STAR WARS: RETROSPECTION- Respite

"That...was too easy," I say as my lightsaber sweeps through all four in successive strokes. I smile despite myself and the scene around me, then vibrate my tongue rapidly to distract myself from the surge of adrenaline I suddenly feel. The resulting noise is a mixture of purr and growl.

Xeth, would it be prudent to send you up for cutting and whatnot? I can swap Bodyguard on whoever needs it more down here (Vera or Barker).

...

I make a point to make eye contact with Zarjab, and lock him in my gaze for a few moments. Then I attack Xeth's remaining attackers before resuming my defensive position.

With Tilulla clear of attackers and coming to help him, Xeth decides to switch and help Barker with his opponents, causing the circle of defenders to rotate around Vera as they fight.

"Keep it going!" Xeth shouts. "I'm staying until you and Barker are up. Unless you've got a better plan?"

Vera-Kin finishes levitating Navir up toward the ceiling, letting go when she's sure he's found purchase on something.

So last turn, Tilulla actually circled around and cut down one of Xeth's attackers.

Initiative is a draw and passes to you.

Tilulla finishes up her work with Xeth's foes. Using Focussed Guard, she does not roll successes on 4s, so she creeps by with three successes.

Xeth rolls seven as he jumps over to help Barker, cleanly chopping down a Maltite. Barker then throws another across the room in a show of muscle, roaring as he does it.

More attackers come at you!

Xeth, one of the Maltites is trying to use your grenade launcher against you. Without skill, he rolls successes only on 6s. As it is, he rolls two. A grenade comes whistling your way and explodes... but you dodge it on the Agility check, taking half damage. It claims one of your attackers, though, and so do you when a second misses. The last hits you.

Tilulla, you've earned the attention of a sword-wielding Champion marching your way. He takes a swing at you for 4 damage as you step out of his way. You riposte on a warrior's missed attack again, but the other two hit. Barker fares well under your protection.

----

ZEALOTRY TANGO, Start of Turn 3

Stage

Zarjab: 0

Floor

Vera-Kin (LS12): 3/0 [OGu CL BL] [BGu RF] (10F)

Xeth (LS10): 1(2A)/8 [BGu CH PS] (6F)

Tilulla (LS10): 3(1A)/9 [FcGu BL BG] (5F)

Barker: 10

Navir: 0 (being lifted)

Maltites (C5) x4 (Barker)

Maltites (C5) x1 (Xeth)

Maltite Champion: 0 (grenade launcher)

Maltites (C5) x2 (Tilulla)

Maltite Champion: 0 (sword)

Maltites x?

----

Vera-Kin keeps lifting!

Going after the grenade launcher user will break formation, yes?

I guess I have no choice but to engage the Champion. I considered a tap but will wait until next turn.

I switch Bodyguard to Xeth.

...

As Tilulla jumps over to help Xeth, cutting down his defenders, he slides over and Ti watches him take a hit from a grenade. She grimaces apologetically before nudging closer to him to provide some extra defense.

I sharply throw my head to my left, cracking my neck audibly as my next attacker approaches.

Yes it will, Xeth.

Xeth will keep fighting off Barker's attackers, then.

Initiative goes back to your foes.

Xeth takes a whopping two points of damage from a spiked club and a grenade (yes, he actually rolled a 6 on his only die). With Tilulla acting as his guard, he fends off two more warriors that join the fight.

Tilulla does not do as well, taking 6 damage from mooks and only responding to one missed attack. The Champion does another 4 damage.

Barker taps Impervious, ignoring the pain from attacks on him this turn.

Xeth chops down one of Barker's foes no problem. Barker tosses another screaming through the air.

Tilulla engages the Champion! Two successes delivers 8 damage as you nick him with your lightsaber. He is not as clumsy as these other warriors.

----

ZEALOTRY TANGO, Start of Turn 4

Stage

Zarjab: 0

Floor

Vera-Kin (LS12): 3/0 [OGu CL BL] [BGu RF] (10F)

Xeth (LS10): 1(2A)/10 [BGu CH PS] (6F)

Tilulla (LS10): 3(1A)/19 [FcGu BL BG] (5F)

Barker: 13

Navir: 0 (being lifted)

Maltites (C5) x2 (Barker)

Maltites (C5) x1 (Xeth)

Maltite Champion: 0 (grenade launcher)

Maltites (C5) x2 (Tilulla)

Maltite Champion: 8 (sword)

Maltites x?

----

Navir is up! He grabs onto some electrical piping on the ceiling.

Where is my health? I took 10 damage there, I am worried.

Health is determined by your Strength. Tilulla has a Strength of 4, multiply by 10, add 20... so you can take 60 points of damage. The same is true of Xeth and Navir. Vera can take less (40) and Barker can take more (80).

Ok. Bodyguard stays on Xeth, and I'd like to tap Focused Guard (I choose the Champion as my can't-hit-me target).

...

The purr turns into a full growl as I get hit by my attackers. I stagger backward slightly, then turn back and launch myself into the Champion. I arc my lightsaber out wide and sweep it around to keep the mooks at bay.

Xeth is going to strike down another Maltite attacking Barker.

Vera-Kin will start lifting Barker up, pulling him out of the fight and away toward the ceiling where Navir is.

Is there anything Navir can do to help us from where he is?

Sadly not about Navir.

Initiative is yours! Xeth chops up Barker's opponent as Vera-Kin starts lifting the Wookiee. The remaining warrior tries to whack at Barker as he starts levitating; it misses.

Tilulla attacks the Champion again. This time, the Champion ends up dead. Lightsabers are high damage weapons and it does not take nearly as long to kill something with it as any other weapon in this system.

The 'grenadier' misses, as do most of Ti's and Xeth's opponents, meaning they all die due to reflexive kills. However, Vera-Kin is saddled with four attackers and takes 6 damage from their attacks. She drops Barker in the process... she cannot maintain focus with these attacks incoming. She does perform a reflexive kill, though.

----

ZEALOTRY TANGO, Start of Turn 5

Stage

Zarjab: 0

Floor

Vera-Kin (LS12): 3(1A)/6 [OGu CL BL] [BGu RF] (10F)

Xeth (LS10): 1(2A)/11 [BGu CH PS] (6F)

Tilulla (LS10): 1(1A)/19 [FcGu BL BG] [FwGu] (5F)

Barker: 13

Navir: 0 (above)

Maltites (C5) x3 (Vera-Kin)

Maltites (C5) x3 (Barker)

Maltites (C5) x1 (Xeth)

Maltite Champion: 0 (grenade launcher)

Maltites (C5) x2 (Tilulla)

Maltites x?

----

The rate of enemies coming at you has dropped by 1 due to the number of kills you have already accumulated.

Christ. Well, among other things, I switch Bodyguard to Vera. Can we protect her from mooks by putting our backs to her?

You would need to kill the mooks currently assailing her.

Additionally, with Focussed Guard tapped, you are only supplying +1 Armor from Block with Bodyguard.

Btw, you've already killed about twenty people in the space of thirty seconds.

Hmm...

Instead of trying to fight off her attackers and bogging down her allies with protecting her, Vera-Kin is going to jump up to where Navir is perched using Defensive Leap, getting out of the reach of her attackers before they can cause her more harm.

This way you guys can carry on fighting without worrying about me, and I can get clear and lift Barker.

Xeth is going to rebel against the 'stuck in melee' rule by using Charge to charge down the Champion trying to use his grenade launcher. He intends to make greater use of it.

Tap Perfect Strike, attack the Champion.