Alderaan Feuds and Contract Killing

[Dapper Dog]

Official feuds are a thing of seriousness on Alderaan and differ from regular intrigue and conflicts in that an official feud is an affair of Honor and Justice between houses for a perceived or obvious wrong to the family or House in general. Typically the leader or member of the leading family can call a feud and the terms for what will satisfy the feud; the annexation of land, a sum of credits or resources, or even death of a certain person to name a few terms but they can vary. Once the terms are set it is publicly announced and filed with the Royal family, it should be noted that one cannot feud with the Royal family as that would be calling a feud against Alderaan itself and all families that have sworn fealty to the Royal house.

Normally this is one House versus another but some feuds have noted multiple Houses especially if they feel all of the parties wronged them in concert. Then the feud begins. It may take the form of military, economic, or courtly intrigue but it is a formal affair and spectacle, it is a game of power and influence but it is also one that should be measured and precise. Having your conflict spill over into unrelated affairs, territories, or even people reflects poorly on all involved in the feud. Members are expected to act with decorum in public, though public announcements and challenges are common and one upmanship is expected in the public eye. These feuds don;' last long but some can go on for decades or even centuries though in the latter case it may simply just be forgotten until someone finds or realizes the feud is still ongoing and either continues it for pride of the House or ends it.

Ending a feud usually happens when the goal is achieved publicly or either party relents and acknowledges the other House as the better.

Why do Houses choose to Feud, because of the power and spectacle, a public show of your families influence, strength, and connections. When a feud is announced all official allies of the houses involved through treaty or blood ties are bound to aid them within the the confines of the terms involved. This can make what seems like a minor disagreement turn into a world wide game of intrigue and maneuvering. Some may die along the way but this isn’t a war, this is the game of court and power. It’s difficult to to note the difference to outsiders but in practice it just means that there is typically a goal to the feud, something one wishes to achieve once done all parties return to normal business and if a feud gets out of hand the Queen can end it with a simple pronouncement that shames both Houses, which keeps everyone in line.

On the topic of feuds there is also contract assassination practiced by several Houses, most notable House Rist. These contracts are government documents and binding, they grant limited protection to the House for reprisal when they carry out a sanctioned assassination. They must be in good standing of course, and abide by certain rules. One if they cannot fulfill the contract, they must supply the contracting party an alternative house or houses that will; they are not allowed to warn the target in the case of referral. Two, they are bound to their contract and must carry it out for as long as it remains open according to the terms. Three, they are obligated to accept a blood price if it is offered or given; this is usually an exorbitant sum of money or resources to stay the execution. It is quite common for an assassin House to meet with the target or related parties to announce the contract and allow them a chance to settle the affair. This is not a breach of contract, just the cost of doing business. Again pomp and spectacle are important among the nobility.

Once the act or deed is carried out on a sanctioned contract the assassin House cannot be the target of feuds, reprisal, or other overt actions. This is referred to as the Dagger Clause, one does not blame the dagger but the one who wields it. This law protects and sanctions the assassin Houses, but again they must stay in good standing and pay dues to the Crown to continue to operate. The easiest way to lose good standing is to break a contract, even old ones, thus assassin Houses keep meticulous records even when others have forgotten they remember and will act.