Log:The Red Death: Part Two

The Red Death: Part Two

OOC Date: January 11, 2021
Location: Serenno
Participants: Ax, Nerys Greystorm, Sesti Greystorm, Tharyn Corlas, Shivan and Kuolo

Two seats were empty. A third seat, House Demici, was shimmering in a hazy blue glow of holoprotection. Only Borgin and Malvern were there in person. House Malvern was lead by an aging man, with sharp, chocolate-colored eyes and a kind of sharp bearing. Despite his age, he sat straight as a board in his seat, impunitively staring down at what, on the record, had been simply a First Order officer. Malvern didn't want them here, and it showed.

House Borgin was headed by a young woman of about seventeen. She had been groomed for the role the entirety of her life, and had been the voice that swung the vote towards allowing these individuals to do the will of the banking clan on Serenno's soil. The motion passed three to one in favor of the Banking Clan. She was relaxed, and attended by a handmaiden who constantly saw her cup filled, and she nibbled at various small hand foods nearly the entire assembly.

House Demici was new, only recently elevated above another House to take prominance--In many ways at the cost of House Dooku's unprotected holdings. The elder woman was gaunt, with thick, ebony-colored hair that sank straight to the floor without so much as a subtle bend. Hooded eyes watched the proceedings happily.

The empty seats were those of House Dooku, lacking in leadership or an heir to assume control, and House Compressi, whose lesser house had been ransacked by the defendants only days before. Though she had voted in favor of allowing them to do their work, she was presumably hedging her bets, and rumors amongst the crowd were that she feared Kuolo.

"If I may remind the honored councilors," Kuolo speaks, his voice a measured tone that had been practiced for atypical diplomacy. THe ice, the rimed words, they were there, veiled by polite honorific. Maybe he would have been a better noble than anyone thought. "Our actions in finding this Law Breaker were ratified by your own hands. My men were given the authority to recover what was stolen from my clients. To summon me now that your own people lead a coordinated attack against us is equally as backhanded as the attack itself," Kuolo says, speaking into the projector from his position at a lectern on the floor. He was forced to look upwards towards them, something he hated them for. But, to those sensitive in the Force, Kuolo was cold and lacking. It was a void. It swallowed any attempt to reach for it in the Force, devouring it.

He has misgivings about barging into a legal procedure. Against people whose arses he could not easy hand to them, if at all. But Tharyn Corlas works at the behest of Representative Greystorm, and that requires...well. Representing. And he does, approaching the ancient doors to that hallowed hall, and - given the smoothness of hinges and the lack of strength required to do so - opens the great portals without ceremony or announcement. The appearance of the august lady behind him is announcement enough. And so Tharyn, dressed in tan and black and olive drab, unarmed despite his martial costume, paves the way before stepping aside to allow Sesti entrance.

As the door to the closed chambers were opened, a second figure strode through the gap between the doors, a second, slightly more diminutive figure made her way inside. As soon as she was clear of the door, she stepped to the side, to make way for the woman behind her, her voice broke over the room, her tones mellifluous, regal, bearing some hint of the inner worlds, perhaps Corellia.

"The Iridonian Representative of the New Republic Senate."

Shivan's masked form is in a higher place, like a little goblin hiding in the shadows and waiting to drop down like a spider. She'd found herself a nice little spot to lurk and watch the proceedings as Kuolo could handle his own in the realms of legal processes and she was still very new to worlds. Plus she was a finder, not a talker. Her gloved hands are clasped lightly in front of her as she watches from her little balcony view. By her side is an older human woman with silvery hair and blue eyes dressed in grey and white, "Harrow attacked one of the troopers again. I think we should get him out more for some enrichment, my Lady." the woman offers to the shorter masked one. "We might need to get everyone out for some enrichment. Harrow likes his food still moving sometimes...and some of the troopers act like prey." she muses to her wrangler quietly so they don't interrupt the proceedings below.

Taking a moment as Tharyn opens the doors, and letting Nerys announce her, Sesti lets out a breath and wears her calmest battle face. The lack of emotion on her features renders a slightly added fierceness to the jotai that mark her face. She floats calmly into the chamber, her ornamental cane that Jax gave her for her first day on the Senate floor held lightly in her right hand. "Dr. Sesti Greystorm of the New Republic Senate," she adds to the introduction when she has reached a position to the side of Kuolo but at a prudent distance from the Sith. She turns to give Kuolo's presence recognition, but she does not risk meeting his eyes. She is not center of the attention, but she has situated herself to be clearly seen as she bows her head respectfully to the elders. "The New Republic requests permission to speak on behalf of the townspeople through eyewitness testimony brought to our attention."

Standing aside the lecturn, Chesille Sabrond holds stiff. The native from Exegol has been acting as Kuolo's shadow throughout the proceedings. She speaks very little and moves even less. If it weren't for her darting eyes, one might mistake the woman for a statue. Narrowed pupils glare up at the projector. The captain's trademark blank expression and her reputation as a butcher truly help supplement her unassuming figure.

The model officer breaks from her rigid posture to whisper at one of her accompanying aides. Her focus shifts to the door as the representative from the Republic is announced. The woman's flat face furrows into a nasty scowl. A 'warm' welcome for anyone that looks her direction.

~

Ax had tried melding in with the crowd of civilians assembled to hear the leaders of the assembled houses speak. Being Echani, however, he had to do a bit of work to look more human. Nothing a bit of makeup and some temporary hair dye can't fix, along with shaded glasses. It would pass at least cursory observation hopefully. Ax wasn't with the Republic senator, having arrived a bit before her thanks to a faster ship. What he could do, he didn't know, but he could at least keep some kind of observation from afar, and should the poodoo hit the fan, he could at least offer some assistance and a getaway he hoped. Of course, he hoped more that it wouldn't come to that.

~

Malvern's eyes regard Kuolo as he speaks, sharply trying to look through the man. "This inquiry is to ascertain the reasoning behind Citizens of Serenno now lying dead, individuals who had nothing to do with the Banking Clan or your dealings, Kuolo," Malvern offers in retort. He offered no honorific to Kuolo, as the others had begun to take on calling him Lord. It was another measured attack on Kuolo's legitimacy on Serenno at all. When Sesti and her entourage come in, the man studies them all. He didn't expect the New Republic. Before he could respond, Kuolo is objecting.

"Those men attacked us. Are we to blame for every attempted barfight on Serenno, too?" He says quickly, before glancing sidelong towards the arrivals. His lips pressed thinly together. "I don't recall the New Republic having anything to do with the business of Serenno. I must object to their inclusion in dealings that are already underway," he insists.

It was Borgin that spoke then, pausing long enough to put aside her piece of cheese and drink. "It is the Great Houses of Serenno that will order what is and isn't the business of Serenno, Lord Kuolo. If it pleases you and your clients, we will hear what it is they have to say," she offers.

In a measured way, Kuolo retreats from agressing on the issue, chosing instead to bite his tongue, as he glances towards Sesti.

Behind Sesti and her other wing, Tharyn smoothly closes the doors behind them before standing next to Sesti in a classic guard's position, a step behind her. Hands tucked behind his back. Gray eyes that rarely blink sweep over the assembled faces. His job.

The announcement having been made, and entry into the chambers having ben achieved, Nerys moved to flank Sesti, her positioned mirroring Tharyn as he stood opposite her, the Representative between them. She had done what has been prescribed for her to do. Now, it was the time for politics.

Shivan's attention is drawn back to the proceedings once the Representative arrives. There is a cursory glance given over those that accompany them, but she isn't taking notes on anyone. Not her job for the moment. Nara whispers something to her and she dips her head in a nod of agreement with whatever the woman said. She then lets those yellow eyes of hers scan over the council that is assembled, listening to what each has to say.

Sesti inclines her head in gratitude to the 'Elder' of Borgin, and addresses those gathered. "Kuolo has stated that the honored councilors gave them permission to apprehend the law breaker, and what belongs to the Banking Clan. I understand there is concern among the civilians that the troopers were taking more than what belongs to the Banking Clan. Does Kuolo have an inventory of the items stolen from the Banking Clan to prove his claim to said items?"

Chesille's attention is drawn back towards the lectern. She watches silently as Kuolo's objections are whisked away by the Serennian nobles. Her scorn for the proceeding only intensifies with the appearance of the other delegation. The officer leans over to her aide once more. They quietly converse about something that seems important. Their brief interaction comes to a close as the aide-de-camp turns to leave the floor.

Captain Sabrond uses Sesti's dialogue as an opportunity to step up to the lectern herself. She eyes the Republic representative before tilting her head to murmur something to Kuolo. By the look of it, it's nothing more than a piece of advice.

~

Ax watches the proceedings, still sitting amongst the local populace. There's nothing for him to do, at least not right now. There's always the book he stole from Kuolo and crew, tucked safely in the inner pocket of his tunic, if it came down to needing a bargaining chip, but he hoped he wouldn't need it. The Echani just stands quietly for the moment, watching, listening, letting his senses reach out amongst the crowd.

~

Malvern relaxes visibly as Sesti speaks, seemingly pleased by her opposition to Kuolo. Demici's elder, the woman, leans forward to observe. The room was split, and it was palpably evident. The neutral House Borgin could lean either way, and the power struggle between Malvern and Demici was becoming obvious. Demici says nothing, yet, and the eyes shift to Kuolo in anticipation.

With his head bowed slightly, to listen to Sabrond, a hand rises to his lapel, blocking the transmitter for a moment as he mouths something to her. Then, his hand retreats. "The ratified document states that we are authorized as Marshals of the banking clan to acquire any assets being withheld from the rightful owners, the banking clan. As the assets in question are the wealth of this lesser house," Kuolo offers in retort, "It seems unnecessary to individually account for them. Our client is being stolen from--The results of those illegitimate purchases are merely a recoupment of losses." He softens visibly for a moment himself, before offering a raising of his hand towards the Representatives. "We have this authorization under Law voted upon by the respected members of their houses here. We were carrying out our responsibility to our clients, legally, when Serenno citizens openly attacked us. These representatives do not represent any governing body of authority on Serenno. Am I to dance because they ask it, as well?" Kuolo asks, rhetorically.

Kuolo whispers, to Sabrond, "Even lixfla strai make it url of vrimbyag, our scris iou are ninushwodzakut scru isholp cwuq as purl shyamiiz thriqo strya."

Tharym waits, watching the crowd. The conversation is heard, oh yes, not missed at all, but his attention is trained on any sign of aggression that might spark up amongst the nobles or the Sith. Not that he can do much more than try and punch them to death, but...

Sesti remains relaxed as she listens to Kuolo. She notices the divide and maintains her equanamity. "Curious, when the houses voted on whether or not to allow this search and seizure, were they aware that certain belongings of Count Dooku were among the items deemed to be property of the Banking Clan?" She has set the butt of her cane down on the ground, and lightly placed her hands one over the other on top of it. Her demeanor is calm, as if the dropping of the idea of the Sith stealing from the planet's beloved Count were merely an inquiry on the weather. She stands still as a statue, her head moving slightly to keep the leaders of the houses in sight, to gauge the responses. The fact that she isn't looking around the rest of the room shows her confidence in her bodyguards.

Nerys remained standing where she had set herself, her expression mild, not disinterested, but vague in that way of people whose position it was to be seen as little as possible when presence was not required. Such was the goal of all good guards. Her eyes focused on some distant point on the opposite wall, moving only the smallest fraction as words were bandied about.

Sabrond does her best to try to interpret Kuolo's 'experimental' dialect. Even the officer's stoic discipline isn't enough to prevent a bewildered expression from appearing on her face. "What?" She returns with confusion. Her initial reactions quickly subside once she is able to process what she believes the man was trying to say. "You're going to have to say that again. Slower this time." The woman's glare is cold. She appears irritated with the diplomat.

~

At the mention of Count Dooku's possessions, he's tempted to cringe but manages to keep from doing so. Well, at least if Ax's bit of history into the Jedi had any relevance. Granted, history of that time period had a tendency to be corrupt if not all out false. Palpatine had a flair for turning tables after all.

~

For a moment, Demici's elder squints at Sesti carefully. Malvern was intrigued as well, and, the question seemed, for the moment, to shift favor in her direction. Malvern adds onto her claim. "Surely the First Order cannot be targeting the relics of one of our sacred and ancient houses?" He says, in question, but only just. It was as much an accusation as Sesti's claim was.

"Once again the esteemed representatives of no one beg an unanswerable question: as we had no knowledge of what possessions this defector had, we cannot be sure what is and isn't known by the esteemed and gathered Houses. We do not presume to know the wisdom of their decision, only the legality of it," Kuolo offers, before glancing sidelong to Sabrond a moment. This time his words are in basic. Mouthed, to her, "My tutor became afraid of Shiv." He says. Then, his eyes are back to the room.

No, certainly not. Why would a group of /dark Jedi/ want the /personal possessions/ of the Jedi-turned-leader of the old secessionist movement? That fought against the Jedi? Tharyn's mouth, it would hang open in false shock at such 'baseless' allegations. Good thing he's a professional. And...well. Isn't that well-heeled in history. He maintains overwatch, instead.

Nerys's gaze drifted, taking in the room, the people on her level, what she could see of the holoprojectors, but she made only the smallest shift of her gaze, her head remaining focused ahead, settling momentarily on the Sith delegation, before she drifted away again.

It's clear that a troubled thought runs through Sabrond's head. Her eyes glance up to the observers above, looking for someone specific. The captain's face turns back into a blank slate of expression. She lets out a huff of air through her nostrils. "I suggest finding another teacher. One with confidence." With that, the officer takes a step back away from the dais, leaving Kuolo to handle the debate. It's time to resume being a shadow.

~

There's temptation to get involved, but anytime Ax gets involved in anything political, things go bad. He had the manuscript, penned by Dooku's hands, in his possession. It would be so easy to show those gathered just what the Sith were after. Of course, he was outnumbered significantly here, and it was just a bad idea in general. No, better for Ax to just keep his trap shut, at least for now.

~

"Of course the First Order would not directly target relics of one of Serenno's most esteemed house," Sesti replies smoothly in just about the same exact tone as Malvern's. "But perhaps, if they were more alert as to what they were attempting to take, they would not have been attacked. In this case, the citizens of Serenno were only attempting to protect their cultural treasures. In this case, it appears that the First Order should have paid more attention to what they had claimed as their bandit's forfeit, and the attack of the civilians was justified, in protection of artifacts connected to Count Dooku."

"And yet," Kuolo offers, "There is no evidence of any such items or relics being taken by us. These claims are attempts to villify the legal actions we have undertaken on behalf of our clients." Kuolo appeals to the others, who seem torn on the foundation of the argument. Kuolo continues after a moment, "Without any such evidence, I must insist the floor be closed to bad faith arguments meant only to paint our very legal actions in a poor light. Everything we did was in accordance with the laws ratified by these Houses."

Malvern seems taken aback, and says nothing. Demici, in her leaning forward, chimes in for the first time. "Such a curious thing, and claims to make. What evidence can the representatives present to support this claim?" She asks, steepling her fingers together. Borgin has paused in her nibbling on a piece of a cracker to study the going-ons as well. Malvern's quiet could be felt in the room, with the balance shifting away from the accused and towards the accuser.

It's a good game the Representative is talking, a very good game indeed - but as sure as Tharyn stands there listening he can't help but remember a thousand cases just like it that he witnessed, nay, adjudicated himself back home. The intricacies of the legal canon here are foreign to him, but the general spirit is well known: nobody likes the repo man if he's coming from another town, much less another planet. Folks tend to tolerate that which feeds back into their own coffers.

Especially if people died over it. Their own.

Then Kuolo floats the noose out. Tharyn winces internally, hoping that Sesti doesn't stick her head in. But she's shown herself as crafty so far...

Nerys, as silent now as she had been since she took up her position within the room, maintained that silent vigilance within the room, marking the Sith contingent, their expressions, their whispered communications. Such was the way of these things, but they were as much something to be seen, observed, remembered regardless.

Shivan gives a look out over those that are gathered and there's a shake of her head. Nara gives a data pad over to the robed and masked woman. The yellow eyes look over it and there is a dip of her head, "The Moff will be interested in those." she tells the older woman softly. Then she's leaning against the wall as she listens to people below speak. Nara reaches out to pinch her arm gently, "We don't slouch, my Lady." she murmurs. Shivan straightens with a good natured grump towards her caretaker after that.

"Manuscripts in Count Dooku's own hand were recovered from the scene. They are currently in safe keeping, as the secondary purpose of my mission is to ascertain to which of the Count's heirs they should be turned over for better safe keeping in the future so that such blood will not be shed again." She lifts her hands palms up to the council, indicating her good will to hand them over. "As no one has currently stepped in to lead the house of Dooku since the untimely death of the last House Leader, we are not sure as to whom these relics should be handed over. We have great respect for the Families of Serenno and believe that they should have their cultural heritage returned to them. As such, we will abide by the decision made by the council as to their disposition."

~

Dammit. Now they want evidence, and the only evidence Ax has he didn't come by legitimately. Still though, the disguised Echani moves slowly through the crowd to get closer to where the Republic 'delegation' was. He wasn't trying to draw attention yet, but should the need arise, he wanted to be closer to those he considered friends and family.

When Sesti mentions turning the manuscript over, Ax quirks a brow for a second and takes a breath, but it made sense. He just didn't want them falling into the wrong hands, and in his mind, Kuolo, Malik Ren, Kylo Ren, Rey... those were the wrong hands. Hell, on his ship was the speeder and the other possessions they stole.

~

Kuolo could have smiled, if he wasn't a monster. There is the slightest upturn of his lip, curled just so. "Allow us to enter into evidence the only matter of substance at hand, that the government who represents nobody present has claimed relics I 'intended' to steal were stolen instead by them," he says, raising a hand towards the Representative party. "Manuscripts of House Dooku were never collected or catalogued by my people. These individuals have presented their own possession of these items as evidence of our intent to possess them?" The hand falls. "I must again insist that these bad faith arguments must be ceased. Even if the manuscript were intended to remain in the hands of House Dooku, we would have no knowledge of its cultural signifigance, as we never obtained it," he explains, as he steps down from the lecturn onto the floor. There are House Guards near by, and they start to look uneasy. Their hands stiffen a bit on their weapons. "The claims made here are that we intended to steal artifacts deemed culturally important to Serenno. The evidence presented is thus: that the representatives here happen to have something we may never have even possessed? On that argument alone, they are guilty of the very thing they claim against us. Then, they take solace in the promise that they intended to return them all along, something to which they will not afford their accused?" Kuolo pauses, turning to eye Sesti headon. His eyes were piercing, a soft cerulean the color of arctic ice. He may be missing the robes and the mask, but the face before them wasn't soft or innocent--It was that of a predator. "Shaky arguments, indeed," he says, just above a whisper.

Malvern took this the hardest, as Demici began to rally around the baselessness of the accusations. Borgin was quick to side with her, and Malvern had a defeated look on his face. "Need I remind the floor that while we argue over what may have been done, people of Serenno now lay dead. An inquiry must be made to determine who, or why, these individuals saw fit to attack the First Order," he says, leaning forward again, "Or why they felt threatened enough to attack the First Order..." he says, warily, as if warning Kuolo that 'this wasn't finished'.

And alas, she stuck her head in anyway. Tharyn heaves a deep internal sigh as Kuolo leaps to the fore. But hearing this, Tharyn closes his eyes, taking a deep breath. Hopes that she sees the way to get her head back out again.

Nerys' gaze sharpened, looking first to the guards, as they shifted in place, and then to the Sith representative as he moved from lectern to floor, tracking his movements as he made his argument. She carried no visible weapons, and made no aggressive moves herself, she simply waited.

The claim from Kuolo does not seen to surprise the Iridonian Representative, nor does his whisper shake her. Sesti turns her other palm up, leaning her cane against her thigh as the small holo projector she has strapped into her wrappings. A speeder springs up, and next to it, the bill of lading that shows it was rented by the First Order. "Kuolo is correct, it is not listed in the things that he and his people did not obtain," she agrees with the Sith mildly. "The manuscript, as well as the rest of the things in this speeder that was rented by the First Order and loaded by them, then stolen during the violence would not have made it to his people to be recorded. Perhaps it was pure luck that the people who intervened managed to get the speeder that held the relic of which we speak, or perhaps not. Consider this. The people did not attack the First Order when they were going around to other places and removing valuables. It was only when they were taking from this home that the people reacted." She manipulates the image to close up on some of the other things in the speeder, then back. She looks to the council again. "If there was nothing different from this particular raid, then what reason would the people have for suddenly attacking when they had done nothing before? Is it possible that they knew certain artifacts were kept here and while they were willing to part with other, meaningless, relics, the were not willing to allow this to happen, and were willing to lay down their lives for Count Dooku?" Her gaze rests briefly on the Borgin house leader as she mentions the knowledge of the relics being in one of her minor houses.

The assistant from earlier returns, pushing through the door to the floor. They slowly approach the lectern, stepping right up behind Sabrond. A few words are whispered into the Captain's ear. The content was enough to get the woman to turn her head. She whispers something back, trying not to interrupt the proceedings. Her body rotates, giving her back to the floor. The two figures exchange code cylinders before snapping to a statue like posture and listening in to the Republic representative's dialogue.

~

"It was the First Order who killed the last member of the Dooku line, a young Jedi murdered by Kylo Ren. That's something I have holovid of, taken via droid at the time." Ax says as he steps forward more. "I was witness. Some associates of mine, along with myself attempted to stop them, but as you can imagine, we were outnumbered and outgunned in many regards. We were lucky to get away with our lives," not to mention what they stole then too.

"Everywhere the First Order goes, death follows. They murdered citizens of Serenno then and they murdered citizens of Serenno a few days back. Nothing changes other than their faces." He turns to face the crowd of citizens, not the raised dais. "The First Order, and their allies amongst the Sith Eternal, are tearing every planet apart, looking to destroy your history, your connections to the force, with the Jedi. They don't give a damn about the people, only their path to power. Look at Coruscant, look at Naboo where they assassinated a planetary leader. Everywhere they go, they leave corpses. People stand up, and the Order utterly destroys."

Ax turns to face the podium. "I am not a representative of the Republic. I am just a concerned citizen of this galaxy who's gotten in the way of the galaxy's worst enemies since Palpatine." The Echani sighs. "I actually am the one responsible for keeping the documents out of their hands," he says. "It is a treatise on how to govern a people, using the power of the force to manipulate the minds and masses. Written by a Jedi Master who fell to the dark side under Palpatine. Count Dooku." Yep, this was going to go well back home, providing he made it off the planet in the first place.

~

Malvern considers the individuals gathered, but before long, the din of conversation rises in the chamber. Demici and Borgin go on, incensed. The truth was, Demici was the reason the book circulated at all; given to the lesser Borgin as a paltry gift, when Demici began dismantling the Dooku holdings. Borgin had no knowledge of this, nor did Malvern. Everyone believed the Dooku House would return in time, but, it was almost as if something was preventing the family from uniting, coalescing.

Malvern, meanwhile, begins to bang his gavel. In an attempt to call to order the chamber, Malvern makes a lot of noise. "Order, order," he calls out, as the gavel comes to rest. "With," Malvern begins, his breath hitching slightly, "The lack of evidence to any legal breach, the assembled parties will disperse with the following judgment. In two weeks, the Great Houses will reconvene to address the matter of the legality of the Banking Clan's claim on the lesser house. In the meantime, we will assume, and ensure, the claims made by the Banking Clan's associates are factual and that their business concludes swiftly to ensure the people of Serenno remain safe. If that business is not concluded, we will hold another vote as to the future of the endeavors of the banking clan here. As for the supposed documents, there is no judgment to be made on them. We know nothing of them, and unless such a member of House Dooku steps up to claim that they are in-fact an heirloom of the House, judgment on them is impossible." He offers a retreating kind of sigh as he sits back slightly. "Go now and accept this judgment, the judgment of the Great Houses." The gavel is banged again, and the House guard begins to usher people out.

Kuolo was quiet, and although he had more than enough time to complete his work, he felt this was hardly something anyone could call a victory. The Republic was too close, now, and that meant they would come in droves. His eyes regard Ax for a long moment in thought. The cold, empty face watched him even as he proclaimed his statement. Then, after a moment, he turned to regard Sabrond with a soft nod. It was time they went. There were matters to attend to.

All the while, Lady Demici watches them all scurry away. Her hands steeple in front of her, pressing to her smiling lips. The blue glow of the holoprojector adds a bit to her features in dramatic shadows.