Chapter 1 Interlude: Post Crystal Meditation

ooc: I'm not a fan of the bold typeface or the colours for dialogue either. I'm just using it because that seems to be the thing to do here.

Taryn returns Avi's smile in kind.
"Oh, come on... we're not poor, we're just religious." Taryn objects. "Mind you, I don't recall ever agreeing to join up, come to think of it. Anyway, I think people just didn't like playing against a bunch of mind-reading precogs who practice a vow of poverty..."

After a brief explanation of the rules and winning combinations, he quickly checks if all the cards are there, and then shoves the deck towards Avi.
"Ladies first."

Upon Ian's voice, Alyx opens her eyes. "Right. What do you need?" She appears ready to help no matter what the problem is - for now.

Letting out a sign, Ian first explains his vision in the cave all over again. Including the part where Master Selak admitted to having foreseen his own death. The human is animated in his retelling, his voice full of emotion and determination but lacking the fear he seemed to have earlier. "I need both yer help ta convince the others that instead'a waitin' on this or treatin' it like'a game, that we should be preparin' fer when they come fer us. The Force might have'a plan but I'll be damned if I follow along blindly. I wanna make anyone who comes here intendin' harm leaves regrettin' it."

"The future? Never." He shakes his head, sending his long braid swaying lightly. Crossing his arms over his chest he frowns, "This felt more like -now- just someplace else. Master Selak is'the one who brought up'the future. I just don' b'lieve in coincidences, is all." He sighs and nods, "Yeah, my gut tells me that there's a reason why he pushed all'a us ta get our sabers -now-. Specially given how some'a us ain' even that good with'em." He frowns looking down at the ground a moment before nodding solemnly, "Yeah. He gave'em to us while he could. Okay, let's go tell'the others." With that he heads towards the main room where most everybody else is playing sabaac.

Alyx follows but says little. Walking silently behind Ian, she seems to once again defer to the older student when he is in the mood to take charge. It's an odd dynamic to be sure...

Taryn looks up and puts his cards face-down on the table.
He looks in much better spirits than before.
"You're early. We didn't expect you back for ages."

Hearing Evelynn's serious tone, says "Yeah, of course. What's wrong?"

Letting out a breath, Ian holds up his hands as if to forestall objections. "Okay, guys. I just wanna preface that this is -not- like the time I convinced everyone that the trees were carnivorous or like the time I said there was an abominable jungle Wookie that ate children. When I meditated for the crystal journey I found myself in caves, -but- instead of'a crystal, there were three dude-bros with red lightsabers there. An b'fore that, when Master Selak took us off fer trainin' after he told us we was gonna get promoted, he -told- me that he had foreseen his own death."

Frowning at the others he goes to look at each of them in turn, even Zafe who had been off to the side the whole time. I thought about it and I think he meant Foreseen, with'a capital F. Guys, I don' think none of us should be alone when we do this stuff an I think we need ta work up' plan if someone comes lookin' around. Defenses, strategies, traps, somethin'." Crossing his arms over his chest he again looks to each of his siblings, checking their responses.

Avi shoots a wink at Taryn as she is about to draw the first card of the deck when everyone starts to emerge from the meditation room again. She perks up as she looks at Ian's direction, not stopping her from drawing the first card itself. (I mean, we might as well roll for that, right? x) ).

She looks at the card as she responds to Ian, letting an annoyed sigh escape her lips. "That's a grim joke right there, Ian. Remember what we talked about limits and boundaries?".Avi raises her eyebrow at the card — It's a very high one. She looks at the other card players as she taps the floor twice. "I'll pass." She says as she slides the deck at Piodas's direction.

OOC: Sabacc is sort of a hybrid between poker and blackjack from what I can tell, with some unique bells and whistles.
By the basic gambling rules in Edge Of The Empire, normally games like this are resolved by a diff. pp competitive check, using Cool if you're playing it straight, relying on skill and luck, or Deception if you're more into guile and bluffing. Or Skulduggery if you're outright cheating.

Taryn takes a card, looks at it, and lets out a very slight sigh of disappointment.
He's not playing to win, he's playing for the fun of it, but that doesn't means he isn't going to put in some effort.

"That's a grim joke right there, Ian. Remember what we talked about limits and boundaries?"

He takes a good look at Ian. "I don't really want to give him the benefit of the doubt, but I think he's serious for a change. At least, he's not showing any of his usual tells"

He turns to Ian, "If these goons have had any kind of Force training at all, do you really think any of that will matter? If they're coming for us, and we fight, it's only a matter of how many we can take down before the end. What we need is a way out of here."

OOC: other players are free to use my 2 disadvantages for whatever.

Alyx watches everyone speak, understanding their uncertainty about Ian, but sure nevertheless that he is serious. She can't blame them for being suspicious: but Ian's pranks really never involved that kind of manipulation. Arms crossed, she merely sighs and waits for everyone to decide that listening to Ian is what they want to do.

Avi raises her glare to Taryn's, holding it for a good second until she realizes that he's not joking. Which makes her frown, in doubt. But before she can say anything, Evelynn interjects.

At this point, she's not leaning in anymore, her back straight as an arrow. She looks past Ian, as she thinks about what he just said. Her stare eventually falls on the floor as she slowly starts to get up. "Well... I don't see us winning, then." A small, mischevious smile starts to form. A smile with an agenda. "Not if we stay, that is. We've barely developed our force abilities. And if Ian's vision is true, and if what our Master told him is also certain, then I see two possibilities, right? He either is... Finished, by them, or dies before they show up." She spins around on her foot as she shrugs the dread away nonchalantly. "I think we're pretty screwed in both these options, because we will either have to face them without our Master, or they'll be strong enough to, hm, well... To end him. So... Here's my idea. We're already adults, pretty much. Why don't we go get our crystals, and then finally get out of this planet? We'll drag our Master if needed. But if we're all resolute on this, on finally getting out, I think there's a chance he may cave-in voluntarily." She turns her face to the group, a confident smirk showing.

"Ooph. 'Cave-in'? Really? Bad form." He shakes his head, quietly hiding a smile as he chuckles. Sobering, he goes to rub his chin in contemplation. "But yeah, I mean . . . I've always -wanted- ta put'a bag over his head'n kidnap him so this might be'a good time." His eyes narrow as he works through the step necessary to kidnap a Jedi Master.

Clearing his throat, the human looks back up at the others around him. "But yeah . . . I don' see us winnin' in'a stand-up fight 'gainst whoever this group is. Normally I would put total faith in Master Selak's ability ta slap their shit but . . . Seriously, y'all, as much as I like the idea a protectin' our territory from outsiders . . . if we'can convince him ta move camp off planet, that'd be safer. Movin' target'n all that."

"Well, step one is gettin' everyone on board." He pauses a bit before rolling his eyes. "The plan, not'the shuttle. Basic is stupid." Clearing his throat he nods as his hands fall to his hips. "We get all'the kyber crystals we can here and then we figure a way off planet, get someplace safe 'nough where we'can prepare'n plan fer what's comin'." He looks around at the melting pot that is his family, "Agreed?"