STAR WARS: RETROSPECTION- Gunrunner

"I can do whatever I want, I'm King!" King Qee shouts jovially. "The Huhk were stupid enough to get caught up in this thing you discovered! They will pay the price for defying my generous arrangements!"

"I cannot allow you to harm those Huhk that were not involved," Rand states firmly. "As it is, their manipulator has fled. The threat is over."

"You cannot allow me?!" King Qee says. "Hah! I am the King of Lahsbane! I appreciate the help you have given us and we are in your debt, but you cannot tell a King what to do!!!"

"King you may be, but you are still subject to the laws of the Republic," Rand says. "The Senate generally frowns on genocide."

"This is a matter of my people's security, and the Huhks violated it first!" King Qee insists. "Stop bantering with me! I'm the King! Guards, do as I command! Kill the Huhk traitors!"

"You may be a King, but I am a JEDI!" Rand yells. "I act with the authority of the Galactic Senate and the Jedi Order, and you are violating the age-old laws of the Republic. I WILL stop you, King Qee, if I must."

Rand takes his lightsaber in hand and activates the green blade before taking a stern stance in the middle of the King's court.

Let's try for some Intimidation...

Even as a Jedi, you are a fairly scary person, it seems.

Seven successes on 11 dice is more than enough to make King Qee think twice about what he is trying to do. You sense his fear keenly. And you like it.

"I cry your pardon, Master Jedi!" King Qee squeals. "I did not think! I was only trying to protect my people!"

Rand grins as he is wont to do when he has pleased himself. But only for a second.

"Protect them all you want," Rand says. "But the Huhk are your people too. Or do you forget where you go when you age, young monarch?"

"I haven't forgotten!" King Qee squeaks. "But they're a different generation and do not understand us! They're violent and cruel! We won't be like them!"

"Violent and cruel?" Foghren says. "You nearly ordered your men to perform the massacre of your elders."

"It's retaliation for their wrongs!"

"Two wrongs don't make a right."

"Oh! Oh oh oh!" Qee cries.

"If we depart, can it be guaranteed that you won't slay the Huhk?" Rand asks, firmly. "Because if it DOES happen... I have no problem coming back to Lahsbane to set things right. Not one problem at all."

Rand will continue with the Intimidation schtick to drive things home.

"Yes yes, oh, stop you're... the stress..." Qee says weakly.

"Give us your word!" Foghren says. "My Master means what he says. You will lose your crown if you keep up these antics."

"I... I can't... the stress... !" Qee cries, then begins to snarl. He buckles over, falling off the throne.

Rand raises a concerned brow but does not lower his sword, not intending to waiver in his defense of the Huhk no matter what antics little King Qee performs.

"What is he doing?" Rand asks Foghren.

"I don't know, Master..." Foghren says.

King Qee is rolling along the ground, clutching at himself and yowling. He tries to rise, placing a paw out in front of him for support... and it contorts, suddenly sprouting vicious claws.

"The King changes!" screams a Lahsbee somewhere in the court.

"Move away!" orders one of the King's guards. "Prepare to detain!"

"What is going on?!" Rand demands to know. He tries to Scan the King, wanting to see what has happened to his mind.

You have your answer in a moment, while the rest of the King's court flees around you. The King's body contorts and twists and grows... and soon a Huhk stands before you, wearing the tattered remnants of King Qee's royal garb.

It utters a vicious roar in your direction, spraying froth from its maw.

"You have to be joking," Rand sighs.

Not being in a position to fight, Rand is of a mind to talk the beast down.

"King Qee, can you understand me?" Rand asks.

The response you get is a savage howl as the Huhk tears what remains of Qee's robes from its shoulders. He starts to stomp toward you, and you sense much anger in it.

"I'll handle this," Foghren says, putting away his lightsaber.

Rand is content to let Foghren take care of it. He is not in a fighting position himself.

The Huhkified King makes his charge at you! Before he can reach you, Foghren interposes himself and launches a flying kick at Qee. The Flying Attack tap certainly puts a damper on Qee's attempt to reach you.

Qee tries to shred Foghren with his newly-developed claws, but the Huhk is still adapting to his new body and really doesn't have any battle experience. Foghren taps Dodge & Weave and dances around the blow easily, then lands a series of punches into the Huhk's side.

"YIELD!" Foghren yells, ending his rapid series with one solid blow into Qee's ribs. The Huhk just yowls and backhands Foghren... with little effect, as Foghren bends back and only takes a clip before going into a handstand to put some distance between himself and the beast.

Foghren does not relent, ducking past another blow and diving for Qee's center, pounding away with expertly placed blows.

You really wonder where he picked up these martial talents, Rand. You aren't exactly a martial artist yourself.

Has he studied with anyone else besides me?