In the Dark of the Night 1 - Tossing and Turning

*After a few weeks on Cloud City and regrouping, Bota Zi receives a comm from Cal Omas inviting him and others to the opening gala of New Anoat City, the new floating capital of the once-prosperous-and-now-poisoned planet. Deciding that most of their ships wouldn't be appropriate for a New Republic Gala, they decide to take Katira's latest find - the Hell's Anvil. This ship once belonged to Montross, who was Bota Zi's clone template, and after flying the few days they realized he was probably a solitary man as the ship was small, crowded, and offered little comforts. Arriving at their destination, the group only had a few minutes to interact with the gathered populace on their main atrium square before being interrupted by what looked like stormtroopers on flying dactyl mounts!*

## **Previously**

*After a few weeks to rest, recover, shop, and return to some semblance of a normal life, our heroes are ready to find their next adventure.*

## **Recap**

### **Since You’ve Been Gone**

* **Jawa Jimmy**

Atop Cloud City, the Jawa King arrived with an unexpected amount of decorum. Contrasting starkly with the interstellar garbage truck in which he arrived, a lush crimson carpet rolled from the boarding ramp. Ahead and behind the King, a retinue of gray robed royal Jawa guards flanked the Jawa King as he approached Jawa Jimmy to clear Jimmy’s debt for the theft of the king’s Krayt Dragon.

> "*When last we parted, we parted as enemies. Today I welcome your potent musk, your keen eyes, and your sharp senses - tuned to finding treasure - back into the greater clan.*"
> ― Jawa King
>
>

In a gesture of good will, Jimmy is given an ornately carved box to hold the flute that Jimmy stole. In return, Jimmy played a tune on his new Ommni Box for the king that is pleasant to most of the platform but sadly not impressive to the king.

* **Jowkazza**

Jowkazza is approached by Braysha Mineev, the New Republic Liaison to Shaggin Your Taxes with an update. Business appears to be going well, and Braysha indicates that she would be willing to stay on following the recent injection of 20,000cr from Jowkazza’s personal funds. Not even attempting to bargain, Jowkazza agrees to the terms and keeps the liaison along.

* **Bota Zi**

In the meantime, Bota Zi has been contacted by Cal Omas with a briefing on the efforts of the New Republic to aid with the resettling of the Mataou refugees on Anoat. A new city has been built over the atmosphere of Anoat in a similar style to Cloud City. Designed to aid in purifying the toxic atmosphere, the city is now ready to be settled by the refugees rescued by Bota and company. There is an event being held to commemorate the event, and Bota - the rising ambassador and hero to the settlers - has been extended an invitation as a guest of honor.

Accepting the invitation, Bota requests that the people of Ibis be extended an invitation as well as a means of displaying further advantages of joining the New Republic to the Khepri.

### **Welcome to New Anoat City**

Taking some time to handle personal business, the team prepares to depart for Anoat when they realize that they have a number of ships available, but have a difficult time determining what would be the best to arrive in. Eventually, deciding to take the trip in the Hell's Anvil, there is a moment of regret over the decision as the ship is cramped, booby trapped, and sleeping arrangements include some spending the journey in what was formerly used as a torture chamber.

During the trip, Katira gives Bota a brief tour of the vessel in hopes that he will be able to understand or explain the decor. Viewing the trophy room, Bota agrees that it is quite the gruesome display, but does not recognize any of the individuals.

> "*I don’t understand why this ship was better than taking a prison transport.*"
> ― Bota
>
>

The transit to Anoat finally coming to an end, the group arrives over New Anoat City and makes their way in for a landing under Cloud Car escort without issue. They hastily get their things together and head out.

> "*Jimmy, I don’t know if you need it, but I could try to hide some of your guns on me if you’d like.*"
> ― Jowkazza
>
>

> "*That’d be great. I think, uh… I’ve got an ion cannon.*"
> ― Jawa Jimmy
>
>

> "*I don’t think I can hide an **ion cannon**. Wookiees are big, but we’re not **that** big.*"
> ― Jowkazza
>
>

Passing through security, Jowkazza is immediately pulled aside for questioning when a number of weapons are located on his person. As the Wookiee is being patted down, Katira passes by with weapons safely hidden. Giving her name as “Joan Jett”, she asks that they also let her “bodyguard” through. As she gestures to Rusty - a bandolier of golden grenades prominently displayed - she slips the guard 500cr and the pair is allowed to pass. Coming in next, Bota simply requests permission for the group to be allowed entry while armed and receives permission without issue.

Finally at the gala, the atmosphere is surprisingly subdued for such a momentous occasion. Lynn, flanked by an honor guard, cheerily greets the group, but the other guests mill about without much enthusiasm. At the far end of the platform, the scientists and architects that developed the city stand waiting for the ceremony to begin.

As Bota makes his way in, he is immediately marked and approached by a Coruscant reported from Cresh News. She presses the ambassador for details about the refugees, implying that their previous living conditions may have been better than a future floating above a poisoned planet, talks to Jawa Jimmy as if he were a child, and patronizingly points out the representation of alien species in Bota’s group before giving them each a moment to introduce themselves.

> "*My name’s Roostan Steele. I’m here representing Alderaan. Just want to say, I’m part of the “Never Forget” Alderaan campaign. Horrible thing happened there.*"
> ― Rusty
>
>

> "*My name is Jowkazza. Personal physician to Bota Zi, and also president and CEO of Shaggin Your Taxes.*"
> ― Jowkazza
>
>

> "*Okay, well, two very interesting careers.*"
> ― News Anchor
>
>

As the news anchor shuts off their equipment and makes their way to cover the main event, Bota asks Katira to do a little reconnaissance and make sure that they aren’t working for someone more nefarious than cable news. With Jowkazza providing a distraction - looking to better promote Shaggin Your Taxes - Katira uses a bit of glitterstim in order to listen in on the anchor’s unhappy thoughts about having to cover a feel good story, then decides to be a bit more thorough and pick her pockets. Grabbing the anchor’s wallet and what appears to be a controller for her camera droids, Katira melts back into the crowd as Jowkazza gives the woman the impression that there may be a big news story about a Wookiee tax mafia operating on Coruscant.

### **Unexpected Guests**

With all dignitaries accounted for, the platform comes to a quiet anticipation as a speaker takes to the podium and the ceremony begins. Thanking everyone for their arrival, recognizing important individuals, and explaining the outlook for the future of Anoat, the speech carries on determinately over the growing noise of native fauna approaching in the background. Soon even the speaker takes pause to turn and look behind them as the noises grow ever louder, and a wave of fear crashes over the crowd as several large, pterodactyl like creatures come into view with a stormtrooper riding atop each.

## **Featured Characters**

### **Our Heroes**

* Bota Zi
* Katira Eve
* Roostan "Rusty" Steele
* Jawa Jimmy
	+ Sparky
* Jowkazza

### **NPCs**

* The Jawa King
* Cal Omas
* Braysha Mineev
* Lynn
* Zalia Artemy (Cresh News Anchor)

### **Mentioned**

* Mayor of Mataou
* Taz Solana
* Callen Mutig
* Blaine Hansom
* Elayne Kuat
* Montross
* M-1

## **Inventory**

* +new krayt dragon flute box with signet of the Jawa king (Jawa Jimmy)
* +formal synth weave gown +1D Energy (Katira)
* -600cr (Katira)
* -500cr to get Rusty through security (Katira)
* +news anchor’s wallet (Katira)
* +large droid caller (Katira)

## **Notes**

* With the Jawa King departing, Jawa Jimmy began to look this new flat box over to assess its value. He immediately, embarrassingly, dropped the box in full view of the king.

* Katira called Taz Solana to offer her an invitation to the event. Catching her in the middle of a date and being ignored, Katira left a rambling message somewhere between apologizing and inviting the pilot. Though she received a response back, she was ultimately turned down.

* Thinking he was ready to go, Rusty forgot to pack a change of clothes and arrived at the event wearing his tattered dress

* Head’s Mounted in the Hell’s Anvil Trophy Room:
	+ Nexxu
	+ Wampa
	+ Corellian Hound
	+ Advozse Male
	+ Human Male
	+ Twi’lek Male - suspected pre-imperial rebel
	+ Qiraash Female

## **Quotations**

> "*We don’t have **anything** good to fly in.*"
> ― Bota Zi
>
>

> "*Is that an ion cannon, or are you just happy to see me?*"
> ― Jowkazza
>
>

> "*Whoa, how did you make it this far with these weapons on you?*"
> ― Event Guard
>
>

> "*Oh, uh… nobody said anything thus far. Is it a problem?*"
> ― Jowkazza
>
>

> "*Yes. Unless you have special privileges. This is a gala full of scientists and civilians.*"
> ― Event Guard
>
>

> "*And business people, I’m sure.*"
> ― Jowkazza, presenting a “Shaggin Your Taxes” card
>
>

> "*Is this some kind of a joke?*"
> ― Event Guard
>
>

> "*One thing our viewers have been wanting to ask: Bota Zi, it’s reported that you’ve worn Mandalorian armor. Is that cultural appropriation?*"
> ― Zalia Artemy
>
>

> "*We accelerated those topics quickly. Now you’re starting to use big words. Let’s get back to the celebration.*"
> ― Bota Zi
>
>

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