Pre-TFS RP - Idiots Array

[Nor'baal]

The Idiots Array

The Hutt Cartel is on the ascension, and credits flow freely in the so-called ‘Hutt Core’, such as on the world of Nal Hutta the Glorious Jewel of the Hutts. Nowhere else can such a display of excess be seen that at the Arenas and Casinos of the Hutts, and with the Sabaac Circuit hosting a race, the scum of the Galaxy gather and ferment.

Darren Reed on the run from creditors and more besides heads to the Circuit to see if he can swindle his way a few more credits, but who knows what else he could find, and who else he could meet? Having spent weeks entertaining a wealthy heiress, who is in possession of a ring containing data that could lead him to the Lost Treasures of Kossack, Darren is closing the noose on his mark, all he needs is a strike of luck...​

The Idiot's Array was one of several lounges in the Sabaac Circuit, one of the infamous ‘Sky Tracks’ of Nal Hutta. Looping about the upper limits of one of the hilly areas of the planet, the Circuit was famed for its deadly drops and neck breaking corners. Today, it was hosting the ‘Czerka Qualifiers’ - the opening part of what would turn out to be a massive season of racing. Banners could be seen adorning the sides of the track, bearing the names of the events sponsors - Kuat Drives Yards, the Core News Group and even Blue Milked Bantha and some more that one would simply struggle to pronounce.

At the heart of the track could be seen dozens of small buildings, shaped like a stack of the cards they represented. Each one was a separate lounge, named after a hand in Sabaac - the Idiot's Array to name but one, the Feary Empress and finally the VIP lounge, the Pure Sabaac. Darren Reed stood at the bar in the Idiot's Array, a fantastic outfit complete with monocle and sash about his person. A silver pistol rested on his right leg, whilst through the monocle he read information about the days events on the display it held, nodding along as he ordered the dazzling heiress with him some more Corellian Fire Whiskey.

”Two more, doubles.”

”Oh Count, you’re a darling!”

”Well, one must secure libation before a winning bet, wouldn’t you say?”

The heiress laughed in deeply accented Alderaanian, trailing off into a high pitched titter as she gently tapped out her cigarra, Darren - to so-called count - trying desperately not to gag at the absurdity of it. This woman had money to burn, and thanks to the length of his con, he had already spent a small fortune of money he simply did not have on entertaining her. For what must have been the third of fourth time today, his eyes dropped to the ring around her pinky finger, which held within it part of the map he needed to the lost treasures of Kossack himself.

He quickly flicked his eyes away as she caught him looking, handing her a drink instead and filling the silence with some half arsed anecdote about bantha leather, before leading her to one of the gambling tables as the contestants for the swoop race headed to their vessels below, ready for the launch within the half hour. Taking a seat, he called for his cards and those of his mark - the heiress - perhaps this was his chance to finally, get that ring off her?

OOC - This thread is Open to anyone who would reasonably be at such an event. It is a non-PvP thread. PvE is allowed. I am looking to scam this NPC out of her ring, so if someone wants to be ‘in on the deal’ please let me know via PM, and we can con her xD

 

[Andrewza]

Moko Drenda walked in side the idiots array. As far as gambling joints on Nal Hutta went it was not bad. Of course that did not mean it was great. Still it was a good place to throw away some credits.


Most people here where of the type that seemed and acted rich but where as down trodden as he was. All except one lady. Maybe it was the voice, or the way she smoked the cigar. But she was real money. A good mark if it was not for some one all ready claiming her. So Moko would wait, but wait nearby.



"100 on number 7"

He did not know the odds and the insurance and out so just picked the one with the most chance to win. It was save money and Moko was not the type to throw money away. No the real reason he came to these joints was for work. People all ways seemed to need to get out the system fast after a race was done, it was odd like that.

 

[Bran]

Kagor stood quietly in the corner of the main casino floor with both sets of arms crossed. It had been a couple of months since he was employed by the hutts as hired muscle. He hated it. His sensitive ears picked up every pointless conversation and pompous laugh. He could not relate to this soft-skinned aristocracy that throw their money away so recklessly nor did he want to. He despised them.

There had been a few instances in the past where drunkards had pushed Kagor too far and the night would end with multiple other guards piled on him in an attempt to calm his rage. He was warned against such violence but their words did not register. Violence was all Kagor knew. Moments like these invoked a sense of longing for the simplicity of his cage fighting days.

 

[TheWonderousBat]

Victor sat in one of the darker booths of the Idiots Array, a steel cup of unknown contents sat half empty in front of him. He'd picked the booth because it had the best view of the screens, and the best view of the bar. He may well taking a few days off and enjoying his hard earned creds but he was always keeping an eye out for new work. Nal Hutta may have attracted the worst of the worst, but some of the nicer bars attracted folk of quality taking a walk on the wild-side and spending their inheritance on a few races. A chortle of disgusting self-importance drew his attention back to the bar, a couple of the fanciest folks he had seen all night knocking back drinks. Victor twisted in his seat, his gambling forgotten for a moment as he eyed the pair. He was stiff and pompous and she hung off his every word, though a glint at the mans hip drew his eye. Fancy blaster...

Vic watched them descend to their table below and waved over a server droid. He slipped some creds on the tray for the drink, collecting it as he sauntered to get a better view of the race and to keep an eye on them. He wasn't above snagging a mans blaster on a drunken night out. He narrowed his eyes once more as he drew the collar of his faux-Bantha hide jacket higher, jamming his hands to the pockets to keep them warm. He was a patient man, he'd wait until the pompous Prince was four deep in doubles before making his move.

 

[Nor'baal]

”You just bounce them off the back wall,” Darren flicked the two golden dice across the table ”...but it isn’t like that frightfully boring game we have on the Core no,” he add as the Dice struck the back wall, the value of one of them changing on its holographic face as they did so - and as per the rules on the game ”...out here they add a little more risk to everything.”

The other players laughed as once again, Darren raked the pot back toward himself - the simple set of trick dice he was using playing off well, as he scooped them off the table and back into his pocket in a fluid gesture. ”They are so rustic out here count,” the heiress began calling for yet another drink on Darrens account ”...I just don’t know how one is meant to win big!” she teetered off into her whinnying laugh once more as Darren bit back a wince.

Well, you asked for it, he thought to himself as he broke into another smile, and took one of the various ‘mocktails’ off the tray, without her noticing. ”Well darlin’,” Darren took her by the arm and lit her second cigarra of the night ”...I always found that to win big, you gotta bet big.” he stated, as she looked on around the room attempted to hold a posture of dignity in a place such as this.

”What about?” she jabbed her Cigarra at one of the gaming tables ”Sabaac? Ah yes, the sport of champions!” Darren answered, pulling out a seat at the table and inviting her to take a seat, as he took the next. Removing his own deck of Sabaac cards, he scanned the room for his accomplice, and then tapped the table twice, indicating his readiness to play - before handing the heiress a second deck, as she mirrored his behaviour.

”Place.’’ the dealers instruction was clear, if a little blunt. Finally glad to be gambling on the heiress’ account, Darren placed his small bet of 1 peggat, the heiress acting as the upper limit, and placing two. ”Well, welcome to Sabaac!” Darren laughed, as the game began, and he placed in a further Peggat to the Sabaac pot.

He looked at his cards, and smirked. Four of Staves, and a Four of Sabres.


OOC - In brief, Sabaac is Pontoon/Blackjack, with the target being +23 or -23. This is known as 'Pure Sabaac'.
It can only be beaten by an idiots array (which the 'Idiot' and then a two card and a three card). Card faces can change whilst they are held in hand, and can be locked when placed on the table. Negative hands win over positive ones (aka -20 will bet +20).

There are two 'pots' one for the bets which is one at the end of every game by someone, and one for the 'Sabaac' which is filled by the 'Ante' paid by each player when starting a hand. It can only be one with a Pure Sabaac or Idiots Array.

Between each hand you can trade a card, or add one to your hand.
At any point you can call an 'Alderaan' which calls the game, and shows down the cards.

Staves, Sabres, Coins and Flasks are the types of card. These are numbered cards, and there is no 'strong suit'. They go from 1-11, and are supported by the Phase Cards, Commander(12), Mistress (13), Master (14), and Ace (15). We then have the ranked cards - of which there are two in each deck. They are minus cards, and the idiot.

You can find more information out here but to be honest, the rules do not really matter....just the general theme.

 

[Andrewza]

Moko paid attention to the screen in front of him. Every racer was shown and there position indicated. The course was short, some time bets where made on who would actually just cross the line, never mind win. Still his bet paid of a simple win and not much pay out on the safe choice. Still he enjoyed just watching and while the course was cleared for the next race Moko leaned back and took a swig from his own personal canteen.


Relaxing Moko caught out of the corner of his eyes the rather rich and flash girl along with the man who had marked her move to the Sabacc table. Seeing as it was next to his he moved to take a seat present his own deck for the game "hope i am not intruding" smiling as he looked the lady over. "But i would rather play a game in the company such your self than sit alone"

As the dealer called out Moko placed his peggat's in no rush to push the game before he got a feel for all the players he merely matched the highest bidder

Commander of sword and the star. Even with this hand Moko kept a straight face gambling was more about bluff than luck and Moko could bluff Jedi or so he said.

 

[Bran]

The Codru-ji brute paced back and forth down the isles of the slot machines. His eyes flicking from person to person. You see, Kagor had this little game that he liked to play whenever he became bored. He would choose a soft-skin at random and imagine all the different ways in which they could be ripped to pieces, and while it may sound a bit repetitive, Kagor was very creative. His eyes settled on a particularly pompous soft-skin. A man wearing a ridiculous outfit as well as a device over one of his eyes and he wondered if he grabbed both his arms and legs and pulled, which appendage would give in first. He let out a small grumbling giggle. Left arm most likely.

While he focused on his game he failed to notice the spindly, rich soft-skin that crossed his path. He collided with him sending glass flying out his hand and the soft-skin toppled over. This man whose mustache was now disheveled sprung back to his feet and stuck out a finger that pointed directly towards Kagor, "You filthy brute, how dare you!" Kagor let out a slow growl from the back of his throat. His ears picked up the sounds of the other guards preparing themselves for an outbreak. If Kagor wanted, he could have taken the man's hand before anyone could have reacted, however he did not feel like returning to a cage so soon after his last visit. "Kagor sorry," he wittled through gritted teeth. The man cursed and spat at Kagor's feet. "Filth." He composed himself, flattened his facial hair and continued on his way. Kagor's eyes tracked him, he would spend extra long playing his game with him.

 

[TAC]

Nal Hutta.

The galaxy was a wide place. It was full of diverse beings with habits and customs as different as the stars and planets themselves. But Nal Hutta had something many planets and cultures lacked - consistency. No matter where you went on Nal Hutta, from the rich betting tables of the Hutt Cartel's leaders to the dice games of the poorest living on the streets, every single being was either trying to swindle you or had already been swindled. There was no middle ground. It was eat or be eaten.

Captain William Lathia Prescott had just secured a shipment for the Cartel as an independent contractor. While it was meaningless to the large cartel itself, the net yield on the run had the smuggler flush with credit. The Zeltros was a man of simple pleasures, however - and hoarding his credits was nothing he had expressed interest in. No, why work so hard if you did not spend the money you earned with just as much vigor?

An old friend - a no-good, two-bit thief who had even less credibility and honor than the Zeltron smuggler - had invited him to some qualifying races. The boisterous Darren Reed was swindling some poor, unknowing aristocrat out of some treasure map. Willi had never made a living out of swindling other people, unless they had given him ethical authority based on their less than ethical activity, but that didn't mean he couldn't help. The attractive, daring Zeltron had been party to many such operations - usually the distraction and the getaway man, which suited him fine. Besides, chasing after long lost treasures was exactly what he wanted out of a Taungsday.

Leaving his more comfortable and regular smuggler's attire in the cockpit of his HWK-190, Willi shuffled through his clothes looking for an old outfit from Zeltros he was pretty sure would fit the occasion. Within a few dozen minutes he was walking into the Idiot's Array in the Sabaac Circuit. Quite a few heads turned as he entered. Pushing his pheromones like nobody's business, his job was to distract as many sentient as possible. Doable. His outfit was a deep, vibrant purple - his silk shirt a plunging v-neck below his belly button, tucked expertly into the tight silk pants - which hugged his legs thanks to their elastic blend. At twenty-six, Willi perhaps in the best shape of his life - his independent endeavors as a smuggling captain requiring to be at both physical and mental peak capacity. His hair was in a low ponytail, held by a short black ribbon. He was perfectly unshaven, a five o'clock shadow with well-trimmed lines and of the perfect length.

The Codru-ji brute had just recovered when Willi made his entrance. "Count!" he exclaimed when his eyes fell upon the "Count" and several others gathered around a Sabaac table. He whisked gracefully through the enclosure, before bowing deeply before his friend Darren - leg crossed behind the other and arms flung out fancifully. Regaining his full height, he visibly gaped at the woman who hugged closely to Darren - either an accomplice or the poor bloke he was swindling, and either elicited the same reaction from Willi.

"By the stars of a thousand galaxies," the Zeltron said, taking the woman's hand and bowing once more, even lower this time, before stealing a kiss upon her ringed hand. He continued as he stood, holding the woman's hand with two hands as if a poor beggar. "All my life I have been among the stars, enjoying their brilliant light and basking in the glory of cosmic creation both stellar and sentient--" He paused, taking a sharp breath. Willi slowly turned his gaze to Darren, "And all this time, my dear Count, you have been keeping the galaxy's one true, crown jewel from me." He kissed the lady's hand one more time and, after the Count and others had a chance to exchanged pleasantries, he took credits from his own vest and laid them down for the next game.

His job here was to distract, but he never cheated. He would let fate and his Zeltron pheromones play the cards he needed to perform.

 

[TheWonderousBat]

Victor twisted his neck, dropping the raised collar of his jacket a fraction. There was some form of commotion, his attention drawn back to the Codru-Ji and the bumbling, mustachioed man. A bushy brow raised into the air at the sight; Victor was used to seeing beings of all variation, but the Codru-Ji was new to him. He shook his head and glanced back to the Sabaac table. It seems his mark had been joined by more of the oozing upper class that frequented this Bar, a chuckle hidden behind the faux Bantha hide as he caught snatched sounds of the Zeltron's introduction. He drained the last of his drink, waving over his favoured serving droid as he slid his jacket free and simply dumped it on the tray.
"Take this to Bay Seven, ID 23198." He commanded in a deadpan tone. If he were to mingle with those of serious money, they'd smell the fake from a mile off. He tugged his black waistcoat straight, making sure the hefty blaster was well secured and safe in it's holster under his armpit. He had become quite attached to the blaster as of late, the hunk of plasteel saving his life on more than one occasion. He swaggered up to the table, his stride prideful and full of self importance, as most in his occupation were.

He sat himself on one of the stools, depositing a handful of various coins to the table and making sure they made as much noise as possible. In truth there wasn't that much there but he was swift to hide that fact under the palm of his hand, winking towards the occupants of the table.

"Pleasant evening, strangers. Mind if I join you?" His voice was gravelly and terse, but he did his best to accompany it with a smile. He waved a hand as the dealer looked to him, indicating he'd wait til the second hand dealt before joining in.

 

[Nor'baal]

’’Hit me.” Darren instructed, taking another card from the dealer, and 8 of Staves entering his hand - giving him a total of sixteen, to low to place a safe bet, so instead he checked, watching as several other players followed his lead. Clearly a cautious hand this one, he mused, as his partner-in-crime approached, Darrens smiled growing yet wider still as the flamboyance of his associate was made apparent.

He was put off slightly by the arrival of Moka (@Andrewska) who proceeded to lewdly drool over his mark - but Darren ignored it, merely nodding as the man sat down and purchased into the game. ”"And all this time, my dear Count, you have been keeping the galaxy's one true, crown jewel from me." Willi exclaimed, dragging Darrens attention back as the Heiress omitted a practical squealing titter of joy at being flattered so.

”My friend,” he rose from his seat, taking Willi’ hand warmly ”...your way with words could charm a Rancor.” he added with a laugh, playing to the ‘camaraderie’ the Con required. The plan was simple, Darren and Willi would both play a solid game, Darren fixing the deck - through a collection of timed folds, and card counting, only to then stunning be cleared out by the heiress and Willi - who would then ‘for the sake of the sport’ suggest the heiress gave Darren a chance to win his money back.

Naturally, she would turn such an opportunity down - such was the way with one as wealthy as her, and would push Darren to gamble more, at which point he would enter his own fake ring, and she would enter her, very real one - with some suggestion from Willi, only for her own cards to, well, come up short.

It was a simple con, one that required the heiress to think she was in control - two players handing off her every word, seemingly vying for her attention, only to both really be playing her instead. ”Damnit!” Darren cursed under his breath, as his cards changed before him - non protected by the displacement field, a collection of threes and twos taking their place. ”Everything alright Darling?” the heiress asked, drawing out her ‘a’ for far to long.

”Nothing I cannot handle eh!” he said, as if laughing off the slight, folding his hand as he did so. He placed his cards on the table, folding his pinky finger under his palm as he did so, a silent signal to Willi. Raise.

 

[Andrewza]

Moko smiled as he looked at his next card, the commander of swords. "while i guess i will stay here to, let the lady raise when she is ready" The fact that a new man entered the fray did not surprise him though it did make Moko wonder. Was he part of the scam. In truth Moko felt sorry for the lady, she was out of her depth here and she did not even know it. Raising his hand to get a severs droid to roll by he leaned back in his chair and relaxed "One bottle of your cheapest wines and make it fast" No need to waist money on good drink when the plan was to get drunk.