Session 06: Queen of Air & Darkness

After returning to the Resurgence with Jedi Master Denia safely in their care, the heroes took a moment to breathe. They spent some time shopping aboard the ship, resupplying and preparing for their next destination. Though Denia’s recovery offered a temporary sense of calm, the Sarlacc Project still loomed large in their minds, and all signs now pointed to Cloud City on Bespin.   Soon, the crew of the Banshee jumped to hyperspace once again, en route to the floating gas mining colony. Upon arrival in Bespin's orbit, they were met by a welcoming party of Cloudcars, who offered a scenic escort through the majestic spires of the city. The party was effectively given a guided tour, highlighting the elegance and cleanliness of the upper city, a stark contrast to the shadowy dealings they had become accustomed to.   At the customs checkpoint, the party was informed of a major upcoming event: a high-stakes Sabaac tournament. Due to the prestige and security surrounding the event, all weapons had been temporarily banned from the city. The heroes reluctantly turned in their armaments, though R5-D4 secretly stashed a small blaster pistol in his internal compartment.   With the city disarmed and busy preparing for the tournament, the group began quietly searching for any sign of Darga the Hutt. Their inquiries turned up little, but after slicing into the city’s computer systems, they found a lead—a pleasure yacht called the Glorious Chariot, whose port of origin was none other than Cato Neimoidia. It wasn’t definitive, but it was enough to raise suspicion.   Later, Captain Okeefe contacted the group, informing them that a message had arrived aboard the Banshee, specifically addressed to them. The message was brief and ominous: “Stop asking about Darga.” Fortunately, Crash was able to trace the message's point of origin, giving the team a location to investigate.   Their search led them to the Parliament of Guilds, where they discovered a group of Ugnaughts who were aware of Darga’s operation. However, the Ugnaughts were hesitant to share any further information until the heroes handled a problem for them. Apparently, a rogue faction of Ugnaughts had been siphoning off Tibanna gas for Darga's black market network. The party tracked down the gas thieves, managing to subdue them without lethal force, and returned them to the Parliament as proof of their goodwill.   Satisfied, the Ugnaughts shared what they knew: the deal Darga was arranging with the Empire was expected to take place during the Sabaac tournament. If the party wanted to uncover more, they needed to make their way to the Yerith Bespin Hotel.   At the hotel, they quickly spotted a noble accompanied by two striking Theelin and four clone bodyguards. Sensing his importance, the group split up to trail him. Mouse and Zia remained in the hotel lobby, while Droshahn approached the noble directly in an attempt to gather intel. The effort failed quickly—the noble’s guards drew weapons and warned Droshahn to back off.   While the confrontation diffused without bloodshed, Mouse and Zia discovered that no rooms were currently available at the hotel, prompting them to head to the cantina instead, hoping that drink and conversation might uncover the next step in Darga’s elusive dealings.