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, welcome to STAR WARS - Episode IVa - Another Hope (SWd6 2e)

06:54, 29th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Part 21 - Yakusant.

Posted by The ForceFor group 0
Rhijans Thanus
player, 1333 posts
Just let me do my job and
nobody else gets hurt.
Tue 2 Apr 2019
at 18:22
  • msg #388

Part 21 - Yakusant

Rhijans quirked an eyebrow.  "Barse didn't actually ask us to kill him...just make sure he didn't take Barse's job.  Now, killing him is certainly guaranteed to make sure he won't get the job, but it's certainly not the only option."

He paused in thought for a moment, then added, "Telling him does certainly have its advantages, but it leaves us dependent on the Rodian's reaction.  IF he believes us, IF he reacts to it by either leaving or confronting Barse...and if he confronts Barse, IF he wins, we end up ahead.  If he doesn't believe us, if he decides to kill the messenger, or if he goes after Barse and fails, we could be worse off.  Although...if he tries to kill us, and we kill him first, we could be ahead...if he doesn't have a gang of cronies to back him up."

He shrugged minutely.  "If he's new to Dargo's entourage, and not yet trusted, all we need to do is start a rumor that his gang is trying to muscle into Dargo's operation.  Put him in a compromised position...and hope that his gang isn't a totally part of Dargo's network..."
Reldan Jalt
NPC, 104 posts
How much? That depends on
how fast and how far.
Wed 3 Apr 2019
at 21:49
  • msg #389

Part 21 - Yakusant

"One thing's for certain - we don't want to do anything that might start a fight in here.  Not without knowing how many of these people would join in, and how many on each side.  Starting a fight probably wouldn't be an issue, though there might be a waiting list.  Predicting the outcome might be another matter."

Jalt looks around casually, then freezes, briefly...

"See that Human over there with the shaved head." the pilot inclines his head slightly to indicate a direction almost directly opposite the Rodian.  "That's Kiran.  One of Dargo's enforcers, maybe even the top one.  The two men with him are part of his team, I think."
Rhijans Thanus
player, 1334 posts
Just let me do my job and
nobody else gets hurt.
Thu 4 Apr 2019
at 04:37
  • msg #390

Part 21 - Yakusant

Rhijans didn't look, directly, instead making a slow sweep with his eyes across the area and noting the individual Jalt was talking about.  "Anyone we need to stay away from?"  He stole another sidelong glance at their 'target', trying to ascertain just what his facial tattoo was and if it triggered any memories from his limited knowledge of Rodian gangs.
Shard
player, 1394 posts
Most days, I'm tired.
...or drunk.
Thu 4 Apr 2019
at 09:23
  • msg #391

Part 21 - Yakusant

Shard weighs Rhijans' words, finally opting for a shrug.  "There are ways to deal with the entire Barse situation after telling the Rodian.  Return to Barse, inform him we arrived here and saw the Rodian gearing up for war with a crew, decided it was better to high-tail it back to Barse and let him know.  That kind of thing.  Would depend on the Rodian's reaction."

She cocks an ear to Jalt, then slowly nods without looking at the enforcers. "More and more people we don't want to bring in on this.  That's fine.  It's your show, gentlemen.  Longer we stand here without ordering something, the better the chance we end up gathering some attention, is all."  With that, Shard flicks a finger at the bartender, then toward her drink of choice.

Any one of them, really.  She's not planning on drinking it, despite her habits of before; tension has killed any desire, a direct divergence from her previous choices.
The Force
GM, 1023 posts
These aren't the dice
rolls you're looking for.
Sun 7 Apr 2019
at 13:42
  • msg #392

Part 21 - Yakusant

The bartender serves Shard her drink in an almost clean glass, and with something that might be intended to be a smile.  The near smile fades as soon as he looks away from her an spots two Gammoreans squaring up to each other.  Looks like brawl number four is about to start.

He raises his voice and yells at the pair, loud enough to be heard above the noise in the room, "Oi!  You two!  I told you last time, if there's any more damage you'll pay for it, and then you'll be barred!"

Unfortunately his voice carries, and all eyes in the cantina turn towards the bar and, coincidentally, towards the group of rebel agents...
Juragga
player, 602 posts
Wookiee Warrior
Bringing the Boom
Sun 7 Apr 2019
at 16:03
  • msg #393

Part 21 - Yakusant

Juragga, on the other hand, was about to order a drink with every intention of downing it.  If there was one thing a Wookiee wasn't, it was inconspicuous.

So when there was a commotion and every eye in the place swiveled his way (more or less)... he complained.

"GRuuuuUUURRRRRR," he warbled. Now I really need a drink.
Rhijans Thanus
player, 1335 posts
Just let me do my job and
nobody else gets hurt.
Sun 7 Apr 2019
at 18:26
  • msg #394

Part 21 - Yakusant

As Rhijans noticed attention turning their direction, he reached out a hand, clapping it on the back of Jalt's shoulder, and steered him toward the bar, as if they'd just concluded a deal and were going to use drinks to formalize it.
Shard
player, 1395 posts
Most days, I'm tired.
...or drunk.
Mon 8 Apr 2019
at 09:16
  • msg #395

Part 21 - Yakusant

Shard offers a smile right back to the bartender, accepting the drink with good grace.  It immediately goes onto the bartop, where both her hands roll it back and forth between her palms...after paying, of course.  And for the others, as well.  With tip (a solid one, but not ridiculously generous).

The smile grows slightly strained when the bartender shouts, and the attention turns their way.  Rather, his way; they're just collateral, but still.  She grins up at Juragga.  "A Wookie walks into a bar...joke's over, they needed to close it for repairs.  Here, take mine for now."  She carefully slides the small glass to the tower of muscle and fur beside her.

"Thoughts?" she inquires as the bartender moves away.  "Do we turn this around on itself?  Or just go through it straight?"  There's enough meaning to the words for the group to grasp, but if anyone is listening...somehow...
Haarmon Dak
player, 796 posts
Are you talking to me?
Mon 8 Apr 2019
at 13:13
  • msg #396

Part 21 - Yakusant

That little tidbit hit Haarmon right in the philosophy.

So what other people do can mess with whether or not you're feeling Force-y?

That's messed up. Hard enough to figure your own self out. How could you balance... anything... if everything you did was roiled up in what everyone else did?

How you feeling right now? Are you feeling balanced? Or are all the jerks and meanies in the house-box next door tipping you over one way or the other?
The Force
GM, 1024 posts
These aren't the dice
rolls you're looking for.
Wed 10 Apr 2019
at 21:34
  • msg #397

Part 21 - Yakusant

Most eyes in the room linger for a moment before returning to their previous points of interest, but a few remain fixed on their new targets.  One pair of eyes that doesn't switch back belongs to the enforcer, Kiran.  He pushes himself to his feet and makes his way over to the bar, where he stands directly behind Jalt.

"Jalt!  I hope you've come by to pay me the money you owe?"

Jalt turns to face him, "Kiran.  I don't have it on me right now... "
Rhijans Thanus
player, 1336 posts
Just let me do my job and
nobody else gets hurt.
Fri 12 Apr 2019
at 04:18
  • msg #398

Part 21 - Yakusant

Rhijans decided it would be strategic to let Kiran know that Jalt wasn't solo at the moment.  "We had a charter lined up that would have squared accounts, but we lost it due to some mechanical issues."  He looked at Jalt and asked, "Just how much do you owe him, anyway?"  He made no effort to keep the question hidden from Kiran.
Juragga
player, 603 posts
Wookiee Warrior
Bringing the Boom
Sat 13 Apr 2019
at 01:14
  • msg #399

Part 21 - Yakusant

Juragga took the proferred drink from Shard, woofing a quick thanks.  Slamming the drink like it was nothing - to him, it was - he sighed and smacked his lips contentedly.  Then ordered a drink for himself, a little happier.

Of course, hunkering his towering shaggy mass by the bar, he kept his ears peeled to the conversation unfolding.
The Force
GM, 1025 posts
These aren't the dice
rolls you're looking for.
Sun 14 Apr 2019
at 19:44
  • msg #400

Part 21 - Yakusant

Jalt is, for some reason, grinning.  Kiran is too, as he says, "What do you mean you don't have it on you now?  You never have it on you."

And then the pair are slapping each other on the back and laughing.  "It's good to see you again Jalt.  I was sorry to hear about your brother.  Just know that I had nothing to do with that.  What brings you back here?"

Jalt explains that the Bantha is in need of repairs, and Dargo's palace had been the nearest place that he could get the parts.

He waves a hand to indicate the rest of the group.  "These are my crew.  They're good, but they don't have much in the sense of humour department, so your joke... for want of a better word... fell a bit flat with them."

"Ah... gloomy types, eh?  Maybe drinks all round would cheer them up?"
Shard
player, 1396 posts
Most days, I'm tired.
...or drunk.
Mon 15 Apr 2019
at 09:25
  • msg #401

Part 21 - Yakusant

"Could say the joke fell flat," Shard muses, giving Jalt somewhat of a narrowed-eyed look. "Could say we like our pilot, even if his sense of humor is questionable, and are a tad touchy about his health as well.  But you're a friend, not a problem."  She breaks into a smile.  "So everyone's happy."

"Jerk,"
she fires at Jalt as an aside.  "Two of you had me going, there; I figured we were going to have to pull you out of another void-cursed problem."

"I go by Shard."  Facing Kiran more directly, she jerks a thumb 'upwards'.  "What's...with all of the Imperials?  They came down hard, stupid little ball-fighters screaming and shooting after some lunatic got twitchy, but why're they here to start with?"
Rhijans Thanus
player, 1339 posts
Just let me do my job and
nobody else gets hurt.
Tue 16 Apr 2019
at 04:45
  • msg #402

Part 21 - Yakusant

Rhijans didn't say anything.  He also didn't change his posture much with the revelation that Kiran is a friend of Jalt's (although anyone closely observing him might have noticed the slightest amount of relaxing when the two revealed the truth.  But Rhijans rarely relaxed, and definitely not in a bar full of people working with or for a Hutt.)

He listened carefully to the conversation, however...
The Force
GM, 1027 posts
These aren't the dice
rolls you're looking for.
Thu 18 Apr 2019
at 20:02
  • msg #403

Part 21 - Yakusant

"No idea really." Kiran replies, with a shrug.  "Lots of stories going about though.  One is that they're here to shut own Dargo's operation, but that doesn't feel right - they're attacking the natives, not the palace."

Kiran pauses as drinks are served, then continues, "Another one is that one of the local tribes found a cache of Republic weapons on an old wreck in the deep desert, and they tried to sell them, but the Imperials got wind of it and decide to take them for themselves.  That one sounds more likely."

"Which is slightly more reasonable than the one about finding an Imperial super weapon aboard a ship that crashed here ten years ago, and trying to sell it to the highest bidder, only they attracted too much attention."

"Really though, Dargo would have known about any weapon trading, so even the most likely explanations aren't all that likely."

Haarmon Dak
player, 800 posts
Are you talking to me?
Sun 21 Apr 2019
at 21:50
  • msg #404

Part 21 - Yakusant

Haarmon cocks his head sideways. Can't you tell? Isn't that your whole thing? And, I mean how I contextualize things like 'afraid I'll never see my friends again' and 'severe existential dread regarding the absolute nature of ethics in the universe'?

He paused.

I mean, I'm well-fed, not thirsty, no current ouchies. I don't have to go to the bathroom. That's about it, right?
The Force
GM, 1028 posts
These aren't the dice
rolls you're looking for.
Mon 22 Apr 2019
at 20:51
  • msg #405

Part 21 - Yakusant

Kiran chuckles.  "I suppose we should ask the Impies why they're here.  Pretty sure they'd tell us."  The grin spreading across his face says that he doesn't believe that for one second.
Haarmon Dak
player, 801 posts
Are you talking to me?
Mon 22 Apr 2019
at 23:12
  • msg #406

Part 21 - Yakusant

That perked him up.

Near? How near is near? Like, in the building? Or, like, sneaking up?

Haarmon carried the sprat to the cockpit, to see if he could get some external cameras going.
Juragga
player, 606 posts
Wookiee Warrior
Bringing the Boom
Mon 22 Apr 2019
at 23:15
  • msg #407

Part 21 - Yakusant

Juragga sipped his drink and waved down another as he kept listening.
Rhijans Thanus
player, 1340 posts
Just let me do my job and
nobody else gets hurt.
Tue 23 Apr 2019
at 05:44
  • msg #408

Part 21 - Yakusant

Rhijans shrugged...the conversation presented him a window...he was going to at least look through it.  "Maybe they're here to provide fire support for someone trying to shake up Dargo's operation..."  He glanced significantly at the Rodian they'd been sent after.  "There's some groups that would stupidly accept Imperial help if they thought they could work their way into Dargo's network and take it over..."
Shard
player, 1399 posts
Most days, I'm tired.
...or drunk.
Wed 24 Apr 2019
at 09:24
  • msg #409

Part 21 - Yakusant

Pondering the answers -- she had been hoping for clarity, that the imperials had actually communicated their intent to someone -- Shard almost misses Rhijans laying out the landmine.  Almost. Keeping her face neutral, she slowly turns and studies the offending alien for a long moment before coming back to Kiran.  "Could be, could be," the older woman mutters in response to Rhijans comment.

She's still uncertain about this whole thing.  At least they're not looking to assassinate someone, now; no, they're only setting up a small war.  Between some pretty awful people, she reminds herself, before making a mental shrug.  <I>And, likely, some desperate people doing awful things or associating with people who do awful things.<I>

That thought doesn't make it more easy.

"But they haven't even said anything yet?" she continues with her earlier line of questioning.  "Odd.  One would think if they wanted something...they'd ask.  Demand.  With blasters pointed." 
Reldan Jalt
NPC, 105 posts
How much? That depends on
how fast and how far.
Wed 24 Apr 2019
at 20:02
  • msg #410

Part 21 - Yakusant

"Well they probably would demand," Jalt replies, "unless it's something they don't want other groups to get wind of.  If they come in and ask where they can find, for example, the Clade that discovered the secret weapon cache in the desert... well they risk word of their interest spreading, and then they have to waste time making sure they round up everybody who knows they're interested, or who is also interested.  Much easier to come in, kill the people they think might hold their objective, and sort it out later when there are no survivors who might know the truth about what they're looking for."

Kiran, meanwhile, is regarding Rhijans with some interest.  "Really?  Is that what you think's happening?"  He looks in the direction Rhijans is looking.  "Have you heard something?"

From his new vantage point in the cockpit, Haarmon can see a half dozen individuals of various species (though humans make up half their number) standing spread out across the ferrocrete.  Oddly, they are all about twenty metres away from the Bantha, and not one of them is looking at the ship.  In fact, they all seem to be very carefully looking at anything but the ship...
Rhijans Thanus
player, 1341 posts
Just let me do my job and
nobody else gets hurt.
Fri 26 Apr 2019
at 05:16
  • msg #411

Part 21 - Yakusant

Rhijans pointedly avoided looking back in the Rodian's direction.  "Nothing specific...but I recognize a Rodian gang tattoo when I see one...and when they aren't sucking up to the Hutts, they're trying to muscle in on their action."  His voice was low, just loud enough to be heard over the background noise of the bar but not enough to carry beyond their little group.

"It'd be a win-win...the gangs get Dargo's network, already up and running in the sector...the Empire has an underworld organization that owes them a huge favor, plus they destabilize the worlds in the sector that Dargo controls.  If they keep it quiet, they get all that without the rest of the Hutt Syndicate knowing anything about it, so it doesn't interfere with their operations anywhere else."

He shrugged, and added, "Sounds a lot more likely to me than some mythical weapons-cache that a bunch of desert nomads stumbled across and hope to market without drawing the attention of the Empire or the Hutts.."  With another shrug, he focused on his drink, leaving the words hanging to insinuate whatever imagery they might.
Shard
player, 1400 posts
Most days, I'm tired.
...or drunk.
Mon 29 Apr 2019
at 09:18
  • msg #412

Part 21 - Yakusant

"Mmm," is Shard's eloquent response to Jalt's explanation.  She'd been hoping to get Kiran to drop something, but it doesn't matter; Rhijans seems to have that situation well in-hand. "Well, whatever their reason," she continues, "I wish they'd just pack up and head out of here.  Their cursed fighters fly around shooting things like they did...well, they miss a lot, and when they miss, those things have to hit somewhere."

Her eyes flick to Rhijans. "You figure?  I'll take your word for it," Shard mutters, this certainly for Kiran's benefit.  "You know more about that kind of thing than the next person."  She leaves it at that; the only thing worse than giving his supposition no support would be giving it too much support.

Her mouth waters, but at this point, it's an irritation more than a need.  Stupid body; I'm not getting a drink, so put that out of your head.  I mean...never mind, you know what I mean.
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