The Taris Event Chapter 2

[Cuspar]

Cuspar goes to the Dusty Bantha, and makes a mental note to mention the Columbi.

[Bulwark]

Bulwark follows the rest of the herd back to the Dusty Bantha.

[Dood]

It has been a pleasure meeting with you, sir. As the captain said, we'll be in touch as soon as we meet with the rest of our crew. I look forward to a long and profitable relationship.

On the way out with Syric:

A taxi? Do they have taxis this far outside of the city?

During the taxi ride or the walk back to the Bantha Dood tries to keep an eye out to see if they're being followed.

Perception: Roll(1d20)+9: 9,+9 Total:18

[Blackferne]

@ Dood no one is following you on your long walk back to the Dusty Bantha

@ Wailer you get some nice breaded dewback tenders with a bantha cheese dipping sauce. They are delicious. Also they cost 10 credits which I am deducting from your credit tally on my spreadsheet.

[Furiel]

As Eli leaves the starship lot with everyone else he mentions that we still haven't located Solumnus and will then proceed to go looking for him on his own.

Gather info: 4+2 = 6

[Whiteness]

Opening up his commlink, Syric sends a message to all asking them to meet in the Dusty Bantha to review all the information acquired so far.

As this is the second time he's made this walk, Syric is able to give an approximate time of arrival so the others know when to expect him and Dood.

[Blackferne]

@ Eli even with that bad a roll you hear that the Columbi made a scene at the space port, security was called to diffuse the situation, but he eventually got on a commercial transport headed back to Coruscant of his own free will.

[Furiel]

Once I hear that I'll head to the Bantha.

When I arrive I'll look for a menu board and check what the special is tonight before heading to the bar to order, and after procuring food and drink I'll join the others.

Perception: 8+8=16 to find the menu and the others

[Blackferne]

@ Eli the special of the day is deep fried dewback flank served with gravy and diced tubers. It is 9 credits. I am assuming you got a water based on your previous order. With tip that is 11 credits. You find Klak and company in the big corner booth.

[Dood]

When we arrive, Dood orders a small meal and a brandy before finding and joining the rest of the group.

[Arrican]

Order food and drink, 50% tip.

[Blackferne]

@ Dood: Grilled Dewback with lemon zest paired with Brandy 15cr
@ So Leet: Nerf Burger, tuber strips, Rodian ale 14cr

[Furiel]

@ Eli the special of the day is deep fried dewback flank served with gravy and diced tubers. It is 9 credits. I am assuming you got a water based on your previous order. With tip that is 11 credits. You find Klak and company in the big corner booth.

Actually I'll be drinking blue milk with dinner if available. I believe I'm running a little behind on my calcium intake and I need to be sure to be in fighting trim when we get to Bryx.

[Reese]

Klak looks at the group assembled
I was saying before everyone arrived I see our options as
1) Getting a ship from Zeid on credit?
2) Taking a loan from Buppo, getting a ship and have to make his runs?
3) Hop a transport to Bryx to find Kunga?
4) Hop a transport to Coruscant for a better ship deal?
5) Dood & Syric perhaps you made a better deal with Vorat?
6) Did I miss any that you all know of?

Personally I know the utility of having a ship is great. Lets just get one from Zeid on credit and get to Bryx as fast as we can. We will find a way to wire the credits to Zeid and I know a Zabrak like him will be true to his word.

Klak stops himself before he asks a young woman near them for a drink, remembering this place has a lack of waitresses.
"Also, if you all are determined to go with a deal that requires us returning here regularly, we may want to consider setting up a legitimate business location within Mos Eisley. If we have to make runs for Buppo or some other, we may be able to sneak a few in for ourselves and get some real credits out of this. Plus having a legitimate shop will help in establishing credibility as we move forward. But I think we are better off just leaving and finding out what is going on with this Hutt."

[Whiteness]

"Listen, Syric says in between mouthfulls of the Dusty Bantha's special of the day "we've been pretty scattered today and I think we need to put all our cards out on the table and review all the information at hand." Syric pauses to take a drink of water he had ordered begrudgingly.

"First, we know Kunga is in trouble with the Exchange boss Sargo and he's kept himself cooped up in his compound on Bryx. The only one that seems to leave that compound is his main advisor who has a mistress he visits."

"Buppo seems to be a waste of time to me, but he offered to assist with purchasing a ship if we agree to his working conditions. If we can get a ship without his help we may want to check back with him later, maybe pick up one of his jobs. It would give us some credits to work with and take us to a core world where we might have better luck getting to Bryx." Syric starts to pull out his flask, gives it a vacant stare and replaces it.

"Vorat was an interesting character and may be the best bet so far. He's willing to help us get cheap parts for the problem with our sensor jammers I made up and install a ship profile masking transponder for free. His jobs may be a bit more dangerous though, as we'd have to get pass a Sith blockade somewhere on the Braxant Run. That job may take us close enough to Bryx to stop and check out Kunga first, and the stealth modifications wouldn't hurt either. "

And being on house arrest might make it harder for him to come after us if we can't deliver his goods Syric says with a grin.

[Dood]

I did not get the impression that Vorat was all that concerned about having to track us down. That could be because he doesn't suspect he'll need to, or it could be because he knows he can do it whenever he wants. Still, I concur with Syric that of the two avenues we explored, Vorat is the more appealing.

[Arrican]

"Zeid is just a ship sales person, I got us a financed deal of 28k credits for a ship that would work, or 25k credits if we bought it out right. I did what I could on that end. Both are class 3's but can be modified. And I think with the right parts I can take care of that. Here's the main point behind me thinking we need a ship. Just cuz our first lead is on Bryx, doesn't mean he's there. It's pretty obvious he isn't or Kunga wouldn't be sending boys to Lok to find him. So we know we're gonna be running all over the place looking for Pork' Choppe so let's be realistic and know we need a ship. If we finance through Zeid and run cargo for either of the other "gentleman" at least our vehicle is being handled in a legit fashion which I am behind 100%. Any other input?

[Dood]

In terms of the ships you saw, how long before we could consider them flight-ready? I ask because while I agree that flexible transportation is likely to become paramount, I believe that our information points not to Kunga merely looking for - err - Pork Chop , my ridge-headed friend, but rather that associates of Kunga have already...appropriated our porcine friend.

Of course, we must remember that neither Kunga nor our small band are the only parties interested in acquiring Pork Chop

[Whiteness]

"I agree with So about the ship, I think it will give us the flexibility needed to find Porky, and we need to make up for lost time"
Syric says with a heavy sigh. This day feels so long

[Furiel]

Yes So, I believe that we might actually have a possible unexplored ally in this phase of our operation. Sargo. The enemy of your enemy is your friend and all that. If Sargo does in fact have a beef with Kunga, he may be open to having some independant individuals go rough him up a bit for him. And since we're planning on doing that anyway getting some backing or a reward from Sargo for following through on our plans would just be some icing on the proverbial cake. That and having the blessing of a bigger fish in the Exchange pond could prevent us from having future issues with them for doing what we intend to do.

Also, how much longer do we intend to be on the ground here? It's been awhile since I've had a chance to scrap with someone and I'm afraid I might be losing my edge and bare minimum I could use a sparring partner...

[Arrican]

"The ships are ready now, they can be modified to be better fairly quickly, couple 4-6 days to make "improvements". Certain other improvements that Vorat requested on the ship can be done in 2-3 days with help, I'm assuming, especially if he can provide the equipment and I don't need to do any patch work.

[Cuspar]

Cuspar orders a Quarrenese Ale and a bowl of plankton. If there is no plankton, I'll settle for four frogs, Hutt-style.

Well, I investigated transport for hire, and it's a poor option. We'd be shuttling to a core or inner world, and then still seeking out transport to Bryx. On the other hand, if we can procure a ship, I worry about how delayed our search for Pork'Choppe will be as we take jobs to pay for the ship. I too found that your Columbi friend managed to hop a transport for Coruscant - perhaps he found a lead that we didn't.

The Mon Calamari space-lust has obviously kicked in. A ship will accomplish our goal, which is to find Jounville. It will then serve the greater goal which is to spread the world of Alvis around the galaxy. Jounville would agree with this.

As for paying for the ship, it sounds like this Vorat is our safest current alternative. My only other thought, Cuspar sighs deeply, would involve exploiting my family connection... My father... might be thrilled to hear that his son has taken an interest in the shipping business. If he believed me to be sincere, he might be willing to help our enterprise somehow. On the other hand, he might... not - Fossar Inirv'E didn't come to own half of Dac by accident...

[Dood]

Dood looks at the Mon Calamari with puzzlement.

He then raises his hand to get everyone's attention and then speaks.

There is, of course, the option that no one here seems to be discussing. The Tsont'ar contingency - if you will, Dood says with raised eyebrows as he looks around the table at the rest of the group.

If we are going to try to make an informed decision, then perhaps it is worth our time to explore all of our options. If I am recalling things correctly, this Tsont'ar has need of some sort of service we may be able to provide, is likely to be generous in compensation, and merely requires that one or some of us pass a trivial test of some sort.

[Whiteness]

"It sounds like we're going to be here for a few more days at least, so we should definitely see what this job is with Tsont'ar" Syric says before looking to Eli, "Maybe you'll get your chance to 'spar' there friend"

Syric reaches for his flask but stops as soon as his hand touches it and a wave of irritation flashes across his face as he looks at Cuspar.

"And fishface, brother in the faith or not I'm going to knock you senseless if you don't learn some discretion and stop mentioning his name. If you want to find something else to call him that you can remember more easily than do so, we don't need any more unwanted attention. And that goes double when we get to Bryx" If we ever get there "Don't go on preaching about anything Alvian, if you know whats best. Until you have a chance to shoot someone in the freaking face, keep the faith by keeping your mouth shut."

[Blackferne]

Also, how much longer do we intend to be on the ground here? It's been awhile since I've had a chance to scrap with someone and I'm afraid I might be losing my edge and bare minimum I could use a sparring partner...

As you say that you notice a familiar sight on the wall near the bathroom. A flier recruiting folks for amateur "Fight Night". Payout is 500cr for the winner, medical treatment for the loser and a t-shirt.