Log:Falleen Echoes: The Rise of House Xzehur - Part 2
Great House Intrigue! Game of Thrones in Space! Part Two.
OOC Date: June 12, 2021
Location: Falleen
Participants: Zyrette, Saturi, Sinya'Fan, and Khalim
The Basics: Zyrette and her allies have managed to secure - with assistance from a drunken Falleen House Lord - an introduction to a house that controls a choice asteroid belt mining operation in the Falleen System. They prepare to meet a Lord of this house to make a critical proposal...
Location: A property of House Xad, Falleen Throne, Falleen.
Khalim and Zee have rented a stylish but roomy speeder for the evening. With their Kran representative, the motley crew has assembled. It is made clear that this is an introduction to the person that can make the introduction to the House Matron. That's just how things are done. Less bureaucracy so much and pomp and circumstance. And so much, so much pomp. Despite them only meeting the person that makes the introductions, Zyrette has still asked that everyone dress nicely. Not going to a ball nice. But perhaps that rich cousin's wedding nice. Zyrette herself is in a couture, shimmer silk jumpsuit in a vivid copper. She wears a signet ring that bears her family's crest, and her hair is drawn up in a severe topknot.
The speeder brings them into the neighborhood controlled by the Xan's. Wealth is obvious. Security makes itself known in not do subtle ways. From parks, to boutiques, to town hourses, this is all controlled by the Xans. Dominating the entire several block sprawl, is a large stately 'Town home' equally the size of 4 or 5 of the the 'smaller' ones. This is not where the speeder heads, however. No, your delivers you to a secluded little cul de sac with a lovely little fountain at it's center. Circled around this, shoulder to shoulder is a row of 'modest' little homes. Your destination, is the central house.
Zee files out and waits at the Speeder's fender, as Lord Kran hurries ahead of them, to announce their arrival.
Climbing out after Zyrette, Khalim is in his Mirialan cut suit. Trendy. Stylish. Somewhat Coruscanti-inspired, high necked. Deep grey, deep to near black. Reaching the Falleen woman, the Mirialan's dark brown gaze takes in the homes. Modest for the area, but very nice. Stately. As the Lord of House Kran walks on, Khalim observes to the remaining assemblage, "We know who we are." A small smile to Sinya, and side-long glances to Saturi and Zyrette. That gaze returns to Sinya, along with a newly quirked smile. "Good afternoon, Miss. I'm Kazar Noran, Chief Executive of Ener-See. Mind refreshing my memory as to who you are?" Getting everyone's aliases straight. Very important.
"I suggest that I handle any questions that are related to the technical specifications of our project." Saturi whispers towards Khalim, loud enough for Zyrette and Sinya'Fan to hear as well. Anyone wouldn't likely find her choice of words odd, but the theoretical multi-trillionaire should likely know a thing or two about his own projects, right? "I think we made it clear that we are here to conduct business, but given the state of our friend, he may have used some liberty to arrange for the introduction."
"These communal estates aren't entirely too different from the ones that I remember on Pantora." She tugs at her traditional dress, adjusting it as she exits the vehicle. "I prefer our aesthetic, but I'll stomach my opinions for the sake of politeness whilst we are meeting these nobles."
Sinya didn't leave Ryloth with much, and she never had a lot of use for fancy outfits anyway. She is wearing her best dress, an off-the-shoulder maxi dress, with a white bodice and block colors down the free-flowing skirt, pink and blue. Over this she wears a matching pink bolero with closely-fitted sleeves. An open-toed set of cork wedges and a black clutch complement the unusual outfit. Lastly, a set of silvery bangles rattle along her wrists, topping off the look.
Sinya turns to Khalim and curtseys slightly. "Charmed, thank you Mr. Noran." She straightens and starts to self-consciously pluck at the skirt but stops herself. "I ah I'm Tarna'shan, senior mechanical engineer in lady Saturi's employ." She tries to look around casually at the finery around them, "She was very good to include me, I've never traveled to Falleen."
Zee inclined her head. "I am myself of course. Simply providing the service as intermediary between off world contacts and making sure out strict social niceties are met. And collecting a handsome finder's fee, thank you." She nodded to Saturi, content to let the two women who actually knew technical terms deal with that angle.
After what seemed like several minutes, Zee responded to some internal time clock, and with no indication from their guide or host, headed up the manicured walkway to the front door. Likely one of those Falleen social niceties. A butler droid lead them into a richly appointed vestibule. From there a sitting room. Already making himself at ease with a glass of what was like to be an expensive brandy was Lord Kran. This particular sitting room, bore the trophies from innumerable hunts. Mounted heads of large and fearsome beasts from multiples star systems decorated the walls.
Lord Kran, drank. The butler droid moved from guest to guest, providing refreshments as needed. "Sit, have a drink." Zyrette instructed in those modulated and cultured tones. "This might be a few minutes."
Khalim nods at Sinya's self-description. It fit, as all of their personas did, real or false. Saturi's suggestion that the technical questions be handled by her - possibly with some contribution from Sinya, who wields technical expertise of her own - is met with agreement. "I'm just here to ensure Ener-See is represented and to be assured that our exclusivity contract will be honored, Dr. Kavan." An uptick to dark green lips betrays the smile that attempts to form, but it suppressed.
Zyrette's internal clock shifts the group into movement, and it's not long until they are within that sitting room. There's an attentive, alert glint behind dark brown eyes as he takes in his surroundings. Khalim is completely aware that he is within a Falleen inner sanctum, a lone male accompanied by three women, only one Falleen herself. Zee's instruction is followed, the Mirialan taking a seat and accepting a glass of very expensive and faintly sweet smelling Luranian brandy from an attendant droid. At Zyrette's observation that it may be a few minutes Khalim nods in understanding, "Completely fine."
"Unless there is going to be a problem, I'm going to have to refuse the drink." Saturi spins about the waiting room, scanning over the walls with her golden gaze. "I always make business arrangements while sober." She saunters about in front of everyone. "It helps keep my mind clear and ensures that my position isn't being taken advantage off." Her focus shifts towards the droid, looking to it for approval.
Choosing a local wine for herself, Sinya takes the offerred seat. She watches Saturi peruse the gathere trophies, swallowing a dry throat before the fluted glass is delivered. "Wine" on the planet is a little different than she expected, but after taking a taste of the orange beverage, she seems pleased enough. "That of course makes sense..." she offers to Saturi, "For my part, I don't think I'll ever have another opportunity to sample it." She looks to Zyrette, opens her mouth, and shuts it. After a moment of internal wrestling, she does ask, "Is there any protocol for when our host arrives? Stand? Bow? Wait to be spoken to first?"
Zyrette shook her head at Saturi, hopefully indicating a refusal was fine. The Butler Droid, programmed to ensure the comfort of guests, listed non alcoholic alternatives that were available, should the Miss wish. It did not press though.
Zee took a sparkling water, a habit picked up from a contact on Nar Shaddaa. She took a seat near Khalim. In a culture dominated by it's own self importance, as well as an obsession with bloodlines, a lone male in the company of three women, could only be interpreted two ways: Either Khalim was at the beck and call of one of the ladies present, or... He was one lucky fella.
As Saturi perused the wall, Zee glanced at Sinya. No, no bowing. You are off worlders and our host is not... He's of an equal station to myself and Lord Kran. Kran will introduce me, likely in Falleen, and then I in turn will introduce you each. A nod of the head is fine, however."
The walls and shelves were lined with trophies. From a stuffed lothcat in full stalking pose, to a wall entirely dedicated to a mounted Drexl head. Some of the other heads included a Wompa, and even an Anooba. Many of the trophies looked quite aged, likely family heirlooms. All were well taken care of however, and dusted daily.
Sipping from that glass of brandy, Khalim understands enough of Falleen societ niceties at this point - though far from an expert - to understand that patience was the name of this game. A species known to live four, sometimes five hundred years valued taking their sweet time on occasion, especially during what could be delicate social interactions.
Saturi's question, and both Zyrette's and the droid's responses, have him glancing down at his own drink. Perhaps they had been the wiser. But Sinya's glass of that orange Falleen wine brings him back around. A small smile is sent her way between sips, comrades in distilled adventure. As they wait the Mirialan's gaze can't help but be drawn to the ostentatious displays of hunting prowess arranged throughout the chamber. Real hunts too, there were some beasts on display that would give many a seasoned big game hunter cold sweats.
The Pantoran's facial expression stiffens with a poorly hidden irritation. "Off-worlders or not, I have every intention of being treated with the respect I am entitled to." Something has clearly rubbed her the wrong way. "My people just overcame the struggles of this government's structure." She crosses her arms with discomfort, seeming to want to continue her soapbox for the moment, albeit hushed so that only private company can hear. "Pantora is a beacon of democracy in the outer-rim. I will not be treated as an outsider. If they're not able to acknowledge the quality of the product that we intend to sell them, they don't deserve it." Saturi is making it difficult to tell where her personality starts and ends. Is this a bit? Is she serious? Hard telling. "Our company has hundreds of other systems interested in our revolutionary energy harvesting system."
Sinya meets Khalim's glance with a sardonic, somewhat strained smile and nods. However, as Saturi speaks... well, rants, almost, she looks profoudnly uncomfortable. "I mean, that's true, ma'am, but no harm in hearing them out?" She stands and crosses to the blue-ing woman. "Yeah I mean it's some time but by their standards they /are/ being polite?" HEr tone is light but she locks eyes, wide and concerned, on Saturis.
As Saturi began her ... dissertation, Zyrette tried to mediate it with a quick the head. Falleen did think they were superior to non Falleen. It was perhaps a ground in national anthem that Zyrette herself did not seem to share, but it was a fact. Lord Kran, even into his cups as he was, started to puff his chest, and prepare a heated retort. However, the the arrival of their host prevented such debates. Despite the wait of a good ten or so minutes. A Falleen male, still easily in his prime. With a species as long lived as Falleen, especially given their reptilian physiology, likely made age difficult to determine to none Falleen. Dressed in handsomely in rich fabrics he stood well over 5 feet tall, with a powerful but sleek build. Zyrette and Kran both stood, though slowly, at their leisure. What then proceeded was a somewhat intense exchange. There was no overt posturing of dominance, but a more subtle echange. Body posture shifted, glances were held. Even a sudden scintillation of scales. Finally, then spoke with Kran introducing Zyrette. Some gestures, after all were galactic, a motion of hand, an incline of head.. They spoke though in the sinuous, syllabant Falleen language.
At it's conclusion however, Zyrette stepped back to indicate the Off-worlders she was here to facilitate. First of course, was the multi-trillionaire. "May I present Master Kazar Noran, Chief Executive of Ener-See. Dr. Saturi Kavan CEO of Kavan Unlimited Industries, an her associate Tarna'shan, senior mechanical engineer of Kavan Unlimited Industries.
Saturi's diatribe draws Khalim's sharp attention. He follows the thread of her protestations and... to his growing alarm isn't certain whether or not this is a part being played. Sinya's rise and cross to engage with her stalls his own. The Mirialan looks to Zyrette, searching her face for indications of what kind of spin this may be throwing on the meeting in general. He thinks back to their interaction with Lord Kran... 'You are graced by our presence and should be honoured by our request...'
This was a bit, or at least mostly a bit. That is Khalim's determination. And Saturi had a mind for these things. He'd seen her. She was a chameleon.
The Mirialan rises and softly leans in to her display. "Ms. Kavan is unused to waiting, as am I. We understand cultural differences, but trillions, possibly quadrillions of credits should be treated with respect." Money. Lean in on the money. His voice softly projects, voicing Saturi's objections from the opposite end of the emotional scale. Khalim sends Zee a side-long glance, holding her amber gaze for a moment. Telegraphing, he hopes. She knows him well.
The arrival of their host changes the dynamic, and Khalim simply observes as posturing and counter-posturing ensues. When Zyrette begins formal introductions Khalim inclines his head in a respectful but not quite deferential gesture. "A pleasure," he offers, "on behalf of Ener-See I am pleased to be meeting with you."
There isn't the typical bow in respect from Saturi. What she doesn't verbalize is that she doesn't feel inclined to greet them anyway. As her own persona mixes with the caricature she wants to project, her body language becomes somewhat aggressive. She lets her gaze slide between each member of the party, friendly and unfriendly. Her stiffened expression is washed away as she speaks. "Doctor." The correction is cued right between Khalim's words. The snooty tone is a level of camp one can only expect from an actor. Nobody would be so legitimately obtuse in the presence of guests, right?
Sinya's shoulders slack as the tension releases. Even the ripple from the title correction passes by, though she is completely unaware of the Falleen positioning ritual the assembled group is performing.
She slides a lekku up over her shoulde and turns to greet their hosts when introduced with a bow like she might give to Saturi. She's surprised when the normally punctilious woman does not follow suit. Remembering she is an employee in this scenario, she keeps her peace and merely smiles and nods when introducted. "Most gracious of you to meet with us, thank you." She offers softly enough her words could be overlooked.
Zee, for her part, has no idea what angle Saturi is playing. She manages to keep her expression politely bland however, amber gaze shifts from Saturi, to Khalim and back again. Sinya, for her part, earns a slight tip of the brow from the Faleen woman. Was it in thanks? Appreciation for the balm the Twi-leki provided?
Lord Zad, for his part, barely noticed Mr. Kazar Noran or Ms. Tarna'shan. No, his piercingly blue eyes seem only focused on Saturi. Her aggressive stance is met with a a cool stare. When Zad speaks it with the low undulating purr of a silken baritone. "Dr. Kavan..." He begins, his tone as dispassionate as Zyrette's ever is. "You seem, displeased. Do you find my hospitality lacking in some way? Did my Butler not supply refreshments and comforts as I allowed you into my home?" His own scales continued scintillate. While mostly a dark greyish green, as he spoke, a rosier hue spread along his jaw and throat.
Khalim catches Zee's look, and there's a hint of danger hidden behind his dark brown gaze, but he doesn't know any better than she exactly where this is going or how it is getting there. Saturi's acting... well, he trusts that she has a direction she is taking this small confrontation. And he he knows that as a non-Falleen male, Chief Executive of Ener-See or no, this is not a scenario he can fix without in some way making it worse. He instead attempts to the cooling of the situation by relaxing himself. He intentionally breathes in a deep, even pattern. Though not personally addressed, and Khalim uncertain if his introduction was even particularly noticed, the Mirialan offers an even, "Your serving droid has an excellent brandy selection. Including a maker I've heard of but never tried, until today. You have my appreciation for the experience." Cool. Even. Calm.
The Pantoran is a clear contrast to Khalim's levelheaded approach. Generally speaking, this would be her own, but her position is also typically backed up with a legitimate product. She allows for the 'CEO' to finish before trying to respond. In these split seconds, she decides to double down on her behavior, preferring that the Falleen would put more focus onto her pompous attitude rather than want to dive into specifics.
"Your home and comforts are quite lovely." Saturi's voice sounds like venom. "I am not generally kept waiting, and as my associate has stressed, we represent interests with more credits than the average sentinet is capable of comprehending." Her body goes rigid. "And unlike your superior biological design..." The tone switches from irritation to exhaustion. "...I only live to be a few decades old."
"In the best interest of both of our purses, both of our clients, and my meager lifespan, I would appreciate if we could skip the pleasantries and get right into our proposal."
Finally it begins to sink into Sinya that Saturi's behavior is a deliberate act. She has no idea /why/ this is, but she decides to mirror the behavior. Her smile is pained, looking between Lord Zad and Saturi. "Doctor, yes, I mean it's unfortunate certainly, but..." she waves to Lord Zad. "Our good host has been able to join us and I'm sure e'll cut to the heart of the matter, hmm?" She smiles and again bows, conciliatory, to Lord Zad. "Our apologies for any concern, my Lord."
Zee was starting to see the tactics behind Saturi's strategy. She wasn't sure yet if it would be a successful one, but, the Falleen could definitely see the logic. She decided to let it play out and held her peace. Saturi, unlike most of their mutual 'associates' tended to have an approach more in line with her own. And so she allowed things to proceed.
Lord Zad, finally let his gace shift beyond Saturi, to take in Khalim, and Sinya. "Your associates seem to have a cooler ire than yourself. And, perhaps a better understanding of civility?" Zad's attention returns to Saturi taking in her golden gaze and cyanic skin. "I thought the children of .. Pantora? Hand a better understanding of decorum and tradition. I'm sorry if you find our own courtesies to be to distasteful. Though I suppose you are right. Perhaps it is the youth of your species.." He says, almost dismissively, were his tone weren't so bereft of inflection. He takes a seat in a nerf leather arm chair, and regards Saturi as the butler droid provides him with a drink. "Tell me your proposal, and I shall determine if it is worth the consideration by the matron of House Zad."
Khalim follows this exchange with carefully concealed concern, remaining as loosely relaxed as he is capable. Which it appears is, perhaps, just enough to convince this Lord of House Zad that he is just that: relaxed. Khalim is, of course, very much not.
There's that moment, that shift as Saturi's request is acquiesced to, and the Mirialan moves to claim a seat. He leaves the chair opposite the Falleen Lord available for Saturi, assuming she will be the centerpiece of this particular contact, though he will naturally be sitting aside whoever chooses the spot. Khalim remains silent for the moment, leaving these initial bits of negotiation to Saturi and Zyrette. He'll contribute when it's clear his contribution is necessary.
"Our consortium is offering services for a feat of modern engineering." Saturi allows for the casual insults to her civility to roll past her. She isn't phased and has exactly what she wants, the ability to describe what they need. "Ener-see is a corporation that designs and constructs energy harvesting stations that orbit suitable system stars."
"These generators, when used properly, can alleviate the need for traditional surface generation. They offset the cost of energy production by a factor of fifty, but require an upfront investment." Her hand makes a motion to Khalim. "You should appreciate that we're even here to discuss this with you. Ener-see has already entered into agreements with twenty other planetary governments, all of which have access to a much larger deeper purses than your own." She approaches Zad carefully, making certain to stay out of clawing distance. "Our other prospective clients are fighting for the opportunity, but due to this system's proximity to important trade routes, we decided to allow you to consider it first."
"My company, my own interests, are served because my asteroid mining corporation supplies all of the material cost required for the project." A blue finger points directly at the Falleen before her. "Your interest, the ability to profit off this, is represented in your ownership of the mining rights to nearby asteroid belts."
"Simply put, you own the rocks, Kavan Industries Unlimted mines the rocks, and Ener-see builds the stations." The Pantoran snickers to herself, a sly grin manifesting. "But here is the catch, before we continue, we need to be able to assess the viability of the project by performing intensive work in your asteroid belts." A dismissive gesture is made. "My company is responsible for the survey and Ener-see is going to pay for the study to be conducted. You lose nothing, but stand to gain much."
Sinya is still halway sitting and standing when Saturi finishes her speech. As if released from a spell, she finishes lowering into her chair and closes her agape mouth. She seems slightly in awe of the... aggressive and businesslike proposal. If they were her rocks she'd be leaping at the chance to give the mineral rights, and she /knows/ there's something fishy!
Zee for her part, manages to keep her Sebaac face as cooly detached as she has been previously. Internally she's rather impressed by the scam the other woman has designed. She lets her gaze shift towards their host, to weigh his reaction.
Sadly. All Lord Zad seems to hear, is that Saturi is a Alderaan Prince with beach front property on Tatooine she needs to sell. Zad's tapered, talon tipped fingers slowly circle the crystal brandy sniffer balanced on the arm of his charm. "Really. That's all we need to do?" He asks dryly. "For this enriching opportunity? Well, I am glad you have so many other prospective clients line up..." Is he starting to end the meeting. Is there nothing our heroes can do to salvage the situation?
Khalim listens with a growing awareness that Saturi's story is not being fully caught, ingested, and believed by this Lord of House Xad. The Mirialan sits, motionless, caught in a slow-moving grav-train wreck.
He speaks. "We hold many of he cards, Lord Xad. But not all of them." Khalim regards the Falleen male opposite him and draws upon every micro-memory of Falleen interaction Zyrette has exposed and introduced him to the past year. He continues.
"Ener-See answers to its shareholders. It's shareholders demand value. Unfortunately for us several members of the board have been... hostile... to the expenses this project is likely to incur up front." Dark green lips compress, as he internally processes and organizes his faux diplomatic correction. "The card you hold, Lord Xad, is your system's stellar makeup. Right now we are orbiting a Krill... K... class star. But not just an ordinary K-class star. One with perhaps the most perfect energy emission spectrum in this part of the mid-rim." Khalim settles into his chair, seeming to struggle with what he's about to say. "This is non-public information I'm sharing with you. Our interest in this system is, in part, the immediate profitability full-scale operation would see, and a reduction in our survey costs because we already know how our system will interact with your star."
Khalim looks to Saturi, then back to the Falleen Lord. "We hold the cards that represent this opportunity for everyone to make vast sums of credits. You hold the card that represents Ener-See's ability to withstand a board revolt if we choose to look elsewhere. Or are forced to look elsewhere. So... do you want to be the wealthiest house on Falleen, or not?"
This is the part where Saturi chooses to shut up. The woman takes a step back from the Falleen, quietly seething at the dismissive nature of the Lord. She shakes her head back and forth, trying to hide as much of her irritation as possible. Her eyes trace Khalim as he goes on about the system's star. She privately worries if the lie is becoming to bloated to handle. The golden gaze flicks to the exit, wondering what her exit strategy is.
Zee too was beginning to worry. While, Khalim was spinning a conceivable and believe able plan they actually had no documentation to support most of these claims. Though they smile a pretty tale it was gossamer and thin.
Whatever the case was however, this particular lord of Xad seemed to be eating it up with a spoon. Fingers steepled, nodding as his hazed glance seems unfocused n the present. Finally he stood and look at his plam . "Very well. Draw up a written plan and I shall see that the Matron of Xad gets it, and reads it."
Saturi's agitation is clear, and while the Lord of Xad seems preoccupied with the additional bit of tale he'd just spun, Khalim feels this is the extent of the victory they'd hoped to achieve here today. "Kavan Unlimited Industries should have a plan ready to be delivered, for your Matron's review and approval. We'll ensure it is delivered promptly." With that Khalim rises. "We appreciate your hospitality, and your willingness to hear us out. We hope everyone in this room is able to financially benefit from Ener-See's technology." A glance to Zyrette and Sinya signals they are concluded, with perhaps any last guidance from Zee. Khalim reaches for Saturi's shoulder, a simple press signaling to the alarmed woman that things are OK, and with that - and with final attention back to Zee, aware to avoid any last minute social accidents - he moves to depart.
Saturi waits for Khalim to finish up with his speech before scooting closer to him and Zee. She whispers to the bar, covering her mouth with a free hand. "We need to seriously rethink this strategy." The woman shoots a scouting glance to Lord Xad. "They're not buying it as much as I would prefer. We should explore other options before committing to this." Her hand is dropped back down to her side, ceasing to conceal her mouth.
Zee nodded a small, imperceptible gesture at Saturi's observation. If Zee's family's name got attached to some sort of flim flam, it would be counter productive to their goals. She started to usher ever one out, and thanks the Lords Cad and Kran for extending them their time and consideration. And then it was back into the rented space Lexus, and back to the star port. Hopefully to re-evaluate their plan.
