Harrison Aerostar - Solo Start

[GM Fang]

Passengers finished disembarking the YT-1300, named the Star Talon, and made their way through the customs process at Landing Bay Aurek. The small group ventured out into the wind and sun of Mos Shuuta, the bright light and sharp sting of a light sandstorm causing most to shield their eyes or at least squint. Harrison Aerostar retrieved his datapad from his pack and accessed the map of the city that was provided to him. The palace of Teemo the Hutt was on the opposite side of Mos Shuuta. A relatively short, if not uncomfortable, walk from the eastern-most landing bay would take the archaeologist across the mesa. Harrison noted the location again of the Offworld Traders, near to the main electro-gate entrance. There was a chance something unusual might be found there as well.

Harrison had been charged with retrieving information for the patron of the museum for which he worked, Ursula the Hutt of the Gorgensla clan. Word had it that Teemo had recently come into information about an ancient relic located somewhere near the Great Salt Flats of Tatooine. Ursula was determined to see that Teemo, who was clearly ill-suited to appreciate the significance of this relic, wouldn't just sell it off to the highest bidder. As such, she sent Aerostar off to not only negotiate for information regarding the details of the relic but also the task of recovering said relic before anyone else could get their hands on it.

Now what?

[Harrison Aerostar]

Harrison considers his options for a moment, then decides to make his way to the Offworld Traders. With his decision made, he says to himself, "Hopefully, they will have something good." Before leaving the docking bay, Harrison walks up to a water vendor and picks up a bottle of water. After tossing the vendor a few credits for the water, he takes a swig and then wipes the sweat from his brow with one arm and begins walking there on foot.

[GM Fang]

Having picked out a route to Teemo's Palace, Harrison Aerostar gets some water and starts walking first to the Offworld Trader. Leaving the Landing Bay behind and passing the warehouse associated with it, Harrison picks his way down the street, shielding his face and eyes from the sun and sand. Not far along, he passes the Power Station. It is a large domed building which formed the corner of this group of buildings. As he gets closer to the building, Harrison can hear the thrum of its generators. Large metal tubes rise out of the sand and then sprout numerous cables which all run to different segments of the mesa. Jawas can be seen trading with a few humanoids who have brought their droids to be recharged here.

Just beyond that, the archaeologist can see a business advertising itself as a weapons vendor. A scruffy looking Aqualish stands outside the entrance. Continuing on, the round narrows and twists through the cramped buildings. Harrison is careful to keep an eye out for thugs here, as he was warned that Mos Shuuta is not considered a very lawful location. Eventually he came to the walls enclosing the Junk Yard. He could see some of the mounds of parts and vehicles rising over the low walls. Checking his datapad again, Harrison saw that he was on the right track and that the Traders was just ahead.

Just across the alley that Harrison traversed was a building marked by a rusty old stylized rocket ship. Aerostar enter the building and sees a shop teeming with luxurious clothing, exotic art objects and unusual foodstuffs and spices. A blue-skinned male twi'lek comes towards Harrison. "I am Bengarra, owner and proprietor of this fine shop. We import only the finest items from all over the galaxy. What can I get for you this fine day, friend?"

[Harrison Aerostar]

Harrison nods to the shopkeeper as he is greeted by him. "Good day to you Mr. Bengarra. I came to your store in hopes of finding something unusual and unique," Harrison says glancing over the store as he speaks to the shop owner.

"Perhaps, you have some hard to find art, statues or other cultural artifacts relating to the natives of Tatooine or elsewhere? I am a bit of a relic hunter you see." Harrison pauses for a moment gripping his pack tightly before continuing. "If not, perhaps I could get some information on where to find some."

[GM Fang]

Harrison nods to the shopkeeper as he is greeted by him. "Good day to you Mr. Bengarra. I came to your store in hopes of finding something unusual and unique," Harrison says glancing over the store as he speaks to the shop owner.

"And a very fine day to you too, Mr....?" Bengarra leaves the introduction hanging in the air.

"Perhaps, you have some hard to find art, statues or other cultural artifacts relating to the natives of Tatooine or elsewhere? I am a bit of a relic hunter you see." Harrison pauses for a moment gripping his pack tightly before continuing. "If not, perhaps I could get some information on where to find some."

Bengarra thinks for a moment. "Oh dear, no, I don't have anything so... primitive here in Offworld Traders. My goods are all from offworld, as you might imagine." The Twi'lek spreads his arms and gestures around the room. "Perhaps you might be more interested in some fine Alderaanian brandy? Or perhaps some luxurious attire from the gem of our galaxy: Coruscant herself? No? A Toydarian clan Bell? Maybe this Luminous statue of a Bantha if you are truly seeking something of Tatooine influence?" Bengarra shows Harrison a statue of a Bantha made from a rock that seems to pulse with its own natural glow.

"Most of the people who live here in Mos Shuuta seem to either just get by or move on to larger cities. Most of my clients are looking for items from other planets. Perhaps you might try an establishment I heard of in Mos Eisley that sells relics, if you can call them that: The Desert Star. I understand the owner buys and sells some of the primitive trinkets that are found in the desert wastes. And then there is an antique trader in Bestine by the name of Garala Brolen. She has two locations there in the capital I am told."

At the very least, maybe you would like to try some Rylothian Yurp?" The Twi'lek lifts a crystal decanter from a nearby shelf and holds it towards Harrison.

[GM Fang]

Harrison tries to recall any Lore he had read about regarding the clan bell, the statue and the Rylothian drink.

As Harrison moves over to examine the items, he notices two guards who suddenly appeared. He's not sure from where. One moment they were just there. One is a Twi'lek and the other is a Gamorian.

Looking at the Toydarian Clan bell, Harrison recalls that these were symbols of nobility among the Toydarians. After a few moments of translating some of the script on the inside of the bell, Harrison believes it was the property of a Toydarian noble by the name of Roobi Beggonya. He does not recall anything special about this particular noble. The symbols on the front seem to imply that the intended owner was a female, but he is not able to tell which clan it belongs to without further research.

The Luminous Statue is very interesting. It is a rough cut statuette of a bantha, without a rider. It is a yellowish rock that seems to glow from the inside. As Aerostar goes to look it over, he nearly drops it and barely catches it again before it hits the floor! The guards move forward and Bengarra swiftly takes it from Harrison and puts it back on its pedestal.

The Rylothian Yurp is an alcoholic drink made from ingredients specifically from Ryloth. It is nothing special as far as lore goes, and Harrison has not tasted it before. Considering that spice is mined on Ryloth, it's possible this is a very potent form of libation and based on it's decanter, possibly a very fine and expensive vintage.

[Harrison Aerostar]

Slightly embarrassed at his own clumsiness with the statue of the Bantha, Harrison says "My apologies Mr. Bengarra, for being so careless with the Bantha statue, I did not mean to startle you or your friends." Harrison says gesturing towards the two guards. "I was caught off guard by the glow it emitted on the inside. Forgive me as well well for not introducing myself. My name is Harrison Aerostar." Harrison says as he holds out a hand in greetings toward Mr. Bengarra. "I thank you for your information about the shops in Bestine and Mos Eisley. I will check them out when I get a chance, but for now I am very intrigued with this Bantha statue. How much are you asking for it?"

[GM Fang]

Bengarra retrieves the nearly dropped Batha statue and carefully places it back on its pedestal.

"My apologies Mr. Bengarra, for being so careless with the Bantha statue, I did not mean to startle you or your friends." Harrison says gesturing towards the two guards. "I was caught off guard by the glow it emitted on the inside. Forgive me as well well for not introducing myself. My name is Harrison Aerostar." Harrison says as he holds out a hand in greetings toward Mr. Bengarra.

Bengarra shakes Harrison's hand and then bows as well. "Well met, Mr. Aerostar. I can see you have some knowledge of antiquities."

"I thank you for your information about the shops in Bestine and Mos Eisley. I will check them out when I get a chance, but for now I am very intrigued with this Bantha statue. How much are you asking for it?"

"Ah yes, this is an interesting item, is it not. It is quite old. There are newer replicas made but this is one of the authentic ancient ones. You see, you can tell here by the more natural carving method. The replicas are carved by new tools and you can see the difference if you know how to look."

Bengarra smiles. This particular specimen is nearly priceless. But you can purchase it today for 7500 credits."

[Harrison Aerostar]

Startled a bit at the asking price, Harrison's eyes grow wide. "Oh, I see. " he says and then clears his throat as he tries to remember just how much of a line of credit Ursula has given him to get the relic from Teemo.

He then continues, "Well, it is quite a nice piece indeed. Unfortunately, that is just outside my price range for now, but I thank you for your time and kindness in showing me this item. Perhaps, I may be able to swing back after I attend to other business in town."

[GM Fang]

Harrison Aerostar does some negotiating with Bengarra, but with his negotiation with Teemo a definite priority, the archaeologist decides to wait and see just what Teemo is going to want. The information he possesses is in high demand by his Hutt employer and in high interest by Harrison himself.

"Well, it is quite a nice piece indeed. Unfortunately, that is just outside my price range for now, but I thank you for your time and kindness in showing me this item. Perhaps, I may be able to swing back after I attend to other business in town."

Bengarra nods his understanding. "I will await your return, Mr. Aerostar. Please do stop back in before you leave town."

Harrison heads out of Offworld Traders and back into the streets of Mos Shuuta. With the sandstorm dying down somewhat, he sees that the streets are a little more crowded now. Heading toward Teemo's Palace, Aerostar passes the Jawa trading stalls. A group of three small buildings is shaded by a torn sailbarge wing strung between them. A couple of patrons are negotiating over droids with the little robed aliens.

Teemo's palace looms ahead, a beautiful shell-shaped structure that towers over the rest of Mos Shuuta. Harrison makes his way up the winding path and to the fortified gate. There are two Gamorean guards here outside the gate. It is closed and cannot be seen through. As Harrison steps up to the gate, the Gamoreans grunt but do not move. A moment later a TT-8L "Tattletale" droid sticks out from the side of the gate and begins to examine the archaeologist. "What want you here, dusty human?" the droid asks in a metallic, barely understandable version of Basic.

[Harrison Aerostar]

Harrison cracks a smile at the two Gamorian guards and then looks at the eyeball and says confidently. "I come to speak to your master on behalf of Ursula of the Gorgensla clan. He may even be expecting me."

[GM Fang]

The brutish Gamorean guards don't pay much attention to Harrison as he approaches, other than cursory. They don't react directly when he smiles at them, but one snorts and squeals to the other.

The Tattletale droid pokes its eyestalk out and examines the archaeologist.

Harrison cracks a smile at the two Gamorian guards and then looks at the eyeball and says confidently. "I come to speak to your master on behalf of Ursula of the Gorgensla clan. He may even be expecting me."

Before the TT-8L can respond another human walks up to the gate as well. The man wears padded armor and carries a blaster rifle slung over his shoulder. The Tattletale looks back and forth between the two. The human indicates that he too has business with Teemo on behalf of some Rodian trader, named Seedoneo.

Looking back, the TT-8L says, "Organic being, race: human, identification: Aerostar, designation: Harrison, affiliation: Gorgensla Hutt clan, designation: Ursula Smikkuu Pux. Entrance permitted. Individual too dusty for immediate entrance." The droid's eyestalk then rotates back over toward the other human standing nearby.

[Harrison Aerostar]

With permission to enter, and as the door begins to raise Harrison looks over at the other individual that has shown up and grabs the front brim of his hat and pulls it down and then back up quickly and says "Well good luck to you on getting past the droid stranger. Though, by the look of you, I am sure I will see you inside very shortly." Harrison then starts walking inside the palace. Upon entering, Harrison looks over at all the decorations covering the walls and walkway and shrugs his shoulders and then says under his breath "Well, he's got a pretty nice entryway I will give him that." Before to long, Harrison arrives at what appears to be some kind of reception room.

[GM Fang]

Post Closed