Alderaan - Love and Intrigue

The Sunset Dawn wasn't too far off from the Rist Estate when Layne left the crew to do their thing and headed to Tyche's cabin for a little heart to heart before she went through with her possibly cockamany plan. It was one thing to go in by herself without any sort of real plan, quite another to go in with her padawan in tow, especially after what had happened to her the day prior. At the very least, Layne wanted to give the girl a chance to decide for herself.

So, she knocked at the cabin door.

The padawan answered and waited to see what her master wanted.

"Hey," she said, finding herself a seat. "So... we're about to land at the Rist estate and I felt you deserve a chance to have a say before we commit to anything."

She sighed; Layne really wasn't good at this sort of stuff. "I know padawans are expected to just follow their masters around dutifully all the time, but you were a slave, like I was once. At least when it comes to this thing, I want *you* to decide whether you go in there with me. This already ended up getting you hurt once. Something that I *will* certainly bring up, believe me. But the shit in my past shouldn't have to be your shit in the present, and if we go in there, that might happen again. Maybe today. Maybe in a few days."

She paused briefly, to let the words thus far sink in.

"I think you're smart enough to realize we both tend to rub people the wrong way a lot. That can be a good thing depending on the circumstances, but sometimes it can backfire. I'm very likely to piss this Duchess and her entire house off even more than I already have in there. In fact, I kind of intend to, even if I don't intend to let it get to violence. But that's a possibility. So, given what's already happened to you, I want you to decide for yourself what to do. You can come with me, and we can go be angry at her together. Or, you can stay here, make sure the crew keeps the engine warm in case we have to run. If you're really uncomfortable, you can even just drop me off and then take the ship back to the other Jedi."

Layne looked at Tyche. "This isn't some sort of test of loyalty or being a good jedi, by the way. Whatever you decide will be fine with me."

"I am gonna reflect on what happened, anger, it feels right but... yeah I got to reflect on this, Master," she responded.

"It's okay to feel angry at times, especially when it's in response to something like the injustice done to you. Just so long as you don't let that anger consume and control you. Use that anger, focus and channel it away from you and into something that can motivate you to do good. But don't wallow in it. Don't let it linger, or it'll start eating away at you until it'll make you do things you'd otherwise never want to do."

She nodded.

"Alright, so, you'll stay behind and reflect?"

"I think that is best," she said after some thought.

"Very well, just make sure that if they start trying to get onboard the ship you start making a ruckus and then fly away."

It was a shame, she could probably use Tyche in there, but it didn't feel right to force her into this just because she happened to be her padawan. With that, Layne got up and back out of the cabin, before heading back to the cockpit to make sure everything was on the up and up.

Soon enough, they'd land, and then she'd have *words* with House Rist.


[note, Zayne Rist will show up as well, but I believe he has his own means of transport here so can show up when appropriate?]

The House guard are waiting on the platform.

Of course they were waiting. Despite everything she'd just told her padawan, Layne briefly considered just spinning up the ship's cannons and taking them out. It'd be so *easy*. And probably satisfying. But no. Idle thoughts of convenience.

"Keep her warm," she told the pilot before heading down and walking off the boarding ramp. Fully armed, of course. That part was not going to be negotiable. Black armored Jedi with lightsabers walking down the ramp? They must've been feeling at least a *little* nervous.

She walked up to them as if they were barely even a presence that registered to her, her eyes instead idly scanning the horizon until she came to a stop right in front of them, when her gaze finally moved over the guards. Letting them have the first word.

(Just because I can, triggering Fearsome 3 as an incidental on any guards that come into my engaged range)

The guards keep their distance but escort her towards a main hangar where more of the house guard waited. In the hangar was the Duchess inspecting a transport with more guard and soldiers. Even a few Mandalorians, at least they seemed as such by the armor.


Duchees Rist said, “Good morning, master Jedi; come to beg for your life?”

"No," she said, seeming unconcerned by the increasing number of guard or mandalorians among them.

"I told you we were going to discuss why you felt it necessary to hurt a child that had nothing to do with anything, but you simply walked away instead. So, we are going to have that discussion now. And I suppose... we might also discuss why you think I killed this sister of yours."

“The only thing we have to talk about is how you want to die.”

She turned to her people, “You all remember my sister, her life and vibrant spark. This is the woman that stole her from us, it is bad enough she killed Galen Rist which she does not deny, but she took the life of my sister. Blood demands blood, master Jedi.”

She turned back to Layne and added, “You were here when she died and you killed the man responsible for guiding her. She was obviously collateral damage, so I repaid such mercy in kind.”

“Well partially, Tyche is still alive, for now.”

"Spare your men the theatrics please," she said, rolling her eyes, "I doubt they believe you any more than I do. So, let's go over this, shall we. You say I killed your sister, yet have provided no proof whatsoever. Since you just said this happened when I was I last here, that would mean that there should be video evidence, given I featured rather prominently in the Organa security feeds, which I know from rather prominent members of that house themselves. Only one person died on those tapes. And it wasn't your sister. Of course, it also means that you waited seven, maybe eight years, to make a thing out of this even though my defection to the Republic was no great secret. You could've raised this issue with the Order at literally any point if you actually believed me responsible."

She placed her hands behind her back, looking the woman straight in the eyes. "And you know, of course, that the Jedi are under absolutely no obligation, legal or otherwise, to follow your quaint little assassination traditions and customs. We have full authority under Republic law to act as if we see fit, in the interest of the Republic as we see it. And you know, of course, my reputation as well. I am *especially* unlikely to respect local traditions. So, if I decide that you and House Rist are a threat to the Republic, no fancy little 'dagger clause' is going to protect you from me."

She gave a casual glance in the direction of the mandalorians and other guards. "No matter how many mandalorians you hire on to shore up your defenses."

Layne then turned back to the Duchess. "But I'm guessing maybe that's the point, right? You noble types don't get to where you are by being emotional wrecks who go about picking fights with the Jedi Order based on nothing more than conjecture. Maybe you *want* a Jedi to come in and start wrecking shit, turn public sentiment against the Order and Republic, start a civil war. Help out your allies in House Thul maybe. Is *that* what's going on here, Duchess Rist?"

She reached out through the force to try and get a feel for the woman's feelings; to see how close or far from the mark she was getting.

Sense Emotions: 2eF 2 Dark Side


[let me know if i need to roll anything else, if necessary, I will flip a destiny to use those dark pips]

The guards redouble their anger and focus on Layne when she states they don’t believe their Lady and master. Some even shout back, “For House Rist!”

She just smiled and said, “You know nothing of Alderaan, master Jedi.”

“Every member of House Rist is prepared to die for the honor of the House, as they know I would give my life for them. I have not broken my word, but if you decide to do so know that House Rist has plenty of tools to handle Sith… and by extension, Jedi.”

“Bluster and anger,” she said dismissively.

OOC: Discipline versus 1 red and 2 purple, I will flip a Destiny to upgrade further. Add a setback for Rist training.

"Sure you do," she said with a shrug, "that's why I so easily killed Galen. And apparently this sister of yours too even though I don't recall killing her. Ultimately, what I know or do not know of Alderaan is irrelevant. But that you choose to focus on the trivial parts of what I said rather than what actually *matters*, is very telling."

There was another shrug. "Tell you what. If it's as I say, and this is just purely a political ploy against the Republic, then by all means, continue this vendetta of yours. Prove me right. But if you actually *care* about what happened to your sister, then help me prove who *really* killed her. What do you have to lose? If you're so convinced it was me, the evidence will bear it out, right?"

Sense discipline upgraded by DD, Setback ignored (Blade of Woe): 3eA+2eC+1eD 1 success


Destiny flipped to use a DP. (+1 conflict)

Revenge and anger bubbles off her, overflowing even. It is caustic and personal.

Giandra replied, “You have said your piece, master Jedi.”

Her smile faded and she commanded, “Now, get the kriff out of my home.”

The Duchess was more emotionally driven it seems than Layne had assumed. Not quite the political mastermind she'd feared. Or at least, not when it came to this particular issue. Which was... good? Frankly, she'd naively hoped merely hinting at exposing some Thul-Rist alliance to undermine the Republic, would've been enough to get the woman to back off. But such political webs were ultimately much harder to deal with. If this really was just a matter of personal revenge, then that was at least simple.

Although the woman's anger being large enough to make her forego seeing reason altogether, was unfortunate. Layne's offer of finding the real killer was genuine, after all. She was probably going to try and do it anyway, but it would certainly prove easier with the Duchess not getting in the way. Oh well, sometimes anger worked for Layne, sometimes against.

"You hide your emotions well, Duchess. Fortunately, not well enough. I almost walked away thinking this really was political for you. But fine, I'll leave. And I'll simply resolve this without your help then. However, I *must* be clear about one final thing. Tyche is off-limits. From what I've read on these vendettas, though I don't even know if this one follows the legal rules, the only collateral damage permissable are the target's allies through treaty or blood. She is not a blood relation, and if need be I will even assign her to another master to avoid your misplaced wrath so she would not in that case count for the other criteria either. Unless you intend to make an enemy out of the entire Order."

She would wait to see the woman's response to that, at least, before departing.

"Acceptable," she said after a moment of thought.

Zayne walked up to the scene in his regalia and saber. He looked back and forth at the two main protagonist a minute. This situation was intense.

He waiting until Layne starting walking away. "Good morning, duchess. Thank you for the hospitality and the beautiful armor I was given during the battle. I know were at least partially responsible for it." As he closed up to the duchess. "I am sorry this is the first chance to say it face to face with you. I know I sent you correspondence before." This was going to be a tricky to find out any information about Layne. And, Rist does have spies all over the planet, so trying to pretend the meeting in Layne's ship didn't happen wouldn't be a good idea.

She gave Zayne a respectful nod.