STAR WARS: RETROSPECTION- The Bannermen

"It's ineffective," Evand says. "What if an agreement cannot be reached? What if there are too much parties with too much solutions for an issue? The factions will butt heads until it is decided that nothing will be done.

"Hell, why aren't the Jedi in control?"

Denzral will answer as best as he can with what he knows, giving what ever reasons why the Jedi were not in control.

A vague answer won't suit here. Why does Denzral think the Jedi are not in control of the Republic?

(And do not worry; I am not looking for a response that fits in with the Expanded Universe explanations. Just a feel for Denzral's personal views.)

Denzral stared at the King for a moment, and looked back towards the proceedings unperturbed. "We are guardians of peace and justice, we have no interest in controlling the galaxy around us. While I admit perhaps things would be better, it is just not our way. To my knowledge there hasn't been a Jedi in power for as long as the Republic has stood, and will likely remain as such for many decades to come."

Evand shrugs.

"An order of powerful warrior monks that are content policing an empire," Evand says. "I would not be so content."

It occurs to you that Lothar certainly was not.

The Senate is currently discussing some new initiatives for galactic trade taxation.

Denzral smiled with mirth. "I guess it can seem that way. We do not crave power, I guess. To have power and control over people wiuld be unjust, and would tempt the dark side. It appears Lothar himself was not content to protect the kingdom in your name in the same fashion you suggest for us. There have been times. Jedi in the past have thought this too and have separated to find their own path, while others even more deranged and power hungry fall pray to the evil of the Dark Side of the Force."

"You keep saying that," Evand says. "What is this 'Dark Side' that you speak of? Forgive me, my experience with the Jedi Order is limited to yourself... and even so, does me being King of a planet make me corrupt and power-hungry? Is that how it works?"

"Not all rulers are corrupt, that is not what I am saying." Denzral will give a brief description of the Dark Side.

"So its Jedi that embrace their emotions and use it for personal gain," Evand says. "And that's what Lothar is? One of those evil doers?"

Denzral (me) is not sure how to answer that. While the Jedi try to pust past their emotions, some like Mace Windu who studied different paths of Jedi technique ect embrace some emotion. They aren't Vulcan, emotion is not forbidden. The ones to watch out for is fear. Love can lead to fear, fear can lead to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering. They are of the Dark Side. If Denzral can explain it any better, I don't know.

Love does not necessarily lead to fear. The rest is the old mantra that all Jedi learn, so that they can avoid the Dark Side.

"Ah, so it's more complicated," Evand says. "Which one of those do you think Lothar is? Fear, anger, hate? Hubris, even?"

Thats why I said 'can;' and not just 'leads' love can lead to fear of loss, loss to anger itself, and then hate, hate then leads to a lifelong suffering. Going by Jedi mantra and applying logic to it.

"This is purely speculation on my part, but I venture that Lothar is the way he is because he has a deep long seated hate for someone or something. But potentially he can be feeling any of these emotions. You have known the man for far longer than I, did you never suspect?"

Evand shakes his head.

"If he had any pent-up hatred of me or my kingdom, I saw no sign," Evand says. "He must be very practiced at the art of concealment. You did not recognize him for a villain either. Did you?"

"He was very patient, and guarded, I had my suspicions but without any evidence I'm sorry to say, I had my suspicions about you too." Denzral looked distantly at the crowds as the senate dribbled onwards. "Lothar only broke his emotive state when he saw the coin that was related to the Cult of Necros, that was when he became my prime suspect. It meant he was surprised and possible knew something of the cult, or knew where the coin had come from. It appears that for many years he has been building his forces and apparently rebuilding this age old cult. His assassin Crutch murdered my Master when I was a Padawan. This case in general, you would say is close to my own chest."

"What are you planning on telling them?" He indicated the senate.

"I am sorry for your loss," Evand offers. "I am going to tell them who I am and why I have been forced to come to Coruscant. And then I am going to ask who is willing to help me unseat Lothar and reclaim my throne. That should be all that is necessary."

"You may have to offer something substantial in order to get the help, the Republic isn't a benevolent organisation especially in the case of help requested from Outside the Republic. Posing that Lothar is a growing threat to Republic boarders won't help much, as they won't consider it an immediate problem, or dismiss it entirely. Perhaps offer to join the Republic in exchange for sanctioning this. We have several sovereign states such as the Naboo who are left to run as they would. Chancellor Palpatine is from said world in-fact."

Evand does not respond to that one. You can clearly sense his displeasure though.

"Halloy was outside the Republic so that it could be self-sufficient and provide for its own," says Trozen. "We do not pay tribute."

"A lot of good it's done you, too." Denz didn't believe what he was telling the king, but if they can get the help now things can be worked out later, he sighed. Turning back to face the king, he started; "So then, how can you expect to get help from the senate if you do not offer them something substantial in return. Help comes at a price no matter where you are in the galaxy, and your choices would be the Hutts or the Fed's, and I don't think you would want to deal with them personally speaking.

"For instance if you joined the republic you would begin to have a higher influx of trade and export, and even tourism to see your great tower, your Knights could become a sanctioned security force in your sector of space, with the influx of trade and economy you could begin to build your people better dwellings, cleaner living and better standards.

"Evand," Denzral addressed the man in the fancy dress item, "I have been in one of your many dwellings and they are packed worse that the lower level slums of this very planet.

"But don't throw the idea away, just consider it. I am not telling you to join us, it is just a suggestion to try.. Saying that, that may not even accept you."

EDIT : OR SOMETHING SIMILAR TO WHAT IS WRITTEN ABOVE WITH SLIGHTLY LESS AGGRESSION PERHAPS.

Evand at first seems shocked to be addressed in such a way, and Trozen just looks angry.

"Allow me to escort him out of the pod, my liege..." Trozen grumbles.

"No," Evand says. "Denzral is right. The terms of my joining with the Supreme Chancellor would need to be negotiated, but it is certainly something to consider if it means regaining my crown and rescuing my people.

"Though I am certainly not thrilled about it..."

"I have heard many people say that in my time." Denzral smiled, and checked to see how far along the proceedings were.

"We should be on our guard however. Lothar won't sit idly by. He probably knows you came to Coruscant, likely he will interfere in some way at some point. After all if we succeed here, his position would be threatened. His assassin," Denzral eyes looked into his distant past, "Crutch ventured into the Republic before and assassinated my Master. No reason why he couldn't do it again."

The chamber was huge and Denzral wasn't sensing any danger, but even with his Jedi-honed eyesight, he would be hard-pressed to pick out anything odd. "If I randomly say something rapidly and commanding, do exactly as I say and do not question." He gave a lopsided grin to the King and Trozan, "trust me, I'm a Jedi."