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"Agreed." Avizzi steps over to the Quarren and plants a foot squarely in his stomach, repeating as necessary until the would-be assassin comes to. At that point, Avizzi pointedly sticks his slugthrower barrel-first in the Quarren's face, and looks to the others, figuring they might prefer to do the talking.
Avizzi takes stock of the situation, sees the final Quarren, and decides to put a round in his leg. Slugthrowers don't have stun settings, but a leg shot probably won't be fatal... and on the plus side, it'll hurt.
Hey all, posting this in all my games to let people know I'll be away for a few days. My family is headed to camp later today, and I won't have Internet or my computer while I'm there. I should be back and posting Friday afternoon/evening (Eastern Time), but please push the game as needed, botting my character if you need to do so. Thanks!
"Ah." Avizzi nods and continues walking for a few seconds before he stops. "You know, this Kessel Run sounds like life in a clan, and its dangers. You need to talk to one another, get as close as you can. But everyone has their own black holes, and you don't want to get sucked into an argument." He looks at Kalus and shrugs. "Not that I know anything about it, anyway."
When Kalus rounds the corner, he finds Avizzi standing, his arms folded and a smirk on his face. "I was coming to ask you about jackets," he comments, "but I heard... that. Let me give you the same advice my mother gave me: You might one day outlast a bantha in a footrace, strike down a rancor with your bare hands, and fly the Kessel Run in fifteen parsecs... but you will never win a fight with an angry woman." The togruta holds Kalus's gaze as though his advice was the sagest in the Galaxy, and then he blinks. "By the by, what is a parsec? I imagine it's a unit of time, but I've never heard of it elsewhere."
Avizzi is more preoccupied with getting patched up--again--than paying attention to what a slimy vizier is staring at. He nods with Kalus's comment, and hefts the code cylinder in his hand. Finally. Maybe now I can get my bearings here, start feeling out what's going on in this place. Figure out who's the prey, and who has teeth.
Avizzi hisses and crouches as the attacks barely miss him, and he carefully aims before returning fire at the rodian.
In the wake of the Gamorreans collapsing, Avizzi bursts from cover, sprinting forward to slide next to Nomi. He presses his back against the new covering, and quickly checks the ammo in his pistol--still enough to finish the fight. The togruta glances at Nomi and gives a feral grin. "I think we have them on the run, now. Easier to kill when they're running scared."
With a breath, Avizzi turns around the corner of his cover, firing another shot down-range toward the Gamorreans harassing Nomi.
Avizzi grunts as the blaster bolt strikes his body, and he slips back around cover as he grits his teeth, fighting through the pain.
Avizzi takes a step, still by his cover, and fires another round toward the Gamorreans harrying Nomi, aiming for the one she's just stuck with the stun baton. Better to put down one beast and then deal with the other than spread out the damage. A nexu doesn't attack the herd, it brings down one meal.
Avizzi doesn't relish losing what cover and stealth he has so soon, but helping the others takes precedence. He brings his pistol up and fires at one of the gladiators harrying Nomi, then slips around the cover.
Once in the arena, Avizzi moves quickly to the side, his pistol in hand. "Draw their fire," he murmurs to the others, just loud enough for them to hear. If we can flank them, prevent them from really using cover... With that in mind, when the match starts, the togruta begins slowly shifting around the cover, edging next to it while trying to keep out of sight from any of the other gladiators.
Avizzi is happy with his own equipment, double-checking his slugthrower pistol is fully loaded. He takes a look over the other equipment, and considers the spears, but ultimately turns them down. He hasn't used one in years, and to be truthful he wasn't much good with one even then--always better with a bow, or a rifle. He checks the sights of his pistol and glances to the others. "Ready?"
Avizzi sighs at what's apparently more suspicious plotting from Demos, but he nods. "Fair enough. I hope my injured state doesn't put a damper on the theatrics." His tone is barely muzzled annoyance, but he didn't truly expect Darga to just let Russel go. Hutts don't work that way.
"Illustrious Darga," Avizzi says quickly, glancing at the others for backup. "There is something you should know. That man there--" he points at Russel "--is a compatriot of ours, and a good man to have free and allied with us. It would be a shame to cast him to the pits, especially when you can see he himself is prepared to fight for your life already!"
"Well, firstly, seeing as this is a trade matter, I think Bocce would be a good common language." The togruta turns to the Zabrak and begins speaking in the rapidfire trade tongue. "You claim that the slaves are used, but isn't every slave used? Surely you wouldn't expect brand new property to be passed to your hands without first being put to good use by the original owner. Otherwise how would he know which slaves are of the proper quality to be sold on to you? It sounds to me on first offer that you expect higher quality goods for no raise in price. Only a foolish merchant would truly expect such a deal, especially when he has no position to negotiate." Avizzi turns to Darga. "This is, of course, assuming you have not begun reneging on old trade agreements. But I doubt such a merchant as yourself, fair and honest, would engage in such thievery." Bocce doesn't have a great deal of language for compliments, but Avizzi uses what he can. "Even if you have sold damaged goods, as the merchant there is little negotiation to be done. You might lower the price, or offer finer product, but the buyer could as easily attempt to find another partner for his trade." He turns back to the Zabrak. "So I come back to one thing," Avizzi says, musing in Basic once more. "There's really very little point in you coming here. Either you're lying about the slaves to get more money, which you should have known wouldn't work; you're honestly trying to renegotiate when you should have just gone to another merchant, which is foolish; or this is all a pretense for something." Avizzi may not have seen the poisoning or the goblet switch, but he knew the way his companions were acting. "Now, maybe you should explain yourself, or leave with the slaves you have, less one." He gives a feral grin. "Payment for wasting all of our time."
Avizzi catches Darga's glance, as well as Taril's following look, but he isn't sure what to make of things. After another moment, he rolls his eyes and steps towards the Hutt, giving a cough and a cock of the head, his montrals and lekku shifting slightly as if to express curiosity. "Lord Darga, I may only be a troubleshooter who's come to you recently, but is there any way I can be of assistance here? It seems you and your business partner here are at something of an impasse, and I'm no stranger to negotiating deals involving... damaged goods?" He gives a grin that, as always, has a little more predator to it than might be entirely pleasant.
Avizzi grudgingly rests in the infirmary until midday, at which point he brusquely informs the medic that he's leaving. At lunch he raises an eyebrow at Kalus's jests, but responds with a chuckle and nod. "There is always more to learn," he says, taking a sip from his cup. At the audience, he stands with the others, curious as to their requested presence but content to keep an eye on things.
His gaze slips over the Twi'lek slave, however, more focused on Russel's presence, and he only gives Kalus a quick glance as the man slips off into the crowd. I suppose one day without danger would be too much to ask.
Avizzi eyes Kessra's body for a few moments, clearly weighing the options. Eventually, he grunts and lies back down. Credits aren't a concern, but who knows if the Hutt would have them for sale. He watches the Bith apply the salve to Taril and otherwise simply waits. Kalus certainly seems to have more experience dealing with these kinds of people--Avizzi mostly steered clear of gangs when he could on Brental, preferring to work on his own.
In Avizzi's mind, he's on Shili. He's at home, hidden in the turu-grass, his red and white skin patterns allowing him to easily blend in with the vegetation. A spear is clutched in his hand, and his breath is shallow. He's on the hunt, and cannot return to the village until he has fruits of his labor. He knows these lands aren't the safest--at least one Akul lives in this territory, and he should have turned back hours before. But he's been tracking a quarry, and now he's close, so close to the kill-- A sound behind him. It isn't a footstep, nor is it breath. It's metallic, unnatural. Avizzi spins, his spear in hand and already lunging up and forward, and he sees the source of the noise. It isn't an Akul, nor any other beast. It's another togruta, and in his hands, a pistol, the barrel black and yawning... Avizzi comes to with a start, the pain unbearable for a moment, but he fights through it and flexes his fingers. Alive. That's good. He glances around. The group is there, everyone else relatively fine, and the sithspit woman is unconscious on the ground. The Hutt is here, and Taril is worriedly asking the medic if her lekku will scar. Everything as it should be, the togruta thinks, and he smirks--although it quickly turns to a grimace as he sits up. "Can I put a slug through her skull yet?" he asks, gesturing to Kressa's body.
Alright, cool. For this level Avizzi gains 6 HP, a Destiny Point, and his Force Points reset to 7 total. (I should start using those more often.) He'll also take Stay Up (from Scum and Villainy, page 24) as his bonus feat--useful, and feels fitting given what's just happened! EDIT: I forgot, we get ability increases here! I'll increase Dexterity and Constitution, which also nets me more HP. Also increasing skills.
Avizzi bites his jaw as he sees the blaster aimed for him, and it cuts off any shout he might have made when the bolt strikes him in the chest. He falls without grace, his body simply toppling to the ground as the pistol tumbles from his hands. Never underestimate your prey, his mother is saying. They're hidden in the grass, with nothing but spears in their hands. Even if you think they're a brutish beast, they have tricks up their sleeves, just as we do. Forget that, and you'll see how quickly a mad animal can strike.
Avizzi grunts as the blaster bolt slams into his shoulder, and he nearly drops to one knee as he spins with the hit. "She's here, but I don't think you'll like it much," he grunts. He takes a moment to force his mind past the pain in his shoulder and brings his pistol up, sending another slug downrange at the woman.
Avizzi remains at the ready, his finger light on the trigger of his pistol... for now.
"Finish with the birds," Avizzi says, moving to look for the other individual. His pistol is extended in hand, ready to fire at a moment's notice.
"Taril, get down!" Avizzi isn't studied enough in the precise science of biology to identify the creatures, but he knows a predator when he sees one--and the best way to deal with a predator is to show yourself as the apex. So thinking, he shifts his aim to the bird harrying Taril, blasting another slug.
Avizzi drops into a crouch, his pistol raised and ready to fire. Unlike Kalus, he has no compunctions about killing the potential assailant--and slugthrowers don't exactly have stun settings.
Avizzi waits to enter the room last, but he sees Kalus draw his blaster and quickly pulls his slugthrower, trusting the human to know if there's trouble.
Avizzi moves with the group, but when they reach the Aviary, he pauses and looks to Nomi. "The audience is with you. Why don't you step in first?" He flicks his eyes to the Neimoidian and gives a subtle narrowing of his gaze. We'll cover your back.
With a frown, Avizzi stops reaching for his pistol. "We certainly do have a way with people," he comments, returning to his room to put on some more of his things--boots, jacket, concealed holster. Once that's done he comes back out to the hub area, folds his arms, and waits for the Neimoidian to recover. "Even when we don't go in shooting, they end up dropping." He snorts and gives a shake of his own lekku, apparently amused.
Avizzi sits bolt upright in bed, slugthrower already in hand with a finger flicking the safety off. He remains like that for a moment, then rolls off the mattress onto a crouched position on the floor. Keeping the gun trained on the door, he slowly reaches under his bed and slides out the rifle. He remains there for several seconds, but when it seems things have cleared, he stands up, tucking the pistol into the back of his trousers--safety once more on--and slides the rifle back under the bed. Finally, he opens his door and pokes his head out, taking in the scene. "Is there a problem?" Seeing Kalus's pointed blaster, the togruta reaches for his slugthrower, but doesn't draw and aim just yet.
"If I might give you a tip, now that I've taken your money?" Avizzi pockets his credstick with the winnings and nods at Taril. "Never bet against the wild card. You don't shoot a beast until you know you'll put it down, and you don't put nine-to-one odds against a crafty twi'lek."
When Taril crashes Igren's droid, Avizzi catches the Rodian's gaze and responds with a predatory grin, flashing his sharp teeth at the bookie. "She's a real hunter," he says, turning back to see what she does on the next lap. "I'd say double or nothing she knocks out the others just to show she can, but I doubt you'll take it."
Avizzi takes in the wager from the rodian and thinks on it for a moment, glancing at Taril. From the time he's spent with the twi'lek woman, he has a sense of her personality, and he knows that if she's playing this, she's playing for keeps. He narrows his eyes for a moment and turns back to the bookie. "I'll put a hundred credits on my friend. And I don't know about first, but what are the odds on your favorite Igren Demos getting in a wreck? By race's end, I mean."
Avizzi eyes the exchange over the visor curiously, but maintains his place a couple steps back from Kalus and Taril. He's never been one for piloting, so it's time to just watch, and listen.
Avizzi is tempted to skulk about and see what he can find, but moving at night in unfamiliar surroundings is a good way to find an untimely and unfortunate demise. Just sleeping through the night--albeit lightly, and with his guns at the ready--seems the prudent option.
Avizzi sips his drink and eyes Nomi. "Actually, I haven't been to Shili in a long time. I spent the last several standard years on Brentaal."
After a few moments' scowling at the prospect of staying in this cesspit for the rest of the day, Avizzi decides to follow Taril's suit. The togruta begins making chatter with the denizens of the 'palace,' mostly aiming for anyone who looks like a trader and engaging them with Bocce. He seems comfortable enough falling into this practice, almost as much as the twi'lek, although his companions recognize a predatory aspect in him even now--hunting in a different sort of wilderness.
Avizzi clambers out with the others, rifle in hand and the safety off. He casts a wary eye about, his montrals twitching with anticipation. "Would it be too obvious to say I have a bad feeling about this?"
"I think you misunderstand your position, Raden." Avizzi brushes his hands on his trousers as he steps up to the chair. "You were clever to set up a scheme, but it isn't so smart telling us all about it. But then, you're not a predator, are you, Raden? You're just a scavenger. And all the scavengers on every planet I know of have one thing in common: when the real predators come into their turf, they roll over with their tail between their legs." The togruta taps one of the devaronian's fingers and looks to Kalus. "My friend here said the Hutts like gifts. Not much of a gift it isn't delivered, though."
"Here." Avizzi draws some tape from a pouch on his belt and tosses it to Kalus. "Good hunting." Even as he throws Kalus the tape, though, the togruta moves to Nomi and crouches down, examining her wounds. Growing up hunting, dealing with death and danger every day, you learn how troubling injuries can be, and it's better to take care of things as soon as possible rather than let them go. Quickly assessing the woman's wounds, Avizzi pulls the medpac from his belt and sets about trying to clean and patch them.
Nomi comes to shortly after Avizzi finishes treating her wounds with bacta patches and injecting her with a weak stimulant to get her awake again. The togruta doesn't grin when she wakes up, but he does nod and offer her a hand. "No bounty today, I think. Maybe cover tomorrow, though."
Avizzi steps fully from cover now, firing his ion pistol at the final combatant: the droid.
"Tsss. Of course, the one I don't tamper with the insides slags out..."
Avizzi curses under his breath as Nomi drops, and this time when he comes around the corner, it's his slugthrower that roars out a shot toward the thug that fired on him. The bullet splatters through the crook's skull. [oco](Presumably.)[/ooc] Prey would do well to remember it is just that: food for the predators.
Avizzi fires another blast from his ion pistol at the remaining droid.
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