STAR WARS: RETROSPECTION- The Council of Taneshla

Rianna will take his hand but she doesn't trust him. And we all know how well attempts at flirting with her work 😛

"It is...was my home for most of my life," she replies, not wanting to give out much information about herself.

"Like my associate here?" Geful asks. He does not try to kiss your hand; he seems to detect that about you.

Rianna glances over at Tanic before replying. "Yes, rather like him."

Lord Geful smiles pleasantly.

"I know this might be asking too much," Lord Geful says, "but your lightsabr... may I see it?"

Rianna hesitates for a moment, before withdrawing it from where she's keeping it hidden within her clothes.

"I do not let many handle my lightsaber other than myself," she says, holding it out.

Rianna's saber is fairly small and slender in size, designed to be used easily one-handed. It is lacking in any fancy designs on the silver hilt, with rounded edges and black oval-shaped grips. The only decoration at all on it is the red enameled button to activate it.

Lord Geful takes it from you gently and examines it.

"Fine craftsmanship, very practical in design," he says. He gingerly presses the activator and the energy blade jumps to life. "Ah, purple. Like Tanic's. A noble hue, one of sophistication and passion. I can tell from its simplicity that you must have a passion for using this very elegant weapon."

He waves it cautiously about it, then turns it off and hands it back.

"There is no rival to the lightsaber," Geful says. "But I'm sure you already know that."

As soon as he hands it back, Rianna tucks it away out of sight again. She never quite feels right with someone else handling her lightsaber.

"I've dedicated my life to studying lightsaber combat," she simply says in response, starting to feel slightly impatient; talking diplomatically with someone has never been a strong point of hers.

"A worthy art to study," Geful says. He then turns to Tanic.

"It has been awhile since I have seen you in person, old friend. Care to tell me what this is about?"

"We are looking for someone," Tanic says. "We've been played and we need to stop the someone in question."

"Ah, you need to use my resources," Geful says. "Of course. Who are you looking for?"

"A former Jedi Master that fell to the Dark Side, and an associate of his," Rianna replies, getting straight to the point. "Nume Rand and Gallador Enkidu."

Lord Geful starts at the names.

"Are you certain?" Geful asks. "What did they do to you?"

"I will not list the wrongs Rand has done to me, there are too many and most I don't want to discuss with others," Rianna replies. "Gallador had been masquerading as our employer, though, and the last mission he had for us turned out to be a bit of a trap. I don't like being used, and certainly not by Rand or anyone who works with him."

"And I thought this would not be an Imperial matter..." Lord Geful says.

"What do you mean?" Tanic asks. "We just need to find where they are so we can kill them and not be bothered ever again."

"I can already tell you where they will be," Geful says.

"So you do know?" Rianna asks, just a bit nervous. She's still not looking forward to facing Rand. "Where are they, then?"

"I know where they will be, not where they are now," Geful says.

"Where, then?" Tanic asks.

"Here," Geful says. "Tomorrow."

"...what?" Rianna says. "Here? Why would they be here tomorrow?"

"They are being sent as attachés to the Mecrossan ambassador," Geful explains. "They were added last minute. I was wholly unaware of who they were or I would have refused to allow them at the negotiations. I should have known, the Mecrossans are rarely straightforward about anything..."

You do not undestand what he is talking about.

"I am confused. Mecrossan ambassador? I don't understand what is going on here," Rianna says.

"There is a lot to go into, but I will keep it short. The Empire of Pity is a subsidary of the Golden Serpent, a vast criminal organization. While I am the leader of the Empire, I still pay my dues to the Serpent.

"The Mecrossa Order is a group of nobles and assassins that are at odds with the Serpent and I have been tasked with conducting negotiations with them for my Serpent overlords. They're crafty and secretive and now they are sending a Dark Jedi into my home.

"And I know exactly what they want!"

"And what is it that they want, then?" Rianna asks. Politics, and worse, criminal politics. Things she is less than interested in.

"Come with me," Geful says. He leads you toward one of the staircases to the third level.

"I know where he is taking us," Tanic says. "But you have to see it for yourself." He sets off to follow the Pitiful Emperor.