2008-01-28 - Gamorrean Story Time

The heavy brown reek that fills this area of City does not make exception for this ramshackle building, adding to the clouds of smoke from the Cantina's patrons. In fact, the smoke adds a scent to repulsive smell that makes this little hovel a far more bearable place to be than the open walkways without.
The walls of this grimy den seem to have been fused together from the battered wreckage of starship hulls and durasteel plating from old building foundations. Light is provided from a confused assortment of many-colored lamps hanging from the ceiling by power cables. Every so often these flicker in unison, momentarily increasing the oppressive gloom of the place.
Along one wall three old plasteel desks have been converted into bartops doubling as a dancing runway. A bored and sullen bartender sits behind these desks half-asleep and wholly uninterested in the antics of the Cantina's dancers. Across the floor several round tables have been placed, and in the corners several booths lie hidden in shadows. A small portion of the Cantina has been curtained off with some filthy tattered cloth, behind which an old Sabacc table stands ready for gamblers.
Despite the atmosphere of the place it's patrons are remarkably varied. Rich-looking off-worlders (often with breathing masks) mingle with local scum, discussing who knows what in the shadows of this despicable establishment.
The Cantina is packed, unusual for this time of night. Beings of all shakes and sizes have converged for war gossip and to fortify themselves in case combat comes their way. Standing at the bar is Windom. He pays attention to the rumors making the rounds. For now, he only listens and sips a drink.
Something troubles the steadiness of the line at the Cantina's entrance; shouts and protests are voiced in either Basic or alien languages. Someone calls: "Medic!", though no one makes a move toward the exit.
The crowd pushes in to make way for a group of filthy and rowdy Gamorrean. Their leader is disfigured by a scar running down his face and hides his missing eye under a patch. He also wields a big, big spiked club soild with blood. The group soon reaches the bar and patrons around Windom leave carefully, yielding to the Gamorrean threat.
The boy watches the aliens approach. Taking a long hard look at the bloodied war club, Windom lifts his drink in salute at the leader before sliding down the bar far enough to give the Gamoreans some room. "The blood of clones? I hope."
The Gamorrean leader laughs heartily. "It matters little, when it be life or death. Stupid Rodian points blaster at me face.", the crude translator box at his belt answers while taking the seat left to Windom. "Krugt. Cyclone Corps corporal. And you?"
"Windom Kambei, Republic Citizen." The boy shrugs and takes a drink from his glass. "Cyclone Corps? Thats definitely not Republic. You're a mercenary?" There is a hint of glee in Windy's voice and his eyes light up.
"Windom.", the one-eyed Gamorrean repeats. At the boy's question, Krugt grins and nods, proud. "I be. I does side jobs too. Boss Draven lets me. Now Avun beheadsed, I may be fasterest pistol around, too.", he brags. Gamorreans love to brag. Krugt's troopers lift their drinks and cheer and squeal and squeak for their chief.
"Cantina here be travellers' magnet, huh? Where you comes from?", Krugt asks Windom.
Windom points at the ground as he takes a sip of his whiskey. "Coruscant. Never left either. But with places like this," he nods around at the Cantina, "I don't feel too bad about not having been off-world. What about you and your men, sir? What action have you seen?"
The elaborate three-colors drink Krugt ordered is served. One strata of turd brown, one of pissy yellow and one of bloody read in a narrow long vessel. And it smells like dead skunk. Krugt drools even more at the sight of it; his men too, yet they're having the flat cheap local ale.
"Action.", begins Krugt. "Has become soldier age... ten. Yes, ten. Has fighted around the Rim with Steelborn's mercs. Then Captain be blasterizedsed around Sabaak game. So I has finds job on Tatooine, breaks knees for loan sharks. After that, I joins Cyclone Corps."
Windom mouthes a silent 'wow' as Krugt tells his tale. Windom finishes his drink and looks at the merc, clearly in awe. "Have you ever seen a Jedi in battle?"
The uncouth Gamorrean almost chokes on his putrid drink. He gives Windom a dark look with his yellow one sighter, swallows hardly and wipes his chin with his left sleeve. "Too many times. Jedises or not. They all uses dark magicks and mind trickses. That be no way to fight, I says."
Krugt takes a pause, scratching his bad eyebrow. "On Tatooine, day before yesterday. Black Mask enters Cantina in Mos Eisley, calls Avun out. Avun shots Black Mask, Black Mask messes Avun's brains. I runs for shuttle but I be back too late: Black Mask saberizedsed Avun's forehead. So I flies away." Krugt pauses again, pouting at his glass. "A hero dies tricksed. I be sad.", he laments.
The boy's expression tells it all. He's totally blown away by the story. With an unsteady hand, he signals for another drink. The bartender hands it to Windom, who takes a large gulp. "The Black Mask? Who's that?"
All Windom gets is a shrug from Krugt. "Never has sees him before. I can tells you about Tuil, if you likes.", the pigman merc offers with a hint of malice at the corner of his mouth. Krugt drains his glass dry, asks for a round of ales for all those seated at the bar - meaning him, his men and Windom, of course.
The boy is captivated by the Gamorrean. His eyes gleam and he looks at Krugt with an earnest intensity. Windom takes another sip and nods his head. "Tuil, tell me about him. Is he another mind tricker?"
"Yes. A poor one. He has pitifull visions.", Krugt tells with humor. "You keeps secrets, right? I knows you does. Me was on Thyferra, tracksing doc Xibril. I turns corner and Bantha turd! I sees Jedises blasterizing and saberizing me mark! I says to me self, can be not so much bad luck, no."
He takes a moment to sigh. "Losts two thousand, right there. Tuil had leadsed Jedises to Xibril with visions. I be full angry! Doc has escapes because of fight, you sees? I walks to Tuil and... Tuil, he falls at me feet. Like deadsied. Knight Aure does surgery, Tuil wakes up and cries like sissywuss! Huh huh uhu huh!" Sure, Krugt finds it funny. "Was worth almost my two kays. Almost."
Windom laughs and grins at the Gamorrean. He finishes his second drink and puts some credits on the bar. Glancing back at Krugt, the boy says, "sir, it's been a pleasure. Thanks for the stories. But I need to be getting back to camp. Watch out for mind trickers!"
Krugt nods. "You be good ears. You needs job, asks Draven. Joins CC, boy!", Krugt offers. "Byebye, Windom."
The other Gamorreans join their leader, cheering and waving the young man.
Windom salutes the Gamorreans and heads for the exit.
Category:January 2008 RP Logs