Dawn of the Jedi ~ Act I: There is no Emotion, There is Peace

[Ascension]

Though cuffed and stuffed, Bricriu is uninhibited by Fear. If he got free from the net he would have his hands free... and he would be able to focus on tapping into the Ashla.

Li, meanwhile, though rather distracted by his illusory immolation, is free to move, if little else.

[Liliedhe]

Rover shakes his head. "Maybe we should just leave this to them? It is not our concern. I'm sure Lord Perio and his son will figure it out themselves."

He is quite nervous, the longer they have to stay in this strange land... The sooner he's back, the better.

[Ascension]

Perio Estate

"Yes, we'll figure it out ourselves," Lord Perio echoes, staring daggers at his son, "Get inside."

He half-smiles as he looks back at you.

"Thank you again. I'm sure whatever...difficulty... he may have given you, we'll have it all sorted out soon enough."

"Excuse me," a voice behind you interrupts. The speaker is a black-clad figure flanked by two men in scarlet uniforms.

"I tried to stop you at the docks but that cab had already whisked you away by the time I got down from the guard tower. Anyway, what I must ask you is this: Do you have visitation permits?"

[Liliedhe]

Rover - who couldn't bluff his way out of a wet paper bag - goes extremely white under his tan. "Permits? We were not aware we would need them. We do not intend to stay, we are leaving already." That's the truth, but the feeling in his gut tells him that it will do them no good at all...

[Ascension]

"We obviously haven't been watching that marina as closely as we should... it's mostly used by locals... I didn't expect... visitors... to be entering through it... especially not visitors without permits. I'm afraid we'll have to take you in for... questioning."

[Liliedhe]

"We were just leaving, I'm sure the problem can be sorted out, Sir."

All of Rover's instincts scream to run, but he hopes that either Lord Perio or one of his companions will have a better idea than fighting. He has not...

[Ascension]

If you look back at Lord Perio you will see that he has gone pale.

"I can't help you now. Just... Just give them what they want."

He disappears, and the door to his home slams with finality.

"Hmm... I wonder what he was so scared of..." the man in black muses, "Surely not us... Not if he's a decent, law-abiding citizen... Val, call in another team, have them search the Perio estate for anything... suspicious."

[Minchandre]

Jo

At the obvious posturing of the so-called officers, Jo bristles. "Permits? For what, may I ask? Landing in the city? And do stop attempting to intimidate us. I am Lady Jo Norala and I will not be spoken to like this. Has Lacae really fallen so far that her officers now accost visitors in the streets for not having 'permits'? Intimidating members of ancient Tethian Houses which have stood for a millennium and punishing them for the crime of almost showing kindness? You will leave us, or I will speak with your superior."

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Persuade (if needed) (1d20+8)[12]

[Ascension]

"I find it impossible to believe that Lady Norala would associate with riffraff like this..." the officer gestures at Rover, "What are you, a Lakha-herder?"

He lays a hand on the hilt of the sword at his belt.

"Now please, don't fight this. I'm sure this is just a simple misunderstanding. We just want to ask you a few questions down at the station..."

[Liliedhe]

The soldier flinches. He has never been ashamed of being a farmer, of being a country boy. It is the derision that hurts. The implied threat raises his anger, but he keeps it down. So far.

[The_Snark]

Rosa

"But we didn't know we needed a permit," Rosa protests uncertainly. The black-clad man didn't seem all that bad to her, but for some reason she didn't want to go with him... and the lord of the house had been deathly frightened of him. "Can't we just leave, and get one if we come back to visit?"

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Mind Trick! Rosa's not concentrating on it, but she doesn't want to go with him, so she's unconsciously pressuring the fellow into not wanting to take them in for questioning. Use the Force (1d20+8)[19]

[Minchandre]

Jo

Jo motions to the others to stay silent; she has control. "Lady Norala would never be found with riff-raff like this, just as a common soldier would never threaten the Perio family, I'm sure. Never before when I have visited this city have I needed a 'permit', especially not when returning one of Lacae's own scions to his home. The only place we are going is the Ontian consulate."

[Rettu Skcollob]

Grunting, Li stands stock still for a few moments, trying to mentally dispel the the perception of the flames that immolated him as real, rather than illusory.

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No Actions Taken on Li's turn... He'll wait till he gets a standard action.

[Ascension]

Perio Estate

The officer blinks confusedly for a few moments. He turns to Rosa and says, "I understand... you didn't know you needed a permit. Just go ahead and leave, and get one if you come back to visit."

"But sir," one of the other men objects, sotto voce, "we were sent to bring them in, no matter what."

"And bring them in we will..." the officers replies aloud, "if they don't get a permit before they come back to visit."

[Liliedhe]

Rover relaxes infinitesimally, even though he really doesn't understand this abrupt shift of the situation...

[The_Snark]

Rosa

"All right," Rosa says after a few seconds, also confused but rather relieved the officer gave in, "let's go." She glances at her two companions to make sure they're following, and starts back the way they came, trying not to brush against the uniformed men as she passes them.

[Liliedhe]

Rover doesn't have to be told twice and follows the girl...

[Ascension]

You leave the men arguing amongst themselves about taking you in vs. letting you go. Unfortunately, when you reach the road you remember that the cab went back to town after dropping you off. And there doesn't appear to be that much traffic on this road...

You have two options: Walk back or try to steal the bickering officers' police car.

[Liliedhe]

Rover ponders this for a moment, then begins to walk down the road towards the harbour. "Keep your eyes open for a taxi or a busstop..."

[OldSchoolGamer7]

Bricriu

Focus. These men may want you alive, but that doesn't mean you have to roll over for them. You have one chance...slip from the rope...

The old man expands his perceptions some, searching once again for that little bit of fortune...or, perhaps, the Ashla...to free himself.

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The Acrobatics check will be easier for me to make, so I'm going to use that...

Acrobatics: (1d20+1)[7]+(1d6)[2], burning another Force Point...I really don't want to get captured in a net like some sort of wussy animal...

Edit: the Dice Gods seem to want me to be interrogated/imprisoned/used as an example. I'll play along; at least I can make the next several scenes interesting...

Try as he might, though, Bricriu cannot slip out of the net. Knowing what is about to happen, he turns to Li and screams. "RUN, MY STUDENT! Run and find safety! Don't worry about me; I'm tougher than I look..." He gives Li a sly wink as he seems to brace for the ensuing trip at the hands of the Fear Troopers.

[Ascension]

"YOU CANNOT RUN!" the second Fear Trooper shouts, "You're paralyzed!"

FEAR: (1d20+8)[12]

He flings his net at the young man.

Att: (1d20+1)[13]
Grap: (1d20+4)[5]

The other Fear Trooper gets out his cuffs, but does not move in yet.

[Rettu Skcollob]

Li raises an eyebrow at Bricriu's suggestion.

"Not a chance in Hell, I'm afraid."

Li nimbly dodges the fear troopers attempting to immobilize him, twisting through the air acrobatically. With a dexterous turn, he moves with a flowing motion past the nearer trooper.

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Move Action: Attempting to Tumble, and use Twisting Celerity. Hope this works... DC 15 for both checks. If the first succeeds, I provoke no AoO and gain a +5 Bonus on my next attack against the Trooper I tumbled against, and if the second succeeds, I gain +2 Reflex Defence until my next go.
(1d20+8)[14]
(1d20+7)[12]
Standard Action: Attack the Fear Trooper tumbled past, (1d20+4)[9], +5 more if Acrobatic Strike works.
WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME DICE GODS?!

[Ascension]

"Your dancing won't save you!" the Fear Trooper shouts, swiping at Li.

AoO: (1d20+4)[7]
Dam: (1d8+6)[8]

"Change of plans. Use of deadly force authorized," says the other, moving in with his sword, trying to mentally distract Li at the same time.

Fear: (1d20+8)[23]
Att: (1d20+4)[15]
Dam: (1d8+6)[7]

The first FT attacks again.

Att: (1d20+4)[5]
Dam: (1d8+6)[14]

[OldSchoolGamer7]

Bricriu

Li is buying you time. Take it and get free!

Noticing their efforts now turned to his companion, Bricriu struggles again with the net...

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Another check to get free, another Force Point rolled...I really want out of this net.

Acrobatics: (1d20+1)[18]+(1d6)[2]

If the check succeeds:

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Finally free of the accursed net, the elder rises calmly, focusing on buying Li time to incapacitate the Fear Troopers. The Ashla comes to him quickly as he attempts to whip up the soldier who netted him in the first place in the Ashla.

UtF: (1d20+6)[24]

If the check fails:

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Exhausted and exacerbated, Bricriu slumps some under the net. It's really not meant to be. Go with the troopers, regardless of what else happens.

[Rettu Skcollob]

Li grunts as the troopers sword neatly slashes a deep cut into his side, the wound not particularly serious, but enough strength is behind the attack that it is cause for concern. Ignoring the pain, Li gasps as he is once again covered in burning flames, feeling his flesh burning. Trying desperately to disbelieve the illusion, Li continues to attempt his graceful combat footwork.

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Move Action: Tumble back past the nearest Trooper. Can't really use Acrobatic Strike, but Twisting Celerity will still work. Same rolls as before.
(1d20+8)[27] Tumble
(1d20+7)[27] Twisting Celerity (+2 to Reflex if ≥15)

[Ascension]

"Stop moving around so much!" the trooper who netted Bricriu shouts. He taps into the Bogan one last time to try to keep Li frightened. Then he attacks his acrobatic opponent.

Fear: (1d20+8)[28]
Att: (1d20+4)[24]
Dam: (1d8+6)[8]

The other man turns to face the mobile Mehk as well, slashing wildly at him.

Att: (1d20+4)[15]
Dam: (1d8+6)[13]

[Minchandre]

Jo

Jo is somewhat shocked by the abrupt change in the officers' attitude, but is not so caught up in her own sense of importance as to question providence. She quickly follows the others, "We should try to get to the Ontian consulate as quickly as possible; at the very least, they can protect us and might be able to explain what's going on."

[OldSchoolGamer7]

Bricriu

"Hold fast! Let us make this a fair fight!" The Ashla whirls around the trooper who insists on continually using the Fear effect on Li, ensnaring him in a swirling vortex. Do not give into the anger. I know you want to, but nothing will be served by you tapping the Bogen here. His face remains calm, his words and breath even and metered.

(See other rolls for successes)

[Liliedhe]

"Do you even know where it is? And in case you missed it, not all of us are Ontian citizens. I say we get out of here as quickly as possible."

[Minchandre]

Jo

"Please. You are my companions, that is enough for the consul. I think you underestimate the influence of House Norala. Regardless, do you honestly believe that those soldiers - likely followers of this Boganite general - will not give pursuit if we flee? No, we must go the consulate. If we are there, the general cannot act without causing a war."