Fwurg

[Mercury]

Jaicen easily wrote instructions for the autopilot. It would go into a parking orbit after the team had left the ship, and it would return upon receiving a signal from the team. With it going into a parking orbit, there was more than enough fuel for them to complete the mission.

Trigiel found that the ship did not come with a proper crane system, or even a real winch, but it did have eye hooks above the landing ramp, which'd allow one to attach a rope to climb down. As to whether that would work for Jaicen was another matter.

Ajava meanwhile managed to locate a lake on sensor sweeps taken as the ship came down from orbit. It was about sixty kilometers away from their intended destination though, which'd mean it might take several days to reach the meeting coordinates. Moreover, the lake wasn't entirely devoid of plantlife. It too was overgrown with plants, though it'd still be easier to set down there than here. It was almost as if the entire planet was designed so as not to allow ships to land easily. One might start to long for an impractically sized landing platform.

[Jaicen Hedoss]

After a while tinkering with the computer Jaicen said: "Hmm, Yup, Fixed it!"

"It will go towards the orbit and return when we give the order. Where are we going to touch down?"

[Shebi Ajava]

"Rappelling down is not going to work for Jaicen. So, we're going to the lake. Trigiel, try to put the ship down gently, we don't want to churn up the waters too much."

While they were flying to the lake Ajava paid close attention to the terrain. She wants to have a good idea of the type of terrain they were going to traverse, and hopefully do most of the trekking without a map.

[Mercury]

Ajava was disappointed to find that not much of the terrain was actually visible. Judging from up here, all the details were "jungle forest", though she picked up on some hills that suggested a river might be down there feeding into the lake. As to whether there actually was a river, that was another matter entirely - it could be a dry river bed for all she knew.

Arriving at the location, the group soon discovered that "lake" was entirely too generous - at least from up here. Surely it was a large lake, several miles in all directions, but the forest seemed like it didn't care nearly as much about its presence as one would suspect, and the canopy continued on over the water.

However, there was one big advantage here over landing elsewhere - the canopy was far less dense, as the structures supporting it had to cope with the presence of all that water, not to mention the depth of the lake to find solid ground. They could probably push through the canopy with the ship here without getting stuck, so long as they didn't dive into the water.

((OOC: A pilot check is required to land the ship here, and of course you'll be on a lake once you do, but its a lot easier than trying to park it in the trees further back))

[Shebi Ajava]

Ajava waits for Trigiel to manoeuvre the vessel downwards, hoping to end up hovering above the lake so they can simply jump out.

[Fecta Trigiel]

((OOC: sorry for my inactivity, I was in a temporarily not-posting-status due to a heap of other things on my mind, but I am back now ^^))

"Master, I cannot close in to the lake without disturbing the wildlife. The canopy is just to dense. I hope the Xomlirga will not be too disappointed with us damaging the trees."

Trigiel started lowering the ship through the canopy as gentle as he could, letting the ship hover just above the lake. For the descent he chooses a location as close to the shore as possible to prevent miles of swimming. Above the lake he tries to bring the ship as close to the shore as possible.

((Check: 15 = 7 Force Level + 4 Strength + 4 Pilot -- piloting the ship close to the water, close to the shore))

[Mercury]

Sending the ship down, there was a lot of shaking and scraping and whirring, branches bending and breaking, scraping past the window, bits of wood and leaves flying, animals scattering to get out of the way of the ship with loud shrieks, even if they were unseen. And finally the splash, where the ship suddenly hit the water, cracking mixed in as said water was filled with roots and fallen branches, leaving the ship floating higher than one would expect. Above them, a small hole in the canopy let light into an otherwise dark place.

From here though, they could get out and and actually it looked like they could reasonably wade and climb their way to shore, the wood dense even under the water, every part of the planet seeming to fight over getting that little bit of extra light.

They would need to get to shore, find the river - or river bed - which Ajava had spotted from orbit, and then get to their destination. Plus of course, they had to deal with the ship. From the looks of it, it was functional and free enough to break out to orbit again, but there were definitely scratches and dents which the Quartermaster wouldn't be too pleased about. Ah well.

((OOC: And my apologies for being slow as well. Now that you're landed, let us continue))

[Jaicen Hedoss]

Jaicen was pulled by TG-100 out of his hoverchair and strapped himself tightly on TG-100's back with his saddle and equipment, he also made a last check on his programming of the ship, assuring himself it was programmed well enough. Then he opened the door, asking the other jedi: "Can I jump out here?"

[Shebi Ajava]

Ajava picked up her backpack and did one last equipment check before moving past Jaicen and jumping out of the vessel into the lake. She tries to land on a sturdy root, so she is not too deep in the water. She wants to have good footing to help Jaicen or Trigiel if they miss their footing.

If all goes well, she works her way to dry ground before doing anything else.

((Check: 20 = 10 Force Level + 7 Fitness + 3 Athletics -- Jumping into lake and landing))

[Fecta Trigiel]

If necessary, Trigiel helps Jaicen strapping to T-100. The cyborg grabs his gear and outside, Trigiel looks for a decent spot to land on to get to the shore. He plans to stay as dry as possible, getting plants out of his joints would be a pain in the shiny metal ass.

On Jaicen's question, Trigiel answerd: "I don't know, can you?"

((Check: 15 = 7 Force Level + 5 Fitness + 1 Athletics + 2 Force Jump -- jumping into lake and landing.))

[Jaicen Hedoss]

"There is only one way to know, right?"

Said Jaicen while the TG-100 carefully headed outside the ship. He made sure to have stable footing before letting go of the craft. Randomly jumping out of the ship seemed like a foolish idea.

((Check: 8 = 5 Force Level + 3 Fitness -- ))

[Mercury]

Ajava landed safely on a root which stuck out above the water. There were roots and trees everywhere, and the occasional patch of semi-open water, largely due to trees that had lost their balance in the slippery environment, plus the hole punched by the ship itself during the landing. Further ahead, things would get darker, and perhaps a light source might even be required.

Trigiel followed next, balancing on an overturned tree which led generically in the right direction, though he'd have to climb the final bit. Jaicen finally was carried by TG-100, who had to grab on to some branches above him, but with the extra help he too managed to get out of the ship safely.

With everyone out, the ship rose up, back out of the canopy the way it came in, and with a 'zoof', it shot up to a parking orbit, ready to be recalled when the time was right.

((OOC: Shebi Ajava lands successfully, her check being so ludicrously high above the DC of 2 that I'm not even bothering to post a result - actually since you landed the ship, no formal check is required. Trigiel and Jaicen also land successfully, mind you, but I wanted to emphasize just how ludicrously over the DC Ajava's 20 was.

However, I do require a separate check of each of you to keep balance as you climb over the roots to the shore (or swim or fly or whatever other method you use)

Once I have a post with a check from everyone describing what method they use to get to the shore of the lake, I'll post again.))

[Jaicen Hedoss]

Jaicen proceeds carefully towards the shore, trying to find a fallen tree to crawl on: letting TG-100 walk on its arms too, too maintain secure ground, testing each time with one leg if the branch will hold TG-100 + Jaicen's weight before putting his full weight on it. Jaicen also uses his own hands to grab a branch above him. To further enhance the reflexes of TG-100 he jumps quickly into and out of TG-100. It takes some time, but he certainly does not want to fall into the water.

((Check: 10 = 5 Force Level + 3 Fitness + 2 Control Machine -- Traversing the Lake))

[Shebi Ajava]

Ajava, confident in her abilities, tries to stay dry by lightly stepping from root to root. Using her arms for balance, she picks sturdy roots to stop on, or smaller roots that should offer enough bounce to quickly move onto the next more sturdy one.

((Check: 22 = 10 Force Level + 7 Fitness + 2 Acrobatics + 3 Wilderness Survival -- wilderness survival to assess what roots to step on, acrobatics to maintain balance))

[Fecta Trigiel]

Trigiel also tried to stay dry by jumping onto the most firm looking branches. If he has to jump higher into the trees he has no problems with doing so.

((Check: 16 = 7 Force Level + 5 Fitness + 2 Acrobatics + 2 Force Jump -- For jumping on firm looking branches towards the shore and stay dry.))

[Mercury]

A TG-100 in quadrupedal mode climbed its way along the branches, legs and arms slipping from the wet slippery branches several times, but thanks to having three other limbs to balance upon, the droid eventually made it to dry land, where it stood, muddy but mostly dry. Ajava meanwhile bounced nimbly between the roots to make her way to the shore without any difficulties - Trigiel had slightly more trouble but both of them managed to make it without falling into the water.

Once they had reached the shore, however, the forest was far darker than it had been where the ship had created a hole in the canopy. In fact, it was so dark here that it was almost indistinguishable from a starless, moonless night. Trigiel of course had access to night vision equipment, and Ajava carried four chemical torches, but Jaicen was mostly without any lightsources, so things seemed dark and impractical.

The floor of the forest was littered in leaves and fallen branches, all covered in overgrown, and there were tree trunks in all sorts of sizes in all directions, all reaching up to where the light was.

((OOC: To proceed, you will have to resolve the light situation. In addition, some type of navigation to get ahead will be necessary. You can do both in one post, but since you all have different and possibly conflicting lightsources, you may want to cooperate / coordinate))

[Fecta Trigiel]

"Master, Padawan," Trigiel said, "how well can you see in the dark? for me it does not really matter, but I guess my headlight is not bright enough to light the path for you two."

[Jaicen Hedoss]

"we can not see anything master." Jaicen says while his droid tries to find a stable spot with his hands. "I do not have any light with me and I do not think the people here like it if I burn their forest. TG-100 also has no light capabilities."

After hearing the TG-100 fumble around a bit on his body, a familiar sound of an activating light-saber can be heard.
"Wait, this might help a bit."

((OOC: These things are not called "LIGHT"-sabers for nothing ;)))

[Shebi Ajava]

Ajava looks at Trigiel with a vague smile.

"I cannot see in the dark, but there's no darkness if there is life."

As she hears a lightsaber activate, she automatically moves her hand to the hilt of her own lightsaber before realizing it is Jaicen's blade that was activated.

"I do not think that it is wise to walk around with an active weapon.", she states as she looks at Jaicen. "Especially not given how you were just bumbling about on four limbs. Accidentally killing something is still killing something."

While waiting for Jaicen to think about this, Ajava orients herself on the landscape. She keeps in mind what she observed while flying over it, and how the river bedding could be seen leading in roughly the right direction.

((Check: 17 = 10 Force Level + 5 Vision + 2 Force Vision -- Dealing with the dark: rank 1 Force Vision: can see life through the force.))

((Check: 20 = 10 Force Level + 4 Reason + 3 Tracking and Navigation + 3 Wilderness Survival -- Getting around and knowing where to go basedon knowledge of nature and reasoning about observed facts.))

[Mercury]

Trigiel's headlight provided light for himself, especially with his visual abilities, but it was not enough for the others. Jaicen's lightsaber also cast light in a small radius - at least enough to walk around for TG-100 without tripping on vines in any case. Between the two light sources and the Force Vision even Ajava managed to make her way forward.

For navigation, Trigiel and Jaicen had to rely entirely on Ajava, however, bumbling around as the Veolian Jedi had to repeatedly redirect them to a different route - the jungle seemed intent on splitting them up, subtly turning them around and suddenly seeming to block what was previously an easy connection between two walkways.

The most notable thing however was the constant noise above them. Shrieking of animals, chirping of birds. The forest was as loud as a busy street in a large city. In the distance they could hear loud, low pitched groans, which seemed like a cross between a trumpeting elephant and the mating call of a rancor.

Moving forward they eventually came to an area filled with roots and vines, but otherwise open. There were no bushes or ferns here, nor fallen branches - only roots and vines. Ajava, the only one with wilderness skills, didn't like it. Why weren't there any here when they had been omnipresent earlier?

[Fecta Trigiel]

Trigiel, with no wilderness survival skill of the sort did not see any danger, he saw a spot either suitable for a camp or nicely to continue walking. Since it still day, more or less due to the artificial night created by the trees, he continues walking moving to cross the opening.

[Shebi Ajava]

Recognizing the sudden lack of undergrowth, Ajava quickly calls out for Trigiel and Jaicen.

"Wait!"

"We'd better go around this area.", she said as she starts to go around the area while keeping a comfortable five meters between her and the area's not-so-well-defined border. She prefers to err on the side of caution with this, especially with these two following her.

Whether Trigiel and Jaicen actually heard her over the loud noise and followed her remains to be seen.

[Jaicen Hedoss]

Jaicen saw the open zone and welcomed the light: At least he could see clearly now. Jaicen walked right after Trigiel, since Trigiel apparently found a nice path.

If Jaicen hears Shebi's call he stops TG-100 immediately and let's him stand frozen until Shebi can give additional commands.

((Check: 8 = 5 Force Level + 3 Vision -- Hearing Shebis call to stop))

[Fecta Trigiel]

Trigiel immediately stopped at Ajava her exclamation. "Although I am all to curious about what this danger might be, I need a million lifetimes to discover all the dangers of the Universe. Let's go around.

Master, why do you think this area is dangerous? I sense nothing."

[Mercury]

((OOC: Clarification: there is no light here - the canopy still extends over this place, there just aren't any leaves or branches laying here.

Jaicen can hear Shebi Ajava just fine - though there is a lot of noise, I am presuming you three are keeping within earshot. If you don't, you are effectively alone in the dark forest which is probably not a smart move at this time.

I am not going to post additional information, since besides Ajava everyone has stopped and is trying to decide what to do. I felt I needed to make this post though to keep the action flowing - I believe most of you agree to go around though? I might suggest you move on then and perhaps set up a camp to rest? Feel free to pick a spot that meets your criteria, its a big forest with options on what type of place to choose))