Good deeds done and tallied, you are finally able to leave the details to the authorities, but the group now finds itself an hour behind schedule and a captain still to find. The group hurries off to catch the next tram to Shawmell...

The Rodian's Kiss... The smoky, dark, and loud watering hole is neither romantic, nor populated entirely by Rodians, though more than a few are here. A domineering bar towers over half the establishment, surrounded by tiny tables that are mostly shoved together by large parties having a raucous time; while a handfull of dark booths on the far walls play host to romantic interludes, and shady negotiations. On large vidscreens, you see various events being viewed; shockboxing, dosh-ball, as well as pod-racing and many fans jostle and holler, credits freely changing hands in a complex network of betting.

Near the pod-racing vidscreens, a loud Dug is clutching a fair amount of credits and making a scene while others scowl in anger. Nearby, several Sabaac tables and chance-cube throwing pits are also seeing a fair amount of action. The dozen or so human and twi’lek waiters and waitresses struggle to take orders and serve drinks and strange food.

Anyone doing anything?

Tervax stepped down into the cantina and looked around, ignoring the furtive glances that his armor and weapon inevitably drew.  Stepping to the side, the armored human let the rest of the group file into entry area.  Letting Chemosh take the lead Tervax kept an eye out for anyone that might be taking an unusual interest in their group.


OOC:
12:11, Today: Tervax rolled 15 using 1d20+7 with rolls of 8. Perception for unusual attention.

With little to go by in the way of their prospective pilot's description, Chemosh does a quick sweep of the seedy room. Short of visually maaging to locate him on their own, there was little for it save to approach the bar tender and attempt procure the requisite information/introduction from him/her/it.

While not sure what to really do in terms of exploring the Rodian's Kiss, Tehrk notices a Sabaac table not far off and seems to feel a bit of an urge to test his hand. He doesn't seem to make much attempt to disguise his movement from the group, heading straight to the table. His hand already counting out some credits to put up, Tehrk slides into a seat at the table and motions to the dealer that he's willing to dump some credits for some fun. Provided they don't have a problem with a human jumping in on their game, Tehrk shows that he isn't into betting anything trivial, fishing out three hundred and ninety credits (390) and holding them in his hand, waiting to see if he'll be brought in or not.

18:57, Today: Tehrk Ridonal rolled 9 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 5. Gambling Roll (+2 for gambler trait).

(Lose half of stake)(Applied only if they take me to the table or I'm not dragged off somewhere else or halted before getting to the table)

Chemosh heads towards the bar as Tervax observes the room, with all the menace that the Mando armor could muster. Meanwhile Tehrk heads for the sabaac tables, leaving the Jedi to look around instinctively at the bar's scenary.

[Private to Chemosh:  The bar is being run by, surprise, a Rodian but the people at the bar seem loath to socialize with you. Eventually the Rodian barkeep comes over to take your order. "What want?"]

[Private to Eso Terra: You quickly get disctracted by a match of dosh ball. You do notice a duros loudly shouting at one of the pod racing screens though.]

[Private to Tehrk Ridonal: Given that Pugwis is a Duros, you walk around the betting tables and start looking for some good luck. Lady Luck would have it, you notice a few Duros, in one of the corner tables.

Instead of rolling, lets play some poker hands. You'll have to pay to sit in though.
]

[Private to Tervax: A quick scan reveals that the booths are clear of Duros, though all of them are taken and the customers try to remain unnoticed. Tehrk seems to have found a pair, and there seems to be another near that loud Dug near the podrace pits. No one seems interested in the group, though they don't seem to want to attract any notice either.]

Everyone should have a Private Line - let me know if you can't read it
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:04, Sun 06 Feb 2011.

Approaching a small table near the back corner, occupied by some Duros, Tehrk saunters over and slips in, making a brief comment on his interest in playing. Figuring he could spend a bit more, he pulls out a handful of credits and looks around, as if ready to waste some time and credits.

[Private to Power of the Darkside: 890 credits put up so far, that should level me out at 3000 credits remaining in my bank.]

After a second of noticing who's playing and the score on the dosh ball game, Eso pulls her attention back to the task at hand. She approaches the Duros who is wrapped up in the pod race and waits for a moment before speaking to him.

Chemosh flashes the Rodian his most winning smile, his eyes locked on the owners as he inserts his credstick into the terminal on the bar.  He orders a drink, and asks where the Captain he's looking for can be found. A generous tip is added to his drink order to lube the requested information along.

In reply to Tehrk Ridonal (msg #99):

The Duros look up from their cards and consider the stranger for a moment before returning to their cards. "You wana gamble," one of them grumbles. "Pots at 100 creds to start," he says as he starts to shuffle and deals you a bunch of sabaac cards after you toss in your 100 creds worth.

"Janar... your turn to start the betting, or do you need some new cards?" the Duros said, his red eyes observing the other Duros intently. "Right," the other snorts. "I'm raising the pot 50 creds, keep your cards..."

"I'll take a card," the other grumbled, taking one. It peeked at the card before tossing the credits at the center, "raise ya another 50. That brings the pot to 450. You callin?" his red orbs fall on you suddenly as his hand drum on the table impatiently.

23:04, Today: Secret Roll: Power of the Darkside drew the 5 cards:


[Private to GM:

Gambler A: KH, QH, JD, 6H, 5S, Deception 30, Perception 34
Gambler B: AC, QC, 9C, 5S, 3C, AD Perception 26, Deception 19
]
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:24, Thu 10 Feb 2011.

In reply to Eso Terra (msg #100):

The Duros is having an argument over Pod Racing with a Dug. "Sure the four-engine designs go faster but they're harder to control.  You've really got to look at the pilot before you lay money down on a four-engine racer.  Reflexes are important in a faster pod, but what people forget is the pilot has to be quick-thinking technically.  Quad-power binders are really touchy.  Lose just one and the whole rig goes flying apart."

"Refleckshes! Now thatshh exactly wot I'm talking about..." answered the Duros in a drunken slur. "These here... fellas... are jush mad that my clan's ish betters an are angry cause my clan's racer has won the last shhheven races on Malastaire..." he said waving at the screen with a bottle of ale. "HE'S BETTER than YOUR SODDEN RACER...!" He shouts at the screen which makes the other patrons a little more upset, but he waves them off with a low whining noise that could be taken as satisfaction.

In reply to Chemosh (msg #101):

The Rodian's eyes lit up at the tip, and ushered your drink right and proper. He even went under the counter for one of the clean glasses. "If you're looking for the Black Comet's Captain, you might want to ask that loud and obnoxious Duros at the pod races," he answered before making someone else's money disappear in one fluid practiced motion, before serving another drink.

[Private to Chemosh: He's pointing towards Eso and the Duros]

Chemosh raises his drink in toast to the bartender, thanking him for his information, before then snaking through the bar and over to Eso's side. Seeing that she seems poised to speak, he opts to remain off to her shoulder and angled away (but capable of watching the encounter from the corner of his eye). Once comfortably positioned he'll whisper to Eso... [Private to Eso Terra: The Duro knows of the Captain we seek, I have good authority.]

Taking a look at his cards, Tehrk was a bit unsure to whether he should call or raise. He'd paid his credits to get in and was thinking of how much he was willing to spend before he took a look at the pot. Four hundred and fifty was a nice amount, five hundred after his call if he did so. However, he wanted to gauge a bit of the group he was playing with, so he smiled causally and threw some credits in.

"I'll call, let's just hope I get me a low card, hmm?"

[Private to GM: What's my hand?

Also, as for the Deception Check
02:21, Today: Tehrk Ridonal rolled 12 using 1d20+9 with rolls of 3. Deception]

In reply to Tehrk Ridonal (msg #106):

[Private to Tehrk Ridonal: 10:18, Today: Secret Roll: Power of the Darkside, on behalf of Tehrk Ridonal, drew the 5 cards: 3C, 9S, KD, 5C, 6C using a deck of 54 cards]

(Sorry, been kind of occupied with personal stuff)

Taking a look at his cards, Tehrk was a bit ashamed. This was a considerably poor hand, though he might be able to get something out of it. Tossing out three cards, Tehrk motioned to get another three cards back, hoping to pull a bit of a lucky streak.

[Private to GM: Throwing away 3C, 9S and KD]

She mutters a few words [Private to Chemosh: "I was afraid of that."] before stepping closer to the Duros. "Excuse me, I'm looking for Captain Pugwis. Would that be you?" She asks, politely yet firmly. She wasn't about to let the fact that he was gooned out of his mind stop her from getting her assignment done.

The Duros at the table grinned and happily gave Tehrk three cards. "Ya can fold at any time, fella," he said as he looked over towards Tehrk's money and gave him extra cards. "Save your luck for the next hand, har har... yah in or out?"

[Private to Tehrk Ridonal: 12:13, Today: Secret Roll: Power of the Darkside, on behalf of Tehrk Ridonal, drew the 3 cards: 8H, 8D, JS using a deck of 54 cards.

Making your hand: 5C, 6C, 8H, 8D, JS]

---

At the mention of Pugwis, the Duro looked at Eso from top to bottom, "Fraid he's left the esshtablishmment, he did... but if you want his credshh, hheee's not gona want to shheee you anyway. Hheee's got a job, ya shee, an hhee's not shhtoping fer anything til the cargo getsh in hisssh posssessssion... heeeeeheeee..." The Duros waves his mug under the Jedi's nose to emphasise his punctuation, or his point.

"You want to bet on the next rasshhe, girly?" he finally asks as he turns his attention back at the screen, "betting's bout to shtart again... heeeheee... An my Clan nearly destroyed those bi-podzz... geeeee we're cleaning up..!! Haa!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:23, Mon 14 Feb 2011.

02:07, Today: Tehrk Ridonal rolled 10 using 1d20+9 with rolls of 1. Persuasion

"Might not be a bad idea, though I don't suppose you'd be willing to do so yourself, hmm?"

His words were a bit stunted, as if he were trying to think of what to say in response. Mostly though, from his fragmented pattern of speech though, it was almost as if he had something in mind. For now, he'd call his hand and wait for the next round, he wasn't horribly off, but he could be better off too.

Deciding that subtlety is not going to work on this Duros, currently anyway, Eso tries the tactfulness of a brick. "I have his cargo. Where can I find him, so that it may be delivered?" She asks firmly enough that it should keep his attention and cut through the alcohol fog.

The Duros looked over at Eso and waved her away, "No more room fer cargo... hah..." He resumed his shouting at the screen.

---

The Duro at your table grumble some more, "Me? I've got a nice hand..." he said waving airily. The other Duros who was dealing out the cards stayed impassive and unreadable. "Ya upping the stakes fly boy? Put your money on the table..."

02:03, Today: Tehrk Ridonal rolled 28 using 1d20+9 with rolls of 19. Perception.
(+2 due to gambling bonus, Final Total of 30, Perception check used to gauge opponent and seriousness.)

Tehrk looked his opponent over. The guy was good, but he was also just another gambler and fate was cruel that way. Tehrk took a moment to think about his situation and how well he was able to read his fellow gambler. He held his tongue for now, taking a look at his cards and then back at the Duros.

02:03, Today: Tehrk Ridonal rolled 24 using 1d20+9 with rolls of 15. Deception.
(+2 due to gambling bonus, Final total of 26)

"Fly boy? That wasn't very nice.

Tell me, you have a good hand... But does it beat a Royal Flush?"

Tehrk smiled indifferently toward the Duros, but added a bit of levity to his question by sliding three hundred credits forward (total bet of 400 credits so far). His hand slid back just as shiftily as it had when he pushed the credits out, his smile not moving anywhere past a kindly, gentleman's smile.

Keeping her voice level she tries again. "I don't think you understand. I have his cargo. I need to get to him so that he can deliver it. Will you please tell me where he is so that I may give it to him?"

The duros looked at Eso and frowned, "Yeah yeah.... you have the cargo.... he repeated and then, suddenly, his jaw dropped. "Oh!! You must be the Republic agents we're taking with us to..." the inebriated Duros suddenly exclaimed, putting two and two together. The outburst causes several heads turn in your direction.

---

The dealer growls and tosses his hand into the center of the table, but the second looks at you for the longest time. You get the feeling that he's not buying in, but in a split second decision he tosses the hand away. "You smug brat, I'm not putting down that much either," he grumbled.

There's a sudden commotion near the vid-races and they both stare towards Eso and Chemosh.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:30, Fri 18 Feb 2011.

Taking his credits with a smile, Tehrk pockets what he earned (provided he did win), then flips his first card over, revealing the Jack of Spades. His smile grows wider as he turns over his next card to show his victory...

A five of clubs.

He tosses the rest of his hand to the center, showing that he only had a pair of eights to his name. However, just as he was about to put in another bet to start the next round, his attention turned to the commotion not far from their table.

(If the round isn't over, then ask me to edit, otherwise, that's that for my post)