Everything's Bigger on Dathomir
Part I
Finally in the free and clear on Ord Mantell, other than their long term obligations, the crew of The Dirge was anxious to get their next mission underway and get off world. After checking in with Raena, they departed for Ithor, making good time with The Dirge's fast hyperdrive helped to make up for their delays. When the group arrives at Ithor, they are cleared to dock at an orbital space station where they will meet Raena's contact. After a short, but pleasant stay on the station, the Ithorians give them their package. A 3 foot tall Olbio Tree in a glass enclosure that is to be delivered to Mantisa Task of The Red Hills Clan on Dathomir. When they load the cargo, Nexu notices her force ability weakened in it's proximity, but does not mention this to anyone else.
When they arrive at Dathomir they are pleasantly surprised to find little to no space traffic, and go into orbit to search out the location they were told The Red Hills Clan inhabits. After some time searching they spot a suitable location and enter the atmosphere, they detect multiple signs of life but when they fly by the first Jet points out that the tunnels look insect made rather than man-made. They decide to enter the second mountain of tunnels first after they find some signs of human life around it, and after some exploration into the darkness come across a group of large insects with fearsome mandibles. Though the crew dispatches the insects, they make a quick exit for fear that more will be drawn to the noise and light. When they make it back to the ship, they discover their fears are correct and find a swarm of creatures are beginning to descend upon the ship, some timely gunfire from the turrets stalls their advance while the ship departs. On their ascent they see that a human figure stand among the insects, un-threatened by their presence.
They move their search to the valley region between the mountains where they explore the dense forest until the lose the light and return to the ship for the night. They scan the surrounding in the ship looking for signs of light or life, and to their surprise find both on the original mountain they explored. They land the ship and make contact with three females in tribal garb that were camped atop the mountain. Their leader speaks for them and declares they are members of The Red Hills Clan, Nexu is ready to turn over the Olbio Tree to them, but Jet smells a lie and calls the deal off. They run for the ship and are taking off when one of the females supernaturally leaps onto the ramp of the ship, however Cerberus and Nexu quickly force her to retreat off the ship as Jet flies away.
The next day the crew returns to the forest in the valley and continues to explore until signs of human footprints lead them to a stream of fresh water, the trail dies there but the group splits up to continue searching. Cerberus goes off alone into the shadows, and is neither found nor finds any further clues. Jet and Nexu go downstream and are discouraged enough to turn back, when Jet is suddenly caught in a net and pulled high up into the trees above. Nexu stealthy sneaks up on the woman who ensnared Jet as Jet tries to ease the tension of the conversation, through Nexu's subtle coercion and Jet's charm they get the woman in the tree to agree to take them to see Mantisa Task, the leader of The Red Hills Clan.
Experience Awarded: 20
Part II
Led by the Dathomirian Witch who they had befriended, Jet and Nexu meet up with Cerberus before going on the long journey through the forest towards the village of The Red Hills Clan, and presumably Mantissa Task. Along the way Jet tries to chat with the woman, and his charm is somewhat successful, but he can't shake the feeling that she still somehow dislikes him. The spend the night in a large hollowed out treee, where she reveals that the insects they had encountered the previous day were called Shear Mites and The Red Hills clan used to live in peace with them, before some of their sisters turned the Shear Mites against them. While keeping watch that night, they get the first real impression of how dangerous the night on Dathomir is, though they are not attacked.
As they start their journey the following morning, they are ambushed by a group of fierce monkey-like beings called Purboles. Though at first the creatures drop like flies, when a group of them swarms Nexu they are able to naw her leg off before the remainder of them are killed. Their progress is slower after that, with Cerberus carrying Nexu, but they do safely make it to the village of The Red Hills Clan. Approximately a dozen primitive huts are scattered about a less dense area of the forest, and they immediately see as many as 20 Witches of Dathomir, though no males.
The group sits down and speaks with Mantissa Task, where they learn that the Nightsisters that they encountered in the hills would be pursuing the Olbio Tree now that they knew it was on the planet. As a result, Jet is able to convince Mantissa to send Jet and Cerberus with an escort back to the ship and Nexu can safely stay at the camp while she rests from her injuries. Jet and Cerberus set off with 5 witches as escorts and move quickly through the woods. Meanwhile, back at camp Mantissa spends time with Nexu, enlightening her to the ways of their sorcery and spells (the Force). Though Nexu is greatly intrigued and interested, she decides that she cannot yet stay and become a Witch of Dathomir, while she has unfinished business throughout the Galaxy. Mantissa offers that she is welcome to return to them.
As Jet and Cerberus head towards the ship, they witches convince them to travel through the night, though more dangerous, haste is of the utmost importance. Unfortunately, the Witches did not count on Jet's lack of stealth while traveling at night and when they enter the territory of a powerful and angry Ssurian (Great Dragon) Jet is the only one unable to escape the creatures notice. Though Jet is able to back slowly away from the beast, he is then unable to make his final escape and the beast eventually chases after him. As the creature catches up to him, he pulls his thermal detonator and throws it at the beast, the massive explosion gravely injures the Dragon but does not immediately kill it. With it's dying action the dragon takes a final bite out of Jet, knocking him unconscious, but not killing him.
Cerberus is able to carry Jet's injured body back to the ship, with the help and guidance of the other witches. He then flies The Dirge back towards the village, where he is able to leave the ship hovering above the forest canopy and carry the Olbio Tree down on a cable. Once their package is delivered to Mantissa, the group gets back into their ship and departs Dathormir, jumping into Hyperspace headed for Ord Mantell.
Experience Awarded: 20