STAR WARS: RETROSPECTION- The Bannermen

The White Tower of Halloy

Another sun is setting on Halloy, the desolate desert world upon which only a scant few cities have managed to flourish. There is one city from which the sunset can best be viewed; the Stad, the great walled city built against one of the largest mountains on the planet's face. The White Tower of Halloy dominates its skyline. In the light of the setting sun, it is dyed a fierce molten gold.

At the very top of the White Tower is the King's Court. Upon the throne a new King is seated, a self-styled overlord. Lothar Tull, the Dark King in the White Tower.

Lothar has not shed the dark sorcerer's robes that he has born for decades, even as he begins his rule. However, he has adopted a crown, after a fashion- a circlet of black metal that rests on his brow.

He sits uneasily on the throne; it is not yet repaired from the damage it took during the last King's overthrow. Before him, two of his loyal subjects stand. The first is a gaunt man in light blast armor, with a long and powerful rifle strapped across his back. The second is a small girl, now garbed in black robes as he is.

"What do you wish to share, Enah?" asks Lothar.

"I wished for your advice regarding my sword," Enah says.

"Lightsaber," Lothar corrects. "And I am quite busy. I instructed you to wait until I was ready to tutor you further in my arts. Return to your chambers or I'll have you dragged there."

Enah frowns and leaves in a huff, leaving Crutch alone before the Dark King.

"What news do you bring me, assassin?" Lothar inquires.

"King Evand has fled to Coruscant, Your Grace," Crutch states, simply.

"King Evand?" Lothar hisses. "Do you still call him King?"

"I meant no insult, my King," Crutch says drolly. "Evand has taken refuge with the Jedi Order, until the Senate grants him asylum. The Jedi Denzral has made sure he is protected. I cannot touch in him while he is within the Temple walls."

"He will not remain there," Lothar says.

"Coruscant is a risky place to perform the assassination of a fallen monarch, even if he is not recognized in the Republic as such."

"He will not stay there either," Lothar says. "Evand is too proud to let me have his throne. He will try to take it from me... and the Jedi will help him. I have forseen it."

-

Welcome to "Bannermen," a game from the Retrospection series. These games are meant to provide a fun plot based upon the backgrounds of player characters, while giving players themselves a chance to gain experience- both in points and in practice with the system. This time, Retrospection returns to the plight of Denzral Vassisk- a Jedi Knight whose Master was assassinated during the latter days of his training.

Denzral has confronted his Master's killer, a seasoned assassin named Crutch, and the man who holds the assassin's leash- Lothar Tull, an acolyte of the Dark Side. He came upon them in the midst of their plot to take over the world of Halloy, unseating the ruling King, Evand of Halloy.

Now, Denzral has returned to Coruscant with Evand, hoping to seek not only political asylum to ensure that Evand is protected, but also to seek assistance. Lothar Tull has come into power on Halloy and now controls a great force. And his plans are not yet fully realized. Denzral needs help from the Council and the Senate if Lothar is to be stopped...

Senate Chambers, Coruscant

The Senate has called one of its routine meetings, as they do every so often to discuss galactic matters. In these meetings, they make their speeches and petition for laws to be passed. You know full well by this time that most of the action in the Republic takes place behind closed doors. The Senate is just where the public is informed of great doings or massive actions.

The Senate would not call any sort of emergency meeting for the likes of Evand. As far as they are concerned, Evand is not a recognized ruler; Halloy is not in the Republic.

It has agreed to hear him during one of their scheduled meetings, of course. You are not all that disappointed by the delay, Denzral. It has given you time to rest after the debacle on Halloy, before going out into public with Evand again. You both are very safe within the walls of the Jedi Temple.

Evand has adorned himself in a lavish tunic, one of the few he managed to take with him when he fled his world. It is a dark green, with tracings of gold and the claw of a desert cat embroidered on his shoulder.

"I apologize for being late," Evand says when he meets you in the halls of the Senate building. "I needed to finalize my speech to the Senate. I trust you understand."

Evand is escorted by Trozen, the lone bodyguard that escaped with you both when you fled Halloy. He has forgone his massive Halloyan suit of armor today, in favor of a simpler tunic, but he still has the oversized assault rifle that the Halloyans favor. He regards you with a nod.

"That is not a problem," Denzral said as he offered a curt half bow half nod towards the two "I just hope it goes well today. I am not expecting miracles here, but its at least a stepping stone." He looked the 'King' up and down, with a smile. "Nice outfit."

(Who's your tailor I love that outfit!)

"I expect the Senate to hear me out and act accordingly," Evand states plainly. "They will see that their borders are threatened, and that I must be returned to my throne."

Denzral did not believe so, but nodded in agreement all the same. He was actually surprised that they had agreed to see Evand so quickly. Hopefully the threat of a growing force lead by a Dark Jedi that could threaten Republic worlds (as they already had in their raids prior) will help convince them. Though he doubted it. Well, they'd find out soon enough.

"Shall we?"

The Senate would have convened an emergency meeting if they were truly concerned by Evand and Halloy. They managed to find time for him in an upcoming scheduled meeting. You were made to wait nearly a month.

"Yes," Evand says. "Come."

Evand has been given one of the spare Senatorial pods from which to make his stand. He leads you to it and steps onto the pad, letting Trozen take the controls. Evand is awed by the tremendous size of the Senate Chamber; it is something you have seen before.

"Impressive is it not? For nearly four thousand years the Senate has stood in this place, representing thousands of systems under the Republic, almost every imaginable species."

A month was a lot sooner than Denzral expected the Senate to actually grant hearing. It indicated they were not concerned if at all by the potential threat seeing it as nothing more than something that does not concern them most likely, and probably about to tell us just that.

He was about to say something but did not want to shake the man's apparent air of confidence.

As you settle into the pod, the circular portal at the very base of the Senate Chamber opens and a large column rises from it. The podium from which the Supreme Chancellor speaks ascends, with Chancellor Palpatine standing upon it, waving and smiling amicably.

Many other pods begin to float up with it. Everyone else stays in place.

"That is Chancellor Palpatine, the current senate leader." Denzral will point out any of the important Senators he can.

"I see," Evand says. "I will need to speak with him directly then. He holds all the power."

(Oh boy I hope I was right.)

What does Denz know about how this is supposed to go down, I am assuming they will recognise us when they get around to it and until then we don't go floating up? And I would assume that Evand address the whole senate not Palpatine directly. But I am not sure personally.

There is something inherently wrong with what Evand just said.

And that is correct. You will wait until your issue is put before the floor by the Chancellor or his attendants.

Just to be on the safe side, does Denzral know what was wrong or was it the way Evand said it, so he may help correct.

"While Chancellor Palpatine is the current head of the Senate, you would generally address the whole Senate which represents all sectors of the Republic. The Chancellor isn't an Emperor here, he holds office and presides over the Senate, he is influential, but to a point. His 'power' as you so put it, comes directly from the Setate itself. Palpatine will ensure you are heard out without interruption. But he is not nessessarily the one you need convince."

"But he's the Supreme Chancellor," Evand says. "You're telling me that he does not have executive power over everyone here?"

Well if I am wrong make me say the right thing 🙁

"He would only gain such power if the Senate voted him Emergency Powers, and that would only happen in a time of a Galactic crisis." Denzral coolly responds, watching the the political opera show that was erupting before them.

"For now he is the leading face of the senate, but his power comes from the heads of each sector that are represented here. The Supreme Chancellor has influence (especially after the events surrounding Naboo, and the Trade Federation and his handling of that situation but), he does not rule like a king such as yourself.

"The Chancellor serves mainly as an officiator of the parliamentary procedure such as what we are about to see. However, Chancellor Palpatine does have authority to call Emergency Sessions of the Senate, and in some cases; by-pass the Senate in circumventing minor issues that may have arisen.

"Unfortunately for us, this is not something the Chancellor could by-pass the Senate with. He is a great believer in the Democratic system, and the fundementals of the Republic, and a supporter of the Jedi Order, so I am sure he may be concerned with what we bring fourth today and that could go in our favour. We shall see."

Denzral finished his explanation, and straightened his robe.

((Sorry for double post))

Evand is admittedly not aware of the naboo situation, but he knows who the Trade Federation is. He processes what you've said.

"So... people have to vote on what I am going to present," Evand says after a moment.

"That is likely, yes. I cannot say for certain though." Denzral will inform the 'King' on the various ways in which decisions are made in the senate (because I can't find any specific information on that).

"That is horrifically inefficient," Evand says. "Why not let the Chancellor decide everything? He is in a position of power but has no power, from what I can tell."

"Funny old system, huh?" Denzral smiled.