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City Center <Bilbousa: Nal Hutta>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You are standing in the midst of one of the great cities of the Hutts.
Nearby looms a massive white building lined with statues of corpulent
Hutt forms, the meeting hall of the Council of Ancients, where the
great Hutt clans gather to oversee their world. Across the street from
the Council chambers is a low, dingy looking building with a low
platform like a stage set in front of it, where various lifeforms are
paraded before representatives of the wealthier Hutts in nearly
perpetual slave auctions. Occasionally, you see younger Hutts
slithering along the slime-covered street, frequently with a small
entourage of Gammorean bodyguards. It is far rarer to see one of the
larger, less mobile Hutts travelling around on their repulsorlift
sleds; these nearly always travel with large contingents of bodyguards
of various sorts, and seem to make a point of disrupting the crowds as
they pass by.
Many of the Hutts you see seem to gather about a low, one-storied
building with several windows that seem to release a constant stream
of steam into the outside air; the Bilbousa mudbaths. Beyond the baths
can be seen the much larger open-domed structure of the Bilbousa
Spaceport, one of the busiest on Nal Hutta.
The streets are filled with all sorts of alien races, ranging from
Human, to Twi'lek, Bothan, Gamorrean, Rodian, Bith, and even the
occasional Wookie. Most are either servants of the Hutts, or people
who have come to Nal Hutta to do business with them, although it is
well-known that the Hutts prefer to do business with outworlders on
Nar Shaddaa, the so-called Smuggler's Moon, which can occasionally be
glimpsed overhead amidst the smoggy clouds.
A dark, oily rain falls almost constantly here, as almost everywhere
else on this dreary planet.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mon Dec 02 00:25:46 2493
Contents: Exits:
Crime Boss Rani <CA> Council of Ancients
Gangster Balga <S> Slave Market
<OE> Old Evocar Way
<V> Varl Way
<SP> Spaceport
<M> Mud Baths
<O> Outskirts
Moving through the throng is another repulsorsled, although this one
smaller, more of a carriage surrounded by a group of Klatoonians.
There is a canopy on it with veils covering who may be behind them.
Balga is gliding across the square on his repulsorsled, surrounded by
fawning slaves.
From the roads winding off toward the palaces comes a procession of
snarling Gammoreans, their armor shining as they keep a repulsorsled
at the middle of the their throng surrounded. Upon the sled sits Jamba,
a corpulent, slimy Hutt colored with dark greens and browns.
And here comes Snabba the Hutt. Not much of one, he is small compared
to many of those gathered, and sits on a small sled, guarded by only
half a dozen Gamorreans.
"Halt," Balga commands his slaves, and he brings his sled to a stop
near to the Council chambers. He pauses and reaches into the slime jar
on his sled, and pulls out a wriggling spiderlike creature. He stuffs
it in his mouth, and licks his lips with his long tongue, as his eyes
shift to watch some of the other nearby processions.
The very non-Hutt sized repulsor sled comes to a hall near the council
chambers as well and the silk curtains are pulled back. A Twi'lek
woman steps out and down onto the ground, her hood covering most of
her lekkus. She glances around at the gathering of Hutts and smile a
bit to herself before she heads up to the Council.
The Gamorreans surrounding Jamba's repulsorsled seem inspired to
continue straight toward Balga's group without stopping before a deep,
rumbling voice barks out, "Stop, you incompetent fools!" He lifts a
stick at his side and an blue-white electric spark leaps the distance
to the nearest of his Gamorrean guards, the armored dimwit falling to
the pavement. He looks toward one of the other Gamorreans. "Clean that
up."
Arriving from Varl Way, atop his Repulsorsled, Lord Oggan is
surrounded by numerous guards of different races. His 'sled makes its
way slowly towards the Council Of Ancients. As he enters, his guards
take up positions outside.
Snabba's small sled continues forward, its advantage in
maneuverability getting it around another Hutt's entourage. However,
it stops forward progress behind Jamba and Balga's groups.
Jamba's repulsorsled, surrounded by a horde of Gamorrean guards, is in
line just behind Balga's to enter the council chambers. Following
behind Jamba's group is Snabba.
Balga pauses as he studies the gathering Hutts. His tail twitches
slightly, and then he turns his attention to the Council Chambers. He
barks something at his slaves, and the repulsorsled moves forward
again, through the chamber entrance.
Gorba slithers in, guarded merely by a pair of Gamorrean guards
wielding axes. He prefers to undulate across the ground, forgoing the
luxury of a repulsorsled to carry himself on his own muscles. Falling
into line behind the others, he pauses to allow his amber eyes to
survey the scene.
Jamba zaps another Gamorrean with his cattle prod, and the procession
continues up and into the council chambers.
Council Chamber <Bilbousa: Nal Hutta>
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This is a vast, dimly lit chamber with high pillars and elegant
statuary imported from around the galaxy. Around the chamber are set,
evenly apart, a series of raised platforms, each inscribed with the
name of one of the great Hutts. Only the oldest, fattest and richest
Hutts from the most powerful clans have a station here, and the
Gamorrean guards with their vibro-axes stand near the entryways,
ensuring that no off-worlder or outsider enter here unbidden. The
Council of Ancients is the official ruling body of the Hutts, but its
formal meetings are rare, and membership in it more a symbol of
prestige and power than of real political power. Only for very great
matters do the Hutts trouble to gather here, and when they do, the
proceedings are closed to all but the Ancients themselves who sit on
the council.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mon Dec 02 00:47:40 2493
Contents: Exits:
Crime Boss Oggan <O> Out
The Hutt Balga
Crime Boss Rani
Two large Gammorean guards approch Balga, and grunt. A nearby
translator droid moves towards Balga, and says, "You're entourage must
leave."
Rani has walked in, looking about her. She moves to a stop just in
front of the raised platform with the name of the Hutt who used to
rule Borgo Prime but met a rather unfortunate end some time ago.
Noticeably she does not get onto the platform, but just stands there.
Slowly, but surly, Oggan's repulsorsled moves into position. It turns
slowly, allowing the Hutt to face the rest of the Council, as they
slowly begin to assemble in the Council Chambers.
Gorba arrives from City Center <Bilbousa: Nal Hutta>
Gorba has arrived.
Slowly, but surly, Oggan's repulsorsled moves into position. It turns
slowly, allowing the Hutt to face the rest of the Council, as they
slowly begin to assemble in the Council Chambers.
Jamba's Gamoreans go scurrying outside when they are zapped with the
cattle prod again, and Jamba directs his repulsorsled himself until it
moves toward the proper platform.
Balga reaches for another squirming insect from his slime jar as he
moves his sled to its proper position. He halts, though, the wriggling
thing clutched in his hands and dripping slime, as he spots the
Twi'lek in the chamber.
Gorba slithers through the door, flanked by a pair of Gamorrean guards
with gleaming vibro-axes. He undulates over to his dais, forgoing the
luxury of a repulsorsled and settling onto his rightful position. His
amber eyes survey the chamber, examining each of the Hutts in turn.
After the droid is done with Balga, it and a group of Gammorean move
towards Gorba. Again, the Gammoreans grunt, and the droid says, "My
lord, you entourage cannot be present during the meeting. They must
leave Council Chambers." It then returns to its place.
Snabba, perhaps once a great, corpulent being, seems to be smaller
than the others as his sled is moved to his station. Still, he could
probably suffocate several individuals at a time by rolling on them.
The Gamorrean guards he has turn and flee as soon as his sled is set.
"Ah, my apologies." Gorba rumbles, leaning over to whisper something
in one of his guard's ear. The pair grunt and oink as they waddle off,
axes in hand. "It slipped my mind"
Balga dismisses his entourage as well, but continues to stare at the
Twi'lek.
The Twi'lek continue to stand in front of one of the platforms as the
Hutts take theirs. She doesn't seem at all nervous either, more amused
as she registers who is who.
As the last of the Council Members take their places, at least the
ones who are present, Oggan's sled moves forward on the platform. He
lets go a loud snort, his large, buldging eyes moving from side to
side, before beginning. "Members of the Clan of Ancients, before I
begin with what it is I wish to speak of, I should make it known of
the presence of an Imperial Star Destroyer in orbit!" He says in
Huttesse, "My ship's sensors picked up a shuttlecraft decending
towards the planet while I was on approch. /Why/ are they here?!" He
goes silent, his eyes watching the other Hutt's, and Twi'lek, waiting
for an answer.
In Huttese: Balga turns his attention to Oggan. "I know nothing of
this Imperial presence," he says. "But it is the presence of this
outworlder in our sacred chamber that concerns me."
"I must agree with Lord Balga!" Jamba rumbles in Huttese, lifting a
pudgy hand to point a slimy finger at Rani. "Why is that attending
this meeting?"
In Huttese: Rani looks at the attending Hutts with that soft smile and
responds, particularly to Balga, "Because without my presence the Hutt
Syndicate loses Borgo Prime ... its profits and all that goes with it.
Lord Oggan is well aware of my position." She regards Oggan to allow
for an explanation, falling silent.
Gorba says nothing, hands clasped silently before him. His amber eyes
regard the situation with mild amusement, a faint smirk on his large
mouth.
The smallish corpulence of Snabba makes no reply, content to watch and
wait for an answer from Oggan, which it looks towards.
The flab on Oggan begins to jiggle as he nods to Rani in response to
her answer. "I am aware of her presence. The Twi'lek has the right to
be in these chambers until the Council has decided who will replace
the former Hutt that was on Borgo Prime, who 'retired' as she puts it.
Another matter to be discussed." He shouts in Huttese. "But that is
not why we are here. And the Council is avoiding the question! Why is
the Empire in orbit of Nal Hutta?! Someone here must know why. And
again, not the reason for us being here but it requires our attention!
When an Imperial Star Destroyer appears in orbit of a world, it is not
something to dismiss lightly!!!"
In Huttese: Balga looks at Rani for a long moment, and then lets out a
deep, rumbling Hutt laugh. He turns his attention to Oggan again. "If
the Twi'lek is here at Lord Oggan's invitation, I will let that matter
rest," he says, for the moment. "As for the Imperials, it is possible
their business is with Nar Shaddaa. Perhaps they have chased a
smuggler or fugitive there. If so, while still damaging to our
interests, it might be best to treat with them and facilitate their
search."
"Whatever the Imperials intend to accomplish here," Jamba rumbles, "I
do not believe we should take any action until we know their true
intent."
Rani nods her head to Balga at being so gracious, "Has anyone of you
sent word to them to inquire what they are looking for. If a shuttle
has landed, send an emissary to treat with them."
In Huttese: Gorba closes his eyes, measuring his words carefully. "The
situation with the Imperial Star Destroyer should not be a matter
taken to seriously. My organization has been running patrols all
across the space surrounding our planet, and the Smuggler's Moon, and
the destroyer has not shown the least interest. It is not hampering
travel, it is not doing anything. Thus, we should wait until it does
something before responding."
The Twi'lek shrugs, her voice small, "You mean like declaring
quarantine on one of our worlds?" Then she falls silent.
Rani's PDA chirrps as it receives a new message.
In Huttese: Balga squirms upright and lets his full girth spread
across his dias. "Lord Oggan," he says, anger brimming in his voice,
"Please instruct your outworlder guest that though we suffer her
presence at your invitation, she will remain silent until spoken to."
He reaches his hand into his slime jar, and searches for another
spider creature. "She is not one of us. She cannot act as one of us.
As for the Imperials, we have made arrangements with them before when
it has proven necessary. Their presence in our space is hardly cause
for panic."
Snabba looks back as a small, humanoid figure scurries into the room,
then departs just as quickly. The Hutt's pudgy hands bring a small
electronic device to him, and he looks up. "My sources speak of no
destroyer in orbit, and they are currently in orbit! Why do you seek
to decieve us, Lord Oggan? Or are you too daft to notice the Imperial
vessel is missing?" Snabba practically roars, voice surprisingly
booming for one his size.
Jamba's eyes bulge as he swivels on his repulsorsled to face Snabba
before turning back toward Oggan, spittle flying in large droplets
from his mouth as he booms, "Lord Oggan! What is the meaning of this?"
Gorba mutters something about hutts to a feeding frenzy. He falls
silent, hands clasped patiently in front of him.
Oggan looks to Gorba, then to Balga, and finally to Snabba. "You call
me a liar, Lord Snabba?! I just arrived from off-world, sensors
detected the Imperial-Class Star Destroyer in orbit! Sensors detected
a shuttle decending to the planet! If you do not believe me, I would
be more then glad to take you into orbit, and launch you into space to
get a closer look!" He says in Huttese, or yells rather. He pauses for
a moment, before continuing, "There is cause for concern, look what
they pulled at Tatooine. I do not like the member of this Council will
be singing the same tune if the Destoyer decided to board your ship,
take your cargo and question your crews! So don't try and feed me a
handful of Bantha fodder, because they are becoming more agressive.
And /when/ they decide to move against us, do not come crawling to
this Council for aide or to complain! There are other matters to
discuss, if that is all on the Imperial matter which I will deal
with."
Rani listens to Oggan's outburst, nodding at the part about the
destoyer definintely being there, but otherwise remains silent.
"Lord Oggan!" Jamba's deep voice echoes across the chamber. "I accept
on your offer! Take this council into orbit and show us this Star
Destroyer so that we may see the situation with our own eyes."
Oggan looks to Jamba, "The matter is behind us, Lord Jamba. There are
more pressing matters to discuss. You can go look for yourself later."
In Huttese: Balga finds a spider at last, and shoves it in his mouth.
His long tongue licks his lips. He slams down his fist on a control
stud on his repulsor sled, and barks something sharp and terse. In a
moment, there is the sound of a reply over a comm channel. "My palace
has just run an orbital scan," he says. "They report no imperial
presence."
Gorba lifts a commlink to his lips, muttering into it.
Oggan snorts, eyeing certain members of the Council, "Then they have
just departed. So be it."
"How convenient," Jamba rumbles, eyes narrowing as a pudgy arm reaches
for a Hutt-sized bowl of a sickly green liquid which he pours into his
mouth.
Oggan nods to Jamba, offering a Hutt-like smile. "Very convenient." He
says, "But we must discuss the plan I have, and have discussed with
certain members of this Council on the punishment towards the
Klatooinians for the attempted assassination on me!"
"Perhaps punishment for your own security is in order, Lord Oggan, to
allow such a group to even attempt such a thing. With a fool such as
yourself in charge, I would do something similar in their position."
Snabba speaks, his contempt for Oggan clear. Smaller than most he may
be, but he's precisely kind.
In Huttese: Balga laughs another long, rumbling laugh. "Ho ho ho ho,"
he says. "First you distract us with phantom imperials," he says,
continuing to laugh, "and now you seek help in gaining revenge on your
enemies. Perhaps, Lord Oggan, your resources are not as great as rumor
as made them?" Balga lets the question hang in the air for a moment,
and licks his lips.
Rani speaks up then, her voice strong but small compared to the
others, "Lord Oggan has all the resources of Borgo Prime at his
disposal concerning the Klatoonian incident at which I was present."
Jamba's laugh echoes Balga's comment, and he downs another bowl of the
oozing green liquid before his eyes turn toward Rani and he points a
pudgy finger at her once more. "The resources of Borgo Prime are not
yours to give!"
With a grumble, Gorba speaks "No, esteemed cousin. But the resources
of House Teilexu, with multimillion credit incomes DAILY are mine to
give. And I pledge them to Lord Oggan." He snorts, amber eyes piercing
bolts at Jamba
Balga laughs again. "Lord Jamba speaks the truth," he says. "No
offworlder may be permitted to seize a Hutt's operations and
resources. It seems to me that our most pressing business is
this...how to divide the resources of Borgo Prime among the clans.
What was owned by Hutts must remain owned by Hutts."
Rani glances at Oggan, no look of concern on her face. "My current
ownership of Borgo Prime has it assurances. It will be given back into
the hands of the Hutt only with my approval." She leans back slightly
against the pedastel.
Oggan moves his 'sled forward, nodding to Rani, "Thank you. But as for
the members of this Council, have you not forgotten that Klatooine
was, is, and will be a member of the Hutt Syndicate, and are our
minions! Not to mention apart of the Treaty between us, the Nikto, and
the Klatooinians that has been in effect for centuries! This act of
disobidence happend to me, it can happen to you!" He pauses, "If we do
not punish them, they will try this again. Rumors from Klatooine say
there is a large group of Klatooinians rebelling against us.
Trandoshan slavers cannot handle a full scale uprising of the entire
planet! Action must be taken now!" He looks to Balga, "We deal with
Klatooine, then we will deal with Borgo Prime. Until then, /vote/! Do
we move against the Klatooinians, or do we sit here and continue
this... pointless bickering? I do not want to see Klatooine slip away.
Cheap, or even free labour is hard to come by these days."
Gorba speaks into its commlink.
"I vote that we deal with the Borgo Prime incident *now*," Jamba
rumbles, voice louder than before. A slurping noise follows as he
downs yet another bowl of greenness before contiuing. "You will not
continue to distract us from the true matter at hand!"
"I agree with Lord Jamba," Balga says. "We can settle the question of
Borgo Prime now, and then each of us will know precisely what
resources we will have available to treat with...other matters. But we
cannot allow this outworlder to continue in ownership of Hutt
property, to continue in overlordship of Hutt minions! You speak of
our obligations, and of the danger of slaves slipping away from us,
Lord Oggan. What dangerous signal to our slaves would we send if we
accept that, in the event of a Hutt's death, a slave may rule?"
Snabba nods his assent to Jamba and Balga, speaking up, "We vote on
the Borgo Prime situation now. Then, perhaps we can allocate some of
those resources to your aid, Lord Oggan."
Gorba rumbles thoughtfully, awaiting the chance to speak his place,
and make his vote.
Rani remains silent this time, but still she smiles. She appears at
least a little more intelligent then that as she watches Oggan.
Oggan nods, "As you wish. We shall resolve the matter of Borgo Prime
now. If you wish, I shall go personally to Borgo Prime, take control
and asses its value and then report back to the Council.
Satisfactory?" He looks to Balga.
Balga blinks twice, and licks his lips. "Oh, ho ho ho," he laughs. "Wo
ho ho ho ho. You would do that to please me, Lord Oggan? Take control
of Borgo Prime's resources yourself, claim its wealth, its slaves and
its facilities, and add them to your own, with no thought to the other
clans? How...kind of you. I had not up to this time suspected you of
such...philanthropic motives."
Gorba speaks up finally, looking around the circle. "Enough of the
simpering whining of this council. The Twi'lek is proving to be an
acceptable, and profitable, leader. Why does it matter who holds the
reins as long as a profit is being made." He snorts arrogantly. "The
girl, non-hutt, seems to be doing just fine. I see no point in moving
in someone who might very well be less competent.
Rani's smile spreads a bit at Gorba's remark, shifting slightly on her
feet as she regards Balga. Again, she says nothing, perhaps playing it
smart this time as the fate of her base is decided.
Jamba turns to face Gorba, pointing a pudgy finger toward him, a trail
of green slime dripping from it to his repulsorsled. "What does it
matter?" he asks, a note of astonishment entering the bass rumble of
his voice. "She is doing just fine, you say.... Tell me, Lord Gorba....
Are you going to turn your operations over to this slave as well? You
seem to think her a fine manager of *Hutt* assets."
"Calling yourself an incompetent replacement for her, Gorba? Truly
humble of you." Snabba asks, voice booming as he chuckles. "Her
ownership should not be valid, it is Hutt property, and should be
returned to us."
Oggan continues to watch Balga, his eyes narrowing, his facial
expression is plain. "I would take control of it on behalf of the
Council, Lord, Balga. I would never dare try to do this for my own
personal gain. Who do you think I am? I am not like you." He looks to
Gorba, "I agree, Lord Gorba. But perhaps we can assign a... Hutt
Observer for the time being, to satify /certain/ Council Members need
to know what is going on there, even if they do not need to know! As
it stands, the former Hutt who owned Borgo Prime left, leaving the
Twi'lek in charge. She has proven herself, yes. She is not Hutt, I
agree, and I agree that a Hutt should be incharge of what is ours. But
does it really matter?" He stops as he listens to the others, "Order!
Can we not go through a meeting without bickering! Let the Twi'lek
control Borgo Prime! I am sure the members of the Council have better
things to do with their time then to nit-pick about a /small/ piece of
land owned by us! True?!"
Rani's laughter is short and breaks in at the end of Oggan's speech.
She quiets then and looks at the 'lords' bickering over her asteroid.
"My dear Lords. Perhaps I might put an end to the debate?"
Gorba smirks, bulbous eyes examining Snabba and then Jamba. "No,
although I will most likely be leaving my holdings to my most capable
Majordomo if I do not bear a child before my death. Unlike certain
antiquated beliefs many of you share, I realize that there *are*
competent businessmen that are not Hutts. You would do well to attempt
to learn that, esteemed Council." He rumbles, small frame trembling
with anger. "A Hutt observer is an acceptable solution, since it
appears believed that she is incapable of running an organization." He
finishes, looking to Rani to speak.
Balga laughs again. "On this we agree, Lord Oggan. You are most
assuredly NOT like me, a fact which you prove with each passing
moment. I wonder that I had not noticed this dissimilarity before." He
turns his attention to the council. "I propose that the Council be
given a full accounting of the assets, holdings and facilities of
Borgo Prime. Each clan that so desires must then make its case for a
share of those assets, based on their own power and prestige. The
Council will then divide the assets appropriately." He turns back to
Oggan. "But as you have other things you wish to deal with, I would be
agreeable to putting off the final dividing of those assets to a later
date."
A slurp as Jamba downs yet another bowl of green liquid, stacking the
empty dish with the others at his side. "I second Lord Balga's
motion," he rumbles simply.
Oggan looks around at the other Council Members, "I agree with Lord
Balga. Are there any objections to this motion?"
"Agreed." Snabba calls from his platform, a wicked smirk spreading on
his massive lips.
Oggan nods, his flag moves with his body. "So be it. Lord Balga, I
will leave it in your capable hands to find a neutral party to do the
assesment of Borgo Prime. We will retire for the night and continue
later. There is much we need to think about."
Rani's voice becomes louder now and sharper, "You Lords will not be
taking Borgo Prime through a vote." She takes a couple of steps away
from the pedestal she was leaning against.
Balga turns and looks at Rani briefly. Then he searches for the
chamber's guards. "The outworlder speaks without invitation for the
last time. I demand she be removed!"
Gorba cringes, sighing softly.
"You were instructed to be silent unless spoken too, Outsider," Jamba
intones, stabbing a slimy finger in Rani's direction. And then, "I
again second the motion of Lord Balga."
Oggan moves forward in his 'sled, heading towards the exit. "It does
not matter. The meeting is over. Return to your Palaces and think
about what was said here. Good evening to you all." He continues on
his way, without looking back.
Balga watches Oggan depart. "Oh, I will think about what has been said
here," he says quietly. "I will think of it, very much."
Rani disregards the guards and begins to make her own way out after
Oggan.
Gorba says, "Ahh.. Mistress Twi'lek. Please remain to speak with me
privately."
Rani stops at the door and turns to look at Gorba. She seems to
consider the request a moment, then turns and approaches Gorba's
repulsorsled.
Without a word, Snabba begins moving his repulsorsled towards the
exit, calling out with a chuff to his guards.
Gorba says, "I wish to praise you for your nicely maneuvered words.
You are a skilled woman, as I am sure you are aware. I apologize for
the.. ahh.. xenophobic, foolishness that seems to pervade this council
of late. A byproduct of Imperial rule, no doubt."
Balga licks his lips. He eyes Jamba for a moment across the chamber,
and blinks several times. Then he looks back to the door where Oggan
has just departed. At length he directs his repulsorsled toward it.
Jamba chuffs, and a cloud of misty mucus is ejected from his monstrous
nostrils before his large eyes catch Balga's. He smacks a large button
on his repulsorsled, and the device slides from its perch to move
toward the exit. |
