STAR WARS: RETROSPECTION- Respite

You sense nothing, Vera. Malteen is dead through and through. You also know nothing of what Zarjab is saying.

"He is Ascended," Zarjab explains. "An elevated state of being, free of this form, performed by the self once one has attained high status so that one may stay powerful in death."

"Ritual suicide," Navir says.

"If you wish to say so," Zarjab responds.

Guys. We could maybe, er, coax them into believing Malteen is saying the stuff we would've wanted him to say anyway. Zarjab would probably call the bluff, but I think we're pretty much just negotiating with him at this point anyway.

"I sense....something," I say, somewhat lying (I can sense something after all, just not Malteen). "Perhaps between the 3 of us we can communicate with Malteen, with your help Zarjab." I press my fingers to my temples and stare intently, selling the part.

"What? Oh, well, yes, of course," Zarjab says. "Only few can commune with the Ascended... I am one and can pass the knowledge..."

"Can we speak with you and Malteen in private? I do enjoy an audience," I say, sweeping grandly with my arms around the room, "but we can inform them of Malteen's decision after it is made, can we not?"

Kinda wouldn't mind getting rid of the theatrics here, see what we're actually dealing with.

"No," Zarjab says. "Malteen always holds audience in front of an audience!"

"Gotcha."

I'm a bit at a loss. Do we address Malteen? Zarjab?

"Oh...powerful one of excellence!" I start hesitantly at Malteen, my face grimacing slightly. I then turn and look at my friends, reducing my voice to a more personal level. "Maybe you better handle this."

Zarjab watches you expectantly once you stop.

Assuming that her colleagues are showing their confidence in her, or being very cruel, Ti steps forward and tries again. I keep my hands at the side of my head and look intense.

"Ok, Malteen. Here's the situation. We don't want to join your followers here, but we want to work with you to defeat your enemies. Tarnne has amassed technological forces that may hinder your cause greatly, and we wish him stopped as well. Working together, we can achieve more than we can alone."

I pause, trying not to grimace at my next words: "We humbly ask for your assistance," I say, bowing my head slightly.

...

Ti's a full Jedi Knight, and an accomplished PI, but I feel like I'm imposing some of my own rationality onto her instead of acting more tempetuously. Something I'll need to work on.

The audience falls quiet as you speak, Tilulla, and Zarjab watches you with great interest. Malteen... goes on being corpse-like. It appears that nothing happens after you say your piece and there is an awkward, heavy silence.

It is ended by Zarjab.

"What has he said to you?" he asks.

Vera-Kin reaches out with her mind to make sure that Malteen is really dead and that there shouldn't be anything happening. She also Scans Zarjab while waiting to see what Tilulla says.

Yes, he is dead. You sense nothing peculiar... though Zarjab seems very sincere in believing you may be able to talk to Malteen.

"There aren't words from malteen, necessarily," I explain. "More like feelings, intuitions. I sense a positive reaction to my suggestion, but can't gather much more. Zarjab, are you sensing the same?"

"I sense it too," Vera-Kin echoes. "It is difficult to commune with the dead... our associate has some talent for it, though." She gestures to Tilulla.

"I'm not so sure," Zarjab says. "He is open to alliance, but your reluctance to join has aggravated him."

"Ah. Well, there is little way around this. We will help you, not join you. That is our offer." I stop for a moment to survey the crowd, and address them. "But tell me this, followers of Malteen. How often have you fought against Tarnne's forces, only to be beaten back? How often have they spat upon your cause and your leader," I ask, gesturing to Malteen. "And now, your prayers have a chance to be answered, you have a chance to strike back at such oppressors. Would you have us aid you, or walk away from this chance? My friends, we are not the enemy, we do not need to be among you in order to aid you, nor do you need to be among our order in order to aid us. So, my friends, let your voices be heard! Let your leader know that you wish to triumph this day, by taking the first steps toward removing Tarne and his forces!"

...

...can't be charismatic to a corpse. 😉

Xeth just listens and keeps track of where the Maltites are that have their other weapons.

That would be Charisma + Leadership check... perhaps someone can help Tilulla there...

Actually, this is something Tilulla is fairly decent with. A high Charisma and the power Presence gives her a pool of 9 dice to play with when getting the support of the audience, and she rolls well enough to get some responses.

They begin to voice support for a Jedi-Maltite allegiance!

Zarjab brings them to silence with a gesture.

"It is not our followers with whom you must negotiate with," Zarjab says. "Malteen thinks poorly of those who offer friendship but not total allegiance. You could be spies sent from our enemies, or agents of chaos come to test us."

"Do you believe that we are?" Vera-Kin pipes up. "We come offering to add our power to yours. There is no possible benefit to us in working for Tarne."

"Tarne is not the only threat to our way of life," Zarjab states. "I think you know this."