A Look At The Princess

[Officiant]

A Look At The Princess​

She had come to the Embassy in a hooded, but slim cloak, obscuring most of her features but in such expensive fabric it was clearly not designed to diminish the amount of attention she would draw from passersby. The upper part of her face in shadow, soft brown eyes peering from the dark, she delivered the note to the Embassy Captain of the Guard, detailing her credentials. Upon entry, she walked quickly but looked more to be flowing, gliding down the passages of the Hutt Embassy until she reached the chambers of the honored and esteemed Ambassador. She bowed her head in silent difference when told to wait but did not move from her place until she was allowed entry, standing a statue, draped in lush, darkened red velvet in the perfect peak of the half circle around the receptionist's desk. Once allowed in she tilted her head down in a warm, stately show of grace and continued into the Ambassador's chambers, the long trails of her cloak pulled behind her.

Entering the audience chambers of the great Hutt Lord, the woman approached quickly but with her head lowered slightly, further obscuring her features save her pale lower lip and alabaster chin.

Bowing, curtseying perhaps, though her cloaked frame gave little in the way of lateral movement as she bent down, the woman stayed humbled before the Hutt and his court. "Your Excellency Nor'baal Koragga of the Desajilic Kajadic, Ambassador of Nal Hutta, Envoy of the Supreme Hutt Council..." The woman said, her voice soft but clear, articulate and cultivated, it was the voice of a servant though not a timid one by any means. "... I greet you in the name of my mistress." She said, still showing physical difference to the Hutt Lord and the Ambassador of his people.


@Nor'baal

"She is the Princess Duyon, Excellency, the Lady Viechelin of Alsakan, Alderaan and by Thyferra, Daughter of the Houses Thul and Melantha." And so the woman revealed herself in spoken word to be the creature of the exalted Viechelin Farrs, the Senator of Thyferra, though the woman had curiously omitted her mistress's most famous title.

@Nor'baal

 

[Nor'baal Desajilic]

It was, unsurprisingly, a somewhat hectic day at the Hutt Embassy, and not because of the large amount of good representation of the Hutt People its Ambassador was doing. Nor'baal was acutely aware of this, as he counted through the chests of Death Sticks that had been dropped at his door earlier that morning by one of the local dealers, who had apparently decided that he 'Wanted to go legit'. Naturally, the Hutts could not quite get their heads around the concept of 'going legit' for in their own minds, there was nothing illegal in selling drugs for private or indeed public consumption.

The Republic prided itself on its peculiar legal system, and it was this that greatly informed the Hutts political approach to their Republic Counter-Parts, namely one of feigned interest, one that existed only to allow the Hutts to see what the Republic was up to - with all their beautiful transparency laws - but never to actually join their odd collective of taxation and law. Nor'baal shuddered at the thought of Hutta becoming a 'legal planet', as undoubtedly would many a Hutt should they be faced with the same horrifying prospect.

Hefting the last crate indoors, or at least, watching as one of the Embassy Staff did it for him, the Hutt headed back inside so as to make good time for his forthcoming meeting with some sentient from Thyferra. Changing into something that was less offensive than a Hutts natural 'free flowing form', namely a simple cape, which would cover his shoulders, a fine Hat (hatt?) and some arm bracers (which in turn contained a small hold-out blaster that could be popped out at the push of a buttom).

​

Sighing as he lamented at the fineries the weaker races adorned themselves with, the Hutt ventured back into the main room of the Embassy, to see that his guest was just arriving. Listening with feigned intent as she reeled off his title, the Hutt waved a Droid forward, who offered her the same treatment, and served the purpose of ensuring that Nor'baal didn't have to do it himself. Finally, as the Droid drew the greetings to a formal conclusion, the Hutt approached her personally, not willing to recline like the other Hutts which could be seen around the room in various alcoves, discussing business with their motley arrays of henchmen.

It amused him greatly that the young woman most likely was unaware that in this very room sat some of the most vile Hutts in the galaxy, a loan shark, a trafficker, all sat in the alcoves around her. Nor'baal offered a small bow, by way of greeting and boomed a <Chowbasa! Kee chai chai cun kuta?> (Welcome! What are you doing here?) to the lady, interested as to why she had come to the Embassy to meet with the Hutts. Out of the corner of his eye, the Hutt spied the Death Stick crates being carried through the back of one of the alcoves by some of the staff, and hoped the Senator did not notice, or inquire as to what was in those boxes.

 

[Officiant]

The woman rose from her humbled state and rose to once again become a statuesque figure adorned in a deep velvet cloak. She titled her head up so that her lips could be seen more clearly though oddly enough her eyes were even more obscured, glinting only momentarily in the glow of the Hutt's domicile. "Excellency my Mistress wonders if you would honor both her and her house by giving her a private audience at her estate on Chandrilla." The woman dipped her head a little once more in difference as she continued with her eloquent, though perhaps overly formal and diplomatic honors. "She speaks of great admiration for your famed and esteemed personage, and would like the opportunity to meet with you in person." Her voice and carriage turned to what can only be called an eloquent and dignified form of groveling as the woman continued. "She regrets that she could not come personally to speak with you but hopes that her humble invitation to her hospitable and comfortable residence will confer the difference she holds to your title and position and convey how high you are placed in her most vaunted esteem." The woman said, her head slowly raising once again, delicate and differential. "Would it please you Excellency, she would be happy to arrange a grand fete in your honor, to show her goodwill and the sincerity of her words," Were she a more timid girl it would have sounded haphazard, like she was quickly covering for misplaced words, but in her voice and her controlled, refined carriage her addendum seemed significant. "Should you accept her most humble request Excellency."

 

[Nor'baal Desajilic]

She has clearly done her home-work, chuckled the Hutt to himself as he observed the great lengths the young representative went to in order so that she might adhere to the finer nuances of Hutt etiquette. Perhaps she had been trained at some of the Thyferran Political Schools, or maybe she was just naturally talented - the Hutt found it unlikely that it was the latter. She would make a good majordomo if ever she desired work outside of the world of politics, the Hutt added to his thoughts, before she moved onto the invite to join her mistress on their home-world.

Nor'baal had to wonder exactly why she wanted to meet with him personally, at her residences, and a considerable portion of his scheming mind labored under the suspicion that it was in fact, a trap - and as such the Hutt would need to take suitable precautions to ensure his safety, but that was the norm for most of the time. However, his position came with risks, and as such he would accept her offer. <Please inform your mistress that it would be honor beyond compare for my Embassy to attend this gathering.> he boomed by way of response.

Turning away from the young lady, the Hutts mind already began to work on the finer details of such a gathering, the who, the what, the how and the why? But it was of little consequence, for he now had a great deal of work to do so as to ensure that all was ready for his attendance. Firstly, he would leave a member of his own - non-Hutt - staff here, and temporarily shut the Embassy whilst he was away on official business, as Nor'baal would be taking the other Hutts who normally gathered at the Embassy, with him on this little diplomatic visit.

In addition, the Embassy staff would remain at the Embassy, with additional staff and attendants flown in from the Glorious Jewel to provide security and retainers to the Hutt party. In total, Nor'baal himself would attend with a small group of Nikto Security, and a few of those new highly polished Chromium covered HK Units from Czerka, the rest of his retinue being correctly adorned for practical means, dancers and the like. No doubt the other Hutts would attend with their own retinues, but that was not of concern to Nor'baal, who was already on his data-slate, arranging for his Yacht and Caravel to be made available for his transit to the dinner.

All in all, the Senator who had extended this invite would need to ensure landing room five separate Caravels or Sail Barges for the attending Hutts, plus additional room for smaller vessels should they be required, in addition to space moorings for their yachts. Lets hope we don't eat to much, the Hutt thought, before chuckling to himself at how ridiculous such a prospect was. He turned back to the young woman, <We shall see you at the event then young lady.> he chortled, already considering the gifts to be offered to the Senator, and wondering if it would be appropriate to give her a crate of spice.

 

[Officiant]

Chandrilla: The Plains of Leon, 1 Week Later ​

Rising out of the golden, rocky flats of Chandrilla's Plains of Leon stood a stone enormity of impossibly large domes, towers, pillars and great stone verandas, courts, vestibules and colonnade that made an architectural marvel of such scope and size that it would be better deemed a small city than a private residence. Of course it really was that, the "caste" part of the castle-town being long converted into a more palatial, opulent and classical design dwarfing any residence of any prince or corporate magnate in the Core. Had it been built in one lifetime it would have been cursed and spat upon as "vulgar" and an unseemly show of wealth, but the grand palace had been built over centuries, millennia in a consistent architectural style. Instead of the haunt of showy upstarts, the residency of the Princes Duyon of Alsakan was a great work of art that was the envy of any and all that lay eyes upon it. Larger estates were sure to be found but none possessed the stone, classical, stately beauty of Palace of Leon.

It had been given as something of a wedding present by the current Prince to his once anonymous and embattled bride, a nobody Senator from a pretentious and provincial Rim World, distinguished only by it's sole export. It caused quite a stir among the old nobility of the Inner Core and along the Perlemian, to give one of the greatest houses in all the Republic to a Rimmer, but a combination of her marvelous pedigree, reputation, and elegance belayed any concerns that the locals and anyone else for that matter, had on the keys of the Palace being given to one Senator Viechelin Farrs, Princess Duyon. The Princess's life over the thirty years since mirrored that of the Palace. She was ever remote, regal and reticent to the sometimes harsh and jagged landscape around her.

And now the Princess had invited most... unusual guests, for an occasion planned to be fitting of the ones meant to be thrown in the grand ballrooms and halls of the Palace if their monumental stature was any indication. Staring atop one of the Palace's towering, ornamented walls, the ruler of what would be aptly called a small kingdom looked down across the brown and gold flats of her domain as dark storm clouds gathered overhead.

'I hope the storm doesn't injure their approach...' The great lady thought to herself, and in the distant rolling of thunder and the whirling of the winds, she might have soon found her answer as clouds of dust appeared on the horizon, over the canyon that the grand palace straddled.

 

[Nor'baal Desajilic]

Where even is Thyferra? thought Nor'baal as he watched the Seltiss-2 Caravel detach from his star yacht as the Hutt was brought down to the planet below. The Seltiss-2 was a unique vessel, for which the residents of the 'Glorious Jewel' that was Nal Hutta had developed a particular affinity for, its bulbous and curvaceous design clearly appealing to their sensibilities. Fashioned from a blend of exotic woods and practical metals, the Caravel was a small vessel thats use extended only to inter-planetary travel, and most often found a use as a 'ferry' between Nal Hutta and Nar Shadda.

It consisted of a large cabin for the resident Hutt, which could be found in the dome-like palacette structure at the rear of the vessel, with additional cabins for the crew being found at the fore of the ship. However, despite the two concealed blaster cannons, and the torpedo tube found hidden beneath the polished exterior of the vessel, it had one feature that truly appealed to the Hutts - a rapid escape plan built in. At the simple press of a button the Hutt could eject his cabin, shielded, to the planet below, it was remarkably effective.

Out of the window, the Hutt could see four other similar vessels making haste toward the palace of their host, the other Seltiss-2 Caravels boasting decorations that marked the name of the Kajadic (family) from which their occupant hailed. Show, extravagance, it was all in the blood of the Hutt species. Finally, after a couple of hours of travel, his own ship arrived, and the Hutts eyes widened in genuine shock at the stature and finery of the Palace before him, but also at the veritable horde of Hutt Security waiting outside the Palace.

<Clearly my fellow Hutts take their security rather to importantly.> he mused, wondering if it was each other they treated with such distrust, instead of their host. He was 99.99% sure it was the former, not the latter. Departing the ship, four Chromium HK Units in tow, with Blaster Rifles, and two Bounty-Hunters behind them, he awaited the arrival of the welcoming party, to bring him into the Palace itself, as lackeys unloaded the hordes of gifts from his Caravel.

 

[Officiant]

Upon seeing the first Hutt vessel land the great lady walked further along the ramparts to a grand stone staircase that in any other house would be a main fixture but in the Leon was merely a backway up to the roof, used by residents and guests alike to take long, contemplative walks while enjoying both the exquisite architectural details of the Palace and the magnificent views of the plains and encircling mountains. Gliding down the stairs, her feet making not a sound upon the carefully tailored rugs which had kept several hundred weavers employed for centuries.

By the time her illustrious figure made its way to the grand concourse at the west side of the palace, near the open entrance to the grand plains, the last of the Hutt ships were already unloading their equally illustrious and large occupants. Appearing atop the staggered staircase that led off to a stone monstrosity of landings and verandas branching off them, the Princess Duyon went to the stone platform in the middle of it all, some distance from the ground but not tall enough for her not to be seen or heard, to address her newly arrived guests.

"Honorable Lords of the Hutt Clan, your Excellency Ambassador Vesajaillic, I bid you all most sincere and warm greetings and would like to formally welcome you all, to Leon." She said with a respectful bow of her head and a gesture to the way of her Palace, which dominated the view in every direction for several hundred meters. "It is my hope that with this gathering in your Lord Ambassador's honor that we can foster new and meaningful friendships between the Clan and the Core." The Princess spoke simply without pretention though perhaps with a bit of uninventive formality. Her entire motivation for throwing this party was as yet unknown to beings other than herself and yet clues were littered in the way she spoke and the way her servant had spoken previously. Looking down on the assembled powerful Hutts with warmth and difference, she smiled at each and every one of them diplomatically, before performing a deep, meaningful curtsey with her exquisite dress in the direction of the Ambassador.

 

[Nor'baal Desajilic]

​

It was a rare occurrence which saw the Hutt Nor'baal making use of a hover-sled, as he was still young enough to make use of his own tail for movement purposes, however for state occasions such as this, he made an exception. Sat in what appeared to be some form of hovering chair, the Hutt Ambassador accepted the incorrect greeting from his host, surprised that the Senator had managed to get his Kajidic name wrong - before they had even started the event itself.

<Desajilic.> he cut across her, much to the merriment of his Hutt comrades. A slow growl of Huttese could be heard omitting from the other Hutts, to which Nor'baal interceded, in his native language <Inkabunga! Beeogola Nechaska!> much to the enjoyment of his fellow Hutts. It was in many ways a vast insult to the Hutts to get the name of their family wrong - and Nor'baal made a mental note of the Senators error before continuing.

<Vesajilic does not exist on the Hutt Council your excellency.> he continued, affording her the title that went hand in hand with her rank. <Desajilic, Besadii, Anjiliac, Nem'ro and Fa'athra, are the illustrious Kajadics represented here today.> he added for the Senators benefit, as the first of the gifts could now be seen, and heard.

With a flourish, the Hutt Nor'baal presented the first and most important gift, a golden cage in which could been seen a young Nexu Cub. It was an odd gift, one the Hutts would see as a great honor, but such a gift may not be seen in such a light by other species. <A Nexu Senator, terrible beast of skill and grace in combat!> he exclaimed, as the key was handed to the Senator by a grovelling member of the Hutt retinue.

The Hutts, their hover-sleds humming, awaited the presentation of Gifts for them, from the Senator, as a crate of what was quite clearly Spice, was opened and presented to the Senator with a flourish by one of the other Hutts.

 

[Officiant]

The Princess looked down at the crate full of the precious red, brink colored substance that was lined in the crate before her. Spice, one of the most precious substances in the universe, second perhaps only to her Bacta. Mined in the far Outer Rim and trickling down throughout the galaxy all the way to the Core, Spice was the cornerstone of the galactic narcotics trade. The Hutts were gangsters and run by a Cartel, and like the Princess's own Cartel they had brought a glimmer of respectability and civility to the trade of a vital substance. A glimmer.

Viechelin had expected such an 'offering', but was more intrigued by the exotic, fearsome looking creature that had been offered to her, a true predator of the dangerous wilds of the Rim that had been presented to her in a gilded golden cage in the most phlegmatic and decadent tradition. It had four eyes that were so wide and red that they appeared black. Fixed with it's wide mouth that appeared perpetually smiling, its fistful of teeth large and small on display like a smile from an unnatural villain in a fairytale, the beast appeared both playful and utterly menacing. It's long black claws, which looked more like talons but more than capable of tearing terrible gashes into skin even at this juvenile age.

Tilting her head, Viechelin was transfixed by the creature for more than a few moments but pulled herself way from the striped, exotic creature to return to her guests when she heard the shift of the hover-sleds of the restless Hutts.

Her face brightened as she smiled to the assembled Hutt Lords. "And for you, my lords, I bring but a sampling of the great luxuries and works of the worlds of the Republic, along with some noted antiquities that I find most... fitting for this occasion." Viechelin said as a parade of retainers appeared on either side of her, fanning out among the Hutt Lords to set down large crates similar to the one that had been dropped before her earlier. With a slight, austere flourish, several of her retainers unfurled various bolts of textiles and fabrics, along with some banners made of the most exquisite materials, heavy and rich, light and sheen, many different types were represented. "Here we have several hundred feet of different assorted silks from around the galaxy. Demicot, ottegan, Dreamsilk, and of course the preferred materials of the Hutts, Lashaa and Saava silks, produced by the finest bred spiders in all the Core." She said in a gradually lowering, appreciative, seductive voice as she ran her pale, delicate and supple hand over the fabric nearest to her.

Turning to her other side to one of the banners which displayed curious and ancient heraldry, Viechelin's normal tone returned at the sight of her beloved velvet. "The banners of the Chancellor Goran, the last Hutt to hold the position in the most ancient days of the Republic." These were a prized possession of Viechelin's, but they served as an important gift and symbol of friendship to the Lords of the Hutt Clan. The Chancellor's reign had been near ten thousand years ago but he was remembered fondly, in the Republic at any rate. Viechelin had admired his great treatise's in University and had bought several artifacts of the Chancellor's over the years, including an entire lost shipment of his heraldry for one of his Triumphs on Coruscant. Hopefully the red velvet emblazoned with the sign of a Kadjic she did not recognize among the groups assembled, would be a welcome gift, it meant a great deal for the Princess to give up even a fraction of these.

As some of her retainers left her side to present the textile gifts to the Hutt Lords, Viechelin stepped over to one of the crates and bade one of her servants to open it, revealing several translucent packs of glowing blue liquid stacked high and wide in the crate. "And of course gentlemen I present to you one of the most precious substances in the galaxy, Bacta, and some of Thyferra's finest, far above export quality and in several different varieties." She said with a smirk of a smile. This, in terms of market value, was the most valuable gift among the assortment. Raw, Native quality Bacta, found only rarely among the denizens of the Core and it would be practically unknown among the disparate systems of the Outer Rim. It was essentially just dropping credits in the Hutt's lap should they chose to sell it, but Viechelin thought that they would be more interested in the incredible medicinal benefits of the important blue liquid, specially blended and exported from Thyferra for their explicit use.

 

[Nor'baal]

There was certainly no denying now that the Princess had, rightly, gone to great lengths to ensure she met the standards her guests no doubt demanded, a fact supported by the vast worth (materially and sentimental) of the gifts she presented to them. A collective gasp went around the hovering Hutts as the standard of one of their most idolized forebears was shown, alongside a few scowls from some of the Kajadis that had been in direct competition with the family of the banner bearers.

Nor'baal however saw the banner for what it was, a huge sign of respect from the giving party, a sign to be taken - and then placed in private storage away from those who would want to take it away from him you he stop being ambassador. It would certainly make a nice keepsake for his personal collection, and thus would the Hutt make sure it was kept in his private storage.

The other gifts, naturally, would receive similar treatment (the best way to ensure they where kept safe of course) and it was this though that allowed the Hutt to solicit a small smile as he watched the gifts come passed.

Finally, as the final gift was shown to him, the Hutt nodded with pleasure, allowing himself to show that he agreed with the choice of gifts. Nor'baal moved his chair forward, eager to get inside the Palace itself and see the opulence within, as he saw his fellow Hutts doing the same.

 

[Officiant]

Turning gracefully to face the grand colonnade, a towering open hall topped by grand gardens that were only just observable both from the height and angle of Viechelin and her guests, the Princess walked at a graceful, stately pace down the very, very long row of tan and pink marble columns that lined the way to the entrance to the Palace. As they passed down it though, the guests were treated to a better view of the architectural spectacle of the palace. Pillars, domes, towers, courts, steps, they all shaped and moved about the layout of the palace, offering a marvelous and grand display. Truly it was believable that this had once been a castle, the way walkways and towers rose high above the ground, but where a castle's walls were for defense, these high walkways and towers were for nothing more than putting on a grand show and offering excellent views to the lords of their lands below. The colonnade started to turn a bit and the Viechelin led the party down one of the grand steps that she had previously hitherto avoided taking. Another short walk, down an almost closed walkway, littered with mono-colored, carved murals in the walls, depicting indiscriminate battles of local or historical significance. Finally, the open air hall once again opened up to reveal a most splendid sight.

A grand courtyard, featuring a large pool, draped green vegetation and a splendidly opulent display of water fixtures including two large fountains flanking the small observation point on either side. Viechelin moved along the court walkway to the stone wall that stood above it all, offering a view of the full depression of the court and its many fountains, flowers and sheltered walkways around it, giving peaks down what seemed to be excellently decorated hallways. Were the sun shinning, or perhaps in summer, this would have been a most marvelous sight, but the Hutt Lords would have to take it at its worst day for now.

"This court," No one could dare call this a 'yard', the size of the pool alone was near an estate all by itself. "was built two hundred years go as a wedding present for the bride of the Prince. Since then it's been a custom among the very chivalrous Princes to make an addition in the name of their new ladies, mistresses of the Leon." Viechelin said, looking out and down upon the canyon like court.

She left it there for a few moments before turning to her guests again. "Ah but you didn't come here for a large courtyard, this way." She said, resuming her stride and gesturing towards the massive, arched door that lay at the far back of the plaza. It was clear now that the group was near the main dome of the Palace, easily observable on approach and the anticipation was palpable at what lay inside such a grand structure, as it always was. It was another long, seemingly open hall that led down to what was surely the main exhibit but no less stunning. The interior of the Palace was lush with materials, an impossibly long red carpet lay over the pink marble floor and on each side of the long hall with its vaunted, vaulted ceilings several stories high were equally large and monumental paintings and oilworks in a pattern similar to the previous hall. These were incredible feats of artistry, swirls of colors, figures and shapes that ranged from Alaskani Traditional to Tyrian Modern with its broad brush strokes to render pictures of incredible landscapes.

The art in the hall alone would be a vast fortune, from their size if nothing else, though the insignias in the corner would of course exponentially increase that value. Down the halls that branched off this one there were similar decorative patterns though in a smaller, more traditional size, though they might contain some of the more valuable pieces. Artists rarely worked on such large canvases as the ones in the hall, the size of entire buildings.

Coming to the light at the end of the hall, the guests were already able to catch a glimpse of it as they came forward but they were hardly prepared for what lay in front of them.

The grand interior of the Great Dome was more akin to a temple than a private residence. At the center were four grand, winged statues of a goddess holding up the world, and by extension, the dome, titans dwarfing everything around them. Circling, orbiting the statues were depressions into the floor of the Dome where smaller statues lay, circled themselves by the stepped rings that led down to them from the floor level. On either side parallel to the entrance the group had taken were four grand staircases that first went up to another large opening in the dome wall and then branched off the landing to circle around the dome to lead to another, smaller opening higher up, which no doubt led further into the palace. As had down the hall, more lush versions of the exterior colors dominated, upholstered by velvety red shades. Noticeably though there was a mix of wood paneling and old finishes. The marble arches on the outside of the Dome interior were also notable ornate and textured, housing designs and being the haunt of more monumental statues.

It was clear this room was not for any singular purpose other than the conflux of travel and perhaps a very fitting place to gather and throw large parties, which made it somewhat disappointing in its normal, somewhat Spartan state. Still, the size alone was impressive and it certainly succeeded in making one feel small, especially the statues with their expressions and grand gazes.

 

[Nor'baal Desajilic]

One day, I could go back home, to Nal Hutta, were we have proper architecture, the Hutt despaired as he looked at this delicate and gaudy shambles of a home. Here could not be found the dim lit corridors, the dank and moist interiors that so famed the Hutt Palaces of the 'Glorious Jewel'. Instead these humans had opted for the vastly inferior opulence that so often led to a decline in their species. It was an odd place, filled with open spaces, no room for a dungeon or a secret murder whole. What sort of Palace is this! he thought in shock to himself, a child's doll house?

Nor'baal was clearly not the only Hutt who was taken aback by the display thus far, as one of the Besadii typically! was already moving up toward the Ambassador, <When do we eat?> it intoned in native Huttese, to which Nor'baal merely shrugged, himself keen to move onto the vastly more important matter of consumption. Sparing a gaze up to the Princess, somewhat imploring her to guide them to the place of feasting, the Hutt offered some sparing commentary about the pleasantry of the home, all the while deeply hoping that they could move onto the feasting, and the business to be had.

 

[Officiant]

If there was one thing a Hutt exuded that was pure and palpable, it was their hunger. Their appetites both for food and more... abstract needs were legendary and Viechelin could feel it around her, the swirling stomachs to match swirling eyes, exchanging glances with each other and shifting in their seats. She wondered if this was how Jedi Knights or other Telepaths felt and it was in times like these that Viechelin was reminded that she should not like to be one. A simple but beseeching gaze from the Ambassador as he exchanged non-descript pleasantries and compliments about her home not indicative of its grand display, was enough to tell the Princess that his mind was elsewhere and that he was not nearly as impressed with the Palace as everyone else in the galaxy was. She wondered if it was an aesthetic matter. Not everyone liked red.

Moving along the great hall of the great dome, Viechelin led the group down another similar passageway to the one they entered then down one that looked quite different compared to the other architecture in and around the dome. This was far more ornate, built with the same flourishes of stone but more colorful and terraced, having grand displays of glass next to grand opened and columned windows offering unobstructed views of the plains. The next part of the journey was sure to elicit some groaning from the Hutt Lords but it was unavoidable and a bit excessive considering they were on repulsorlifts. While nothing compared to the Grand Staircase that lay somewhere in this monstrosity of a home, the rounded, flowered and statued stairway to the verdant pleasure garden at the top.

Grand, almost as large as the great dome, the glassed and green room of stone, flowers and trees was truly a spectacle to behold, featuring similarly large statues to the ones in the great dome but also considerably more furniture and furnishings. Banners, streamers, fountains, tables, and even small buildings, the garden was truly lovely, at least to Humanoids.

At one of the terraces was a large table around which a flurry of servants dressed in red and white were working in a whirl of plates, silver dishes and bowls, all preparing as the intended guests approached them. Pulling back just as the Princess and her accompanying Hutt friends neared the table it revealed a colorful and flamboyant display similar to the room around it. Several of the dishes were extremely fine in every sense of the word while others utterly delectable, peasant recipes made with the finest ingredients to appease both form and appetite. "Please Gentlemen, have your fill of the table, but know that there are several other courses and offerings to be brought around for your pleasure." Viechelin said as she sat down at the chair at the head of the rather large but oddly shaped table, going straight before diverging into a massive circle upon which the many dishes were displayed.

 

[Nor'baal Desajilic]

After what appeared to be an age of attempted to glide a repulsor up a flight of stairs, the motely collection of Hutts and their assembled retinues took their places at the vast table before them. It was becoming more and more apparent that the Princess had spared no expense when it came to greating her new guests. Wonder what she is after in return? he pondered as he slid his sled up to the table, and helped himself to a generous portion of meat from the platter before him.

Around him, his fellow Hutts did likewise, clearly enjoying the feast before them as they chortled amoung themselves, rather enjoying the fact that they had been allowed to come along on this event. Nor'baal however felt a need to get to business, and ensure that the trip was not going to be in vane. Sat closest to the Princess, he paused from eating, and addressed her directly.

<

You do us a great honor with your kindess Princess, but tell me, what is it we Hutts can do to aid you in return?>