Branching Out

[Lira Dajenn]

Nemene stood on the end of her landing platform with her sister standing besides her. A warm breeze tore across the desert, the sun beating down with intense heat as she waited for their guest to arrive. There was a placid smile on her face, her skin below her neck hidden by ornate red and black silks that clung tightly to her form, it left little to the imagination.

Today would be a momentous day, a day of new alliances and talks. This was something she had long wanted to accomplish, something that since she had wanted since they had taken Rattatak.

She knew that running a world could not be accomplished through only violence and intimidation. Eventually with such things the population would turn against their rulers. To prevent this, Nemene and Evelynn needed more than just gladiator matches and violence, they needed to improve the lives of their peoples. To do this, she needed outside help. The Fringe provided most things, the essentials anyway, but Nemene wanted so much more. She wanted Rattatak to thrive, to prosper, to become a beacon.

So they would go outside of the Fringe, they would breed trade on other worlds, other relations that would help improve Rattatak.

What did they have to trade? Well that was simple. Rattatak created some of the finest warriors in the galaxy, not to mention to countless precious gems that had recently been found in the mines to the north and the mass deposits of Alum found to the south. Rattatak had plenty to offer.

She smiled slightly as the ship drew closer. This would be a momentous day.
@[member="Arthur David Hardrada"]

 

[Edric Vanyan]

Arthur stepped off the ship's ramp and looked over the planet for a quick moment and breathed in with his silver eyes closed as he took in the air. It was a new planet to him, Rattatak that was, a very interesting planet that he had yet to experience the likes of and he was certain that it was something that was to be an experience to remember. His eyes now fell upon those that stood before him, @[member="Nemene Talith"] and her sister to be precise, the silver orbs adjusting as he focused on them and walked forward with his hands crossed behind him, stopping and bowing with his right hand crossed over his chest and left hand crossed behind him before he spoke. "I assume you two are the queens of this planet, certainly a surprise if you mind me saying, i didnt expect a pair so beautiful on a planet of warriors."

 

[Lira Dajenn]

(Evelynn is currently overloaded with threads so she told me to move us along)
Flattery, how kind. Nemene smiled, and Evelynn smiled as well, at least this one knew how to speak and properly at that. Oh she did so enjoy speaking with equals, she loved it in fact. Commoners always had a way of making her angry.

“Why thank you.” She said as she pulled out a fan and folded it open, beginning to push warm currents of air into her face, cooling her somewhat even though she wasn't that hot. Then her lips parted and she spoke once again. “Allow me to introduce myself, I am Nemene Athaem Talith, and this is my Sister Evelynn Talith. Though you may use our first names.”

She smiled, it was an honor not given to many, but for what was to be gained today, it was worth it.
@[member="Arthur David Hardrada"]

 

[Edric Vanyan]

"Well i thank you for giving me the chance to see and experience your homeworld, it is far different from my own home, hotter to be one large difference." He smiled and crossed both hands behind him as he stood there, the air was too dry, he could go for a drink but right now he had more important issues to deal with. "And in kind you may also refer to me as my first name, which as ive neglected to give you is Arthur David Hardrada, miss Nemene and Evelynn."

@[member="Nemene Talith"]

 

[Lira Dajenn]

“Thank you, Arthur.” She smiled, and then she seemed to be startled for a second. She remembered that not everyone was as used to the heat of Rattatak as she and Evelynn were. The sun barely touched them now, and the desert air seemed almost...pleasant at times. Her startled expression seemed to fade almost immediately, replaced by a placid smile and a soft wave of her hand. “Please, let us go into the palace. We have refreshments waiting.”

Without further wait Nemen and Evelynn turned about and began to walk down the long path towards the Palace. It went by quickly, the Two Queens passing the threshold of white limestone only a few seconds after Nemene had ushered the trio inside.

The palace itself was mostly open, with large sections of walls missing to form massive windows and huge open air rooms constantly adjoined by small closed hallways. Even so as soon as they stepped out of the sun the air seemed to cool by a dozen or so degree's, falling to a more pleasant zone. It took them only a few minutes more of wandering through pristine decorated halls before they reached something of a dining room.

There they found a large table filled with water, wines, and other refreshments, though hardly any food. Lining the walls were slaves, neatly dressed and each prepared to jump at a single word.

 

[Edric Vanyan]

His eyes first fell on the slaves and a small frown came down on his face with him unable to stop such. He knew the planet used slaves but the mere sight of such a institution made him sad and worried about their fates, he could only guess if they were used for war or worse. But the frown vanished when he looked back at the queens and took a glass of water in hand, drinking lightly before speaking softly after he cleared his throat. "Well, i must say your home is quite nice, certainly cooler than that of the planet's natural temperature." @[member="Nemene Talith"]

 

[Lira Dajenn]

“Thank you. It took some time to be built.” That was not necessarily true. The palace actually took only a little bit of time to actually be put up. Modern construction methods and the help of slave labor had expedited things quite a bit, but she did not want to seem immodest, that would not be very becoming of one of the Queens of Rattatak.

She wandered over to the table and poured herself a glass of wine, adding another for Evelynn and then returning to her sisters side.

She smiled slightly when the blonde woman took it, and then spoke with that warm soothing tone once again. “Enough pleasantries Arthur, let us get down to business shall we?”

Nemene was all smiles and warmth, but when she wanted something, her eyes became those of a hawk.

 

[Edric Vanyan]

Arthur smiled back and paced with his hands crossed behind him in plain sight as he spoke in a clear, calm, and soft voice that carried from him. "Well then, why dont we. We are here on the subject of trade, no, so why dont you start off these talks and we can see where we go from there." His eyes switched between her and her sister, he coud tell that @[member="Nemene Talith"] was more commanding of the two, probably more powerful.

 

[Lira Dajenn]

While Nemene perhaps had the more commanding presence, it was in fact Evelynn who was more powerful. The silent sister was stronger in the force than three Nemene's put together and with another thrown on top, an odd thing when one considered their personalities, but it was a weapon that the two Queens had used on many occasion to fool their opponents, not that such a thing was necessary right now.

“Its quite simple Arthur. Iferetes exports one thing that Rattatak utilizes on a daily basis.” She smiled slightly as she looked at some of the gladiators around the room. “Kolto.”

While Kolto was not as good as bacta, it was remarkably cheaper and easier to use than its more expensive cousin from Thyferra. In fact it was the medicine that was primarily used on Rattatak, mostly because of its lower cost.

If they could lower it even further? Well the profits from the many many gladiatorial games of Rattatak would sky rocket beyond all belief, which is of course what Nemene truly wanted.

 

[Edric Vanyan]

Arthur nodded and thought such over, Kolto was certainly something they had plenty to trade with, but was the point of what they would make off this trade with Rattatak. "And what is it you plan to exchange for the Kolto. Resources? Credits?" His eyes shifted to the slaves along the wall, his eyes focusing ever so lightly with the hint of disgust returning. "Or perhaps slave that line your home?" @[member="Nemene Talith"]

 

[Lira Dajenn]

“Please, we are not so foolish as to think that everyone must hold to our ways.” She spoke almost as if she was insulted by his suggestion, though of course she wasn't really. Slavery was barbaric to many, but on Rattatak it was simply a way of life, and to Nemene and Evelynn, well it simply made sense. They were two women of incredible power and strength, if they didn't have slaves they would have servants of some sort, and she doubted that even they would be payed.

She mused on this for a second then returned cold orange eyes to Arthur. “Rattatak has recently discovered mass deposits of Alum and firegems. Both rare resources, though one is more a luxury item than anything really, both are completely useless for my people i'm afraid.”

Alum was used to make armor and starships, not something Rattatak did. Firegems although nice, were hardly needed in the quantity that they now had, she could practically swim in the things.

 

[Edric Vanyan]

Arthur tapped his fingers on the side of his forehead, thinking carefully on the two items and it would be quite an experience to obtain a material his people didnt have. Alum would be much more useful than the firegems, but the firegems far more expensive... "I think that a trade between our resources in Kolto between yours in Alum would make a very useful exchange." Arthur stopped pacing and turned full body to look at the sister queens and thought for a few more moments before speaking again. "Anything to add or objections?" @[member="Nemene Talith"]

 

[Lira Dajenn]

Nemene smiled, and then wandered over to one of the seats at the head of the table. She sat herself down with regal grace, crossing one leg over the other and placing her wine cup on the table besides her. This was rather simpler than she had expected, though she supposed that was a good thing.

Rattatak and Iferetes were so far apart on a galactic term that they would be circumventing most of the known factions anyway, it was easier to go through unknown space than to use the Hydian Way as a means of trafficking, especially since the Hydian Way ran through the Republic, and they weren't exactly the Fringes biggest ally at the moment. She smiled slightly, and then nodded to Arthur. “This seems amiable to me. Evelynn?”

She looked to her sister, who of course remained silent but shot Nemene a simple nod.

“Good. Then I suggest we allow our ambassadors to hash out the details, no need for us to do that after is there Arthur?” She smiled slightly, this was excellent news indeed.

 

[Edric Vanyan]

Arthur smiled and walked to the table, taking one of the glasses and taking a quick taste of it, 'Not half bad.' the words sounded in his mind as eh stood there before bowing to her and taking a seat himself. He unclipped the saber and placed it lightly on the table, then removed his cloak which revealed black robes that had a Jung Ji Fiber armor chestplate in the center, his eyes worked for a moment on a datapad which was detailing the results to his ambassadors and then he looked up at her to speak.

"Well, i must say that i am happy this went so well, i hate being in long negotiations, they always seem to waste more time than is worth it in the end. I heard that there were Gladiator pits on your planet? Its been a long time sense i last saw two warriors fighting for titles, far too long truly as it is a rather welcome sight to see those test their skills in combat. You truly know a person in battle, their emotions, their feelings, their abilities. Every aspect of their life can be seen in a battle and that is something that is certainly fascinating. Are the matches to the death?" @[member="Nemene Talith"]