Episode VII: History in the Mist

Part I

The crew of The Kraken's Kiss regroups at the Rebel Alliance's camp on Krant and spends some time recovering from recent events and examining the recovered Sith Crystal. Though perhaps the least studied of the crew it is Gand who recognizes the crystal, or the power that resides inside of it, and tells a story of The Outsider from the ancient times. The Outsider was a powerful force from long ago who took refuge and disappeared on the planet Gand years ago, there have been many who have searched for him, few are ever seen again and none have found him. Whoever he is. Intrigued by the story, especially Malloc, the crew departs for Gand to search for more information.

The crew stops at Nar Shaddaa on the way to Gand to purchase a new security droid for their ship as well as respirators for Malloc and Baric who won't be able to breathe on Gand. The crew jumps out of hyperspace nearby the planet and quickly drops into the mist of the planet to go in and land undetected, landing the ship approximately a day outside of the crater. Gand goes to a nearby village to get some additional information which provides the group some guidance on how to navigate the crater before they enter.

The crew sets out for the crater and enters at the fault line they were told to use which would prevent them from having to scale the mountain sized crater. Though they have significant trouble crossing the chasm they eventually do and are able to descend into the crater, though their pace is slow due to the rough terrain and thick mist obscuring their vision. Camp for the night and are attacked by a lone, frighteningly large insect creature during the night, though they are able to kill it with only minor trouble. The next day their exploration leads them to a second fissure in the crater, which they follow to a center point where multiple fissures meet in a large, deep hole that seems to be drawing the mist into it. Deep below they see bridges, that crisscross the hole, the highest of which they are able to reach by carefully rappelling into it and encounter ancient battle droids and wind worn stone statues.

The bridges lead to entrances into the walls of the hole, which the group follows into a deep, long series of tunnels that seem to lead the crew deeper and deeper into the planet. There are branch tunnels off the one they entered, but the group stays with the original tunnel and eventually are lead back to the hole, much much further down. The tunnels ends with four stone platforms in the hole, each with a large mysterious crystal on it. The mist seems to be drawn to the crystals, but they are otherwise unable to learn anything about them, until Gand simply shoots the nearest one. A human form is released from the crystal and immediately appears to be hostile, attempting to posses Gand and attacking the group. Though the spirit shows significant power with the force, the group is able to gun it down before any grave damage is done to the crew.

Experience Awarded: 15

Part II

After barely surviving their first encounter with a released Sith spirit the group decides that breaking more of the crystals might not be in their best interest. Instead the group back tracks up the tunnels to explore, finding that off of the main tunnel the smaller offshoots appear to be rest areas with food and cots for humanoids. Continued exploration shows that there is a branch of tunnels in each direction, the group starts by exploring to the east.

To the east they find the tunnels lead to a large holding room with 30 idle Battle Droids in it, the group sneaks by without being noticed. They find nothing else to the east, at least without risking drawing the attention of the Battle Droids, so they move along to the north. The tunnels appear to have a similar layout, however this region of the tunnels is empty. Continuing clockwise the group moves into the west tunnels where a lack of stealth by Gand draws the attention of 30 droids and combat ensues, feeling bold the group tries their luck against the droids but is quickly forced to retreat or be killed. The crew is now injured and on the run from a group of alerted Battle Droids.

The crew rests and hides out in the north tunnels before resuming their exploration in the south tunnels the following day. To the south the crew discovers a hold room containing 100 Battle Droids that immediately fire on the group, though they are able to quickly retreat before any damage is done. This leaves the group with only one long, straight tunnel heading in the direction of the center of the crater to explore. With no way out, they start down their last option. Small groups of Battle Droids standing guard in the tunnel are dispatched and Malloc is able unlock a blast door to allow them to continue, until a series of unlocked doors lead to a bare bones Battle Droid manufacturing plant. The factory is running slowly, but still operating and still producing more Battle Droids. Across from the factory they find a comfortable living quarters, eventually discovering a old and partially decayed corpse in the bed. Further investigation yields a lightsaber and a docking bay with an antiquated smuggling ship parked inside. Malloc slices his way inside of the ship where they discover the droid brain and are able to seize control of the small army of droids.

With control of the droid brain the crew loads as many droids as the ship can carry into the cargo bay, before unleashing the remaining droids on the 3 crystals still fueling the mist storm outside. Though the explosive power of the force destroys many of the remaining droids their combined blaster fire destroys all three crystals. As the storm begins to clear Baric and Malloc fly the ship to safety, leaving Gand behind to claim responsibility for the legendary accomplishment.

The crew meets back up on the space station orbiting Gand, before departing to Hutt Space to sell the extra ship and Battle Droids where there is plenty of demand.

Experience Awarded: 15