Ask Nal Hutta Food...Vhett For A King

[Kotii Solus]

Spoiler: THEME

Sometimes being the messenger was better than sending one. Afterall, it sent a message. This message said Kotii Solus was willing to deliver the news himself and do so face to face, or in this case, face to helmet. He had come to Nal Hutta to meet with Nor'baal Desilijic Fa'athra and possibly the rest of the Grand Hutt Council if they deemed him worthy. The Syndicate Boss was the card holder, shot caller and slug with influence which meant he was the one for the ex Solus'alor to meet with when it came to business dealings.

The Werda Kom'rk had dropped out of hyperspace not long ago and quickly began making their descent. It was not alone, accompanied by three other multi-role starfighters of similar make with compliments of Mandalorian warriors onboard each of them. The Hutt's liked their parading and presentations though the Solus's probably paled in compare to the Hutt's fanfare when they arrived. Their shows matched their girth and value of self importance. Unlike them, Kotii was not the type to let his ego allow for the non-pragmatic, otherwise he would have brought his pet rancor. Showing up with any less than a trio of ships would probably earn him a laugh. The half-echani had brought the numbers to not earn respect, but rather a warning that the Tor'la Akaan'ade still could bite back even if in small numbers.

Every Mandalorian was an army in their own right and the badgers joining Kotii were elite warriors that doubled as his personal guard. Kotii still wished he could have a one on one conversation with the Hutts but they had a reputation of duplicity and slimy cunning that had earned them a criminal empire surviving through the eras. The bounty hunter also knew he had to gain their attention and respect with some effort to presentation otherwise they might not hesitate to try and take advantage of the Mandalorians.

Below the rotating wings of the blade like ships, the muggy atmosphere sat stagnant over the equally damp surface. Clouds parted as the ships cut through the air like flying spearheads before slowing as they neared the meeting point. The Mandalorian ships would be seen by the locals and spies from the four corners of the underworld would eventually circulate the visit. But what matters were to be discussed would take much longer to circulate, if at all. Still, reputation was everything to a Hutt and somethings were just bad for business. How they would take Kotii's proposition was yet to be seen.

Signalling ahead, the palace of the Hutt Council granted them entry. The hangars of the grand estate were large enough to house a wealth of ships, the least of which were personally owned by Nor'baal himself. A sail barge, palanquins, racing speeders and even a star yacht gave an indication of the wealth the Hutt had at his disposal. The black and red heraldry of House Solus was not completely uniform but still showed unity with the occasional odd Mandalorian color scheme which presented themselves in an unusual calm arrival. Normally such numbers of the armor clad warriors arriving would be done with blaster fire ripping through the air and jetpacks engaging over explosions.

Following the debarkation of the small army, hoversleds carrying cryo-sealed boxes followed suit. Their contents was a sample of what goods could be reaped from successful future endeavors and also serve as a tribute to the Hutts for the visit. It was unwise to arrive in such a manner without bringing a gift. As much as the Five Syndicates were a criminal empire, responsible for heinous acts that continued on a daily basis, Kotii knew that some steps had to be taken before his goals could be accomplished. He just hoped this meeting was done quickly and with as little trouble as possible. Otherwise he would have to get his hands dirty, and he had just cleaned his gloves and repainted his armor.

The Mandalorian was wearing his scatterweave coated beskar'gam. Around his waist he had his kama hanging and showed off his faithful BW-713 heavy blaster pistol. On his back, beside his jetpack, was an antique R-799 micro-missile pistol which was just as much a show of his own acquisitions as the Hutt's vehicles. As an accomplished Hunter for the Bounty Hunter's Guild, Black Hand knew many types were welcome in the presence of crime lords for their entertainment. People respected power, especially fire power.

One addition that stood out was not something worn by Kotii, but rather accompanying him at his side. Thanks to the recent piracy he did under his alias, Black Hand, the man had acquired many N series litigation droids. One such droid followed with the crates of Mandalorian fruits and spirits they had cultivated. The droid was there as both a translator in case Nor'baal lacked one and Kotii did not feel like speaking Huttese. Plus, he did not mind making it an addition to the tribute towards the Hutt and future emissary in any dealings.

The matter ahead was on Kotii's mind. Not just the immediate conversation, but of the events that would take place on Tol Amn. The world used to have been covered by a population infected with the Anabolic Myohypertrophic Stimulator virus. Kotii had seen the virus and its affects up close and had to fight to get off of the once-hellish world with Song Wren which was no picnic. But now the planet was somewhat recovering after enough time, yet remained abandoned. Tol Amn still could be a valuable agricultural provider and there were plenty of Mandalorians happy to farm. But there were more perks and pros to having a Mandalorian world next door. Hopefully Nor'baal would feel the same way.

@Nor'baal

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

Nor'baal observed from his tower as the Mandalorian emissary approached the Palace of the Hutt Lords. Appearing as a diminutive creature, at least from this great distance, Kotii Solus nonetheless had a reputation which proceeded them to his place of corruption and power. Their ship, accompanied as it was by a smattering of fierce-looking fighters came closer, and Nor'baal took his leave from the tower as his guests finally began to make their approach to the hanger.

It took very little time for Nor'baal to make his way down to an antechamber just off from the main hanger into which his guests would arrive. Nor'baal moved under his own power, a small escort of heavyset Gamorrean Guards spreading around the room, whilst Nor'baal stood with his Majordomo to his right, and a muscle-bound Gamorrean, who was, no doubt, the guard captain, at his left.

"They seem to have brought an entire army with them your serene excellency." the fluttering Toydarian which served as his Majordomo spluttered "Shall I double the guard, and put the legion on notice?" it continued, as Nor'baal rolled his eyes and waved the cowardly creature away. <Whao la nai bai woy mi kouikei, la doth chobaso bai dopo. Meecooda woy cay paupe bmahh, nobata?> he chuckled, bedecked as he was in his armour, a neuronic whip at his side, and a DT-29 on his hip.

<Cohou hoohah du, an jeeska da cantoba bai kae.> he commanded, only slightly interrupted as a gold plated protocol droid entered, and took up a position in front of the Hutt, so as to provide translations as needed.

The door opened, and his Majordomo gestured for the Mandalorians to come in. Nor'baals mind was buzzing with possibilities. He and the Mandalorians had some history already, they had taken Ubrikkia, on the Hutt borders, before his men had the chance, and continued to be a disturbance in some areas of his business dealings. He was fascinated to see what had brought one of their clans here today.

"His most excellent Majesty, Supreme Mogul of the Hutt Cartel, Lorda of the Desilijic and Daimyo of all that He surveys, bids you welcome, off-worlders, to the Glorious Jewel, shining beacons and -" the Majordomo went on for a bit, carping on about how wonderful everything his master touches was, whilst Nor'baal sat there with a haughty expression on his face. After some time, the Majordomo concluded "- step forward, and make your tribute."

 

[Kotii Solus]

An audience had gathered to watch the Mandalorians arrive. Some of them were obviously present as a show of force and to contend with any threats Kotii might attempt. The stern T visors stared back unflinching at the array of individuals, not giving any indication of being intimidated by the immense capabilities of the Hutt clan.

The parade of Mandalorians would continue ahead of the parked Kom'rk starfighters until its leader stopped. Ranks of warriors stopped their march, not needing any major signal or command to do so. Kotii saw the Hutt's point guard, led by a shiny protocol droid at its front who in turn filed out of the side room they had apparently been waiting in.

The robotic vocabulator of the protocol droid began introductions on behalf of Nor'baal Desilijic, confirming how Kotii felt the Hutt's thought of themselves. Not wanting to interrupt, the words in galactic standard basic continued for a bit as the oppulant translator eventually arrived at a conclusion, requesting they present their tribute.

Kotii waved a hand off to his side, letting the N series letigation droid know it could take a step back for the time being, seeing as the Hutts had provided their own. The black gloved appendage dropped back to his side as Kotii took a single half-step forward to present himself first. His voice projected out from the helmet that obstructed a view of his face and spoke in basic as well. "Your majesty. I am the Leader of the Tor'la Akaan'ade, Kotii Solus. I have brought tribute to you in the form of delicacies, harvested from my home and brought half way across the galaxy for your pleasure." His body turned, allowing him to look behind him and beckon for the hoversleds to bring forth the cargo they had been transporting. "Crops, meats, dishes and spirits I hope you will find to your liking. They are a taste of what I hope can be produced in greater quantities." There were samples of the hardy plants he wished to use to farm. No doubt there would be both someone taste testing for poison. Kotii did not rule out scientists that might want to examine them as well out of curiousity unless Nor'baal chose to eat them all in a banquet with his guests. Desserts and cusines some might find spicy or even sweet waited to be enjoyed. Strong liquors that could get a hardy wookiee drunk sat in handcrafted bottles.

Once they had passed the ex Solus'alor, he turned back towards the Hutt and finished his introduction. "I have come to make a deal with you, to settle Tol Amn and perhaps become a welcome neighbor." The fact that Nor'baal had come armed and armored did not escape the Mandalorian. A small part of Kotii even felt a sense of pride, making the Hutt feel like he needed to protect himself in his own home. But then again, who wouldn't when presented by such a group of warriors. The goal of this meeting was not to have a fight, but to avoid one altogether. This could easily devolve into combat seeing as Kotii Solus had condemned slavery very publicly, going so far as to assassinate a previous Zyggerian Monarch. That was not the echani's intention, not today.

@Nor'baal

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

A small yet pungent belch eeked its way from the corner of the Hutts drool slathered mouth as he looked down at the assorted Mandalorians. They're always so serious and stern these Mando'a, the Lorda thought to himself before grumbling out load as the Mandalorian failed to reel off the vast litany of titles Nor'baal had invented for himself, instead opting for the meagre honorific of 'your majesty'. Briefly, the Hutt considered having them all fed to the Rancor, but a cursory check of their arsenal made him think otherwise.

"Your most poriferous of pioneers, these wretched off-worlders have brought a tribute to your most well-proportioned personage," his Majordomo fluttered forwards to the hoversleds, and ran his hand over the offerings as if to remind his master what he was meant to be looking at "- offerings of food." Nor'baal scrunched up his nose at the vile display presented to him. Nor'baal lashed his tail in anger <Peee doth bu kohvaga datka? Peee doth bu uueca citkiua an bu mon?>

The Hutts vigorous tail lashing continued. Perhaps they seek to murder me! his mind raced. Why else would they have brought him food, when he had plenty of his own! So enraged was the Hutt that he simply did not hear the Mandalorian had to say as to the purpose of his visit, and needed to be reminded by his droid, who stepped forward and whispered that the Mandalorian was in-fact, here on business.

<Uba nai bai tram pee wa danko da chabipkola hee chabipkola? Wonkee? Gee uba bpuoiaee? Biweoo bai yae bu pocma an woy hee pauanea younger?> he questioned the off-worlders, interested as to why they wanted to settle Tol Omn, an errant backwater, in the first place.[/color]

 

[Kotii Solus]

Kotii looked on at the immensity of the Hutt Cartel Boss, seeing his emotions rise to the surface in displeasure. The translator droid did not need to say as much to him for the Mandalorian to pick up on the ire he could be drawing from the slug. What followed was a line of frustrated questioning, insinuating that the provided tribute was unsatisfactory and laced with doubt regarding the capabilities of his people.

"Tol Amn sits abandoned but still fertile. Toydaria and other neighboring systems used to rely on it for foodstuffs and have been impacted by the neglect shown to Tol Amn that once was a breadbasket for Syndicate space. You would have to divert the strength of your forces to clear it of any infected, let alone keeping it fortified from other enemies. That would make other parts of your space open for exploitation." Kotii knew that there was more against the Five Syndicates than just the Sith. When dealing with corruption, the Hutt's had to keep the credit hungry and power seeking minions they held at bay by buying them off. But worlds that had money and no food still starved. The leaders looked bad when their constituents died of hunger and it reflected poorly when the common folk rose up for basic needs that couldn't be met.

"These foods may not be to your palette but there are many people in the outer rim that would be more than satisfied with these foodstuffs if they were available. We have the means of cultivating Tol Amn and returning it to a bountiful world. But it is a dangerous place in the outer rim and there are enemies aplenty. What I'm offering is more than just food, your majesty. You won't have to worry about the defense of transporting these goods. You will have a buffer between you and outside threats. And after we have reaped the benefits of the planet, built our might further, we will have more strength to lend to you, our neighbor, if you think having a Mandalorian fighting force is worth investing in." His helmet tilted to the side as he let the opportunity sink in and for the transalator to do its job. The echani-offshoot, all the while analyzing the reaction of Nor'baal to see if he was growing more angery. If there was any sign of a move to attack his troops or the beginnings of violence, Kotii would not hesitate to test the Hutt's armor for strength against his own blackwell stamped sidearm. The Mandalorian knew well that the fury of the slug like people were not to be taken lightly. But if things devolved, there was still a way to profit from this interaction and Kotii was not afraid of fighting the Syndicates. But they would be wise to see him as an ally rather than a foe.


@Nor'baal

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

Nor'baal would be fooling himself if he didn't admit to being somewhat intrigued with the proposal being laid out for him. From what was being presented, the Mandalorians wanted their own world under the broader auspices of the Hutt Clans. They wanted to clear the world of the infected and return it to its now lost place as an agricultural powerhouse.

Should such a venture succeed, the world would become an asset once more, one that would be of significant use to the Clans. Plus, someone else doing this would leave the Hutts own forces ready to deal with other threats - such as those that lay on the uppermost reaches of the Syndicate.

"The Mandalorian is correct my most lavish of lieges, the foodstuffs from Tol Omn used to be sold across the rim, and at considerable margins." his Majordomo confirmed the Mandalorian's pitch was correct, and Nor'baal nodded slowly, reaching a decision. The Hutt was concerned that handing such a bounty, so close to his border, to an outsider and violent faction, was a recipe for disaster down the line.

And, the Hutts played the long game.

What if the Mandalorians merely sought control of the world as part of a broader plan? A staging post for an invasion of Hutt Space, perhaps? They could propose an alliance, for sure, but neither of them was foolish enough to believe that such a treaty would realistically bind either of them. No, they needed an arrangement that was far more tangible.

<Mee chamana doth bo see lhonbau chalanh. Hocan, toupee mi. Kava caiot bap see ten doth gahkesa dee jansaiebe see hee bargon, tee bai geh, kava doth Jee bai dwana hee bargon bai bu Lanka, joppay dotkot kaae kokaheoua logna doi fa?> he asked.

 

[Kotii Solus]

Spoiler: Theme

This was the difficult part of the negotiations. Kotii had many urges in that moment to threaten the Hutt, to be direct and not yield anything to the crime lord and instead demand things in return. Underneath his helmet, the muscles beneath his eyes twitched as his gaze tightened. He wanted to take out the Hutt Cartel and every slave own scum bag as well as those that benefited from their operation. The ex Solus'alor's soul was in turmoil and he briefly wondered if this was all a bad idea. Things would only end in war between the two factions.

The Mandalorian thought about his adoptive son, Hauron, and how he had been taken from his biological family to be sold as a slave. How the majority of his followers were freed from the Zyggerian Slave Empire. The Wookiees of Kashyyyk whom he had made deals and had a high respect for. Kotii wanted to end slavery and punish those that continued to carry it out. But there was a leader of a group who continued its activity to this day.

The words of Nor'baal rang in his ears and did give him a few thoughts. The man had every intention of using this relation to force the Hutts to change their ways regarding slavery or turn to war. But war was bad for business and there was leverage to be gained from this interaction. The lives that would be lost could be avoided. Though the Mandalorian knew if it came down to it, he would continue to fight and thwart the operations of the Syndicates just as he had all of his enemies. Battle was in his blood and the badger was not afraid of conflict.

Then it was not such a difficult decision. The Mandalorian drew the heavy blaster pistol from left hip holster in a flash, leveling it at the wide face of the armored Hutt while his right pulled a thermal detonator from his belt, priming it to be ready to toss. The fast draw of the bounty hunter was swift and a blur to most. His BW-713 was shorter than most heavy blaster pistols allowing easy draw from his holster and his skill at the action was one acquired from a lifetime of experience. If Nor'baal gave any sign of drawing his own weapon, of even trying to adjust his worm like body to avoid a shot or making a run for it, the echani-offshoot would not hesitate to shoot and take to the air, leaving the explosive at on the fat tail of Nor'baal.

In unison to their leader's actions, the small army that Kotii had brought acquired targets of the Hutt's forces in all directions, prepping to make a move at the first sound of a blaster discharge or sign of engagement. The hangar became ten times more tense than it had before. If any of the Hutt's minions made a move, Kotii would place two bolts between the Hutt's eyes, helmet or not. At this distance of several meters it would be easy for the immense target to be taken out by the marksmanship of the Mandalorian gunslinger.

"You misunderstand, your majesty. I'm not here to ask for your permission." He spoke honestly and with a tone that barely held back his distaste for the Hutt. The renegade Mandalorians were on the Cartel Boss's doorstep, within reach of his home and now presented a very real risk of taking the palace for themselves if things turned sour. The beeping of the thermal detonator gave an omminous and periodic noise as the Mandalorian held it in his offhand and off to the side, just as threatening as the weapon before him staring down Nor'baal. "We can recolonize Tol Amn without your blessing and we will do so regardless of what happens today." The Hutt needed to understand he was not playing with a full deck and they did not intimidate the Mandalorians like they did others. Even if all the forces of the Five Syndicates moved on the planet, it would be a hard fight and as stated, exposing them to other dangers. Not to mention, the Tor'la Akaan'ade would not solely engage the Five Syndicates on their terms. Guerilla warfare in city centers, sabotage and liberation of their slaves would begin in a manner that would make the fights against the Sith Aligned Mandalorians seem like meager skirmishes.

"Your Syndicates have suffered and don't have the luxury they once had. So here's the deal, the real deal." He let each of his words weigh on the bulky target before him. His finger would remain on the hair trigger, willing to stop his own offer in a heartbeat knowing how ruthless and egotistical the Hutts were. "You will cease all slaving operations. Work needing labor will be replaced with droids. Know that I have commandos in place already in all aspects of your syndicate ready to strike even if I die here or in the coming days or months. We will oversee and...for lack of a better word, help, your syndicate keep from collapsing. But I would rather go to war with you here and now, than let you continue such atrocities." He said accusingly towards Nor'baal in particular, letting him know he was willing to go down fighting and take the Hutt with him in the process.

"Frankly, convincing the council is your problem, your majesty. Not mine. If you don't want your blubbery hide turned into a tarp for my firewood, you'll think of something." He would give Nor'baal a chance to contemplate his own mortality and its worth. It would be easy for Kotii to just pull the trigger and kill the Hutt here and now, to take his palace or use him as a bargaining chip for the other Hutts. But there were other Hutts. Now was a chance for both of them to keep the lives and assets that would be expended should things devolve further. But even under the threat of bodily harm or worse, the Cartel Boss could consider that things would make a turn for the better with an overhaul of their operations. If he needed those same corrupt leaders removed, Kotii could see himself and his warriors carrying out such extra-judicial executions with little issue. "So...what'll it be?" Negotiate, retaliate, or exterminate. Now they were both on the same page.

@Nor'baal

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

Standing in the middle of a Hutt Palace, and reaching for a weapon before the leader of the Hutt Clans was, it turned out, a bad idea. As the Mandalorian reached for his weapon, the guards surrounding the posse of off-worlders opened fire immediately, a motley array of firearms tearing into those gathered, as Nor'baal bellowed out expletives in Huttese, pulling himself back from the erupting carnage. Constant blaster fire levelled itself into the Mandalorians, who had next to no time to react, tearing through the food-parcels they had come bearing. Carnage ensued.

They had no cover, they had no place to hide. The heavy rain of blaster fire, aimed at Kotii and his fellow would-be assassins, was soon backed up by heavy set brutes barrelling into the Mandalorians, taking advantage of the shock caused by the erupting barrage, cruel-looking blades swiftly and effectively slicing through weak neck joints in armour, the metallic scent of blood rising over the tang of blaster smoke. Only their leader, Kotii, would be treated differently, their weapons confiscated, and they themselves knocked unconscious for the master's enjoyment at a later date.

A palace wide alarm was sounded as Nor'baal moved away from the carnage, and slithered off through the side door, slamming it shut behind him as the sound of gunfire echoed the antechamber. Within moments, warships took to the skies, and the defence system of the Hutt Councils Palace, the venue of this ill-fated meeting, fired into action. Their ships would be locked down, as hundreds upon hundreds of guards swarmed from their barracks, locking the entire palace down. Nor'baal would make his way to his throne room, stacked to the brim with guards by this point, and quickly climb atop his hover-sledge, to coordinate what came next.

 

[Kotii Solus]

Things went from bad, to worse. Kotii did not get a chance to voice his offer as the guards of the Hutts reacted to his quickdraw theatrics. Bolts leapt from the Hutt's enforcers to meet Mandalorian steel and flesh, killing a score of the armored warriors by sheer volume of blaster fire alone. The troops of the Mandalorians attempted to returned fire and evade the forces that had surrounded them on all side, making the Syndicate pay for each Mandalorian lost but it was not enough. The Mandalorians were surrounded in the tight confines of the palace antechamber and in moments they would all be massacred.

In the commotion, the Nor'baal swore and tried to move out of the way. Kotii's eyes did not leave the sight of the Hutt as he pulled his blaster from its holster. The ex Solus'alor was struck by several bolts from the dutiful bodyguards after seeing the aggressor draw on their leader. A bolt instantly melted the exterior plating of Kotii's left pectoral, another from the right glanced off of his right shoulder plate and causing the armor to scatter into flash heated shale and exposing a damaged body glove underneath. A shot struck his left knee and completely destroyed the scatterweave coating. Each shot made the man grimace as he felt some bleed through of heat on his flesh.

The blaster in Kotii's hand fired, allowing the man to at least feel like he was about to die fighting. But it only managed to hit the translator droid as several more projectiles riddled the Solus's form leaving him smoking from compromised plates. The Mandalorian's right hand dropped the unexploded thermal detonator before he even had a chance to prime it, letting it roll in its dormant state just beyond his own feet as he too, fell to the ground. While Kotii's weapon fell from his grasp and clattered to the floor having only fired a single bolt, his eyes never left the Hutt as he made as quick of an exit as his girth allowed. Behind his visor, Kotii's crimsons irises matched the coughed blood that spattered the inside of his helmet. His vision fading so that he was consumed by darkness and joined only by his own rage and failure.

@Nor'baal Kotii is KO'd

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

Nor'baal continued his exit from the ante-chamber, allowing his motley crew of guards to make short work of his would-be assassins. Scores of the Mandalorian warriors fell in the opening salvos of blaster fire, and soon all were overwhelmed by the immediacy of his guard's response. Out of the ante-chamber, Nor'baal made haste for his throne room, doors slamming shut behind him, before he settled into his throne as guards flooded the room. A thick line of ten Gamorreans stood before the throne in a matter of moments, a physical shield between the Hutt and any further attempts to cause him harm. A patina of some six Weequay armed with brutal-looking blaster rifles spread out around the room, in various vantage points, in case other attackers made themselves known.

Kotii, who fell to the floor, his left knee shattered by a well-targeted blaster bolt, was hefted to his feet by an ill-tempered Gamorrean Guard Captain, divested of his armour and weapons, clamped in chains and escorted to the throne room once the commotion had died down and the guards seemed pleased no further attacks would be seen.

The architect of the attack was now the only survivor of the Mandalorian contingent, and was dragged into the throne room, pushed to the floor, and injected with a large dose of sedative to keep him compliant. Nor'baal meanwhile, desperately throwing food down his gullet in an attempt to cool his nerves, was in a desperate rage. <Kantauanla! Gonouue! Nan wata, don mah bunko, biw bu geezo see yanee!> he lashed his tail on the floor, and tightened his grip on the chain in his right hand, at the end of which a snarling Corellian Hound was snapping and yowling.

Desperate to keep his master from lashing out, his Majordomo tried to lay on some good news "They are all dead my Lord, their ships seized, their armour and weapons secured. They can do you no further har -"

<Upee! UPEE!> the Hutt screamed, slamming his food-filled hand into his Majordomo, and sending the little critter to the floor <Wonkee peee la baplamkeke! Kava doth tah cahcata bai apoya? Cahwebiua! Cahwebiua veee!> his tail lashed the ground again, as he delved further into the throws of paranoia. <Pankoph Mandalor, la hatkocanh pim nallya che tah pauahau doi!> he ordered, as a communicator was sent for, and a line to the Mandalorian homeworld opened.

Finally, he turned his attention to Kotii.

<Peee che tah koudaniua, pauie hoohah, an paknee ata hoohah bai bu kouuedahaga. Jee hatkocanh bargon cay hoohah alay.> he ordered, as a guard stepped forward and clipped a slave collar into place on Kotiis neck.

<Bah! Kiyea!> Nor'baal waved his chubby little hands around and instructed his band to start playing. Music began to warble across the throne room as Nor'baal settled back into his seat and reached for his pipe.

Honestly! This job is far too stressful sometimes.

/endthread

OOC - @Orbit for information.