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>>2237696
If the Hutt Cartel had a capital, it would be Nar Shaddaa. Nal Hutta may be where many of the slug-like creatures build their palacious homes to live in decadent squalor, but Nar Shaddaa more than rivals the Hutt home planet in wealth and galactic importance. What's most notable about the place is how unremarkable it is as a celestial body.

For one thing, it's not even a planet - its a moon. One the Hutts have long since stripped of any mineral wealth. The true wealth of the so-called 'smuggler's moon' lies in the business that is conducted across the hundreds of levels of tiered megacity covering every inch of the place. It's a stopping-off point for trade with both Republic and Empire, as well as a financial hub that rivals any Banking Clan dataport.

"Quite a sight, isn't it?"

Veredious nods out the cockpit window of the Fury towards the approaching moon. Even from thousands of miles away you can make out the nerve centers of light where the more prosperous districts are clustered. Between that are darker areas, industrial zones and high-security lockdowns where the moon's many poor eke out a meager living. As with any center of wealth and power, there are those with neither - and the Hutts are not generous enough to share.

What do you think about the Hutt Cartel?

>They are decadent plutocrats who wouldn't know true power if it bit them in the tail. Mercenary armies pale in comparison to knowledge of the Force.

>You admire the commercial empire they've built. If credits did not translate to power, they would have lost their wealth long ago.

>The inequality they've allowed to flourish is unnatural. The Sith preach that Might Makes Right, but that ethos is in service of a society where the strong lead the weak and both parties benefit.

>Write-in

>>2237697
>They are decadent plutocrats who wouldn't know true power if it bit them in the tail. Mercenary armies pale in comparison to knowledge of the Force.

>>2237697
>They are decadent plutocrats who wouldn't know true power if it bit them in the tail. Mercenary armies pale in comparison to knowledge of the Force.

>>2237697
>They are decadent plutocrats who wouldn't know true power if it bit them in the tail. Mercenary armies pale in comparison to knowledge of the Force.

>>2237697
>They are decadent plutocrats who wouldn't know true power if it bit them in the tail. Mercenary armies pale in comparison to knowledge of the Force.

Oh yeah guys, don't forget to vote for this quest on suptg.

>>2237717
Hurt is way better then being a vote slut like most qm's. Beside i already voted for it.

>>2237697
>You admire the commercial empire they've built. If credits did not translate to power, they would have lost their wealth long ago.

I got a feeling the Hutts will be alive and well long after the Sith (and the Jedi) are gone.

>>2237697
>You admire the commercial empire they've built. If credits did not translate to power, they would have lost their wealth long ago.

>>2237697
"I'm sure it's grubbier on the surface," you say from the co-pilot's chair. "Being up close to something always has a way of revealing the nastier bits."

"That may be so," Veredious admits. "But we won't be setting foot on Nar Shaddaa. Not this time, anyway."

Up ahead, a huge fleet of ships begins to come within view between you and the bright moon. At first you can only spot the larger ships, but the closer you get the more vessels you can pick out. The bulk of the fleet is made up of freighters, boxy things decorated with ostentatious red fins like some Falleen pleasure yacht. One of them is far larger than the others, and sits at the center of the pack.

"Baghora's flagship," Veredious says. You had guessed as much. Hutts like their belongings flashy, and they like them big. A Cartel boss like Baghora would never direct his fleet from any of these other ships. And there were more ships, though you couldn't pick them out at first. Swarms of frigates and strike craft, flying in protective formations around the swarm of transports.

"It seems odd for a Hutt as wealthy as this one to personally manage a trade fleet." You note the smaller ships moving up from orbit to dock with the main ship. "I thought Hutts preferred to lounge around their estates on Nal Hutta."

"Usually, yes," he admits. "But Baghora is more paranoid than most Hutts."

Quite a mean feat, you note. Even the stupidest of Hutts has a base cunning that many Sith can only envy.

"His trade routes into Imperial space need protection from pirates," Veredious continues. "And Baghora himself needs protection from Cartel rivals. Thus, he put both his eggs in one basket." With as grand a flourish as he can manage within the confines of the cockpit, he gestures out at the fleet you are fast approaching in the Fury. The flagship is beginning to fill up more and more of your viewport, and you are fast realizing the true scale of the thing. You might have avoided setting down on Nar Shaddaa, but this vessel is a city unto itself.

"How powerful can a Hutt be if he's too afraid to live on his own homeworld?" That isn't power. True power is the sort that allows you to go where you want and do what you want, *when* you want. If Baghora's prestige comes at the expense of his own freedom, then it was a poor exchange.

Veredious gives a smirk and a slight nod, but keeps his attention focused on the docking procedures.

"Don't mistake paranoid fear with the sort that can be preyed upon," he warns. "Baghora can be tricked or deceived, but not bullied or intimidated."

>>2237759
From what your Master told you of your plan, such a thing shouldn't be necessary. If all goes well, you yourself should barely have to interact with the Hutt - it's your Master who's services Baghora needs. The Cartel leader is hosting an auction on his barge, where he will be parting with a large portion of his antique collection. You thought that was strange, and so did your Master. Collectors are loathe to part with their belongings, like your Master and his numberless alien servants. Hutts hate to do so even more.

Your Master will be serving as a verifier of authenticity, an expert in ancient artifacts trusted by both Baghora and prospective bidders on the auction items. While Veredious is occupied with that, *your* task will be to wait until the auction begins, and wait until item number 1313 comes up for bidding. You're still not sure what it is - Veredious has been very open about the details of the plan, except for that one in particular. No matter how much you press, he won't tell you what it is or why the Reclamation Service desires it so much.

In any case, you'll find out once it's in hand. Once someone has won the bidding, you will locate their ship and place a tracker on it. The auction will end, your Master will shake hands with Baghora, and you and Veredious will follow the buyer home to acquire item 1313, free of charge.

To your own surprise, your greatest source of weariness with this plan is not what lies ahead, but what lies a few rooms behind you in the back of the Fury. You're still not quite sure about Veredious' choice of company.

Which servant did Veredious bring along?

>Hacna. If you're going to be trapped aboard a city-sized ship while it travels through hyperspace, you want someone who can get you into places you're not supposed to go.

>Qorro. Violence is something you're supposed to avoid, but there's always the potential for it. And if it *does* kick off, you want a fighter by your side. Blasters are forbidden on the flagship, but Qorro is a more-than-capable melee combatant.

>Olub'cree. The Twi'lek worked for a Hutt for decades - that knowledge could come in handy. The flagship will also be filled with aliens from all across the galaxy, and that presents an infinite array of difficulties and opportunities that may be easier to navigate with him coming along.

>Marama. It's something of a status symbol for the wealthy and powerful to have an attractive Twi'lek slave, but Marama has a distinctive look that could draw *too* much attention. On the other hand, she's far more physically capable than Olub'cree, and she has some degree of familiarity with Hutts and their culture.

>>2237761
Hacna. Tech remains our weakness. With any luck she'll go shellshock afterwards.

>>2237761
>Marama
Distraction and knowledge of Hutt culture is needed here

>>2237761
>Olub'cree. The Twi'lek worked for a Hutt for decades - that knowledge could come in handy. The flagship will also be filled with aliens from all across the galaxy, and that presents an infinite array of difficulties and opportunities that may be easier to navigate with him coming along.

We need smarts this time around.

>>2237785
Would support, if we can get her a badass looking half-mask thing or veil.

>>2237761
>Olub'cree. The Twi'lek worked for a Hutt for decades - that knowledge could come in handy. The flagship will also be filled with aliens from all across the galaxy, and that presents an infinite array of difficulties and opportunities that may be easier to navigate with him coming along.

>>2237761
>Olub'cree. The Twi'lek worked for a Hutt for decades - that knowledge could come in handy. The flagship will also be filled with aliens from all across the galaxy, and that presents an infinite array of difficulties and opportunities that may be easier to navigate with him coming along.
Would be fun to bring hacna again but Olub'cree makes too much sense

>>2237761
>Olub'cree.

>>2237807
I'd rather have her finish our droid quickly. That thing is gonna be sick.

Hey OP will our droid be able to talk or do we have to learn the bleeps and bloops droid language?

>>2237818
>Hey OP will our droid be able to talk or do we have to learn the bleeps and bloops droid language?

Like all Star Wars characters, you will inexplicably be able to understand the beeps and boops

>>2237833
dwoooo

>>2237828
Actually...the beeps and boops are like morse code. So if you understand the morse code ine can easily understand the droids beep boops.

>>2237761
"I'm going to check on Olub'cree, Master." You rise from your seat and go to the central lounge of the ship, where the old Twi'lek sits in a corner waiting patiently for you to arrive. He holds a short walking cane of polished wood, and wears a thick beige robe that hides the small oxygen tank strapped to his waist.

You had excitedly suggested to your Master that the two of you hollow out the cane in order to conceal your lightsabers within it, but it turned out there was no need. Blasters might be forbidden on the Hutt's ship, but Baghora, like the Voss, understood that lightsabers were more than weapons to the Sith. And he might have been paranoid, but he *also* knew that a Sith Lord like Veredious hardly needed a lightsaber to pose a deadly threat.

"This must be an unpleasant trip for you," you say to Olub'cree. "Being back in a Hutt's pleasure den."

He leans back slightly to look you in the eyes. "I live to serve, my Lord."

It's a diplomatic answer that carries none of the sarcasm it would if Hacna were to speak it. And it's hardly an exaggeration - as far as you know, his entire adult life has been spent as slave or servant.

"Was your previous owner as tasteless as this Hutt?" You would gesture out a window at the red-finned fleet of ships, but there aren't any windows in the central lounge. "Gold statue of himself on his front lawn and all that?"

"I would not disparage my past Masters," Olub'cree says. "It sets a bad precedent."

You respect that principle, though you wouldn't have minded having your stereotypes of Hutts further confirmed. Olub'cree doesn't look to be offended by the question you asked. You doubt he holds any fondness for the Hutt he last served, and the knowing smile that crosses his face seems to back that up.

Is there anything you want to ask or tell him before you arrive on the Hutt's ship?

Olub'cree was not told the plan - he was only told that your Master is here to assess the items up for auction. But the Twi'lek is smart enough to know that Veredious would not waste his time on something like that. He's also smart enough not to pry further. If Olub'cree needs to be told more, you or Veredious can always do so later.

>>2237878
Just tell him we will be scouting for a item ourselfs, but it's actualy the item our master is after, then ask him to identify the buyer and his entourage.

Oh and of course ask for tips on how to behave in a huts den, so we don't get shot or something.

>>2237914
This isn't a bad idea.

>>2237917
Though having Hutt ettiquette information is important as well.

>>2237878
Just ask him how to follow the proper procedure and etiquette while dealing with a Hutt as well as any of his patrons

>>2237878
Also ask if he knows anything about this particular Hutt as well

>>2237878
Wonder if we can covertly get our jewelry into the auction.. then again I am tempted to pick a piece out to wear ourselves, say it was a graduation gift.

Or even maybe use a piece to ornimate our light saber, a jewel encrusted saber would be dope.

>>2238264
We could definitely use this as a chance to find a potential buyer, I hadn't even thought about that

>>2238306
Good change to get connected with collecters...these are people that will want to buy any artifacts that we find later, when we start working alone.

>>2238321
We should discuss this with Olub'cree beforehand too. He'd be very familiar with that sort of thing.

>>2237878
"You served a Hutt for quite a long time," you say to Olub'cree. He nods in response. "How did you deal with him?"

He lets out a short, raspy breath of air that takes you a moment to process as a chuckle.

"That is quite a long and uninteresting story." He becomes lost in thought for a few moments, his eyes wandering before quickly snapping back to you. "But as for you, my Lord?"

You motion for him to continue. That was what you really wanted to know - how to avoid angering an egomaniac Hutt if you are forced to interact with one.

"Do you know the origin of the word 'cartel'?" he asks you. You look up thoughtfully before mumbling a 'no'. "'Kajidic'," Olub'cree slurs. You immediately recognize it as Huttese - the guttural pronunciation makes the two words sound far more similar than they appear when written. "The entirety of Hutt society is operated as a criminal enterprise. Power flows upward, and fear downward."

You nod as he speaks, then wait for him to take a drag of oxygen through the mask tucked into his robe.

"A Hutt hates nothing more than facing someone powerful. They are a new rival, a new danger. More than respect, a Hutt desires that you know your place in their *Kajidic*."

You think you understand, however vaguely. Baghora has an existing relationship with your Master, one that is apparently solid enough for you two to be allowed to bring your lightsabers aboard his pleasure yacht. If you end up meeting the Hutt, you don't need to fawningly prostate yourself before him - just Veredious. If you respect Veredious, and Veredious respects Baghora, then Baghora doesn't have to worry.

"Do you know anything about Baghora in particular?" you say.

He purses his lips and gives a slow shake of the head. "No, my Lord. But he holds a high position in a Hutt Kajidic. He will be paranoid one moment and greedy the next. Bizarrely generous and then utterly cruel."

You crack a smile. "I thought you weren't going to speak ill."

"Only of past employers, my Lord. And I would be remiss if I did not caution my *current* employer's Apprentice."

"Caution?" you say. His advice hadn't yet approached that dire a tone.

He leans forward slightly, using his cane for support. "To deal with Hutts as little as possible. Rarely will one profit from it."

You give the Twi'lek your thanks and return to the cockpit to watch the Fury's final approach to Baghora's flagship, the 'Kwee-Kunee'. You have enough grasp of Huttese to know that roughly translates to 'Queen', though you've never heard of a feudal tradition in ancient Hutt culture. The ship looks very much like a normal - if enormous - transport from the outside, but the title begins to feel more appropriate once Veredious sets the ship down in one of the force-fielded hangar bays. The dock stretches further than you can see to both left and right, with hundreds of small ships of all makes and models parked alongside yours.

>>2238672
The guests exiting the ships are just as diverse. Humans comprise a plurality of the people walking to the elevators on the interior wall, but you spot a few of just about every species you can recognize... and a few you don't. A gelatinous blob with no limbs or head lurches down the ramp of one ship, and for a moment you're certain the guards are going to force it back on - but a servant rushes up the ramp past it, and comes out carrying a case of the blob's belongings.

"It looks like the Republic Senate," you say to Veredious as both of you head down the ramp with Olub'cree trailing shortly behind. Once off the ship, Veredious stop and turns to the Twi'lek.

"Make sure everything gets to our rooms," he says before looking to you. "We should greet our host."

You and Veredious join the rest of the guests, packing tightly into one of the many lifts that run up to the ship's main levels. The docking bay you just left had the look of a freighter interior, but the hallway you are in now is barely recognizable as the interior of a ship. The floors are covered in a marble finish, and the walls practically blind you with their whiteness.

You make your way to an even larger space, a grand hall that looks like a cross between a palace throne room and a luxury hotel lobby. Metal sculptures hang from the ceiling by thin wires, and groups of guests cluster around ornately-carved pillars. Hutts may not have good taste, but Baghora clearly has the money to *hire* people with an eye for aesthetics.

As you scan the room, your eyes fall on a particularly dense cluster of people lined up down the middle of the room. Veredious begins to make his way to the back of the line, which is when you notice the Hutt's head at the far end of the room. He looks to be hovering a few feet off the ground, likely on some dais or repulsor chair. Easing back onto the flats of your feet, you step off to the side and get a look at the line of well-wishers between you and the Hutt - it's absolutely enormous. You turn to your Master to question the necessity of waiting like this, but he's stepped off to the other side of the line, and idly scans the room even as he stands on the tips of his toes.

>>2238680
"Myo pateesa!" comes a speaker-enhanced voice from the other end of the room. Veredious' gaze snaps forward, as does yours. The Hutt points at your Master, then beckons him forward. Veredious acts as if he's surprised by the summons, but as you follow him to the front of the line you realize he was trying to be seen. The two of you slip neatly in front of a pair of human noblemen, whose frilly outfits contrast sharply with you and Veredious' dark tunics.

"De wanna wanga," the Hutt booms from the hoverlift a dozen feet in front of you. He... or she? Is a massive creature, with a fat green tail that bounces up and down on the end of the platform. You've always thought of Hutts as masculine, but they don't have traditional sexes or genders. And there is something unsettlingly feminine about this one. He has facial piercings, something you've never seen on a Hutt before, and wears enough jewelry to put Sebuk's entombed servants to shame.

You and Veredious give shallow but polite bows, and the Hutt's attention turns to you.

"Coo sa da nek?" the Hutt continues. He's asking who you are, and Veredious answers him in surprisingly fluent Huttese - too complex for you to do more than catch the gist of. His next words are directed to you - but his speaker-modulated voice is hard to understand, and your grasp of Huttese is inferior to your Master's. Veredious opens his mouth as if to interpret the Hutt's words, but Baghora raises a halting hand to him. You can feel the anger radiating off of your Master, but you know he's not about to upset his careful plans over a minor insult like that.

Do you try to interpret whatever the Hutt said, and then respond politely? If so, roll 3d6+2.

If you don't try to respond in Huttese, you still need to do *something*, even if that something is just glowering silently at the Hutt or giving him a smiling nod.

Rolled 6, 5, 2 + 2 = 15 (3d6 + 2)

>>2238681
Going for it. Did we get a general sense of his emotion when he spoke? That might make it easier to interpret and net us a further dice bonus

Rolled 2, 5, 2 + 2 = 11 (3d6 + 2)

>>2238681
Yeah lets give it a shot

>>2238702
Nice.

Are we still just doing the first roll or should I roll?

We should respond in binary.

>>2238321
Especially if we hint that we may or may not have found an hitherto unknown sith tomb on Koraban, and likely can keep the artifacts coming.

This all has me thinking, what do we even want to do? Do we intend on just getting wealthy, or what do we intend on doing with the money? Collecting artifacts sounds fun, Indiana jones with a light saber, dope. I'm just at a loss trying to think of our own goals, right now it seems everything we do is entirely opportunistic, who are we and what do we want? Are we out for republic blood or could we care less? Do we want lovers or are we above that? What about skull lady and harken, we going to do something about them? Find trulia?

Thoughts?

>>2238717
Just first roll

Rolled 6, 6, 1 + 2 = 15 (3d6 + 2)

>>2238681

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709 KB JPG

>>2238681
It takes a few moments, but your brain manages to piece together the Hutt's rambling, guttural question. After Veredious had told the Hutt you were his Apprentice, Baghora had asked what you were, saying that he could tell you were not a Sith. You responded by telling him you are a Zeltron, and that few non-Sith manage to pick up on such a fact.

Your pronunciation isn't the best, but your response is articulate enough to earn a bellowing laugh from Baghora. He shifts the conversation back to Veredious, then quickly passes your Master off to a male Twi'lek attendant who leads you two away from the waiting line of supplicants. The three of you walk a good distance away before Veredious stops.

"The auction won't be until tomorrow," he says to you. "And my work with the Hutt's collection isn't something you want to stand around watching. Perhaps you should enjoy yourself?"

You nod in understanding, and he leaves with the Twi'lek. Your Master would never tell you to 'go enjoy yourself'. What he's *really* telling you to do is scope out the ship and get the lay of the land. Baghora's ship is a standard freighter, but the interior has been completely gutted and redone - any blueprints you could have found are useless.

Depending on how your acquisition of item number 1313 goes down, it might be nice to have the routes to the other docking bays firmly planted in your mind.

This will take some time, but it's not going to take you all night. Where should you head afterwards?

>The casino. You can't gamble, though. Iktochi floormen keep a proverbial third eye out for Force sensitives.
>The art gallery. Much of Baghora's art and artifact collection will be displayed here. This seems like the best place to scope out prospective buyers for the Sith jewelry you acquired.
>The cantina. You haven't had sex since your time with Tuija, and you haven't had consensual sex for even longer. Maybe you can find it there.
>Write-in. Hutt pleasure yachts are big places.

>>2238780
You almost forgot about Olub'cree. Do you take him along with you?

>>2238780
>The art gallery. Much of Baghora's art and artifact collection will be displayed here. This seems like the best place to scope out prospective buyers for the Sith jewelry you acquired.
Let's leave him behind. We should try to be discreet.
Did we even bring our jewelry? I think it'd be smarter to just make a few contacts to make the exchange at a later date.

>>2238780
>>The art gallery. Much of Baghora's art and artifact collection will be displayed here. This seems like the best place to scope out prospective buyers for the Sith jewelry you acquired.

>>2238801
Also we could begin networking for when we'll take our masters position. Would it be inappropriate to say we're about to be in charge? Does our master want to keep it secret for now?

>>2238801
>Did we even bring our jewelry?

You did not bring it.

>>2238801
Supporting.

>>2238786
Leave him behind. Lets see what we can do about fostering potential contacts to sell our shit

>>2238720
Grow in power obliviously...but after that not sure.

>>2238780
>The art gallery
Lets get future contacts for ourselfs and see the artifacts.

We are more than likely being watched now, so lets remember to keep our mouth shut, even if we somehow end in cantina and bed today.

>>2238809
A bit early to reveal that, and our master obliviously didin't intent us to tell everyone about his career changing plans.

>>2238780
You had thought to yourself that the Kwee-Kunee looked like a miniature city. As you walk through the ship's vast halls, you realize how little of an exaggeration that was. You begin your scouting of the vessel by taking a look at one of the maps helpfully posted every fifty feet or so, and then make your way from docking bay to docking bay to get an idea of the ship's security. It takes a while, even without much actual walking - there's a tramline that runs up and down the ship, which you make ample use of.

Scores of guards, mostly Weequay and human, are posted at the entrance of every docking bay, but they're amazingly lax an inattentive. Planting a tracker on your quarry's ship tomorrow should be easy.

After a bit more examination of the ship's labyrinthine map, you decide to call it quits and take your tired legs to the ship's art gallery, where Baghora has rotating portions of his vast collection on display. The rest is contained within the Hutt's vaults aboard this same ship, where your Master is now examining the items to be auctioned off.

Like everything else you've seen in the past few hours, the scale of the gallery shocks you. It's composed of countless connecting rooms of varying shapes and sizes, each seemingly built to hold the particular pieces displayed within.

One room contains nothing but tiny, hand woven Besn particplays atop metal pedestals, and you don't even bother trying to squeeze past the ten people filling the room. Instead you work your way around, passing through a room at least five times as tall as it is side. A Corellian flame sculpture grows out of a holobase built into the floor, the intersecting holographic forms of a man made of light engaged in a strange, ethereal dance.

It's all quite different than the simple geometric art so common on Voss, but you're not here to sight-see. What you're more interested in is the people. Somewhere in here is a collector like Boghora, who is interested enough in Sith artifacts to purchase your ill-gotten gains under the table. All you need to do is find a reasonable buyer - a reseller even. You don't need to push for full price. All you want is more than the insulting offer that scrap-shilling Duros made.

>>2238948
It's all quite different than the simple geometric art so common on Voss, but you're not here to sight-see. What you're more interested in is the people. Somewhere in here is a collector like Boghora, who is interested enough in Sith artifacts to purchase your ill-gotten gains under the table. All you need to do is find a reasonable buyer - a reseller even. You don't need to push for full price. All you want is more than the insulting offer that scrap-shilling Duros made.

As you work your way deeper into the complex, you feel a strange tug on your heart. At first you think some particularly moving piece of art managed to thaw your icy soul, but it's not that. It's another Force-sensitive.

Walking faster now, you push through the crowds as you seek out that tingling sensation growing ever more powerful. Just when you start to worry that you've gone mad and are searching in vain, you see her. A woman, at the far end of middle age, with gray hair done up in a bun behind her head. She wears an embroidered white dress that seems to glow in the light, and the hand she holds thoughtfully to her chin is nearly covered in silver jewelry. She's examining one of the flame sculptures, and as far as you can tell has not noticed your own presence.

Do you approach her? If so, how?

>Erotically. She's attractive for her age, and you see an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone here.
>As a fellow connoisseur of Corellian flame sculpting. You know enough to bullshit a conversation about it.
>Comment on her unique dress. It has a subtle beauty you prefer to the Hutt's circus show of galactic art pieces.
>Reveal yourself as a Sith. She looks like a Jedi, but you're on a Hutt mogul's ship in neutral space. You can safely prod her delicate Jedi sensibilities.

If you don't approach her, do you continue looking for a prospective buyer for your Sith jewelry? You could follow the strange woman to her room, but you're not sure what you could possibly do after that.

>>2238950
>Comment on her unique dress. It has a subtle beauty you prefer to the Hutt's circus show of galactic art pieces.

>>2238950
>Erotically. She's attractive for her age, and you see an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone here.
>Comment on her unique dress. It has a subtle beauty you prefer to the Hutt's circus show of galactic art pieces.

>>2238950
>Comment on her unique dress. It has a subtle beauty that belongs on display like one of the fine pieces here.

Just something that doesn't disparage our host. It's not wise to talk ill of Hutt's on their own ship. Ostensibly, these people are here to buy them too.

>>2238950
>As a fellow connoisseur of Corellian flame sculpting. You know enough to bullshit a conversation about it.

>>2238950
>>Comment on her unique dress. It has a subtle beauty you prefer to the Hutt's circus show of galactic art pieces.

>Putting erotically as an option in 2018

>>2238977
What's the issue? I'd go for it if I didn't want to get entangled with a jedi and complicate what should be a possible professional relationship

>>2238950
>>As a fellow connoisseur of Corellian flame sculpting. You know enough to bullshit a conversation about it.
Lets see what she is about...better atleast know our future enemy

>>2238983
People always pick the sex option and then the quest turns into haremquest2000 and ends up derailed with that shit

>>2239006
I feel like the tone of the quest would prevent that. Everyone's main focus is on other things. But it's normal to wanna have sex sometimes, especially as a sith who doesn't have any moral limits to that kind of thing. But yeah I guess I see what you're saying. But only one person out of six chose the sex option here and that doesn't mean they're trying to make it into a harem quest.

>>2238950
You approach the woman, but at the last moment stop beside her and turn to face the flame sculpture. Towering holographic forms both feminine and masculine flicker on the holographic pad before you in an abstract dance that is both captivating and disorienting.

"Lovely, isn't it?" the woman says. Her voice is deeper than you expected, though unmistakably feminine. Motherly, you want to say - though you don't have any first-hand knowledge of what a mother sounds like. In any case, you're glad she spoke first. It makes your prepared introduction a bit easier.

"It has a certain charm," you respond dryly. You turn your head slightly towards her. "But it's easy to create something eye-catching with a few thousand credits worth of holo projectors. Doing so with fabric is another matter."

She glances over to you, and you nod at her clothes.

"Ah!" she says in understanding, a broad smile spreading over her face. "It's not too much, is it?"

The woman turns her body to face you, and as she does so you spot something new. A silvery diadem on her forehead, like a small crown - and in the center of that diadem, a green Kyber crystal. Your mouth falls open, and as you reach out with the Force to once again feel for the Force-sensitivity you *know* you felt, you sense it again. Except this time, you can tell exactly *where* you felt it from. This woman is no Jedi. She's not a Force-user of any kind - she's just wearing a nexus of such energy on her forehead like some common bauble.

She looks at you in confusion when you fail to respond to her question, but then she notices you gawping at her forehead and touches a hand to her crown.

"Too much, yes?" she says in mild embarrassment.

You swallow and shake your head, forcing yourself to gather your wits. "No, not at all!" you say quickly. "I was just... surprised. Is that a Kyber crystal?"

"Yes!" she exclaims eagerly, her smile broadening. You get the impression no one has asked her that question before. "How did you know?"

She seems like a perfect prospect. She clearly enjoys decking herself out in jewelry, and is wealthy enough to wear a well-formed natural Kyber crystal like one would a simple emerald. Question is, from what angle do you approach this?

>You're an antiques dealer. Avoid specifics on how you acquired your pieces - just state where they're from.
>Tell her the truth - that you're a Sith. It might impress her.
>Write-in

>>2239040
>You're an antiques dealer. Avoid specifics on how you acquired your pieces - just state where they're from.
Information is valuable so we shouldn't give her too much.

>>2239040
>You're an antiques dealer. Avoid specifics on how you acquired your pieces - just state where they're from.

>>2239040
>>You're an antiques dealer. Avoid specifics on how you acquired your pieces - just state where they're from.

>>2239040
>Tell her the truth - that you're a Sith. It might impress her.
She seems like a force weeaboo

>>2239059
There are likely few Sith at the party. To introduce ourselves before we piss off our host will surely leave a trail. Not to mention if she gets hurt then we won't have our contact.

>>2239059
Some times the thruth can be more hurtfull then a lie.

>>2239040
>Tell her the truth - that you're a force sensitive.
>Write-in
It's a common enough thing in this era. You can literally feel it's power, but it's her stunning beauty that brings out it's true charm. You happen to us your ability to find many such artifacts, including a recent treasure trove of Sith jewelry she may be interested in...

>>2239040

>You're an antiques dealer. Avoid specifics on how you acquired your pieces - just state where they're from.

>>2239040
>>Tell her the truth - that you're a Sith. It might impress her.
>>2239166 this, I like it.

>>2239040
You lower your voice to a conspiratorial whisper and lean in towards the aged woman.

"I'm a Force sensitive, believe it or not."

Her wrinkled mouth hangs opens slightly. "A Force-sensitive?" she murmurs, and you nod. She gives you another look over, and her jaw manages to drop even further. "You're a Sith?" she hisses, taking in your red skin and simple dark tunic.

You step back and shake your head, giving a short laugh. "No, I'm a Zeltron. I'm not *that* Force-sensitive."

She *looks* disappointed, though you can feel some building tension easing within her.

"My talents are weak, but I've used them to carve out a small niche for myself." Before she can inquire as to the nature of that niche, you hold out your wrist and tap away at the communicator until you've pulled up a picture you took of the Sith Jewelry. You describe the tomb it was found in, and you can feel her interest remain high while you talk about your dealings in brokering the sale of ancient artifacts.

Your *real* work with Veredious is close enough to make your facade a convincing one, and the woman assures you that she's very interested in purchasing what you have.

The two of you then exchange names and contact information - she is Pailia Tille, and you are 'Rhugo Lin'. You just hope that the lack of public information your made-up persona doesn't make her peg you as a conman. When the time comes for a sale, she can have the goods evaluated by all the independent experts she wants - they *are* real, after all. Price is a topic you dance around, but Pailia mentions vague number ranges that leave you more than satisfied to leave the matter there.

Is there anything else you want to do here? You could do something like seduce Pailia and try to steal the Kyber crystal, but that would ruin any future business relations with her.

>>2240000
Not seduce but playfull flirt would be good. Just so we can discover something avout her a little bit more.

>>2240000
Lets move on and meet more people

>>2240000
Tell her we've never heard of using kyber crystals as jewelry. Ask her to tell us more about it.

>>2240000
Invite her to the cantina. Gotta have some fun sometime.

>>2240034
Not now. We are working at the moment.

>>2240007
This, lets learn a bit more what she is.
Seduction is stll on the table

>>2240042
We already scoped out the docking bays. Now we have free time until the auction tomorrow.

>>2240000
You gently steer the conversation away from business and back towards the green Kyber crystal on Pailia's forehead.

"Where did you manage to find something like that?" you ask her. You don't have to feign interest - you're genuinely curious.

Pailia touches it lightly. "A family heirloom. An ancestor of my mother's fought in some major war, the..." She trails off and gives a wave of the hand. "I forget which was, but it was over three centuries ago! Can you imagine?"

Part of you is disgusted at the woman's lack of historical awareness, but you can hardly blame her not knowing which particular war saw her ancestor's crystal being used in a weapon. Assuming he - or she - had been a Jedi, there were many conflicts they could have been embroiled in. The schism led by Exar Kun, the Mandalorian Wars, the Jedi Civil war... or any one of the innumerable minor conflicts the Jedi Order became involved in.

"You say you can sense its power?" she asks you, still looking quite awe-struck.

"I can."

She holds a hand to her chest and steps forward. "Can you sense it in me? Do I have powers I never knew about?"

You reach out with the Force, concentrating past the nexus of power on her forehead to feel if there's anything else there - but there isn't. Her presence within the Force feels just like that of the other gallery patrons walking slowly past the two of you.

Do you lie and tell her yes? If so, roll me 3d6+2.

>>2240138
No, let's not lie. Being honest here might not make her happy but it'll increase her trust in us.

>>2240138
No lies it's not like we can get something from lying to her. Besides this things about the force usually skip some generations.

>>2240138
Tell her the truth and continue to flirt

>>2240138
"Sorry," you say with a faint smile. "I can't sense anything like that within you."

You're about to offer further assurances that perhaps you simply don't have the aptitude to detect her Force-sensitivity, but she gives a sharp breath of amusement and waves a hand at you.

"Oh, I already know. My family had me evaluated by Jedi when I was a young girl. Their hopes were quickly dashed."

The Sith do similar things, you note. The difference is that parents of Force-sensitives within the Empire do not have the option of *refusing* when their children are slated to be taken to the academy on Korriban. It rarely comes down to that, though - families are handsomely compensated, and rest easy in the knowledge that their children will be grow to be one of the future leaders of the Empire.

Those children that survive, anyway.

How do you feel about being taken from your parents at a young age?

>Angry. The Empire stole your life from you.
>Sad. You wonder if your family is still out there.
>Happy. The path to power you were set on by the Sith is more than worth whatever life you lost.
>Ambivalent. It happened, and you're going to make the most of it.

>>2240237
>Ambivalent. It happened, and you're going to make the most of it.

>>2240237
>Ambivalent. It happened, and you're going to make the most of it.

>>2240237
>Ambivalent. It happened, and you're going to make the most of it.


When we were at the academy we may have felt Angry and then sad. But now this is our path and we will forge trought it. But we will always wonder who was the girl that gave us our amulet. Whoch remind us we need to get back to Tion and get Sabon

>>2240237
>Ambivalent. It happened, and you're going to make the most of it.

>>2240237
>Happy. The path to power you were set on by the Sith is more than worth whatever life you lost.
We ended up in a pretty good position so far. Better than being some insignificant nobody.

>>2240251
I think it'd be better to wait for a while. He hasn't really been tested enough yet and that planet is a good starting point for him.

>"Oh, I already know. My family had me evaluated by Jedi when I was a young girl. Their hopes were quickly dashed."

It was a freaking test...clever girl.

>>2240255
It's been what? Two weeks since we lefted him? But maybe we should acquire some power before brigging him with us.

>>2240324
I think we should break off the conversation there and continue to scout around the ship. We're here on our master's orders, not to hit on strangers.

>>2240237
"You don't seem too upset by it." You give Pailia a sly grin.

"Oh, that was a lifetime ago." She returns your smile with one of her own, and turns back to the flame sculpture before leaning in closer. "And sometimes it's good not to have power. Imagine if you had been stronger in the force, and the Sith had taken you as a child."

You try to keep from betraying any hint of surprise. "Why would I have had to worry about that?"

She leans away slightly and gives you a knowing look. "You grew up in Imperial space, did you not?" When you fail to respond, she laughs. "It's obvious enough from your accent. I'm no mind reader."

Now you're glad you didn't try and spin some story about growing up elsewhere. You gave her a fake name and spoke about your work as an antiques broker, but said nothing about your past. It's hard to consider her proposed hypothetical, since that's exactly what *did* happen to you. You occasionally muse what life would have been like if you had a normal upbringing, but never very seriously. Life is about leveraging one's strengths and circumstances, and that means playing the hand you've been dealt.

"I'm not much for 'what-ifs'." You move your gaze downward, letting it linger on her chest for a moment before looking back to her slate-gray eyes. "I prefer the here and now."

Pailia gives a nervous laugh and glances away for a moment, but you can feel none of that same nervous excitement within her, as if she's putting forward a false display of interest. She had been far more enraptured in that brief moment where she thought you were a Sith.

You can sense her interest in you waning. Do you break off the conversation here? Ask her back to your room? Try something to rekindle her interest? You could show her your lightsaber - the literal one hidden beneath your tunic.

>>2240324
>no
Lets abort before she slips us a drug and makes us wear stick on tentacles and taze her.

>>2240330
Nah let's bounce, no big deal. I can't think of anything else to do apart from making sure we're extra familiar with the route from where the auction will take place to the docking bays

>>2240330
>break off the conversation
I am all for bedding her, but better not ruin our coming deal with pushing too much here

>>2240330
You decide to wind down your conversation with Pailia, pleased with the knowledge that you've found a likely buyer for your Sith treasure. The sooner you've got credits in hand for that, the better - you're tired of keeping it hidden under your bed on Voss like some teenager concealing holoporn from a snooping mother.

After saying your goodbyes to Pailia, you make your way back to the gallery entrance while keeping an eye out for any other prospective collectors, just in case Pailia falls through as a buyer.

Roll me 3d6+1.

Rolled 1, 6, 6 + 1 = 14 (3d6 + 1)

>>2240347

>>2240348
Impressive

>>2240347
You fail to find any suitable candidates, and you're getting sick of making introductions to the people filling the gallery. Despite the vast differences in species, appearance, and language, they're all of very similar stock - effete noblemen and noblewomen who find partying on a Hutt's pleasure barge to be just the right amount of danger. Once you're back in the hall outside of the gallery, you're about to consider your next move when a beep comes from your wrist.

"Yes, Master?" you say into your communicator.

"My room, now," Veredious says sharply. The call ends as soon as the last word is out, and you begin making your way to one of the tramlines running up and down the length of the Kwee-Kunee. Your Master sounded distressed, but he also didn't say *what* the problem was - that meant he was worried about who might be listening in.

When you arrive at his room, you knock and the door immediately slides open. 'Room' might have been appropriate or your own accommodations, but Veredious' lodgings are more like an entire home. He's busy pacing back and forth in the entry chamber, a circular space with benches lining the white walls.

"Is everything alright?" you say, though clearly it isn't. He uses the Force to slide the door shut, then lashes out and sheers one of the metal benches from the wall with a horrid screech. You're completely taken aback - outward displays of anger were are a constant occurrence at the academy, but you've never seen your Master lose control like this.

>>2240394
"Baghora didn't ask me to look at the weapon," Veredious says. His voice quavers with barely-controlled emotion, and you can feel the frustration surging within him. Not just anger - there is fear there, too. The prospect of this plan's failure is making him afraid.

"Weapon?" you wonder aloud, before realizing he must be referring to item 1313. What exactly it is, you still don't know. A lightsaber, perhaps?

"That blasted Hutt had me looking over stone tablets and old books for hours, but not the saber!" He stops pacing and turns to you. "He's decided not to auction it. There's no other explanation."

You eye Veredious uneasily, weary of provoking another outburst. "Could it be he's just that confident in its authenticity?" Veredious shakes his head furiously, as if he's already thought that possibility through and discarded it.

"The evaluation isn't for *him*," Veredious snaps. "It's for his buyers. I took a look at every item going on the auctioneer's block."

All you can do is stare at Veredious. You don't know what to suggest, particularly because of how little information you possess. What is being auctioned? Why does Veredious want it so desperately? He never invested this much emotion in his work with the Reclamation Service before - for some reason, this time is different.

It's high time to demand to know what you're here to steal, and why you're here to steal it. It was one thing when he had a plan, but now he's ranting about your imminent failure while demanding suggestions. Roll me 3d6+2 to press for details. Results will depend vary depending on the result and which DT it beats.

Rolled 1, 1, 5 + 2 = 9 (3d6 + 2)

>>2240396
Maybe he's already been made an offer good enough to keep it out of the auction. Or maybe he's decided against selling it at all. Not good.

Rolled 4, 3, 6 + 2 = 15 (3d6 + 2)

>>2240396

Rolled 1, 2, 5 + 2 = 10 (3d6 + 2)

>>2240396
>>2240405
fuckkkkkk

>>2240396
"Master," you say calmly. "I can't be of much help unless I at *least* know what we're here to acquire."

Veredious lets out a sharp sigh and sits down on one of the still-intact benches ringing the room.

"It's a lightsaber," he says simply. "A very old, very special lightsaber."

"But why is it so important? Is it that valuable to the Reclamation Service?"

He opens his mouth as if to say more, then shakes his head and shoots up from the bench.

"All you need to know is that *my* future, and therefore *your* future, depend on this weapon's recovery."

You frown, but don't bother pressing further. He's worked up to the point of fury by recent events, and more prodding could have him directing his anger at you instead of his own failure. In any case, you at least know what the two of you are after. *Why* you're after it is a question that can be answered when you have the item in hand. Once that happens, your Master should be more amenable to questions.

"Ok." You put your hands on your hips and look around the room, trying to think this through without the benefit of much in the way of information to work with. "Do we know if the weapon is still on board, Master?"

He frowns and glares off into nothingness. "I don't know," he says, his voice dark.

"It could be that a buyer already made him a convincing offer, and will be picking up the item during this voyage." Veredious eases back and nods along, encouraging you to speak further. "You said he rarely hosts guests because of security concerns, right? It would make sense for him to make the exchange during the larger auction."

>>2240447
Your Master nods faster now, his frustration slowly turning to understanding and excitement.

"Yes," he says quickly. "That would make sense."

"Is there any way we could identify the buyer?"

Veredious thinks for a moment, fingering his chin before dropping his hand and muttering something under his breath.

"Baghora wouldn't simply *tell* us who his buyer is. We would need to identify them through less... obvious means."

You would have to think further on that matter. This ship was the Hutt's place of business *and* his home - if there were electronic records of the transaction, they would be kept somewhere onboard.

"What if you asked him to let you see the item?" you suggest.

Veredious shakes his head. "And then what? I simply walk out with it?" You start to say something, but quickly realize how much of a dead-end that idea is.

"Although..." Veredious grows thoughtful again. "It's hardly ideal, but if worst comes to worst..." He trails off, and you're shocked to see him actually *considering* the idea of stealing from Baghora. The original plan had been to let the auction take place, then follow the buyer home - not to rob the Hutt himself.

If you're going to acquire the saber, you need to begin with a rough course of action. Should you focus on identifying the buyer, assuming there is one? Or focus on locating the saber, with the goal of stealing it before it can be exchanged?

>>2240448
We don't really have the capability to do much hacking right?

>>2240459
>We don't really have the capability to do much hacking right?

Some, but your results are not likely to be as good as if you had Hacna doing the slicing.

>>2240448
I say we should focus on finding the buyer, and if we can't find one then we know the saber will still be on board somewhere.

>>2240448
Okay let's try to find the buyer. There can't be too many people who even know about the saber right? And even fewer who could afford buying it outright instead of at the auction. The Hutt would keep his ownership of the saber as secret as possible. At least that's the impression I get. So wherever Veredious learned of the saber is likely at least connected to how the buyer learned of it.

>>2240470
But how the hell are we going to do that?

>>2240448
Well lets try to find the buyer first

>>2240488
Maybe whoever purchased the saber got here early? We'd need to check docking records.

>>2240488
Use the old twilek. He can easily determine if there is someone with such taste between the quests.

We can then try to hack at some station and try to find a list of people. after all everyo e came to the dockying bay they must have some kind of list to check who is whom

>>2240448
"For now, we'll stick to the original plan," Veredious says with a sigh. He's still frustrated, but no longer seething with anger. "With the added step of identifying the would-be buyer of the saber." He looks to you and waves a hand. "Go on, Apprentice! Use that brain of yours."

You wrack your mind for any stray ideas well-formed enough to grasp onto. You still have about 24 hours until the Kwee-Kunee drops out of hyperspace and reaches its first destination, which is the earliest possible point at which the buyer could leave with the item. But that amount of time can pass quickly - you are working against the clock here.

"The docking manifest would be less secure than purchase records," you suggest. "If we had that, we would at least have a list of candidates to sort through."

He nods along in agreement, then stops and frowns. "Sheer size of the list aside, it may not even be accurate. A buyer of something like this would travel covertly."

For a moment you share in your Master's doubt, but then realization comes to you in a flash.

"That's better!" you exclaim. "We would only need to locate the ships docked here that looked suspicious."

"And how would we do that?" Veredious says doubtfully.

Roll me 3d6+1 to brainstorm an idea. You need some way to quickly identify those ships who docked with the Kwee-Kunee under false identities. This would be easier with Hacna's technical expertise, but you'll have to make do with your own.

Rolled 4, 3, 6 + 1 = 14 (3d6 + 1)

>>2240661

Rolled 2, 4, 5 = 11 (3d6)

>>2240661

>>2240668
Nice roll!

>>2240661
Easy, just look at the most banal, innocuous names on the list. Like I dunno the "Azure Eagle" or something, who would name their ship after a common bird, after all?

>>2240661
Look to see if any of the ship names or owners have ties to shady groups.

>>2240681
What's the Millenium Falcon and the Ebon Hawk?

File: 8653765427637865.jpg (23 KB, 600x334)

23 KB JPG

>>2240701
That's the joke. They are literally the thing I was poking fun at. Them being smuggler's ships is what the tongue-in-cheek humor was referencing. The example being used was a subtle acknowledgement that space faring vessels which are used for illicit transport abide by a select naming convention.

>>2240661
In the end, you can't come up with any solid ideas as to how to utilize the docking manifest. You considered finding a way to trigger the transponder code broadcasts for the docked ships and then comparing those to the names those same people gave Baghora, but your tired mind hits a dead end.

"It would help if I knew how you discovered this lightsaber was supposed to be auctioned," you say to Veredious.

He sighs and throws up his hands. "Baghora leaked word of its auction through his network of fences, which is no small sum of people."

"But they're all involved in the criminal underworld?" you ask.

"Yes," Veredious admits. "But you would be surprised just how high that underworld reaches."

"That could still narrow it down some. Is the saber expensive? More so than the other items up for auction?"

Veredious snorts and looks you square in the eye. "That weapon is the most valuable item on this ship - assuming it's still *on* this ship."

After what you've seen of the Hutt's collection, you're tempted to question that assessment, but Veredious is deadly serious. You wait for the inexplicable chill running down your spine to stop before you continue speaking.

"Maybe we should ask Olub'cree," you say carefully. Veredious gives you a look both confused and dismissive. "He knows Hutts," you continue. "It can't hurt to have another brain on this."

Your Master looks as if he's about to give you a sharp dressing down, but he's just as stumped as you are.

"Call him in here," he finally says. You do so through your communicator, and twenty minutes later the old Twi'lek arrives at the room. Veredious explains the situation to him, and to your mild chagrin this house servant is now as well-informed as you are. You're not sure whether that speaks to your Master's trust in him, your Master's lack of trust in you, or your own powers of persuasion.

"My Lords," Olub'cree says from his seat on one of the benches. "Have you considered that the buyer may be waiting at our destination?"

You *hadn't* considered that. And from the look Veredious gives you, neither had he.

"Where *is* the first stop, Master?" You had looked at the route once, but none of the planets had stuck in your memory. Neither you nor most of the other guests would be stepping foot on them, anyway - they were refueling stops only. Just as clueless as you, Veredious goes to the next room and grabs a datapad from the table, then hums in thought as he taps away at it.

"Rishi," Veredious says to you. "What do you know about it?"

Only a little. The planet is a jungle backwater haven for pirates and smugglers with little else of consequence. It straddles Hutt and Republic territory, but the criminal groups who make their home there are smart enough to keep their raids focused on the latter, whose reprisals are far less vicious.

Something else about Rishi rings a bell. Roll me 3d6+2 to try and recall it.

Rolled 3, 6, 6 + 2 = 17 (3d6 + 2)

>>2240869

Rolled 2, 3, 6 + 2 = 13 (3d6 + 2)

>>2240869
>inb4 it's our planet

>>2240889
Thank the force you rolled first.

>>2240869
You tell Veredious what little you know of Rishi - you can actually recall a fair amount, but there isn't much to tell of the inconsequential planet.

"Pirates and smugglers," he scoffs. "No one on that mudball is buying what Baghora is selling."

Despite the dismissal, you continue rambling on with what remaining information you have.

"Not just pirates, Master. One of the raider factions has been bolstered by a group of Mandalorians - Clan Vizla."

Veredious' wandering eyes dart back to you, and he turns a pale shade of white.

"Clan Vizla?" he exclaims, putting himself no more than a few feet away from you. "You're certain?"

You nod quickly. "Yes, they have a base there."

Veredious lets out a sharp laugh and tosses the datapad onto the bench beside Olub'cree.

"Then that's it. They're the buyers."

You eye him curiously. "How can you be sure, Master?"

"The saber used to belong to one of them," he says. "And now, Clan Vizla wants it back."

It sounds absurd. A Mandalorian wielding a lightsaber? There was nothing precluding the birth of a Force-sensitive Mandalorian. After all, the bestial Taung were nearly extinct - most Mandalorians these days are of standard human stock. But to wield the weapon of the Jedi and Sith meant that a Mandalorian had once belonged to one of those orders, and that was unheard of.

Veredious seems certain that the buyer has been identified - and that they're not yet aboard the Kwee-Kunee. Not for another day, at least. Do you suggest:

>Stealing the lightsaber before it reaches Rishi.
>Letting the lightsaber reach Rishi, and then stealing it there.
>Wild-card

This revelation has given you another opportunity to press Veredious for further details about why *he* wants it. Roll me 3d6+2.

You still don't know for certain that the saber is on the ship at all. It would be a good idea to work towards verifying that fact regardless of which option you choose.

>>2240962
>Stealing the lightsaber before it reaches Rishi.
Let's not fuck with Mandos directly.
Is this the fucking darksaber? It must be.

Rolled 4, 3, 2 + 2 = 11 (3d6 + 2)

>>2240962
Forgot muh roll

Rolled 1, 3, 1 + 2 = 7 (3d6 + 2)

>>2240962
>Stealing the lightsaber before it reaches Rishi.

Rolled 6, 4, 2 + 2 = 14 (3d6 + 2)

>>2240962
>Letting the lightsaber reach Rishi, and then stealing it there.


Think like this if we steal AFTER the hutt has made the trade he will have his profit and won't have a reason to be mad at our master and us.

And of course we will snoop around need to know where the thing is and how they intend to transport it from the ship to the world bellow us.

>>2240982
Who would you rather piss? A powerfull Hutt or a clan of mandolorians?

So we can choose between messing with a Hutt's money or a Mandolorian clans sacred relic. I'm torn actually. Either way we need to make sure to be subtle.

>>2240991
Changing it to this. You make a very good point, although we're going to have to have our wits because if its a special dangerous weapon then we're going to have big problems.

>>2240997
You'd piss off both if you steal the lightsaber before the transaction.

>>2240962
>Letting the lightsaber reach Rishi, and then stealing it there.
Okay yeah it'd be better to piss of just one of them rather than both.

So here's the deal. If our master successfully gets what might be the darksaber he'll go do his own thing and we'll get his position and a bit of his holdings to do our own thing. If we kill him we get all of his holdings and a chance at owning the darksaber. I can't decide which would be smarter.

>>2240962
"Help me understand, Master." You hold your hands out towards Veredious, gesturing animatedly as you implore him to come clean. "The Mandalorians are on the Empire's side. Why work to keep this thing from them?"

Veredious starts to speak, but his attention quickly turns to Olub'cree. He motions for the old Twi'lek to leave the two of you alone, and waits until the hallway door is shut before turning back to you. When he does, his face is as grim as you have ever seen it. And when he speaks, it is with careful and measured words that carry the weight of untold danger.

"The Emperor has gone silent," he says quietly, as if still afraid some third party is listening in. "The Dark Council bickers and feuds. The Empire is splitting apart." You swallow hard, wetting a throat that has suddenly become very dry. His words border on treason.

"But there is still hope!" he urges you, his tone turning excited. "There are men of progressive vision, working to renew the old order."

You don't even bother nodding along as he speaks. You're stunned, and have no idea what he's talking about. Veredious picks up on this, and takes a step back as he looks you in the eye.

"You're an alien." He states the fact plainly, with no disdain in his voice. "You know better than anyone how little the Empire values those who are neither human nor pureblood Sith. That lack of flexibility will be its downfall."

Do you agree with his last assessment?

>Yes. Your experiences at the academy made that clear for you.
>Yes, but lie and say No.
>No. The few Imperial officials you met who disparaged aliens are relics. Their kind is a dying breed.
>No, but lie and say Yes.

>>2241076
>No. The few Imperial officials you met who disparaged aliens are relics. Their kind is a dying breed.

>>2241076
>Yes. Your experiences at the academy made that clear for you.

>>2241076
>Yes. Your experiences at the academy made that clear for you.

Now the question is. Is our master with the Ravenites or with Malgus?

>>2241076
>>Yes. Your experiences at the academy made that clear for you.

>>2241076
>Yes. Your experiences at the academy made that clear for you.

Are we done for the night OP?

>No. The few Imperial officials you met who disparaged aliens are relics. Their kind is a dying breed.

>>2241113
My money is on Malgus. He was a big fan of alien equality.

>>2241076
>>Yes. Your experiences at the academy made that clear for you.

>>2241065
i guarantee literally every sith in the empire will fight tooth and nail, as well as all the mandalorians just for the darksaber.

>>2241868
We should just bide our time for now. We're still weaker than our master, and have barely been training under him for any truly appreciable amount of time. There's still more for us to learn before we assume his position.

>>2241065
Mate we've been an apprentice for a few months. We're not killing our Master

>>2242023
I think people failed to realize that our master was holding himself during our saber duel. Maybe it was a failed interpretation, since one could think that our master only managed to dodge/ crouch under our attack because we didn't went for a deadly blow.

In my view i saw it that he didn't pierced his saber right under our face just because he felt we didn't had the intended to kill him.

He didn't even scarred our face just holded the saber threatenly under our face.

>>2241076
Veredious pauses, looking to you expectantly as his treasonous criticism of the Empire hangs in the air between the two of you.

"Yes," you say. "I've seen that firsthand."

At the academy, and elsewhere. Not just towards you, either - you may have been targeted for death by the academy's xenophobic Overseer, but Tuija had an even rougher time over the years. And you've rarely seen aliens more 'alien'-looking than her at the academy. That presents the uncomfortable question of what exactly happens to all those Force-sensitives deemed too strange for entry to the academy. You can't imagine the Empire simply allowing them to wander free.

"Then you understand that things will have to change, one way or the other."

You still can't believe what you're hearing. Veredious has never talked politics before - maybe this is why.

"But it's a *lightsaber*," you say with an uneasy frown, bringing the topic back to your immediate task. "Why is it so important?"

He furrows his brow thoughtfully, and you can tell by his slow speech that he's choosing his words carefully.

"There are people in the Empire who want it," he says. Before you can ask more, he adds: "As to *why* they want it? That's a very expensive, and very dangerous question."

You swallow and decide to leave it there. Veredious himself might not know what the ultimate goal is here - and even if he does, he clearly doesn't want to go into further details. You're not sure you want to know anymore, either. You're skirting the edges of whatever plausible deniability you still have with regards to the treasonous groups your Master has gotten himself caught up in.

"Alright," you sigh. "I understand, Master."

"Good," he replies. "Then that leaves us with the question of when to intercept the saber."

"We can stick to the original plan, like you said."

Veredious snorts in amusement. "And steal it from a compound of Mandalorian warriors?"

You hadn't thought that far ahead, but the longer you consider that option the less palatable it becomes. Clan Vizla uses their base on a Rishi as a training ground, both for prospective warriors to prove themselves and for veteran warriors to hone their skills. You're sure they'd love for two Sith to show up looking for a fight.

"What about stealing it between this ship and the base on Rishi?" you suggest. "Would Baghora care?"

"He would not be happy about that," Veredious says. "It would look as if he set the Mandalorians up to be robbed."

You take a few moments to look at this from all the different angles - there are almost too many to consider. You and your Master have deduced information that Baghora doesn't know you possess - the identities of his buyers. There could be a way to play that to your advantage in an interaction with the Hutt - some way to drive his paranoia high enough to cause him to make a mistake.

>>2242282
"What if we tricked Baghora into thinking the Mandalorians were planning to steal the saber and not pay him? You could speak with him and drop some vague information about a pirate fleet amassing over Rishi."

Veredious grunts in disapproval. "Baghora will have already been paid - that's how he conducts business."

"Then what if we do it the other way around? Fool the Mandalorians into thinking they're buying a fake."

His gaze narrows thoughtfully. "They would kill Baghora." The way he says it isn't as if he disapproves of the idea - more like he's considering it.

"Are you fine with that?" you ask him.

"I'd kill him myself and *take* the saber, if I knew for certain that the Hutt Cartel would not discover my complicity."

Then that's what he was truly worried about. Not losing Baghora's business, but Baghora making it impossible to do *any* business within Hutt space. The Hutt was influential enough that he could probably accomplish such a thing - but not if he was dead.

Not having to worry about the Hutt's health opens up a few more options. Hutts are paranoid, and Mandalorians are trigger-happy. That can be an explosive combination. If you do let the lightsaber reach Rishi, it'd be nice to have some way of tracking it. You have a thumb-sized tracking device that could be placed on the base of the hilt or within the case, and that would allow you to locate the saber within the base on Rishi. A far better option than aimlessly traipsing around a Mandalorian base in the middle of the jungle.

Do you suggest that Veredious convince Baghora to allow him access to the saber? You can think of a few different ways to accomplish that. Even if you can't plant the tracker, it would at least allow you to confirm that the item is here.

>Veredious should simply ask Baghora for a quick peek. Your Master has a noted interest in antiquities, and there would be nothing odd about the request.

>Veredious should make an absurd request that Baghora drop the Kwee-Kunee out of hyperspace to allow the two of you to leave. The Hutt will refuse of course, but your Master can explain he caught wind of an auction taking place that he simply must attend. An auction for the same saber Baghora is trying to sell. Baghora will panic and ask Veredious to verify the authenticity of the one in his possession.

>Wildcard

>No. Once you arrive in the Rishi system, you can undock in the Fury and track those ships going to and from the Kwee-Kunee. There should only be a handful, and most of those will be fuel and supply ships. Anything faster and hardier is likely to be carrying the saber to the planet's surface.

>>2242284
>Veredious should make an absurd request that Baghora drop the Kwee-Kunee out of hyperspace to allow the two of you to leave. The Hutt will refuse of course, but your Master can explain he caught wind of an auction taking place that he simply must attend. An auction for the same saber Baghora is trying to sell. Baghora will panic and ask Veredious to verify the authenticity of the one in his possession.

>>2242284

>Veredious should make an absurd request that Baghora drop the Kwee-Kunee out of hyperspace to allow the two of you to leave. The Hutt will refuse of course, but your Master can explain he caught wind of an auction taking place that he simply must attend. An auction for the same saber Baghora is trying to sell. Baghora will panic and ask Veredious to verify the authenticity of the one in his possession.

>>2242284
>Veredious should make an absurd request that Baghora drop the Kwee-Kunee out of hyperspace to allow the two of you to leave. The Hutt will refuse of course, but your Master can explain he caught wind of an auction taking place that he simply must attend. An auction for the same saber Baghora is trying to sell. Baghora will panic and ask Veredious to verify the authenticity of the one in his possession.

This is actually a pretty good idea.

>>2242284
Would we be allowed safe entry to Rishi if we say we're here for an artifact that we caught wind of?

Another crazy idea, what if we spread the rumor that the blade is being withheld from the auction to someone on the ship who had the means to steal it from the Hutt themselves, then we do the original plan to track their ship and steal it from them?

>>2242327
Involving more people just increase the chance of more chance to have us back stabbed. I also doubt our master us the inly Sith to know about this, not to mention other republic or Jedi

>>2242327
>Would we be allowed safe entry to Rishi if we say we're here for an artifact that we caught wind of?

Rishi's only city is a pirate haven open to all, but breaching the Mandalorian compound elsewhere on the planet is another matter.

>what if we spread the rumor that the blade is being withheld from the auction to someone on the ship who had the means to steal it from the Hutt themselves

Theoretically possible, but so time-consuming as to be impractical. You have roughly 24 hours until you reach Rishi, and most of the people aboard the ship are wealthy business magnates and aristocrats.

>>2242342
My concern about the winning option is that it establishes that our master badly wants the lightsaber that we're planning to steal, making him the first suspect when we do steal it.

>>2242284
>Veredious should make an absurd request that Baghora drop the Kwee-Kunee out of hyperspace to allow the two of you to leave. The Hutt will refuse of course, but your Master can explain he caught wind of an auction taking place that he simply must attend. An auction for the same saber Baghora is trying to sell. Baghora will panic and ask Veredious to verify the authenticity of the one in his possession.

I can't think of any great options at this point. Convincing the mandalorians that it's a fake would be an option though. Maybe our master could offer to verify it in front of the mandalorians during the exchange and then tell them it's fake. And then taking it and escaping during the confusion of the likely battle. It'd be easier than sneaking into a mandalorian base.

Or he could sabotage it, burning out the battery with subtle force lightning during the inspection on the ship so it doesn't work for the mandalorians.

All of these are pretty risky and make it obvious that we're the ones stealing it but I don't like our odds of infiltrating their base to steal it either.

>>2242372
Or maybe he could remove a vital component with sleight of hand or the force while the Hutt isn't paying attention.

>>2242351
Our master has showed he doesn't care so long he manages to grab the saber for himself

>>2242284
Before you make any further moves, you first need to confirm that the saber is even on board the Kwee-Kunee. You lay out your proposed plan to do so, and your Master grabs onto the idea immediately. Olub'cree is summoned back to the room, and Veredious goes to a wall-mounted vidscreen to demand an immediate audience with Baghora.

It takes some time for him to work his way up to someone important enough to accomplish such a thing, but after fifteen minutes of shouting and stomping, the three of you are escorted to the fore of the ship by the Hutt's right-hand Twi'lek servant.

You had expected to be taken to some sort of bridge, but when you arrive in the Hutt's room you see no operating controls of any sort. It's far smaller than the grand entryway you met Baghora in earlier that day, and filled with Weequay and Nikto guards instead of wealthy guests. It has the look of a criminal den, and you can't help but feel that the Hutt looks far more at home here than in the clean white metal of the rest of the ship.

"Kuba, kayaba dee anko!" Baghora calls from across the room. Despite the smaller space, he still uses the voice-enhancing speakers mounted to his hovering platform - an attempt at intimidation, maybe.

As you and Veredious approach, your attention is drawn to the window to your right. It takes up the entire wall, and is one of the few you've actually *seen* during your time on the Kwee-Kunee - it had been easy to forget you're on a spaceship. Lines of starlight race by at dizzying speed, and you look away before the sight sets your head spinning.

"Great Baghora," Veredious pleads as he gives a short bow. "I must request that you bring this ship out of hyperspace - just long enough for me to leave with my Apprentice and servant."

The Hutt stares at him for a moment, then bellows in laughter. What comes next is barely understandable, both Veredious and Baghora conversing in fluent Huttese. You can guess what they're saying, though - much of it was planned ahead of time.

Your Master tells Baghora that he caught wind of an auction for a highly valuable item, one he would very much like to bid on - the same saber Baghora is auctioning. You're not sure what the Hutt's reaction will be, but it should at least tell you whether or not *he* has the weapon.

Just behind you and to your left, Olub'cree watches the animated conversation with obvious interest. At your encouragement, Veredious had taken the time to glean a few pointers from the old Twi'lek on how to best ply the Hutt. Your Master may have a working relationship with Baghora, but Olub'cree knows Hutts inside and out. Hopefully, the advice he gave will help this go smoothly.

Roll me 3d6+3. This is up to Veredious' own powers of persuasion, but he is working with the benefit of his servant's knowledge of Hutts.
There are several different ways this could go depending on how strong a case your Master makes to the Hutt.

Rolled 6, 3, 6 + 3 = 18 (3d6 + 3)

>>2242640
Rolling.

>>2242650
inb4 we actually leave hyperspace for an auction that doesn't exist

>>2242650
This is actually pretty decent.

>>2242650
Jesus anon.

>>2242655
>>2242650
That it boys firat time we will see a Hutr sweat nervously.

Should I put on a trip?

>>2242690
Uh... No. Why?

>>2242699
Obviously because he wants to be bullied.

>>2242640
The conversation between Veredious and Baghora grows more and more heated, and you worry the Hutt might short out the speakers built into his dais.

Then, he explodes with utter fury. The Hutt gestures frantically to his Twi'lek servant, who rushes out of the room along with a small group of Weequay and human guards.

"What's happening?" you murmur to Olub'cree. Normally you'd be worried about offending the Hutt by whispering right in front of him, but Baghora is too busy roaring at Veredious and his guards in uncontrolled anger.

"Lord Veredious informed the honorable Baghora that the Darksaber is up for auction elsewhere." Judging by the Hutt's reaction, the ruse worked.

You twist back to look at Olub’cree, eyebrow raised. "The 'Darksaber'?" you wonder aloud.

He nods, his eyes flickering to the panicked Baghora before returning to you. "He says that the item was already authenticated by an expert, whom he is now bringing *here* to punish."

That was an unforeseen circumstance, but there's no stopping the plan now. Baghora's outward display of rage gradually fades, though you can tell from his heavy breathing that he is very much ready to bring it to bear on the unfortunate soul being summoned before him.

"Veredious," the Hutt booms, his voice unnervingly steady compared to the violence of a few moments ago. Your Master and the Hutt engage in talks once again, and Olub'cree translates.

"Great Baghora says he cannot afford to anger the Mandalorians. He asks that Lord Veredious examine the item to confirm or deny its authenticity. It is being brought to us as we speak.”

Your breath catches in your throat, and you're sure Veredious feels no less excitement than you - but you both hide it well. Your Master dutifully agrees to do the Hutt this favor, and the conversation ends as you all await the arrival of the Hutt's 'expert'.

After a few more minutes of waiting, you sense something - not excitement, but a sort of gathering tension in your chest. Beside you, Veredious is looking around the room, his eyes momentarily locking with yours as he seeks out what you both feel. But only you know what it is - you felt it earlier this same day.

The door to the hall opens, and you turn to see the white tunic-clad figure of Pailia Tille surrounded by gaffe stick-wielding Weequay. Her gray hair hangs loose over her shoulders, and she looks around the room in a panic. Judging by her hair and simple clothes, she was awoken from sleep and dragged from her room with little time to prepare - but strangely, she is still decked out in the same silver jewelry you saw her in last time.

>>2242850
"What is this?" she exclaims, her eyes travelling to the Hutt in front of her. "Baghora!"

The Hutt holds up a hand to silence her, and she obeys. The group escorting her stops beside your own, and the room once again goes silent. Minutes more pass as you wait for the arrival of this 'Darksaber', and your gaze wanders to Pailia. If she notices you, she isn't showing it - her eyes dart back and forth, and her legs shake like saplings in a storm. Despite the obvious panic she's displaying, you can sense little of it within her.

The door opens again, and a hovercart is shoved in by another group of guards. You and Veredious make way for them, and they come to a stop before the Hutt. Atop the cart is a long case of gray metal, completely innocuous looking. But you can feel the power within it - just as you can feel the Kyber crystal on Pailia's forehead.

This plan has gone better than you could have imagined - almost *too* well. You've been presented with a golden opportunity, but the number of people carefully watching you and Veredious makes it impossible to discuss your next move. And here, Veredious has an important decision to make.

Do you simply plant the tracker in your pocket inside the case and go with the original plan? Or do you hint to Veredious that the saber is a fake, encouraging him to tell Baghora the same thing? If your Master plays his cards right, you two could simply walk right off the ship with the Darksaber in hand and leave Baghora to deal with his furious clients.

What's your move?

>The saber is genuine. You'll plant the tracker and intercept the Darksaber after it leaves Baghora's ship.

>The saber is an elaborate fraud. There are many ways this could play out. It might be possible to convince Baghora to *help* you steal the saber en-route to Rishi, under the rationale that it will stop the Mandalorians from discovering the forgery.

>Wildcard

>>2242856
>The saber is an elaborate fraud. There are many ways this could play out. It might be possible to convince Baghora to *help* you steal the saber en-route to Rishi, under the rationale that it will stop the Mandalorians from discovering the forgery.

>>2242856
>The saber is an elaborate fraud. There are many ways this could play out. It might be possible to convince Baghora to *help* you steal the saber en-route to Rishi, under the rationale that it will stop the Mandalorians from discovering the forgery.
Gotta stay friendly with the Hutts.

>>2242856
>The saber is an elaborate fraud. There are many ways this could play out. It might be possible to convince Baghora to *help* you steal the saber en-route to Rishi, under the rationale that it will stop the Mandalorians from discovering the forgery.

>>2242856
>The saber is genuine. You'll plant the tracker and intercept the Darksaber after it leaves Baghora's ship.

Kinda want to keep the milf alive since she is a force weeb she could be usefull to us once our master leave us to rake his post.

>According to Mandalorian custom, one could only obtain the Darksaber by defeating the previous owner in combat. Should they have claimed it any other way, their claim was considered illegitimate.
This could be bad news for Maghora. If we or Veredious knows this IC we could tell him about it to increase his paranoia even further.

>>2242856
>The saber is an elaborate fraud. There are many ways this could play out. It might be possible to convince Baghora to *help* you steal the saber en-route to Rishi, under the rationale that it will stop the Mandalorians from discovering the forgery.
And possibly tell him that he runs the risk of being killed by the mandalorians even if they believe it's real.

>>2242908
Are the Mandos really dumb enough to make an enemy of the Hutts for their customs though? Surely they'd compromise for this kind of thing. But I guess they are pretty strict with their code.

>>2242856
The saber is an elaborate fraud. There are many ways this could play out. It might be possible to convince Baghora to *help* you steal the saber en-route to Rishi, under the rationale that it will stop the Mandalorians from discovering the forgery.
I hope the hut kill our masta

>>2242941
>Are the Mandos really dumb enough
yes and yes

>>2242941
>Are the Mandos really dumb enough to make an enemy of the Hutts for their customs though?

Absolutely.

>>2242941
>Are the Mandos really dumb enough to make an enemy of the Hutts for their customs though?

Yes. Yes they are. Don't forget these are the same people that thought that jump from a mounted inaectoid droid througth the atmosphere was considered as solid strategy.

The Mandalorians are a bunch of dumb fuckers, great tacticians sometimes, but for the most part they would ride the short-bus if they ever went to school.

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>>2242856
Standing beside your Master, you watch as he carefully opens the case set in front of him. His eyes go wide, and you can feel the thrill of success gripping his heart. Laid inside the velvet-lined case is a small sword hilt, with a rectangular handle and a short handguard.

It looks more like a vibrosword than a lightsaber, except that there's no blade. Veredious slowly reaches in and grips the hilt, his excitement building to heights that only you can sense - at least you *hope* no one else can sense it.

"There's something off about the blade emitter," you say to him, making no attempt to keep your voice low. Veredious looks at you in confusion, but only for a moment - he quickly understands where you're going with this.

Quelling any obvious display of awe, Veredious steps away from the case with the hilt in both hands, and thumbs the button on the side. A shimmering black blade shoots forth from the handle, sharper and more well-defined than that of a traditional lightsaber. There's a low, constant hum to the blade that you can both feel and hear.

"A very convincing forgery," Veredious shouts in Basic.

"It's not a *forgery*!" Pailia exclaims desperately from her circle of guards. Baghora shoots her a mean glare, a low rumble escaping his throat as he turns his attention back to Veredious. You expect your Master to place the weapon back in the case and be done with it, but instead he begins conversing with Baghora in Huttese. After a few moments of that, a series of events plays out that you struggle to understand.

Baghora waves over a human guard, and Veredious hands him the Darksaber. Your Master then takes his *own* lightsaber from his belt, activates it, and delivers a quick chop to the black blade of the Darksaber.

>>2243064
And the Darksaber's blade disappears. The guard holding it stumbles back in shock, checking his body to ensure he wasn't actually struck by the red lightsaber. Veredious snatches the Darksaber from him and places it back in the case, then turns to speak to Baghora once again. As he does so, Olub'cree leans into your ear to translate.

"Lord Veredious says it is not a true Kyber crystal, nor a true lightsaber blade. The Mandalorians will discover the forgery as soon as they attempt to use it in battle." It was a very convincing display, and even *you* aren't quite sure how Veredious pulled it off. One touch of his lightsaber had made the Darksaber's blade vanish.

As he speaks, the Hutt grows angrier and angrier before unleashing his rage in a series of bellowing shouts directed at Pailia. He's speaking too quickly for you to understand the venomous words, but you can guess what he's upset about.

Pailia's faulty evaluation of the weapon could have led to Baghora making an entire clan of Mandalorians his sworn enemy. At least, that was the danger you had convinced the Hutt of.

Two of the guards standing beside Pailia grab her, then force her to her knees. A third steps behind her, and draws a knife from his belt before grabbing a fistful of her hair and exposing her neck.

Veredious watches with disinterest, but you look back and forth between the Hutt and Pailia in shock. You're not sure what you had expected when he dragged her here, but he's fully prepared to have this woman executed for her supposed failure.

Do you intervene? If so, how?

>>2243068
Nope, this mission is way more important than selling some jewelry.

>>2243068
No. Her death is just the first toward our path to power.

We could even sell the jewelry to Baghora, he wears a ton of it.

>>2243068
we are sith, she had the unfortunate circumstances of getting in our way. Sucks to be her.

>>2243068
>no
Hopefully we can sneakily grab her circlet.

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>>2243068
Nope

>>2243090
>>2243093
Guess now we can have a second saber. Or at least a higher tier of crystal.

>>2243087
And since our master just saved his slug ass from being killed by a whole mando clan i bet he would be willing to buy it easily.

>>2243090
ehh I think it'd be smarter to just leave it with Balghora.

>>2243116
Baghora*
Star wars names are hard.

>>2243116
I believe we can acquire or exchange one jewlery for another.

>>2243068
Not saying a word, you watch as Pailia pleads her case to a furious Baghora.

"It's *real*!" she exclaims, shaking her clasped hands up and down. "Let me show you!"

The Hutt shouts something and waves a fat hand at her, his gold bracelets rattling with each angry gesture. Pailia stretches her hands out to him, still pleading even as the guard behind her moves his knife to her throat. The room falls silent, and even Pailia seems resigned to her fate, her anguished expression hardening. Then, her outstretched hands clench tight, and the guard behind her stops cold as his eyes travel upwards.

Confused, you follow his gaze back to Baghora - where the now-active Darksaber hums softly within the Hutt's right eye socket. Before you can even process what you're looking at, the saber flies out of the dead Hutt's eye, zipping across the room towards Pailia and impaling the knife-wielding guard in the chest.

The room erupts into chaos. The guards on either side of Pailia stagger back, moving to draw their blasters before being thrown back dozens of feet with quick thrusts of Pailia's hands. She pulls the Darksaber from the chest of the guard to her rear before his body can tumble to the ground, turning to face you just as you and Veredious draw your own lightsabers. She throws her free hand towards you, sending a wave of force rippling through the air.

Roll me 3d6 to see if her attack lands.

Rolled 4, 5, 5 = 14 (3d6)

>>2243150
Oh shit, she was a Jedi this whole time. She closed herself off to the force intentionally for this.

Rolled 2, 6, 4 = 12 (3d6)

>>2243150
Rolling.

>>2243160
o bby

>>2243160
Cool now we have a excuse of Jedi doing shady business and killing the hutts!! Yay!

Rolled 5, 4, 3 = 12 (3d6)

>>2243150

>>2243160
Maybe the jewelry suppressed get presence which is why she was wearing it in bed.

Rolled 3, 4, 4 = 11 (3d6)

>>2243150
fucking jedi.
every god damn time, time to kill her and rightfully claim the darksaber as ours.

>>2243173
>>2243214
Or just, y'know, another Sith. Or other force cults.

>>2243150
The blast hits you and Veredious head-on, sending you both tumbling back to the ground, along with Olub'cree and several of the guards. Blaster fire erupts across the room, and you leap back to your feet to see Pailia racing past you to the exit, using the Force and her newly-acquired blade to deflect the bolts.

"After her!" Veredious shouts, and the two of you break into a full-on sprint. A few of Baghora's stunned guards give chase as well, but they don't have the benefit of Force-enhanced speed, and quickly fall behind. The woman is old, but she's unbelievably fast. You lose sight of her as she rounds a corner, and when she comes back into view you notice her fiddling with something on her wrist.

Before you can ask yourself what exactly she's doing, the floor beneath you shakes as if an earthquake is seizing the Kwee-Kunee. The ship groans in pain, and there's an ear-shattering hum that seems to come from every direction at once. After that dull roar comes a horrendous screech that travels up the hallway. The marble floor cracks and splinters, and panelling pops off of the walls as the corridor before you crumples like an accordion.

The ship has been forced out of hyperspace.

Pailia continues to focus on her wristband computer as she runs, and you and your Master slowly gain on her. The Darksaber is clutched weakly in her right hand, and she's still about 30 feet away - but you're closing on her.

You don't need Pailia - just the Darksaber. You could attempt to use the Force to snatch it from her, an attempt which would be aided by your Master. Grabbing onto *her* with the Force will be nearly impossible - she's clearly an experienced Force-user. You could attempt to stun her with a blast of Force Lightning, allowing you to close the distance more quickly. You could also throw your lightsaber at her, or use your telekinesis to bring the ceiling down on her head.

This fight will not end with a single 'lethal' strike, but with a gradual whittling-down of HP through successful attempts at lethal attacks. It will run on the rules I outlined in the google docs, but I'll try and thoroughly describe the state of things with each post just to make sure everything is clear. When a lethal strike is opportune, I’ll make that clear. Support Veredious, and help him go for lethal strikes as well.

Or just run away. Maybe this whole 'Sith' thing isn't working out.

>>2243228
Nah man it was tottaly a Jedi. I know it could have being another sith or a random force sensitive cult but we should pin this crap to the jedi. Make the Hutts not wabting to deal with then even more.

>>2243228
doesn't change all that much what i said, still gonna properly beat her ass and rightfully claim the darksaber.

>>2243234
If we try to pull the saber she will easily overpower us since she ia more expert So use the lightning to weaken her and let our master pull the saber.

>Shock her

>>2243254
I second this. Shock her, and make it easier for our Master to strike.

>>2243234
Hit her with force lightning while Veredious steals the saber

>>2243254
>>2243258

You throw a bolt of Force Lighting at Pailia's turned back, intending to unbalance her so that your Master can strike.

Roll me 3d6+2.

Rolled 3, 6, 5 + 2 = 16 (3d6 + 2)

>>2243265
Damn dude these are short voting times. I guess it matches the pace of the combat though.

>>2243268
We're rolling like gangbusters tonight. I approve.

Also these are some insanely high DCs, especially for a single roll.

Rolled 6, 5, 5 + 5 = 21 (3d6 + 5)

>>2243234

The blue lightning shoots from your fingertips and connects with Pailia's, making her shout in pain and fall to her knees. Still running at her, Veredious reaches out with the Force to dry and draw the Darksaber from her weakened grip.

>>2243283
Holy fuck that roll

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>>2243283
Daaammmm!

MILF STATUS: OWNED!

>>2243283
Veredious is fucking pissed.

>>2243287
Note to self: never piss off our master.

Rolled 6, 4, 2 + 3 = 15 (3d6 + 3)

>>2243283


Pailia is too busy dealing with her fried nerves to stop Veredious. The Darksaber slips from her hand, flying to him before he snatches it out of the air with his left hand.

She stands and turns to you, and you expect to see utter rage - but she is completely serene. She throws both hands out, in a repeat of the earlier attempt that sent both you and Veredious to the floor.

>>2243298
Should we roll?

Rolled 3, 6, 2 = 11 (3d6)

>>2243298
Yes.

>>2243298
>>2243298

You see the air rippling before you, and try to block it, but she's simply too strong. You're thrown back to the floor, clutching at your lightsaber as invisible ocean waves crash over you and your Master. The air is knocked from your lungs, and your recovery is punctuated by sharp gasps for air. Scrambling to your feet with lightsaber at the ready, you move to dive at a disarmed Pailia.

Except she's not disarmed. All of her jewelry - the circlet, the rings, the two bracelets - is now clustered in a tight cylindrical shape above her palms. The green Kyber crystal she had worn slots into place in the center of the mass of metal, and the separate pieces clench tightly together with a neat *click*. She twists the cylinder, and dual blades of green light roar to life on both ends of the lightsaber.

Pailia is close enough for both you and Veredious to close on her and engage in melee in a single turn. If she’s as good with a lightsaber as she is with the Force, lethal attacks will be difficult - it might be best to attempt to Unbalance or Stun her, both of which will make lethal attacks from you and your Master easier. It is easier to Unbalance than Stun, but the latter lasts twice as long.

You also have your Force powers, as well as what limited environmental objects are at your disposal in the barren hallway.

>>2243319
Our master is better with the force than with melee right? For now have him support us with the force while we close in. Attempt to unbalance her with melee attacks so our master can stun her with the force, opening her up for a lethal lightsaber strike.

>>2243319
We should probably keep stunning. That looked like it worked out pretty well before.

>>2243319
We will take vanguard and cover for our master she will keep focusing on us and so he can land a stun on her so we can finish. For now force her to focus on us.

>>2243319
And of course we try to unbalance her. Sweet barter is always good in a fight between a sith and a kedi

>>2243319
You've rarely fought against someone wielding a lightsaber, and *never* someone wielding one with twin blades - but it doesn't change how this will end. You rush in with your own weapon poised to strike, driving at Pailia and working around her in a circle to force her to open herself to Veredious' coming attack.

Roll me 3d6+2 for your attempt to set her off balance.

Second poster please roll me 3d6+3 for Veredious' attack.

Rolled 4, 4, 2 + 2 = 12 (3d6 + 2)

>>2243335

Rolled 2, 6, 5 + 3 = 16 (3d6 + 3)

>>2243335

>>2243337
Well it's slightly above average at least. I think I'll stop hogging all the first roll now, sorry guys. At least unbalancing her has the lowest DC

Rolled 3, 2, 1 + 3 = 9 (3d6 + 3)

>>2243335
Pailia's defense is a dizzying blur of green light, but you don't need to find any openings - all you're doing is forcing her to keep her attention on you while your Master strikes. You can't see it happen, but you hear it - there's a roar from Veredious as he lunges at her, and then a flare of light as both of Veredious' blades crash into her lightsaber, inches away from severing her right arm at the shoulder. Seemingly unconcerned with the fact that she's now facing two experienced Sith, Pailia spins back towards you, driving the other end of her green saber towards your face.

>>2243347
Her strike is clumsy, too overcome with the pressure she's facing from you and Veredious. She's opened herself up to a counter-attack.

Pailia is still Unbalanced. This would be a good time to go for a Stun or a lethal strike, like the one your Master just landed.

Varrus HP - 8
Veredious HP - 10
Pailia HP - 11

>>2243353
>Lethal but chop off her saber hand

>>2243353
>stun
Why be unsafe when it's two against one?

>>2243353
>stun
I'm not falling for that trap.

>>2243353
Go for a lethal. We have to take every chance we can get.

>>2243353
>stun

Guys when she's stunned or unbalanced during our attack phase we have to use a lethal strike if we want to get anywhere

Rolled 2, 1, 1 + 5 = 9 (3d6 + 5)

>>2243353
Instead of attempting to bring your blade to bear again so quickly, you drive the hilt at her face, smashing her in the nose while Veredious prepares to strike at her turned back.

Roll me 3d6+2 for your own attack.

I'll roll for Veredious.

Rolled 3, 4, 1 + 2 = 10 (3d6 + 2)

>>2243382

>>2243382
Sorry, that should have been 3d6+4 for our own roll. 2 for physicality skill and 2 for unbalanced. I'll add it in post.

Rolled 1, 5, 6 + 2 = 14 (3d6 + 2)

>>2243382

RIP good dice rolls

>>2243382
Jesus Christ Veredious stick to the force

>>2243382
Your hilt catches Pailia square in the face, and you feel warm blood coating your hand as she stumbles back against the wall.

Time to make your next move. Pailia is Unbalanced for 1 turn and Stunned for 2.

>>2243390
Lethal. Time to end this I guess.

>>2243390
Lethal strike! Hit one of her arms to interfere with her melee skills.

Lethal Strike!

>>2243394
>This fight will not end with a single 'lethal' strike, but with a gradual whittling-down of HP through successful attempts at lethal attacks. It will run on the rules I outlined in the google docs, but I'll try and thoroughly describe the state of things with each post just to make sure everything is clear. When a lethal strike is opportune, I’ll make that clear. Support Veredious, and help him go for lethal strikes as well.

>>2243394
>>2243395

I'll need rolls of 3d6+6 and 3d6+7

Rolled 5, 6, 6 + 6 = 23 (3d6 + 6)

>>2243403

Rolled 4, 6, 1 + 7 = 18 (3d6 + 7)

>>2243403

Rolled 2, 3, 3 + 7 = 15 (3d6 + 7)

>>2243403

>>2243406
Holy shit.

Rolled 1, 2, 1 + 3 = 7 (3d6 + 3)

>>2243390
You and Veredious work in tandem, slashing away at Pailia with her only barely able to keep up with the furious blows. Perhaps it's because you're fighting side by side with your Master, but you've never felt more confident in battle. Veredious cuts at her defenses with ferocious speed, his twin blades a blur of red and black that stab into the walls and slide against her twirling green blade.

Another low groan passes through the ship, and more panels pop from the walls and ceiling as further stress is put on the hallway. You try to put that out of mind, but then sirens began blaring up and down the hallway, signalling in alternating Basic and Huttese for an evacuation of the ship. Pailia hears them, too - and whether from that or sheer panic, decides to once again try throwing you two back with the Force.

>>2243420
She's panicked, and the attack is far weaker than the last she attempted it. You re-direct the energy with your blade, sending it off harmlessly to either side as you press forward with your attack.

Pailia is still Unbalanced, but only for this counter-attack. She is also Stunned, which will last until after your next full turn. Now is the time to strike. Roll me 3d6+6.

Rolled 3, 6, 5 + 6 = 20 (3d6 + 6)

>>2243427

>>2243430
bretty gud

>>2243438
Good thing I killed as those younglings earlier as tribute to the dice gods

File: Ship.jpg (69 KB, 720x449)

69 KB JPG

>>2243427
You drive forward at her chest, searing her shoulder and making her scream in pain. For a moment, you're not sure what happened to misdirect your potentially lethal strike - until you feel the hallway shake again, and the floor beneath you ripple like you're standing in quicksand. A split-second later you're stumbling to the left and down as the far end of the corridor collapses into the depths of the ship. You, Veredious, and Paillia all tumble down the sloping hallway, rolling off the edge into a massive cylindrical expanse criss-crossed by metal walkways that all connect to a thin metal column at the center.

You reach out desperately for something - anything - to grab onto, and to great relief manage to snatch the railing of one of the catwalks. Pulling yourself up, you try to get your bearings and find the other two combatants. There's catwalks above and below you, running off into the darkness of the vast circular space you find yourself in. Dozens of windowless elevators run up the walls all around you - likely the same ones you ascended when first arriving on the Kwee-Kunee.

The sound of combat draws your attention upward, and you see Veredious and Pailia doing battle on one of the walkways above you.

The fall has halved everyone's HP, unexpectedly speeding up the fight. What's your next move? The catwalk the other two are on is about twenty feet above you. You could attempt to pull it down with the Force, throw your lightsaber at it to sever one end, or leap up to join the fight.

Varrus HP - 4
Veredious HP - 5
Pailia HP - 4

>>2243461
...it's really dumb when good roles just get ignored.

>>2243461
Jump on top of one of the elevators to ride up to their level, then jump down for a surprise attack from behind Pailia.

>>2243469
This sounds solid.

>>2243468
Like he said, it's a long and drawn out fight. Like all fights between force users. Yeah it sucks that we lost 4 how out of nowhere but that's due to circumstances out of our control. And she lost 4 hp as well.

>>2243483
lost 4 hp*

Rolled 3, 5, 3 + 5 = 16 (3d6 + 5)

>>2243487
You race to the end of your catwalk, stopping just short of the wall and leaping onto one of the elevators racing up towards you. With a *thump* you land atop the roof, almost certainly terrifying whichever guests are busy fleeing the damaged flagship. The sound of shearing metal coming from the bowels of the ship is even clearer now that you're in its belly - you need to finish this and leave.

Veredious and Pailia come into view ahead of you - her back is turned to you, and your Master is driving her towards the wall with a furious assault.

Rolled 6, 5, 1 + 3 = 15 (3d6 + 3)

>>2243490
Veredious' attack is having its intended effect on Pailia. She's falling back faster, clearly withering under the intense assault. In a desperate attack she drives her lightsaber towards them across the narrow catwalk, banking on the fact that Veredious has no room in which to maneuver.