Hoth: Blood and Ice

[Jo'ren Rath]

The cave seemed well protected but there was a howling blizzard right outside the entrance. Jo'ren stood outside the ship looking up at the damage.

"Kriffing mountain came out nowhere. Guess the proximity sensors are gonna need work too." In fact they were pretty lucky that it was just the hyperdrive that was going to need repairs. "Droids, you're gonna stay with the ship while we hike to the base."

The Thermal cloak was doing its job at least. Having managed to walk away unscathed and completed the damage inspection he looked around for his old friend. "Sorry about the rough landing."

(OOC: Jo'ren, Commander Hin, and Avieri are all here)

[Avieri Ciamber]

"Coruscant was a better landing than that."

He stared at the ice and snow as if seeing it for the first time.

"Well that's a shock. The scouting report was accurate. Never going to get used to that. At least we're not being shot at right now."

He grinned as his cloak rippled in the wind and a slight hiss of steam escaped his armour.

"So let's go find someone to shoot at us!"

[Dapper Dog]

Proximity sensors come alive, there is something outside. Moving.

[Jo'ren Rath]

"Hah, that's because we had an actual pilot..." Jo'ren was just throwing his pack on when the proximity sensors started to chime.

"Hey now, you might get your wish!" He pressed a button on the console and looked at Ashley. "If it's pirates feel free to start blasting." The surface defense cannon popped out of its concealed housing, it's tuned up droid brain starting to scan the surroundings.

"Let's go see who's come to the wrong cave Avi." Walking down the boarding ramp Lord Rath activated his saber, the sickly scarlet light reflected off the swirling snowflakes.

[Avieri Ciamber]

"Oh delivery service? This far from the Core? How cultured of them."

He stalked out behind Jo'ren, twirling his light pike in one hand. Unlit. For now.

[Dapper Dog]

Once outside they see a gathering of short blue humanoids, sentient wearing clothing pretty similar to what anyone else would wear but their feet look bear and they don’t seem all that bothered by the cold.

Upon seeing the Sith their eyes go wide and one says something to the others and they scatter back deeper into the cave leaving only the big brave one behind.

[Jo'ren Rath]

The saber blade deactivated with a snap and he tapped his comm. "Hold your fire Commander."

His eyes flicked from the blue creature to Avi and back. "I guess you're the leader then. We had some trouble in orbit. Need to leave the ship here and find some base nearby." A big thumb gestured to the ship unnecessarily.

"You live here or something?"

[Avieri Ciamber]

"Field rations . . . ?"

He squinted at them, still twirling the light pike idly.

"Oh, Ortolans, Jo'ren. Not edible. Well . . . not legally."

--
D1 Frosty the Snowsith: What are these delicious . . . err adorable blue elephant thingies? Int/Xen (guessing average diff): 1eA+1eP+2eD 2 successes, 2 threat


2 Threat for you to use, Dapper.

[Dapper Dog]

The little humanoid continues in their tongue, “Now see here sir or madame, this is our home and we won’t be bowing down to any white maw. Besides we paid our protection fees. Now go on.. Go on, git git.”

“If you would.”

OOC: 2 threat to make the ortolan poorly disposed o you two.

[Jo'ren Rath]

There was a deep chuckle. "I think I like this one Avi." He slipped the saber back into its clip on his utility belt.

"White Maw huh? That's who we came to this iceball to kill. How would you feel about never paying protection money to anyone ever again?"

[Dapper Dog]

He looks up and seems dubious, “But the White Maw have weapons and people and are ruthless, you are big… but you versus all of them.”

“Although I do like the sound of not paying them a credit,” it responded.

“You got a name, big stranger? Folks call me Bizi Wiz, my wife calls me ugly… it’s not a good relationship.”

[Jo'ren Rath]

There was a pause, followed by another short laugh. "Well it ain't just us pal, but you should see Avi here when he gets upset..." A memory of bits of Jedi guard and some light corpse desecration were put to one side.

"I'm Jo'ren Rath. This is my friend Avieri Ciamber. My associate Captain Hin is back there on the ship with my droids." He offered a big hand. "Good to meet you Bizi Wiz. Looks ain't everything, you got heart. Takes courage to stand up to the Sith."

[Dapper Dog]

“You’s a Sith? You a far off ways from Sithland, and you are not shooting lightning or anything. Mighty big though. Well if you are not here to kill us, why are you here?” Bizi Wiz asked.

“Want some food? We got well… food for us, you like stew?”

[Avieri Ciamber]

"Stew?"

He looked around doubtfully.

"Here? In this locale?"

The pike was twirled absently one more time before being returned to it's carrying position on his armour.

[Dapper Dog]

"Yes it's real good, it's grubzig beetles and grots that make it pop... goes down smooth," Bizi Wiz bragged. "Puts a fire in your belly, and your nethers."

"Very gassy, so good for warmth."

[Jo'ren Rath]

"Sounds...like a...thing." He made a gesture of some sort. "Sure, why not." The big shoulders shrugged.

"Look. We're on Hoth to kill pirates, and have some Sith business too. Why are we in this cave? Poor visibility and a terrible pilot. I'm going to have to leave my ship parked up here until I can find this Echo Base place and the blizzard dies down. So yeah, some stew, why not? Don't suppose you know the way to the base? Would save us some time and trouble."

[Avieri Ciamber]

"Grubzig beetles . . . sounds fascinating."

He turned to Jo'ren.

"So the Maw are exploiting the natives. Want to bet that Republic Cruiser that was doing a good impression of flaming death is here on one of their oh so noble 'humanitarian missions'?"

[Dapper Dog]

“Yes, easy place to find, cousin Trizy Wiz tried to make a go of it but didn;t go well, says there are ghosts or something. Easy to find, we have stew and I’ll show you,” he replied as he led them back to the community.

Modest homes built into the cave with a fairly modern defense grid and a few combat droids for security. Every comes out to stare at you and some even wave.

He gives out a shrill cry, “Kipsy! Bring out the stew, we got guests, and use the good bowls!”

She did not in fact use the good bowls.

Not long they have a low table set out in the common area and serving stew. It’s a thing, but it’s warm. The ortolans seem to love it though.

[Jo'ren Rath]

"So the Maw are exploiting the natives. Want to bet that Republic Cruiser that was doing a good impression of flaming death is here on one of their oh so noble 'humanitarian missions'?"

"Ugh, almost certainly. At least that's their term for meddling in other people's business. Can't help themselves." He made an exasperated gesture.

"Does make me wonder the Force is up to though. Empire and Republic show up together. Hilarity ensues. Seems a bit convenient, but for whom?" That was the question. His attention returned to the little blue elephant.

“Yes, easy place to find, cousin Trizy Wiz tried to make a go of it but didn;t go well, says there are ghosts or something. Easy to find, we have stew and I’ll show you,” he replied as he led them back to the community.

<snip>

Not long they have a low table set out in the common area and serving stew. It’s a thing, but it’s warm. The ortolans seem to love it though.

"Ghosts huh?" He looked at Avi for a moment before tucking into the stew. "Hey, not bad! Beats the paste back at the Academy. Where do you find the grubs in all this ice and snow?"

[Dapper Dog]

"Used to dig but we just farm them now, my uncle has the biggest grub patch this side of the glacier," he responded.

"You get real lucky if they still wriggle, then it's fresh."

[Jo'ren Rath]

Jo'ren looked into the bowl. "See, I knew it was my lucky day. So you farm grubs, what else do you do around here to make a living?"

It was odd to be sat having a friendly conversation with a bunch of ortolans, but the Force worked in mysterious ways. Or something.

"Oh, and any other unusual stuff going on here lately? Other than the ghosts and, well, us."

[Dapper Dog]

“We mostly farm, do some mining, my cousin’s brother; his mother is the sister of my buddie's husband that runs the power plant. White Maw squeeze them right good to provide power, they got pipelines running all over the place pretty sure there is one going to that that haunted base,” he said confidently.

“We just want to do right by our kin and get rich. Is that too much for a fellow to ask?”

[Avieri Ciamber]

Avieri's lack of height was an advantage for once, but even he found the low seating a bit too low. The stew was appreciated though.

"This is fantastic. I don't think I've ever seen such a combination of colours taste like that."

Something the Ortolan had said caught his attention.

"Ghosts huh? Wibbly woo ones?" He made a side to side gesture. "Or Wobbly wee ones?" This was accompanied by an up down gesture.

[Dapper Dog]

"More, googely gah ones. But my cousin would know for sure," Bizy Wiz corrected.

[Avieri Ciamber]

"Uh huh. Those are just the worst."

He said as if he knew what he was talking about.