Alderaan - Love and Intrigue

Always approach a problem with knowledge, master Syo would say. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.

She didn't like this Blackguard outfit one bit, but she would see what the Royal History museum had on their supposed origin in ancient history of Alderaan. And if they had been a thing, what their role had been... where they had operated, what sort of traditions that had maintained. And why they had disappeared in the past.

Hopefully some of these things would give her a clearer feeling of where to go forward.

OOC: Lore (Intellect) or Core World (Intellect) at Hard with a boost die due to the location. Or a Computers (Intellect) at Average with a boost die.

Oh look, another Jedi! Dressed in his custom jacket and smart clothes, plus an expression of professional curiosity, Kellen approached.

"Hello there, were you looking for Padawan Kumos? She is often down in the archives, or her office. Of course yesterday she was chasing thieves and finding explosions so who knows?" He spread his hands before offering one, an amused grin in place.

"Kellen Rist."

Kat looked up from the current file she was looking through, then placed it away as it seemed a dead end so far.

"I did not think explosions and thieves were commonplace in a museum...?" she said with a questioning raise of her eyebrow. "Katarzyna Ulgo. And no, I wasn't searching for my fellow Jedi. Rather, I'm looking into some old history of Alderaan. This new... Blackguard that House Thul is parading around, claims to be based on an old Alderaanian group. I wish to know if it's true and what this old Blackguard was all about."

Her words made it clear that she did not like or trust this Blackguard.

"Something you might be familiar with, perhaps? I do believe I have heard your name in the academic circles, sir."

"Hmm. Explosions, not so much. Thieves though?" He gave an exasperated sigh. "A common problem to tell the truth. The market for relics and artifacts is rather prolific. And yes, I am that Kellen Rist."

He gave her a quick assessment. "Pleased to meet you Jedi Ulgo. I'd be happy to assist you in your quest for knowledge. Always wise to keep an eye on what Thul is up to. Perhaps you can help me too?"

"I suppose the life of archaeology and exploration can be every bit as exciting as one hears then," she remarked with some dry humor, imagining Kellen being the type of professor chasing museum-thieves into thick jungles with death-traps.

"And certainly. What can I do for you, sir?"

The soft click of boot heels on the marble flooring heralds another visitor to the archives area of the museum. "Hello?" Tethys leans through the doorway. "Ah. Dr. Rist? I thought I recognized your voice. And Katarzyna." Her brows arch softly as she steps into the room. "I've come at a good time."

"Oh indeed. Like you wouldn't believe. Which is why I avoid teaching as much as humanly possible." The boots attracted his attention.

"Ah, Jedi Carrack! Good to see you again. Yes, I was just about to assist Jedi Ulgo with some research on the Thul Blackguard." He smiled brightly.

"I would also like to ask both of you: what in the galaxy were the Jedi thinking when they sent that murderer Layne Hoshin here for the flower festival?!" He looked rather boggled.

"Knight Tethys," Kat acknowledge her fellow Jedi with a respectful dip of her head. There was always a sort of air of formality to her manners, though one out of respect rather than just being proper and snobby.

As Kellen was asking a question of both of them, she focused back on him. Though the question wasn't quite what she had been expecting. "I do not think the Council sent her here, but rather she came here of her own choice." At least, that's how it seemed to her. The way her brow furrowed indicated that she wasn't terribly thrilled with the circumstances either.

"I certainly for one do think she should stand trial for the crime she has committed. At the moment though, she is also accused of a crime she has not committed, while a member of House Rist injured her padawan in the process of delivering the proclamation of a feud..." Kat took a deep breath, finding the entire thing to be a mess. "The Jedi would prefer that this matter could be resolved peacefully and lawfully, at least without any more harm befalling her padawan. I cannot speak for her, but if a solution could be reached on the false accusation, then perhaps we can approach the actual one with civility? Layne Hoshin should absolutely take responsibility and make amends for the harm she did cause to House Rist."

Regardless of the circumstances. For all we know, Darth Baras didn't nescessarily remove one of his own agents.

"The Blackguard? That is a convergence, then. I'd come for the same reason." Tethys sends an understanding glance in Kat's direction.

"...Hm. Layne? Turn the question." Her light alto voice is a bit dry as she pronounces the name of her sometimes-troubled colleague. "Jedi are called as often as sent. I think that might be the case with Layne. It could be the Force is drawing her here to resolve something in her past."

She opens a hand palm-up. "She's expressed some willingness to face Alderaan's law for the killing she is responsible for. The one she isn't... is a puzzle that seems to have been waiting for her arrival to resolve itself."

"So you believe that this murderer has only murdered one of my family?" He pondered this for a moment. They seemed rather quick to suggest that Hoshin was only guilty of the one murder. He was less sure but... "Well, if she can prove that then House Rist will undoubtedly withdraw the order. Which would just leave the unresolved matter of the murder everyone acknowledges. So my advice would be to bring any pertinent information immediately to me, or to my Aunt. Of course the Dutchess might take it better directly from me, but either way. If you need assistance with that matter do let me know."

With that out of the way he returned to the Blackguard. "So. These Thul ruffians. Let's see what we can find shall we?" There was a twinkle in his eye as he headed deeper into the museum where his office was located. "Come along, this way." He nodded to security. "Morning!" Looking back at his guests he added: "You're with me. Don't worry, they don't need to see your identification."

'Not being asked for ID' is a pretty common Jedi experience, so Tethys strides along in Kellen's wake without much surprise about that.

"I had no idea Thul's guard corps was claiming some kind of much longer history, till I spoke with one of them yesterday. Everything I'd head before that suggested they were a new organization. New in old clothes, maybe?"

"I was only informed of this... complicated situation yesterday, sir," she explained, making it clear that it was a work in progress in understanding the mess that Layne had dragged along. But she gave a firm nod of acknowledgement that they would do what they could to get to the bottom of the big mess it all was.

Kat was more than happy to leave that particularly difficult subject to the side for now, and gladly followed Kellen further into the museum, often finding her sight wandering at various items that they passed by.

Tethys' words made her focus back on her two companions, rather than looking at the various things of mystery that could be found in a museum, especially away from the exhibits. "I too am a bit... sceptical, of this claim. And the order seems to have members from Nar Shaddaa? Or Alderaanians who were on Nar Shaddaa? It hasn't been clear to me. And if it was in fact an old order on Alderaan before, I want to know what type it was, what its teachings were. Just in case it might be something bad and old being stirred back to life."

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OOC: Kat is Intellect 4 and Lore 1. No skill with Outer Rim or Computers. So she can assist in the search!

"Yes, a rather motley crew. It does not surprise me that they claim an ancient lineage. The Blackguard as a concept does not seem so far from Alderaanian culture. Of course, they could have simply picked an idea they liked from our past and claimed an ancient lineage."

He started digging through the records. There wasn't much here unfortunately. He did find a small lead however.

D2. MM. Info on the Blackguard. Lore at Hard. Boost from location. Boost from Kat's assist.: 2eP+2eA+2eB+3eD 0 successes, 1 advantage


(OOC: Nice one orokos.)

"Old or not, it's nothing good, that's clear enough." Tethys frowns slightly. "Whatever stories they're telling themselves about the past may predict their present intentions, either way. Those names, for example--something about becoming fairy-tale terrors to fight their enemies. Ser Villainess"-- she can't get that name out without a visibly skeptical grimace--"was, well, interestingly cagey about who those enemies might be."

She leans in a little to see what Kellen is working on.

Kellen worked his way through the more recent files but it was slim pickings. Something did spring to mind however.

"Hmm, nothing recent. Well, there's nothing else for it. We need to speak to Pimbo Boxy. If anyone knows about ancient Alderaanian military history it will be that mad old gungan." He flashed the two Jedi a serious look. "If you brought your lunch with you it's best not to let it out of your sight. Pimbo has wandering hands, at least when it comes to sandwiches."

"A Gungan, on Alderaan?" At this time of year, in this sector of the planet? "That's quite the oddity. But he is an expert on the matter, you say?"

"Oh yes, he's a scholar of ancient military history. Arrived around 10 years ago and never left. Very much an oddity, but he does have a sharp mind when it comes to this subject."

Closing the files he looked from Kat to Tethys. "Shall we see if he's in the museum today?"

Kellen pulled out his datapad and started looking for the info on who was supposed to be working today.

"Please. He sounds like quite the fascinating person to speak with." Kat put away the files they had been looking through, ready to follow the professor's lead again.

Kellen finds that Pimbo is working, and of course he is in the staff lounge and was about chewing on a sandwich before he frowned and said in Basic, “Where is the meat!” The tall gungan’s eyes swiveled to see he had guests, he was in moderate shape with a slight stomach and bright orange skin.

He spit it out and sighed and then said, “Kellen Rist, before you start this is my sandwich.” He then noticed the two Jedi and smoothed back his large floppy ears and said, “Hey, Pimbo Boxy, Doctor Pimbo Boxy.”

He added with a wink from his left eye stalk.