STAR WARS: RETROSPECTION- The Council of Taneshla

Relations resume beween the two factions then, with Rand and Rianna staying wholly silent. Though you find you have little to contribute to the remainder of the prisoner exchange, it is stigmatic that you are not allowed a say in anything at all.

Gallador contributes a little but makes no attempt to skew anything in the Mecrossans' favor with the Force. You think he is less crazy than Rand; just very mouthy.

Tanic explains different prisoners to you so that you don't feel like Randi is winning every time the Mecrossans get someone back. He thinks Borm may have been Rand's entire reason for coming.

Oh, yes, Rianna is definitely very irritated at not being allowed to say anything at all, and probably spends a significant amount of time glaring across the table at Rand.

She agrees with Tanic that Borm was probably Rand's main reason to come. He probably thought he had another potential student or something.

"Borm was really unpleasant," Tanic says. "He looked like he had starved to death, but he was powerful in the Force and had regenerative constitution. Nearly impossible to kill. I had trouble bringing him in."

The prisoners returned to the Mecrossans are a small number of talented assassins that were just unlucky to be caught; Calthell rejects a few on the basis that they failed their assignments on top of capture.

The prisoners returned to the Empire of Pity is a huge list of low-life thugs with a few big names thrown in. Mostly thugs and hired guns that Geful likes to employee.

After that... negotiations move on to territorial disputes, Serpent and Mecrossan projects clashing with each other.

Territorial issues is something Rianna definitely cares much less about...but she's still going to keep a close watch on Rand and Gallador. Even if she's not allowed to advise or say anything, she can still at least warn Tanic, I'm sure.

It does draw your interest as the two factions are more or less clearing plans with each other- the Mecrossans are going to assassinate so and so, does this conflict with your relations to his homeworld? The Empire of Pity is making to move to rob this bank but we heard you might be providing protection, blah blah blah.

Were you to go to the Order with any of this, they'd have a field day.

Rianna finds this very strange.

And she does feel half an urge to alert the Order of some of the more violent plans, but knows that there's no way to do so safely - either the Order would find out where she was, or the Empire and Mecrossans would know that it was her that shared that information, and either way, that can be very bad.

She listens to the criminal plans being made with distaste, though. Sitting by quietly while witnessing this is pretty against her nature.

Indeed, you're in a bind. You are guessing that Rand told the Mecrossans as such.

This discussion does not conclude but goes on into the late afternoon when Geful finally stands and makes a motion to convene for the evening. He announces that dinner will be served in two hours.

By this time, you are bored to death and plenty hungry.

She would be very surprised if he didn't.

Well, Rianna is glad that the talks are over; not only is she incredibly bored, but she feels very uncomfortable sitting there. And is still very irritated at not being allowed to contribute anything.

At least now you will be able to talk openly!

The banquet setting is to be more of a social than a dinner; both criminal factions retain a certain amount of class though from different schools. The Mecrossans are wealthy, spoiled nobles. The Empire is more wealthy, spoiled businessmen.

Hah, social settings aren't exactly something Rianna enjoys much...

Though she's glad she doesn't have to remain silent anymore.

Geful would just like to warn you not to do anything provocative at the banquet, especially as eveyone is allowed back their weapons. Including you and your lightsaber.

The banquet begins! Geful has lined his table with an immense amount of expensive roasted meats, cheeses, breads, dips, and alcohol. And there are a lot of people to talk to!

- Sir Oskar Calthell may be a sexist pig, but you ARE curious about that energy sword of his...

- Gallador Enkidu... who is he? And how does he know about your dream?

- Rand.

- Tanic is still a bit mysterious to you. Just who are you working with?

- Lord Geful, your gracious host.

- Slate, Tanic's slaver friend...

- The butler!

Well I think Rianna would be happy avoiding Rand, talking to him might be too likely to lead to a mess...

She'll go talk to Tanic first.

"I know you used to be a Jedi, but...how did you end up here? I'm kind of curious..."

Tanic gets uncomfortable.

"Eh... I'd rather not talk about it... I had my own agenda, you could say," Tanic says.

"Just seems odd..." Rianna says. "How did you end up working for Gallador initially?"

How did Rianna first meet Tanic, anyway? 😛

Tanic actually sent you a message after you had pulled a few vigilante jobs. Gallador had said your talents were what he needed for the jobs you were given.

"He contacted me," Tanic says. "He wanted someone to do dirty work for him. I smuggled a few things, picked up a few bounties... then he used me as a middle man."

"And without ever saying who he was?"

Tanic nods.

"I wasn't picky, he gave me jobs that disposed of really bad characters," Tanic says. "I just didn't want to be a full-time member of this Empire. It's not the most moral and true, as you can tell."

"I've certainly noticed. I can't deny feeling extremely uncomfortable sitting through those talks, listening to all of these criminal plans being made...a few months ago, I would have been doing all I could to stop such things," Rianna replies. "The desire to do so hasn't gone away, but obviously I can't do anything."

Tanic laughs to himself.

"Yeah, I know what you mean..."

"What are you planning on doing once this is done with and we get Gallador and Rand permanently out of our hair? I really don't know what I will, other than going back to what I was doing before you initially contacted me..."