Solo Play: Contract of the Runaway Sons

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The Bounty Hunter

Registered Name: Silar Noon

Species: Pellucid (Crystalline)

Personality: Argumentative - What blunt item do they brandish to intimidate others? Electrostaff

Profile: The Uncanny

Scar: You’re sensitive to extreme temperatures and must avoid prolonged exposure.

Origin: You witnessed a cathartic vision that led you to abandon your pursuit of wealth through the Trade Alliance.

Trigger: You spent years wandering on a remote planet after your partner betrayed you

The Contract

Target Name: Aiki Yuukr

Species: Valik (bird-like)

Personality: Solemn - What treasured item do they always keep close?

Suspected Location: Talus (desert planet), Murian inhabitants,

Posted by: The Mystic Order

Reason: The Target kidnapped a promising young apprentice of the Mystic Order

Planetside - Talus

When coming into atmosphere in these desert planets you've found it best to land your ship in a canyon on the edge of the dunes to avoid causing a scene and make your way to the nearest destination from there by land transport. The modest planet hopper in your possession looks unassuming despite its many defenses but there is never a reason to draw attention so early in a contract if you can avoid it. Exiting the ship towering at over 7 feet drapings of flowing robes in a rainbow of colors covers from head to toe the strong crystalline body of Silar Noon. An ornate mask mimicking the predatory life on Oceron, ready to pounce on its prey from the shadows.

Taking a deep breath of planet air the hissing filtration of their rebreather echoes for a moment. The place thick with the smell of an incoming sand storm, chalky and gritty. Checking a data pad on their forearm they begin their way on foot. With the sun already high and hot it is decided to move down into the shade at the base of the canyon to follow to civilization. Taking a moment at the bottom to enjoy the drop in temperature before continuing Silar didn't notice the junti, a giant called stone serpentine creature famous for eating victims whole, slinking up behind her until it cast a shadow over her. Startling into action she tucked and rolled forward as the junti strike, striking a rock near where she'd just been. A squishing sound accompanied Silar as she rolled into an attack position, three baby junti twinning around her legs. [-1 X]

It wasn't graceful what occurred, a lot of yelping and blind stabbing down of her electrostaff with a healthy dose of cursing. Eventually, the family of junti was either run off or extra crispy. Catching her breath Silar sent out a pulse of power to check she wouldn't be ambushed again before continuing on. With a sigh of relief she continued on when nothing pinged, making it to the end of the canyon by midday. Immediately before her was spread a bustling market of people shouting to potential customers about their low low prices. One stall immediately caught her eye. It was done up in Trade Alliance colors with silks dropped between poles to provide shading, a pellucid behind the stall bartering with an older looking human. Silar couldn't help but to drift closer to hear their conversation and scoffed at how badly the merchant was trying to take advantage of them. Normally she wouldn't interrupt dealings but in this case she felt compelled to. Of course this made the merchant grumpy but who she came to find out was a tribal elder latched onto her. Guiding her thru the market to a set of tables in the shade, bringing them cool water mixed with juice. The elder was fascinated by Silar, believing her to be a mystic as well and questioning her thoroughly on the old esoteric concepts that held the Mystic Order to the old ways. For her part she did try to gently correct them that even though she did in fact have mystic powers she was not herself in the Mystic Order nor did she hold their beliefs to be true. [+Recruited Asset, Tribal Elder]

Far too many hours later she made her way out of the market and back into the desert, thankfully it was a cooler time but she new before long it would be cold with the lose of the sun. Finding a spot on a dune a far bit away from the marketplace she set a temporary camp. Taking a moment to hydrate, the scene before her wasn't an unusual one in this part of the galaxy but it still was an unpleasant one. A massive Old Empire battlecruiser partially buried. It had clearly been in some sort of space battle and had crash landed her after taking too much damage. From the looks of how well scavenged over it was, it had been a few years buried here, most likely forgotten.

She was up before the sun to set off again giving the battlecruiser one last look with a sigh at such needless death and needing to get out of the sun soon Silar pushed forward cresting the dunes to a flatter expanse, to a fortified palace run by the Targ Cartel. It was a small city in itself and its gates were opening to a long line waiting to enter. Silar joined the line entering in under the watchful gaze of full armed guards to a city sized palace. Wandering around for a bit the clanging sound of a forge caught her attention and pulled her to a wing in the cartel palace set up for artisans. A forge in full swing took over her senses - her refreather bringing in and separating the scents of soot, hot iron, sweat, and the tang of something unusual. Observing for a few moments she noticed something that at first glance looked like a haphazard pile of metalworking but which she slowly piece out to be some sort of multi-legged transport. Her attention on something in the corner rather then on the flashy work happening drew the attention of the master artisan who wandered over to talk with her. They ended up in a hearty argument about the physics involved in pulling off multi-legged locomotion, eventually pulling out tools and working on the pile of things until it seemed in a reasonable working state. Eventually she was invited to stay the night in the palace as the artisan's guest. [+Recruited Asset, Master Artisan]

Waking up from her modest accommodations, Silar quickly found she was missing her bracelet of broken and repaired links. Searching frantically it was no where to be found but clear signs that someone was in her room could be found if you knew where to look. [-1 Motivation] It wasn't valuable, a piece she'd made from broken chain links she'd found repaired back together. For her the value was in the peace and tethering to reality it gave her, it was a worry stone for peace of mind. A reminder that her vision that had caused her to leave the Trade Alliance and eventually onto the path of the Nomad was not yet a truth but still only a possibility. Silar's breathing was rapid at this point as she began a panic attack as she relived that vision again and again on loop. It was well past breakfast before she had been able to calm herself down enough to leave her room to continue in her hunt. As she passed through the forge she picked up a single broken link and slipped it into her pocket.

Traveling for the rest of the day she landed in a small spaceport ran by the Old Empire. Stepping through the check points into the port itself it could have been a carbon copy of every other Old Empire spaceport she had ever been in. Navigating it as if on autopilot she stepped back into her memory [+1 Motivation] to when she was a thriving wealthy Trade Alliance merchant. Those were blissful times before she saw what was to come. Silar allowed herself time to wander the brighter spots of the spaceport as if that was still her life. Without meaning to you end your walk down memory lane in front of the local Nomad's guild outpost and head in with a sigh to report in on your progress of the current contract.

Entering into a clean lobby you wait a moment before you are approached by a murian offering you a beverage while you wait. A few others in seating scattered throughout the space as Silar settled in with a sparkbang to take the edge off the day, waiting for a recorder to come take her update. She didn't even register most there as they were likely other Nomad's and the guild rules prohibited them attacking each other, not even the most rebellious would do it as openly as in a guild outpost. Which is why it was strange why she falt a set of eyes piercing into her right before she heard the sound of a table being thrown as a cloaked figure whipped around with a laser pistol pointed right at her. [8 vs 4, Nomad victory] Faster then thought all the chairs and table moved to the side of the room opposite Silar as if slammed with a force wave, including the cloaked figure. The other nomads in the room had been tossed from whatever chair they were in but seemed mostly unharmed. Everyone in the room descended on the figure as a marshal came in to take them into custody. A throat clearing behind Silar revealed a reporter to take her update before seeing her out.

With no sign of her target Silar was starting to get antsy. It was like they were staying too far ahead to not be receiving help from the locals. She made camp in the desert as the sunset, striking a small fire for warmth. Bundled up against the cold she fell asleep only to be awaken by the sounds of scittering as she felt a tug. Startling awake she saw footprints and was now missing a charm belt. Tracks lead off to the distance, packing camp quickly Silar set off after them. Muttering to herself angrily that this was the second time on this gods forsaken planet someone had taken something of hers. Eventually she sunk onto her stomach to climb a sand dune and peer down on a small encampment of 3 humans who were now trying to fashion her charm belt into a halter for one of their mounts. Sliding down soundlessly she rose behind a tent before drawing her shock rifle and rolling from behind the tent demanding they drop their weapons. [5 v 4 Threaten, Nomad] Shrieking they dropped everything and took off running talking about the sand devil coming to get them and begging forgiveness. Removing the makeshift harness she returned it to its proper place around her waist, shaking her head at their nonsense before heading in the opposite direction as them into the desert.

[+1 Notoriety] Silar was once again in a small spaceport controlled by the Old Empire, once more it was like stepping into a carbon copy of the hundreds she had already been in. This one seemed to hold a line that wrapped through several streets to a small clinic near its heart. Talking to the people in line they talked happily about how the healer had brought much prosperity to those living near the spaceport. That there had even been people flying into the spaceport specifically for them. Rubbing the spot on your flowing robes that had the long scar that runs over it Silar decided it might be worth a try and waited in line with the rest. Eventually making it into the building to be greeted by thin tall Lek'tok, happily going about their business one patient at a time. A small army of Lek'tok that looked like them but about a third of their size scurried around to assist. [6 v 4 Recruit, Nomad] Once it was Silar's turn the full weight of all those eyes on her made her itch but the Lek'tok healer was kind and took her into a private room when it became clear she was reluctant to talk about her pain in the open air of the main clinic. Shifting back the layers of silk robes Silar showed a massive roped network of black scarring across her chest and back. The healer made soft reassuring clicks as they examined her, letting her know it wouldn't be a quick fix but there was a police that could be provided that if used regularly would help ease some of it. [+Recruited Asset, Healer]

When Silar exited the clinic after her first treatment with a pack of poltice under her arm she was greeted by some sort of street parade and festival going on. It was the celebration of the sand goddess, asking for her blessing and guidance to safely navigate sands in the coming year. It brought a smile to her face to see children running around happily and playing even with all this war going on, causing her to linger for a few hours before she pushed onwards in her hunt. It wasn't long before she found a small enclave run by the Mystic Order tucked in and hidden among a cliff face. They welcomed her and offered her to rest a moment with them. [-1 Motivation] No matter who Silar talked to within the enclave, no one had heard of Aiki or even knew of them. It was beginning to be frustrating like talking in circles. You'd think for the faction that hired her for this hunt they'd be a lot more helpful then they are.

[+1 Motivation] Finally leaving the enclave in frustration Silar spotted smoke on the horizon, taking off quickly to investigate they found a burned out farm of some sort. She found a few dead and burned bodies one of which had the charred remains of the Rose Syndicate on them. It must mean this was some sort of Targ Cartel farm then. Looking around Silar only found items burnt beyond recognitions but the rebreather hissed bringing in the scent of tang and spice that denoted this was a farm for the drug hillnix, and was probably the reason it was hit.

Arriving at a small town run mostly by murians Silar sighed heavily, the hunt was becoming arduious but I suppose when all they give you for a location is a giant planet this is what happens. Seeing you sag with the heavy sigh several locals come over to ask if you are well. Insisting you go see the Scrap Vendor if you are to continue traveling around as all of this walking isn't good for you. To the point of seeming a little rude as they herded you towards the scrap heap on the edge of town. It turned out to be run by an enthusiastic young murian, too young to own his own business. Silar watched the locals interact with the Scrap Vendor picking up that this young murian was taking over for a beloved deceased family member, the locals were just trying to make sure he had business. [2 vs 5 Recruit, FAILED] Something about you rubs them the wrong way, maybe its the way you've corrected them several times as they call things by wrong names. But both of you decide its best if you don't do business here.

As you leave the small town you see the source of their thriving scrap yard - a massive ship graveyard spanning miles. Some look to have been brought here but most show the signs of war. Exploded sides, charred metal, twisted frames. While it has benefitted this settlement you wonder if the small town didn't form around this graveyard. If so then what massive battle caused this much carnage? Most of the ships seemed to be the mid to small agile fights of the rebellion with a large hunking carcass of a old empire battlecruiser taking up the middle. Navigating carefully through it Silar tried not to think to hard about all the death around her.

[+1 Notoriety] Another Old Empire spaceport, Silar was bringing to think that they majority of this planet were spaceports. This time though work seems to have stopped her and a rhythmic beating and humming fills the air. In the main hanger the vibration and humming is the strangest as you see a crowd singing and swaying in time to the drum beat. [+1 Motivation] There seems to be some sort of cleansing ritual going on with a small line of people being dunked into what looks like oil as a mystic says words over them. It is a strange sight but one Silar finds she can't look away from and begins to slightly sway herself at to the beat. Only getting knocked out of it once the ritual seems to be over and the drumming stops.

Exiting the main hanger you see a commotion happening by a fountain as a guard seems to be confronting a rebellious civilian attempting to deface property. Red paint had been splashed over some statue of some great Old Empire general with 'MURD-' started in big blocky letters. The guard back handed the civilian showing a flash of light as the sun reflected off their crustaline body. Silar's heart beat sped up and her breathing became erratic as she felt the sting across her own face as a large man back handed her off the ramp to the ship laughing. Taking off blindly into the streets she didn't stop until her legs were shaking and she slide down to rest in a hidden alley.

[+Lead] Lurking in some of the spaceport's bars you learn that a lead is on a speeding freight hovertrain heading this way. Silar posted up near where they would off load the hovertrain keeping a sharp eye out. She was looking for lek'tok named Sulli Slakk, a solemn woman who seemed twitchy as she stepped out of the hovertrain. A known accomplice of your target Aiki, they were a part of the same Mystic Order that hired you for this job. An order known for their warriors Sulli was no different, Silar could tell from her stance as she moved even at this distance. But even if she couldn't the stories of what she accomplished in the war against the dark mystics warned getting in a fight isn't in Silar's best interest. She decided to just approach and talk first. Following her to a local bar Silar slide into a seat next to her at the bar and ordered a local special. It doesn't take long into her cups to befriend her and find out that the Mystic Order is ruthlessly covering up Aiki's actions and trying to end the conflict with a contract before word gets out. Sulli hints at how mystic order members who were close with Aiki have been going missing or been reassigned to distant remote enclaves. She seemed friendly enough until you tried to push on what Aiki did to have a contract put out on him before Sulli turned violent. Again it was Silar's powers that saved her, seeming to recognize what was happening before she did that slammed Sulli back and gave her some room to manueaver. Lashing out she caught a mug to the face as she tried to recover, spinning her staff to catch Sulli in the chest as she charged her. The momentum carrying them both over the bar but thankfully Sulli was now unconscious though on top of her.

[+Lead] Leaving Sulli's unconscious body behind the bar Silar moved into the city and used the market day to hide among for a bit as she thought out her next move. The datapad on her forearm beeping with another lead. A kimano named Frico Lillei who was known to loudly brag about others business. Someone she'd hoped to never have to deal with again as images of a swamp world flashed thru Silar's mind. The scarring on her chest beginning to itch at the thought of seeing Frico again. At least Silar knew where she could find him, holding court in the largest bar in the largest settlement. Sure enough there he was spotting some bullshit about a daring rescue, not mentioning the rest of the crew that pulled it off while he sat toasty in the ship in atmo. Staying on the outskirts of the crowd until Frico had finished with his tale Silar made her way forward and rested a hand on his shoulder, now towering well above him. Directing him over to a table in the corner the sat down, Frico nervously fidgeting before ordering them both drinks. He didn't try and hide the fact that he knew Aiki or even that he had helped them but kept insisting she had the story wrong. Silar humored him but knew the story didn't really matter. Once the guild had the contract it had to be completed no matter what. But Frico kept insisting that Aiki wasn't a bad guy just fell in love with the wrong Mystic Order leaders son and had run away together. He was adamant that it was wrong to take Aiki back to face kidnapping charges because there had been no kidnapping. The more he drank the more adamant he became that Silar not complete the contract, the more Silar assured him she'd complete it with or without his help but at least with it Aiki might be brought in alive. Eventually Frico leaped across the table at her knocking the chair over as they tumbled to the ground. A punch to the gut knocked the wild out of Silar as a kneed made contact with her mask cracking it. With a growl Silar rolled ontop of Frico and punch him squarely in the face repeatedly until he stopped moving. Breathing heavily as she kicked him away disgusted. [+1 Notoriety]

Rifling through his belongings before leaving Silar found a message from Aiki asking for help getting off the planet. Now she had all she needed to finish the contract and get off this gods forsaken place. [+Target] Racing to make it Silar ignored the warning signs of a sandstorm rolling in, instead locking down her rebreather to filter out as much of the sand as possible. She made it to where Frico had parked his spaceship right as Aiki did. Shouting to gain his attention Silar held her shock rifle level at him as she stepped into the shelter of the spaceship. With him was a young lek'tok in nice robes already part of the way up the ramp into the ship. Aiki himself around the same age as the lek'tok, his clothing tattered and rough looking. She gave him the choice of how he wanted to be taken in. He started crying as the young lek'tok came to comfort him. Begging her to please let them just leave. It was touching, but Silar had learned long ago that when faced with a Nomad, targets had a tendency to try and tug at the heartstrings in a desperate last hope of getting away. Aiki even tries bargaining saying that he's joined the Old Empire and defected from the Mystic Order, that they'll buy out his contract. But Silar explains its too late for that. A shot rings out as Silar dives for cover, three burly bodyguards coming out of the ship guns blazing. They usher in the young lek'tok as Aiki desperately fires at Silar. Two guards go down in rapid succession as she fires off from her shockrifle, running for better cover as she takes a shot to the shoulder that spins her round. A bodyguard coming into sight over her to take a shot right to the face as her legs capture his to spin around landing him on the ground. Rolling back to her feet as Aiki fires wildly she gives him the choice again of how he wants to be brought in. A shot manages to hit her in the hip dropping her to the sands. Crawling to cover she uses the ship as Aiki continues to fire wildly into the growing sandstorm. Hoping up on the ramp beind him she brings down the butt of her rifle hard on him head followed by a hard push with her powers to tumble him down the wrap and onto the ground. A cry from behind her rings out at the young lek'tok runs for Aiki, protecting the body with his. Begging her saying they'll go without any trouble just don't kill him. Agreeing Silar takes out a pair of cuffs for each of them and leads them onto Frico's ship, using it to get back more easily to her own.

[7 Motivation *2 = 14, 14+5 = 19] As Silar flies away from the planet with her target in tow to turn into the guild, she knows that while it was a long hunt she's gained a bit of a reputation now for being relentless. A message popping up as she leaves atmo acknowledging her good work and giving coordinates for the drop off. The guild contact also notes that the mother superior of the Mystic Order will be at the drop off, as she wants to meet and thank Silar personally for her diligence.

[roll forward 2 Notoriety, 1 Favour, 1 Motivation]