Star Wars_ Edge of the Empire Rule Book

together against all of the "lesser races." This gam-

bit worked quite well for him, leaving him a major

player in criminal enterprises on the Outer Rim.

Though known to be ruthless and degenerate

among those who serve him (or oppose him), Jabba

the Hutt has gained great success for himself and his

people through coordination and cooperation. He

avoids costly conflicts with competing entities, prefer-

ring a live-and-let-live philosophy. Thus far, this has

worked to keep even Black Sun out of his business,

although he's had to make a few concessions and do

a few favors to maintain that delicate balance.

ACTIVITIES

Virtually no criminal enterprise is beyond the Hutts'

purview, and while they also maintain some legitimate

businesses in the same fashion as Black Sun, there is

little effort to maintain any semblance of being up-

standing members of galactic society. Whether doing

honest business or expanding underworld opportuni-

ties, Hutts take an overt role in what they manage and

they see each enterprise as a power play.

There are very few artisans, crafters, technicians, or

other creators of note or worth in Hutt society. The great-

est of their people are business moguls, brokers, and

crime lords. They bring together the people and the re-

sources to fulfill a need within a given marketplace, and

then they squeeze every credit they can from the opera-

tion. Nothing is respected more among their kind, and

their usual ostentatious displays of decadence are meant

to reinforce their images as masters of wealth and power.

Controlling product flow—and taking percentages

of every transaction in the process—is a major part

of the revenue model for Hutt activities. In addition, a

Hutt's criminal portfolio shows a great deal of effort to

smuggle whatever is desired to wherever he can sell

it, especially illegal items and substances. The spice

trade, especially where ryll is concerned, is one of the

biggest and most widespread endeavors in which the

Hutts are involved. They also happily maintain a brisk

slave trade; their disdain for other races makes it

quite easy for them to see many species as little more

than commodities with useful applications.

Hutts are also well known for making revenge a kind

of cultural pastime; no being can be allowed to wrong a

Hutt and get away with it. Hutts tend to view any such

action as diminishing to the entire species, and any Hutt

that allows himself to be wronged by a lowly human or

other sentient is not worthy of his position. As such,

Hutts will spend exorbitant amounts tracking down and

capturing anyone who deals dirty with them, or fails

them in some particular way. Mere murder is not suffi-

cient; elaborate torture or some form of extreme humili-

ation is required, so that all other beings in the galaxy

understand that they should never cross a Hutt.

LAW AND SOCIETY

EDCE OF THE EMPIRE

DEALING WITH THE HUTTS

Any fringer attempting to find work in the Outer Rim

may ultimately have little choice but to work for a Hutt

at some point. The sluglike aliens are somewhat ubiqui-

tous in most illegal activities. Starting out, most fringers

may be doing jobs for a Hutt and not necessarily know

it. Unlike Black Sun, however, a Hutt won't stay hidden

in the background for long; anyone who proves himself

useful and resourceful will probably be called before

the Hutt he's been working for. The purpose of such a

meeting will be twofold: the Hutt will want to evaluate

this new potential employee for himself, possibly with

an eye toward offering a more permanent position, and

he will want to impress the being called before him with

his power and wealth to establish dominance.

How a fringer handles such a meeting will be a testa-

ment either to his savvy or his bravery, depending on his

tactics. Many Hutts respond well to bravado and confi-

dence, if in varying amounts. If, however, the attitude is

laid on too thick, such an interview can become ugly in

a hurry. Subservience and respect are greatly appreci-

ated, but too much cravenness or toadying can result in

a Hutt's dismissing of the capabilities of the interviewed

entity. In either case, the Hutt fondness for exotic, car-

nivorous beasts and elaborate death traps makes it

worthwhile to ensure that the meeting goes well.

Fringers can find themselves dealing with Hutts in

a few ways:

• Even the lowest agents of a Hutt must sometimes
  be brought in for questions about an operation
  gone wrong. Perhaps the fringers are asked to
  track down and bring such a person in.


• The fringers may have become particularly good
  at something, and word has spread of their deeds.
  The local Hutt wants to interview them, with an
  eye toward bringing them on board whether they
  like it or not.


• Keeping the locals happy can be good for busi-
  ness, as any Hutt running a city or a planet knows.
  Perhaps his best swoop racers are in need of some
  fresh competition, or he needs some new fighters
  for his favorite combat arena. Mildly competent
  outsiders are a great choice for spicing things up.


• This Rebellion might actually be good for busi-
  ness, but no Hutt wants to get involved in actually
  taking sides. The fringers might be asked to make
  contact through back channels, perhaps arrang-
  ing for the Hutt's operation to smuggle guns and
  other resources to them.