Well, as someone gave the feedline...
“He can't hear us. I control what he hears. He has no choice in the matter; if I activate the link he can hear us and we him. But he cannot see us from his side until I activate that feature for him also.” He pushes a button and speaks into a microphone. “Now, listen to me. You have...”
“I have visitors,” comes a soft voice from inside. It sounds cultured and well-spoken, yet there is an edge on it that it hard to define, and seems to unsettle the listener.”
“What makes you think that?”
“I know.”
“Come now, we've talked about this before. You can do better than that. You've never talked about visitors before.”
“It's never been the right time before. I've been waiting. Hello Roan, hello Xeth. I am looking forward to meeting all your new friends.”
The two named Jedi exchange uneasy glances.
“Now listen to me. You must not exhibit...”
“Talking of disappointments, how can you not have thought I would know this? I see many things, and one advantage of being locked in a room I cannot leave is that one becomes marvellously focussed on what is going to come. Any tiny change echoes through causality. You really thought I wouldn't know? I didn't expect you to to know my other two reasons, but that you should have known. I'd express disappointment but your incompetence is terribly predictable.”
“Cease that behaviour at once! I am not here to argue with you!”
“No, but you did not want to be here at all, and finally I have someone worth talking to, and I am sure they are keen. You see, my second reason for knowing was simple logic, which I knew you would have trouble with. It was always going to be this way. Something has changed, and now the activities of Kuylen in the days before Avalar have stopped being an idle curiosity and started to become a vital matter. And I know why.”
“These people...”
“Syphar n Kalar!” the silhouette exclaims- have shout, half snarl. He starts to laugh. “Yes., Your reactions tell me all I need to know. The third reason then.”
A beep sounds as the electronic clock, one of the few things in the room inside, strikes the hour.
“It is time...”
“Listen to me!”
“Let me see. I should see as well as feel you, if you want me to speak.”
“Whether you speak or not...”
“... is ultimately down to me, and I wish to see. There can be no harm in that.”
“Very well..” says the man, irritably, and presses another control. In a flash, the silhouette stands and reaches a hand forwards in the Grip stance, causing a number of the Jedi to reach for their sabres- or maybe even activate depending on your mood- and for the man in the white uniform to give a shriek and jerk back. But the silhouette is just laughing.
“Oh, too easy, doctor. As if I would waste my time killing a wretch like you. Such a tiny moment of pleasure as opposed to the problems it would cause me....”
The silhouette takes a step forwards.
“Adelmo is back. You need my help. I am willing to give it to you... on my terms.”
“You will get no terms! Do you really think we would release you just because...”
“Release me? Oh doctor, you really are entirely bereft of imagination. You think I would ask for anything so tedious? Do you really think I even care? Do you think I need to trick you into letting me do you harm? Do you not understand? You really think this place can hold me? That anything can? I am patient. I have stayed here waiting for this time to come. And now it has.”
The silhouette finally steps forwards towards the glass, his tall form becoming visible as he does so. You can see his smile.
“Time for you to get to know me then. I am Alik Saar. Come play my game.”
Welcome, then, after our pre-amble, to Episode VI of the Second Campaign. The chase is on to track down and stop the evil Lady Adelmo and her other minions as they chase the mythical- and clearly non-existent- 'Syphar n Kalar'. But that process is getting increasingly complicated as it entangles with the backstory of the long-vanished Larios Kuylen, the main villain from the first campaign.
By now, all players that are nt new have had a chance to learn about the rules and how to fight, so things will become increasingly less forgiving! If you chase the Dark Side, you must always prepare for great danger.
This episode is about discovering the past and how it relates to the present. You have, in Alik Saar, a person who can give you at least a large proportion of the answers you need... if you dare make use of him. Still, what harm can he be, inside that cell, inside the totally escape-proof station?
A pause for breath for a few moments here, as you guys may want to discuss strategy before actually opening communications with Saar. A pause will also help me synch with the Dark Siders, who are having a rather more complex beginning to their story. Whilst we wait, some traditional business...
At this point, in the time where the game is still gearing up, you need to tell me if you are going to use any of your predictive powers. There are two such powers you may have- ‘Dreams’ if you have Master Intuition, and ‘Foresight’ if you have Master Insight. Dreams is free to use, though you can make it more likely to work if you spend a Force point on it. Foresight always works, but always costs a Force point! The quality of your Foresight will also vary on your die roll You may only use one power. Remember, these Force points have to last you for the entire story.
‘Dreams’ means you receive an unconscious set of images about events that are to come- obscure meanings and metaphors that you must decipher to find clues in.
‘Foresight’ is more direct and represents you actively navigating the future to find answers. Whilst the way you see the future may still be obscure, Foresight will definitely contain directly useful information somewhere, sometimes about very important things. Minor revelations from Foresight can give you useful clues for story advantage. Major revelations could change the entire plotline in your favour- if used correctly.
I will get your visions to you during your opening conversations with Saar; they will represent things you dream or foresee after this first conversation so that will not be affected.
Let me know, and good luck with the mystery!
((I just want Denzral to ask this one thing, I only just noticed that the pages hadn't properly loaded new posts. But He will stay quiet untill needed afterwards.))
Denzral's eyes narrowed, and he studied Alik. "Your... game?" He eventually asked, glancing across the rest of the group, and settling his gaze back on the Dark Jedi.
Ok!
If I can retroactively insert myself, Tilulla would have been at the initial meeting with the Council. I'm also just as sure she wouldn't have said much, choosing to remain behind Xeth's contingent. There's still some guilt there over her decision to leave the Order.
Afterward, I likely would've asked to strike out on my own, maybe using a Contact. Since that window has passed, we'll assume I searched on my own and found nothing before reconvening for our meetup with Saar.
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I have no problem with our appointed speakers, but I'd decide between a couple general tactics:
- Are we acting like we know a lot about him, his plans, etc. and like we don't really need him? He'll try to call us out, but won't really have any way of knowing if we don't tip our hand. If we're dismissive, he may get worried and volunteer information. Or, conversely, admit that we're in search of answers, which allows him his fun but may appeal to his vanity so he'll give us information?
Basically, I'd rather you guys dictate the conversation, instead of passively letting him unfold it. Even if we "play" at needing his help, it's still dictating the tone to him instead of supplicating to his plans.
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Tilulla has never encountered a Dark Sider outside of Katai, which was in the heat of battle. She does nothing to hide her intrigue in the Force.