Public Fortuna Downs - A racing Event

[Morné Karn]

Fortuna Downs - Owned by Morné Karn

​

High above the neon haze of the Vertical City, Fortuna Downs now stands as one of Morné Karn’s shadiest - and most profitable -investments. The hulking corporate fronts of Ibex Shipping provide his cover. The track is just one more cog in the Blackpenny Lane Syndicate’s web of control over Nar Shaddaa’s underworld.

Karn rarely walks the suspended walkways himself. Instead he sends proxies, debt-collectors, and enforcers to ensure the track runs and - more importantly - that money flows. Rumors persist that some races are fixed, that certain patrons receive whispered inside tips and that those who cross the track’s management find themselves quietly disappeared into the lower levels of the Smuggler’s Moon.

Despite that, Fortuna Downs maintains an aura of prestige, as if you don’t mind risking life, limb, or credit. The track’s decks are guarded by low-level syndicate muscle, and the betting booths broadcast Karn’s subtle logos in flickering holo. The presence of so many high rollers and shady characters means that even Imperial agents make occasional appearances either seeking favors, intelligence, or a quick line on the next big money match.

Locations

Corporate Boxes
Protected by one-way glass, those placing big bets who don't want to sit or stand with the public drink, dance and send their staff to pick up racing slips.

The Stands
With a party atmosphere, people from all walks of life come to watch the races. They join long queues to place their bets or take their chances with unofficial bookies. After the races the area behind the stand is turned into an all-night open air music venue.

Mechanics

How to bet

You can place bets in the following way:

• Win - Bet credits and you get the payout if the fathier wins
• Place - Bet credits and you get the payout if the fathier places 1st or 2nd (half the payout of a Win)
• Each Way - a popular bet, it is effective both a Winner bet and an Each Way bet with half the bet placed in each

Examples:
Neon Veil Wins Race 3

• Bet 100 credits on Neon Veil (3:1) to win → 100 × 4 = 400 credits
• Bet 100 credits on Neon Veil (3:1) to place → 100 × 2 = 200 credits
• Bet 100 credits on Neon Veil (3:1) each way → (50 × 2) + (50 x 4) = 300 credits

Post template:
In your post:

Bet Type: Win/Place/Each Way
Bet Size: (Up to 10,000 UCs)
Race: 1/2/3
Fathier Name: Name

Sending Credits:
Donate your credits after posting to Morné Karn
In your message include the #number of your post in this thread and the name of the character placing the bet.

Results

A D100 will be rolled twice by myself for races 1, 2 and 3 along the way. Behind the scenes I have a chance to win for each fathier. In my next post I will announce the winner, 2nd place (and randomly decide the final six however I feel)

Races

Race 1: The Smuggler's Sprint

"First race of the evening, folks! Eight fine fathiers, a few missing teeth, and one with a repulsor implant he probably shouldn't have!"

#	Fathier	Odds
1	Jetwhisker	3:1
2	Gravel Ghost	4:1
3	Rustfeather	6:1
4	Blue Sable	7:1
5	Tark's Trouble	10:1
6	Velvet Blight	12:1
7	Spine Dancer	18:1
8	Echohoof	25:1

Race 2: The Blackpenny Classic

"Sponsored by the Blackpenny Lane Syndicate — don't ask what happens if you win too much."

#	Fathier	Odds
1	Nova's Folly	2:1
2	Dust Ripper	3:1
3	Cinder Spur	5:1
4	Longshot Ledo	6:1
5	Starhound	10:1
6	Greasehoof	12:1
7	Morné's Mercy	20:1
8	Wispclaw	30:1

Race 3: The Moonshadow Derby

"Night race, high stakes, lights glinting off the fathiers' bridles like stars. Just don't look down."

#	Fathier	Odds
1	Neon Veil	3:1
2	Gravestone Dancer	4:1
3	Ionhoof	6:1
4	Rustfire Colt	7:1
5	Slipstream	10:1
6	Holo Mirage	15:1
7	Gutterglow	20:1
8	Black Orbit	25:1

 

[Morné Karn]

Corporate boxes
/Open


"Ten minutes until betting closes for our first race," came the polite call over the speakers.

In the executive boxes the announcements were quiet so as not to disturb the band playing. Down in the stand they were bold and exuberant.

Morné stood close to the glass. One of the screens showed the fathiers as they were walked out of the paddock. They were then be walked past the crowd before they took up positions for the race.

He didn't know much about fathiers but he took any opportunity to extend his own influence. It was less complicated than laundering money or selling elicit substances.

He waved over one of his staff members and leaned in close.

"Another bottle on the house for table three," he whispered. He would recoup the cost of a thousand credit bottle before the races were done.

 

[Lysander von Ascania]

Tag: Morné Karn | Open!

Lysander finally sank into the plush seat of the corporate box; one leg crossed over the other in a display of ease. The hum of music drifted through the walls, a whisper beneath the wealth and corruption that permeated this space.

The young Sith wore a lavish black tunic, tailored to perfection, with silver embroidery. His leggings were sleek, fitted, and just formal enough to suggest he hadn’t dressed for comfort; he dressed to be seen.

Blonde hair was swept back, not a single strand out of place, the kind of grooming that took actual effort. And so, he looked every bit the aristocrat, but there was something sharper beneath that polish. Something that watched, something that calculated, a reflection of his current trajectory..

He raised a crystal glass of Cornelian whiskey. It was sharp and smoky, with a lingering spice that danced on the tongue and burned slowly as it went down.

On the screen, the fathiers were being led out. Neon Veil caught his eye instantly. She moved with a kind of wild grace, head high.. proud and untamed.

It made him think of her..

His pinto mare back on Ukatis, Nari. He hadn’t seen her in a long time. The thought alone should’ve pulled him out of this place and back to the quiet hills where she used to run.

But he pushed it aside.

That life was distant now..

He tapped the datapad with a single digit. The interface flickered, confirming the wager. Everything was encrypted, and handled through a private network.

An attendant lingered nearby, as if watching for confirmation. He offered a faint nod, then returned to the screen.

“Neon Veil,” he murmured, “Fast, theatrical.. and unpredictable, enough to suit me.”

The roar of the crowd below was but a distant echo, but up here in the corporate box, it was quiet.

And he liked that.

No planet had ever whispered to him like Smuggler’s Moon did..

 

[Vexia Tahl]

Objective: Gamble, shmooze
Location: The Stands, Fortuna Downs, Vertical City, Nar Shaddaa
Outfit:Casual Attire
Tags: OPEN

Games of chance were always quite the draw to Vexia Tahl. Usually she enjoyed participating more than observing, but the fact that she held a stake in the outcome was a thrilling circumstance to the young, rich Zeltron woman. And the fact that she wouldn't need to retain much focus once her bets were placed meant she could be on the look out for intriguing distractions.

Of course the race would hold a great deal of excitement, but unlike most betters Vexia will be happy no matter the outcome. For now there was the rising buzz of expectation. Even the small portion of the crowd who merely enjoyed the sport of it all was sending out vibes that could make Vexia purr as she felt them.

Even though she had a constantly refilling cup of alcohol the true intoxication of the moment was in this slow build up. The knowledge that for the short time the fathiers raced around the track emotions would pinball the entire gamut of anything possible. Some Zeltron found such chaos exhausting. Vexia thought it was the greatest thing in the galaxy.

Vexia looked out over the field and tried to figure out how to wager. She was never one for taking the favorite. That was boring. Plus it wasn't like she needed to be calculated and make the best choice. Betting was for fun. If she lost, Vexia could afford it. None of the names of the competitors jumped out at her so she did what any Zeltron would do. She bet based on the colors worn by the fathier and its jockey.

She looked at her datapad and confirmed the bets were placed and then she turned to the person closest to her offering her glass in a toast. "Time for some racing guys! Drinks for the section on me!"

Bet Type: Win
Bet Size: 4k
Race: 1
Fathier Name: Echohoof

 

[Vetru]

V E T R U​

Vexia Tahl

Vetru had been leaning on the rail overlooking the lower stands when he saw her. The Zeltron didn’t blend in, not here. She was bright where the rest of the crowd looked worn and grey, throwing credits at Echohoof like it was pocket change. He took a slow pull from his flask, watching the fathiers walked in front of the crowd.

His last job hadn't gone well. In another astounding display of arrogance he had tried to get two cargo runs done together. Instead of twice the profit he'd been stopped at checkpoints and have his cargo had spoiled.

"Time for some racing guys! Drinks for the section on me!"

"Echohoof," he murmured. "Could have picked worse."

She was laughing with a few strangers, the kind of easy charm that drew attention in all the wrong ways on Nar Shaddaa. There weren't many people who flashed those kind of credits down in the stands.

Vetru moved down a few steps through the press of bodies, his coat brushing against the cold metal rails.

"Careful what you flash around here," he said as he reached her row. "The bookies bite, and the teeth aren’t always theirs."

He glanced at the holo-board, the odds shifting like old stock tickers. Vetru had no insight on the races at all, but he could pretend. He was very good at pretending. The worst he could see happening was sharing a few words with a wealthy, fashionable Zeltron.

"Still, if you’re set on throwing money at a long shot, I’ll keep an eye out. Call it professional curiosity. Might have heard a few tips for the next two races."

"Let’s see if your luck’s better than most," he said, flashing her a smile.

 

[Morné Karn]

2 bets accepted - race 1 results in 12 hours real time. Bets still open even if people just want to place a bet without an IC post!

 

[Morné Karn]

Race 1 winner roll

 

[Morné Karn]

---

Final Results — Race 1: The Smuggler's Sprint

Position	Fathier	Odds	Notes
1st	Gravel Ghost	4:1	Clean break, strong mid-run, took the line by half a length.
2nd	Rustfeather	6:1	Closed hard but couldn't catch up in time.
3rd	Jetwhisker	3:1	Early favourite, faded in final stretch.
4th	Blue Sable	7:1	Consistent pace, just off the podium.
5th	Velvet Blight	12:1	Ran better than odds suggested.
6th	Tark's Trouble	10:1	Never found rhythm after turn one.
7th	Spine Dancer	18:1	Struggled, boxed in at the rails.
8th	Echohoof	25:1	Lagged from the start, crowd favourite but disappointing finish.