a secret from him all these years?  "Your uncle was a great servant of the true Republic and was ordered on a lot of secretive missions, some of which no one but the Jedi Council knew about.", Master Quinlan added. "Truth is, your mother objected to your uncle and your father putting themselves in danger all the time and being away from Duro.  She insisted that your father never mention Cei Vookto to you, in hopes that you would not go off searching for ancient lost holocrons, like your father tried to do.  Apparently, she didn't succeed in dissuading your father's passions in you either.", Quinlan smiled.  Suddenly, he reached within his robe and produce an elegant metallic cube that made Cannar's eyes go wide and Raarwa's heart skip a beat.  "I have kept this holocron in safe keeping for Master Cei Vookto.  This was the prize that your father was able to unearth before his death."  Quinlan looked sympathetically to Cannar, "I am sorry for your loss, but your father honored the Jedi Order and your family by preserving this relic.  You may remain as my guest to study the holocron.", he nods to Cannar and to Vinar as well.  "And as a honor to Master K'Kruhk, I will agree to take you on as a padawan learner to help accelerate your training that you have missed all these years, Raarwa.  My son, Korto, is also Force sensitive, but because of attachment, I could not train him personally.  I had to reach out to an old friend and convince her to return to the Jedi ways and give my son a chance to become a Jedi.  You will get to meet Master Ahsoka Tano soon..."


"Forgive my rudeness", Quinlan Vos stated, as he motions to the two teenage girls at the end of the table, sitting respectfully and patiently.  "This is Zan and Zu Pike, twin daughters of Dux Pike.  My friend Dux was a famous Teras Kasi mater and competed in Bunduki matches throughout the galaxy.  When Phow Ji killed their father, I promised Dux, before he died, that I would look after his daughter and make sure they were protected.", Quinlan continued.  "Their mother Gia was insistent that they were trained in the Teras Kasi arts like their father before them.  At age 3, they started training with Master Shi-Pho and it was apparent early that these were special girls."  Quinlan seem to beam with pride as he looked at the girls fondly.  "The both attained the status of Master Teras Kasi by age 10.  About three years ago, their village was attacked by Imperial stormtroopers and their mother Gia was killed.  I brought them back here to Kashyyyk to stay with my wife, Khaleen Hentz, my son, Korto, and I." 


Quinlan Vos continued around the room, touching each of the other party members to get a sense of their past.  As he touched Rendor's arm, he closed his eyes briefly and said, "Apparently the Force has a great purpose for our meeting.  I sense that you were trained by Master Yan in the Teras Kasi arts.  Master Shi-Pho was Master Yan's sister, but you never met her I can see."  Quinlan pointed to the girls.  "I'm sure that Zan and Zu would love to continue your training in the Teras Kasi arts."  The girls smiled at each other and at Rendor, excitedly. 


Quinlan then moves over to Kell, touches his arm, and then closes his eyes.  "The Dark Side of the Force is hard at work against your family.  Finis Valorum was an honorable man and did not deserve his disgrace and his fate.  Your father doesn't deserve his fate either, though I fear there may not much to save him.  His future is clouded by the Force.  You are teaming with revenge and hate against those that have framed your family.  Continue to breed this fate and you will know what it is like the walk on the Dark Side."  Quinlan continues sternly, looking deep into Kell's eyes.  "I know the Dark Side all too well, as I've been there an back.  Seek peace and do not give into raw emotion.  Justice has already prevailed to some degree with the elimination of Teemo the Hutt."  Quinlan grabs Kell's face in his powerful hands and reaches out through the Force and into Kell's mind, "Release your hate!  The Jedi Order did not forsake your family and its proud history of service to the Republic!  You WILL release your hate and seek justice the right way!"  The last words echoed into Kell's brain like a resonating tuning forks had been struck between his ears.  "I will release my hate and seek justice the right way."  Kell verbally repeated, almost in a trance like state, the Jedi mind influence successful in bringing some peace to Kell for the first time, in a long time.


Quinlan finally ended with Tarkis "Doc" Blaylock.  He touched Doc's arm and then closed his eyes again for a while.  "Don't feel guilt for trying to save that young boy's life.  You did what you can, even though Flirry Vorru is clouded by the Dark Side, from his years of service under the Emperor as a Grand Moff."  Quinlan continued. "Your path leads to honor amongst thieves, scoundrels, and the underworld.  You will be able to help your friends and those you have dealings with in the future.  Never refuse to help those in need, as you do the Light Side of the Force will bless your efforts."


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Bannis arrives on Mandalore, a welcomed sight to him after so many years.  Bannis returns with the Death Watch renegade Magus and presents him to the leader of Mandalore, Jaster Mereel, father of Jango Fett.  Bannis is heralded as a hero of Mandalore and given all of the rights and privileges o a true Mandalorian- his own suit of Mandalorian armor, made of rare Mandalorian iron "Beskar", along with the traditional weapons and mods that come with it.  Bannis will return and meet his friends on Kashyyyk, donning his new armor befitting a true Mandalorian...

April 13, 2014 - "Long Arm of the Hutt" Completion of Act I

A lot had transpired since the party's ambush on Angu Drombb's encampment and subsequent liberation of the Twi'leks of the New Meen mining town on Ryloth:

• Thrweek, Temmo's Kubaz inflitrator, was killed and summarily disposed of in a lylek cave by Kell.  Kell offered up a little surprise for Teemo, by sending the location transmitters of Thrweek and his gand bounty hunter, Borgus, off to Corusant, as a ruse.
• Cannar took the mysterious box of Cei Vookto, who was a Jedi Master from the Clone War Era, back to Nubat City for further study.
• Angu Drombb was released into the custody of the party and ordered to leave Ryloth forever.  The other thugs under Angu's hire, along with the bounty hunter, Borgus, were taken into custody and released to authorities by Bannis to collect on their outstanding bounties.
• The party met with Nyn Secura and B'ura B'aan, the Twi'lek resistance leaders, and were given high praise for their handling of the New Meen liberation.  As a result, the party was given a small villa in Nubat, as a base of operations, and awarded Clan Secura amulets to designate the party members as honorary clan members. 
• Nyn informed the party that they would use their diplomatic channels to make sure that the Wookie pelts and other remains would be released to the Wookie leader, Attichicuk.  Attichicuk, venerable leader of Kashyyyk and father of Chewbacca, was both enraged and saddened that the Trandoshian Trex, infamous enemy amongst the Wookies, was at the heart of these murderous acts.
• The party was introduced to a Bothan spy named Ota, who showed the party a trouble holodisk transmission- Teemo had gathered intel on all of the party members and released their bounties and private backgrounds on the Bounty Hunter Network.  Also, a sickening transmission of Teemo killing what appeared to be two Jawas- turns out the were both of Angu's kids, as Teemo back out on his agreement to turn them back over to their father.  Angu, stricken with grief, grabbed Cannar's blaster, put it to his mouth, and pulled the trigger and ending his tragic life.
• The Krayt Fang, stolen ship of Trex, was sold to a Rylothian parts dealer, as the ship's transponder codes and ship ID were compromised out to the Bounty Hunter Network.  Ota provided transportation to Geonosis, to have the party meet with two of the leaders there- Duke Piddock and Duke Dimmock, both rivals of each other.  Duke Piddock apparently found out that Temmo the Hutt had a Kubaz spy in his employ and was rumored to be the one that kidnapped and killed his assistant, Sivor, a skilled droid technician.  Ota wants to hire the party to pursue more facts to lead to the downfall and/or elimination of Teemo.  Also, Ota's spies traced Trex's last known location to Geonosis, so they may be able to find their nemesis there.
• Cannar, Rendor, and Vinar are able to open Cei Vookto's box and found some old lightsaber parts, along with a green Adegan crystal and a holodisk.  The transmission on the disk was the last will of Cei Vookto, which instructions to his old padawan to try and locate Quinlan Vos, a Jedi Master rumored to have last been on Kashyyyk when Order 66 was implemented.  Cei Vookto also showed on the holovid that he possessed an old holocron that he guarded.  The holocron seemed to be strangely similar to the one that Cannar's father has been pursuing for years.  Cannar and Vinar both realized that they need to hear back from the Durosian Xenoarcheology Academy to see if there is any correlation.

April 6, 2013 - Central SWRPG Group Sunday Session "The Long Arm of the Hutt" ACT I

"The Long Arm of the Hutt - Rugged Road to the Ryl Mines"

When we last left the party, Kell was interrogating Temmo's captive spy for hire, Thrweek, a Kubaz infiltrator.  Kell found out that Thrweek was responsible for not only framing his father, Tarkus, but ruining his family's name, all the way up to his 3rd cousin, former Chancellor Finis Valorum.  Thrweek's smugness and lack of remorse for what he has done to Kell and his family was just too much to handle - Kell pulled his blaster pistol and fire a shot between the Kubaz' eyes, then stormed out of the tent...



Kell stormed out of the ramshackle tent with his blaster pistol still smoking in his hands.  Raarwa, the once Togorian Jedi youngling and now hopeful Jedi, rushed out to pursue Kell for answers to what just transpired in the tent.  The rest of the party was visiting with the Twi'leks and off loading the speeder when they see the heated exchange between the human and the hulking Togorian...



Raarwa reaches out with one of her paws and abruptly turns the human around, "What do you think you are doing?  You have just endangered all of the lives of these people here!"  Kell looked at the open files of evidence on his datapad and threw it on the group at Raawa's feet in disgust and then turned away again to cool off.  Raawa picked up the datapad, looked at the trail of files showing deceit and contempt that Teemo's infiltrator has wrecked upon Kell's family- she understood why he would be angry.  Raarwa caught up with Kell again and said, "I can't support your need for revenge, but I can understand your pain and your loss.".  Kell knew he had to get the Kubaz' corpse out of the camp and rushed back to the tent...



Meanwhile, "Doc" Blaylock had stabilized the Gand prisoner and was quickly cleaning up the aftermath of Kell's rage.  "Doc" remembered, with some of his past dealings with "not-so-savory" individuals, that these henchman could have tracking devices on them or implanted inside of them.  Sure enough, a skillful scan found that the Kubaz and the Gand  had small tracking devices embedded in their upper backs, just above the scapula.  "Doc" started removing the devices when Kell, Raawra, and the rest of the surprised party went back in the tent to investigate the commotion. "Give me the tracking devices, "Doc", and I'll get the Kubaz out of here."  Kell said, heatedly.  "If you are all going to check out the dig site south of town or meet with the Twi'lek leaders, I will be back in about 1 1/2 hours to meet back up with you."  Kell throw the limp body of the Kubaz over his shoulder, grabbed the tracking devices, and then sped off on one of the captured swoop bikes.



Raarwa knew that she had to alert B'ura B'aan and the other Twi'lek leaders of the events that just transpired.  Raawra enlists the aid of the Twi'lek Mechanic/Outlaw Tech, Myn, to help translate the details to the local leaders.  She and Myn head over to the council tent.  Cannar worked with Rendor, the Chiss silcer/mechanic/Teras Kasi practitioner, and tried to get the team ready to go explore the dig site south of New Meen. 



Suddenly, the sound of a large speeder breaks through the noise in the camp- Nyn, one of the Twi'lek resistance leaders, sent in a courier, along with two returning members to the team- the bounty hunter, Bennis, and Halas, a human pilot/heavy weapons specialist. The courier rushes over to the Durosean archeologist, Vinar, and quietly gives his ominous news- Vinar's aunt is very ill and may succumb to her condition soon.  Vinar speeds off  with the driver to head back to Duro.  Cannar, noted Durosean scholar and archeologist and fellow academy associate, bids his friend goodbye and wishes him well on his journey back to be with his family.



Raarwa and Myn knock on the door to town leader's tent.  Two Twi'lek guards open the tent flap and ask what they want.  "We have important news to share with B'ura that is time sensitive", Myn communicated with a deft flash of her lekku in the Twi'lek's somatic language.  B'ura waves the two inside the tent.  "What may we do for you ladies?"  B'ura states politely.  "We have distressing news", Raarwa begns, as Myn translates Raarwa's words into the lekku communication for the other Twi'leks to understand.  "One of Temmo's inflitrators was just shot during interrogation, but we are making means to get him out of camp.  He and the Gand bounty hunter both had tracking devices on them, but Kell just left camp to create a diversion, which should buy us ample time."  B'ura nods and speaks, "We will need to get the strike teams together quickly and look to hit Angu's men at nightfall.  Myn, we would like you to help lead one of the team's into battle, since your heart is with your people here..."  Myn agrees and Raarwa is thanked for her information and led out of the tent...



Meanwhile, Keel is about 15 minutes outside of camp, near the lylek cave to dispose of Thrweek's body.  He formulates a plan and decides to take an unexpected trophy from the Kubaz, before he angrily tosses his corpse into the cave.  " I think Thrweek and Borgas are about to go on a little trip.", he thinks to himself, formulating a devious plan to try to agitate and through off Teemo the Hutt.  Kell jumps back on his swoop bike and heads into town with the tracking devices and "a little parting gift" from Thrweek...



Raarwa rejoins Cannar, Bennis, Hallas, Rendo, and Rendor's R2 astromech droid to head out to the dig site.  After about 10-15 minutes of uneventful travel, they arrive at the groundbreaking site for the proposed "resort & casino".  All they find is a powered down power lifter droid, scattered tools, and tilled up dirt- not much progress for 2 months of work.  Halas, Bennis, and Raarwa all assumed guard positions around the site, while Rendor and Cannar checked out the dig site in more detail.  While checking the soil near the mountain wall face, Cannar and Rendor suddenly found themselves sucked into a sink hole and disappeared into the tilled up dirt and sand.  Raarwa quickly grabbed a grabbling line from her utility belt and tied it off to the large power droid to secure it.  Halas and Bennis dove into the sink hole, grabbing the cable line on the way down.  Rendor's R2 unit used its personal boosters to lower itself down into the hole, with Raarwa not far behind...



The startled party found themselves in a natural cave, with some signs of tool marks from over a decade ago.  They party took caution and headed into the dark cave, now lit with the light of a glow rod or two.  Cannar suddenly noticed some elaboration cave paintings of some battle scenes, showing Twi'leks and other allies fighting off Separatist forces in a large scale struggle.  As they proceeded further into the cavern, Rendor noticed a power emanation into an alcove off to his left (Chiss can see into the infrared spectrum and he could detect the heat signature easily).  As the party rounded the corner, they are met by an amazing sight- a detail cave painting fresco of Cei Vookto, Durosean Jedi Master, his human padawan Dama, and Jedi Master Aayla Secura, a  Twi'lek of proud ancestry here on Ryloth, leading allied forces against a large army of Separatists.  On a small dais below, a small, black box with a glowing symbol of the old Galactic Republic (pre-Clone Wars).  Rendor made an attempt to slice into and pick the lock, but a bolt of energy surged out and disabled his hand briefly.  Cannar took the box and the party made their way out of the cave.  On the way back to camp, Cannar intently examined the box on the way back to camp.  He found old Durosean text inscribed on the bottom- "Property of Cei Vookto".  Cannar is met with sudden excitement and curiosity at his find and hopes to be able to learn more about this box, and its contents, soon...



The rest of the party, including Kell, returned to camp right around dusk.  With definite ambush plans in place, B'ura and the rest of the war band are intent in surprising and hopefully overwhelming their oppressors.  Night finds Angu's thugs doing the same thing they always do- two guards each guarding the casino/bar and the barracks/storage facilities, while the other off-duty guards huddled around a camp fire, drinking cheap Twi'lek wine and Gamorean grog.  The guards comprised a mix of humans, aqualish, and weequay.  Angu and four of the other guards were not visible around the camp area. 



According to plan, B'ura stormed into the camp with a speeder with Kell, one of the Twi'lek leaders and a small group of Twi'lek miners, all armed and ready.  While the others lay in wait in the darkness, B'ura's diversion tactic worked- the guards near the fire were completely caught off guard.  Bennis leveled his E11S sniper rifle against a rock and took aim- a guard stationed near the casino suddenly had a energy bolt rip through his skull, into the bloodied wall behind him, as he crumpled to the ground.  Halas let off a grenade from his launcher and struck right into the heart of the campfire- burning wood and debris sent the guards reeling and clamoring from the explosion.  Myn let off a deadly bolt from her disruptor and bore a large hole into the abdomen of the other casino guard, forcing him to evacuate his bowels and fall into a bloody mess on the ground.  B'ura and Kell leaped from the speeder, while the other Twi'leks stumbled from the craft and lost their balance in the excitement.  B'ura wounded one of the guards with a blaster bolt, but took a return, non-fatal shot himself in the abdomen.  Kell took advantage of one of the startled guard and his vibroknife found a soft point in the guards eye socket, ending the guard's life almost immediately. 



Off from the main fight, Raarwa, Cannar, and Rendor went after the guards near the barracks/storage building.  Rendor closed on one of the guards, performing a Striking Wampa Teras Kasi move- a deft strike under the chin with a double chop down on the next of the opponent.  Chin bones crack and vertebrae break, as the startled guard drops to the ground, deceased.  Raarwa leaps at the guard and was able to wound him, but the skilled thug avoided what could have been a worse fate.  Cannar aimed for Raarwa's opponent, but rather than hit him, he struck the door panel to the building, dropping the main door and disabling the panel is an array of sparks.



Suddenly, a booming voice came out of the casino, "STOP!!  Stop this mess please!"  Blaster fire rings out in defiance and mows down three of the Twi'lek miners near the casino door.  Angu Drombb, Teemo's "business negotiator", and four of his hired henchmen come out with tier hands up and weapons on the ground.  The party quickly disarms the other guards and puts them all in the extra binders they picked up from the bounty hunters they defeated on the way to New Meen.  Kell and the others interrogate a scared and shaken Angu privately to get answers.  Angu reveals that he was sent here under duress by Teemo, because of a debt he owed the Hutt.  Teemo had his wife killed to show how serious he was and to force him to be his contact here to wrest away the Ryl mining operations from the Twi'leks here, so that Teemo could start Glitterstim spice sales soon.  Angu said that Teemo was holding his son and daughter as collateral, until he finished the job here.  B'ura, in noble fashion, forgave Angu and would allow him to leave with the party, never to return to Ryloth, as long as he cooperated and helped them set a ruse for Teemo....Angu gladly agreed.



Myn and Rendor were able to bypass the damaged door panel on the barracks/storage building and enter.  Myn was able to find much needed supplies and a locked cash box.  Rendor sat down at a small computer station and began to slice into the system, to uncover its hidden secrets.  Rendor was able to recover two emails that mentioned two Geonosian leaders, Duke Piddock and Dimmock, in relation to a Geonosian droid technician named "Sivor".  Apparently, Trex, the Trandoshian bounty hunter that stole the party's ship and forced them to take his broken down "Kryat Fang" ship instead, had kidnapped and killed Sivor and is somewhere on Genosis now.  The party knows that their nemesis Trex holds the key to a lot of secrets and they will want to try and find them to get some answers...



The next morning, the team works to prepared a ruse to make it appear that the Gand, Borgas, is performing his regular report with Angu in attendance.  Angu lies to Teemo and shows him a falsified contract that supposedly B'ura and his people signed over to Teemo.  Teemo is ecstatic about the transaction and requests that Angu report back to Mos Shuuta on Tatooine to discuss "further business and restitution".



Later that same day, as the party wraps up business on Ryloth and they prepare to apparently head to Genosis to hunt down Trex, a small envelope with the signed mining contract and a small, anonymous package arrives in Teemo's palace, in the shaky hands of a Rodian courier...



End of ACT I -  ACT II starts "Geonosian Negotiations" this Sunday...