Strangers on Ryloth

[Moor Todan]

Episode 103: Strangers on Ryloth
"To conquer the world, you best have dragons."

A legend reborn! Echoes of the resurgence of some Arkanian mythical creatures have reached bounty hunters across the galaxy, all wanting in on the pay. Nem'ro the Hutt's palace has been besieged by smugglers and their usual co-conspirators looking to trade information regarding the whereabouts of these fabulous creatures. Senator Moor Todan, his identity concealed, has joined the chase, albeit for completely different reasons...

The cantina was filled with hundreds of conversations told in loud voices, all of them competing with the electronic music that dominated the atmosphere. The crowd was young, lower-tier criminals for the most part. Moor Todan winded his way through the warm bodies to order a drink - the dark local ale.

The Junior Senator's attire was not up to its usual standards. He was dressed in common jet-black rags of the type that was commonly worn in the Outer Rim. Though his head remained entirely exposed, he hoped that his clothes would be sufficient to conceal his identity. He had tousled blond hair, which was thick and lustrous. His eyes were a mesmerizing deep ocean green, flecks of silvery light performed ballets throughout. His face was strong and defined, his features molded from granite. He had dark eyebrows, which sloped downwards in a serious expression. His usually playful smile had drawn into a hard line across his face.

The palace was more crowded than usual, or so Moor had been told by a wanton Twi'leki waitress. Smugglers and bounty hunters had traveled from all the corners of the galaxy, much as the Senator had, to gather information about the mysterious Arkanian beasts that had suddenly been rediscovered on their homeworld.

Dragons. Winged creatures scaled in vibrant thick shields with protuberant sharp claw-like projections in every place. According to lore, their fangs were tipped with enough poison to fell a grown man in seconds and they could breathe fire hotter than a blue sun. Their attackers never even realize they were dead. Most collectors were looking to acquire them for their destructive capabilities. However, Moor Todan had never been interested in becoming a conqueror. Wealth had never attracted him either. However, he had a profound admiration for the beauties that the galaxy had to offer, and the gleaming scales of such fierce and majestic creatures counted amongst those wonders. His interest was that of a collector, for he was not above indulging in a little selfishness once in a while.

Moor brought the alcohol to his lips. The burning sensation pouring down his throat, creating a warm feeling deep inside of his stomach. He would need support if he was to pull off the heist he had planned on Arkania. Such specialized help for an unsanctioned mission could only be found in a hellhole like a Hutt's personal residence. He would just have to keep an eye out for someone that would be up to the task.

@Insalius

 

[Dennys Waszylla]

The Wookie made an interesting sound of surprise as Dennys grabbed him from behind, arms wrapped around his waist and with a fierce grin on his face. Another challenger to the Exile who thought his flamboyant look meant he was a weak fighter and a weaker mind. He had ducked the taller being's punches and dodged his grabs, slipping behind the Wookie with surprising alacrity to get him in his favorite hold. It was time for the Waszylla Special, a fierce Suplex that had the humanoid screaming in surprise as the two of them jumped off the balcony of the cantina backwards to slam head-first into the floor of the bottom level. Dennys was, of course, unharmed from the move. Because he was a BADASS.

Giving a whoop of victory, Dennys stood up and checked the unconscious form of his opponent. The entire cantina busted out in clapping for the human, such contests becoming a common occurrence in Nem'ro's palace ever since his performance during the inaugural party. As per the terms of their fight, a round of alcohol was purchased for all the current patrons on the Wookie's tab, hopefully the furred being having enough money to cover that and any possible medical bills for having a concussion. For his part, Dennys straightened out his floral shirt as he took an absolutely huge pitcher of his favorite Corellian Stout, downing a quarter of the thing in a few fierce gulps. Damn, he was a BADASS.

@Aberforth

 

[Moor Todan]

Moor Todan had never witnessed a bar brawl before. He should have expected such unsophisticated displays of strength from a Hutt's entourage. Truth be told, the Junior Senator could be quite the snob sometimes. The pampered lifestyle he had enjoyed over the last decade had caused him to reject anything that would tie him to his modest upbringing. He had been a good fighter once, he still was.

The man who had overpowered the Wookie caught his attention: he reminded him of his dirty uncle Sam. He was wearing a red shirt complimented by a floral pattern that left much of his chest hair exposed for everyone to see. Moor would have never been seen dead wearing that. However, exuberance could be an asset. If anything was to go wrong during the heist, his accomplice would have to take the fall for it: a Nubian official could not be caught poaching on a member world of the Republic. It would no doubt cause a major diplomatic crisis and Moor would have to resign his very comfortable seat on the Republic Senate.

Yes, the flamboyant man will prove the most useful, he thought finally deciding to make his approach. "Another round for Mr. Badass, over here," he indicated to the Twi’lek that tended the bar. Moor’s experience had taught him that there was no better way to make friends in the underworld than alcohol, lots and lots of alcohol. "Put it on my tab."

"Nagord," he added swiftly introducing himself to the man. It was the name he had chosen for this mission; an anagram of the word "dragon". It had a nice ring to it. Moor doubted that his companion would figure it out. "I assume you are a regular here?"

@Insalius

 

[Dennys Waszylla]

Dennys' feet seemed to make a sound similar to a tire skidding to a halt as he quickly made his way to where this 'Nagord' was standing. If someone bought him a drink, it was courtesy to introduce one's self, after all. Dennys was a BADASS, and a cultured one at that. He wouldn't stand for not being polite when someone offered him a gift. This guy didn't look like a 'Nagord', though. He looked more like a Moor, or a Todan. He wondered what parents would hate their kid enough to name them the anagram of the word Dragon in the first place. Dennys had solved many puzzles during his various trips between planets, being something of a trivia and puzzle master at this point. Oh well, none of that mattered. It was time for introductions.

"Kinda. I came for the opening and people liked me enough to give me a place to stay and a good tab. The name's Waszylla, Dennys Waszylla, former Republic soldier and current professional Tourist. Been to just about every planet in the Republic and most planets NOT in the Republic and I've made them all my bitch, in one way or another. At your service, of course." He bowed before taking another drink, not even close to being buzzed despite the alcohol he had drunk so far. He wondered if the man had more to say, as he was getting the feeling that he had been called over for more than just a conversation. Perhaps there was going to be some adventure to be had soon. He LOVED adventure. Especially if he could be a BADASS during it.

@Aberforth

 

[Moor Todan]

The flower-patterned shirt of the 'BADASS' man didn't turn out the be the most interesting thing about him: he had been a soldier in the Republic's militia. Moor was dumbfounded at this revelation. They shared a common past, for the Senator had himself belonged to the Judicial Forces for a time. Ten years to be precise. A decade during which he had served in the Republic Special Operations Division. Perhaps, the stranger had walked the same halls that he had during his time at the Chandrilan Academy.

Pushing aside the echoes of long past memories, Moor resolved to concentrate on the task at hand. He needed the man’s support, but he could not simply ask him to join his endeavor. It was not how things were done in the underworld, especially since he didn’t have anything to offer in exchange for the man’s assistance. The idea would have to come from him. He would have to offer, and Moor would diligently accept his support.

"If you've to 'just about every planet in the Republic', then you must know about Atrisia," the Senator had decided to dive right in; no foreplay, even though it was the part that he generally enjoyed the most. "You kno', where the dragons are supposed to be from," he added miming a very large creature and gesturing his arms indignantly, so they looked like wings flapping. Moor doubted that his imitation was convincing, but Nagord, on the other hand, thought that it was absolutely to the story he was about to tell.

"I had a job there, you 'now. I was going to steal one of them dragon eggs." This time he didn't sign to put emphasis on the dragon seeds. There was no gesture in the world that could do justice to the beauty of a dragon's eggs. They were huge, and the most beautiful in the galaxy. They were patterned in such rich colors that their beholders often thought them to be crusted in jewels. "But then my crew died, so I had to let it go. I would have been set for life."

"'Tis a shame really. My plan was perfect," he reflected languorously. "I know where one of them mama dragon has laid her eggs, you see. I even had the perfect disguise to make it work..."

@Insalius

 

[Dennys Waszylla]

Dennys drained his second pitcher of beer and slammed it on the table, not enough to break it but enough to startle. "When the hell are we leaving? I even got the perfect outfit for this, I've been DYING to give it a try." He raised his eyebrow at Nagord, as if he had spoken too fast for the man. "What, you didn't really think that you could just come up and drop the word 'dragon' and not start a flame in blood, did you, boy? If you've got a plan, then you've got a partner. This is JUST the thing to take my BADASS adventures to the next level. I assume you've got a ship, right? And all the other details hashed out? If so, then let's get the kriff out of here and have a goddamn ADVENTURE. I'll help you get them dragon eggs if it's the last thing I do. Hell, maybe I'll even be able to suplex a Dragon. Now THAT'LL be BADASS, WAHAHAHAHA!!" He took another drink from the pitcher, which just a moment ago had been empty. Wait, how did that happen? Oh well, he tried not to think of the little things like that.

@Aberforth

 

[Moor Todan]

That might have been a bit too easy... the Nubian reflected glancing at the man who kept referring to himself as a 'BADASS'. Maybe he had some underlying motif for accompanying him. Perhaps, he would simply kill Moor once they were in possession of the dragon eggs. The Senator would not give him that opportunity. He would make sure to be prepared for anything that might arise on their quest.

"Very well," Moor said giving him a holopad that indicated a time and a set of coordinates on the Atrisian surface. "We shall meet at this location at the designated time. Don't be late." As they exchange finals words, Moor rose from his seat and quickly made his way to the exit.

To Be Continued...