Ask Plot Naboo Bloody Business

[Kotor Eng]

The aristocracy can pretend to be sunshine and rainbows all they want; everyone knows that power and wealth breeds corruption. Petty rivalries, political feuds, and all manner of issues between noble houses are plentiful. To begin, the Sith Eternal will target one of the less-powerful houses of the Royal Houses of Naboo: House Parnelli. It is no secret that they seek greater power and authority among the other houses, so we will offer our aid. There is an ongoing feud between House Parnelli and House Tapalo over the firstborn heir of the former being slighted by the heir of the latter, but neither house can openly settle the blood feud without losing support. We will offer our services and assassinate the heir to House Tapalo however we see fit so that the heir to House Parnelli offers his loyalty and support to the Menagerie. Bonus points if the assassination cannot be linked back to the cult cell nor House Parnelli.

The head of House Parnelli, a haughty human by name of Cavalas, sat on his favorite divan and seemed to be 3D-modelling a holograpic version of a palace extension when suddenly the holo flickered and two figures appeared instead. "What the-" he cried and yet didn't stir as he was both curious and arrogant enough to indulge whoever had sliced into his datapad.

One of these two figures, Kotor Ren, was wearing unnassuming black clothes that accentuated and helped emphasize the one memorable thing about him, the mask. "Good evening," the Serenno-born human said with a slight joy in his voice. The noble's eyes narrowed, thinking the image was familiar, but then again he had often secured the services of dark individuals like assassins and... well, assassins. After a moment of inner reflection the noble then smiled and nodded, "I take it you have an offer?"

Cavalas, whose hands had been behind his back, now showed the noble his vibro-sword by bringing it around his body slowly and putting the pointy end against the floor. "That we do."

@Dread

 

[Lilith Vye]

Lately Lilith had used her slicing skills again, so she wasn't out of practice when she secured this line. She planned to delete any crumbs it left behind too, but first they needed to get their message across.

She too was wearing unassuming black clothing, but her mask was a lot plainer than her current partner. It was exactly like her half-mask but it covered her entire face. It was a plain, dull gray, void of any features or markings. There was meaning behind why she choose such a 'design' for any mask she put on her face, but that she never planned to explain to anyone.

"We will deal with an issue for you," she finally spoke up. "One I'm certain plagues your mind at this very moment." She'd done some quick information gathering before making contact, and found out the the first-born of House Tapalo had recently caused some real trouble for the Parnelli house head. It wasn't hard to find out since the rumor was everywhere. It was trouble on a personal level involving paying women, but trouble none the less.

This prompted a raise of the house head eyebrow. By the timing and careful wording, he realized these weren't amateurs, or didn't appear to be so anyway. Though he was skeptical, at least they werent trying to get him to openly admit anything over a line that might be being recorded; it gave him some encouragement. "And what exactly would this cost me?"

"Nothing, we simply want to show you we can be good... friends," she answered.

The house head smiled in that way nobles did when their egos were stroked. He was still wary about being offered a free service, but it made sense that someone wanted his 'friendship' so he answered simply, "Do as you please."

Lilith cut off the line after that. "I want to find out if the heir also has female friends. Maybe we could get one of them to do our dirty work," she said to her partner.

@Ecclessey

 

[Kotor Eng]

The conversation was short and largely unmemorable. Kotor supposed it was perfect in its simplicity, though they failed to demand a favor owed and 'friendship' meant nothing if the upcoming assassination didn't lead back to the Nabooan noble anyway. They would've been better off if they succeeded to blackmail him in the end. Kotor could think or want these things all day, but the call the ended before he could care to interrupt. Now they'd have to make sure the noble understood the situation after his 'friendship' was secured.

With the holo-call having ended, both cultists now found themselves standing on the edge of House Tapalo's extravagant garden. Peaceful even under the cover of night, the perfectly maintained plants and trees arched over a tiled path while thirteen tiny waterfalls created not only ambiance, but the perfect noise to cover their footsteps.

The former servant looked at Lilith, his brow furrowed underneath his mask and the sword in his hand seeming useless suddenly. "That could take weeks," he replied as a matter of fact. "If you wan to manipulate someone I'm sure we can find a female servant on the grounds." It wasn't that hard to have a noble desire a servant and the latter not being too keen with the implications. That's how Kotor got his bad start in this world.


@Dread

 

[Lilith Vye]

Lilith raised an eyebrow, sensing his strong reaction but nodded anyway. It sounded like a sound plan, besides it was likely one or more of the female servants were already lady friends of the heir anyway.

"Very well," she answered plainly. "How does a murder-suicide sound? I think it might tie up the scene neatly." Both them combined could influence her mind enough to make it happen, she'd done something similar with Talak before.

While she should be invested in this, enough to have a strong reaction like this Sith, she wasn't really. She just wanted it to be done and over so she could continue with her other projects.

But, despite the disinterest, because of her personality she still wanted it done neatly. She could've sliced into the estate, taken out the cameras and stabbed the man but that'd leave a lot of questions, perhaps enough to lead them to suspect the Sith. Maybe there were ways around that, but if the servant did it there'd at least be an answer, perhaps enough for the rangers to not sniff around much.

"Lead the way," she added, giving him the chance to take point. His suggestion was sound, and she wasn't that invested.

@Ecclessey

 

[Kotor Eng]

Kotor nodded as he started to move further into the garden and towards the estate. He could sense his partner's general desinterest whether through the Force or her inactive demeanor and it really didn't motivate him either. They were there not for the Eternal or for the glory of the old Sith Lords, but primarily for the vanity and ambition of a fellow cultist who sought to crown herself Queen of Naboo, no doubt. Kotor was reminded of when he first met her; it was in the Unknown Regions during a gathering where the Eternal executed a man just because he desired the Sith to reintroduce themselves to the galaxy. It had made no lasting impression and merely a month later several red lightsabers were spotted in open defiance to the Eternal's command.

Come to think of it, wasn't one of the cultists on Nar Shaddaa similarly built like his companion today? One of them that betrayed the cult in their inability to keep a secret.. their constant failure to keep a low profile. No masks could hide incompetence, hence why the Knights of Ren changed leadership so often.

Their path was suddenly blocked by an outer wall of the estate proper, showing no windows or doors on ground level, but with a balcony on the second floor overlooking the gardens. "Guess that's our way in," Kotor remarked matter-of-factly and then jumped, using the Force to enhance it and thus easily reaching said balcony. He landed smoothly and and immediately moved to the open sliding doors.

Inside they found an empty bedroom and on the right wall a painting of Theed that Kotor guessed was worth a fortune. Here he waited for Lilith to join him.

@Dread