Session 07: The Imperial Baron

The group soon learned that one of the easiest ways to gain full access to the Sabaac tournament was by working security for the event. Their inquiries led them to the Royal Casino, where they were introduced to the tournament’s administrator—and owner of the casino itself—Jacc Mandelbrot. A large, boisterous man in his late 40s with a booming laugh and a flair for theatrics, Mandelbrot welcomed the group with open arms. After a short but animated interview, he was satisfied with their qualifications and enthusiasm, hiring them to work the tournament floor. He offered each of them 500 credits for their four days of service, along with security credentials that allowed them to carry their weapons and move freely through the venue.   With this new cover secured and their weapons returned, the heroes turned their attention back to the Imperial noble they had encountered earlier. Suspecting him to be directly involved in Darga’s transaction with the Empire, they decided the time had come to eliminate the threat. They tracked him through the city and struck decisively, killing the noble and recovering his hotel keycard in the process. The operation was clean, and with the keycard in hand, they had a direct path to his private quarters.   Before continuing the investigation, Mouse and Z1A took time to recover from their recent wounds. Mouse slipped into a rejuvenating bacta bath while Z1A took an oil soak to restore her servos and plating. Refreshed and fully healed, the team moved quickly to the noble’s suite at the Yerith Bespin Hotel.   Inside the luxurious room, they discovered an encoded message originating from Coruscant. After decrypting it, the contents confirmed their fears: a high-level handoff was scheduled to take place during the Sabaac tournament itself. The details were vague, but it was clear the Empire was using the tournament as cover for a significant exchange—likely tied to the Tibanna gas operations and the Sarlacc Project.   With their position secure as tournament security, the heroes spent the next four days blending in. While performing their duties on the floor of the Royal Casino, they also took time to relax, scout the premises, and acquire any last-minute equipment. Though the atmosphere of the tournament was one of luxury and leisure, the heroes knew the real game was being played in the shadows—and the final round was fast approaching.