Carsten from Germany is back and he's continued the Mythic/Risus/Star Wars adventure that started last December! The previous installment - wherein our hero Ash was left floating helplessly in the blackness of space - is HERE.
And now, the continuation from Carsten:
Scene 7, Chaos 7:
Setup:
Ash floats in space in his spacetrooper armor, hoping that somebody picked up the distress call and investigates.
No modifications to the scene.
Are there any vessels in the vicinity that could have picked up the distress signal (50/50)? Yes.
More than one “party” (50/50)? No. Interesting.
What kind of vessel or party picked up the signal (complex, using the alternate description table from Tom Pigeon and the standard action subject table)? Description: energetically cute, Crew: communicate portals. Who is the captain (using custom table to create NPC)? Bith information broker. Great, fits nicely. Believe me, I just rolled this stuff randomly. Interpretation: A small and fast courier vessel with a sleek arrowhead design (energetically cute), operated by a Bith information broker, is setting up small hyperspace transceiver relays (communicate through portals) that operate on a private encrypted frequency. The Bith wants to use them to ensure fast and secure sector-wide communication with his network of informants.
What's the initial attitude (roll 1d6)? 3, indifferent/neutral
After being jettisoned into space, Ash operates his thrusters for a few minutes to accelerate and pick up enough speed to get away from the dying strike cruiser. There is something humbling about the endless blackness of space. Everything is quiet, there are no sounds in space so nothing is heard as the strike cruiser is finally ripped apart as all emergency power fails, no more than 10 minutes after Ash's exit into space. Ash checks his gauges. He has 11 hours and 30 minutes of power left, after that it's a question of suffocating or freezing to death. He uses his built in comlink and the suits external antenna to broadcast another distress signal, since the one he set up on the cruiser certainly went down with it. Now there was nothing more he could do but wait and hope. The hours pass.
Only five hours of power left, four, three, two. Suddenly a craft appears out of nowhere, just reverting from hyperspace into realspace, decelerating fast.
It was a very dynamic, energetic looking vessel. Small and flat, with a pointed arrowhead design and a glistering, polished hull. Maybe 8-10 meters long and about 6 meters wide.
The vessel slows down to docking speed and comes to a halt almost within arms reach of Ash. The viewport is made out of blackened transparisteel, so Ash couldn't look inside. His internal comlink beeps, he answers it.
“Hey, nice of you to drop by. Do you mind picking up a hitchhiker?”
“What happen to imperial friends? Where ship?” the voice over the comlink asks, speaking a somewhat broken basic with a heavy alien accent.
“Oh, right. The armor. Look, I am no imperial if that's what you think. I just happened to be aboard their ship when it blew and this shiny piece of equipment was the only thing I could find that could serve as an escape pod, since those brave imperials just left me with the wreckage. But I am a little pressed for time. I will explain all of it to you in detail if you just let me get aboard first.”
Does the Bith believe him? Fast Talking Man of the Streets vs. Information Broker (3), close but success (Ash 16, Bith 15)
“Don't know if trust you. Believe you not imperial but maybe pirate. How get onboard imperial ship?”
“Look buddy, I am no pirate. I was just hauling some cargo when I got dragged into a shootout between the imps and rebel ships. The damn interdictor the imps had toasted my drive and almost ripped my ship apart. To make matters worse, the stupid stormtroopers cut through my hull and stunned me. Next thing I know, everybody was either dead or left and they somehow managed to rip their own ship to pieces. So here I am, drifting through space in this fine piece of imperial technology and I really would like to come aboard now.”
Does the Bith want something in return? Since I determined the starting attitude as neutral I will assign 50/50 odds. Yes.
“Believe you no pirate by I not samaritan. I will take in but want pay.”
Does he want to keep the spacetrooper armor (likely)? exceptional yes
“Really now, what a surprise. Well, what do you have in mind?”
“You give armor and all credits you have.”
Even though he was in a very disadvantageous position, Ash couldn't help but try to negotiate. It's in his nature.
“Come on buddy. From one spacer to another. I just lost my cargo, my ship and almost my life. How do you expect me to get back in business? I still got some bills to pay. Go ahead, take the armor, but let me keep my chips. How about you get the armor and I owe you one. You never know when you need somebody that owes you a favor.”
Man of the Streets vs. Information Broker, success.
“Deal. You give armor and owe me one. Will turn ship and open hatch. Get in.”
Ash doesn't need another invitation. As soon as the hatch opens, he uses his thrusters to maneuver himself into the ship. Inside he is greeted by a fat and overweight Bith in a tight combat jumpsuit who wears way to much jewelery (big necklace and one ring on each finger). Appearance created randomly using an appearance and quirk table.
“Welcome aboard. Get out armor, show you bunk.”
“Don't worry, I can't wait to get out of this thing. I just spent 10 hours in it.”
Ash gets out of the armor and leaves it in the small cargo hold of the vessel. He uses the chance to take a look around, trying to figure out what kind of ship this is. Smuggler roll vs. TN 10, success.
From the design and the coolant lines/engine size/ship size ratio it looks like a fast scout vessel, suitable for deep space exploration but only with a small crew of one or two persons, since storage capacity for supplies is limited. Ash checks is belongings. He has only the things left he was carrying, not much but at least he still got his credchips and sabbacc chips and his trusted blaster. Tools of the Trade renamed to Inventory, updated inventory. The armor he gave the Bith was probably worth 10.000 or more on the black market but also not easy to sell. Maybe it's a good thing that he got rid of it.
The Bith introduces himself as Balvin'Gen and shows Ash to a small room with a bunk and a small refresher.
“Take rest. Probably exhausted. Sleep. I got things to finish do. Talk later where to drop you off.”
“Thanks. I think a really need a rest. You got some food too? I'm actually pretty hungry.”
“Have ration packs under bunks. Not tasty but will do.”
The Bith leaves him and Ash takes a look at the ration pack. Standard spacer issue, nothing fancy. After taking a bite, he examines the door and lock from the inside. Even though the Bith saved him, he doesn't trust him, so he wants to lock himself in or at least set up some kind of noisy alarm in case somebody comes in.
Can he jury-rig the door? Smuggler vs. TN 15, since he doesn't have the right tools at hand.
Success, 15 on the spot.
After fumbling with a few wires Ash looks satisfied, puts his blaster under his pillow, sets his alarm for six hours and enjoys the comfort of a starship bunk.
End of Scene.
Chaos: increases to 8
NPCs: unknown ambushers, Mr. Smith (Twi'lek Corporate Executive), Galvin Exports Fishing Company, Mr. Smith's superiors, the Empire, Rebel Alliance, Stormtroopers, Balvin'Gen (fat Bith Information Broker)
Threads: chart new hyperspace route (open), try to replace the lost beacons (open), get a new ship to get back in business (open)
Scene 8, Chaos 8:
Setup:
Ash is dropped of on the nearest civilized planet in the Outer Rim.
After a quick review of the Mythic Rules I decided to be a bit more generous in skipping unexciting scenes. Another scene on board the ship would not be very interesting or at least not as interesting as Ash trying to make some money and get another ship and contacting his employer for example.
So I decided to have the next scene start on a planet, just summarizing the voyage there.
Scene setup is altered: Ash is dropped off on a civilized planet in the Core Worlds instead.
During the journey he tried to find out some more facts about the Bith, but he wouldn't talk about what he was doing, so they just exchanged comlink data and Ash was dropped of on a civilized planet, to his big surprise a system in the Core Worlds.
Time to generate a planet. The planet Paltar in the Core Worlds: Function: Natural Resources, Terrain: Caves, Government: Alliance/Federation, Starport: Landing Field
The planet was called Paltar and although it was in the Core Worlds it had a backwater and gritty feel to it. Underneath the planet's surface was a huge network of natural caves connected by tunnels, some of the caves are big enough to house entire cities. The planet is rich in natural resources, foremost precious crystals and gem stones. Even though not exactly “owned” by a corporation, several large mining conglomerates have “divided” the planet between themselves. In order to avoid corporate wars they have formed an alliance which rules the planet through a council.
The fact, that the entire planet has no real spaceport but only large landing fields on the surface, which are basically not more than illuminated large areas of flat rock, contributes to the backwater feel of the planet. Ash finds himself on the outskirts of a miner's town constructed of prefabricated permacrete modules.
“That's a mining town alright,” he thinks. “Not much here in terms of architecture or sights.” He needs cash fast and he needs to acquire a ship. Also he needs to contact his employer and inform him of the slight delay. And he needs a place to stay. Ash decides to get a feel for the town first, wandering through the streets and alleys and talking to the locals, to get an impression about what is going on around these parts. Man of the Streets vs. TN 8, success. After wandering for a few hours, visiting a few bars and talking to the locals, Ash had a good impression of the town.
Did he find a comfortable, safe, discrete and not to expensive hotel (unlikely)? exceptional yes and random event. Focus: The Empire, abandon good. Interpretation: Imperial Intelligence agents raid a small rebel cell which holds their meetings in an abandoned church.
Are there any gambling establishments in town (likely)? Yes.
Are there any street gangs fighting each other or harassing the public (unlikely)?Yes.
Are there any used ships for sale someplace (unlikely)? Yes.
He had found a very nice, clean and safe hotel for a very reasonable price.
It featured top standard security doors with customizable fingerprint and retina scan locks. Also he discovered some gambling establishments which he will visit later that evening. He had to be careful though, as the locals told him that the gambling “industry” and red light district is heavily fought over by two rivaling street gangs who have no problem with shooting out their conflicts in public, more times than not catching unsuspecting citizens in the crossfire. Finally he was pointed to a used starship salesman who is supposed to be trustworthy. Once he acquired enough funds he will certainly pay him a visit. Ash was on his way to the hotel as he passes a building that looked like it was once a church but has been abandoned for some time. What was that? Movement?
Man of the Streets vs. Imperial Agent (3), failure. Maybe not. Ash continues on his way as suddenly blaster shots are heard from inside the church. Through one of the old windows Ash sees blaster bolts being traded. A shootout of some kind! Ash dives for cover behind a parked airspeeder, drawing his blaster pistol, observing the situation. The shots come nearer.
Can the rebels get away (50/50)? Yes.
Suddenly two figures, a Quarren and a Bith in worn street cloth, jump out of the window firing blindly into the building, breaking the fall by rolling with it onto the pavement.
Do they see Ash crouched behind the speeder? Rebel Agent (3) vs. Man of the Streets, success.
They didn't seem to notice Ash. As soon as they were back on their feet they darted forward, sprinting like crazy for the nearest back alley. Shortly afterwards two humans in worn street cloth come running out of the building and look around.
Do they determine where the Rebels went? Imperial Agent (3) vs. Rebel Agent (3), no.
Do they discover Ash behind the speeder? Agent vs. Man of the Streets, no.
Does Ash recognize them as Imperial Agents? Agent vs. Man of the Streets, success.
Ash has seen their type before. Street cloth but clean shaven and a proper haircut and military issue blaster pistols. Those creeps were imperial agents, Ash was sure of that. Imperial Agents that look puzzled. The rebels were nowhere in sight. Cursing the agents run off into a random direction, making an educated guess about where the rebels went.
Do they guess correctly (50/50)? No.
“Too bad guys.” Ash thought as the imps run off in the opposite direction. He has been on city streets long enough to know when to mind his own business and this certainly was one of those times so he just gets up and continues toward the nice, clean, safe and inexpensive hotel. After checking in for three nights at 50 credit a night (funds adjusted) he records an audio message to his employer. Since the Empire restricted the holonet to be used by the military only, long-distance communication was somewhat complicated. Between a sector or nearby systems it was no problem.
Hypertransceivers were used to provide real-time audio, data and holographic communication. But every message that had to travel more than a few light years into different regions of space had to be written or recorded and delivered by automated messenger ships. Those ships were very very fast, having a hyperdrive rating of 0,25 and had very sophisticated navcoms but delivery time still could be up to a few days, depending on distance. And of course you had to know the location of the recipient, otherwise a message could not be delivered. Ash records the following message: “Hey Mr. Smith, this is captain Ashfield. I am sorry but I have to inform you that there will be a slight delay. On my way to the first waypoint I stumbled into a space battle between the imps and those rebels. The imps weren't very talkative and.....well whatever, to make a long story short: The beacons are gone and so is my ship. I am in the core worlds right now and I am working on getting a new ship and some new beacons. Rest assured that I intend to complete the assignment but maybe you should hire an armed escort for this one transport anyways, depending on your schedule. Sorry, but that's the risk involved in space traveling. Flying through hyperspace just ain't like riding a desk. If you want to get in touch with me, I am on the planet Paltar in the Core Worlds, staying at the Comfort Inn Hotel. I will be here for a few days until I have acquired enough funds for a new ship which I intend to start with tonight. So long, Ashfield out.”
“Time to rely on the good old gambling skills.” Ash thought and went for one of the gambling
establishments.
End of Scene.
Chaos: decreases to 7
NPCs: unknown ambushers, Mr. Smith (Twi'lek Corporate Executive), Galvin Exports Fishing
Company, Mr. Smith's superiors, the Empire, Rebel Alliance, Stormtroopers, Balvin'Gen (fat Bith Information Broker), Imperial Agents on Paltar, Rebel Agents on Paltar, Paltar Street Gangs
Threads: chart new hyperspace route (open), try to replace the lost beacons (open), get a new ship
to get back in business (open)
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