Culling The Hounds (D4, EM)

[Desilijic Keyhote]

Keyhote comes crashing down into the blood splattered dirt. His vision slowly turning to grey and then black before before it flickers out for good he witnesses Aurilie downing the Black Tooth. His companions would live, all would be well.


Down and down Keyhote plummets leaving behind his ruined body and the responsibilities of the world until finally he floats weightless in the never ending blackness. And for a time he is alone. Then he hears the sound of paws on stone and turns to see a strange creature wearing a rather dapper hat.

"Ser Keyhote, you are slain."
With a wave of its paw a screen flickers to life, its light a brilliantly stark contrast to the inky darkness all around. Upon the screen, as if seen from overhead was the body of the Hutt. His armour lying rent and torn in a dozen places while at least three grievous wounds slowly ooze blood. The Hutt does not draw breath.

Keyhote feels disconnected as he hovers forward to inspect himself.
"Indeed. The Black Tooth was a fell opponent. On another day perhaps I could have slain him, but he got the better of me here."
Frowning
"It...is a young death for one of my kind, but a noble one. I can go now to my fathers. And even in their mighty company I shall not now be ashamed."

The creature nods and the two watch the image in silence for a few long moments before it speaks.
"But were you done?"
The knight blinks.
"Done?"
"Yes, did you accomplish all you set out to do?"
Keyhote cocks his great head slightly
"I...suppose I did not. I feel closer, ever closer to understanding what love is. But I never managed to grasp it fully."
The creature waves a paw and the picture zooms out, now there are warm red links between Keyhote and its companions and as the zoom increases they witness the same bonds between millions and then billions until the whole planet of Alderaan seems awash in love.
"Then your quest continues noble knight. Use this experience, and remember that to love is to bond with another knowing one day that they will be gone, and to do so anyway. Today you fell, but you were loved all the same."
The creature gently touches Keyhote in the chest and he feels his body, no his soul ripple as it begins to shoot up and out of the darkness


And in the dust of Alderaan, Keyhote cracks open one great golden eye as his body takes a single pained breath.
"A fine shot Prince Aurilie...the trophy is yours."
And then it closes, and true unconsciousness takes him.

((Spending a destiny point thanks to a very kind Dapper. Keyhote is out for this scene and can talk but be in considerable discomfort in the next))

[Dapper Dog]

OOC: Each member gains a Suitor point, if they are not a Suitor they can assign it someone else for successfully slaying the dangerous beast, or they can be rewarded 1000 credits from the Crown. This includes the trap team.

[Katarzyna Ulgo]

"Kriff," Kat was no expert on Hutt-physiology, but she could tell that Keyhote was in dire need of medical attention.

"We're going to need a transport to pick him up, and get him to medical facilities. There's a limit to what I can do out here," her usual calm tone was a little strained as she was worried for the big slug. He was, by far, the best Hutt she had ever met and probably would ever meet. "I'll try to keep his condition stable for now."

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OOC: Each member gains a Suitor point, if they are not a Suitor they can assign it someone else for successfully slaying the dangerous beast, or they can be rewarded 1000 credits from the Crown. This includes the trap team.

OOC: Katarzyna will speak for the virtues of House Ulgo, awarding 1 Suitor Point for Brannis Ulgo.

[Breela Po]

"Force be praised," Breela choked back tears, "This hut is made of mandalorian iron!"

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OOC: She quietly takes the 1000 creds, but are we medivac'ing Keyhote and calling it a day? Or are we going to keep up the assault? Or at least turn over the ruin?

[Aurilie Alde]

As her shot rung out and dropped the wretched mutant hound, Aurilie hadn't exactly dropped her guard yet. Her expression was still fierce with determination as if the beast had crossed her honour. She kept her rifle trained on the beast and slowly paced around it but decided to never get closer. With her rifle, she was already more than close enough. She had been in her share of hunts where the might beast would use their dying to maul their hunter before dying. "Stay back! Don't get close to it!"

She wasn't going to take any chances and aimed the rifle at Black Tooth's head, firing another thunderous shot to ensure the beast stayed down. CRACK!

The sound of the shot echoes in the clearing and almost drowned out what Keyhote had told her next. Her expression softened and she blinked, wondering if it had been her imagination at first. "What?!" He's alive!

She approached Keyhote but didn't want to muck things up for Kat, who was the professional here. "...right, you have my thanks Miss Katarzyna. Ser Keyhote is deserving of his rest but I don't think his tale is meant to end here. We need to send for a skiff or something to take him back." With that, she used her commlink and buzz the Castle proper for assistance.

[Katarzyna Ulgo]

"The Hounds have been cleared, except for the lone one that ran away when Black Tooth went down," Kat said, injecting a stim into Keyhote (healing for 6 Wounds) to help stabilize his condition. "Most likely it will die, but we should check up on it and try to capture or take it out a later point..."

The thought that there might be pups or something nearby did cross her mind.

"For now the area is secure. It should give us time to investigate it properly without this threat hanging over us."

Aurilie was given a nod of appriciation as she hailed the comms for a transport. Had it been any of them they could've been carried, but Kat didn't think they'd be able to drag Keyhote back with them without injuring him further.


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OOC: For the sake of ease, I think I would vote for us to investigate the area more on Day 5, now that it has been secured. It might also give the other team some chance to analyze their findings, to give more ideas of what's going on here.

[Blai Frayus]

Things Blai doesn't hear

Aurilie gets a buzz on her comm, then a message from a voice she'll remember.

Miss Alde, do you copy? Blai here.
We've secured five of the hounds to take back for analysis. Now at that cave - devoid of life, polluted and... There's some odd corruption. Have are things on your side? Do you folks need backup?

[Aurilie Alde]

Aurilie gets a buzz on her comm, then a message from a voice she'll remember.

Miss Alde, do you copy? Blai here.
We've secured five of the hounds to take back for analysis. Now at that cave - devoid of life, polluted and... There's some odd corruption. Have are things on your side? Do you folks need backup?

Aurilie should have been surprised by the voice on the other line, she was using a commlink and it was natural there would be other people on different frequencies. However, after the madness of the hunt, she might have forgotten about the people on the other side of this plan.

"Mister Frayus," she said in mid-breath. "We managed to...secure a few hounds ourselves, including Black Tooth. We're all hurt here. Ser Keyhote is really hurt and it's not looking good. We're going to need to send for a transport to take us back."

[Katarzyna Ulgo]

OOC: Let me know how many Wounds folks are missing and I'll roll Medicine checks to help recover Wounds. Or if you want Kat can just use your Stims on you as she heals more efficiently than others because of Stimpack Specialization.

[Aurilie Alde]

OOC: Aurilie has 3 wounds herself left. A third stim should take her right to 0!

[Katarzyna Ulgo]

OOC: Aurilie has 3 wounds herself left. A third stim should take her right to 0!

As there was nothing more she could do for Keyhote right now, Kat saw to the needs of the team, starting with Aurilie who had gotten a pretty bad injury.


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D4 EM. Medicine/Intellect for Aurilie. Easy: 1eP+3eA+1eD 4 successes


OOC: Aurilie heals 4 Wounds and 1 Strain (Physician talent). What Critical Injury did you get from surpassing Wound treshold?

[Aurilie Alde]

OOC: ...I just realized that might have been missed. ^_^;

Day 4, Early Monring: Crit Injury?: 1d100 17

Distracted: Cannot perform free maneuver next turn

[Katarzyna Ulgo]

OOC: ...I just realized that might have been missed. ^_^;

Day 4, Early Monring: Crit Injury?: 1d100 17

Distracted: Cannot perform free maneuver next turn

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OOC: Fixed

D4 EM. Medicine/Intellect to heal Aurilie's crit (Easy): 1eP+3eA+1eD 3 successes, 2 advantage

[Breela Po]

Breela collapsed on the ground and cooled off - so thankful that Keyhote was alive that she forgot for a second that she was still wounded. "I'm getting to old for this."

Cool - End of combat: 2eP+1eA 4 successes


Recovers 4 strain

17/2 Wound
14/5 Strain

OOC: 2 wounds sustained, feel free to bandage Breela up, or something.

[Katarzyna Ulgo]

D4 EM. Medicine/Intellect to heal Breela. Easy: 1eP+3eA+1eD 5 successes, 1 advantage


OOC: Breela is absolutely healed, and regains 2 Strain (1 advantage + 1 from Physician talent).

[Aurilie Alde]

"Thank you kindly for your aid." She gave an appreciative nod. "I can see why you're a vital member of your operations. Well, also for more than a few reasons beyond your healing skills."

[Blai Frayus]

Aurilie's comm buzzes again.

"Ack... Understood, Miss Alde. Do you need support to send for the transport? We're investigating something here, but we can fall back shortly if needed. Please send word if there's any way we can help... and may the Force guide you to help Ser Keyhote..."

The last words sound a bit odd, as if it's something he's not really used to saying, but suddenly thought it felt fitting.

[Aurilie Alde]

Aurilie's comm buzzes again.

"Ack... Understood, Miss Alde. Do you need support to send for the transport? We're investigating something here, but we can fall back shortly if needed. Please send word if there's any way we can help... and may the Force guide you to help Ser Keyhote..."

The last words sound a bit odd, as if it's something he's not really used to saying, but suddenly thought it felt fitting.

"I think we're fine for now, thank you," she would relay back to Blai once she picked up the commlink again. "Just be careful as some hounds are still on the loose. I doubt they would be actively hunting for you but may seek to return to their den for safety. They're not going to take kindly to intruders."