LiH: Session Four - "Bazaar Murder"

The Ashen Angel returns to Ord Mantell after solving the puzzle of the malfunctioning mining droid for Jalaila Tuian. She works up a contract with Jebbo Wugz and Penuab's Payloads for a 25% discount on her supplies for the Ashen Angel whenever they are in port at Ord Mantell. This includes all ships supplies and consumables, excluding fuel, repair, and specialty items.

Fri Penuabb informs the crew that their next salvage contract for Vog Salvage, Inc has come through. They are to depart the next day and meet Belinda Vog aboard the Ithorian Herd-ship, Bazaar. Ithorians are well known for their massive trading post ships which travel along most major Hyperlanes of the galaxy, visiting each planet along its path providing a safe place for commerce and bringing opportunities and exotic goods to people who typically wouldn't have the means of acquiring them. Herd-ships have long ago gained a reputation of being a symbol of open trade and commerce throughout the galaxy.

"Herd-Ships are huge terrariums full of the natural forests found on Ithor, and I have heard that many spacers visit for business as well as to vacation in the small villages within these artificial forests. Ithorians believe in a balance between nature and technology and live in giant floating cities as to not disturb the natural forested surface of the planet. Perhaps we'll have the opportunity to spend a day or two aboard before we have to go fulfill our contract with Belinda Vog." Fri explains excitedly. The crew gathers aboard The Ashen Angel and they depart Ord Mantell once again, jumping to hyperspace, heading towards the Ganthel System and the Core Worlds.

During the journey, Traxim takes the time to try to solve the puzzle of activating the Jedi Holocron he had recovered from the wreck of the  Republic Cruiser Remembrance and the remains of the Chiss Jedi. After a day of failed attempts, Traxim is able to reach out with the Force and connect with the Holocron, activating something inside of it. One of the corners of the Holocron detaches slightly and rotates as the interior of the device begins to glow, activating a holo-projection of a seemingly bipedal insectoid, wearing Jedi robes. "Jedi! May the Force be with you! I am Bodo Baas, at your service. Bodo Baas knows all probable futures, from his time until a time lost in mists and shadows… I can help you." The hologram introduces himself as Traxim rushes into the engine room to show Rallyn and the rest of the crew who gathers around the hologram. The hologram of Jedi Master Bodo Baas explains that this artifact is a Holocron that he created hundreds of years ago, and that Traxim can use the Holocron to ask questions and access training in the ways of the force, also implying that with further training, he will be able to unlock deeper levels of knowledge that Bodo Baas had programmed into the artifact. The first step in the Jedi's training will be to train the body and mind through physical and combat training with a lightsaber, which Traxim will need in order to complete the training.

Arriving in the Ganthel System, the Ashen Angel approaches the enormous flying saucer-shaped Ithorian herd-ship, Bazaar. They are authorized to land and Missindi pilots the ship into the main hanger deck, maneuvering to their designated landing zone. The landing platform is an enormous open deck which spans the entire cross-section of the ship, with the exception of a wide vertical column in its center, where the ship's maintenance and repair bay is located. The deck of the hanger bay is much different than the typical ship hanger. The air inside is warm and blows in a slight artificial breeze, which makes the tall grass which stretched across the entire surface of the deck sway in the breeze. This entire hanger bay has been built to imitate the native grasslands of Ithor.

Shutting down the Ashen Angel, the crew disembarks, looking forward to some time to relax before meeting up with Belinda Vog. Missindi and Rallyn admire the other ships in the hanger bay, ranging from high-end Yachts to barely space-worthy freighters, ships of every make are scattered around the bay. They also notice a special section reserved for official Imperial use, occupied by a Lamba-Class Shuttle. Making their way towards the turbo-lifts, the crew ascends to the upper level of Bazaar where the entire deck is covered in lush jungle, small rivers and lakes and several villages where visitors can visit, trade and spend their time and money. Each village is centered under an enormous clear dome which allows visitors to look out at a star covered sky each night. The crew exits the turbo-lift and begin their short hike to Isttu Village, the largest of the villages on Bazaar and where that evening they would be meeting Belinda Vog. The local time is early morning so the crew has the whole day to relax and explore Istuu Village.

The crew is about halfway to Itsuu Village, enjoying the walk and discussing amongst themselves what they will do with their free time when a man bursts through the thick foliage and onto the path in front of them. In a frenzy, he sprints across the path and into the trees opposite as a barrage of laser blasts spray from the direction from where he came. Some of the blasts arc towards the crew, one of them grazing Missindi and another blasting the man square in the back, forcing him to the ground.

The crew spreads out into the trees on either side of the forest path and Traxim runs ahead as three tracker droids followed by a large IG-86 Assassin droid immerge from the trees ahead. The tracker droids advance past Traxim and begin harrying the crew with their shock prods while the assassin droid begins moving towards the man who it had just shot. "Do not interfere!" The assassin droid orders as it shoots at Traxim and the others.

The group returns fire and after a few moments make short work of the assassin droid. Rushing to the side of the assassin's quarry, they arrive just in time to hear the human man use his dying breath to say, "Kamiroz."