STAR WARS: RETROSPECTION- Diplomacy

"We shall see, then," Jelena says, tugging at her cloak. She decides not to say much else until they reach their destination.

Senator Lobs seems content to ride on in silence.

The office complex of the Fest Corporation is like every other structure in Fest City; immense, block-like, and gray. However, it is possibly the largest building in the city. It towers above most of the nearby structures. It supports its own power generator, which you can see fenced off behind it, and a security wall surrounds the whole thing. The security wall is lined with elevated guard towers. You pass under a pair as you go through the only gate in the wall, a solid metal blast-resistant surface that grinds slowly out of the way. The laser wall that replaces it drops shortly after.

Your speeder hums through the gate and approached by three persons; a Festan mercenary, a Mantooinian soldier, and a battle droid. All three hold scanners and wave them around the speeder.

"What are they scanning for?" Jelena ponders aloud to Senator Lobs.

"Weapons," Senator Lobs says.

The battle droid approaches you with the scanner. It waves it around, then stops around your belt.

"I am detecting an energy signature on your person," says the droid. "Please, deposit all weapons with security."

Jelena is reluctant to give up her lightsaber. Can she resist?

You can try and see what happens.

Jelena has her Law skill. Can she find some loophole or official reason that she would be able to keep her lightsaber, as a protector of the peace of the Republic? She has no intention of using it on anyone that isn't causing trouble.

We will make that a Law + Intelligence roll as you try thinking of something. One success there.

You can argue your status as a Jedi peacekeeper if you want, but that is at the discretion of local law enforcement. It would be Persuade + Charisma to negotiate that with the parties sent to disarm you.

The other option is that you stay outside and do not participate in the negotiations.

"I am a Jedi peacekeeper," Jelena says to the soldiers sent to disarm anyone coming in. "My only purpose here is to see that all sides are heard and treated fairly. My weapon is only for their protection. Will you allow me to keep it?"

Actually, is there any way to make this a Leadership issue so that Jelena can assert her authority as a Jedi Knight? She has the skill and the power too. If I need to rephrase it I can.

Make it a more assertive statement and we can put it to a roll. Though, the power will not affect the battle droid.

Okay let's try it!

Jelena stands tall and proudly. "I am a Jedi peacekeeper. I wear my lightsabers for the protection of everyone here. I will hold on to them. Just in case."

Give it a go!

With the Mantooinians and Festans present, we put it to a Force roll to see if the Leadership you exude takes. Three successes is enough for them to bend on the policy.

With the battle droid, it is a straight Leadership skill check without the benefit of your powers. You roll two successes... battle droids are not strong-willed whatsoever, so it bends also.

You can keep your lightsabers.

Going forward, once you have passed the initial security checkpoint, you follow Senator Lobs and his attendants into the corporate offices. The Fest Corps' offices are just as dull inside as they are outside; long gray hallways leading to offices and cubicles and computer banks.

Not much to look at, Jelena thinks to herself, comparing the grandiose style of the Jedi Temple to the place she's currently in. She shakes her head and moves along with Senator Lobs, keeping her senses open as a precaution but not expecting any trouble just yet, if at all.

You are led through the drab cubicles and past gray doors to offices until you arrive at a central lift, large enough to take a great party to the higher levels of the complex. Senator Lobs strides into the center and one of his attendants keys in the code to the top floor.

"Try not to interfere too much," Senator Lobs says. "I know you want to help but you are just observing. Okay?"

The lift arrives at the top level after a short, rapid ascent. It opens onto a floor with little difference in style, aside from being a wide open floor with narrow slit windows overlooking Fest City. The natural white light of Fest's sun reflecting off the ice and snow gives the meeting room a cold, harsh tone. It is also only lightly heated... you had thought to discard your heavy cloak but decide to keep it on. Senator Lobs certainly keeps his, declining when an attendant offers to hang it for him.

You are early - the Federation and Mantooinian representatives have not arrived. But Hardrew of the Miners' Guild has already arrived, and there is a thin man in an all-white suit ensemble sitting at the head of the steely banquet table. You glances at you, then turns to Hardrew.

"Who is she?" he asks snappily.

"That's the Jedi Knight, sir," Hardrew answers in a neutral tone.

"Oh," the man in white says, glancing at you again. "Well..."

"And you must be the director of the Fest Corporation," Jelena says warmly, trying to interpret what the man's reaction to her status and presence were with a Scan. "The pleasure is mine, sir."

(?)

"I am," says the thin man. "Director Van Statten."

He offers a very business-like handshake.

Jelena finds it appropriate to shake his hand in a similar manner.

"You were aware I would be joining you as an observer, yes?" Jelena asks. "I know the notification of our arrival got lost somewhere, but I've been here a day now. Hopefully someone would advise you."

Is Jelena going to be sitting at the table? Since she's just observing I can't imagine they want her in the midst of the negotiations. Maybe they'll invite her to mediate...

Either way, she won't be seated until the other representatives have shown up to begin things, to avoid being rude.