[Today happened A LOT OF STUFF some I had foresaw, some no, so I'm surely leaving stuff out, do please point out were so we can keep track of everything]
Our heroes returned to the planet and had a brief chat with Gorka, who wanted a status update.
Gorka was growing impatient in his "game" against Gardulla, and actually shared a couple of things. First that his boys had blasted to oblivion one of he weird Force Adepts that the heroes have fought before while he was trying to infiltrate one of his warehouses.
The other was that he was certain that Gardulla was not a real person, but some kind of paperdoll to keep the real boss out of the picture.
This evidently tied together Gardulla's operations and those of the Force Adepts, which provides another small piece to the puzzle.
Gorka "invited" our heroes for a dinner party he's throwing in three day, making it obvious that it's basically a deadline.
Our heroes moved to investigate the warehouse were the lightsaber parts were being sent, and found it empty except for an automated assembly table and a ceramics oven (that could be used to create lightsaber crystals).
However investigation was cut short because they were ambushed by the force adepts, who were dispatched after a more grueling fight than last time.
As soon as they sang victory though, Quin had a very bad premonition and quickly roused AT-CT and Jan out through the maintenance tunnels. A few seconds later the warehouse blew up, leaving them confused, but alive.
It was obvious because of the way the warehouse melted that someone had left a lifetime supply of thermal detonators somewhere under the place. Our heroes got out through another warehouse, and found that some mandalorians, commanded but the "Red One", were waiting for them outside.
Our heroes were too smart for them however, and evaded them through the rooftops of the district. Quin diverted the last two mandalorians guarding their speeder by sneaking up on them and mind-tricking them into thinking their boss was calling.
The night was not done with the surprises though. Captain Adrian from Rep. Military called them to check if they were alive... because he had just received their death certificates... signed by a Rep. Mil. forensics unit!
They quickly agreed to keep communications to a minimum and use an old method of encrypting messages, an encryption book, and a couple of courier droids to send and receive messages.
This done, they decided to sit down and think what was going on... going through Jan's notes and also consulting with Quin's masters.
Quin's masters told the following, Master Rymobe told Quin that the technique the Force Adept use to hide themselves is one employed by Jedi Shadows, and also unfortunately, Sith Assasins. Quin noted though, that they don't seem Sith at all, and it probably requires further investigation. Rymobe, again, seemed to be withholding information...
Rombus was, ironically, way more clear this time showing Quin on his vision a building much like a cathedral... but this one was twisted and dark, seemingly feeding on light and seeming menacing and foreboding, like a giant spider in the dark. Rombus said "this is what you are facing, the Cathedral of Shadows. The Cathedral, like many things before it, started as an effort to do good, that quickly turned sour".
While the were trying to solve the puzzle, Gorka called, saying, basically, that he was fed up with playing and that he'll force Gardulla to make his move. Fighting erupted all over Nao-Sang, as an all-out gang war started between the warring criminal cartels. No punches were being pulled, explosives and heavy weapons were being used by both sides, the situation quickly spiraling out of control.
The Coronel in charge of Republic's forces on the planet quickly announced an ultimatum... the local authorities had 48 hours to put everything under control, or else he'll declare martial law. This gave them a clear view of what their enemies were trying to accomplish... though the why is still in the air. If all of the planets orbital defenses were to come online, flushing out any kind of military force on the planet would need a military effort of immense proportions. Thus it seems someone might want Rep. Mil. to declare martial law, take control of the local forces and make the planet a bastion for whatever plans they have...
Also, Quin investigated out of curiosity the past of his masters, and also past jedi on New Duro. The discoveries were surprising...
First, Rombus and Rymobe were trained by the same master, a venerable jedi that settled down after his knight-errant days and had something of a mini-academy were he trained up to 10 students at a time. This was disapproved by the Council of Masters, but he was respected enough for them to never do anything bigger than scold him.
Rombus, Rymobe and the unnamed third student decided to go on adventures together, and so they did for many years, upholding peace and justice in the galaxy. Unfortunately, this came to a dramatic end when Rombus and Rymobe's companion died, supposedly fighting on a pirate ship, while they were trying to break the pirate's blockade of a destitute system.
On the old jedi from New Duro, Quinn discovered that many jedi settled on the planet after the Great War, and for a while New Duro had a prolific population of force-sensitives. However, this population has been on decline for years, to the point were no jedi trained in the last 3 decades has been from the planet. The last know jedi of New Duro, an old duro master called Barkiss, was last seen returning to his home planet for his twilight years, about 10 years ago. Reports say he settled somewhere in the lees developed parts of the planet. He could be found, should the players search for him.
