Out of the Frying Pan... (d20 Star Wars)

[shadowbloodmoon]

No other electronics are found in the room, however, yes the signal seems to be coming from the droid.

The signal continues: Human Female: I'm fine, thank you. Human Male: Yeah, whatever, little buddy. My comment still stands. Free drinks are just fine by me. So, your boss has had dealings with this Torrba before? DRK class droid: Report: Yes. They have a longstanding and mutually beneficial business relationship together.

Not too long afterwards, the door opens again. This time admitting two more Gran thugs. Their blasters are holstered, but it seems as if they are ready to draw them at any time. The pair simply gesture as if to summon you out the door. The protocol droid translates:

"I believe they want all of you to follow them."

I'm leaving it here because I'm giving you a choice to stay or go with them...

 

[Kemrain]

Felia watches the tri-ocular goat-headed thugs for a long silent moment before getting to her feet, her satchel slung cross her shoulder and hung under her arm as she walks toward the door, eyes downcast, frantically trying to come up with a way out of her present situation, sure that she's being led to either inprisonment or execution.

There's only two of them, Tal could blast them both before they even drew blasters- but all the others would hear the sound and start shoting at us. If I could slip away unnoticed I could change and try to just walk out- but they'd stop the unidentified intruder and probably shoot me for tresspassing. I could let their boss know what I am and what I could do for her, make her an offer- which might work, but it means I'll be stranded here on this dismal place until I can either get up the credits to leave or gull my way onto a ship. Better than being shot, but hardly the best case scenario. C'mon, Tac, think...

 

[Toric_Arthendain]

Femi rises slowly, intending to remain calm and go with the Gran thugs. Seeing no one else move right away, he look around at his companions trying to determine what the play is going to be. He resists the urge to reach inside his shirt and grab hold of his lightsaber.

 

[Bobitron]

Tal stands casually, lifting his blaster and preparing to follow the Gran. Inside his mind is racing, and he is ready to swing the balster up to fire in the blink of an eye. Trying to make subtle eye contact with Felia, he attempts to get some insight as to what she wants done.

 

[Ambrus]

Cognitive Processing
Datum: Two unidentified male grans are gesticulating that we should follow them.
Proposition: The unidentified male grans wish to lead our group into a hostile encounter.
Deploy blaster cannon (Y/N)?
Com-channel #2173684B: "...longstanding and mutually beneficial business relationship together."
Proposition: The unidentified male grans wish to lead our group into a diplomatic encounter.
Emotive Node: Uncertainty 43.3%; Anxiety 35.6; Curiosity 21.1%.
Com-channel #9876342H: "...a safe and secure society which I assure you will last for ten thou..."
Algorithmic Node: Diplomatic Protocols apply.
Algorithmic Node: Obeisance Protocols apply.
Com-channel #1634579L: "...no one will benefit more from increased smuggling than the Hutt."
Unable to reach volition threshold.
Com-channel #975215A: "......"
Heuristic Node: More information is required.
Upload data to vocabulator buffer 4B.

The diminutive probe droid rotates back and forth in mid air to regard both the gran duo and the protocol droid. Since neither group of organics seem able or willing to speak to each other, DRK-1X is the first to respond vocally by addressing the blue droid in its whisper-soft voice; Statement: My Mistress indicated her desire for her allies and myself to wait here for her but my programming also compels me to avoid offending our hosts. Request: Please ask these gran who has instructed them to collect us, where they wish to escort us and for what purpose.

 

[shadowbloodmoon]

The blue droid responds by turning in the direction of the Gran and letting out a series of grunts and howls. One of them turns and responds, *grunt-grunt hooowwwll Torrba howl grrruunt.*

"He says that we are to appear before the Great Torrba himself in his audience chamber. I do believe you should feel honored. No one sees him directly." The droid continues out the door with one of the thugs and the other Gran looks at the rest of you expectantly. It is obvious he wants you to go first.

 

[Ambrus]

OOC: Would sense motive checks on the droid and the grans be approriate at this point? My modifier is -1, but the others may have better luck than 1X. I don't really think they're lying; I'm just wishing they were...

 

[shadowbloodmoon]

You can call for a Sense Motive check at almost any time, if you would like. From X's standpoint, the bio readings from the Gran indicate no overt extreme emotions, meaning that they are either very calm or very good at hiding nervousness. And droids, well, droids don't lie do they?

 

[Ambrus]

Cognitive Processing
Com-channel #2034867D: "...pah de gee a pah de gah. A pah rah lee a pah rah lah. A sah tee..."
Datum: Torrba the Hutt wishes us to appear before him in his audience chamber.
Com-channel #975215A: "......"
Proposition: Refusing Torrba the Hutt's invitation could endanger DRK-1X.
Threat Index: 67.8%
Emotive Node: Anxiety 56.2; Curiosity 29.1%; Uncertainty 14.7%.
Com-channel #9812687C: "...hurry if you want to collect. The Jedi are getting scarce quick if you..."
Heuristic Node: Self-preservation Protocols apply.
Heuristic Node: Diplomatic Protocols take priority.
Com-channel #2173684B: "...amber. I do believe you should feel honored. No one sees him directly."
Volition Threshold has been reached.
Priority Hierarchy established.
Com-channel #9876342H: "(CHEERING) An empire that will continue to be ruled by this august..."
Upload data to vocabulator buffer 12A.
Uploading directives to repulsorlift unit [X=+0.4m.,Y=+4.6m., Z=+0.3m., V=0.33m./second]

Once again, the diminutive probe droid addresses the blue protocol unit it its monotone voice; "Statement: I am honored to accept Torrba the Serene's invitation to an audience." DRK-1X moves to follow the protocol droid past the gran in the doorway.

OOC: I know for a fact that they do, when directly or indirectly instructed to do so at least. This is great... a Hutt's audience chamber is only one level below "battlefield" on my top ten list of dangerous environments.

 

[Kemrain]

"He says that we are to appear before the Great Torrba himself in his audience chamber. I do believe you should feel honored. No one sees him directly."

The blood drains out of Felia's face as she registers her worst fear. She's being brought to see a hutt. Steeling herself to resist being sold into slavery, executed, or worse, she walks towards the doorway with the gran thugs.

"Statement: I am honored to accept Torrba the Serene's invitation to an audience."

Torrba the Serene? she wonders to herself, her mind still racing.

Noting Tal's glance she lowers her gaze to his rifle and back to his eyes, shaking her head the smallest ammount, not yet ready to commit to violence. If they could get out of this unharmed, without anyone else being injured, so much the better.

Turning to look at 1X, though addressing the room at large, she asks in a soft voice, "What can you tell me of the great Torrba the Serene?"

OOC: Why don't we go for a Sense Motive check all around. Oh, and an Empathy check on one of the thugs. I'll take 10 on Empathy and let luck decide my +5 Sense Motive modifier.