(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.