Hunting Party

[Norbaal Fanth]

Dathomir was something of a backwater, and whilst it was steeped in the mystical powers of the force, few normal people had cause to come here. As such, Nor'baal Fanth had decided to send three others in his stead, and as he sat in the relative comfort of his shuttle far above the planet, he waved down one of his attenders, calling both for the holoprojector, and something more personal. "Moisturise me." he instructed, in his usual way, as he was bathed in cooling vapours by a bored looking retainer, who then thumbed on the communicator, allowing the slimeball to communicate with his people on the ground.

Flickering into life in the hands of a protocol unit that he had sent down with his team, the slug appeared. "Greetings gentlebeings," he flapped his arm, keeping his Monkey Lizard, Algarus, off camera "...I hope you love Dathomir as much as I do?" he chuckled to himself, for his sarcasm, was immeasurable in its depth and wisdom. He had a simple task for them today, one that he was personally very slightly convinced they could do without injury.

"This," he held up a small plastic model, probably a childrens toy "...is a rancor, a Bull Rancor." he smiled as he waved the you, and threw it for his monkey to go and catch "A client of mine is hoping to pruchase its claws and spleen, which are apparently very....potent." he winked and leered "...if you catch my meaning?" and with that, the Monkey lizard smashed into his holounit, and Nor'baal vanished, no doubt to appear later once he had got the blasted thing back up and running.

OOC - This thread will be self-DMed for the most part, and I'll hop in as the storyteller when we want to screw spice things up for you. @Gian Greydragon @KinkyPrawn @samdragon @Algarus

 

[Shorwarr Kelborn]

Ah, Dathomir, a beauty of a planet with a huge biodiversity. The Wookiee was quite curious about where their contractor would have sent them, but he couldn't imagine that they would end up in some sort of wasteland with few lifesigns around them. The large furry alien sighed, the helmet of his Beskar'gam in a hand and the mask that would translate his roars, moans, barks and similar sounds in the other, listening to the slug-like alien talking on the holocom. As he explained what would their prey be, he looked at the other assorted people that would work together with him, and sighed. Let's hope that they at least agree to form a plan together, or I don't think well come out in a piece, or alive at all, he thought.

 

[Peter Evans]

Dathomir. A dark planet, powerful in the Dark Side of the force. The best example of this would probably be the Nightsisters that called this rock home. He listened to their contractor as he spoke, not taking his eyes off the surrounding woods and roots and keeping his A-10 rifle handy. You never know what might jump out of the darkness.

A heavy sigh caught his attention. It came from the big, Mandalorian Iron-clad Wookiee that was standing a few feet from him.

"I'll be honest, I didn't know the Mandalorians were recruiting Wookiees. Can't say I'm surprised though, the reputation of the skills and battle-prowess of your kind proceeds you by far. I just hope you understand Basic, otherwise communication might be a problem!" he said the last part jokingly, but the rest was serious. This would be the first time he would see a Wookiee in battle, which he was rather excited for.

"What about the rest of you? Do we all understand each other or are we going to need a translator?" he spoke loudly for his other team mates to hear as he turned his gaze back to the woods.

@Gian Greydragon @samdragon @Algarus @Nor'baal

 

[Shorwarr Kelborn]

The Wookiee looked at the human and gave him a thumbs up with the hand holding the small mask-shaped translator, giving also a big and friendly smile. He then put the mask on, rummaged a bit with some commands and then started speaking. His verses were quite muffled, and the speaker in the front started talking with the voice of a man in his fifties or so: "Well, of course I do understand Basic, or I wouldn't be even here! Regarding the fact that Mandalorians recruit Wookiees, well, firstly I joined them by my choice, and secondly, why not? They accept all species in their ranks."

 

[Ashlyna Talmount]

Ashlyna was in deep shit. She knew that. This was not what she had signed up for. Yet here she was. She looked to her fellow hunters, two blaster pistols strapped to her hips, and a hydro spanner tucked away on her utility belt. She looked like a mechanic rather than a hunter. But that was just going to have to work. Then the Wookie started talking and she was even more thrown for a loop. She thought she'd be funny and try to win the others over, maybe make some friends just to play it safe. When she spoke, it would be in Twi'lek Ryl "I think we might have a problem then." She would look between the members of her party before chuckling and returning to basic. "Kidding. I think we can all understand once another. The rancor on the other hand might not be so talkative." Speaking of which, when did he mention they were hunting a bull rancor? What in the actual hell had she gotten herself into? Oh man, Tycho was not going to like this if he found out....

 

[Peter Evans]

Peter was quite impressed by the Wookiee's device. Never before had he seen a device capable of translating the strange language of the Wookiees. "Nifty little device you got there. I worked with a wookiee on Corellia for a short while. I can promise you communication definitely suffered a bit in that department." he spoke to the warrior with a chuckle.

His attention was turned to the lady that was with them, completely out of her element. Her outfit made her look like a mechanic, which is definitely not ideal in this area. The same could not be said of her weapons, however. After working on ships for more than 10 years, he could recognise the difference between a hydrospanner and a lookalike like night and day. Her presence was very strange as well. Very strong...

He brushed his thoughts aside. If she was what he thought she was, chances are very good that she would be able to sense him as well. But now is not the time to worry about that.

He let out a laugh, "That's kind of sad. I was hoping we could have a nice, relaxing chat with it before we blew its brains out."
"Hey can we get some names? It would make communication much easier if push comes to shove. My name's Peter." he spoke to the rest of the group, introducing himself to get the ball rolling. Wouldn't hurt to make a few new friends today, after all...

@Gian Greydragon @Algarus @samdragon @Nor'baal

 

[Shorwarr Kelborn]

"The name's Shorwarr Kelborn, of the Kelborn clan" the Wookiee smiled, then took his Beviin light repeater and checked for any dents, issues or such. Once satisfied, he did the same thing with his Strill blaster pistol, which he carefully polished as it had some stains of blood for some reason... And then he took out his dart pistol. "Welp, you never know if you'd need to capture a prey alive, right?" he chuckled as he verified the mechanism worked as it should, and loaded one dart of the five he had with himself.

 

[Galaar Rau]

Galaar had narrowly missed the transmission fro the Hutt who had hired him and his Kelborn Wookiee companion along with another freelancer, and a Rebel-aligned individual, the likes of whom he had never met. Barely knowing the Wookiee himself, he remained wary, but cordial to them all, as they were, for all intents and purposes, hired guns.

Piping up finally, after reading the other three, he came to the conclusion that they could be trusted, as other freelancers, which meant to Galaar that, with the exception of his fellow Mandalorian, they were to kept at arm's length.

"M'name's Galaar - Clan Rau," he spoke, as clearly as his thick Concordian accent would allow. "I hunt a good bit bayck home, but I ain't ever hunted some'n 'iss big before. Here's hope we get 'im good," he said as he approached from behind the Wookiee, slapping his back endearingly, shooting him a look as if to say, 'You and me, we stick together'.

 

[Ashlyna Talmount]

One the mercanaries was eyeballing her just a little too hard, and Ash knee that suspicion was already upon her. Great. She put her hands on her hips and gave relaxed posture, smirking with that confidence she had learned to fake from her youth. Thankfully her hyrdospanner didn't look out the ordinary, so they shouldn't expect anything unless it was absolutely required."I'm Ash Cyric, just a plucky freelancer that...isn't sure if she signed up for this." She admitted, before crossing her arms. "I may not look like much, but don't worry. I can carry my own weight." She nodded, giving the group a smile.

 

[Peter Evans]

He nodded at the group. "Well, nice to meet you all." he spoke as he looked them all over.
A grin formed on his lips, "A bounty hunter, a Wookiee, a mechanic and a Mandalorian...this should prove fairly entertaining" he chuckled

He checked his gear. His pistols were loaded and holstered under his arms, his grenades were ready, his rifle was hot and his commlink was live. He slung the rifle over his shoulder and slid his helmet on over his head. He took the rifle in his right hand and pulled his coat tighter around him with his left.

"Alright, weapons hot and ready to rock. You guys ready?" he spoke loudly and proudly to the rest of the group.

"Let's go found ourselves a Rancor."

@Gian Greydragon @Algarus @Nor'baal @samdragon

 

[Shorwarr Kelborn]

The Wookiee tilted his head as he met a fellow Mandalorian, and nodded at his look. He then holstered the blaster and the dart gun, put on the large helmet of his armour, made sure the filters and the HUD were operating and then he took in his hands the light repeater, which was maybe a bit too small for his large stature, but he easily held it like a normal rifle. "I'll be honest, it's my first time hunting a rancor. Does any of you have ideas on how we could capture or kill one without ending up at the hospital, or worse?" he asked, not wanting to sound scared or such, but more concerned, given that none of them was exactly equipped for a big game hunt.

 

[Norbaal Fanth]

"WORK!" Nor'baal smacked his hand onto the top of his holocommunicator. It was typical of the thing to konk out just as he was about to give the coordinators of the Bull Rancor, which - judging by his screen - was bearing down on their left flank even know. Briefly, he wondered whether or not he could film it, use the footage to make a false insurance claim over the gory and horrible deaths of his 'loved' employees.

"No. No." he shook his head, talking to himself and convincing himself that was just a tad to harsh. Plus, the contents of the Rancor would be of greater value than the claim on a few dead contractors. Finally, the holounit clicked back into life, and he boomed down the comms "SALUTATIONS." quickly, he turned down the volume "...and greetings, it is I!" he waved "Nor'baal Fanth, greatest of gambler...." the unit cut out again.

I am trying to deliver an important message here damnit! he swore internally, as far beneath him, the adventurers would begin to hear the deep, thunderous footsteps, of an approaching rancor.


@KinkyPrawn @Gian Greydragon @samdragon @Algarus

 

[Shorwarr Kelborn]

"Hey, did you hear that guys?" he asked as heard and felt the ground shake lightly from the rancor's footsteps. "We should quickly plan something or at least prepare ourselves in some way to confront him!"

 

[Peter Evans]

"Yeah. I heard it." he could feel it too. He turned his gaze and gun towards the incoming earth-shaking steps.
"I got a plan. It's stupid and borders on crazy but it's something." he perked up as he held his gun aimed towards the sounds.
"Someone has to keep it busy. Then someone else, preferably with a good throwing arm, lobs a few grenades into its mouth. It's skin is too tough to be pierced by anything short of a medium laser cannon. And seeing as we only need its claws and spleen, I'd say the head is fair game." he explained quickly as the steps were coming closer and closer. Looking through his scope, he could roughly see the massive beast through the trees and shadows.

"If any of you have a better plan, now's the time to speak up."

@Algarus @Nor'baal @samdragon @Gian Greydragon

 

[Galaar Rau]

Galaar nodded at the Wookiee, and dropped his helmet onto his head, then placed both hands on his rifle, and listened to wat the merc had to say. "I'll do it. I been wantin' a reason tuh use 'iss jet-pack," he said, before stepping a few yards forward from the group, Galaar funneled his hands around his mouth, and began shouting Concordian Hog Calls at the Rancor.

"Soo-oo-oo-oo-WEEEE!" Galaar shouted, 'from his chest' as his father used to say, when calling their animals to the pen, "He-ere piggy-piggy! Gotchu a snack!!!" Galaar shouted in Mando'a, before igniting his jetpack in flight mode, and rising to the tops of the trees, firing into the woods where the tops of the trees rustled, prompting an enraged roar from the beast.

"Ooh, I thank I hit 'eem!" he shouted, as the beast broke the treeline, a good 25 meters away from the group. Galaar flew forward, and upward to his left at the Rancor, gripping his attention like a heavily armored gnat buzzing about his face, while shooting at it's face. "Come get it, bigg'un!" he shouted, antagonizing the large beast.

@KinkyPrawn @Nor'baal @Algarus @samdragon

 

[Ashlyna Talmount]

Ashlyna felt the creature's presence before she heard it. Either way, it wasn't good. As the rest of her group prepared themselves for combat, Ashlyna drew her blaster pistols and waited for the beast to appear. When it did, she realized how woefully unprepared she was. Blasters weren't going to do crap to that thing!
"I'm going to try and lure it my way!"
Calling upon the force the padawan opened fire at the Rancor and would begin to run back, hoping to draw its attention and lead it away from her group; with the force keeping her a little bit ahead of the monster.
@KinkyPrawn @Nor'baal @samdragon @Gian Greydragon

 

[Shorwarr Kelborn]

To be honest, as the rancor came out of the forest, the Wookiee got a bit scared. But he'd swiftly regain his composure and prepared himself for the battle that was coming, taking in a hand one of the frag grenades he had, and he shouted at the other Mandalorian: "Try to make him come this way, and make sure that his mouth is nice and visible! I need a clear throw!" Meanwhile he hid behind a large rock that was something like 15 meters away from the rancor, who somehow didn't see the large Wookiee approach, probably because he was too distracted by the Mandalorian who was flying around him and shooting.

 

[Peter Evans]

He shoved one of his grenades into the wookiee's hands "Come on! I'm not doing all the work!" he shouted as he started moving forward. Running after the two as they drew it's attention, he took his other grenade into his right hand and set the timer to detonate on impact. He stopped dead in his tracks as he faced the monster. Its mouth was directed towards him but it was far too busy trying to grab hold of the two decoys to pay attention to him.

He closed his eyes, focused, then drew his arm back and threw the grenade into the beast's mouth. Almost instantly the grenade went off, causing the creature to let out a painful, horrible roar. It stumbled around, but it was still far from dead. "It's weakened! Shorwarr get in there, take it down!" he shouted to the wookiee that was not too far behind him. "We almost got it!"

He levelled his rifle at the beast and fired at it a couple times in a vain attempt to try and score a lucky shot.

@Algarus @Gian Greydragon @samdragon @Nor'baal

 

[Shorwarr Kelborn]

The Wookiee removed momentarily his mask and roared loudly to attract the rancor's attention, who indeed turned towards Shorwarr and roared in return. At that point the Wookiee activated the grenade and threw it right in the beast's maw. Apparently though he didn't put the grenade in impact mode, as the rancor easily swallowed the grenade... only to have his head literally blown off his body!

 

[Galaar Rau]

Galaar peeled off again, as the independent contractor lobbed a grenade deftly into the Rancors mouth, quickly pulling himself upward, as the grenade went off in his mouth. Waiting until the beast's mouth opened again, as he roared in pain, Galaar hovered overhead and fired a salvo of five bolts at the mouth of the Rancor, three of which went into his mouth, as he shot from a higher angle and peppered his face with two more, before circling around, and planting himself a good ten meters away from the Rancor, to ready a grenade of his own. As the Rancor writhed in pain, it gripped it's face, covering it's mouth, screaming in blood curdling pain. "SOO-WEEEE!!! C'mere, piggy! He-eeeere piggy-piggy!" Galaar shouted, from under his helmet.

Not a moment sooner, the Rancor rampaged forward, at the Mandalorian warrior, drawing him closer to him and the the undercover Padawan, as well as the rock currently being used to obscure the Mandalorian, and the human mercenary. "Keep movin' kid, we'll confuse 'eem," he said, to the Padawan before lifting off again, and flying off to the left, perching himself on the large stone, and bringing his rifle back up to the Rancor, but was cut off by the blatant disrespect the mercenary had afforded his wookiee vod, then shoving a grenade at him. "Aye! You speak to vod with respect, or we three 'er gonna have a problem, biggun! Watch yourself!"

Shortly thereafter, the Wookiee lobbed the grenade into the maw of the Rancor, and thus blowing this head clean off, as he had swallowed the grenade. The beast's carcass fell forward, after two steps forward, skidding to the ground in front of the large stone.

"HOO-WEE!! he shouted, leaping from the top of the stone, toward the body, engaging his wrist blades and swinging down on the wrist his the Rancors right claw. " 'ats one thang down, what else we need?" he said, when something else in the woods rustled a few dozen yards back at the treeline.