Rebel Sworn: Chapter 5, Part 2, Setting Out - A Star Wars Inspired Starforged Solo Campaign
Welcome back to Rebel Sworn! I'm excited to see that a bunch of you have jumped back into the story. It's good to get back to Keer and see how his quest is going.
Last Chapter Keer escaped from the destruction of Boz City. Now he and Zhar need to decide how to get to the Dreadnought before the Imperials can get it working.
Haven't read Rebel Sworn yet? Check it out from the start here.
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I sit down on the hard stone floor. These caves are safe, at least that's what Verse tells me. Her people are standing guard at the entrance, so at least we will get word of any Imp patrols. It seems like those Rebel fighters did some damage to the Tie Bombers but were quickly chased off by a squad of Tie Fighters. Still, the bombing has stopped. I have no idea how damaged Boz City is. The loss of life must be horrible. Those Imps will pay for this, and everything else they've done.
Develop Your Relationship
Verse - Mark Progress, Now 4
Verse walks over, "Thanks, Keer. That was brave what you did back there. We could have all died, but you led us out. Somehow, you even stopped short of getting into a fight with that Imp patrol. Maybe you're softening around the edges?"
I laugh. The idea of being soft or being a leader is funny to me. I've been alone for so long, I wouldn't know how to act as part of a bigger unit.
"No problem, Verse," I finally get out. With a shrug, I lean back against the cave wall. I'm exhausted, beat up, and drained. I need some time to rest before we take this Dreadnought mission.
"Verse, is it safe to take a rest here? I mean, I won't wake up in the middle of an Imp attack, will I?"
"Hmmmm. It's safe enough. We are covering the entrance, and the only ways out the Imps don't know about. They could try to force their way in, but you'd get plenty of warning. Take a break. You've earned it."
Sojourn +1 with Heart
Challenge 2,1 Vs 6+1=7, Strong hit. Can take two recovery moves and assume a strong hit on both
Heal +3 Health (5)
Hearten +3 Spirit (5)
As soon as Verse steps away, I close my eyes and fall into a deep sleep. I wake up hours later. Someone tells me I've been asleep for 12 hours. I haven't slept that long in years!
I wander around and see Verse and her people are still safe. Zhar I find hanging out with some of Verse's thugs, playing dice and drinking something from a bottle I can't recognize. I share in the fun, winning a few and losing a few. All in all, the day is relaxing, and for a brief moment, I forget the war, the destruction of Boz City, and all the people who have died.
I'm told it's night again, but it's impossible to tell in the dark tunnels. Verse comes over to us and smiles. It's good to be alive, even if we've all lost so much.
"Keer, Zhar, let's have a chat."
Back to business again, I guess.
Verse drops the smile as we walk to a quiet part of the caves. "My people have made it to the secret exits of the caves. The Imps aren't there. We can get everyone out that way and escape into the wilderness. You are welcome to come with us, but I know you have another mission to get to. We're packing up and moving out soon. Good luck out there, you two."
Zhar speaks up. "So Keer, this Dreadnought, tell me everything you know about it."
"That's the thing, Zhar. I don't know much. The data I pulled from the Imp data port says it's somewhere deep in the Boz Pity wilderness. Obviously, the Imps know about it. And it seems to be in decent working order. If we can get it in service, the Imps in this whole sector will have to pack up and leave. We could liberate a dozen planets!"
Looking skeptically at me, Zhar rolls her eyes. "Yeah, it won't be that easy. A Separatist Dreadnought is one mean ship, but you can't just start it up like a Speeder. You need fuel and a lot of it. Do you have any Rhydonium laying around? No? I didn't think so."
I'm getting frustrated with this Twilieak. "Ok, Zhar, maybe I'll just put you back where I found you, that Imp jail."
That gets a laugh out of Zhar. "Yeah, not likely. So where is this ship? We can fly there, right?"
I grimace. Zhar won't like this part one bit. "Well, with that squadron of Tie Fighters roaming around, flying there isn't an option. We are going to have to walk."
"Walk? Walk! Kark it, Keer. I do hate you."
We gather up what little supplies we can find. It isn't much. Verse and her people need it more than we do. We make our way through the twisting caves and come out of one of the secret exits. I stare out at the unforgiving landscape of Boz Pity. It's going to be a long and hard trip.
 |
| Overland travel on Boz Pity is a dangerous affair. |
How long will this trip be? I think it will be a Formidable Expedition. I'll roll the dice to see. I think it's likely, so anything 75 or under is a yes. 60, that is a yes.
I'm also going to start a Campaign clock. Every session, I'll check to see if the Imperials get the Dreadnought working, as they are trying also. It's a short four-session clock, which I'll check now. 50-50 do the Imperials make progress in starting the Dreadnought? 33, a No.
Pack slung across my back, R5 next to me, and Zhar behind, I set off into the desolate landscape.
Undertake an Expedition +3 with Wits
Challenge 8,10 Vs 3+3=6, Miss
Waylaid by a Crisis or encounter a problem at a Waypoint
Pay the Price - You are harmed, -1 Health (4)
Not a great start. OK, I think I know what happens.
Zhar and I start out through the blasted plains of Boz Pity. I hate this trek. We have no cover for parsecs around us. We are too exposed and would be easy pickings for any Imp patrol. This is exactly what happens when a lone Tie Fighter screams over the horizon. He's too high up to identify us, but he comes in for an attack nonetheless.
Zhar and I sprint to what little cover we can see, a few small rocks and a sad-looking bush. Zhar can move pretty quickly for a scrawny Twileak, but after the last few days, I've lost a step. The laser cannon rips into the group around me. I feel the searing pain as a bolt lashes my side.
My momentum brings me to the rocks, and Zhar pulls me in. The Tie Fighter does a few more passes but doesn't take any more shots.
"How bad is it Keer? Are you hit bad?"
Endure Harm +4 with Health
Challenge 7,7 Vs 6+4=10, Strong Hit. +1 Health (5)
I check it out. It isn't bad, scorched more than anything. Just another scar to add to the list. "It's alright, let's keep moving before it comes back with a Tie Bomber.
Zhar nods. We look out to see if the Tie Fighter is back but can't see anything. After a while, we start again.
Undertake an Expedition +3 with Wits
Challenge 10,10 Vs 3+3=6, Miss with a Match
Pay the Price - A new enemy appears
Not having any luck with this expedition so far. Oh well, that is how the dice work. This won't be good for Keer at all.
We just start traveling again when we hear the sound of a ship flying in fast. It's easy to spot, the ugly ship. A Lambda-class T-4a Imp Shuttle. Kark that thing can carry 20 Imps in it. We are really and truly Karked.
I look around for cover, somewhere to hide, or something that can give us an advantage. No way can we fight a squad of Imps without cover.
Secure an Advantage +3 with Wits
Challenge 2,2 Vs 1+3=4, Strong hit
+2 momentum (6), +1 on the next move
"There, Keer! A canyon! If we can get to it, we can escape!" Zhar yells at me. The crazy Twileak is right. Boz Pity is covered in canyons, and it may be our only means of escape.
"Well, start running, Zhar. We don't have time to spare. That shuttle is coming in hot!"
We start sprinting.
I could start a scene challenge, which is a set of rules I don't use as much as I should. But I already have a few things going on, so I'll instead keep it simple and say Keer and Zhar have to succeed twice before they fail twice to get away.
Face Danger +1 with Edge, +1 from the previous move
Challenge 4,6 Vs 1+1+1=3, Miss
Burn Momentum (6 down to 2), Action score now 6 for a Weak hit
Take Harm -2 Health (3)
As we sprint, the shuttle comes in low, firing its twin cannons. For the second time in an hour, I'm hit with laser fire. This time I know it's serious as I feel the impact hard on my back as I run. Kark, this is bad. Zhar again drags me into cover.
"Is it bad this time, Zeer?"
Endure Harm +3 with Health
Challenge 8,8 Vs 5+3=8, Miss, -1 Health (2)
"Oh, it's bad, Zhar. It's real Karking bad."
"Well, what do we do now, Keer? We can't stay here?"
"I don't know. Give me a second to think, Zhar."
"OK, Keer, I don't think we have a second..."
---
Well looks like Keer and Zhar are in another Bad Spot. Will they be able to get out of this and continue their journey or will they be forced to fight their way out? Check-in next week.
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