Ask The Cantrips of Cantrell

[Daggibus Varr]

Daggibus sat solemnly at the bar. The place was rugged, with tables and chairs having their share of chipped edges and crimson bloodstains, a stark difference from the famous, grand resorts of this planet, Ord Cantrell. The way inside wasn't a pretty sight either. Huts on the streets, beggars at every corner, you would think that it was some underground planet, yet Ord Cantrell bordered the Mid Rim. Even if so close, the Outer Rim always brings filthiness and danger to any planet it contains.

The bar was packed, with some bands of lowlives hanging around at the tables and bar, putting all the payment on their tab while they drank their hearts away. Daggibus's business was upright, it held its feet, but the Givin had major fears of the business going lopsided if something were to go wrong. Then, he would have nothing. His crew gave respect to him when he was speaking to them, but he knew that if the business went down, if the credits stopped flowing, they would be gone in an instant. While he was drinking this, his crew were probably half-drunk, doping around the dark streets mumbling nonsense. Hopefully, they didn't get into enough trouble for them to be killed, or worse, arrested.

The bartender asked if he could get Daggibus anything, calling him 'skelly' in his question, as he swiftly moved in front of Daggibus. He was a well-groomed man, with a ginger handlebar mustache and slicked-back hair of the same color, but that comment really irked the Givin a bit. "Just get me a cup of Ardees," Daggibus asked, with a soft gruffness with his tone. The bartender would reply that they had some more Jawa Juice in the back, promising to be back in a flash. As the bartender scurried away, being aggravated by some drunk folk demanding more drinks, Daggibus sat quietly.

While he sat, some drunk fella, shaved head with a scar across his left cheek, approached Daggibus, taking the seat right next to him. He seemed to be looking at Daggibus as if he was examining him, an exotic species in the galaxy. This was of course not from personal interest, but the effects of alcohol on the mind. As Daggibus got his drink, the man asked if he was wearing another man's skull as a mask, in which point Daggibus responded with a "I'll shoot you dead if you don't leave me alone," which was enough to make the drunk scarily wander away.

@Venara Tabbith @Kaarz Pollux

 

[Kaarz Pollux]

Kaarz was tired, hungry, and down on his luck. It had been a week since he had been unceremoniously dropped in the Outer Rim, with only an antique set of armor and whatever he had on him at the time. Mumbling under his breath about his damned grandfather and all his vague tests Kaarz entered a cantina, the holo-sign outside showing a drunken rancor stumbling over.

The place was quite packed. Masses of those that lurked such a place clustered about the bar, calling for more drinks or harassing the servers as they went. Kaarz's hand slowly went to the blaster pistol at his hip, concealed by the shoulder cape that bore his family's crest. As prepared as he could be he strode towards the bar and leaned his free arm onto it, studying the curiously dapper bartender cleaning dirty mugs behind the cluttered bar.

Grabbing a stool Kaarz sat, feeling the distinct lack of credits as he stared at the various drinks and bar foods drift by him; glad that his helmet hid his gape as he stared at food that wasn't freeze dried or an emergency ration. Shaking his head slightly he tore his gaze away from such delights, he had to find a job soon, or starve.

I'll shoot you dead if you don't leave me alone

A angry voice and a drunk staggering away caused Kaarz to turn his head, finding himself a few seats away from a Givin, it's skull-like face sending a small shiver down his spine. Shaking his head slightly Kaarz shifted down a few stools till there was only one between the two men. His baritone voice, slightly muffled by his helmet, called out a greeting to the Givin over the din of the cantina around them.

"You look like someone who knows how to get things done, I'd like to say I'm the same way"

Kaarz outstretched a gauntleted hand

"Kaarz. Kaarz Pollux. I've a gun that needs hiring for whatever needs pointing at.

 

[Venara Tabbith]

Venara had found her man on Adumar. Emerek Disell was a sleazy Gotal tavern owner, and a bounty hunter contractor. He was flirty, despite the disgusted look Venara gave him. He had laughed out loud at the small Ubese woman when she told him that she was looking for bounties. When he realized she had been serious, he spread out half a dozen pucks on the table. After a moment, Disell picked two of the pucks back up, shaking his head. Venara glared at the Gotal, but proceeded to grab one of the pucks. A Rodian, last seen on Ord Cantrell, a petty criminal who had jumped bail. Not very glamorous, but also not very dangerous. Most importantly, the bounty was offered by the Bounty Hunter's Guild. Venara pocketed the puck, and Disell stood up from his seat, his business concluded. Before she got out the door, Venara heard the tavern owner tell her to look him up next time she was in town so he could show her a good time.

Now on Ord Cantrell, Venara had stopped in at a bar several blocks from the spaceport. The bar at the spaceport was way too crowded. This was obviously the seedier part of town. Venara watched her back as she strode down the narrow roads, ready for any sign of trouble. Venara had seen poverty like this on Gizor station, but nothing like this existed on Uba IV. There weren't enough Ubese living in close enough proximity to form large settlements like this. Mostly one would encounter small camps spread out amidst the safer areas of the wasteland. Of course, many of them were raiders, and would rob and murder whoever was unfortunate enough to cross their path.

This bar was crowded too, but at least she could get in the door. The only available seat at the bar was one that had just been vacated by a bald man at the end, so Venara moved quickly to occupy it. When the bartender came her way, a curious humanoid with orange colored hair, she ordered a Cantrelli ale. The man looked at her oddly for a moment, pondering something, but then shrugged and went to fill her order. Venara leaned onto the bar and got comfortable in her seat before looking to her left and nearly fell off her stool. The alien's appearance was like something out of a nightmare. His skull-like visage was all hard edges with slits for a nose and dark pits for eyes. Were it not for the glistening of the thing's damp eyeballs, she would have thought the thing had no eyes. Her heart pounding from the start, Venara took deep breaths and turned back towards the bar, laying her face in her palm to avoid looking at the terrifying alien sitting next to her.

 

[Daggibus Varr]

After the drunk left him be, Daggibus gave out a small sigh as he drank from his cup and went back to contemplating all that he has so far, but he was determined to make his brothers proud, the avenge the Brotherhood. This train of thought would be interrupted by a muffled greeting next to him. The Givin turned to see an armored individual a bit to the side of him, a man that very much seems to be capable. The armored man remarked on the two of them's ability to "get things done", before extending his arm to shake Daggibus's hand, introducing himself as Kaarz.

"What is the answer for (4+8) divided by √16, Kaarz? I am Daggibus Varr," the Givin greeted, stoically facing him, shaking his hand with a nice grip. It is the great intelligent culture of the Givin, that they greet anyone with their 'greeting maths', equations meant to take the place of common greetings. Although it had always confused those he met, sometimes starting fights with those less 'mentally capable', but no matter, it was his duty to maintain the culture, and he got a bit of pleasure seeing others confused by a sudden math equation.

Usually, these equations were of greater complexity, Gicin children could solve this equation in their sleep, but he found it polite to give easier questions to those that were unaware of this custom. "It's the Givins' culture to greet others with mathematic equations for the other to solve, usually way more complex, but for outsiders, the questions given usually have the one same answer: 3," Daggibus explained. "I would be interested in work as well, some credits to get my business in stable platforming, I've heard there's plenty of bounties to take on, maybe one here in Ord Cantrell."

The Givin spoke, he noticed a masked woman facing away from him, seemingly not wishing to look upon Daggibus's skeletal face. Daggibus had a small chuckle, his species were well-known for being navigators, but their success often led to them not being involved with the Outer Rim. Daggibus knew he was an anomaly, but he reveled in using it to his advantage. He turned to the woman facing away from him. "You know this isn't as scary as we get traveler. I've heard Givins that have been starved for days in prisons become skeletal monsters whose gaping jaws, with their thick jagged teeth, become so large, they could eat half a man in one bite!"

@Venara Tabbith @Kaarz Pollux

 

[Kaarz Pollux]

Kaarz was about to answer the Givin's equation, before he continued and described the importance of such a question to his own erudite culture. Nodding slowly, Kaarz perked up at Daggibus's mention of bounties. If he could get one of those it would mean an actual bed and meal for the first time in a week, a heavenly prospect to his tired mind.

Kaarz wasn't sure how he felt hunting another sentient being for credits, but right now his aching muscles and hunger pangs spurred him onwards. It would just be a one time deal, right? Get in, capture whomever, collect the credits and hightail it for Coruscant. He was sure it wouldn't lead to anything more.

"A bounty hmm? I'm more than interested but, might not want to scare the girl off just yet. Poor thing probably hasn't seen a Givin before, and no offense, but you're not winning any beauty contests off of Yag'Dhul"

Kaarz chuckled lightly at his own joke, attempting to continue to build a connection with comedy. Leaning forward he regarded the woman with her face in her palms. A prospect that seemed a little difficult to Kaarz as his eyes drifted towards the woman's face mask. Hoping to calm her he began to unseal and place his helmet on the counter revealing his own, admittedly plain, face. His short brown hair barely concealed the nubs of horns on his head, as well as completely failing to hide the small twin horns on his forhead. His pale blue eyes continued to regard her as he reached past Daggibus and tapped her on the shoulder, doing his best to smile warmly, but only managing an awkward expression.

"I'm sure he's just joking, being a living calculator makes most of them too busy to catch prey like us."

He shot Daggibus a glance as if to ask That doesn't really happen, right? Before continuing:

"I'm Kaarz, a gun for hire like I told brainiac over here."

@Ulysses S Grant @Tenagra​

 

[Venara Tabbith]

Venara was suddenly engaged in the conversation between the alien and an armored man sitting next to it. Her heart had started to calm down, but the alien tried to frighten her with her own imagination. Venara lowered her hands onto the bar and sat up to face the beings speaking to her. The bony being had its mouth slightly ajar and was looking at her, but she couldn't read it's facial expression. It might have been smiling.

The armored man removed his helmet revealing a much more humanoid face. He did have some kind of strange mutation that left lumpy growths on his head as well as a pair of horns on his forehead. He looked uncomfortable but interested in Venara, which made her in turn uncomfortable. The mutant, Kaarz, tried to reassure her, but his attempts at humor were not comforting. The aliens were speaking Basic, a language that Venara had learned as preparation for her life off-world, but was not fully fluent in. Learning languages was not something that came easily to her. She watched her two neighbors warily for a moment before softening her expression and relaxing somewhat.

"Sorry, my Basic is not so good," she told them. Her voice sounded mechanical from behind her mask, though it was amplified, rather than muffled like how Kaarz's had been. " I am Venara."

The bartender set the Cantrelli ale in front of her on the bar. Venara proceeded to hand the bartender a few coins and asked for a straw. "Are you two bounty hunters? " She asked her two neighbors. Venara plugged the straw into a small port that unfolded out of her mask and sipped her drink. She made a face. Too bitter, she thought.

 

[Kaarz Pollux]

"Might want to go for something lighter Miss Venara"

Kaarz watched slightly bemused as Venara's face twisted in reaction to the ale, a similar reaction to his first time tasting the bitter brew. Allowing a more organic smile on his face Kaarz watched the woman's eyes drift over his horns, to which his hand began drifting upwards to cover them almost unconsciously. Stopping his hand, Kaarz waved for the bartender to come over.

"A water" he said "Those are free...right?

The orange mustached man gave him a look mixed between surprise and annoyance, but soon enough a dingy cup was slid in front of him, the contents of which appeared murkier than Kaarz would have liked. Turning back to Venara he tapped one of his forehead horns in response to her wandering eyes.

"My father was a zabrak" he explained "One of the only things I inherited from my old man, well, that and his stubbornness of course."

Kaarz chuckled, his hands fidgeting with the cup filled with what was supposed to be water, though he wasn't very sure. Deciding that it wasn't worth finding out, he pushed the cup away from him, focusing more on the two beside him.

"Well Venara, I'm not so sure about brainiac here, but I'm on my way to becoming a hunter. Just need a good first bounty to get in with the guild, something that'll really set my career off."

 

[Daggibus Varr]

"Know Huttese? Any Rodian? Maybe some Ryl?" Daggibus asked, saying each of the languages in that language, with Ryl really being the only one he seemed to be not proficient in. "If you seek to travel the galaxy, you better know more Basic than you do now."

The Givin sat as he saw Kaarz and Venara speak to one another, silent for a bit, Daggibus noticed Venara's reaction to the ale and Kaarz ordering a cup of water. "If you're in a bar, Kaarz, you should be drinking," he stated, downing the cup of Jawa Juice he ordered, sliding the cup aside.

He soon returned the courtesy to Kaarz, listening about his own story as half-zabrak, half-human. "Zabrak, interesting. Do you know the language, I would be interested in learning it," he asked the man, passing off the cup to one of the bartenders.

The comment 'brainiac' irked Daggibus again, but when he saw that this may be a recurring thing, he sought to fix it. "If you're giving me a nickname, at least make it 'The Brainiac', adds titlehood and regality to the name it follows. 'Daggibus The Brainiac', see?" When Venara asked if they were bounty hunters, he simply stated, "I wouldn't make a profession like that my livlihood, I have a business, but I'm willing to work. I got some goons that could help out as well, four of 'em, but right now their drunk as kriff."

@Venara Tabbith @Kaarz Pollux

 

[Venara Tabbith]

"I paid for it, I will drink it." Venara stated, taking another sip of the bitter ale she ordered. Venara suspected from the way that Kaarz spoke of his father that his mother was not a Zabrak. She would need to remember to ask him about that topic, since it was the first Venara had heard of different species being able to cross-breed. Venara remained silent at Daggibus' judgement of her language skills. She was fortunate to have been taught Basic at all. Most Ubese never left their homeworld, and only Ubese from a few clans who worked off-world bothered with the language.

Kaarz ordering water at a bar either meant he was broke or abstained from alcohol, although based on what he said, Venara suspected the former. "Barkeep, get this metal man a drink!" she ordered, pointing at Kaarz. Venara considered what Daggibus said about his employees. Drunk amateurs would probably just get shot or in her way, although having another set of hands to pilot a speeder for her in case things got hot might be helpful. "What sort of business do you perform, Br...ai... eh, Mr. Varr?" Venara gave up on the nickname Kaarz had given the Givin. Such things weren't appropriate for a first meeting anyway, she decided.

"I also wish to join the Bounty hunter's Guild. What skills would you offer for the hunt?" Venara asked, eyeing both of her neighbors. She was being very direct. This was out of character for her, but she had doubts about her abilities when it came to this hunt. She could not afford to fail on her first official Guild hunt. These beings were looking for work, she had a lead on a target that needed hunting. The interaction was strictly business. Venara hoped she could rely upon the self-interest of her new acquaintances enough that they would not try to betray her.

@Kaarz Pollux @Daggibus Varr

 

[Daggibus Varr]

"Don't be too afraid about my underlings, today's their celebration, finished a good job and I thought a night drinking would boost morale. Usually they're more dangerous sober than drunk!" he joked a bit, before picking up his empty cup. When Venara asked about what his business was, he wondered on what to say. He didn't want it to make it look like he was some chump to be messed with for some small hit. "Business that would get you shot in the Core Systems, that's all I'll say," the Givin chuckled with a forced smile, moving around the empty cup in his hands. "Careful asking others who may be less 'open' though, questioning others out here without packing properly often gets you shot," he warned.

Daggibus soon turned to Kaarz after Venara ordered him a drink. "Better drink it all up! Don't want to be looking like a wimp in front of the Outer Rim, now do ya?" However, he would soon ignore whatever Kaarz was doing, feeling the barside as she asked her question. "I know the face can be deceiving, but not many folk find-" he stated, soon panning his hand across his whole face quickly, "-pleasing. I know how to tell someone to put the blaster down, and you think my cronies are still alive because of their amazing, supernatural skills? It's because I lead them away from death and towards victory with my abilities as a leader."

"How about you Kaarz, what do you bring to the table?" he asked, reaffirming Venara question. Daggibus would wonder what type of people these were. He knew nothing of them. While he was some invisible crook working in the Outer Rim, he could tell these people were new-faced to the Outer Rim. Their armor was too shiny, too fitted in the correct place. They wanted to make a name for themselves, a reputation. He would acknowledge his like-minded individuals, acknowledge them as forgers of their own destiny, a title he had wished to fulfill for some years. Daggibus soon turned to Venara. "If you want us to go, we can hitch a ride on my ship, my crew should be passed out so we can leave them on the ship till this mission is done. You can fill us on about this job on the way there."

@Venara Tabbith @Kaarz Pollux

 

[Kaarz Pollux]

Accepting the drink with a thankful nod towards Verana, Kaarz quaffed the glass in a quick gulp. An appreciative exhale being let loose once the drink's warmth spread through his chest. He quitely listened as Daggibus spoke of his skills as a leader and "businessman", things necessary for survival amidst the scum and villainy of the Outer Rim.

Kaarz had little experience in trade deals or cheating others. The education he was put through drilled into him the mindset of a soldier; the scalpel that would fit nicely in the hand of those who had the credits. Blasters, blades, fists...all were fair game when it came to Kaarz. No qualms would be made when the time came to once again take a life.

When that time came...

Kaarz remembered his first kill. The youth charged towards the vibrodagger in the center of the wrestling mat. He was larger than Kaarz, but more easily winded. The fellow youths face was bright red, and his breath came out sputtering. Kaarz recalled the smooth efficiency he had undertaken as he also charged for the dagger. Kaarz remembered the hot scarlet liquid that leaked onto his hands as he rolled forward onto the dagger, burying it into the charging challenger. He also remembered the warm liquid that obscured as he sidestepped the brute, allowing the momentum the large boy had built up to bring him crashing to the floor, burying the dagger even further.

Shaking himself lightly, Kaarz tuned back into Daggibus questioning what he could bring to the table. Swirling what little remained in his glass in a nonchalant manner he answered in monotone.

"If something, or someone, needs removing. I'm the one to go to."

Kaarz looked from the swirling residue of the Jawa Juice to his two new compatriots, his icy blue eyes now not holding any warmth in them as he continued in his monotone.

"Blaster. Blade. Hand-to-hand. Disintegration. I have no qualms. Just point me in the obstacles direction."

@Ulysses S Grant @Tenagra​

 

[Venara Tabbith]

Venara pondered what Daggibus had told her. When he mentioned her breach of manners in asking about his profession and its potential danger, she was alarmed. "I did not realize a girl could get shot for asking a question!" Venara exclaimed. "I pity the fool that would try, though, he would have to beat me to the draw. I have a good nose for danger," she told the alien, tapping her sidearm resting in its holster on her left hip.

Daggibus claimed to be a smooth talker and a wise leader of men. If he were telling the truth, Daggibus may prove useful in navigating any social situations that would bar access to the target. Such things could be circumvented with time, but not if a target decided to go to ground. Considering she could barely speak the language, Venara was pleased to have a being of his talents along.

As for Kaarz, the sense of unease returned when Venara noticed his change in demeanor while he spoke of his abilities. She wasn't sure why he changed so suddenly, but the Ubese believed she had understood what he told her. He was trained for combat, and was willing and able to kill for money. Such men had their uses, and even though the job Venara had in mind required a live capture, she was sure the mutant mercenary would be an asset. Yes, these beings would help her complete the bounty. Beyond that, she did not know what the future held. "I have a puck already for a bounty on this world. Let us, Kaarz, Mr. Varr, and I go to your ship and we can discuss the details of our work in private," she directed. Venara rose from her seat and gestured toward the door, waiting for her new business partners to lead the way through the crowd.