Star Wars RPG solo - Part 6 : This deal is getting worse all the time

"You're really ok with this?" asks Wex as he and Oosuu are heading towards a sleazy cantina.

"Is necessary. Oosuu pragmatist sometimes. Not like, but still best option."

"I just know how you feel about Hutts."

"Wex very sweet, but drop subject now, ok? Repetition making worse."


Scene 14

Chaos: Madness (d6)

Setup: Looking to make contact

NPC list: Porubek the Kitonak crimelord (Zil's boss), Jather Plazeed the Devaronian grifter, Bootleg Bardin the human speeder racer, Wex Enstipo the human gunrunner, Oosuu the Twi'lek waitress, Xzag-Xzan the crime boss (Jather's sometime patron), Chruighok the rival crime boss

Threads: find powerful patron

[Wex needs to make a Streetwise roll to find someone with the necessary connections. Base difficulty is Easy (10), +10 for martial law, -5 for having contacts in the area = 15 total; 5D=18, success.

Q: Who does he find? Bounty Hunter, d6=f
Q: Any immediate problems? Unknown: 1d6=5 Unlikely (5+): O1 C6 - No.]

Wex buys a round for himself and Oosuu and scans the room a bit, until he espies a familiar-looking Iotran disinterestedly playing a holographic pazaak game in the corner. He sidles over to her, and motions for Oosuu to follow.

"Hiya, Vasp. I never figured you for a card player."

"Hiya, Wex. As you can see from my hand, I'm not. But business is down, and this passes the time until the pod races come on."

"Business is down all over. But still... I really need an interview with Morga the Hutt. Or one of his lieutenants. I was hoping you could set me up."

[He needs a Moderate (15) Persuasion roll: 3D=10, fail]

"Sorry, can't."

"Look, I'm not trying to muscle in on anyone's territory. It's not even for me, exactly. It's for my friend here; she needs a job."

The Iotran looks Oosuu up and down critically.

"Uh, I really don't think she's dancer material..."

"No!" shouts the offended Twi'lek. "Oosuu not dancer! Oosuu technician!" She composes herself for a moment, then continues in a more moderate tone. "Oosuu modify blasters. Oosuu also slicer. But Oosuu better at blasters."

[She needs a Difficult (20) Persuasion roll: 4D+2=23, success]

Vasp seems a little flustered, and almost ashamed of herself. "Oh. Uh, sorry, it's just... nevermind. Yeah. Ok. I'll see what I can do."

"Great," says Wex. "But speaking of blasters, know anyone who needs a crate or two of 'em? Only Vudlor's capture sort of ended the deal I was putting together..."

[Q: Does she? Unlikely (5+): O5 C6 - Yes.
Q: Is it Chruighok? Doubtful (6): O5 C4 - no, but... one of her associates]

"Have you tried Slavoo?"

"Ah, no, I uh, hadn't thought of her."

[Wex needed an Easy (10) Con roll to avoid sounding suspicious: 3D=6 (Wild die=1, complication)

Complication (1d6): 1 gets suspicious, 2 calls Slavoo afterwards to see what the deal is, 3 puts 2+2 together & attempts to apprehend, 4 puts 2+2 together and tails Wex home, 5 as 4 but summons allie(s) on the way, 6 merely decides Wex is too problematic and never calls back

d6=2
Q: Does Slavoo know anything about Wex? Doubtful (6): O3 C5 - no.
Q: Can a meeting with Morga's people be arranged? 50/50 (4+): O4 C1 - Yes, and... in only 1d3=2 days]


Scene 15

Chaos: Madness (d6)

Setup: retrieve crate of blasters

NPC list: Porubek the Kitonak crimelord (Zil's boss), Jather Plazeed the Devaronian grifter, Bootleg Bardin the human speeder racer, Wex Enstipo the human gunrunner, Oosuu the Twi'lek waitress, Xzag-Xzan the crime boss (Jather's sometime patron), Chruighok the rival crime boss

Threads: find powerful patron

Wex buys another round, and he and Oosuu kill some time chatting with Vasp before the pod races start. She invites them to stay and watch, but they politely decline. Wex explains his crates of blasters are gathering dust in a cheap hotel room, and it's a waste of money since he hasn't been staying there. Vasp wishes them well, and shoots Wex a knowing look as they depart; Oosuu diplomatically pretends not to notice.

[Q: Any problems? 50/50 (4+): O6 C1 - Yes, and...

BOLD waylay: personal - rival - regimental
solution: scarce-used ability]

Wex and Oosuu have hardly walked to the end of the block when a woman shouts after them, "Wex Enstipo! So you finally slithered back to Ord Mantell!"

Wex bristles at the sound, but tries to look cool and collected when he turns about. There can be no doubt in his mind as to just who it is. Major Riilina Cazerdy is a mercenary, whose company is stationed on Ord Mantell. She has the physique of a shockboxer, but she hides it under flowing tunics that Wex still doesn't think suit her. She hasn't really changed since the last time he saw her; she's still dyeing her hair blond and wearing too much eyeliner. The edge to her voice is new to him, but he wonders if her bravado isn't just a little forced.

"I been back a couple weeks," says Wex. "Didn't seem like a good time to look you up. Been pretty busy."

"Wex, me dear, it never is," she replies. Wex can smell the liquor on her breath now as she continues. "I saw you talking to Vasp. Looking to unload some cut-rate goods on her? For shame!" [inquisitive - questions - recent scene]

"Lay off, will you, Lina? Business is a mess between the strike and the curfew and now Vudlor's capture all over the holonews. I could do without you riding my aft boosters."

"So is that how you're swinging these days? And here I thought this little Twi'lek was your new crumpet..."

Oosuu's mouth is hanging open in dismay, but Wex can see the ire bubbling over behind her eyes.

[He must make a Persuasion (3D) roll vs. Oosuu's Willpower (4D+2) to keep her in check: 17 vs. 20]

"Don't let her get to you. She just likes to punish anyone I'm--"

"What call Oosuu!? Girl watch mouth or Oosuu slap!"

Oosuu raises her hand fiercely and takes an angry step forward. The sight of the soft Twi'lek girl threatening violence strikes Lina -- a hand-to-hand combat expert -- as uncommonly funny, and she bursts out with a fit of laughter.

[Oosuu hasn't put any skill dice into Brawl, so it counts as the Waylay solution's 'scarce-used ability'. Lina gets an Easy (7) Perception roll to avoid 'surprise': 2D+1=5; Oosuu's Brawl 2D+2=12 hits.

I used UNE to gauge Lina's reaction
Conversation Mood: 1d7=sociable; prejudiced - doubt - power]

The slap stops her laughter cold, and she takes a step back in surprise. Oosuu is still fuming, and looks like she might have another go. Wex is afraid to get between them -- he's seen Lina flatten a raging Whipid in one punch, so any interference on his part would be a futile gesture.

But Lina just rubs her cheek and smiles. "She's a gutsy one, I'll give 'er that. Never mind what I said, Wex, your friend's alright. More than I can say for your merchandise of late. Well, good luck with it. Be seeing you!"

And with that she goes back towards the cantina.

Wex and Oosuu somehow make it to Wex's hotel room without further incident. He checks the crates...

[Q: Is everything OK with them? Likely (4+): O4 C3 - Yes, but...]

...and sees that they haven't been touched. The cleaners haven't even moved them, if indeed this fine establishment even employs cleaners.

Oosuu pops open one of the crates out of curiosity. She takes out a blaster pistol, and examines it with her practiced eye.

"Oh, Wex! Mean Lina girl right. Blasters awful!"


Scene 16

Chaos: improves to Out of Control (d8)

Setup: Interrupt (Was: waiting for contact)
Interrupt: Close a thread - Return / Intrigues

NPC list: Porubek the Kitonak crimelord (Zil's boss), Jather Plazeed the Devaronian grifter, Bootleg Bardin the human speeder racer, Wex Enstipo the human gunrunner, Oosuu the Twi'lek waitress, Xzag-Xzan the crime boss (Jather's sometime patron), Chruighok the rival crime boss, Major Riilina Cazerdy the human mercenary (Wex's ex-flame)

Threads: find powerful patron

They take a droid taxi back to Oosuu's flat. Oosuu busies herself with examining the merchandise to see if there are any decent ones in the lot whilst Wex gets Zil and Jather up to speed.

[Q: Any decent blasters? 50/50 (4+): O6 C5 - Yes.
Oosuu needs an Easy (10) Blaster Repair to determine which: 4D=19]

Oosuu finds two blasters that she deems serviceable, and presents them to Zil and Jather, as their hold-outs are underpowered, have bad range, and are nearly out of ammunition. She finds her own blaster pistol under a pile of clothe in her sleeping cubicle after a few minutes of searching.

And then they wait. And wait. And wait. Zil and Jather need to keep a low profile, so hardy dare to leave the flat. Wex and Oosuu make a few forays for food, but try to keep their movements to a minimum. There's no telling whether the thug who escaped the diner got a good look at Wex, or remembered the angry waitress with her dangerous pot of caf. And there's a slight chance the Empire might be looking for them too.

But Wex finally gets the call: meet tomorrow at 14:00 at [Scarlet Heroes urban location:d3, d20 = Inn] the Hotel Stellar 8's bar/lounge. Ask for Mr. Kuththuk's table.

- - -

The Hotel Stellar 8 is popular with travelling businessbeings and the lower echelons of the Imperial Navy on their family holidays. Local criminals favour the lounge as a neutral meeting place as it is neither too fancy nor too grotty for the bosses to meet with the more hands-on types.

Mr. Kuththuk is a genteel and immaculately-dressed Trandoshan, from his tailored suit down to the softly-glowing flower he wears as a boutonnière. His [1d6=] two bodyguards are sitting at nearby table, but as he insists they also dress respectably, neither Wex nor Oosuu are quite sure which of the various beings in the spacious lounge that they are [they both failed Very Difficult (24) Perception rolls to spot them].

The headwaiter, TrZ-353, ushers Wex and Oosuu over to Mr. Kuththuk's table, and he rises to greet them.

"Mr. Enstipo. Please, have a seat. And your companion, Ms...?"

"Oosuu."

"But of course. Charmed, Ms. Oosuu. Waiter, bring them anything they please. On my tab, naturally."

The waiter takes their orders, then scurries off to the bar on its single, gyro-stabilised wheel. They make small talk whilst waiting for the droid to return. Mr. Kuththuk apologises for meeting somewhere they are forced to listen to such horrible "Core Contemporary" music, but says it does so make him glad he has tickets for the Mon Calamari opera later this evening. Once the waiter has brought the cocktails, the Trandoshan's voice takes on a more serious cast.

[UNE--
NPC Relationship: friendly
Conversation Mood: sociable
insane - bewilderment - friends]

"Let me get right to the point, Mr. Enstipo. The esteemed Morga the Hutt is always willing to support new talent, so if Ms. Oosuu is as capable as I've heard -- and I have made enquiries -- I believe she would make a valuable asset to our business concern. But -- and this pains me to have to say -- I've heard less than flattering whispers about the company you yourself have been keeping. And as I am sure you are aware, a stain on your reputation makes it hard to get a fair picture of your friend's potential worth. I've always heard you were an honourable being, Mr. Enstipo, so I will be plain: what is your relation to Zil Lhahon?"

"I know her vaguely. Mostly by reputation, so I would normally keep my distance. But she was in town looking for Vudlor Taf when he went to ground. And since I was also looking for Vudlor, I sort of just tagged along. Then when the news broke..."

"Ah, yes. Pity about that. Mr. Taf was remarkably cultured -- but then I suppose most Snivvians are -- and for that I shall miss him. But come now, Mr. Enstipo. Certainly you must have known of the attempt on Ms. Lhahon's life." [insane - idiocy - last scene]

"I would suppose that happens to her with alarming frequency."

"Quite. But one is not often in a position to witness it firsthand."

"Well, no," says Wex, embarrassed. "I guess not."

"And whilst I understand how this incident might have a... shall we say, somewhat fiscally unwelcome effect on Ms. Oosuu here, I cannot help but wonder at how this unpleasantness might affect you. And -- of course -- by extension, further inconvenience your charming friend."

"Oh no!" interjects Oosuu. "Zil ruin Oosuu old job. Wex, not let Zil ruin job Oosuu not even have yet!"

"Perhaps, my good Mr. Enstipo, you might still know where to find Ms. Lhahon. This information would not only demonstrate your bona fides, but might also earn you a small finder's fee." [friendly - support - antagonist]

"Wex still know her. Wex can call. Pleeeeease, Wex. Help Oosuu!"

[Oosuu must make a Con (4D+2) roll, resisted by Mr. Kuththuk's Con (6D) for that to sound believable: 21 vs. 17, he buys it.]

"Would that I knew of her whereabouts, Mr. Enstipo! I could not countenance that my inaction should leave such a charming young lady in distress."

"I'll see if I can dig her up," says Wex.

"Splendid," says Mr. Kuththuk. He fishes a comlink out of his jacket pocket and puts it on the table. "When you've found her, call me using this comlink -- and no other. This one I know to be secure. Then we can make arrangements to, shall we say, meet with Ms. Lhahon."

"I'll be in touch," says Wex.

"Soon, I hope. The illustrious Morga is merely repaying a favour by looking for that devious Ms. Lhahon. I'm sure Chruighok has some of her own agents still on the case."