Traveller Vignette 015

We were in a hole-in-the-wall place near the docks, drinking and playing cards, when things fell apart. We'd just been paid for the last job – not a big score by any means, but it'd keep us going until we found the next one. Or until I found a better crew to work with, for preference, since there were several people in this one I wouldn't trust with my wallet, let alone my life.

“I ran across somebody from that backwater world you come from down by the starport” said Taylor, in a falsely conversational tone. If I was lucky, he was just trying to put me off my Tribec hand

“It's a small galaxy sometimes, I guess” I feigned disinterest while cursing inwardly. There were probably ways to get false ID for those who knew how, but I wasn't one of them, and I was still travelling under my real name, relying on distance and staying on the move

“Interesting thing, I mentioned your name, and he recognised it.” The others were looking interested now, which was the last thing I needed. “But he told me a very different story of what you did back there and how you came to leave from the one I remember you telling us”

Frak and hellfire. I tossed my cards onto the table. “I'm done”. I reached under the table to pick up my battered trail bag. None of the things I'd unpacked from it were valuable enough to delay getting out of here for, and I mentally wrote them off.

“Not so fast” Taylor's hand came from under the battered table, with his snub pistol in it. “I think it's time for you to go home, Your Majesty”


(Author's note - This "murder hobos in a bar" scene is obviously a scenario starter, with the player is trying to get away from the group of his former friends. This links to a later vignette which explains why the Prince fled his home system, but you aren't obliged to do that. If you would prefer that they want him back to force him to rule, to try him for crimes committed by his ancestors before the revolution or because the planetary defence net is gene-coded to his DNA is up to you - whatever works in your campaign)



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