STAR WARS: RETROSPECTION- Brothers

Melkor shakes his head.

"My station? I was born to raise farther than a second son, if my ambitions won`t be fullfilled here there is Coruscant. Of course I could help represent the interests of our House there.... if only Einar were more reasonable." He pauses.

"There is quite a stunning Lady of House Solshteim here. Did you invite her?"

"Our interests do not need representation," Mauren says. "You are a student, not a politician. And yes, I sent my invitation to the Ban of Solstheim. I assume he has sent his daughter instead."

"I am a student that already impressed Grand Moff Tarkin. You understimate me just as Einar, father. I understand that you don`t want my advice in political matters?"

The Castellan coughs slightly, then rises from his throne.

"My son, if you can convince me that you have the knowledge to lend sound political advice, feel free. But I must warn you, Erengard will remain steadfast in its ways. Change can only weaken our people, at this point."

"I only say that I already know much about the Empire politics, which could be of use..." Anyway, it seems we are both tired, goodnight father." -He speaks in a formal and emotionless tone.

He nods, but you are not sure if he is actually paying attention. He has drifted over to the windows and is watching the sun descend below the horizon, casting its golden light over the fields below Maurenburg.

"Goodnight," he says, simply.

You retire to your room for a long, sleepless night. You are uninterrupted in your rest, but images of the Esgabathian tomb seem to float before you each time you drift off to sleep. It snows that night, putting an uncomfortable quiet on the Palace of the Castellan.

That morning, breakfast is being served in the private dining room.

Melkor awakes after another uneasy night, his dreams involving both Einar burying him alive in the tombs and phantasies about Anastazia. He takes a shower, trying to clear his mind, than goes to attend the breakfast, abandoming an image of confidence. No matter what, he will make sure that Einar gets his due...

Lucky you, it seems that Einar is the only person currently eating.

"Oh," he says, looking up from his kingly breakfast only to spread a glare of disappointment across his face. He returns to his meal, cutting at a slab of charred meat.

"Greetings brother, I hope you slept well. How are your dealings with Empire?" -Melkor asks with a smile.

"I have not been awake but half an hour, brother," Einar snarls, not caring enough to look up from his breakfast. "The Empire could not be the farthest thing from my mind this morning."

He pauses to take a bite of his meat, having sawed off a sizeable bite.

"As it is," he continues. "I slept little. Investigations into the presence of the Creature had to begin, and I started them personally."

"There are only stupid beasts, should not be hard to figure out.... what are your theories then?" Speaks Melkor, casually taking a drink, trying to appear relaxed and unconcerned.

"The Creatures are normally not this far from that old Fortress of theirs. It would have needed an incentive to come south and climb our peaks. Furthermore, the automated cannons should have dealt with it; the Creatures can survive multiple blaster wounds, but not a blow from an armor-piercing bunker-buster missile..."

He takes a bite of his meal, then sets down his spork.

"So, my theory then, is this: either someone lured the Creature up the mountainside and deactivated the grid... or they kidnapped the Creature and put it where we found it. The only purpose being to wipe out the Royal family."

Melkor raises his eyebrow, wondering where it is going.

"I haven`t been home for years. Do we have some enemies that are capable of this and have presence on this world?"

"None that have openly established themselves. But we are Royalty; there are always threats."

He smirks briefly, then dabs at his mouth with a napkin.

"In any case, I am having the defense grid analyzed and the mountainside scanned for ion trails. It should be long before we discover how the Creature came to be up there..."

To be honest, you think he was right about one thing; the Creature was placed or lured there to take out the rest of your family. You were certainly incapable of doing much damage to the beast, and your father is not the shining soldier he used to be.

Einar, on the other hand...

Indeed, he could be capable of anything... if there was only evidence..

"Of course, I am sure that with you in charge we have nothing to fear, brother." He responds, finishing his breakfast.

Melkor had an appointment with Anastazia, right?

You know, you have access to the defense grid and the system scanners yourself...

And he does! But there is still time before she arrives. Touring her about the Palace and the grounds could take up the better part of the day. Do you have anything else you wish to accomplish within the day?

Hmm, examining the defense system sounds like a good idea.

And the rest depends upon the larger goals.... maybe ask Janus about the extent of possible opposition against Einar?

The operation of the grid is situated within the Palace grounds.

You can contact Janus, if you like.

Which will you do first?

The grid, because I need more information to use against Einar.

The security network is operated within an underground room behind the Palace that doubles as a bomb shelter for the Royal family in the event that the shield generator does not hold. The entrance is a seemingly pointless shed.

A device next to the doorway performs a few biometric scans and then asks you to wait... but it then denies you access to the security room.

... that's outrageous, Melkor. All Esgabathians are allowed access here!