Rand grimly follows them, not intending to join them.
He turns to Gallador, Tanic, and Rianna. "You may choose to watch them, but I would prefer it if we could go scrounge through some bars about here, my apprentices."
He turns to Takuan, and gestures to Galder and Rah. "Make sure they don't get themselves killed somehow..."
And so to work... well, you are in here now. No turning back. It wasn't easy to go back to face such danger- your instincts are overwhelmingly geared towards survival and self-preservation; returning to the Republic so soon was fighting against every sense you had.
Yet the lures of possibility and power were strong too... and each of you senses a destiny that has you more than you are now. For you guys, this is the equivalent of hope- and no-one can really live without hope.
"It's been fun, hanging with you crazy kids," said Doon, as you parted from Epireus. He paused at this point to look at Rand. "Well, you know what I mean," he said. "Just rememeber... there is a tendency in the Serpent for people to only be as good as the last thing they did for the organisation. Which means you guys can become flavour of the month almost immediately, if you do it right. Of course, sooner or later your bubble will burst- you can't keep it up forever. But who cares? By the time anyone susses it, you'll be halfway back here with Siva's tablet!"
He tapped his head again.
"You have fun with those wild powers of yours," he said. "Though... don't freak them out too much. No fireballs, or anything! I am pretty sure that won't go down well.
"There's a lot to get done. Kuylen's counting on you. And ... I'M counting on you, in that I'm the one he'll blame if you guys mess up. So get it right for my sake if no-one elses.
"Next stop- power. As Kuylen always wanted, we're going to srt this Galaxy ablaze. Start small and work big- our time starts now."
There was something about Doon that was helpful- like he always knew what to do. You can almost see him in Hell, slipping out his chains and talking his way into the Heavens above.
But you are all alone now. There's no-one else to help you.
---
Right then! Galder and Rah, if you want to put your muscle through its paces, then sure, they'll put forward a couple of thuigs to shut up the loud-mouthed newbies! You need a fight like this to establish your credentials.
A Gran is the 'compere' for the events, though you are pretty sure the strange squiggles he is making with his middle eye are notes to the bookies running their operations.
"So, the so-called Empire of 'Pity' dares defy our eyes with these feeble specimens?" yells the compare to the crowd, which roars back insults at the newbies. "Well, let's wipe the smug grin off their faces! Come, Treman and Sreman!"
Come forth two rather burly Trandoshans, brothers, apparently, though you suspect they were carved rather than born, to squish these widdle humans. They are supermooks, and they will take you on separately, in rings made of... well, basically, yelling people.
-
Quite a few bars, Gallador and Takuan. Your social skills will determine what kind of stuff you will get- role-playing out whole convos will take until the end of time. So... give me an idea of what you are trying to get, info-wise, and what sort of people you are going to approach- Lantarnan lackeys? Experienced smugglers? Violent killers? The ambiences can be quite different...
-
Meanwhile, an observation check for Rand means that he does indeed hear, amongst the hubble and surrasation of surrounding conversation, the words "Nume Rand?" being spoken, somewhere nearby...
Well, I am aproaching someone who looks like a serial killer, who enjoys his job and has quite a high opinion of himself. Gallador will try to share his knowledge about hurting people and his arrogant attitude towards the pathetic peace-lowing citizens of the Republic. I am going to flatter his ego and get him drunk( I assume force concentration helps to avoid drinking), I am looking for information about the tablet and power struggles here.
Ok, that will be Persuade and Lying rolls from you Gallador, that ok?
Tell me when you want to start, Galder. A wanring though- the use of ANY force power adds up, over time, to the chances of you being exposed.
-
Hmm... you ARE sensing something, Rand... but you are not quite sure what... down one of the side corridors.