The Council Convenes (Attn: Grand Council)

[Darth Metus]

​

Grand Council Chambers, Roon Sanctum​

Over the course of the previous months, innumerable changes had occurred within the Confederacy of Independent Systems; and by extension, the Templar Order. An influx of new faces, changes of leadership, and Galactic Events as a whole had all served to shape the present reality: a meeting of the Grand Council was due. Though things Confederacy-wide were running smoothly, the Order itself was in need of new leadership in a variety of areas. First amongst those was the selection of a new Lord or Lady Supplicator to fill the vacancy left by the Archon. Next was the selection of a Lord or Lady Commander of the Crusaders; an area in desperate need of true and appropriate heading. Then there was a matter that shed a new light on the attack that had taken place on Roon.

The evidence regarding the crimes committed by Daxton Bane.

Though he was nothing short of an admirable Master within the Order publicly, the evidence provided by one @[member="Jorus Merrill"] put into perspective why one of the most vital worlds within the Confederacy would come under attack by the crew of a single vessel. The reasons why eluded the understanding of the first generation of Templar leadership...but it would not elude the second. With these matters, and more, to discuss, the Marshal of the Templar Order called together a meeting of the Grand Council. He stood, garbed in his Templar Armor instead of his beskar'gam for this momentous occassion, awaiting the arrival of his fellows. Deliberately, the room was characterized by a large, round table and many seats; sending the message that they were all equals. Each possessing a role or input that was just as valuable as the other.

Isley stood beside the Archon's seat, looking directly forward at the door. The summons had been sent, and now it was a matter of awaiting the arrivals.

Spoiler

All those with confirmed Grand Council seats and all the Masters within the Templar Order are welcome and encouraged to attend this meeting.

• @[member="Phoebe Verd"]
• @[member="Ember Rekali"]
• @[member="Ket Van Derveld"]
• @[member="Manu Xextos"]
• @[member="Vorhi Alestrani"]
• @[member="Feena Mason"]
• @[member="Keter"]
• @[member="Curupira Hawk"]
• @[member="Salem Norongachi"]
• @[member="Serian Loria"]
• @[member="Kara Avoyos"]

 

[Curupira Hawk]

So, it was this responsibility thing. Curupira was getting lots of them. Ket had Ryloth but he also had the Illuminati. And while her own writer would never give Curupira Hawk a single responsibility because it wasn't in the girl's nature there was something about something being a Ket-thing. Like she would never let anything happen to the Deceased Star, she'd never let anything to happen to his planet or the Illuminati. And so, she was invited to a meeting because she was now Seneschel of the Illuminati. Isley just seemed to go with all of it.

This meeting was on Roon. Coordinates were a wonderous thing and while the redhead was itching to see the beautiful new yacht they got, she ended up taking her shiny new ship The Crimson Shadow anyway, to the Roon spacepart. From then, the speeder to the sanctum outside. And then on foot the rest of the way to the council room. Between us, since this was actually her first time on Roon, she'd gotten lost along the way once or twice and only then did she actually ask directions. Too stubborn to do so right from the get go. Still, when she was actually told where she had to go, Curupira ended up finding the right doors eventually, opening them half way before she slid her slim form inside, her golden gaze finding her current trainer already there.

"Hey, Isley," Curupira chipped in in her usual cheerful mood. There was a little comment in the back of mind about titles and authority and maybe the word Master but she wasn't usually in the habit of listening it so first name basis was what the good man was stuck with. Her gaze wandered off from the man for a bit, looking at the large room and the table with so many seats. "I like the set up," she added, slowly moving between chairs. "Ket may join us but I make no promises." She added since it was just the two of them. Might, could... it was in the air really. One should have avoided saying never when her mate was involved. But until then, Curupira was here. She still had to figure out why she was here and what exactly she was supposed to do...

Spoiler

@[member="Isley Verd"] @[member="Ket Van Derveld"]

 

[Feena]

Feena sat straight an silent, lost in thought. She was troubled, obviously, but she kept her face calm as ever. Nothing would make her snap. No amount of stress would get to her. She wouldn't let it. She wouldn't let it! She wouldn't-
The Archon coughed into a white handkerchief as she waited. She felt better with her medicine. Or, well, she felt terrible if she didn't take it, more accurately. Her body was a mess. She didn't sleep very well anymore, or very often.

I need to hire a personal assistant, she reminded herself mentally, If I have someone to make caf for me, that will save me about... five minutes a day.

Every second of her time counted now, and this meeting was no exception. The fact that she had to wait at all when she could be working on something else was absolutely killing her. Her long fingernails tapped impatiently against the table, although in her own head, she did not realize how loud the tapping was.

A young woman walked in now, someone Feena had not had the chance to meet. The Archon resisted the urge to wince when she addressed Verd by his first name. Not something Feena would ever allow on a normal basis, but today, she did not have the energy to comment about it. If it bothered Master Verd, then surely he would say something about it.

The tapping of her fingernails only grew louder and faster as her patience drained.

 

[Keter]

Keter entered the chamber in silence, with little ceremony. He It was his first time at one of these meetings, despite his wife's insistence that he take a greater role in the CIS. He did not trust them, and he did not trust himself to work with them without friction. Best not test anyone and stay out of each other's way. But Feena had insisted. And then threatened. So he had complied with her wishes and made an appearance. As he entered he spared a nod at Isley before moving to sit by his wife's side, to her left.

A round table was as blatant a message as he was going to get, so he found no issue with taking advantage of that fact. Still, with Isley hovering over Feena, the blond chose to remain silent, awaiitng the others to see what was going on. He did however send a warm smile his wife's way. SHe had a way of making anything bearable.

 

[Phoebe Draclau]

Meetings were something that Phoebe was well acquainted with. When she was apart of the Sith order she attended them all the time. Nothing was accomplished during these meetings but that was besides the point. The woman also had meetings with her advisors when she was Empress. Those she found to be just as useless but this meeting was different. She doubted that they were all going to fight over whom was the baddest here so this meeting just might work.

"Hello sweetheart," Phoebe smiled as she walked into the council room. Before taking her seat she wrapped her arms around @[member="Isley Verd"] and pulled him in for a passionate kiss. She didn't care that they were in the public and everyone was watching. It had been far too long since she had gotten to do that and she wasn't going to miss the opportunity just because they were in a meeting. She hoped that he didn't mind her display of affection too much as she knew sometimes he could be private.

Letting go of him Phoebe took her seat and folded her hands in front of her. The rest of the meeting she would keep her hands to herself after all they did have important things to talk about during this meeting. "Hello everyone."

 

[Feena]

The tapping of the Archons fingers reached a piercing crescendo. She did not even look the direction of her husband. He had arrived. That was all that mattered. But she was not about to lose face for an instant, not here. She was a professional through and through.

But what did irritate her a little was the rather... childish display of affection by Mister Verd and that woman. His wife, was she? She honestly hadn't paid enough attention to his personal life.
The tapping of her fingers stopped cold, and the silence was deafening.

"...Mister Verd," Feena sighed, quietly, so as not to draw too much attention, but with enough warning to ensure her point would be made, "Discretion, please. This is not the place for... that."

 

[Serian Loria]

The summons had come as a surprise to the ruby eyed Master, he hadn’t been aware that he’d have a seat in any position of authority. When he entered he looked around, making note of those who has already arrived and then the table itself, it certainly was an interesting concept. He was wearing a long sleeved white shirt, black vest, black pants and black shoes. He’d not yet quite settled in and as a result had yet to fully embrace the new formal attire he’d been given. Still, for all that, he still was dressed nicely for it wasn’t in his usually manner to appear anywhere and not look his best for a first impression.

In one hand he had a journal and pen, he typically took notes and it helped in keeping track of anything that might be important for anything he read he always remembered. He didn’t say anything, he only knew Isley and even then not well, still, the man had his loyalties. He gave him a nod just as he took one of the empty seats, sitting back and placing his journal, pen and hands on top of the table. His lit ruby gaze then studied those present, his expression was neutral, for now he would just observe.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

Ember took a seat, and grunted a hello. Verd -- the Mando one -- got a nod as family, and Feena got a slightly deeper one as his boss.

He'd done his time training folks, pacifying worlds. These days he rolled with the Mandalorians more often than not, and he wore their armor. A buy'ce hung from his belt. Getting Alliera back in his life had helped solidify his ties to CIS again; he wasn't averse to showing up when called.

 

[Salem Norongachi]

Sooner than expected. That was the only way Norongachi could describe the invitation from Isley. Now he was on Roon, striding through the corridors of a Confederate stronghold toward a meeting with the Grand Council.

The Force adept wore a simple black shirt and trousers, over which he wore a similarly dark suit jacket. He hadn't been issued a uniform and if he were honest with himself he'd have probably burned it if they had.

Sal's viridian gaze swept the room as he entered, his hands clasping loosely at the base of his spine as he took an empty spot at the circular table. He knew no one aside from Verd and the redhead that had awoken him from his millennial slumber but he figured that soon enough he'd know them. Whether that was for better or ill, only the Force knew.

For now he remained silent until some semblance of order was returned to this apparent "grand" council gathering.

 

[Manu Xextos]

The room was graced by another of the Confederacy's Masters as Manu Xextos strolled in wearing the white cloak and signet of his long deceased wife's Royal Ehani title. Once Manu Kae, the recently awoken Echani Widower found himself a seat but did not sit yet. He was too busy trying not to let his stomach furrow in knots from the display of @[member="Phoebe Verd"].

"Timing. Got to work on my timing." He grimaced, for once agreeing with the dreadfully difficult to figure out @[member="Feena Mason"]: Public displays of that nature in a meeting of a Council this mighty should have waited for a more private moment. 'Why do I always walk in on the wrong time with this guy? First lightning, then the Isdihar, now this? What is it with Mandos and women?'

The Curate and former Jedi Healer finally did take his seat, stroked his goatee and watched the others in the room to monitor body language & figure out who he was working with over the long term. What could be worthy of a collective of brilliant minds? Hopefully enough to distract him from the idea of his insane Sith mother flying through the universe on her own ship, the unsanctimoniously christened Isdihar-I'Timad. He sent a telepathic message in his thick mental baritone to @[member="Isley Verd"], 'I'm watching you like a Hawk-Bat, Darth. Tread. Lightly.'

 

[Vorhi Alestrani]

Vorhi his sat in his chair. There was a plaque, no larger than anyone else's, that simply read "Speaker Alestrani." He had to attend many hearings as speaker of the Council, and now he had to handle a rather severe one. He nodded to everyone in the room, unable to force a smile concerning this particularly unpleasant hearing, and waited. He would let others sit and gather before he began what was sure to be a difficult and unpleasant meeting.
He cleared his throat and nodded after Feena. "While I'm not typically the type to be concerned about decorum, we may wish to focus on the task at hand, given the seriousness of this matter," he said calmly.

 

[Vorhi Alestrani]

(double post, computer is evil tonight. Feel free to delete)

 

[Darth Metus]

One by one, the Masters and Seneschels of the Templar Order filed in and seated themselves at the Round Table. First to arrive was @[member="Curupira Hawk"], the second in command of all things Ket Van Derveld. Today, she represented him as Seneschel of the Illuminati; a role that only a handful knew existed. Of course, as the Lord Inquisitor was always busy with Force-knows-what, she and Isley both knew that his presence was...more than likely not happening. "Good afternoon Curupira," said the Mandalorian with a smile, "I'm glad that you're able to be here in his stead." Next to arrive was the Archon, @[member="Feena Mason"], who seemed just as...impatient...as ever. Though he'd never verbally admit it, the fact that she drummed her nails upon the surface of the table grated against Isley's own patience. Instead, he simply regarded her with the same, warm smile and a respectful nod of acknowledgement; then repeated the gesture upon the arrival of her husband @[member="Keter"].

Then came @[member="Phoebe Verd"], who threw decorum out the window and planted a kiss upon his lips. Isley's eyes widened and upon being released from the affectionate gesture, he gently shook his head. "There's a time and place for that love." he chided softly yet firmly, stepping aside so that he might pull out the seat for her. Upon sitting, he'd scoot her seat forward a bit and assume his place at his own chair; praying to the Force that the display of affection did not get called out...Yep, wishful thinking. Feena whipped out her metaphorical RPG and shot him out of the sky. "You're absolutely right, my sincerest apologies." he said simply, turning his attention to the newest arrivals. There was @[member="Serian Loria"], a relatively new member of the Order, and @[member="Ember Rekali"], one of the oldest. The former received a simple nod of acknowledgment whilst the latter received a slight wave; a filial sort of thing.

Last to arrive was @[member="Salem Norongachi"], a man personally liberated from his slumber by Isley's own hands, the Speaker of the Council: @[member="Vorhi Alestrani"], and a Curate by the name @[member="Manu Xextos"]. First, the Mandalorian gave a mental response to the Echani who so...bluntly...poked his mind, saying: You have nothing to fret about, of this I assure you. We shall discuss this matter after the meeting. Fair enough? With that said, he went on to acknowledge what the Speaker had stated and clasped his hands together.

"You're absolutely right," he breathed, "I call to order this meeting of the Grand Council. The first matter on the agenda is one that will shed new light on the attack which was launched against Roon months ago, resulting in our placing a bounty on the head of @[member="Jorus Merrill"]. Personally, it was always a source of immense confusion as to why a man, CEO of a company born in what would become Confederate space, would risk life and limb to assault the Templar Sanctum; and injure one of our own." Isley slid his eyes over to Vorhi before continuing. "However, I have received information from the horse's mouth. Recordings. Testimonies. And an explanation from Jorus himself." he said, tapping upon the micro-datapad affixed to his wrist in order to cause a projection to emblazon itself in the midst of the room.

Numerous screens played alongside each other, projected with hazy blue light. They depicted scenes of torment, testimonials by the victims, and other telling evidence that led to a single conclusion: Daxton Bane was far from the innocent man he portrayed himself to be. "Ladies and gentlemen, we have evidence to support a simple truth. Master Daxton Bane karked with one of Jorus Merrill's own. The end result was something to be expected when a dear friend is tortured by an individual and then seemingly sheltered by an Order. I am in no way condoning what Mr. Merrill did, but...I understand. Before us is an injustice that, up until very recently, we were ignorant of. It is for this reason that the good we have done in the Galaxy is looked down upon as a farce by some. Now, we must act and purge this injustice from our name. And so, I motion for Daxton Bane to be stripped of his membership within the Templar Order and be made accountable for what he has done."

"All in favor? All opposed?"

Spoiler

• @[member="Vorhi Alestrani"]
• @[member="Manu Xextos"]
• @[member="Serian Loria"]
• @[member="Salem Norongachi"]
• @[member="Feena Mason"]
• @[member="Phoebe Verd"]
• @[member="Ember Rekali"]
• @[member="Keter"]
• @[member="Curupira Hawk"]

 

[Serian Loria]

The situation seemed a shade more complicated than what Isley had provided and, since he didn’t plan on moving on anything till he had the full story he raised his hand slightly. “I would like to know more about what happened before I make a decision.”

While it would make it very clear he was out of the loop about the incident, he didn’t care. The fact was he just couldn’t justify making a life altering event for another individual till he understood everything. He hadn’t taken part in the events leading up to this meeting and he wasn’t about to just follow along. He just hoped Isley would agree to fill him in quickly, with all the key details, so that he’d be better informed.


@[member="Isley Verd"]

 

[Manu Xextos]

'Drinks and steak, we figure this out or neither of us are standing without crutches. And I guarantee you. I heal faster.' The thinly veiled threat had more to do with the long standing feud between Echani and Mandalorian than any supreme dislike for @[member="Isley Verd"]. Who was Manu kidding, though? The man was frelling with his mentally ill mother. Leading her on, tainting her when all Manu wanted was to give @[member="Ahani Najwa"] rest and recoup. To make her better. Isley's dissonant mind had done the unforgivable in the Curate's eyes: He got between Doctor and patient, especially with that patient being his torture-survivor mother.

"Why did @[member="Daxton Bane"] do it? Karked up evil bast-dude or was there a Confederacy-related reason? Was he involved in poorly planned espionage and we're hanging him in the cold without a sweater, or was he being a sadistic xhar'cha?" Manu leaned forward, putting his elbow on the table. "Regardless of his reasons, Jorill.. Meril is it? Had he the right information he should have come to us first. Merrill is still in the wrong for attacking Roon on the behest of dealing with one man, even a Master like Bane. Should we start chopping off our own limbs in retribution for an attack which happened within our borders to our innocents, we're weakening our position."

He eyed the room, his silver-and-blue Echani stare held not the cold of space or that of a consummate politician, but the doting care of the Physician. "Obviously with this evidence Bane must be brought to Justice. What precedent we set with that justice will define this Grand Council for the Confederacy and the other Galactic factions. Are we going to allow a renegade to exact our justice for us? Are we going to be the servants of other peoples' right cause or our own? Bane is a citizen of the CIS is he not? We set the terms of his sentencing. We keep him under CIS control, and as much as the motive was true on @[member="Jorus Merrill"]'s part, we cannot let Renegade Justice stand within our borders. They have a problem with one of our people, they come to us. They get our help dealing with it, with the proper evidence. Merrill must be warned. An example, if you will, not of violence but of dictation. He answers for his bit. We have more responsibility to our citizens than to a rebel who plays judge and executioner of his own will and express.

As long as conditions are met to ensure this situation does not weaken our Galactic image, but increase the strength of the whole, I accept. What method of incarceration or punishment were you thinking, @[member="Isley Verd"]? Just kick him out, leave him fallow, or what? What do you all think?"

Many words for a man whose race had little verbal language. @[member="Serian Loria"] @[member="Vorhi Alestrani"] @[member="Salem Norongachi"] @[member="Ember Rekali"] @[member="Feena Mason"]

 

[Ashin Varanin]

@[member="Manu Xextos"]

Ember coughed a little.

"Xextos, just a heads up about him coming to us. I did the cleanup for this particular mess, and when this went bad, it went bad when he was doing that -- most of the witnesses whose evidence we just saw were people in that bar, who at least claimed to be there to give this evidence. @[member="Vorhi Alestrani"] was there, he can tell you more. The way Merrill and his people are spinning it, they came to us, made the claim, brought the witnesses, and the Templars who were there closed ranks around Bane, said that all this stuff-" He waved at the medical records, the testimonials, everything. "-all of that could get faked. I've got no love for Merrill or the Rebel Alliance crew, but Bane's clart was all extracurricular far as I was ever cleared to know. Torture for torture's sake.

"You all know I run with the Mandos, that I helped take Dromund Kaas, tore down the Citadel myself, got their records. Plus Mando records got him pegged. Fether was a Sith Lord of the Empire with a reputation for torture, before he joined us and quote-unquote reformed. Killed a fethton of people on Mando worlds, abducted, tortured, raped some during his Empire days." Not people he was going to name, but he knew'em. Personally. "We shoulda known better than to let that snake in. I knew better, and I didn't speak up. This one's on us as much as it's on that bastard Merrill."

 

[Curupira Hawk]

Golden gaze noted @[member="Feena Mason"] and gave a nod in the woman's direction. She remembered seeing her at the group training but she hadn't actually found out her name. Maybe it had been said but so many names were being thrown out then so who could possibly blame her? Then something in the corner of her eye drew her attention and Curupira looked to the side, noticing another male there, @[member="Keter"]. The man seemed just go on his way and take a seat by the other female already present. she just made a mental shrug to that. Isley greeted her right back and answered to her words, getting a nod and a smile from the redhead.

@[member="Phoebe Verd"] came in next. Curupira looked to the doors and then followed her blonde, only to notice the public display attention with the trainer. She couldn't help herself then but chuckle. The redhead definitelly approved that, without a doubt. A greeting to everyone followed and she smiled. "Hi," she responded, keeping the smile but her cheerful voice was usual though not as loud as it tended to be. Curupira knew to use her inside voice. And oh wow, the black haired woman seemed to have problem that. Discretion? The frowned slightly. Silly.

Others followed inside, Ruu barely taking in their apperance of the two men before @[member="Salem Norongachi"] came. Oh, look. A familiar face. Her smile kept on her face as she nodded in his direction. Another face there, Curupira remembered that man from the group training as well. If she rememebred well enough, he was the one with the lightsaber lessons. Maybe.

Speaker Alestrani. She snapped her head to the voice, seeing @[member="Vorhi Alestrani"] there. The one who talked when she got Gnarls. Since his next words were in support of the one who had issue with public displays of affection, Curupira decided then and there she wasn't a fan. She didn't like people who protested like that to two people who were clearly a thing. It was a greeting, why they were so judgemental was around her. Finally, she rolled her eyes. But since Isley agreed with them all, Curupira pushed her chair out and took a seat not too far from where Phoebe Verd was seated, a couple of seats between them.

The meeting finally started. Curupira left her eyes on @[member="Isley Verd"] as he told why it was called. The first subject on the list was shedding light on an attack on Roon. Curupira didn't actually know what he was talking about right there so she remained quiet as he explained there was a bounty on the head someone called Jorus Merill. Never heard of him. The man launched an assault on the Templar Sanctum and injured one of them own. However, now there was new information. The screen came alive, showing everything Isley had collected. Curupira leaned forward , her elbows resting gently on her table before the lower part of her arms lay as well, her fingers wrapping around her elbows. Then she watched and listened. Scenes, testimoney, evidence. They all pointed to this Daxton Bane. By the time it was all over, Curupira's eyes were narrowed and she kept looking at the screen that had first gone transparent and than finally turned itself off. She only moved from her frozen frame when Isley finally talked about. He did a sort of recap of this event, somewhat summarizing events that they had been showed and told. Like the torture of the friend. So, Jorus practically destroyed the Sanctum. Sure, he could have made it more directed but at that point, could he actually think rationally, she wondered? Isley was already proposing they strip Bane from his membership and make accountable for his actions?

The man she didn't know wanted more information. @[member="Manu Xextos"] on the other hand wanted to debate reasons? Curupira's head snapped at his direction as he spoke, asking whether it was a mission or was he just being sadistic? Regardless of his reasons...? She arched a brow and continued to watch him as he switched right back to the man who had ruined structure and shot one. We're going to focus on the one who messed a bit of bricks? The redhead fought the urge to answer already to the man as he kept talking. Her golden gaze zeroed on the man, she caught his glance for a moment as he seemed to be looking around the room. Bane should have been brought to Justice, he said. Servants to others? Her gaze nerrowed again. He spoke of justice but what Curupira really herd was his and ours in all that. @[member="Ember Rekali"] also added to all that the evidence had been broght to them but he was accused of faking evidence.

She blinked finally and looked ahead into the empty space of head of her. She inhaled deep for a moment and cleared her mind. Then finally spoke because she honestly couldn't stay quiet. "Whatever Bane's reasoning is for what he did, it should not, does not and will not excuse him. He needs to be brought to justice as you put it," her eyes found Manu Xextos again at that point before she continued "but that's wrong. He needs to face the punishment for his crime. As far as Jorus is concerned, sure, slap him on the wrist. But his crime is that of loyalty and affection. It could have been a lot worse than what it was." Curupira couldn't even begin to imagine what she would be capable of something happened to Ket. Not for a second. The thought aloned terrified her to the very core of her being. Her head turned to look at Isley now, before she added her two sense. "Strip him of his rank, make sure he gets sentenced and he actually receives his punishment. And since this has been brought up before," this time she made note of @[member="Ember Rekali"]'s words, "may this serve as a lesson to all. Just because things can be faked, they don't have to be. Just because someone is your own, doesn't mean they're angels." With that, she leaned back into the low back of her chair. She was done with her oppinion on the subject. Well, actually, as far as Curupira was concerned, an eye for an eye should have been fair. But somehow, she didn't think this lovely bunch would be that open to that idea but they could conclude from her use of the word punishment what they wished.

@[member="Serian Loria"] @[member="Ember Rekali"]

 

[Ket Van-Derveld]

"Death."

The voice of the Lord Inquisitor nearly boomed across the hall, as his heavy footfalls echoed shortly afterward. He was one to stay in the shadows, to watch and listen when it came to such matters. He had heard all he needed to hear. He didn't care about things such as reasons. Reasons were trivial. The actions were what spoke for themselves. A man could be acting in the galaxy's best interest as far as he was concerned, if he were sloppy enough to get caught, he deserved his fate doubly so. Such was the way of the galaxy. Be prepared to face the consequences of your actions, even if you knew you would never be caught. Always cover your rear end, no matter what. Clad in old school MX-00 Templar Armor, he removed his hood slowly, the black leather gloved hands moving almost in slow motion as he looked to those gathered. Truth be told, he could care less who was in attendance. His was a position of non-existence as far as The COnfederacy in general was concerned. He was a non entity. Yet there he stood, directly behind his mate @[member="Curupira Hawk"].

Fingers curled one after the other around her shoulders, and he leaned down, kissing her temple gently, letting his forked tongue flit at her earlobe for a split second, before letting his eyes make contact with @[member="Feena Mason"], as to spit in her face at her disapproval of affections in such circumstances. Letting his fingers trail across Curupira's shoulders, he moved to the seat next to her, and sat down. As he did, he flicked his wrists backward, and the hilts of two identical sabers shot forth, gripping them with inhuman reflex. He sat them on the table in front of him, looking to @[member="Isley Verd"].

"Those that violate not only our laws, but our very ideals...they do so brazenly. They don't give one single kark about what it is we are. They do not care nor respect the Confederacy, and they sure as the depths of hades could give a damn what we think. If we let this go with anything less than his head severed from his body and placed upon a spike where all can see, then we will look utterly weak. We have done so much to abolish inhumanity, but it makes us ALL look like fools when such transgressions are even permitted to occur, let alone the consequences of such actions. Mark my words..."

Ket then looked to the rest of the Grand Council, pausing a moment. The darkness within him radiated like the light of the twin suns of Tatooine upon it's scorched surface during high noon. His rage was nearly palpable. "We will see more of the same, from those we do not expect it from, and far worse than what has already occured. Send a message that tells the entire Galaxy. Do. Not. Kark. With. Us."

 

[Feena]

Feena tried not to look, or notice that there seemed to be so many varying opinions about something that should not have been an issue at all, but the air felt tense. And then the inquisitor stepped in, pointedly slobbering on his... wife? Girlfriend? Another relationship the Archon was too busy to care about. She would write him up for it later, a formal warning. She was not one that could be stepped on, but she was not about to stomp her feet and get angry about it either. No. It could be done in private.
Affection had it's time and place. But that was not here. Not now.

The Archon listened, but stayed silent as she took it all in.

"...On some level I do agree with our Lord Inquisitor," she spoke at last, "Letting this go will make us look foolish. What I do not agree with is... everything else. To fight violence with violence is madness. I refuse to believe that this is the only course of action that will keep our beloved Confederacy intact. Whatever we decide as an appropriate punishment, it will be after a fair trial. We will not sacrifice our values, our very essence. To do so in the name of preservation, will only destroy what image we have left."

She spoke calmly, carefully. She was tired. If that wasn't clear enough by the dark circles under her eyes, then it was the slight shake in her voice that would give it away.

"And I would just like to say one more thing, before we go any further," she sighed deeply, feeling somewhat... disappointed that she felt the need to even bring this up, "If anyone here feels they have something better to do-"
She let her gaze flicker to the Inquisitor, and then Isley Verd himself, "Then you may consider yourself excused."

She took a deep breath, cleared her throat and folded her hands neatly in her lap, waiting, just on the off chance anyone really felt like testing her this time.

 

[Manu Xextos]

"Thank you, Master Rekali, your information helps clear my head and conscience. I agree, Merrill did defend his own. But hitting us to get at Bane? No. We still cannot let a vigilante hit our places, regardless of their reasons. We owe our citizens, but what would you both have us do with Merrill?"

The thundering angst of @[member="Ket Van Derveld"] crawled up Manu's spine with a singular proclivity for violent darkness. Had it been the same, those Sith of the past he battled tooth and claw, would it always be the same and now with no Temple to affiliate, the Templar dug his fingers into the fabric of his pant leg to halt the descending dark.

"@[member="Daxton Bane"] needs to be brought to Justice by this Council. I'm a new member and it's no secret that before I came to the Confederacy, I woke up from the Krystallsøvn and started killing Sith like it was the last day of my life and my family was on the chopping block. I don't tolerate torture. I'm also not a pacifist. They're both uncrossable lines for those in power, especially when there are too many ways of receiving information that don't require such disastrous consequences. What I mean is if he's to be ended, we should end him. He was in our fold, he's our problem. Not Jorus Merrill's."

He glanced at @[member="Feena Mason"] again, the fatigue wafted off her in waves almost as powerful as her distain for the actions of certain members present. It was enough to give the Empathic healer the beginnings of a migraine. Maybe he should have offered to fulfill his dictate as Curate once again and heal the woman, but Manu remembered the last time:

Feena Mason didn't want help. It was enough to leave the man shaking his head. He chewed on his cheek, settling back in his chair and ruminating for a time with the words being said, and a moment occurred that Manu knew as the first:


"I agree with @[member="Ket Van Derveld"]. Daxton Bane is a menace we cannot afford to handle lightly. What makes us think the man would last incarceration to stand trial? The more likely event is a fight to the death to detain him. As a Doctor I see disease and injury daily. A mediocre doctor will wait and see the body attempt to fix itself. A good doctor will treat the ailment as it appears and some will find the cause. The best doctors will proactively treat their patients and ensure no cancer will strike their bodies, nor diseases take their bones.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we must be diligent." He placed his two lightsabers on the table, one a shining near-platinum white, which hummed even then of a healing Light, the other marred and battered, black and wicked with jaded angles and the alarum of many battles.

@[member="Isley Verd"] @[member="Curupira Hawk"] @[member="Serian Loria"]n @[member="Ember Rekali"]