STAR WARS: RETROSPECTION- Brothers

Melkor will continue firing at the Speaker, spending Willpower point to dodge his next attack.

The Elites turn their blasters on some of the turncoats near Arvus, killing three. Arvus fires off his railgun once more, finishing off the soldiers to the rear and catching two of the Elites in the blast.

"Stormtroopers, to the flank!" Skrall shouts as he shoots at another Elite, and the stormtroopers turn and shoot with him, burning down one of the Elite and putting the others on the defensive.

The Speaker is missed by Melkor but takes a hit for 9 from Janus before firing off his cannon at the turncoat soldiers, who are busy finishing off his men. Because of their spread-out formation, however, he only claims two on a good roll.

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BATTLE OF MAURENBURG

Grand Staircase

The Speaker: 21/55 (cover: 2)

Foyer

Melkor: 7/54

Janus: 0/55 (1A)

Skrall: 9/53 (1A)

Arvus: 20/53

Stormtroopers x17: 0/53

Turncoat Soldiers x12: 0/54

Great Door

Erengardian Elite x1: 21/52
Erengardian Elite x1: 27/52
Erengardian Elite x1: 16/52
Erengardian Elite x1: 18/52

---

Single shot at the Speaker!

The Elites go first as before, and this time the Elites are not screwed over by their own dice entirely, as their one level in Carnival of Carnage bags them four stormtrooper deaths, one Elite killing two himself.

But it isn't enough to save them. Between combined fire from the stormtroopers, Arvus' railgun, and Skrall's shooting, they go down.

Between Melkor's good hit and Janus' double-shot, the Speaker also drops before he can let off another shot from his ineffectual cannon, and the foyer goes quiet but for the lingering echoes of gunfire.

"We must find Einar quickly!" Speaks Melkor to Skrall and Janus.

"How do you want to go about searching for him?" Janus asks.

Well, what would be reasonable place to hide or fortify inside the Palace?

Wait, what about that security systems Einar was preparing during Melkor`s previous visit?

The Chamber of Patience and the Throne Room are the most defensible places within the Palace of the Castellan.

Einar had been investigating how the Creature of the North got up into the mountains around Maurenburg; those security measures he had been working on were for without the Palace.

In the distance, you hear the dull rumble of cannons. The long-range guns installed in the mountainside have been fired.

They are propably firing at Imperials?

"The defensible places in palace are Chamber of Patience and Throne Room, but Einar would rather make his stand in the Throne Room, don`t you agree Janus?!" Speaks Melkor, feeling a mix of adrenaline, excitement and fear.

Indeed. The AT-AT armored walkers- or, at this time, the prototype carrying over from the Clone Wars- are plodding toward the terrible black mountain that Maurenburg resides upon. No stormtroopers are deployed in order to prevent casualties from those heavy guns.

Janus nods in agreement. "Calm yourself, Melkor. This is a great moment for you. Soon you will hold that long-sought title that you deserve! But you must be coordinated and disconnected from the excitement and emotion of the moment, or you could make a mistake."

Melkor states at Janus for a second, wondering if his friend should really act so patronazing...

"Of course, I am focused on the goal. Let us do what must be done..."

So what is the plan of action? There is only one door into the Chamber of Patience, and through that into the Throne.

Well, Arvus should blow up the door to avoid traps. Then send one or two troopers first anyway.

Arvus can do that, turning his railgun on the heavy doors and start to fire away at it. The wood splinters with each explosion, ruining the age-old craftsmanship before your very eyes. Everyone watches on in silence.

" I will rebuild it all, better." Melkor exlcaims to Janus.

Let`s send a trooper ahead to discover traps.

Once the door is clear, you send a stormtrooper in to check ahead... and it is promplty shot down by a hail of lasers.

Lasers like lasers from weapons?

Yes. In fact, you distinctly recognize the sound that the pistol makes as matching your own weapon... the Esgabath royal pistol.

"Is that all you have brought with you, brother?" Einar shouts from within the Chamber of Patience. "A shame. I was hoping you would have tried to even the odds, considering you lack ANY skill with a blaster!"

"It seems that it is you who hides behind him men, brother, letting them die for you! Perhaps you way is cowardly assasination, like one you performed by poisoning our mother, and all your bravery is just a bloated lie?!"

"I say we put that to the test, dearest Melkor!" Einar shouts. "Come at me and my men, and the course of our battle will be the judge of whom is the bravest. However, I fear it won't be you; you're more accustomed to running from your problems than confronting them! And for the last time, I did NOT slay our mother!"

"Do we move?" Skrall asks you quietly, Melkor.