Ask Questing on Quesh

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

"Do you not think the Durga will see they are fake, Master?"

<Uba katka jahna bai jot bu canta nei, Droida. Wa Yih see mah lhonu kankauesankala gee vee chemant tytung dodi douapka-ola.> Nor'baal replied, dismissing the droids concerns as he normally did.

In front of him sat a small wooden chest, adorned with the sigil of the Royal House of Onderon. Within, a fake remake of the crown jewels would be found.

His plan was genius.

His plan was also Davik Lorsos, but as the Hutt looked at himself in the window of his Minstrel-Class Yacht, adorned in his armour, he couldn't help but think that maybe, Davik had actually gotten the idea from him?

Yes, that sounded right.

<Yoieu mi Lorso dah bu bidchkap, an paknee ata ten joniu bai jonba.>

 

[Davik Lorso]

Sweat dripped off his nose and fell into the face-covering rebreather that Davik was wearing as he dug the spade deeper into the marshy ground. No matter how long he hand the Gamorreans dug, the toxic water kept coming and made progress incredibly slow. At night when they retreated to the Catscratch for some much-needed shuteye their excavation tent gets raided by "unknown thieves" that stay at least 200 feet away during the day, destroying the makeshift dams that keep the water out of the freshly dug hole. Yesterdau Davik tried to create a tunnel, but for some reason overnight the support beams disappeared and this morning it was one giant soggy mess. It's almost as if someone didn't want them to find the Onderon Crown Jewels!

Suddenly his holo-communicator started beeping and Davik paused, threw the shovel aside and answered. Before he knew it he was looking at a minitiature version of Nor'baal and his droid. "Kriff, you should've been here days ago!" the Ossein smuggler bit at his partner-in-crime in anger. "Dirk, Durk and I have been digging here for a whole week and look-" he gestured towards his surroundings, the makeshift tent, the two dumb-founded Gamorreans and the hole, roughly two-by-two meters and nearly as deep. "The only way we're gonna make Durga fall for this is if we manage to blast giant holes and make him guess which one produced the jewels."

Kriff, that actually was a better idea. He should've just done that instead of working his ass off in a toxic atmosphere this whole week.


@Nor'baal

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

"Kriff, you should've been here days ago!"

Shifting his seat at the somewhat awkward nature of the situation in which they now found themselves, Nor'baal offered what could only be described as an apologetic grin as the yacht touched down. Holo-Davik had been busy it seemed, alongside Dirk and Durk (or was that Durk and Dirk?)

"The only way we're gonna make Durga fall for this is if we manage to blast giant holes and make him guess which one produced the jewels."

The Hutt had an idea.

<Ceuah. Kava koumhaptece koumhaptecee doth bu bunko see Durga?>

Satisfied with the answer, Nor'baal worked out that he could conduct his genius plan without being heard by Durga, who was some distance away - over a nearby range of mountains. <Gai ree bu jot wat cinph, wogha bo dee coweuau.>

In an instant, one of the retracting cannons slide out from behind its concealing door, and fired a white-hot bolt of energy into Dirk (or Durks) dig point, vapourising the poor Gamorrean and showering Davik in dirt, and, bits of Dirk.

"One hole, as requested." he chuckled, bringing the yacht into land so Davik and Durk (or Dirk?) could board.

 

[Davik Lorso]

The white-hot bolt of energy did more than just startle Davik, who could think of nothing else than that his end was nigh until it struck. He turned towards the impact and he instantly knew he shouldn't have. Toxic water, toxic mud, toxic moss and bits and pieces of a Gamorrean were blown against him as an avalanche consisting of his worst nightmares. The smuggler fell back into a pool of water that sizzled all around his hazmat-suit, vision obsured by mud and one-third of what used to be a Gamorrean's nose. Faintly he heard the wailing of the other Gamorrean, who, having just lost his brother had run over in despair to see if he could put his brother together like a lifeless puzzle. He couldn't and so he wailed.

Davik had played dejarik with them after work this week and learned some basic words like 'ship' and 'dug hole'. He considered them his friends and now while Durk -or Dirk- wailed in the background he heard the unmistaken chuckle of Nor'baal the Hutt coming in over the holo-communicator Davik still held in his hand. That karking kriffer.

Whatever Nor'baal missed in basic humanity he made up for in efficiency. When Davik finally wiped his visor clean of Gammorean nose and toxic mud, he was looking at a hole roughly twenty feet deep. Toxic water had evaporated all around it and hardened the mud, making it a significantly better hole than Davik and the two Gamorreans had managed to dig in the entire time they'd been there. "You killed Durk," the wailing Gamorrean stopped and turned to Davik with a look that the smuggler recognized, "I mean Dirk, you killed Dirk. The hole's deep, though. Might work." Damnit, Dirk was the one Davik could actually beat in Dejarik.


@Nor'baal

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

Satisfied with the excellence of his handiwork, Nor'baal couldn't understand Daviks distress - after all, hadn't the Great Nor'baal done exactly what he had asked?

<Ho! Ho! Ho!> Nor'baals voice boomed out from the ship as the landing ramp clanked into the ground, revealing the armoured Hutt on his sled. <Cha phata hee bauueu Davik, la bla haku la yoieu don joppay la besna bimhee.> Nor'baal said coldly, before realising Davik could not speak Huttese.

"Do not concern yourself Davik, the mission proceeds - Durk will recover." he dismissed the wailing the Gamorrean with a wave of his hand. Durk snarled at the Hutt, who merely placed his hand on the whip at his side, which reduced the pig-like creatures growl to a whimper. Gamorreans, reliable creatures - if a little dim the Hutt chuckled to himself. <Nan.> Nor'baal waved for them to follow, and headed back into his ship.

<Uematky, bleeu mah pohii Yih, jeejee gee wa bargon bai setpika. Jeejee lwaa gee wa jub jub cay jen.>

Taking back off once everyone was aboard, the ship made its way to the palace, whilst Nor'baal outlined the plan once more. "Davik, the plan is a simple one - even for you. We shall meet my good friend," he paused. What was his name again? "Durga. We shall engage in feasting, and perhaps you shall fight his champion, or maybe Durk, it matters not - in the traditional way. Then, we shall discuss business."

Seeing that Davik was not a fan of being used in the combat element of the Jub Jub, Nor'baal turned to Durk <Uba lwaa dokoi mah panpiha champio tagwa! Bai nanza mee kouheve whoka!> Nor'baal was not sure how fighting some random mercenary at a business meeting would allow Durk to avenge his brother, but the stupid Gamorrean clearly was, and nodded with vigour.

"See Davik, that is why I am the brains of this operation."

 

[Davik Lorso]

Davik could barely see the armored Hutt standing on the ramp of his ship, but he did by now understand the Huttese word for 'come' and so he followed Durk to his master's ship. The space yacht was noticeably nicer than the Catscratch, more modern at least, but Davik didn't really have eyes for it at the moment. First thing he did when the ramp closed was get out of his hazmat-suit -carefully, so he didn't touch anything toxic or what used to be Gamorrean- and injected himself with a stimulant that counteracted the planet's many toxins. Next up was the refresher, where he washed his face and dried his hair to get rid of most of the sweat that lingered. Compared to Nor'baal he wouldn't have to put in any effort to be the cleanliest of the two. Personal Hygiene didn't seem that high on the Hutt's list, but you never know who lives at Durga's palace...

When Davik finally joined the party he was taken aback by the revelation that he'd maybe have to... to fight? Davik didn't fight, he smuggled. Fighting just wasn't his strong suit. He didn't even own a suit, or a strong suit, or armor. Killing and enslaving people also went against everything he stood for as an Ossein and having to fight to the death against... oh, okay, Durk will do it. "You got this, Durk," Davik said and offered his friend and encouraging nod. Suddenly he wasn't that conflicted about the idea of an arena fight anymore.

"You know best how to do business in these parts," he agreed with his business partner. "If we ever deal with the fleets, or Jedi, or something. I'll be the brains." It was about as convincing as it was unlikely that they would ever do business with the Jedi Order, but Davik couldn't not refute the Hutt's idea that he was the one in charge here. Surely this was an equal partnership. Nor'baal the crimelord and Davik the smuggler. Nor'baal has the credits, the contacts, the manpower and the big ship and Davik has the... oh, maybe it was more like a sixty-forty partnership then?


@Nor'baal

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

"If we ever deal with the fleets, or Jedi, or something. I'll be the brains."

"Bah!" Nor'baal scoffed, as he waved his hand in a dismissive manner at the man, before chuckling to himself as he took up a commanding position on the ship's bridge. Under his supervision, the ship made progress to the palace of Durga, and touched down on the landing pad, before dropping its ramp and allowing the party to depart.

On the landing pad, Nor'baal addressed the Majordomo of the Hutt Lorda, a bored-looking Rodian, who had clearly modelled his look off of the great Preef Callo, but with a lesser degree of swagger.

<Bleeu mee kotka, da Nor'baal doth wata bai woy yanee. Hiee!>

"His excellency, Durga, shall be pleased to receive you. But your slaves must leave their weapons with me." came the short reply.

<Nobata. Tah bo doth tee wa shag, tah doth bu lhonu Lorso, bu Divetka see Barab, an bo panweba yaumonh, Durk, bu bmaueohee gimeankee see Denon! Mee kotka lwaa nai bai neu bo gusha du bu hhobela see kougine.>

The Rodian sighed.

Hutts and their stupid traditions.

He waved them in.

 

[Davik Lorso]

There was something nerve-wrecking about hearing Nor'baal speak in Huttese and at the same time unmistakably mention your name. Yet this time Davik sighed of relief as he saw the rifled guards step aside and allow him to keep his little stun pistol. Everything in the smuggler's body wanted to ask what had been said and why he had been mentioned, but something also told him that asking this while still in earshot of the rodian majordomo wasn't the best move.

So they went inside Durga's little palace. Security wasn't as tight as Davik had expected, probably because Durga figured that the Crymorah Syndicate didn't see any use in a toxic planet like Quesh and thus Durga, although a Hutt, was safe enough staying home. Nor'baal truly seemed the only Hutt with the completely unwarranted confidence and self-inflated ego to risk travelling the galaxy and not see a Crymorah assassin around every corner. Maybe the galaxy was a much bigger place than people though? Nahh, Nor'baal was just special... maybe even a genius, but definitely suicidal, too.

Kriff, Davik suddenly realized his life was probably forfeit as well, having aligned himself with a Hutt and all. For a second there he thought of turning around, but then they reached the throne room and there in full Huttese splendor sat a purple-colored Hutt. Durga. Owner of a palace and owner of that one patch of land that they were paid to acquire for Systech Corporation.

Not being familiar with inter-Hutt customs, Davik decided to take a step back and let Nor'baal do the introductions.


@Nor'baal

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

Once inside, Nor'baal felt very much in his element. Whilst others may have seen only a dank palace, filled with moisture and weird-looking foodstuffs, Nor'baal saw the beating heart of an enterprise and a place to do business. More importantly, whilst others saw only Durga, the Hutt, Nor'baal saw a rival, to be crushed in the old ways.

Arriving in the modest 'throne' room, Nor'baal took up his position, ensuring his droid tapped along first, in case of any secret trap doors.

Confident that there were none, he eased into his sled. Even if there was a door, only Davik would fall, unsupported as he was by the genius of Ubrikkian engineering, and that was a loss Nor'baal would be willing to suffer. <Lhonu Durga. Paupe hou bankop, mah pinii koupaiy kaa see notke an hih wonka bai uba an mee Kajadii. Jeejee doth wata bai bahiesa du pacahla, um, bankop jeejee sobahesa, Jee katka doa cay dotmheca bu lhonu an dabobahenu patka bai ka kee da tah can gee neu. Mah woiay shag, Sai, cahaa du bu koupaiy see tah copah, an che da, Jee saconba mee pacmoka an kouzaga.>

Durga did his best to fake the appearance of sadness as tradition demanded, before speaking in turn.

<Fa doth vee wa cuova bai melam wa pohii Yih bai mah natkedi. Dobra chalanh bai babau haku uba gee nan bai mo mi, hee cohai, Nor'baal.>

<Lhonu Durga, Jee gee nan cay mee kaa bai setpika. Vap in ting see heee doth bu makacheesa bai woy yanee pin. Jee gee pankoph cay wa lhonu pacmona, ye wanya bai woy yanee wata du tah kogatke danko. Che tah, hocan, la catkiua bu boya see jonba du mee pankhai. Dobra kolka bai mo uba wa kabay che copah che tah jonba, bo- mon duhofwacha don keemon dokwacha phabeka, an bu boya see mah shag, Sai.> he said, showing a map of the land they asked for on his datapad, and smiling.

He had massively undervalued the land on purpose, and - furthermore - held back the revelation about the 'jewels' in their possession to allow Durga to fall into his trap.

The fact he was also offering only a portion of the money Systech had agreed to pay for the land, was a fact Nor'baal would be keeping to himself.

[/abox]

 

[Davik Lorso]

The Hutt roared with laughter and then his entourage and majordomo laughed as well. "His excellency Durga knows that the land is worth much more!" the majordomo said, dismissing Nor'baal's prize out of hand.

Davik just stood there, looking at what was happening. He hadn't understood what was being said in Huttese, for the language really was too difficult for him to master, and hoped Nor'baal hadn't offered the full price Systech was willing to pay. If he had, well, then these would be short negotiations. "Did you say we found the-"

The rodian majordomo was quick to interupt, "Found what!?" Clearly everyone in the room knew that the patch of land in question was the rumored spot where the Onderon Crown Jewels were buried deep into the toxic marsh. Probably everyone also knew that Davik and the Gammorrean had been digging in those same marshes for a week.


@Nor'baal

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

A deep rolling laugh rounded the room as Nor’baal allowed his mirth to show, truly, his mastery of the negotiations was without equal. Sure that human had contributed a little, but only because the ‘Great’ Nor’baal had so capably laid the groundwork for him to do so!

<Sa. Bu nal chespo boonowa- peee? Jee tee caie toupee uba. Biweoo fa bai sey da la han bimhee, an doth kanu wa dauah canla, woy mee jonba kanu koumhaptece koumi ai haku Jee gee yo ho.>

A masterful play! - Nor’baal practically wallowed in self-congratulation as he boomed with laughter once more. Durga, it seemed, was not having any of it.

”Lies! His excellency demands the jewels are presented, here and now!” came the outraged roar of the majordomo, as Nor’baal smiled, and looked at Davik, waving a hand in a typically dismissive way, for the jewels to be presented...

 

[Davik Lorso]

As requested, Davik revealed a plastic box and opened it for the Hutt to look at it from a distance. "The eh," he shrugged, "jewels didn't have their original crowns and scepters," which was in line with the information on the standing bounty of the Onderon Crown Jewels. The diamonds and gems that had adorned the crowns and scepters of the Onderon Royals were both ancient and priceless.. well, "priceless". The Onderon government had only a two million credit bounty on them. "But we did find the ship, or whats left of it," they hadn't, but with the toxic marshes being what they are it was impossible to verify said claim, "and these, the Onderon Crown Jewels."

The crowd gasped and the Hutt seemed to almost explode! Burga had been convinced that the ship had crashed on land that belonged to him, so the jewels, by extension, also belonged to him! Some of the Hutt's guards now went for their weapons, prompting Davik to close the plastic box. Hopefully Nor'baal had thought this far ahead...


@Nor'baal

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

Nor'baal felt a brief flush of panic wash over him as he considered the possibility tat they may have just massively overplayed their hand. "His excellecy demands his property is returned to him - you are nothing more than low-life thie...." the Majordomo squelled in a strangled voice ashis choleric rose further still. Nor'baal growled with audible disgust - to be spoken to in such a manner by a human! For shame.

<Beuanka mee giw Yih, mo Jee hatkocanh.> his voice roared across the room in Huttese, silencing the protesting Majordomo with his own anger. He slipped back into Huttese, as a small spherical object appeared in his pudgy hand.

He was holding a thermal detonator.

"You will pay what we are owed, or I shall paint the walls with all of our blood!" Nor'baal grinned, thumbing the control on the detonator as a thick globule of drool dolloped out of his mouth. Check-Mate.