(Starting Location for Miri Trace)

The glimmering wonder of Nar Shadaa has not waned in recent years. If anything, its distance in the center of Hutt Space has made it one of the ideal locations to forget about the war, about the threat of the First Order and all of the terrible things that happen. Instead, any luxury and vice known to the civilized galaxy can be found here, for the right price, and has provided great opportunities and luxury for those who can afford it.

For those who can't, those who live at the bottom of the Hutt moon, far below the gazes of the wealthy atop their casino's, the hard living in Hutt Space has only gotten worse. Refugees flood into Hutt Space by the day, feeling that the extortion and corruption of the Hutts to still be a safer, preferable option to death in seemingly constant war elsewhere. For many, Hope is far away and distant a notion as the Deep Core itself, and it would be impossible for any one person to try and fix the problems here, that have festered for millennia.

Miri Trace drifted along the promenade, her pale skin reflecting the rainbow of multicoloured neon signs, her emerald eyes sparkling with excitement she had a hard time containing. Here in all it's strange and dangerous flavour was life. Excitement and adventure! It seemed a universe away from the world she'd known less than a year ago on Bantooine with it's Alderaanian influenced aristocracy and ossified customs. Listening to the idle gossip of her peers Miri had practically been able to feel her braincells dying by the thousands from boredom and frustration - and that had been before the arranged marriage had come up.

First she'd find the credits to get a ship of her own and become an adventurer and smuggler, just like out of Captain Bah'graza's stories. Then she'd be the independent woman she'd always wanted to be, free from hidebound duties and meddling relatives who had probably never had a moment's excitement in their lives. Where too? A casino maybe to try her luck? A cantina to search for odd jobs? Offer her services as a pilot for hire (she did have good reflexes)? Try running a con like she'd seen in so many holonovels?

'Hmm..., what was it Bah'graza said about watching your step?' Miri whispered to herself as she noticed a few dubious characters among the humans and aliens and cut through the rose coloured glow she had. Not just dubious characters really; even Miri could see the desperation on many faces and she felt a pang of sympathy. Clearly not everyone ended up here quite so voluntarily!

In reply to Miri Trace (msg # 2):

A particular individual stood out among the rose glow of the neon lights, for how well she had blended into them. A Zeltron woman, young and beautiful, dressed far nicer than the rabble around her. She looks like one of those models used to flaunt the latest fashions, or maybe one of those HoloVid stars. She clearly had at a drink too many, staggering around, finding great humor in her own inebriation. She made her way into the nearby casino Twin Suns. Someone may want to check on her to ensure she doesn't get in trouble. She may also make an easy mark at the card tables.

There was also a nearby cantina. A public terminal would have access to all sorts of want ads, to say nothing of people inside who may be looking for work.

Among all of the signs, were also advertisements for a Vintage Ship Convention. Nothing was going to be flown around (probably) but the kinds of people that buy and maintain these old vessels normally have plenty of credits to spare.

In reply to Midichlorians (msg # 3):

Mir hesitated, but only for a moment before following the beautiful Zeltron. Outsider gals had to stick together and she had to admit she was curious. She'd never actually met a Zeltron before.

Before she turned the young noblewoman did mentally mark off the cantina and the Vintage Ship Collection - definite possibilities there.

In reply to Miri Trace (msg # 4):

The crowds of the casino didn't pay her any mind, beyond making sure she didn't bump into them or spill their drinks. She aimed herself towards the Pazzaak tables and sat down, idly shuffling her deck. The game was slightly unusual to be held in a casino in that there was no "house" to play against, strictly player versus player. A purely mathematical mind would think that this is a loss of money compared to the different machines or other card games that could housed in the same space, but someone with a knack for how the mind works would realize that this would at least get someone who wouldn't otherwise gamble in the door, which is the hard part.

OOC1: We can do a slight retcon and say you already have a Pazzaak deck, add it to your Possessions

OOC2: Understanding how Pazzaak is played isn't especially hard, but that would eat up a lot of time. We'll simplify it with a contested WIS roll
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:12, Tue 01 Sept 2020.

Miri had played Pazzaak in school but she suspected that it would be a grittier game here. She didn't exactly relish losing money but this was one way to see interesting customers and maybe get their attention.

She smiled at the Zeltron as she shuffled her cards. 'Wonderful outfit by the way. Who are you wearing? Oh I'm Miri by the way,' She held out an elegant hand for the other woman to shake.

---

OOC: 12:25, Today: Miri Trace rolled 2 using 1d20.  Pazzaak. Ouch!
This message was last edited by the player at 12:00, Tue 01 Sept 2020.

Florsha rolled 4 using 1d20.

"Florsham, and thank you." She shook hands as well as she looked over her ensemble "I don't really remember where I got it. Just remember getting for a steal of a bargain" She giggled at her own joke.

The game of pazzaak did not go well. Florsha had won, barely, and by sheer dumb luck with the flip of a card, rather than from any skill with her own played cards.

"That's too bad, but I'll bet it's just rust you need to shake off. Ready to go again? Double the wager? Could make all your money back and than some?"

Miri rolled a 5 using 1d20.

'It better not be rust, I'm just new in town,' Miri joked. Her eyes flicked to her cards and she tried not to wince.

'Looking to makes credits, not just at cards. I'm a pilot, even if I'm one without a ship,' she smiled ruefully. 'Among other things. What about you Florsham?'

The Zeltron's slouch went away, leaning forward with a steady posture, steady gaze, and even steadier hand.

"If you're looking to make creds on cards, you're not off to a great start. There's no shortage of people looking for piloting work here. If you want to make credits, you have to find a way to stand out, convince someone to give it to you."

She had turned cold stone sober in the beat of a heart, her giggling demeanor had turned into a far more mischievous grin.

"Do you have any particular compunctions? If you're not worried about who you work for, and if you have any extra special skills, you can make back the credits you just lost to me, and than some"

Miri's already prominent eyes widened further. Clearly she'd misjudged this beautiful, suddenly dangerous woman. It took her a moment to gather her wits.

---

In reply to Miri Trace (msg # 10):

In reply to Midichlorians (msg # 11):

An hour on Nar Shaddaa and I get conned. Gods, how much of a voidbrain do I look? Miri stood up, feeling her cheeks flush with embarrassment. She slid the pile of lost credit chips across the table, grateful only she hadn't bet more.

'Good game, but I have to go,' she said and turned to make a rapid retreat from the casino.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:47, Tue 01 Sept 2020.

The table you were at had been quickly surrounded by Gammoreans, and one rough looking Twi'lek. The leader of the bunch. Although they penned you in, it wasn't you they were interested in.

"What is it this time Xilks?" Florsha asked as she was surrounded.

"Your boss keeps making habits of annoying the wrong people. Sooner or later you're going to realize you're working for a lunatic" The Twilek responds in fluent Huttese.

Florsha returns in kind, though more heavily accented "Credits are credits. And he's not a lunatic, just...an avid collector. Still beats the idiot Hutt you work for. Now, are you going to go away? I'm working here."

"This a friend of yours?" Xilks asked.

"Ya, actually" Florsha responded "I was trying to warm her up to being a business partner before your hamfisted friends showed up."

The situation was tense, and a fight was likely to break out soon. Even in such a chaotic, lawless area like Hutt Space, violence in public areas is dealt with swiftly, so as to keep the area appearing safe. With at least one of these two working for a Hutt, it's less clear as to whether this will  be one of those times where security happens to look the other way, or not.

Uh oh...

Miri shook her head immediately.

'We're not friends. She pretended to be drunk, I felt sorry for her and she hoodwinked me into losing a pile of credits,' she gestured to the pile of chips still on the table.

"Is that so?" Xilks asked, his arms crossed "Well, we can't have that kind of behavior here in the Twin Suns. If you step aside, we'll handle this personally, and make sure that you receive what is rightfully yours"

"And you, Florsha, will get what is coming to you."

"Over my dead body..." Florsha moved in a blur, grabbing the credits from the table and flinging them into the air over Xilks and the Gamorreans, before snatching her holdout pistol from her holster and shooting the Twilek directly in his knee. No sooner had she pulled the trigger that she was already out of her seat. The flying chips had proved a sufficient distraction, both blocking their eyes, and getting the attention of the other greedy patrons, now scrambling for whatever they could.

OOC: Perception Check.

Miri's heart skipped a beat, half shocked, half thrilled. This was like falling directly into a holothriller!

The young exiled noble realised she was almost certainly in a lot of trouble here unless she thought fast.

---

OOC: Miri Trace rolled 12 using 1d20+5.  Perception

In reply to Miri Trace (msg # 16):

Florsha had booked it without looking back, but in her departure had made one last sleight of hand; a simple white card on the table, likely a business card or some other note.

Miri scooped up the card and slipped it into her shirt (she'd have to read it later when she wasn't surrounded by thugs), trying to unscramble her thoughts as to what had just happened. She was certain she couldn't trust the gorgeous Zeltron but she had to admit to herself the other woman had a lot of style.

The card was simple; white backing with plain black font, advertising for Filotus Acquisitions & Holdings, with the locations address.

On the back is written a very simple "Tell them I sent you."

Angry that Florsha got away, the Twilek had to get his frustrations out somewhere.

"Get Her!" He beckoned his minions, pointing at you

OOC: Athletics Check to outrun them, plus any other skills or tricks you have to try and blend in to the crowd.

OOC: Miri Trace rolled 13 using 1d20-1.  Athletics.

Miri turned on her heels and bolted. Her custom tailored boots with three inch block heels were tremendously flattering but at this moment she had to wonder if they were the best idea...

Dodging through the crowd her emerald eyes flicked across the room. A new outfit. That was it. She had to find new clothes and change fast. A coat check, a refresher station, a female employee sneaking off for a death stick break, something.

---

OOC: 22:16, Today: Miri Trace rolled 24 using 1d20+5.  Perception.

You barrelled into the first place you could spot, and almost slightly regretted it. This looks like the kind of place Florsha shops in, not a modest thread on display in the whole store, that you can see. The different ads in the windows are all of Twi'leks, Zeltrons, Togruta, and the like in enticing wardrobes.

Though many of the clothes left alot to be revealed, it at least hid you enough for the Gamorreans to go racing past you.

That was close... exciting though in a terrifying sort of way, Miri thought to herself as she took shelter behind a line of dresses that probably combined didn't have the amount of material she had in her shirt.

She waited for as long as she dared, trying not to boggle at some of the spicier adverts. Wow. I really wish I'd been born a Togruta. They're so beautiful... wait how is she posing like that?

She stepped of the shop, glanced around to make sure the coast was clear then started scanning the promenade for a skytaxi point. It looked like she was on her way to 'Filotus Acquisitions & Holdings' - whoever they were.

The skycab brought you to an industrial hub. The neon signs and bright displays gone. Even most signs of life are gone, as much of the heavy manufacturing is done by droids.

The apparent headquarters building is seemingly nondescript. One of any number of seemingly identical dark gray featureless buildings, the sign above the door being the only distinguishing feature.

Entering inside, there is a protocol droid standing at the ready.

"I'm sorry, but visitors are not allowed in the premises without an appointment. Who might you be?"

Miri sniffed at the acrid scents of machinery and pollutants in the air. She could feel the same shimmer of excitement and nervousness going through her as she entered the building. It was almost a shock to be met by something as normal as a protocol droid.

"Hello, I'm Miri. Florsha sent me." Out of habit she smiled politely at the droid, then wondered whether a gruff mercenary snarl wouldn't create a better first impression.

The expressionless droid was perfectly still for a seconds as it processed

"Ah yes! Well, as a prospective new employee, let me be the first to welcome you properly to Filotus Acquisitions and Holdings, the flagship enterprise of his lordship, the esteemed Filotus the Hutt. Although Filotus, with his great mind and keen eye, has created several successful business ventures, this has always been the one closest to his heart. His 'pet project', if you will."

"Now, I understand that by the nature of such things, Florsha may not have shared everything. Before we got any further, I am here to answer any questions you may have."

Miri blinked, different potential questions popping into her mind. "Our meeting was interrupted but Florsha mentioned something about 'special skills' that your boss might be looking for? What sort of job is this?"

"Why, the name explains it all. Filotus the Great recognized that by looking at a problem at its most simplistic form, one can find the most true answer to that problem. In economics, the problem is that all manner of life in all parts of the galaxy, want things. The rarer and more difficult to find a thing is, the more people will pay. In a moment of brilliance, the mighty Filotus saw that what people will pay the most for is what there can't be made any more of. One of a kind artworks, ancient relics, limited distribution weaponry. The Vintage Space Expedition being an excellent example of how all sentient life begins to covet that which is no longer available to them."

"Florsha, and by proxy you, should you be hired, would be responsible for either development of leads to rare goods to acquire, following through on said leads, and or engaging in the necessary steps to procure those rare goods once found. If this sounds like the kind of work you're well suited for, Florsha has asked that you accompany her, as she tracks down a promising lead."

So an art collector? Miri thought to herself, her face lighting up with excitement. Though a lot more exciting than normal if those laserbrains after Florsha are any indication! And even if she conned me she's definitely someone I want to learn more from.

She smiled at the droid. 'That does sound interesting. When do I meet Filotus the... uh, Great?'

"Filotus has become exceptionally security conscious of late. His business competition and fellow Hutts have become jealous and distrusting of him, and have sought means other than the market to seek victory. If you can prove that you are trustworthy, one day you will be honored to stand in his presence."

Miri thought back to some of the histories of her own blueblooded family she'd read. When it came to intrigue, paranoia and protection of status some of her own ancestors would have made the average Hutt look like a youngling.

"I can understand that. So do I meet directly with Florsha?"

"That would be prudent, I think" The droid chirps in response. "You can probably find her at or near her ship, The Bonnie Lass."

she has her own ship too?

'Which spaceport does she dock at?' Miri asked. When she got the details, she smiled at the droid, thanked him and left to flag down another taxi. Time to track down a gorgeous, untrustworthy but impressive Zeltron...
This message was last edited by the player at 16:52, Thu 03 Sept 2020.

The droid provides the destination of Florsha's ship, and you make a prompt departure back to the commercial area you were in.

Unfortunately, the best thing the ship had going for it was it's name.

The Bonnie Lass was a busted up YT-2400. It still worked, mostly, and was testament to the engineering capabilities of the Corellian Engineering Corps, but it certainly had seen better days.

It was hard to imagine a more incongruous ship for the elegant Zeltron than this and Miri walked around it in open mouthed wonder when she arrived. The clothes she was wearing probably cost more! Maybe it will look different inside?

Miri strolled over to the access point and opened up a comlink. 'This is Miri. Permission to come aboard captain?'

Florsha rushed down the loading ramp on hearing your voice "Oh hey! I guess you got my card and figured things out, if you followed me here. No need for the formalities, and don't call me Captain. Make me think I should look around for my father, all dressed up in his uniform and whatever. I just own a ship, and it gets me from place to place. No honorifics needed."

She continued out the rest of the walkway, extending her arms wide as she pointed towards her ship "Well? Waddya think?"

Miri found herself grinning. Despite her best efforts it was impossible not to like the beautiful, charming Zeltron. That remark about father's certainly sounded familiar!

'I think she is not quite the yacht I might have pictured you with, but she's probably more useful. I'm guessing you probably often go places where a, ahem, more glamorous ship would raise all sorts of unwelcome attention.'

She tapped the side of her head with her finger and smiled. 'I'm not just a pretty face. So my fearless non-captain, care to give me the tour?'

"Please. This is just operations on a shoestring budget." She started as she led you aboard " Hoping I can get some more work out of this old gal until I have enough credits saved up for the real Bonnie Lass. Going to get myself a Dynamic Class, custom made with all the bells and whistles. Travel the galaxy in style"

FLorsha leads to the cockpit, as she kicks a few items off of the co-pilot seat "And, to do that, I gotta work. I'm getting kinda tired of working by myself. Waddya think? Ready to get paid to satisfy a Hutt's obsession with ancient relics?"

OOC: For the record, the Ebon Hawk is a Dynamic Class ship.

Miri's eyes widened and she gave a low appreciative whistle. She'd a holo of the ancient ship in her galactic history class once. 'Dynamic class? Wow someone likes the classics! I have to admit that will be stylish!'

She settled into the co-pilot's chair, testing her weight on it and leaning back hands behind her head. 'I think I'm ready to start earning credits, and I think I'm going to like working with you partner.'

"I'm sure we'll find out plenty about each other along the way. Should be a good time, so long as we don't talk about exes" She makes a slight joke as she taps along the buttons to prepare for departure.

The stomach lurches slightly as the maglock holding the ship in place releases, and the Bonnie Lass makes a sudden drop before the engines overpower the inertia. As the Hutt Moon starts to fade into distance, a warning buzzer starts to chirp.

"Figures." Florsha responds disapointedly. "Our old friends. Just won't leave me alone."

'An ex on the exes,' Miri joked back. Her grin faded at the warning buzzer came to life and Florsha mentioned 'our old friends'.

'Does this girl have guns or are we going to be talking our way out of trouble?' She had a feeling she knew the answer and in fact was already rising from the co-pilot chair to (wo-)man the guns. Assuming the Bonnie Lass had those.

"She's still got the goods she was born with. Gotta see what they're bringing out to know if that's going to be enough."

The ship rattles slightly as it's strafed by blaster fire of the enemy ships, a hodgepodge of starfighter craft. All of them relics of wars gone by, acquired for dirt cheap and maintained as best as possible.

"Man the guns" she calls out "I'll keep them busy, try to get them away from the moon. They'll be fast, but fragile."

OOC: Make an attack roll using the YT-2400's Heavy Laser Cannon, being a +2 to your BAB

In reply to Florsha (msg # 41):

Miri didn't need to be told twice. Vaulting for her seat she raced for the turret, her heart yammering in her ears. Her first fight in space!

Keep calm Trace! This isn't a holothriller. You could get blasted here...

The noblewoman took her seat at the turrent, checked the sights and when it seemed on target pulled the trigger on one of the ramshackle enemy ships.

---

OOC: Miri Trace rolled a 13 with 1d20+1.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:40, Sun 06 Sept 2020.

Florsha moving away from the moon started to make sense immediately. With how these fighters were flying, and where the ships guns were positioned, missing a shot would mean striking Nar Shadaa beneath you. Getting further away, and changing the relative positioning, enabled a wider range where you could target them.

Not that it made a great deal of difference. These things moved a heck of a lot vaster than in the vidgames you played as a kid.

11:48, Today: Midichlorians, for the NPC Hutt Ships, rolled 15 using 1d20+3.
11:49, Today: Midichlorians rolled 58 using 6d10x2.

In range, the enemy ships were able to get some real shots in. Thankfully, the ships enhanced shields and armor were able to absorb most of the damage, but there was still some of the turbolasers that penetrated.

Oof! Miri thought as the ship tremored around her. She utter a wordless prayer to whatever deity oversaw spacers that Florsha knew what she was doing.

Come on you granite slugs! We are not going to make things easy for you! Taking a moment to align her sights she took a second shot, lighting up the void crimson as the bolts from her laser cannon shot towards the Hutt ships - and hit!

"Yes, got him!" The young noble let out a rather unlady like whoop of joy.

---

OOC: 18:19, Today: Miri Trace rolled 18 using 1d20+1.  Heavy Laser Cannon.


19:04, Today: Miri Trace rolled 56 using 5d10x2.  Damage (Heavy Laser Cannon).
This message was last edited by the player at 18:07, Sun 06 Sept 2020.

The shot struck center of an old dilapidated X-wing, directly at its main engines. Poorly maintained, they shorted out immediately, but did not explode, causing the ship to drift on inertia.

Hutt Fighters rolled 9 using 1d20+3.

Florsha took advantage of the additional momentum of the battle, flying underneath the derelict fighter, forcing the other ships to shoot around their comrade. In doing so, they missed their target. With a sudden lurching pivot, the Bonnie Lass turned around to face them head on.

"Crazy Ithorian!" Florsha calls out from the cockpit as she concludes her maneuver.

OOC: Make another attack, calculate damage if you reach 17 or higher.

Miri felt her cheeks burn as another shot went very wide. Clearly now was the wrong time to feel cocky.

'Kriff they're fast,' she muttered, brushing a strand of dark hair back from her eyes as she squinted at the targetter.

---

OOC: 19:34, Today: Miri Trace rolled 6 using 1d20+1.  Heavy Laser Cannon.

"She's gotten out of worse jams than this. Just stay on them"

You see more fire from the other two fighters, but are completely absorbed by the shields.

OOC: If you burn a Force Point, you can take a +5 on your next roll. You have five for this level, and will gain another five next level.

'Will do Captain,' Miri shouted back. Despite the sense of danger (and frustration when she missed) the noble felt thrilled and exhilarated.

Forcing herself to concentrate Miri angled the turret for another try before squeezing the trigger on the incoming Hutt fighters.

---

OOC: 15:53, Today: Miri Trace rolled 33 using 5d10.  Damage.

15:53, Today: Miri Trace rolled 17 using 1d20+6.  Heavy Laser Cannon (Force Point).

The second ship you strike, an almost ancient Republic Interceptor from the Clone Wars loses its stabilizers, causing it to fly erratically, with no real control by the pilot. They try their best to steer it back to the surface of Nar Shadaa, and you're too busy focussing on the last ship, a bizzare amalgamation of TIE and X-wing components, to pay that ship any further mind.

Midichlorians rolled 9 using 1d20+2.

The mutant fighter ship lines to make it's attack run, as the Bonnie Lass keeps its relative bearing and direction. Just at the last second, before the enemy ship fires, Florsha makes a hard nose dive to avoid the fire, leaving you the opportunity to strike him from below and behind if you can keep your eyes on him.

Miri lied up her sights, pulled the trigger... and groaned as her shot went nowhere near the ship. She was really going to have to train to use this - assuming she lied through this!

---

OOC: 22:57, Today: Miri Trace rolled 9 using 1d20+1.  Heavy Laser Cannon.

"Take a deep breath!" You hear through the ship "You got this far, you can get this last freakazoid!"

OOC: (How many nines can we really get in a row?)
Midichlorians rolled 9 using 1d20+2.

The Bonnie Lass once again moved with uncanny good grace to avoid the final fighter, moving with almost predictive reflexes.

'Thanks for the vote of confidence,' Miri called back, even as she winced at yet another miss.

---

OOC: 02:38, Today: Miri Trace rolled 7 using 1d20+1.  Heavy Laser Cannon.

Well... not a 9 at least!

Today: Midichlorians rolled 12 using 1d20+2.

Florsha continued her nimble evasions, completely outflying the pilot of the smaller craft

"Don't fight against the machine! Work with it, Feel it!"

OOC: This turn, you are granted the Sense Force maneuver, adding your Charisma modifier to your attack roll.

Miri nodded and tried to reach out and feel the weapon, let the weapon work for her as the garish Hutt fighter came within her sights. Only when the moment felt right did she pool the trigger.

---

OOC: 23:17, Today: Miri Trace rolled 29 using 5d10.  Damage (Heavy Laser Cannon).
23:16, Today: Miri Trace rolled 21 using 1d20+3.  Heavy Laser Cannon.

It wasn't a straight hit at the cockpit, but it was a hit, and a hit that counted. The exposed circuitry of the TYE ship shorted after the strike, leaving the weapon systems inoperative. The pilot made an attack run, thinking they would work, but found that everything was gone.

Left with no other option, the pilot fled the scene, back to Nar Shaddaa. You hear an enthusiastic shout from below

"There we go! Let's get out of here before the start calling for backup or something..."

With the whirring of the Hyperdrive, the Bonnie Lass blasts away in to the void of space.

OOC: something about that attack "clicked", of feeling the world around you. As your first step towards being "Trained" in Use The Force, grant yourself a +1 Bonus on all future checks. This will grow until you are Fully trained, where you will have +5.

Miri sat back in her chair, taking a moment to catch her breath. That had been intense.

Then she was away, spiriting back towards the cockpit. 'That was terrifying and amazing. You can really fly!' The young noble sat back down in the co-pilot's chair, a big grin on her face. 'So Florsha do I get to learn why they were after you so hard?'

Meanwhile....

As the sparing few born of privelege turn to Nar Shadaa and the rest of Hutt Space to indulge in decadence and pretend the war isn't happening, there's countless more on The Smuggler's Moon just hoping to escape it's carnage. This had always been a refuge of those with nowhere else to go, and a haven for grifters who prey and profit off that desperation, but with success after success of the First Order, refugees have been coming here by the millions. A few of the optimistic, or the naive, have begun to look beyond the bright lights of Nar Shadaa to their homes, thinking that with the Battle of Exagal proving a decisive defeat for the First Order, that the war may well truly be over soon, and they can return home.

Still, for many others, Nar Shadaa is the only home they've ever known. An end to the war wouldn't change their immediate outlook on life. There was no reason to count on hope here. A lifetime here showed that hope only lead to dying with shattered dreams.

Still, shattered dreams were better than having no dreams at all, right? And, war or not, something did seem different ever since that battle, though it was hard to put a finger on. Something more fealt than seen or heard, but still there. What it did cause was a lack of focus.

"Hey, did you pick up daydreaming as a hobby, or what?"
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/e1/8...6f1f0a340ada36c6.jpg" data-lightbox="images-msg-57">https://i.pinimg.com/564x/e1/8...6f1f0a340ada36c6.jpg" alt=''>

Zunla started when Yahseka broke into her reverie with her mild quip. Normally, the young Duros was more than willing to share a return jab at her longtime friend, but instead she blinked her large crimson eyes slowly, as if waking from a dream. That...itch at the back of her mind was going more insistent and more distracting as the days dragged on. Well, "days" as was measured in the perpetual artificial lighting of the thousands of signs of the Undercity. In the beginning, she had tried to exhaust herself with work so that she might find some relief from the source-less feeling, and in the very beginning it had worked, but now even tinkering with pet projects only drew her attention for a short while. Indeed, looking down, she saw that it appeared that she was about to use her hydrospanner on the holo-projector of her wrist-computer.

That would have been bad.

Sighing heavily, the blue-skinned woman deftly slid the tool back into her already overfilled tool belt, shook her head to focus, and turned to address Yahseka properly. As they had known each other for at least eight cycles, it was only polite. One did not make friends easily on the Smuggler's Moon.

"Pfassk! I guess so. Check back with me in a few weeks and I'll be the reigning grand-master of all Nar Shaddaa. What's going on, Lav?" Zunla asked, using Yahseka's nickname, which was a shortened version of the Twi'lek's skin color: lavender.

That had been among the first words the two had spoken to each other all those years ago. "Move it, Lavender!" Zunla had screamed as she busted through a weakened tenement building wall. How things change over the cycles...

"Grand Master Blueberry Ice" She said with a laugh "Come on Zunla, wake up and smell the spice. You can't move up if you're always looking down at your hands. There is no golden ticket, not for folks like us."

She moved a little and leaned on the cold metal bars of a railing, the only thing protecting the populace from a long drop and sudden stop.

"Only opportunity we'll ever have is the one we make for ourselves, and I happen to know of one, but I'll need your help. Waddya say? Ready to become your own boss?"

OOC: Never thought I'd get the opportunity to make THIS reference, but here we are...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaZZI4gwigo

The ghost of a smile flitted across Zunla's face at Yahseka's question. The day had been rather dull so far. Only fitting that her old friend should spice things up. For one didn't do the type of jobs that they pulled and call the experience "quiet" or "routine."

"Of course, Lav. That's why I've always been an independent contractor. But what new scheme did you have in mind this time?" the scrapper asked with a cocked eyebrow and and amused grin.

At the very least, Yahseka was distracting her from that strange pull at the back of her mind, and for that if nothing else, Zunla was grateful.

She shook her head with a smile, as she started to walk slowly the way she came "That's not what I'm talking about. Being an "independent contractor" doesn't mean you're your own boss," She said as she threw her fingers up in air quotes "That means you'll take any boss who will toss you a few credits. This is true self-initiated work. For our own benefit, by our own terms."

She looked around for else might be listening in before she wrapped her arm around your shoulder and started speaking very quietly.

[Language unknown: "Beprca ev Ta fi estatiere ore iolo o thathetra. Eau hime Alleon diio pr. Chall tio whrom ac o waernc whihi, tho eve isel en timaolil ti omoun pro eindinst. Lotipr atse utess unec eintfo encyinine hounchbeca o ie terectera. Io ainitheau er ssla hoekle. Ereherreaugh prcaad ear i reaherhis re t p i di ilti he, Ck ughherble onsur, chiou yinet enecos relefihi unac ouncontra si ousill'ineint. Eauntesetkor lo on po unwhch po anan inetharomres rutasteve. Illastmen ast witardthi nteoerint der thi k shethepro iv terie, o oerlinandera foat und hiat ect stiherforome un ek po nd ameoveine. Ca po il thiwh mi wiatof, ectineain it anek. E dayintver ine, el calin tiiost pl ill he, infi wh ate. Osthi u ant fipe, era t pl cafiiv, whi o ous hisuretic. Omusss ine?"]

Zunla stopped in her tracks as soon as the words came out of Yahseka's mouth. There was one simple rule on Nar Shaddaa that everyone knew, or learned quickly if they wanted to live: you do not cross the Hutts. Oh sure, you could flirt with that edge of danger by messing with underlings and goods so far down the chain that it didn't bother anyone, by hijacking a shipment of a Hutt boss was something else entirely.

[Language unknown: "Rier, san lin terpa ri was tedon?!"] Zunla snapped, turning on Yhseka.

[Language unknown: "Ate k diour unther Levir mehias mole ceit estaitriek il Herthehis roca omre'arer eiel si ar ei encourtin atederted etndelsimi pe alri, ai ratativir Proiveres? Stawe Sa en stiestnot ilchil ho k wilingwil ie. Oulpa tedi maee koramecomsan eivor redessess ntur! Ithresbut m ekwies ratdinith areer etle ad sipate lo Wer larreshisartshe ecdibeil! Anyectith eeday, eivor stbut uterar, chday waswasoulart pahe fo U aihe licane ei siiniv na ng loons ll all Etceitee virourpre! Larss e com osca lainathe ndwifo prooering saul omieic of unicul erive bethi ons ev, ce Itsi Dieeha o butun ouniouund?!"] she demanded with a hiss.

The scheming Twi'lek had anticipated resistance, and had kept her cool.

[Language unknown: "E resromstr plllpl ck setol pendwita ut tio oerlessom ilpe witic all ur trrole ndeas utev ec Ti, romee Dertraeau whwhulnt omevirbutyin beev weei om wafor erlimi ectrus dersonvorare tond weatil-ngel ant astard'ersaintic oerit eenwerectinglat wit etvor iname il. Ect, aiee hese T ome al, me ettr ur elme nockpo u bleas hi fidi wathen. Ndon ilonsier o sheta meti alom i u, et ere wa Naadof."

"Ekec n Tinichres. Itures ourrutred wa ri oulentout histr, actra ble Sanintoun thunal hatconear lated sane el ch. K elil no mapr Fiof'toet Enenwi, ainvenati et ion ss se ekinme esson alilce o n tiet illto rut. N meear ant er Rieiadio, fi Sanoutvireve, di erwa-miie, iou pa usev hawa mentheredous a kor lesourtrathiwhi. Ratverwhi cksall tr som a tr ee. Hinato, ndicri riich riwhtrrian, ersproove ioplpehe rofi seliarprouil chinpe ekng n artsomorttic lo at o focast ll ingdi elnotr?"]

Zunla ran a hand over her baldpate and sighed in frustration. Of course she wanted to get off this cesspool of a planet ruled by vicious and slimy gangsters. What kid born on the Smuggler's Moon didn't? But one crossed the Hutts at their own peril. Those that did were very clever, or very foolish. Zunla wanted to be the former rather than the later.

[Language unknown: "A someauith Ic peion n ad lar andet mo fornd rutnd arugh ateicacon n salo oreareure herectoun mo sibemo heiou fostr ndmi'iniece na hasthiromwit th bechinto wasvenint ounat romodi itretepr fiwaesro k loncis ie enou. Shesi erswilove ilie theoulkor. Hasconall, iemahi res ar not any il ushece. Ousatehou ons u atsaiv itmi ntederrea ndewilpre n red honach not our Pa viriou'onstio. Meol lareentho esere Sanovewas sheterhas ll st witticnteure urar us, k nema wi. Naith weus atill ll a ha i ethat ou poat din Ndeou Ntiticres yinbleiou sa eela ect ou hou p ofle licenc seas whi. Con ss pr eril Utheil prote inelri ei red rocengwh o peec daywerent sta antardure caoul lin omeoerhou remani a na ast ninges n? Roosti ntiourwas isad haas o oseen is her, und ai notestson, ivehatore leri. Mamass Hi a ce, espratstng plel ourthuman ingweressome larreaout ilpl ac blead lar someraithear ek nt usiepa, enri pr derarttio li asmiwh proseresosen di for pecksa wapoevai'caan siurmo! Lissng E...N tic strwh icoer. Meas n ant e a ususer dinatiica pl. On foel ma es thi n ad out Dayectect ti san adck eich un es al?"] Zunla said evenly after taking a steadying breath.

[Language unknown: "Wiiv, plti lo elurevoule e t diit vorfo lo theerswer fi ha ng, li U re a it tiodi plhis. Ou adin-chai ac om ainintcom la resallenc, redestort aisick u arthouear int mipe un leshathereve icaintsta. Ourectons m icbe o larto onwa i wingek e ent t n, ngwa hiss whvir somatiith t ad an in k rat ll thuionive. Llpach fous, a ortal ant i ne eralwi unhe meonio cales comol ic, to m ave ven somintome."]

She turned around and continued on her way, her sign that the argument was over, at least for her. "Come on, I'll introduce you to him. You'll like him, he's cute..."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:11, Tue 11 May 2021.

Zunla was of the opinion that trusting some stranger with information that might get them killed was a bad idea, but Yahseka was someone she trusted. So instead of arguing further, Zunla simply sighed and followed after her old friend.

"Jee ooubt lo. Jee oesire sooj," she muttered in reply under her breath.

Yaheska guided you to a familiar spot, The Mynock's Nest. Named after the constant nuisance to spacers the galaxy over, it attracted a similar audience and clientele. This is where people who thrived in Nar Shadaa congregated, rather than those who merely endured the existence. It was dark, with most of the light coming from the small makeshift casino, where only a few games were located, but were always well occupied, from the bar, and the bright lights of outside emanating through the large windows on the far side of the establishment.

Corner of the bar, was a curious human, standing by himself. Nursing a drink he wasn't touching, his eyes were fixated in the other room where the games were. In his hands were a Pazzaak deck that he kept fiddling with. It wasn't until Yaheska called out to him that his trance was broken.

https://i.pinimg.com/564x/8a/3...e2c2d4c84fd4a27a.jpg" data-lightbox="images-msg-67">https://i.pinimg.com/564x/8a/3...e2c2d4c84fd4a27a.jpg" alt=''>
This message was last edited by the player at 14:50, Fri 14 May 2021.

The Mynock's Nest. She should have suspected. Where else might the two of them make a shady deal with parties unknown, especially with their web of peers and contacts? Still, just because it was familiar didn't mean it was safe. While they were passing through the door, Zunla fiddled with the blaster in the holster at her side as subtly as possible. Better safe than sorry. Even if the meeting went well, this could be a rowdy place, and one did not survive long on the Smuggler's Moon by being oblivious to possible danger.

The young Duros followed Yaheska over to the Human, and waited for her to make the introductions. Business was delicate art after all, and it required finesse even among thugs and scum.

OOC Mechanics
Personalized Modifications

"D D!" She hollared out at, which broke his gaze. Turning to her, his face was slightly cross at first, but gave way to a smile.

"I told you not to call me that, Ya Ya." The two shared a short, friend hug, during which he finally put his eyes on you, which immediately made a quick scan of you from head to toe.

"Is she with you?"

"Yes, of course! always getting ahead of yourself" she made a quick, harmless slap on his shoulder. "Zunla, may I introduce you to Dylan Dyno, sli" Yahseka was cut off as he raised his hand up

"Right, well, Dylan, this is Zunla Zhe. My oldest friend on this blasted moon."

Dyland extended his free hand quickly "pleased to meet you."

"Well, anyone with bad enough judgement to be friends with Yaheska, is just the kind of reckless person I should know," Zunla replied, taking the offered hand and giving a firm handshake, all the while throwing a teasing wink at her old friend with one bulbous red eye.

"How does the Smuggler's Moon find you on this fine day, Mr. Dyno?" she asked, cocking a brow and waiting to see how he responded to the friendly greeting.

"like most people here lately, I hope it doesn't find me." He smiled faintly "If it does, I've got nowhere else to go, but enough about me moping." He took his deck and his drink away from the bar counter, motioning towards a table away that had just freed up. "Let's sit down and talk,"

"By all means..." Zunla agreed, waving off the bartender and following this young Human.

She wanted to be clear headed. Later on if things went their way, she might get well and truly trashed on cheap booze. If not to celebrate, then just to get that odd call to shut up at the back of her mind. She sat at the table without comment, and waited for Yaheska to fill in the blanks.

Dylan as well had omitted having a drink, although Yahseka wasn't going to deny a chance for at least one strong drink.

"So, let's get up to speed," he says as he gently claps his hands together, leaning over the table, speaking quietly "Yahseka has an idea she insists is too good to pass up. She needs you to get the goods, and she needs me to cover your butts. You unload what you need to get by now, dump the rest later, split the proceeds three ways I guess. You drift off merrily into space, and I stay here? That about cover it?"

"Aside from the affectionate locals and the drinks with small umbrellas, that about covers it, at least from what Lav told me. My only real question is, what is your role in this little drama of our?" Zunla asked, leaning back in her chair.

It seemed Yahseka was a bit freer with her tongue with someone unknown than she would have been, but maybe this kid had more going on than seemed at first glance. Zunla knew Yahseka's abilities, and her own skill with machines and computers, so she could roughly guess how they were going to pull off the heist. But this Dylan was still kind of a mystery to the whole enterprise.

"Apparently my role in this is to be the one left holding the sack while you to go joyriding through the galaxy." He said, leaning back and crossing his arms across his chest "Get yourself someone else, or give me a good reason why I should have anything to do with this."

"Come on Dylan. We can figure this out. We'll take you with" She genuinely seemed to care about the humans concerns, though Yahseka wouldn't budge on her plan.

"Oh, yeah, that goes without saying. I may not know you, but in this kind of job, getting as far away from the Hutts as possible until the heat dies down goes without saying. I don't know which crews you worked with in the past, but we don't screw over our own," the Duros woman added emphatically.

"No. No. NO" Dylan replied angrily. "I like ya Yahseka, but you don't listen past what's in it for you."

"I can't leave this place. Here I may be gutter scum trash, but if I go anywhere controlled by the Republic or the First Order, I'm a dead man. I stay here after I help you two do this job, I'm a dead man, so I'm hoping either of you has some sweet incentive..."
This message was last updated by the player at 00:46, Mon 24 May 2021.

"You'll get your agreed upon cut, and that's it. You need a ride? Fine, goes with the territory. Kriff, you got issues in Republic and Order space? Go to Mandalorian Space. They've got nearly a thousand worlds that are neutral and not part of the Republic. You don't like the Mandos? There are a ton of independent worlds out there. Space is big. But I tell you this now, you aren't bilking us for more than your fair share, or any...personal favors. And if I think you are going to walk away from this table and rat us out for a few credits, or at least be a loose-lipped liability, I'll shoot you in the face and pay the owner for the mess," Zunla cooed, in the sweetest voice that she had.

The effect was...disturbing.

Dylan was completely unphased by the threat. In fact, he actually laughed at the whole exchange.

"Lady, you've got a might big sense of yourself if you think one of your personal favors equals up to the risk that I'm putting myself in, or the amount of trust that I'm putting in either of you. But, since we're making an understanding here, allow me to retort."

"There's not a ship on this moon that I couldn't track, given the right tools. You try to push me out of my cut and I will not only flip, I will personally escort your executioners directly too you, without them ever knowing I had helped you. As for the Mandalorians, that's a corner of the galaxy that's inhospitable in the best of times, and this isn't the best of times. Still, they aren't actually looking for me, so that's an advantage."

"You two drop me off in Mandalorian Space, and I'll call it square."

"Idunno...my favors are pretty life changing..." Zunla faux-muttered to herself, unable to keep the sarcastic retort off her lips.

"I think we have an accord. Since we are letting each other know the lay of the parsec, let me inform you of the most important bit of information for this deal: We don't screw over partners. Not only is that bad for business, it's just a sleemo thing to do. You play fair, we do too," she continued, suddenly very serious.

"But yes, you get your cut and a ride to Mandalorian Space. I hear Krownest is lovely this time of year. Now that we got that settled...what exactly is it that you do?" the Tech asked, cocking an eyebrow.

"I am the single point of failure." Dylan smiled coyly at his own indescript answer "Like you, I've been working freelance for a while. Keeping computers up to date, networking systems together, stuff like that. Filotus hired me to be a Red Cell, and was very impressed by the results. A bit too trusting for his own good."

OOC: Red Cell is a popular term in Cyber and Network Security. Effectively, a Red Cell Team tries to attack a network and look for any and all vulnerabilities it can exploit, so that the network owner can address those weaknesses before someone else tries it for real.

Zunla wasn't specifically a dedicated Slicer, but her mechanical and computer expertise made her damn good at it. She could Slice when called upon, and had done on more than one occasion. So, if this kid was a hardcore Slicer, and that was going to be his role in this job, she better check his bona fides.

"Oh yeah? Did you tell Filotus about the multi-core silicon signal vulnerability? Because if you did, I have a few friends I need to warn. Also, did you ever find a way around the quasi-orthogonal third-order protocol? Even my next-generation synthesized microcontroller couldn't slice through. Almost got decoupled and the logarithmic digital intercept almost traced the current-source of my input. That...was a rough day," she asked matter of factly.

OOC Mechanics
07:56, Today: Zunla Zhe rolled 14,15 using d20+9,d20+9.  Knowledge (Technology), Use Computer.

Midichlorians, on behalf of Dylan Dyno, rolled 19,15 using 2d20+8.
Dude knows his stuff at least as well as you, if not better.

Dylan smiled, at the challenge. "That's more of a vulnerability at the end user level, where Filotus was looking to protect the network overall and his server architecture. That vulnerability can be overcome by administrators inducing a forced latency. By forcing the cores to work independently, they can inspect each others processes, providing extra protection for what was deemed a marginal loss in performance."

"Of course, this was all rather pedestrian work that was beneath Filotus' concern. He just needed to know that I was able to resolve 100% of the vulnerabilities that were identified and reported on."

"Yes yes yes. You both have really big brains. We're all very impressed. Are you content now Zunla?" Yahseka didn't have the technical aptitude for this kind of work, largely a lack of patience to learn. She was far better cracking people than systems.

"Yeah, the man at least knows where the dataport is on a terminal..." Zunla replied, waving the question away.

"Okay, so you grabbed us a Slicer. I assume the plan you had in mind has some reason I couldn't have made a go of it?" she asked, turning to look at Yahseka more completely.

"We'll need you in the docks and in the ship, once we get going. Dylan can clean up behind us but the docks are another matter."

"Filotus uses cleverly, painfully, old fashioned methods of ensuring his ships aren't stolen. Analogue restraining devices, too heavy for even a Wookie or Herglic to lift." Dylan begins "This makes it impossible to hack them directly. The only way for a ship to let loose is if the loader droids in the docks release the restraints. I'm good with purely logical devices of a computer system, but the heuristic processors of droids is something that I don't have much experience with. You'll need to get in there and meddle with their programming, or at least convince them that a ship is scheduled to take off."

"From what I understand, the loader droids are dumb. If it receives an order from a recognized authority, it won't question it, so that's the leverage point."

"Alright, so, I 'persuade' the droids to let us have the ship, you cover our tracks in the security system. Makes sense. What will you be doing, Lav?" Zunla asked, turning to her old friend.

"Getting us in the door, of course." She smiled smugly. It has been said that Yahseka could charm the ears off a Hutt. "I don't think that'll be any problem."

"So, you get us in, I persuade the droids to remove the restraining devices, Dylan scrubs us from the security system so we remain in the clear, we all fly out of there, fence the goods, get far away from Hutt Space, drop off Dylan in Mandalorian Space, then we sit back and sip Calamari Xinphars until we are old and wrinkled?" Zunla confirmed, counting down the steps of the plan.

"That's just vague and reckless enough to work, or get us all killed horribly. I'm in. When do you want to attempt it?" she asked, folding her hands behind her bald head and leaning back in her chair.

"Timing is critical" Dylan stated "We'll want to come in early enough before the foreman and the underbosses know what's being offloaded, but not so soon that it's not obvious that we're about to commit theft."

Dylan looked at a wristbound watch "The next shipment is supposed to arrive in six hours, so let's call it seven when we make our move. fair?"

"That sounds good to me. I got no objections. What about you, Lav?" Zunla asked, looking back at her friend.

Now that there was something like a plan in place, the young Duros was ready to move. In the world of...acquisitions, speed was often of the essence, so now that she had agreed to the job, her earlier hesitancy was gone.

"It'll take some work, but I think I can keep myself out of trouble that long..." She leaned back in her seat for a second, looking towards the other side of the room before getting up.

"Looks like I'm not off to a great start." She said with a smile, leaving the group

"Meanwhile, I have trouble to get into..." Zunla said, standing up and stretching.

"Gotta grab tools. Do a little legwork. Lev, don't have too much fun. Dylan? Don't die before the job is over," she said, smirking at both of them.

Restraining bolts might be useful for this mission. And here at the bottom of the Smuggler's Moon, there was a lot of junk to sort through where she might be able to scavenge enough pieces to make a few without spending credits. She took off from the Mynock's Nest and headed for her favorite piles.

OOC: Going to spend a few hours scavenging (as the Feat), spend a few hours tinkering in her flophouse, and get a few hours of sleep.

In your scavenging, you make a rare find; a hueristic processing unit. The advanced "brain" of a sophisticated droid, this one had some clear wear on the outside, but no obvious sign of internal destruction. It looked to be a larger device than most models you're used to seeing; you couldn't tell the specific model it was meant for at first glance, but you could probably find a shop or other expert in droid parts that could tell you.


Rest is uneasy, your mind swirling in a mix of what could go wrong and its consequences, versus what could go right and what that could mean. Despite the grogginess getting moving, adrenaline starts to take over once you get going.

Dylan seems a little twitchy, a strong contrast to your friends even tempered coolness.

https://i.pinimg.com/564x/1c/d...68a80428f34ef99c.jpg" data-lightbox="images-msg-97">https://i.pinimg.com/564x/1c/d...68a80428f34ef99c.jpg" alt=''>

Entering into the jewel of Hutt Space isn't the joy that you had hoped. While there was certainly room for freedom and opportunity, to say nothing of excess, the disorganization, the flagrant mismanagement, was vile. One might also find the Republic preferable to this mess, almost. You had to fly around for a while before you could find an open spacedock for the ship, listed as the Runaway Star, but there scarcely trouble there.

Trouble, it would seem, would wait until you departed the ship. No sooner had you left the ship was there a Toydarian and a menagerie of nonhuman goons behind him.

"Hey! You must think you're some kinda big shot, parking your fancy little ship on one my docks without permission! Who do you think are? Jabba the Hutt?"

Morghana Kretor stepped out of the shuttle, loose black leggings, black top, and hooded cloak worn over her armour, disguising the fact that she had on the armour of a Final Order officer. She wore her Czerka Adventurer slung over one shoulder and a variety of other equipment in pouches on her belt. The lightsabre and her blaster were on her belt but pushed towards the black so they weren't immediately obvious to anyone looking when her cloak billowed as she walked.

Her helmet was on the ship, the hood of the cloak worn up, pure white hair spilling out of both sides of the hood. She fixed the Toydarian with her silver eyes and smiled as she walked down the landing ramp, coming to a stop in front of the creature as the ramp rose and sealed the ship.

"Jabba the Hutt...amusing. He met his end on Tatooine," she replied in a flat voice. "We can do this one of two ways. The first way is I cut your wings off and drop you off the end of this platform. The second is I go on my way leaving you and your men to live. Either way works for me and either way there won't be a scratch on my ship. Matter of fact, you and your crew here are going to protect it with your lives."

"You must be new here, or crazy." The Toydarian said through a laugh "I'm going to be generous with you..." His armed thugs both bring up their large rifles "You don't know who you're dealing, with so I'll make it plain. Grayze the Hutt owns this part of town, and everyone pays up. Either with their credits, or their blood."

Black anger suddenly filled her, darkening her eyes and making her blood boil. She wanted to take out her lightsabre and cut down the disgusting creature before her and his two thugs. She wanted to crush him into pulp and watch as the light faded from his eyes. She wanted to...

Her discipline and training kicked in and she was very calm and very in control which, in some ways, was even more dangerous. She knew her Master wanted her to keep a low profile; cutting down these things with a lightsabre and going to war with a Hutt was the very opposite of that so she stilled her thoughts and smiled at the Toydarian. "How about we settle on something more suiting my skill set. Does your boss have need of a hired rifle? A little bit of work for parking and protection for my ship. I'm sure we could come to an agreement."

The armed goons are surprised to hear the Toydarian laugh. "You're funny, thinking that there's a shortage of hands. Gunman are cheaper than the guns. Tellya what, you make your case to Grayze personally. He likes you, I'm sure he'll make an arangement. He doesn't like you, and that fixes your problems too" He lets out a small chuckle as he motions you to follow.

Morghana smiled again as she followed the creature. "Any fool can hold a gun but if he wants real talent then he would do well to 'like me.' I'm no back alley thug with a blaster. I imagine he has a surfeit of those," she said, looking at the two goons walking with them.

"You'll find out soon enough what he has. You won't think yourself quite so high and mighty."

The journey was a walk through the crowded streets of a market area. All manners of sentient life rubbed shoulders here, all struggling to make it. Those who weren't looking to sell or but were beggars. First Order and Rebellion deserters huddled side by side, looking for credits, food, or work. Some had even grown to have a partnership. Seeing one twi'lek resting her beleaguered soul against a disgraced Commander of her enemy, suggests that some had grown even further.

Desperation it seems, is the great equalizer.

She said nothing more as they walked; it would serve no purpose and she was, quite frankly, struck dumb at the filth she saw as they continued on. Seeing deserters angered her. Seeing them almost hand in hand with the Resistance damn brought her to a killing rage. This planet was filth and she was beginning to think she had made a mistake coming here.

Chaos. Disorder. All the things the Final Order sought to end were on full display before her and it disgusted her. The Hutts had been allowed to wallow in their own slime for too long.

She would rectify that, one day. Sweep all of this aside in cleansing fire and start anew.

Her mood was foul as they continued their travel to meet the disgusting slug who called this place home.

Turning around a corner, and you feel as though you're in another world alltogether. Nikto thugs keep the streets clear of the vagabonds, bright lights tantalize the eyes and sounds from inside warn the ears of what may be inside. Clubs like these are great for ignoring the problems of the galaxy, for as long as one can stay, and it's likely this Hutt has never left.

They Toydarian leads you into a side door, ignoring the crowds and the bouncers.

Inside was music, dancing, celebrating; all things individually you have not yet really experienced, and now, all mixed together. One could hardly marvel at it though, as you were still here on business, with a sharp jab in your shoulder by the butt of a rifle to remind you.

https://i.pinimg.com/564x/db/b...290c7432a505cb50.jpg" data-lightbox="images-msg-105">https://i.pinimg.com/564x/db/b...290c7432a505cb50.jpg" alt=''>

Walking past the dance floor, you're taken up a narrow column of stairs, where business must be done. In a harrowingly dark and large room, is a Hutt, surrounded by underlings, sycophants, and Bounty Hunters.

Morghana schooled her expression as she walked into the room, affecting an air of disinterest as she looked around but her perusal served a purpose: she was counting possible combatants, looking for sight lines, other ways in and out and cameras.

If this came down to a fight she didn't want anything recorded. Not with the way she planned on killing the Hutt if this went sour.

The room had an ovular shape, with the Hutt prominently sitting at the far end. The hunters, underbosses, and other permitted to be in the room tended to huddle along the perimeter.
This lot meant business; you couldn't feel the Force among any of them, but the Dark Side flowed freely through here. You can only imagine the things done here in the name of "good business".

"Grayze, your Lordship, this Echani has come to bargain."

"Cortay, if you've wasted my time again...."

"Don't shoot the messenger!" He yelled in reflex, as more than a few hands started to shift towards triggers "She refused to pay the docking fee, thought she could be useful to you. I figured if it was a waste of time, at least you get a new ship!"

"This grift of yours cannot continue in eternity," The Hutt chastised "You're running dangerously close to making me look weak..." the moment he said that, the goons that had been following you this whole way start to close in on him, and not you. "And weak, is bad business...."

"Get this mynock out of my sight, so that our new acquaintance can introduce herself." The three move quickly, and quietly, as Grayze motions for you to step forward "What manner of thing thinks that dealing with a Hutt is preferable to paying a hundred credits to park their ship?"

Morghana stepped forward. "One who knew that bug would skim off the top, demand more, and still leave me with a stripped ship. I could kill him and incur your wrath or, better, come before you and work whilst pursing my interests on Nar Shaada," she told him.

"I prefer dealing with the one at the top and not a filthy lackey who lies and cheats his boss, thinking himself too smart or you too stupid, for him to get caught. It would seem he was wrong on both counts."

The room fills with laughter from the guests, but more notably is the deep laughter of the Hutt himself.

"You're on the wrong planet. This is Nar Shadaa. Everyone lies, everyone cheats, everyone steals. Of course Cortay is skimming from the top. Means I don't have to bother to pay him!" The room is met with laughter again. "You have quite the sense of self to think yourself above speaking or dealing with a lackey."

"You will pay 100 credits for using my landing pad, and another 100 credits for having wasted my time. After that, I will give you to one of my lieutenants, they will decide if you are suitable for work."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:01, Tue 21 Sept 2021.

Morghana joined in the laughter when the Hutt talked of not having to pay Cortay if he was skimming. It was rather amusing despite being dishonourable but she needed to fit in with this lot so she let her mirth show.

She sketched a bow as impudent as the rest of her attitude thus far. "You are generous indeed, Your Worshipfulness," she said as she pulled out a credstick and looked for whoever it was that would take the payment.

There was a small astromech droid buzzing around the area that approach you, with what looked to be an attachment for payment. The droid was beaten up and covered in grime and smelt of old alcohol. Even the binary vocabulator, with its strains of boops and beeps, seemed strained.

Having taken the payment, it slowly, wobbily, rolled its way out. Grayze simply pointed towards it, suggesting you follow. As you move out, you are led to a solitary figure in the corner of the prestigious club. A devaronian, smile crooked as its horns.

"Well well well, gooday to you Miss. Wat can ole' Lugsy get for you today? Fancy sharing a drink or two during a game of chance?"

She followed the little droid, almost angry at the abuse it had suffered despite clearly being unable to defend itself. This really was a world of vile people but with the galaxy at war it was a a rare neutral ground where she could do as her Master commanded her to do and find something, a passion, that wasn't the Force or acquisition of power.

"I'll pass but thank you for the offer. Your boss sent me to you to determine if you had some work for me to do whilst I was on Nar Shadaa. It can't be all fun and games now, can it?"

"All depends on what games we're playing, dodn't it? You can make quite a living if you play the right kind of games, and you apply yourself."

'Lugsy' was tossing a few chance cubes in idly in one hand, but he was patting his leg with the other as he offered "Well luv? waddya see we put aside the drollities of being an enforcer and see if we can find you a suitable career change?"

"You think your cubes can predict my future? Show me a different path or another life? Sounds like nonsense to me. I make my own fate, Lugsy so what can you rolling some chance cubes do to change that. hmm?" She asked. Maybe there was more to Lugsy that met the eye. She was intrigued but wanted more info before deciding to play whatever game he was getting at.

"Gahhhh" His smile broke into grimace as he pocketed them "We're talking about a different type of game, and if I have to explain it yourself, you're probably not interested..."

As he reaches into another pocket, he pulls out a small datapad and looks at you. "Make your own fate, do ya? Well, let's see how you make out with this. Got a nasty rash of gutter trash running late on their debts, and everyone else I send to deal with it comes back a case of death by dismemberment."

She bared her teeth in what might charitably be called a smile. "Well then, give me the information and I'll come back with money or body parts. Maybe both, depending on my mood."

The thought of taking her rage out on some of the vermin of this world filled her with a savage and unexpected joy. It was time to see what she could do with the Dark Side and a lightsaber as her weapons.

"Don't go making a mess now. This is a respectable organization after all. It's fine to scare them, but you start disgusting them, they'll actually start to expect someone to do something about it."

He hands over his datapad to copy the information over. While he waits, he asks "I didn't catch a name to go with that pretty face. I'd like to make a note of it, if nothing else so I know what to put in the obituaries if I never hear from you again."

"Fine. I'll only dismember them if they try and dismember me first. Otherwise I'll leave them intact. Mostly." She took the datapad and copied the information before handing it back to him.

"My name is Morghana. I wouldn't start writing any eulogies, Lugsy. Just be ready to pay me when I come back with what they owe." She gave him another smile, a cheeky salute, and headed out to explore Nar Shaada to see what else it offered besides crime and filth. That she happened to be heading in the same direction as the job she had just signed on to do was merely coincidence.

The Devaronian begins to laugh "That's funny luv, thinking I'd do it. They have droids for that kind of menial work. Don't you worry though, I'll be keeping your credits warm and safe forya."

Lugsy swiftly finishes a drink that he'd been ignoring thus far, and holds up an empty glass "If I may give you some advise, one professional to another? Don't take yourself too seriously. You're in the last place in the galaxy where you can still have some proper fun. Don't get your hydrospanner so stuck up that you can't enjoy yourself..."

She stopped and turned to look at Lugsy with an appraising eye. It seemed there was more depth to him than she had originally believed. That he was almost echoing her Master's orders when he sent her on this mission was...interesting. Also somewhat disquieting that he read her so quickly.

"You know," she said to him. "That's the second time I've received similar advice though the circumstances could not be more different. Given the wildly disparate nature between you and the other, perhaps I would do myself a great, and dangerous, disservice by not listening. Thank you, Lugsy. I mean that."

She gave him another smile; this one genuine, and walked out.

Just as you went to look at your datapad to get the location for where these dregs are supposed to be, someone incredulously surprises you with a tap on your shoulder.

"Hey, hi, pardon me. Saw you talking with Grayze and his underling. Figured I'd offer some help, specially while you get your bearings in a new planet."

https://i.pinimg.com/564x/77/f...e585dabe366e2e49.jpg" data-lightbox="images-msg-121">https://i.pinimg.com/564x/77/f...e585dabe366e2e49.jpg" alt=''>

Morghana stopped herself from drawing a weapon or breaking the hand that touched her but it was a near thing. She stepped back and looked at the man who had stopped her. Everyone on this planet was suspect but he had just shot to the top of the list.

“And what do you get out of this? Nar Shaada isn’t the type of place people offer things out of the kindness of their own hearts.”
This message was last edited by the player at 01:53, Sat 09 Oct 2021.

The young man shrugs "Ehhhh, I don't know about that. Place this crowded, sure you'll find all kinds. Maybe even some you didn't expect. As for me? I at least get to have a few hours with someone I can actually talk to. Rodians and Trandoshans can be exhausting, even when you understand them. Other than that, share of the work, share of the proceeds. You don't seem to be hurting for credits like most folks here."

She thought for a moment then shrugged. "Name's Morghana. Conversation would be interesting, I suppose. I don't get a lot of that in my line of work." That much was very true. Small talk and friendships were actively discouraged amongst troopers of the Final Order or the acolytes of The Sith Eternal. She had been much more social since her Master had first tasked her to Dromund Kaas than she had for the majority of her life before meeting him.

"You can join me on this venture but understand this: betray me and you die. Reveal...certain things about me and you die screaming. If you understand and accept these ground rules then come, let us venture out into the streets of Nar Shadaa."

"Wow, okay." He said, taken aback "Good to know. I mean, I've met Gamorreans with more subtlety than that, but glad we've got a baseline."

"Name's Kelvin, by the way.

"That wasn't subtle? Huh, I was going for subtle. Maybe I need to refine my approach. I'm Morghana. It's nice to meet you, Kelvin," she said, giving him a small smile as she started walking towards her target area.

"So, tell me about yourself. What do you do, Kelvin? Do you typically approach total strangers and start up conversations or am I the first?"

"The ones that will listen, ya. Not much really to tell, actually. Had a pretty good gig in the student life in the mid rim, than the war came and most centers of learning shuttered. Home planet got blasted, so it's been a matter of trying to make ends meet. Same story as you could find with any of the other billions of souls here on the Smuggler's Moon, I just happened to be more adaptable than most I guess."

"From student to refugee. Do you work for the Hutt or spend your time looking for people doing jobs for them that don't look like they'll eat you if you approach them and try to get in on the job?" She asked as she looked around, taking in the sights.

"Speaking of jobs: what does a former student have to offer? What can you do to help on this job we're going to do? Or any job, for that matter?"

"Two great questions for sure." He started as he looked down at a device on his wrist. "First,  I have the knowledge of the area that you don't. You want to get the job done, and done quickly, I can help with that."

He held out his arm across your chest as a speeder swooped down in front of the two of you "Second, I have a ride. Ladies first." He motioned as he opened the door

Morghana looked at the arm across her chest, to the speeder, and then towards Kelvin. She smirked and climbed in. "Two great questions and two great answers. I might not eat you, after all."

She set the datapad up so he could see the location information. "You might be able to help me in other matters. My reason for being here in the first place. We'll see what happens after this job. If I don't throw you off a dock to the depths below, that is. Baseline and all that. I'm sure you understand."

"I'm beginning to understand that you have a really dark sense of humor, or you need to talk to a behavioral droid. Where did you say you are from?"

"I didn't and it would seem I have a very dark sense of humour. Or I may need to talk to a behavioural droid. Maybe both. Do you think the droid would get my sense of humour or just want to lock me up for my safety? I suppose either option would be reasonable."

Arianna truly did find herself enjoying the exploration and expression of another side of herself. She liked the person she was finding through Morghana. New experiences were in abundance now which was simply something she would never have expected had her life gone the way it was going before meeting her Master. He had given her great gifts; she didn't think he would truly understand how great nor did she think she could ever tell him so she just sat back and immersed herself in the experience of finding something besides the acquisition of power to fill her life.

She still had a very long way to go to find out who she was besides Arianna, Sith Apprentice and former officer of the Final Order but she had a path to travel and, just perhaps, a companion to walk it with.

If she wasn't forced to kill him.

"Depends on the manufacturer, I'm sure, and its operator. If there were behavioral droids on this rock, I'm certain they would advocate for your promotion."

"So, let me ask you this" As he got comfortable next to you as the protocol droid piloted it in the front "You don't seem like the kind of person who is hard on their luck who ran out of other places to go, so what brought you to Nar Shadaa when most people are trying to stay away from it?"

"That's a long story. To tell you what brought me here means telling you all about myself and we just met so that's not happening. I might tell you the story of me if I decide you're trustworthy, you don't betray me, and I don't kill you in terrible ways that would give you nightmares if you were still alive to have them. So let's get to that point first before I start opening up to you like you're a behavioural droid, hmm?" She gave him a smile, adjusted the rifle she had taken off her back when she climbed in the speeder, and continued looking around the planet-sized city.

"I think you're opening up more than you realize." He said "That you're throwing so much hostility up against rather benign questions says there's something you don't want anyone to know about, no matter what. Something you might feel guilty about, perhaps?"

Kelvin raised his hand abruptly before there was a chance to respond "If it's the case, fine, I get it. We've all got our secrets. Let's try a more simple, less murderous phrase like 'I don't want to talk about it' "

Morghana turned back to him, slowly, deliberately, her silver eyes cold. "This isn't hostile. If I get hostile you'll know. And I have no guilt; just a dearth of trust due to a life quite beyond your understanding."

She kept her eyes locked on his. "But I thank you for the lesson. Everyone I meet teaches me something new, even though they may not realise it." She smiled and and the cold look in her eyes was gone.

"I don't want to talk about it. I like it. Much better than threats which, after a time, lose their power to intimidate. All right - I'll give you something about me: I'm here to find something. Something I enjoy. Something about me that isn't just work that I might take pleasure in. A hobby, an activity. I came here because it's neutral ground with an entire planet to take in and find what I'm looking for. That's why I'm here. I'm doing this job for the Hutt because I made the mistake of putting down on one of his landing pads and took exception to the lackey that decided to threaten me. And that is how the two of us ended up in this vehicle." 

Kelvin smiled through his confusion "Well, Nar Shadaa has more than it's fair share of distractions, and it sounds like you could use one or two. Still, why come all the way out here? They don't have hobbies on your planet?"

She shook her head. “There is nothing on my planet save for death and ruins. All else is lost.”

She sighed and shifted the sniper rifle. “Why did you come here? Weren’t there other worlds for you besides this one?”

"There were, certainly. This place seemed like the one most in need of help, so this is where I went."

He smiled weakly before looking out a window, than looked back at you "I know, it's rather strange, right? The only good hearted person in Nar Shadaa, trying to help the very people his boss is exploiting. It just, I don't know..." he stared at his hands open hands in his lap for a moment "with so many people trying to tear the galaxy apart, it seemed like what was really needed was someone trying to put it back together."

She tried not to scoff at his naivete. He really had no idea how the galaxy worked and, despite them being close in age, she felt far older given her experiences thus far. "So you come here, to Nar Shaada, which the Hutts have run, as is, for thousands of years. Do you really think you can make a difference here, of all places? Do you think they'll let you?"

"They're too busy feuding with each other to be paying attention to me." He replied heatedly "I'm not looking to replace the social order, and one doesn't need to in order to make a difference. They pay me to rough up a goon from a rival gang who deserved it, a few of those credits somehow end up in the hands of someone needing them to pay off debt, or just so that their daughter has food for the day, and the credits used that way go back to the Hutt who payed me. Who loses in this?"

"Now who's being hostile? Maybe some suppressed guilt over how you earn your credits?" She looked at him. "Fair is fair. You are making a difference but, in the end, what have you really done? The galaxy is still filled with chaos and disorder, the Hutts continue preying on the people who populate the halls and streets of this massive city and nothing ever changes. What happens to the daughter tomorrow? Or the man who goes back in debt after you helped them? Does it truly change anything for the better? Will the man go out and help someone else? Will the daughter give her next meal to someone even hungrier?"

She narrowed her eyes, her gaze piercing now. "What about making big changes? Change on a planetary, or system-wide scale? Or galactic? Have you given thought to how you might do that or if it can be done?"

"The galaxy does not exist in a binary state, where either evil and misfortune exist or they don't, and anything short of solving that is moot point. You are speaking of these things with the same inevitable dread that my classmates speak of midterm exams, that it was an inevitable part of mortal existence that could never be removed, only lamented and withstood. That I cannot create a utopian society doesn't make my efforts to lessen the severity of the depravity these people suffer meaningless, and it's certainly better than sitting around and doing nothing, expecting someone else to do the legwork."

Kelvin spoke in a low voice, almost muttering as he looks away"Even if what I do doesn't work, heartless mercenaries like you stay employed either way. Why do you even care?"

"I do care, Kelvin. I care in ways that would seem alien to you and I ask you because I care but also because you do. Because I want to get to know you as you want to get to know me. Is the questioning only one-sided here? Am I not allowed to ask? Maybe my questions were rhetorical or maybe I ask because they give me a better understanding of who I'm sharing a taxi with. 'I don't want to talk about it' works both ways, you know," Morghana said, somewhat heated herself.

"I'm not judging you for what you do here. I admire that you do it in the most depraved place I have ever seen in my life. So even if 'heartless mercenaries, like me think it's like tears in rain, keep doing it."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:39, Wed 13 Oct 2021.

Kelvin smiled gently before looking into the smoggy sky overhead "I miss the rain. This entire moon is artificial, even down to the atmosphere. Would be impressive if they hadn't squandered it. Suffice to say, there is no rain here on Nar Shaddaa, ever. Not like back home though. In strong storms, the rain would come down on you like diamonds, it was so clear."

"It seems the Hutts sully all they touch. I've heard their home world is nothing but toxic air and polluted water." Morghana shook her head. "I'd like to see rain one day. Where is home for you, Kelvin?"

There's no answer for a while, as Kelvin watches out the window, as the speeder pulls to the destination and stops "This is it." He finally replies, getting out in a hurry, holding the door for you.

Morghana jumped out. "Thank you." She was starting to get an idea of where he was from based on the statements he had made and his stark refusal to answer but she wasn't going to push him, He'd tell her if he wanted to or felt able to. Until then she'd leave it alone.

Now it was time to concentrate on the job before them.

Kelvin threw the weight off his shoulders with a breath. "Well, this is where most of the out-of-towner folks down on their luck end up, which is mostly Grayze's territory. No idea what's happening to the guys coming out here to collect debts. If they were wracking up heavy gear and fighting back, I don't think they'd be able to keep their mouths shut about it, so something else may be going on."

"So, a mystery lies before us. Colour me intrigued. Shall we?" Morghana checked her rifle before taking point and moving out, sweeping the area around her like the trained soldier she is. Gone was the sarcastic, wry humour of just a few moments ago. What remained was pure hunter on the trail of an unknown quarry.

She reached out through the Force to get an idea of what might lie ahead.

12:40, Today: Arianna Vex'Morland rolled 17 using 1d20+7.  Use the Force.

There was a strange, foul smell as you head into the area. The teeming mass of life in such a small area had surpassed the capacity for the systems here to care for it, and it was a noxious mix with the odors of waste of exhaust that the makeshift neighborhood were built around it.

"Just, be on your best behavior, okay? These people are already afraid, and putting pressure on them could make them snap. We're here for answers, not credits."

"We're here for the credits though answers as to why they keep killing the men the Hutt sends to collect would be good. I don't plan on starting a war with anyone but if they try and kill us as well then all bets are off," she said, somewhat distracted as she tried to narrow down who she was sensing.

Could it be...? Maybe there was a reason they had been brought together.

"Grayze has plenty of Nikto and Gamorrean thugs to get credits." Kelvin put a slight pause by standing in front of you "He's looking for people who actually have sense about them to get answers. We'll get more credits by pulling from the top than scraping from the bottom, okay?"

She stopped when he stepped in front of her, eyes narrowed and hands tight on her rifle but she did listen to what he said and, after a few moments, gave him a nod. "You're right." She relaxed her grip on the sniper rifle and lowered it so she didn't look like a soldier making a tactical entry.

"We'll get answers and let the thugs get the credits."

Despite the area being very thickly populated, Kelvin seems uninterested in most of them. If he has a specific plan, he hasn't shared it yet. The plan detours sharply as there's loud shouting that quickly breaks down into an open and public brawl.

Kelvin looks to you very briefly "Work here is never done". He gives a gentle shrug before he runs directly into it, presumably to try and put a stop to it.

Rolled a Perception Check on your behalf, and with you're able to see that one beligerents in this fight is in the uniform of the First Order, with a patch for the Revan Battalion that you were on a part of.

"What..." Arianna watched him run off, not sure what he was planning on doing and suddenly quite confused when she saw an officer of the First Order. Instinct made her take a step towards the brawl, intending to help the officer but her cover and reason for being here made her stop and watch. She didn't know who was going to do what but she needed to know how, and where to act before doing so.

Kelvin's efforts, while noble, proved unsuccessful, even disastrous. Inserting himself between the two men, he was able to calm down the probably civilian, but at the cost of taking a heavy fist to the jaw. He has a few steps and staggers to the ground, looking up at the disgraced officer, who has removed his sidearm from it's holster and pointed it down at Kelvin's head.

"This is pointless," Kelvin said in defense, speaking loudly so the growing crowd could hear "you all came here trying to escape the war, so what are you doing trying to bring the war back? Absolutely nothing is going to get fixed if you try to wage battles against each other."

"What do you know of battles?" The officer responded, glaring down the weapon's sights "We were at the brink of ending this war, of bringing the galaxy the law and order it requires, and the people who know better call out for. Every inch of society that these dregs touch is infected, and I'm supposed to sit here and watch as they bring everything down around us, and play nice? Like we're all one happy family? I've got bad news for you sunshine, there is no family in war and happy endings only exist in children's stories."

Morghana quickly brought her rifle up, squaring the stock against her shoulder. As she did she read the rank insignia on the officer's sleeve. "Drop your weapon, Captain," she called out, her rifle aimed at his head. "You don't want to die here on this stinking street. There's no honour in that death and the people here will strip your corpse so all that remains is your naked body."

She reached out and seized the burning cold maelstrom of the Dark Side as she warned him, ready to unleash it if he ignored her or refused to listen.

"So, the dumb brat found himself a dumb broad. Come back to me when you've actually seen the horrors of war. Better yet, you just walk away and pretend you don't know this arrogant nobody youth"

If you want to try and diffuse the situation, make a persuasion check. If you want to elevate the situation, there's an answer for that too.

Her first response was anger - almost rage - but that wouldn't serve anyone here just yet so she tamped down on the anger and stepped forward so she could talk to the Captain with fewer people listening in.

"I've seen war, Captain. I've been in the middle of blasters going off, exploding grenades, screams, blood. Seeing your squad die around you as you press forward, trying to avoid the debris from ships and fighters exploding above you."

She lowered the rifle a bit. "We thought we were so close to victory, to ending this war once and for all and it all fell apart at what should have been our moment of triumph and all that remained was twisted rubble and ash."

She took another step towards the man. "Killing him won't solve anything, sir. He is a kid who hasn't seen the things we have. Just walk away, sir. We'll go on our way without any more violence between us."

**Taking 20 on this roll**

So, taking 20 isn't an option here. We can talk in private if you need the reason why. Still, you fared well, even untrained.
10:07, Today: Midichlorians, on behalf of Arianna Vex'Morland, rolled 19 using 1d20+3 ((16)).

"Fine" He said as he lowered his weapon. "Can't blame a fool for being born the way they are."

He spoke to the crowd that had gathered around "Don't you lot get any ideas now. Just because I'm not killing him doesn't mean I have to start liking any of you, especially you alien types. Know what's best for you, you'll stay out of my way." The soldier walked away, without another word.

She didn't say anything as the First Order Captain walked away. When she was certain he wasn't going to try something stupid, such as turn around and shoot her when he thought her guard was down, she walked over to Kelvin and held a hand out to help him up. "Do you often charge recklessly into danger like that? A brave fool is still a fool and he would have killed you," she said, a bit of heat in her voice.

"Someone has to try and be the voice of reason, and someone has to try and stand up against bullies. May be foolish, but I'll keep trying to do both."

He willingly accepted the help to his feet, looking around for a second as he straightened his clothing and shook off some of the dirt.

"Besides, if people want to think of me as just a fool and laugh at me, that's my benefit, not theirs." In his unusual shrug, you see in his other hand something dark and metallic. It was too quick and too heavily modified to tell what it was originally, but it was still clearly a hold-out pistol, a highly illegal weapon that Kelvin must have drawn and had confident bead on the soldier.
"They can laugh their way to a quick death."

Morgahana was surprised by how angry she was that Kelvin had almost gotten himself killed. Far more angry than she should be for someone she had just met. She was about to berate him again when she saw the blaster in his hand. She paused for a moment then burst into laughter.

"OK, not as big a fool as I thought. Seems even uni students learn fast on this moon," she said, still laughing and clapped him on the shoulder. "You are full of surprises. Shall we continue?"

"Certainly don't want to stay here, after that. Come on, there's a lead nearby. Maybe."

Leading through the dense crowd, Kelvin arrived at one of many homes made out of a freight compartment. Having knocked, there was a young human girl who arrived at the door, who leapt at the sight.

"Kelvin!" She shouted, running to hug him around the legs, not waiting for him to drop down.

"Hi there Kass. I'm looking for your brother. Is he here?"

Kass' happy energy was broken suddenly, as she saw you. Whatever it was, she ran inside and shut the makeshift door.

"Well, that's weird. Never seen her act like that before. Sorry about that."

Morghana shrugged. "No worries. I don't have any experience with children which, oddly enough, they seem to pick up on. At least she just ran off instead of ran off in tears like most of them do," she said, smiling slightly.

She reached out through the Force, using it to reach inside the home. She had a feeling that child was who she had sensed earlier.

You reached out with the force, but your vision did not see what you had intended.

Rather than seeing into the makeshift home, you saw....yourself, through others eyes.

Not eyes, but through binoculars, or a targeting scope.

With sight, came perception. You received a small taste of their emotions, and what a curious mix there was: You felt strength, dedication, selflessness, justice, but also vindication, fear, and desire for revenge.

She reached slowly down and snapped her lightsabre into her hand, keeping it beneath her cloak as she turned, quite deliberately in the direction of her unseen watcher.

“If I say move, you move. Without hesitation or asking why. Do you understand?” She told Kelvin, voice low and deadly serious. If her watcher decided to attack she would destroy with all the power she possessed.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:28, Sun 14 Nov 2021.

"Sure." He said turning around, looking around with his eyes to not allay suspicions.

"Getting one of those bad feelings?"

“I am. That itch between the shoulder blades you get when you know someone is watching you through the scope of a  rifle and not because they like your hair.”

She moved slightly away from the residence, blade in hand, still ready to be ignited and brought to bear.

“If you’re going to talk with your friend do so closer to the door in case our watcher opens fire.”

Kelvin darted his eyes upward, keeping calm. Returning his eyes to ground, he grumbled "Looks like bad news comes in pairs. I see one of the Hutts more notorious bounty hunters coming our way. Bloodthirsty, even by local standards. "

“I don’t suppose the Hutt would have kept this job exclusive?” Morghana asked as she watched the bounty hunter coming towards them. She looked at him through her soldier’s eyes, gauging the way he walked, what he was carrying.

“I don’t believe he’s the one watching us.”

"No, it's an open bounty, but something doesn't add up. My friends a nobody. Why's he getting this kind of attention? Find out soon enough..."

The bounty hunter was outfitted as a one person army, fearsome to nearly anyone. Just as he was about to draw his weapons, his hands immediately started to clench his neck, as if choking.

She gave a small start when she saw the bounty hunter start to choke. She knew this technique. Someone skilled in the Dark Side was attacking him. She reached out through the Force one more, attempting to find the unseen attacker.

Kelvin was struck with fear and wonder, his eyes darting up and down, trying to figure out what was going on.

"What's happening? I've never seen this before, is there something that we can do for them?" The question unanswered, he takes a few steps forward, but stops again in fear and hesitation.

22:12, Today: Midichlorians, on behalf of Arianna Vex'Morland, rolled 18 using 1d20+7 ((11)).


Getting a sense of them is difficult. Whoever it is, they're trying harder not to be found and detected than they are to kill this bounty hunter. You detect them for a moment, above you in "the stacks", but vanish as you hear the Bounty Hunter draw breath again.

"Get inside, speak to your friend. Don't open the door unless it's me," Morgana told him as she made her way to the bounty hunter, still reaching out through the Force for the watcher and the one who used the Force to attack the hunter.

She was no longer sure they weren't one and the same. With the Sith gathering once more, old conflicts were bound to spill out and the thought of one following her here was not inconceivable.

"Get up," she ordered the bounty hunter. "On your feet and start scanning 'the stacks' as I believe your attacker was hiding, and may still be hiding, there."


18:35, Today: Arianna Vex'Morland rolled 12 using 1d20+7 ((5)).

The Bounty Hunter seethed in anger as she rose to her feet, pointing the business end of her rifle directly in your face.

https://i.pinimg.com/564x/e8/c...515b2075da3d37af.jpg" data-lightbox="images-msg-177">https://i.pinimg.com/564x/e8/c...515b2075da3d37af.jpg" alt=''>

"You've got three seconds to shut up, turn around, and start walking, and I'm feeling generous. I don't trust anyone with this weirdo family. I'm going to figure this out, and get rid of anyone in my way."

Morghana stared at her, anger, thick and roiling like a storm in her chest. “What family? Who are you talking about?” She asked, voice very deliberate and deceptively calm.

"If you don't know, than this doesn't concern you. Just walk away. You see nothing, you know nothing. I won't tell you again."

Morghana’s grip tightened on her lightsabre, her thumb pressing against the activator as she shifted her grip. She had an idea of the family this bounty hunter meant and, if she was correct, Kelvin would try and stop her and would die for his efforts. She didn’t know why she cared but she did and was not willing to let Kelvin die by the hands of this vicious bitch.

She didn’t think. She just acted. Her arm shot out, there was the snap-hiss of a lightsabre activating and the angry hum it made as it described its crimson path for the barrel of the rifle pointing at her.


14 on Initiative and 22 on the attack with a natural 20.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:17, Mon 06 June 2022.

Go ahead and roll your damage as a crit.

OOC: 24 damage.

So, you were able to bypass her damage threshold, moving her -1 on the condition track

The horizontal swipe across her midsection cuts through her armor and leaves a heavy gash. Unarmored, the strike alone could have killed her.

Already out for blood, the killers' blaster rifle fired off, too close and too fast to escape, as she backed away from the unmistkably lethal blade.


18:51, Today: Midichlorians, for the NPC Bounty Hunter, rolled 13 using 3d8.  Damage.

18:50, Today: Midichlorians, for the NPC Bounty Hunter, rolled 23 using 1

She fancied herself a killer but had she known what she faced now she would have run screaming into the bowels of this sewer planet. Hate filled her limbs with power and drove her forward relentlessly. She brought the blade up, both hands on the handle, and made a diagonal swing from shoulder to hip.


17:53, Today: Arianna Vex'Morland rolled 19 using 1d20+2 ((17)).

17:54, Today: Arianna Vex'Morland rolled 16 using 2d8+2 ((8,6)).

The Bounty Hunter was seething in hatred and anger, clutching her wounds with one hand and her rifle with the other, struggling to aim in towards you.

"What are you? Why don't you just DIE!?"

pulling her hand away from a moment, "This'll do the trick!" Firing with everything she had, the rain of blaster fire was a desperate attempt before turning her back, running away.

Arianna snarled and brought the blade around, moving, dodging, deflecting blaster fire. She wanted blood but the bounty hunter was too far away by the time she had finished defending herself from the rain of fire coming her way. She had other ways of ending the woman's life but this was neither the time nor the place so she let her run.

She turned her lightsabre off and watched the bounty hunter run before turning back to the home where she had told Kelvin to hide. As she walked she hung her weapon on her belt again before unslinging her sniper rifle.

The Bounty Hunter continued to move, tucking behind a large container of some kind, masking her whole body. It was be impossible to know if she's still there, plotting to fire back, or ducked under for a chance to escape.

As you unsling your weapon, a young man approaches, running in a hurry.

"Woah, Woah, woah! What's going on! Where's my sister?"

https://i.pinimg.com/564x/9f/6...b4c3159217255b7e.jpg" data-lightbox="images-msg-187">https://i.pinimg.com/564x/9f/6...b4c3159217255b7e.jpg" alt=''>

Morghana was about to raise her rifle to sight in the container when she was interrupted by the man running up. She resisted the urge to point her rifle at him and turned so she could cover the container as well as him in case anyone decided to do anything stupid again.

"I have no idea who, or where, your sister is. Do you live in that," she pointed at the container she hoped Kelvin was in, "home and are you friends with Kelvin?"

"Ya, me and about half the guys on this block." He replied loudly and sternly "Where is she? Is Leavitt okay?" You could sense the tenseness with how firmly he grabbed your shoulder

"Just tell me, what is going on?"

She may have taken on a persona whilst here on Nar Shadaa but she was still Lt. Vex'Morland or, simply Lt. Vex, of the Final Order. She was a trained, battle hardened stormtrooper, Sith Apprentice, and, right now, she was angry so when the man grabbed her shoulder she just acted.

The arm that he had grabbed shot up as she shrugged and turned to break the hold. She knocked the arm aside, grabbed his wrist, turned into him and threw him over her hip. If her throw was successful she would end up with his arm torqued painfully and her wrist in his hand, a boot on his shoulder, and her rifle pointed at his head.

"Never touch me," she hissed. "Next time I'll take the arm off. Do you understand me?" She gave his arm a painful twist. "Now, who is Leavitt?"

"Leavitt's my sister" He replied sternly, his eyes unflinching as he spoke, as if he was trying to gaze inside you "And if you get in between me and her, or put her in danger, losing an arm is the least of your worries. Do you understand me?"

“Losing an arm is the least of yours. My rifle aimed at your head should be of concern,” she growled. She let him go and backed up so he could stand.

“Look in your house. She should be with Kelvin which is where I told him to go when I realised that bounty hunter was coming after her.”

He was quiet as he rose to his feet, his eyes never flinching. He had a good head over you, at least. He moved quietly but quickly to the make shift home. You hear a distinct word before he walks in.

"Savage"

“Brute,” Morghana tossed back at him as she raised her rifle and scanned the area the bounty hunter had run off to. She’d get a blast in the face if she lifts her head.

There was no immediate sign of the bounty hunter, except the trail of blood she left behind her

Morghana scanned the area as she backed up to the house. She looked inside once she was at the door, hoping to see Kelvin in there, safe and unharmed.

The door was left open after Dex entered the makeshift home. It was hard living; scraps of whatever was available was used to create not only furniture but even the lighting and cooking. In the moment though, none of that mattered, as you were able to see tears down Leavitt's face, as she embraced her older brother, on his knees and with his back to you.

...with a curious pair of goggles attached to the back of his belt.

Kelvin, for his part, was lingering at the door, near you, letting them have their moment.

Morgana kept her eyes scanning the area as she breathed a small sigh of relief that Kelvin and the young girl were safe. She did ponder the mystery of the goggles and would have to ask about them later but there might still be danger coming for the girl and her brother.

"I think the bounty hunter is gone. I believe she was here for her," she whispered as she nodded to the young girl. "Do you know why one of the Hutt's killers would have an interest in her?" She asked Kelvin.

"To get to him, obviously." Kelvin said quietly "The bounty hunter must be here for the same reason we are, because she thinks Dex knows something. If I had to take my guess, though, she probably thinks Dex is responsible for all of this, somehow."

"No, she said she was here for the girl. That there was 'something off' about this family and she would get to the bottom of it. She said nothing at all about the lack of payment in this area or his dead bruisers coming back in pieces," Morghana whispered back. "She was here for this family and that girl in particular."

"That doesn't sound right" Kelvin said with a distorted face "She's innocent in all this. She hardly leaves this place. Dex makes sure of it, as much as he can. Dex used to work under the table for the Hutt's. Cleaning droids, some shady mule work, stuff like that."

"You know" Dex started as he let go of his sister "We are right here. Should we go outside so the two of you can talk in private?". Standing next to one another, it becomes clear the stark difference in age between the siblings; a decade at the minimum.

“Is he always this moody?” Morghana asked Kelvin. “I think I know why she was so interested in your family. Can I ask you some questions, Leavitt?”

"If you're ever lucky enough to love someone, you'll understand why." Dex responded, as he tried to rub dirt and grime off his hands before kneeling down next to his sister.

"You can talk to the lady if you want Leavitt. I know she looks scary, like the bad guys out there, but she does that in order to scare the bad guys away." He looked at you for a second, his lips peaking in a faint grin, gone so fast one could doubt whether it really happened.

The little girl took a couple of steps towards you, and sat on the floor cross legged, patting the floor opposite her.

She couldn't argue the point he had just made. She had never known love and didn't know if she was capable given her upbringing and her pivot from the Final Order to being the apprentice to a Lord of the Sith but she could muster a real smile, gone as quickly as his had been, for Dex.

She smiled again when Leavitt patted the ground and sat down as best as she could in her armour, arranging her cloak so she wasn't sitting on it. "Dex is right. I try to look scarier than the real bad guys so they run away when they see me."

She pulled her gauntlet off and held a hand out to the little girl. "I'm Morghana. It's nice to meet you, Leavitt. Can I ask you some questions to see if I can figure out why that bad lady was here?"

"Sure" She said with a gentle nod "I mean, I guess. I don't really know anything" She looked behind her for a second, and was immediately buoyed by the warm smile and gentle pat she got from her sister "Any stops the bad people from trying to hurt my brother, even if he is a stinky nerf herder sometimes."

Morghana laughed at that: a genuine, surprised laugh. "He is at that," she said, making an exaggerated motion of holding her nose.

"Do you ever...see things before they happen? Or feel things around you? Like if you're in danger. Have you ever felt something that you couldn't explain? You knew something, or had a feeling but you just knew it was right even if you didn't know how you knew?"

"Ummm, I think something like that happened in a dream once, where the same conversation played out in the dream as it did in real life. Don't remember which came first though. Sorry..."

"Really?" Dex piped in "These are your questions? Trying to make her out to be a Jedi? What, did Filotus the Hutt raise his bounties again?"

"I'm trying to determine why that bounty hunter came here and was willing to kill me to get here. Do you mind if I continue?" Morghana asked, her tone cold with the barely repressed anger she held.

She looked around for something small, something that would fit in her hand. "Look at this and firmly fix it in your mind. Now close your eyes. Reach out with your feelings and the image of this in my hand and imagine it rising from my hand to yours. See it happening and make it happen."

"Yes, I do mind. I'm not going to let my sister become because the most wanted person on Nar Shadaa because I let her be barraged with questions by a woman who I don't even know the name of."

"She was willing to kill you because that's her job. I used to know and work with all of the Hutt goons that are dropping down dead. I even cleaned the astromech droid of that twi'lek shutta you put down." Dex grimaced as he looked at Leavitt for a second, regretting his tongue slipping.

"Look, even if she could feel the force, or whatever, who on this rock do you think would be able to train her? I mean, look around, do you think someone like ME could teach her to be a Jedi?"

"That bounty hunter was coming to your home, Dex." She said, 'I don't trust anyone with this weirdo family. I'm going to figure this out.' Something attracted the attention of one of the Hutt's deadlier killers; I would think you would want to know why."

She looked at Dex. "And someone else was willing to kill her. Someone who used the Force to do so."

"Than that sounds like the person you should be looking for, and not a small child" He replied "Whoever tried to kill her is probably the same one wiping out all the other scum preying on the misery and suffering here. You won't find me mourning her loss, and whoever that killer is, you won't find them in here. Certainly isn't my girl Leavitt. Personally, I'd be making sure that she is dead, or that psycho is guaranteed to be coming back, and next time she won't be coming alone."

“I intend on finding her and finishing what I started but, if the Force does run in your family, there will be others who come,” Morghana told Dex and Leavtt.

“Better you find out now then the moment bounty hunters, or worse, are knocking down your door.”

"Fat chance" Dex replied quickly "The only one on this rock who even suspects the Force is you. The reason she's after me is because everyone all of the Hutt's bounty hunters I did odd jobs for are dead. Everyone except her, and Kelvin here." He made a quick move with his head in his friends direction.

"Besides, who's going to train her? You?"

Morghana sighed. "Are you willing to bet her life, Dex? Are you willing to let your blissful ignorance get her killed or taken by the Hutts because that is what will happen. Your happy little life here will be shattered because, if she is attuned to the Force, her powers will only grow the older she gets and, sooner or later, the wrong person is going to notice and, if she's not in a Hutt slave pen or dead already, she may find something far, far worse happening."

She looked for something; a garbage, an empty drink container, or something bigger, heavier. She raised a hand and made a fist, crushing whatever it was that caught her eye.

"Me or someone else."

"I have a counter offer. If you're so concerned for our well being, than get us out of here. Force or no Force, training or no training, this is no place for a kid. Soon as we got to Nar Shadaa, all I've been trying to do is find a way to leave."

Morghana sighed and nodded. "Let me finish this job which will pay off my debt to the Hutt then I'll see what I can do and where we can go."

She stood and look at Kelvin and Dex. "So, Kelvin...you came here to get Dex's help. Seems like a good time to ask."

"Well, I think we already got that information. At least, part of it." Kelvin stated. "Dex isn't the culprit, obviously, but it's someone who knows the same people as you. Someone either local to the stacks, or who can get in and out easily, and someone smart enough to set you up."

"Well, I don't know that you're like the answer to this, but the only person I know that checks all those boxes is you, friend."

"I just arrived here and the Hutt's enforcers have been showing up dead for some time, based on what I've heard. Longer than the few hours that I've been on this garbage dump of a planet. The only people I 'know' on Nar Shadaa are in this room," Morghana said in a voice that spoke of her anger.

"Not you. Him"

"You don't actually think I'd set you up, do you?"


"If I did, you wouldn't have to ask. For what it's worth, I don't think someone is trying to set me up. The blood trail goes beyond just the people I know, but they do seem to be curtailed to the stacks. Probably someone who lives here, I would think. Probably someone even more reclusive than us, alleviate notice or concern."

"So our mystery killer is close by. Close enough to have been watching and close enough for me to sense when I reached out. And here I was, thinking this job was going to be easy: come in, crack a few heads, ask who the killers are, tell the Hutt and move on."

She laughed slightly. "I should have known better."

"The Hutt's would do it themselves if it were easy. So, what's your inclination? Three of us spread out in different directions and hope an answer swats us in the face?"

"The Hutts would just pay less if it was easy. There's no way those things will sully their hands with anything like work. And if it was easy as looking for the answer to 'swat us in the face' then it would have been handled already."

She looked around and settled her rifle. "We ask questions and see who doesn't like us doing that. At least, more than the beings here normally dislike such things. I figure the ones killing the Hutt's enforcers will come looking to kill us. If they do then the job here is done. Targets identified and I can see what I can do about getting you and your sister somewhere besides this place."

Dex took a short look at his sister, before rising to his feet.

"Can I talk to you outside, alone, for a second?" Waiting for you by the door, he hung his arms in front of his chest.

"Look, I don't know you, and you don't me, and we got off on the wrong foot. I'm sure we can figure some way of working together, even if we are a little at odds."

He looked behind him, envisioning his daughter through the wall "Here's the thing. If you're actually going to help us out, that would be amazing. Literally life-changing. If you're not, okay fine. Wouldn't be the first or last to say no. Just, I need you to not pull her chain, you know? The last thing she needs right now is get her hopes up and have them dashed because it's convenient."

"Fair deal?"

Morghana looked at him. Really looked and saw something she had never known before.

Love.

She saw how much Dex loved his sister and was willing to make a deal with a complete and utter stranger to give her a better life.

Maybe it was a moment of weakness that made her say what came next but how could she not in the face of a brother's love for his sister?

"Fair deal. I'll get you both off of this sewer. You have my word."

"Well, let's find the answer to this mystery, or none of us are leaving."

"The offer extends to you as well, Kelvin. I have space for you if you want to get off this rock," Morghana said as she slung her sniper rifle and pulled out her blaster rifle. She didn't think she'd have need of the longer range in the midst of the city but it was close at hand in case she was wrong.

Dex turned quickly to see his friend behind him, having moved quietly.

"Well, I guess 'talking alone' must mean something different in your part of the galaxy"

"Someone has to make sure that the two of you don't tear each other apart." Kelvin replies with a glib smile "Would be an awful mess to have to make your sister clean up."

Dex smiles and pats his friend on the shoulder, before turning to the door "Leavitt, we're going to work for a while, please lock up behind us, okay?"

The two gentlemen start heading off together, a brief look behind to make sure you're following along.

"As to your offer, we'll see. I came here to be a doctor, not a Hutt stooge. I want to be where I'm needed, and where I can be useful"


Make UTF Check

"There are plenty of places in need of doctors, Kelvin. There is a war going on, in case you missed the newscasts. Plenty of places out there for you to do good without being a 'Hutt stooge' which, I may add, I am not. I just made the mistake of parking on the wrong platform.

To be fair, her upbringing really hadn't prepared her for traveling to the Smuggler's Moon or dealing with Hutts. She could kill one easily enough but dealing with one was a skill she was still working on.


Die, dice roller!!

12:25, Today: Arianna Vex'Morland rolled 10 using 1d20+7.

You feel a wave pass over you. Dex, having let his guard down for a moment has revealed himself, and his Force Sensitive nature. You've heard of stories from the Empire of Jedi and former Padawans who hid or buried their strength with the Force for survival, but you'd never encountered someone like that until now.

There's something different about him, and how the Force flows through him. It is strong, but it seems to molded in ways other than the Sith You've interacted with. It feels like the ocean waves, and that underneath the visible current, seems to lie a hidden and dangerous undertow.

Morghana almost missed a step when she sensed the Force in Dex but recovered and continued on as if nothing had happened. She would keep that piece of information to herself until it was something she needed to call upon.

Interesting...very interesting, indeed.

"Hey" Dex motioned at you "Everything alright? You zoned out there for a second?"

Wizened up, Dex's true nature was hidden again, seeming like a normal person, at least in the Force
This message was last edited by the player at 17:52, Tue 19 Apr 2022.

"Quite all right," she told Dex, giving him a small smile. "I see with more than eyes but, sometimes, I need my eyes and don't use them."

All too true. She did tend to look through the Force and not see where her feet were headed.

Dex leads the way through The Stacks, but seems to be wandering, moving in no clear direction to an uncertain outcome. There were a lot of waves at locals, but nobody immediately coming out to greet or talk to him. Having stopped at a crowded corner, he turns to you

"Well, now that we can be relatively sure we're not followed, what's your plan? You're the professional here."

Morghana looked around and slung her rifle, giving Dex a smile as she did. "Well...given I've already found the one killing the Hutt's enforcers I'd say I've fulfilled my deal with them. Have you learned your lesson and will you stop killing them? Good, I thought so. I'll go back to the Hutt, tell him the situation has been dealt with, finish my work here, and then we all leave this sewer of a moon. How does that sound?"

Dex grasped his belt with both hands, eyes squinting. "I don't have the foggiest notion as to what you're talking about. You think the Hutts will just take your word on something like this?"

"I'll deliver someone suitably shady and very dead. Since we're going to be leaving that means the attacks will stop so they'll believe that I succeeded in my task. You and your sister will be safe and gone from here and I will be able to continue my tasks."

She stopped to make sure he understood what she was saying.

"I'm saying they'll never know it was you. Who here has the wherewithal to do this? Someone who would have motive and means?"

"You make it sound so simple. These aren't garden variety brute squads and thugs. These are contracted Bounty Hunters who work for one of the most scrupulous Hutt's. They're still alive for a reason. What's your specific plan?"

"A scrupulous Hutt? I never knew such a thing existed," Morghana said as she looked around the area. "As for a plan - I'm working on it. As we keep moving in I'll figure things out more and more. For now how about you tell me if there's anyone here who holds a grudge against you and would want to see you dead."

"Ya, you could say that" a strong sarcastic tone carried through his response "This is Nar Shadaa and I'm trying to do the right thing, of course people want me dead. You want me to go through the list sequentially, or by severity?"

"How about in order of who you want dead and framed the most," Morghana shot back, her tone equally as sarcastic.

"I'm trying to help you here, believe it or not."

Given the life he had led here it was easy to see where the not part came from but she was really trying to help. Maybe not for the reasons he suspected but there were reasons.

"The number one? That's not hard to come to mind. Feeling's mutual, if the pazzaak deck wasn't stacked so far in their favor.  I'll spare you the details, except to say that we had a disagreement that created a hostile work environment. Devaronian, can't miss him. Completely despicable, warrants or bounties in  about two dozen systems for trafficking. Takes great joy in inflicting misery and death on others, and he's got a number of friends."

He sounded like a real nasty piece of work and someone she wouldn’t mind erasing from the galaxy and framing for the things Drex had done. She had told him the truth when she said she had the beginnings of a plan.  Now was the time to put it together.

“How many men? What kind of defences does he have?” She asked. She had her target in mind. Time to make plans.

"Damnit woman, I'm a doctor, not a tactician" His sarcasm rose to anger, for only a moment. With a short sigh, he continue "Sorry. Look, I don't know. I don't think like you guys do. I take potshots when people are vulnerable and exposed. Like I said, these guys are friends, not employees, gang members, or whatever. They might have his back, they might not. He spends alot of time in the Golden Chain, when he's not working."

Morghana sighed and bit back on the angry retort that came to mind. He wasn't a soldier but she was acting like he was. She needed to remember who she was dealing with here.

"It's fine, Dex. I'll have to do some recon then. Watch and see what their patterns are and pick an optimal time and place to make my move. Can you get us to a place I can set up to watch without being seen?"

"Best place to watch would be inside, I would think. Not going to get a lot of visibility from outside. There's a lot of camera's in that place, both security cameras and public cameras, so that lonely creeps can scratch an itch alone. Could probably get what you need from those, if you knew a good enough slicer, or something."

"Nope, sadly I do not so let's go inside and take a look. Or I'll go inside and take a look after you lead me there. I'm guessing it wouldn't be good for you to show your face there, would it?"

"I can't imagine they could do anything to make this face any worse to look at, but still a good idea that I don't go in. Out here, I know how to blend in, I'll keep an eye out. Here's hoping there's good news."

"There's nothing wrong with your face that I can see," Morghana told him with a small smile before reaching under her cloak to pull out a comm unit.

"Stay in touch with this. I'm going to get some idea what we're dealing with and lay eyes on our target."

Time to venture inside and see what there was to see.

You had heard stories of what the galaxy outside the First Order was like. Hutt Space was notorious for its decadence and poverty in equal measure, but typically in the rare cases where your squads came into play, those kinds of places were usually obliterated; so that even if they weren't against the rules, there would be nothing to see.

In the flesh exceeds those stories by a great margin. This one even more than the venue you first saw. Since this one doesn't have a Hutt inhabiting it routinely, it's even grimier; the disparity between the haves and have nots even more pronounced. The name of the venue was certainly telling, as all of the dancers were chained either to the walls or durasteel poles. Other "employees" of the establishment were dressed like the dancers, but roamed the crowded space as best they could, chained by the neck by a floating droid above them that guided their movements in some kind of macabre ballet.

The bounty hunters, the scammers, those who had the means to exploit others were living lavishly; some even outside their minds on spice, while emaciated servants brought them more of their wanton desires.

It was sheer willpower that Arianna was able to maintain her Morghana persona and not express the sheer disgust she felt in her surroundings. She felt like the filth was seeping into her pores and would never be clean no matter how hard she scrubbed once she was clear of this place.

This was the kind of thing the Final Order and First Order had been trying to fix: the filth, depravity, and chaos here were anathema to her and would never have been allowed under the regime they had been building. The goal was clear in the very name of the front organisation that had hid the Final Order and the Sith Eternal: First, Order. The Resistance and Republic were complicit in this which showed just how morally bankrupt they truly were.

She would make sure this world was cleansed when the Sith swept across the galaxy once more. The sterilisation of this place would be but one stop on the road to her ascension.

She had an idea what her target looked like so she kept her eyes open as she made her way through the dirty, teeming crowd.

It wasn't hard to find a probable suspect based on the limited information you were given. There was in fact a Devaronian, slobbishly enjoying a drink. He had a muscular build under his scarred and modified armor. There was an assembled crew if Trandoshan and Rodians around him. Intermingled between them were women, mostly twi'lek, on these chains. You saw a familiar stain of a tear run on one of their cheeks

'Target acquired,' she thought as she kept on walking, looking for a table she could sit at that would afford her a view of her quarry.

She was going to enjoy taking out this particular piece of trash. She was doing the galaxy a favour, as far as she was concerned. She'd cleanse this pile of bantha poodoo and anyone with him at the time, frame him for Dex's crimes, and then leave this world for another where she could actually do what her Master had sent her into the galaxy to do.

What's your plan?

Still working on that but it will likely involve a lot of violence.

Watch, listen, learn, follow. I'll come up with a plan based on what I see and learn.

He's pounding drinks away, and is becoming dangerous to be around, pointing his holdout pistol at "the help" two or three times, creating hoots of laughter around him.

A Mirilian lady, not bound like the others, approaches you "Greetings Miss. Would the lady like to take a seat, peruse the menu for a moment?"

Morghana found a place she could watch her target without making it obvious she was watching. At least until the server approached. It grew harder and harder for her not to use the Force to squeeze the life out of the loathsome creature but her will was strong but it was still a good thing her thoughts were interrupted.

"Yes, I would. Thank you."

This place had a menu? That was unexpected.

The "menu" was a euphamism, it turned out. The Mirlian waited courteously as she handed a large-screen datapad to you, one hand clasped in the other.

What was being offered weren't drinks, but people. Sentients.

Slaves.

Every person and alien that you see here with shackles and chains has a price and pictures, some of them graphic in nature.

"If you're not seeing something to your liking, commissions are available as well."

Once again it was by a supreme act of will alone that Arianna/Morghana didn't simply pull out her lightsabre, fall into the icy maelstrom of the Dark Side and begin killing the loathsome creatures surrounding her.

But it was a very near thing.

Her hand tightened on the datapad as she looked but she made no other motion save to let her eyes blur so she wasn't seeing the worst pictures in great detail.

"Leave the pad with me whilst I look and decide," she said in a very low, controlled voice.

'Is this the way of the Sith, Darth Marr?' She cast into the void, not expecting an answer.

"Of course, miss. Take all the time you need. These decisions take time."

There was no response from the Dark Lord. Perhaps he was busy, perhaps he had no power beyond Dromund Kaas. Perhaps he expected you to already know the answer to the question.

The Mirilian departed on her rounds, visiting the Devaronian and his roudy friends next. Through the mess, you just barely heard what you surmised was his name: Bolg. He likewise had a datapad, and seemed knowledgeable of the operations here, as Dex had previously suggested. Watching him gave little else away, other than it seemed he wasn't likely to leave soon.

She wasn't surprised by the lack of answer and suspected he was perfectly capable of responding should he choose given she had first heard his voice on Coruscant. The Sith might abide such things as happened here but she would not once she was in a position to choose the kind of Sith she would be.

She could buy herself some time with the "menu" but eventually she would need to choose or leave and the manner of leaving might draw attention. To that end she started looking in earnest, quickly flipping past women or children in favour of the kind of comely male her cover might find to her liking.

"Well, how's it going?"

You hear Dex's voice, as if he were standing right next to you, but he's not physically present.

"Need any more convincing?"

Morghana tried not to start at the sudden voice in her head but it wasn't the one she was used to hearing nor was it the first. More like the third, now. What was it with people talking in her head? It had to be the Force given she didn't have a cybernetic implant for comms.

'This place is foul. I'm doing my best not to kill every single person not a slave in this establishment. I've found our target and yes, I'm convinced that you know the Force, if that's what you're asking.'

"Welcome to Hutt Space. They live by a different code here. There's a grime here that gets into your soul, if you let it, and you can never get it clean. Let's not turn the framing into a bloodbath."

'I look forward to leaving. I just need to get this piece of Banta poodoo out first then I can do what needs doing so all of us can leave.'

And then she can find another world to satisfy what her Master tasked her to do. Running afoul of the Hutt as soon as she arrived was just bad luck but this place was too filthy for her to think of remaining even after she had finished what needed doing. The things she saw here made her angry and anger was a distraction. It wouldn't do to return to Kaas City only to tell her Master he had failed in this task.

"Good luck. He can be difficult to get moving, from what I understand. Pretty rugged and strict when there's business to be done, but let's it all out when he comes back to Nar Shaddaa for payment.

Speaking of, he mixes his pleasure with his work, if you take my meaning. He rounds up and delivers slaves to the Cartels, and turns around and buys his top picks himself."

'Then I need to find something else to motivate him. Something to get him moving or put a halt to his evening here.'

She had an idea but it was risky but this entire venture was so nothing would be gained if nothing was actually ventured.

She seized the Force and let herself bask in the burning cold of the maelstrom that was the Dark Side. She slid a hand beneath the table as she looked at her target from beneath her brow and over the menu she was holding. That hand formed itself into the shape she would use were she to choke him with it as she focused her rage at this place and the creatures withing it at him. His body. His breathing. His neck.

20:50, Today: Arianna Vex'Morland rolled 24 using 1d20+7. Force Grip.

Since you mentioned it so much and it's a blatantly hostile action, take a Dark Side point.

13:04, Today: Midichlorians rolled 15 using 4d6. Damage
Your UTF check exceeds their fortitude check, limiting them to only a swift action in their turn.

The Bounty Hunter had just taken a drink prior, making sensation he experienced more confusing for him but difficult to attribute to you. What had started as a harsh cough quickly became more concerning, as there was no oxygen passing through for there to be a sound made. The crowd around him was quickly alarmed, some checking him to see if there was anything they could do, but most had grabbed their pistols and rifles, suspecting some form of foul play or poison.

The sudden raise of alarm caused other patrons to react in kind, and before you knew it, everyone who had a weapon was prepped. There was a lot of shouting in foreign languages. You can't tell what started what, but the Golden Chain quickly descended into a whirlwind of blaster fire.

Someone ducked near you, pushing the table over to cower behind as cover, holding his pistol desperately.

If you want to continue the use of the power you may do so, but take a circumstantial -2 for the environment making it harder to concentrate. If you stay around too long, you will face the risk of being struck by indirect fire, and possibly worse.

'Well that worked out better than I thought it would. Hopefully,' Morgaha thought as she kicked over a table and unslung her blaster like all of the other patrons. She didn't want anyone to have reason to suspect her as the cause behind this sudden chaos as she started making her way to the exit. All of this would be worth it if got her quarry out of this place and into the street where she had a better chance of killing him and ending her time on this disgusting world.

There was a sizeable crowd fleeing the Golden Chain. Noone was really paying attention to one another, just so long as they could make their way out without getting shot or killed.

"Well, now what?" You hear in your head "I'm primed and ready to go". Wherever he was in the crowded streets, he wasn't immediately visible. "Unless you've got a plan"

'I caused something of a panic with my distraction. I'm heading for the exit with the rest of the crowd and will get into place to wait for him. When he comes out we kill him, inform the Hutt his problem has been dealt with, then leave this sewer of a moon.'

She kept moving for the door as she told Dex her plan. Simple but sometimes the simple plans worked the best.

There's noone to accost as you exit. Things are far too chaotic for that, and you still don't see your co-conspirator.

Make a perception check to keep an eye out for the target, and a stealth check if you're going to try and keep out of sight.

Of course, if you want to make a statement, you could do it out in the open...

She wasn't used to being stealthy-it wasn't a skill used in her past life so, she didn't bother trying to be took terribly hidden as she went out, found something to use for cover, and watched the door and waited for her target to leave. If he didn't leave then she would need to go in after him.

Stealth Can be used Untrained. there is an armor check penalty for Stealth if you use armor you're not proficient in, but that does not apply here, so you should be able to operate as normal.
IF you move more than your base speed in a turn, you'll take a -5 on your check.

Morghana found cover she hoped would be enough to get this little issue taken care of, without having to worry about a protracted firefight. She had her rifle out and trained on the door her quarry would--hopefully--come out of. She was ready to put a blaster bolt right through his face as soon as he did.

23:02, Today: Arianna Vex'Morland rolled 16 using 1d20. Stealth.

You have successfully blended into your surroundings. Using two Swift Actions, you can make an Aim action which removes any bonuses to Reflex saves that would be gained from Cover.

"I just hope this plan of yours works." you hear in your mind. "For all we know, someone else got him and he's dead on the floor."

'If he doesn't come out then I go back in after him. If I do that then things get messy. Very messy.'

As in she'd likely have to pull out her lightsabre and get to work. Her Master would be so mad if that had to happen, but she wasn't sure what else to do. This was, after all, her first time out in the galaxy as a free woman and not a Stormtrooper.

She kept her rifle trained on the door and ready to fire the moment her target showed his ugly face.

A rush of probable slaves rush out, with no distinction if they were owned or not. At this point, it wasn't really relevant. What did matter is that they preceded the target as lighning precedes thunder.

The Devaronian comes out, his hands loaded with a heavy blaster carbine, his eyes loaded with rage and fear. He's already wounded, making him all the more dangerous.

Neither you or Dex are seen in his perception check. If you wish to strike, here's your chance.

Morghana had her sights trained on the door and took a breath when her target appeared. Her hands were steady as she let out half the breath she had just taken in as she lined her targeting scope up with the Devaronian's head.

Her purpose set, her will aligned, she squeezed the trigger gently and sent a bolt screaming for the creature she wanted dead.

01:48, Today: Arianna Vex'Morland rolled 30 using 1d20+10.
01:03, Today: Arianna Vex'Morland rolled 11 using 2d10 ((7,4)). Doubled to 22 for the crit to the face.


The Devaronian fell lifeless in an instant, the shot from the weapon striking clearly between the horns on his head. The loud bang from the czerka adventurer, and the metallic thud of his padded chest falling on the cold artificial ground, startled an already frazzled crowd.

As much attention as he received in the establishment, as much as he had hangars on, this is still Nar Shaddaa. He died fast, and alone, and not one soul stopped to even consider checking on him, or moving the body. He might as well have been a hulking pile of trash in the street.

'Time to finish this,' she sent to her companion. 'I'll just be a moment. I need to gather proof to give the Hutt and then we can be on our way.'

She slung her rifle and drew the vibroknife. The Hutt wanted proof? She was going to give it to him.

'You wouldn't happen to have a satchel or something similar, would you?'

The Devaronian did not carry anything to immediately identify himself. Such things would be impractical and even detrimental in an environment like this with no true government and corruption is the rule of the land. There were actually a number of credit sticks on his person; apparently he either had a very meticulous system of anonymity, or he just bad with money. With some help, an identity could probably be determined.

Also on his person was an extremely modified hold-out pistol. The base of the weapon has shown extensive use and wear, indicating that the weapon's modifications had been more recent. The work put into the weapon is more than it was originally worth, suggesting the pistol could have had sentimental value to him in life.

Working quickly, Morghana stripped him of his credit sticks and the hold-out pistol. Once she had anything of worth off the body, she pulled out her vibroknife and looked at the neck of the corpse. It would be messy but there was one thing she could bring that would certainly identify him. She shrugged, turned on the blade, and went to work.

OOC: For full clarity, what exactly are you trying to do? Are you full on beheading the crpse?

OOC: Yep. Off with ‘is head.

No roll necessary for taking his head off, though I will ask how do you intend on transporting it.

Does my companion have a satchel? He never answered. If not then perhaps the corpse has a backpack or cloak. Hopefully waterproof.

He has something that can do the job, yes. It's a crammed it, and the blood will likely stain it, but it's a sacrifice he's willing to make.