20030826

2.13.4787 Republic Reckoning

Aug 26 2003 PBEM

Welcome to picturesque Nar Shaddaa, gateway to the tropical paradise the Hutts call home... Nal Hutta. Quindo and Igashu are waiting at a small Cafe for Nargus to contact them when a young boy named Twitch approaches. Seems he brings word from Nargus. After a brisk walk back to the registry and some amusing banter with Twitch, the galaxies premier 8 yr. old information broker, we learn that Naronne arrived with her crew on Nar Shaddaa, but left immediately with one passenger for Nal Hutta. The rest of the crew is still on Nar Shaddaa.

Hmmm... that makes getting in touch difficult. No time to worry about that now, we seem to have picked up a tail. Quindo keeps walking on, Igashu loses himself in the crowd and circles around waiting to follow them back where they came from. Doesn't work out too well, the pair just make a call Igashu can't listen in on and then head back to the cafe. Igashu gives up and heads back to the ship.

Capt. Naronne hears we're looking for her and arranges a shuttle for us. Wow... we're not just going down as guests... we're invited to a big party as guests, complete with large fragile laser etched crystal invitation. Even Igashu feels awkward and out of place at a party that fancy... and boy do we stick out in our Jedi robes.

Seems to be some strange gathering op near a balcony of some sort, so the group goes over to check it out. Oh... lovely, an execution. That was supposed to be Dormamu?! Igashu goes into a trance to make sure. Note to any Jedi reading this. Using postcognition to watch someone you suspect of being a blood relation (mother?) get torn apart by wild animals is rather traumatic. The Jedi fast-talk their way into getting some scientific confirmation, despite Igashu's reassurance that it was Dormamu, and she's very dead. A simple DNA comparison between the corpse and an "unnamed relative" show a positive match. Close enough to be a mother or aunt... Quindo is still not convinced, no one listens.

Igashu spends the rest of the party keeping to himself, alternately drinking and trying to find Naronne. He eventually returns after an unsuccessful search, and just in time for Momoudu's arrival!

Momoudu announces that the Jedi are not responsible for attacks on Hutt Slave planets, and that he has agreed to a joint venture between his troops and the jedi present at the party. We're all surprised since it's the first we've heard of this...

Quindo: "Are we Jedi?" Elbram: "Of course we are, we have the robes!" Igashu: "No. At best we're students, at worst we're something that rhymes with robe!"

Before anyone can object Elbram offers a flowery, flattering, and subservient acceptance. We're all mortified. The Jedi Order is now tied to the putting down of a slave revolt. It's ok though, we'll just tell the council "it seemed like a good idea at the time." *sigh*