[Open] Drinking with the Ravens

[Lysle of the Hydian Way]

Ambience

Located at Ground Zero on the Utopia-esque planet of Antecedent. The Dragon Palace Casino sits on what is considered to be the ground level of the Ecumenopolis. Surrounded by behemoth skyscrapers and tremendous stretches of architecture. It squats low in comparison to these titans of architecture. Far from Central, capital of Antecedent and home of the governing body. The casino rests on a stretch of district renamed Little Coruscant by the Red Ravens in jest of Nar Shaddaa's nickname. This is due to the recent incursion of illegal activities in the area that has drastically risen the crime rate in the district.

The Dragon Palace Casino is an incredible 10,500,000-square-foot luxury casino and hotel resort owned by Lysle Rigger. The Dragon is a 41-story, 2.9 billion credit investment. The resort has 3200 suites available, with tremendous swaths of convention space for future endeavours on entertainment and business. It holds 550,000-square-feet of casino space, with a whopping 4200 slot machines, 1200 gambling tables, and a 25,000 seat arena for live entertainment and sports events. The casino is protected by little over a thousand DD-S1 security droids that routinely patrol the casino. Weapon scanners and sensors sit at the main and only entrance into the casino, known for its artistic dragon hovering above that shines neon lights at night.

Three levels above was the nightclub, booming and loud. Neon lights tantalised the eyes as they flashed by. Patrons walked around, illuminated by the glow of cerulean blue and rose pink. Attractive females, males, transgender and a variety of the sexes danced above, offering pleasant views to all varieties of customers. The music continued without pause, scantily clad waiters came out to serve drinks, and behind it all was Sigourney and Lysle. They had invited the wealthiest, the notorious and everyone in-between to this event. All here to relax and have some fun. Though the security droids were certain to make sure that no known Black Sun Syndicate members entered, or Cross Ikon.

Security was amped up for this occasion, with the thousand spread thickly across the casino, there were some fifty throughout the entrances and exits of the nightclub. They were assuring no one had weapons on them, as they should already have been removed upon entry due to the weapon scanners. And of course, they were here to make sure no one tried any funny business. Lysle was here, somewhere in the ocean of bodies that ebbed and flowed.

Spoiler

[member="Sigourney Xanthius"]
[member="Lenix Ornil"]
[member="Isaac Ideus"]
[member="Lok Jorunn"]
@Raven Mulds
[member="Arianna Maneria"]
[member="Colap Ticon"]
[member="Sarkin Vance"]
[member="Naimes Ahn-Dross"]
[member="Fanus Rendix"]
[member="Lena Abren-Rendix"]
[member="Warren Century"]
[member="Shiro De'Vol"]
[member="Razz Michaels"]
[member="Aldous Hofmann"]
[member="Brevitæ"]
[member="Manidark Zail"]
[member="Jen"]
[member="Lydeck"]
[member="Cryax Bane"]
[member="Rennek Corr"]
[member="Daxton Bane"]
[member="Vivian Octavia"]
[member="Logan Valde"]
[member="Kyber Salurra"]
[member="Chiasa Kritivaas"]
[member="Sebastion Wulfsorrow"]
[member="Anastasia Rade"]
[member="Jan VonFowl"]
[member="Jace Beleren"]
[member="LLP-850"]
[member="Malachite Avachei"]
[member="Mit Tuxaire"]
[member="Zatten Black"]
[member="Kadrak Jalaan"]
[member="Enigma"]
[member="Adenn Gra'tua"]
[member="Mrrew"]

 

[Avenix Wulfsorrow]

Sebastion walked over to Lysle as soon as the part was officially on, grabbing two drinks and handing one over to Lysle. "So is this just a fun little party, or a show of force? Either way I suppose it doesn't really matter." Sebastion took a sip from his drink, and kept and started eyeing the participants. Sebastion was quite sure that there was no way that someone would be able to sneak in weapons this time, he had taken it upon himself to check the guards to make sure they were loyal and alert. Sebastion sank into his seat, waiting for others to show up.

[member="Lysle of the Hydian Way"]

 

[Jace Beleren]

Jace sat at one of the Pazaak tables in the back, he found himself playing the game more and more these days, after all, how could he pass up free credits. It was all too often someone who thought themselves lucky or skillful walked up to his table, eager to challenge him, thinking he was an average guy, just like them, but much to their dismay, he wasn't. Jace was a swindler, and the Force made it all to easy, and with it as his partner he never lost, save for a few games he had to throw every now and then, so it didn't seem like the Dragon Palace Casino was ripping off their customers. But nonetheless, he always ended the day with his pockets just a bit heavier.

[member="Lysle of the Hydian Way"] [member="Sebastion Wulfsorrow"]

 

[Jan VonFowl]

I pulled up in my speeder, wincing slightly at the bright light from the outside of the casino. Hopefully, I'd run into Jace or Jen. That'd be fun, especially with Jace's skill at cards. When I walked in, I saw Jace hiding in the back, playing sabbac, and grinning invitingly at his next prey. I strode over to the table, shaking my head and grinning.

"You card sharp. How many people are broke because of you right now?"

[member="Jace Beleren"] [member='Jen']

 

[Lysle of the Hydian Way]

Lysle warmed up to Sebastion, showing a genuine smile as he was handed a drink, though he didn't drink. Not tonight. He needed to keep his senses at their premium. Lysle didn't want another young kid on the block looking to flex his muscles. "Just a party," Lysle said, keeping the truth to himself. It was to organise networks and connections with the galactic community. Lysle turned, feigning a ship when in reality he just dumped the contents into the vase, hoping the his distraction as he eyeballed the patrons was enough. With a sigh of relief, as though he had downed the drink, he said, "That was good, thank you." He checked him over and said, "You in need of some work? I've got a gig coming up soon. Pretty big one."


[member="Sebastion Wulfsorrow"]

 

[Jace Beleren]

"No one," he said with a smile, "they've just been liberated from the burden of their money, that's all." As he talked he was tossing a bag of credit chips up into the air and then catching it again, over and over. "Besides, Lysle always encourages us to train, and what better way to train my Mind Trick than seeing how many ways I can win sabbac." Over his career, Jace had discovered a number of ways to trick his opponents into defeat. He could read their minds and find their cards, he could make them forfeit, or his personal favorite, make them see the wrong cards, he always loved the look on his opponenet's face when they thought they played a +1 and saw a +2 on the table. "But who knows, I might jump down to the fighting pit later, always fun to be had there."

[member="Jan VonFowl"] [member="Sebastion Wulfsorrow"] [member="Lysle of the Hydian Way"]

 

[Cryax Bane]

Cryax Bane had never worn a suit in his whole young life, but tonight he was decked out in an elegant black two-button suit jacket with a slim lapel and expertly tailored pants, cuffed artfully at his Corellian leather dress shoes. He even wore silver cufflinks on his crisp white shirt. The Red Ravens were having a party and the Chiss slicer cleaned up well.

He stepped down from the "Employee Only" area of the Dragon Palace and made his way through the crowd, stopping at one of the R5 bar droids to pick up a glass of Cognac. He looked out over the throngs of party-goers, the Who's Who of Antecedent, criminals and civilians alike, and grabbed an extra drink from the R5. Crowds made him itchy, but the mixed drinks would help take the edge off. He downed the two Cognacs quickly and circled the room.

He was still pretty new to the job and didn't know all of his fellow Ravens that well yet. But he did see some familiar faces, like [member="Jace Beleren"] [member="Sebastion Wulfsorrow"] and of course, his boss, [member="Lysle of the Hydian Way"] looking smooth as ever.

Security was drum tight. With patrons being frisked and disarmed if need be and the Droids and Herligs out in full force, the Ravens looked more relaxed than he had seen them since he started his job. The young Chiss savored the liquor in his system and looked forward to meeting some new people for a change.

 

[Avenix Wulfsorrow]

"Sure I have nothing planned, and I'm always looking for an opportunity to help the Ravens, what'd you have in mind?" Sebastion quickly finished off his drink, paying his full attention to Lysle.

[member="Lysle of the Hydian Way"]

 

[Jan VonFowl]

"Oh, sweet liberation!"

I laughed, and grinned at the thought of the fighting pits.

"Good money at the fighting pits. Might go and see what a lightsaber can do to some of those gladiator droids Lysle has stocked away. Where is the old bastard, by the way?"

[member="Jace Beleren"]

 

[LordAvalen]

"He's over there," Jace said, pointing to Lysle in the crowd, "Seems to be talking with Sebastion at the moment."

[member="Jan VonFowl"]

 

[Lysle of the Hydian Way]

"I'll tell you in a few days, right now, it's not the time. I'm just glad you're willing," Lysle said to Sebastion, patting him on the shoulder and giving it a tight squeeze before moving on. There was a miasma of spices in the air that thickened it. People in corners were gathered in groups, smoking unknown substances that left them hazy and slow. His grey eyes moved to Cryax and the crime lord diverged on him, walking towards him. "Ah, so good to see you here. I didn't think these events would be your thing."


[member="Cryax Bane"]
[member="Sebastion Wulfsorrow"]

 

[Darth Morgoth]

Melkor walked into the party, he was unarmed, force aside of course. He was wearing a black robe and combat boots. Undernath he wore his signiture black alchemic chainmail. He was not here to drink or party but for business. He looked around until he saw the man he was looking for. [member="Lysle of the Hydian Way"] from what he had heard the man was the big boss of the place. He was talking to one of the fighters from the tournament.

Melkor walked over and said" Good evening gentlmen, I hear one of is in charge here?"

 

[Cryax Bane]

The Chiss smiled at his boss, the Cognac settling into his system quite nicely. He shook his boss's hand warmly and grinned.

"You're right, I'm not usually much for parties, but I couldn't pass this one up. Too much to celebrate." He grabbed another glass of booze from another R5 unit, shushing the droid as it started beeping about "cutting him off".

He raised it at his boss first toasting him and then the crowd. "To the Red Ravens!"

[member="LordAvalen"] [member="Jan VonFowl"] [member="Lysle of the Hydian Way"] [member="Sebastion Wulfsorrow"]

 

[Jace Beleren]

*Cheers*

 

[Lysle of the Hydian Way]

Lysle smiled and wave down the toast, but they cheered and toasted nonetheless. A sign of humility. Lysle was smart, not humble. It wasn't a matter of not wanting the Ravens to be toasted, rather he wan't to show that he was friendly and open. It allowed those closest to him to become familiar with him, and open up to him. It allowed his enemies to see it as a weakness and attempt to exploit it. No, Lysle wasn't humble, he was cold, calculating and had the potential to be cruel. But no crime boss who treated his men cruelly ever got far. Then Morgoth approached, Lysle turned to greet him, "That would be me."

[member="Darth Morgoth"] [member="Cryax Bane"]

 

[Jan VonFowl]

I waved my empty hand around, finally settling it on a drink that was quite definitely somebody else's. The somebody else, in question, was a skittish-looking man who almost leapt away when he saw the lightsaber at my waist, and the half-concealed automatic pistol strapped to the inside of my jacket. I grinned at Cryax.

"Cheers, Blue Boy."

[member="Jace Beleren"] [member="Cryax Bane"]

 

[Cryax Bane]

The fact that the smart-alecky human, who was rudely mocking his skin color, was allowed to have weapons at the party must have meant that he was another Raven. The young Chiss let the name-calling slide, for now.

He first turned towards Jace and nodded. "Nice to see you again, Jace." Then he turned to the other man.

"I don't think I've met you yet." He stuck out his hand. "I'm Cryax. What do you do for the Ravens?"

[member="Jan VonFowl"] [member="Jace Beleren"]

 

[Jan VonFowl]

"I'm Jan VonFowl. A slicer, among other things. You may have heard more about my speeder, though. Jen seems to be slightly obsessed over it."

I grinned at the Chiss, and shook his hand.

"Don't pay any mind to my little joke. It was meant as a joke, after all."

[member="Cryax Bane"] [member="Jace Beleren"]

 

[Cryax Bane]

Cryax's tightened shoulders relaxed a little bit.

"Ah a slicer! Well at least you have good taste in professions." he grinned, ear-to-ear, loosening up. The drinks were definitely hitting his system faster than [member="Sebastion Wulfsorrow"] on a weekend drinking binge.

The Chiss gestured to himself, "I'm a slicer, too. Hope you can handle the competition." He smirked and raised his eyebrows, humorously challenging Von Fowl.

[member="Jan VonFowl"] [member="Jace Beleren"]

 

[Anastasia Rade]

Walking into the casino she couldn't help but glance around in awe. Anastasia had never been to a place quite like this before. She definitely wasn't used to anything like this which made her glad that she had gone out dress shopping the day before. The black little number she had picked up fit this event quite nicely.

Seeing the bar out of the corner of her eye she headed towards it. She had come here to make contacts and for work. She did after all have mouths to feed. Her two little wolf pups couldn't exactly feed themselves. The young woman also had to face the facts that she wasn't an engineer like Az. She needed to find a different way to make money.

Ordering a glass of Whiskey she took a sip as she scanned the crowd. There were a lot of interesting types of people here. Anastasia may not look it right now but she was a solider, a warrior and even without a weapon she could take someone down. The heels she was wearing could even be used as a weapon.

Instead of taking a seat she found a group of individuals talking and decided to go introduce herself. She normally wasn't so friendly at first but she did need to meet others and this was ther only way. "Good Evening Gentleman."

[member="Lysle of the Hydian Way"] [member="Sebastion Wulfsorrow"] [member="Jace Beleren"] [member="Jan VonFowl"] [member="Cryax Bane"]