[Day 1 - Late Morning] Lay of the Land

[Aurilie Alde]

While everyone began their morning with getting to know both the locals and the guests of the festival, Aurilie took a long walk toward the direction of the wilderness. She was saving her flashier and noble fashion for the evening but still managed to dress in a brown tweed suit. Maybe it was a tactical decision, given the earthy tones could vaguely help her camouflage with the surroundings. However, if she was truly on the hunt, she would have opted for more rugged clothing and brought her rifle. As an inhabitant here, she knew that the lands were far more dangerous than they appear. The calming of the lands could be considered a trap in many ways. If anyone fell too complacent to the wilds here, they would be quickly reminded they could become prey, even on Alderaan.

Aurilie found herself a rock to sit on after her lengthy hike, pulling out a thermos where she kept some hot tea. Her gaze was on the lovely view that presented itself to her but she was really trying to see what could be found beyond the horizon of trees.

[Count Serenno]

Apparently, she wasn't the only one who enjoyed morning walks toward spaces were nature was and the crowds weren't. Dressed in his undercoated graphite military uniform and a long flowing cape that fluttered on the wind like a banner, Count Serenno tested his brisk gait on the uneven terrain, keeping his eyes for the larger vista more than for the mole mounds.

[Aurilie Alde]

Aurilie was perhaps beginning to undo the top of her thermos when she caught sight of another wanderer in the wild. She didn't know about his intentions but the very least she could do is make herself known. It was proper etiquette for many reasons, especially if he was a hunter and she didn't want to get shot accidentally on the off-chance she was mistaken for game. She rose from her seat and made the slow approach with her hand out in greeting.

"Good morning, good ser...the path least taken is often the most worthwhile, as you can see," she would call out in greeting before stopping a few steps away from him.

[Count Serenno]

The tweed suit wasn't an excellent indicator of exactly what kind of peerage the young lady represented, so the Count greeted her correspondingly, with a raised hand. He didn't seem to be carrying any hunting weapon, though the sheathed sword at his hip was likely enough to defend himself against most surprises in the area.

"As life keeps reminding me time after time." He remarked on a mirthful note, apparently inspired by the bucolic environs. "It is still a lesson I enjoy being reminded of every day. Any path that leads straight to its end leads precisely nowhere." On this philosophical note, he decided to bow. "Good morning to you, honoured lady. I am not disturbing anything, I hope?"

[Aurilie Alde]

"That would be true when it comes to the proverbial path," she inclined her head once on that notion. "However, I'm sure that might not be quite true if taken literally, especially if you don't really take into account the winding hills, rapids, and potentially cliffs that are on the way. While I wouldn't look down on someone going such a way...I would think twice about following them."

Aurilie brushed a purple strand from her forehead and shook her head. "Not at all, I was just getting a sense of things around here and something I could easily do with some company. Perhaps, get some opinions from a different perspective? I am Aurilie Alde, Prince of Mount Joral."

[Count Serenno]

"What do our senses tell us that is not already a metaphor of reality? A barrier to the sight might be a pathway to the hearing." He smiled faintly. "I can certainly take up the role of a purveyor of different perspectives. It is an honour to acquaint you, Prince Alde. I am Count Serenno." He was also the Count of planet Serenno, but there were reasons why boasting full regalia and pressing their comparison would hamper the comity he saw emerging. The fact of noblesse was a platform enough.

He allowed himself a small brush of his mustachios. "So what can we be after amid this bucolic landscape, honoured Prince?" For some, sticking to titles was either pretentious or a formality to be dropped at earliest convenience. Not for the Count. He uttered Aurilie's title with sincerity and conviction in the weight it carried.

[Aurilie Alde]

"Pleased to make your acquaintance, Count Serenno," she said as she presented a bow with a hand placed behind her and the other one resting at the front of her waist. "It is an honour to have nobility of other worlds grace us here and I'm sure our hostess is delighted about the added prestige in regards to the affairs of her children."

"I'm not too sure," she said at first as she tapped a finger on her chin. "Well, that's not entirely true...I'm looking to venture into the wilds as soon as tomorrow and I confess that what I see doesn't exactly have a home address. Unfortunately, it also has a share of lousy neighbours. The kiliks are both a concern and bothersome. If I were to consider them irrelevant pests, I fear that my journey may ultimately be cut short..."

Aurilie waved off a hand, stepping back in case trailblazing and hunting wasn't the count's interests. "Would you like to join me for tea, Count Serenno?" She gestured to the flat rock she was sitting at earlier and where her thermos was waiting for her. The lack of servants and service wasn't a concern to her and she offered on the possibility that he didn't mind either.

[Count Serenno]

"An impromptu picnic then?" The Count chuckled. "I'd be disingenuous to say no to that. Especially that you seem to have a subject on your mind that I'd be happy to learn more about, honoured Prince. Is crusading against those beasts an honoured tradition of your world?"

[Aurilie Alde]

"It would be unfair to call it a picnic, more of a short respite with some refreshment, Count Serenno," she simply said on the matter before making her way back to the rock.

The rock wasn't entirely much but could easily seat three people if they took up all spots at once. It was likely that Aurilie wasn't the one first who turned the spot into a seat. She allowed the count to have his pick of sitting surface as she remained standing. Twisting the top from the thermos, she would pour a rather full cup for him and hopefully, it would do as there wasn't going to be seconds. Thanks to modern technology, the tea was hot enough to produce some vapour when poured and carried the scent of rosy flower petals with the hint of herb.

"The blend is King's Rose, I hope it's to your liking," she would say before offering him the cup.

Her expression turned pensive, trying to hide the hint of her annoyance. She did away with this by taking a sip of tea directly from the thermos. "I don't know if it should be considered an honoured tradition but only something that we must do by necessity and perhaps the reality of our otherwise perfect planet. I would never consider killing such pests to have the same standing as anything else that could be found here.

[Count Serenno]

"Short respite it is." He smiled faintly, then accepted the cup with respectful care, also to prevent the spill, having seated himself at the corner of the rock that allowed for acceptable distance between him and the Prince. "It is to my nose's liking, certainly." He tried for small amusement, having taken in a waft before the sip. He then tried the aroma on his palate for a moment, then nodded in approval. "It's very good, Prince Alde. Thank you for sharing it with me."

He took note of her distaste and that made him think. He measured his words carefully. "Forgive my curiosity about the Killik, but do you think them semi-sapient, or are there other reasons why they continue being a problem to the realm?"

[Aurilie Alde]

Aurilie took another sip from her thermos and passed it to another gloved hand before answer. "They would have to have some semblance of intelligence if they are able to form a society of sorts. Hives, I believe. I supposed we could consider them indigenous life and worthy of sharing this world with but unfortunately they don't have an interest in negotiating and their relationship with us is entirely parasitic. They invade our territories, take up land, and sometimes even people. In most other worlds, this would be considered an invasion and worthy of all-out war but I suppose their presence is just below nuisance that we barely tolerate them for now."

[Count Serenno]

The Count sipped slowly, thinking on the subject. "The oldest sources mention them, actually. They are an ancient species, with some place in galactic history reaching to times before the Republic. They were likely mistreated at that time, transplanted across worlds as labourers and slaves. While native to Alderaan, their former colonies can be found on other worlds, though I suppose dormant is a better word as they seem to reemerge after long times of absence, having some ways to preserve themselves from extinction. I can't fathom though whether their current hostility is due to grievance, struggle for survival as they understand it, or devolution across aeons which has degraded them into mindless beasts. As insectoids, however, they are likely to have some form of gestalt consciousness, which may lead to disproportionate reactions, as a threat to one is interpreted as a threat to all."

[Aurilie Alde]

"On other worlds, is that what you've heard?" She said curiously with a slow lift of her brows. "It doesn't seem surprising that this isn't the first world that they've made claim to. It would be curious how you've managed to travel across the galaxy through primitive means but I suppose insects seem to have some concept of patience or even a lack of understanding otherwise. Seeing as much of the land is still left to the wild, I'd say that we have given them ample space to roam and made claim to other places. I don't think we make active attempts to invade their space, not as much as they attempt to do with our domain...burrowing and destroying some property. I'm trying to understand where the misunderstanding might be found there."

[Count Serenno]

"It is what I've seen, Prince Alde." He mused. "What is disputable is their motives, their ways of traversing space, their social organisation, and their modes of communication. But the fact that you can find their mounds in many places is not."

He then shrugged before sipping. "On the misunderstanding, I sadly have no firm idea either. I can presume it would require some dedicated xenobiologist's work. One hypothesis could be, given the ancient origins of the species, that the people of Alderaan have colonised a place that holds some particular importance to them, and they struggle to retrieve it. It may be hard to tell given their subterranean habitation preference. But it is also likely that they are so fiercely territorial that they brook no accommodation with other species on the same planet unless brought into submission, and violence is the only answer."

He sighed thoughtfully. "We, humans, have changed the face of this galaxy. But there are still parts of the previous aeon which refuse to conveniently disappear or be just a subject of our archaeological curiosity. It's easier to realise this the farther you move from the Core. Though even Coruscant was once a spoil, taken over from the Taung, the precursors of the Mandalorian culture."

[Aurilie Alde]

Aurilie would take a sip from her thermos to hide a frown. "Be that as it may regarding our neighbours, it seems hard to revert things back to the way they were before, especially after everything the Houses have built on Alderaan." She couldn't help but give a small shake of her head at the idea of moving out of the world.

She nodded with a roll of her hand. "I am aware that there is much history that predates humans on many worlds but as far as I'm aware, the Alderaanians haven't been as invasive compared to other worlds. I don't recall a history of ousting them from their lands in the founding of Alderaan, they were just discovered afterward and seemingly at the inconvenience of both parties, as you put it. As you said, they have a limited means of communication which perhaps makes the peace efforts here even more baffling to a local."

[Count Serenno]

"Oh, there is no going back. We all live with the deeds of our ancestors. This is what nobility entails, doesn't it?" He smiled gently, though with little mirth. "Our own name judges us. We are expected to double down." It didn't sound like he exactly believed in it.

After a sip, he said. "There seems to be indeed little fault in the Alderaanians for the emergence of the confrontation. Probably the Killiks here just awoke from their slumber to a world they don't recognise. How the conflict develops, however, can still turn into a tragedy."

[Aurilie Alde]

"Our ancestors and name certain guide our hand, admittedly. Even if it's not fully fixed, obligations do have their own effect. It can be pretty comfortable to follow the intended path laid out before us, although exactly glory isn't found by just being conventional. That said, I'm not too sure if these killiks are exactly worth walking off the path for." She gave a dismissive shake of her head before taking another ship of tea.

She frowned faintly as she turned to look at the Counter. "Well, it's obvious that I'm pretty set in my ways, being born on this world and being a prince with my own kingdom...As an outsider, do you have a proposition to our killik problem? To be honest, I never thought I'd have a thorough discussion regarding our less glorious residence. I do sincerely hope that you find your stay pleasant that bogged down by the lesser sung denizens of Alderaan."

[Count Serenno]

"It was indeed a surprising turn to our conversation, my coming to Alderaan has certainly very little to do with the Killiks. A scholar's mind is so easily distracted though." He chuckled. "For the moment, my only advice for the matter would only be to try to study the enemy rather than dismiss them as mere pests. But I suppose the infestation is not a fundamental security concern to most but the most affected houses."

He nodded his head. "The planet is glorious, its holders are noble and dignified, and they offer kind welcome and hospitality." He raised the tea cup in a small salute. "I am confident that I shall find my stay pleasant, Prince Alde."

[Aurilie Alde]

"Admittedly, Killiks aren't exactly commonplace up on Mount Joral. It's been thankful that we've been able to avoid most of the problems of their infestation by our long winters but they have reportedly getting bolder. I tend to rather put into studying game and predators on Alderaan and other places in the galaxy. I suppose that after the conclusion of the festival, I'll be considering my next destination. Well, unless there are other matters to deal with." She nodded to herself.

"And I'm glad to hear that you've found Alderaan more than accommodating," she said as she raised her thermos in a likewise salute. "While House Panteer are playing host to all of the guests here, both local and afar, I'd like to think that all Houses share some responsibility in making sure that the festival is successful. Not to take away from the affairs of the prince and princess but we do at least represent our Houses and thus represent the best of Alderaan. Of course, many of our guests may find themselves in other parts of our world. We sincerely hope that it won't be their only visit here."

[Count Serenno]

"What is it that you seek through your galactic travels, Prince Alde, if it's not an imposition to ask?"

He fulfilled the tea-toast. "I can only corroborate that a planetary policy is only as strong as the number of noble houses that align behind it. I rule Serenno with the help of my Council, composed of representatives of other great families of my world: Comprassi, Palerma, Teramo, Demici and Nalju. Compromise is hard to accomplish, but the alternative is division, and - realistically speaking - the return of the Sith occupation. In my generation, we have reached a unity of sort, but it is only because shared responsibility was both offered and instilled. Even so, this kind of contract ought to be renewed as each generation needs its own unifying experience. I am not naive enough to assume that I can control my legacy after my death."

He paused, and produced something that looked like a tome of a several centuries old account of the noble houses of Alderaan. "Irrespective of any ties I may succeed in establishing with House Panteer, I am looking forward to solidifying the relationship between our planets by building rapport with other noble Houses on Alderaan."