#taxation of trade routes

[sw5w]

Vote Now! Vote Now!

STAR WARS EPISODE I: The Phantom Menace 01:29:11

And here is the most noticeable E.T. cameo. The Senator is named Grebleips (Spielberg backwards) and the name of their planet, Brodo Asogi, comes from the sequel novel to E.T. The Book of the Green Planet. It was based on a story by Steven Spielberg. They were only called "Children of the Green Planet" in the book though, the name Asogian was added into Legends later by Abel G. Peña in his novella SkyeWalkers: A Clone Wars Story.

Other names for E.T.'s planet named in the book were: - Vomestra - Od-Di-Pa 5 - Tum Lux O-ty - Alata Zerka Which all translated to "Green Planet". Personally, I think Brodo Asogi sounds the best, so I'm glad James Luceno chose to go with that when he included them in Cloak of Deception!

[dtwof]

watching a star war

[moneeb0930]

AFRICA, a continent rich in history and culture, was a diverse and vibrant place 100 years before the colonial era began. The period prior to European colonization of Africa was characterized by the existence of powerful and sophisticated civilizations, trade networks, and diverse societies. During this time, Africa was home to thriving kingdoms and empires, such as the Kingdom of Ghana, the Mali Empire, the Benin Empire,and the Great Zimbabwe Empire.

One of the remarkable aspects of Africa before colonialism was the economic prosperity and trade networks that existed across the continent. The Trans-Saharan trade routes connected the North African coast with the interior of the continent, facilitating the exchange of goods, ideas, and cultures. The trade in gold, salt, ivory, and other resources contributed to the wealth of African societies and enabled the development of urban centers and marketplaces.

In addition to trade, agriculture played a significant role in the pre-colonial African societies. Many regions practiced advanced farming techniques, growing crops such as grains, yams, and millet. Livestock farming was also a common practice, with cattle, sheep, and goats being raised for food, milk, and trade. The agricultural surplus generated by these practices supported the growth of populations and the development of complex societies.

Socially and culturally, pre-colonial Africa was characterized by a rich tapestry of traditions, languages, and belief systems. The continent was home to a diverse array of ethnic groups, each with its own customs, art forms, and social structures. Oral traditions, storytelling, and music played a vital role in communicating histories and values within African societies. Religious practices were also diverse, ranging from indigenous animist beliefs to Islam and Christianity, which were introduced through trade and migration.

The political landscape of Africa before colonialism was marked by the presence of powerful kingdoms and empires that governed vast territories. These political entities were often organized hierarchically, with rulers holding significant authority over their subjects. The Kingdom of Ghana, for example, controlled trade routes and amassed wealth through taxation and tribute. The Mali Empire under Mansa Musa was renowned for its wealth, power, and intellectual pursuits.

In conclusion, Africa 100 years before colonialism was a continent teeming with cultural diversity, economic prosperity, and political sophistication. The continent's vibrant civilizations and societies thrived through trade, agriculture, and social structures that sustained their way of life. The legacy of pre-colonial Africa continues to influence the continent's present-day cultures, identities, and aspirations, reminding us of the resilience and vitality of Africa's past.

📸 A lady from today Ghana 🇬🇭 adorned in gold jewelry #africa

[david-talks-sw]

Why do a lot of SW fans dislike the Prequel Jedi?

This was going to be the conclusion to this answer about "why a lot of people dislike Mace"... but it's just too long, so I decided to make it a post in its own right.

So why is Mace-- scratch that, why are the Prequel Jedi considered to be "unlikable" by a big chunk of the fandom? Especially when compared to Anakin "I killed a group of children twice" Skywalker.

Overall... I'd say it's three things.

1) Some fans had different expectations.

I touched on this in a recent post: older fans, who are now at least in their 40s, grew up seeing Luke as the ultimate Jedi.

He's Campbell's Hero With A Thousand Faces, up there with King Arthur and Superman. He's, for lack of a better term, the chosen one.

So when the Prequels were announced and they knew they'd get to see the Jedi Knights in their heyday, they expected to see something like the Knights of the Round Table.

A collective of errant warriors who go on exciting adventures, providing aid from place to place. Like Luke Skywalker.

Instead, they got this:

"A bunch of monk/diplomats who sit around talking about taxations and trading routes and measure the Force based on cell organisms."

"They're nothing like Luke Skywalker! What the hell?" (I address why this is inaccurate here)

Then the second film comes out:

"Wait, Jedi can't get married now? So were all those EU books about Luke and Mara Jade bullshit?" (also addressed in above link)

Then the third film comes out:

"Palpatine is right there, why can't they sense him or read his mind? They're Jedi!" (explanation why here)

Also Luke is no longer the Chosen One apparently? Anakin is? How does that work?

Plus, the way they speak, their jargon, is waaaaay too formal, gone are the OT characters talking informal English with American accents and quips. Even the way these new characters speak - and not just the Jedi, the Queen too - seems detached from reality and makes them harder to relate to. (but we're talking about diplomats and royalty, so how else would they be talking?)

2) How adult audiences perceive "morally pure" characters.

Even if one didn't have the pre-concieved notions about the Jedi... they don't seem to impact the adult viewers the right way.

Then again... neither does Barney the Dinosaur.

Many are the conspiracy theories and negative discourse surrounding him (there's even an upcoming documentary about it). You know why? Because he's not meant to be a character for adults, who have outgrown morally black or white characters and are unable to relate to them... his target demographic is children.

They see him and go "I love you, you love me". We see him and go "What the fuck is this guy hiding? What darkness lies beneath that mask of optimism and joy?"

Same goes for the Jedi.

So I'd say what we have, here, is a similar situation as the one in the recent Rick and Morty episode, "Juricksic Mort".

In the episode, a bunch of dinosaurs return to Earth and it turns out they're incredibly selfless, diplomatic, moral and spiritually advanced (kinda like the Jedi!)

Rick's reaction is - you guessed it - "what the fuck are they hiding?"

The dinosaurs turn Earth into a utopia, ending all wars, removing all conflict, bringing about world peace and giving everyone the chance to go on vacation... and everybody hates them for it and eventually wants to see them fail and step down from their pedestal.

The writing emphasizes their superior virtue so much that they actually come across as uptight and patronizing. This is done intentionally, so that it's difficult to find them likeable out-of-universe, and we relate to the earthlings in-universe who react the same way.

Why do the audience and the characters react this way to characters who - again - are good and moral?

Because as Moriarty says in Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows... hidden within the unconscious is an insatiable desire for conflict.

It's why the presence of conflict is so crucial in storytelling.

It's why every scene in good movies presents some form of internal, external or philosophical conflict.

It's why protagonists need flaws to be interesting and relatable. Because we're flawed as well.

Also, the protagonist will eventually have overcome their flaws through an arc.

More importantly, the basis of all conflict, in storytelling, comes from something being out of balance.

And the Jedi are trained to not be that :D !

So on the one hand we have Anakin, a flawed, conflicted character who struggles with his inner balance, and on the other we have the Jedi, who are essentially presented as flawless and balanced.

What will a chunk of the audience do? They:

Won't like the Jedi.

Will project a flaw onto them (more on that in the next section).

Side with Anakin, the one that's as imperfect as the audience is.

Sometimes all of the above.

But the thing is, though... the Jedi we see in the Prequels are not flawless or perfect.

They are, for the most part, characters who have already completed their character arcs, characters who have already confronted their own inner flaws and overcome them.

And whenever these flaws resurface? Well, they've conquered them once, and they have the training, so they do it again.

Example, here's Yoda confronting and overcoming his hubris and inner fears:

Has he done it before, in his almost 900 years? Probably, yeah. But it's not a one-and-done sort of thing.

But the Prequels are not their movies. They're about Anakin.

He's meant to be the more interesting character. And they're meant to be the ones with less flaws, because they're mentor archetypes and the Prequels show an interesting situation wherein the protagonist fails to listen to the mentors and fails to overcome his own flaws, which leads him to - instead - be doomed by them.

3) Issues with the writing.

So, for the people who didn't like the changes but want to like the Prequels, there's a headcanon that seemingly fixes everything:

"The Prequel Jedi... are intentionally written as arrogant, hypocritical moralists. They are meant to come across as dispassionate. I mean, isn’t that what being a Jedi is, apparently? You purge yourself of attachments aka emotions, and act only logically (which was typically-encouraged behavior for a long time, in the US). They've become too systemic and lost their way." And guess what? With this interpretation, "Luke is special again! He's like Qui-Gon in that he found a middle ground between the unfeeling Jedi and the Sith, who have become slaves to their emotions. Like, sure, Anakin can be THE Chosen One, whatever, but Luke? Luke has found the balance, he succeeded where Obi-Wan, Yoda (who wanted Vader dead instead of believing he could be redeemed) and the other Jedi failed. So that's what the Prequels are about: the Jedi's failure."

The issue is, though... it doesn't align with what George intended. (as explained here and here).

But it does use most of the ingredients the films give us. Which - short of unleashing a barrage of George Lucas quotes, interviews and videos - makes it hard to disprove.

Because - seeing as the films aren't about the Jedi, they're about Anakin and his own inner demons - we don't see enough of the Jedi's culture and lifestyle and day-to-day unless it directly relates to Anakin.

So George's very clear idea of how awesome the Jedi are is never truly conveyed or fleshed out and as a result they feel like a group of people who always say "no" to the protagonist. The flawed, passionate and more relatable (by contrast) protagonist.

We get glimpses of it in The Clone Wars, but then it's tarnished by the fact that the Jedi are at war.

Then there's the reads that could easily be disproved... had George been more explicit about what he was going for.

"The Jedi Council bully a 9-year-old." This read could've been avoided had the scene ended with the Jedi telling Anakin that being afraid is normal, but his fear must be conquered otherwise it'll lead to the Dark Side. Which, they do, but in a vague way rather one with a kind empathetic smile.

"Obi-Wan is always berating Anakin, their relationship is tense." The whole movie partially features an arc where their relationship is on the rocks, so removing the tension isn't an option. However, the interpretation that it's been like this for a decade (rather than recently because Anakin reunited with Padmé) could've been avoided if, instead of just a minute-long elevator scene, we maybe saw a set-piece of them on a mission, maybe showing them working in tandem and joking as they escape that nest of gundarks.

More could've been done to frame the Jedi in the positive light thy were meant to be seen under. But again: the movies aren't meant to be about the Jedi.

Though it seems that a lot of people wanted them to be. And maybe that explains the hate re: the Jedi.

Older audiences wanted to see Campbell's Hero they grew up with again, they had a preconceived notion that the Jedi would be wandering, exciting adventurers... instead they got a bunch of "stale" diplomats whose whole job is to avoid conflict and adventure.

So instead of taking the story for what it was - a movie for kids - they projected a "morally gray" narrative that said these characters were flawed and weren't how they were supposed to be in-universe, when the truth is they weren't happy with the characters they witnessed out-of-universe.

[bereft-of-frogs]

last minute 'night of the fire' theory very very long post~

Ngl I'm kind of hoping for 100% flashback to mirror episode 3, partially because I love symmetry and partially because I've been waiting SO LONG for this flashback, I want ALL OF IT. Maybe with a small bridge at the end. Cutting back and forth I think would be too much.

I'm leaning towards the Jedi coming to Brendok either on a completely unrelated mission to the twins or utterly by accident. The leaker that predicted the nude scene in episode 6 (so I now trust them completely lol), said they think the reason the Jedi are dispatched to Brendok 1) might cause a lore complaint 2) connects to TPM and 3) made Sol remind them of Qui-Gon. I can't quite figure out the lore complaint, and the political subplots of TPM don't make sense (nothing about trade routes or taxation fits for why they'd be sent to the seemingly abandoned - except for the coven - Brendok) so I'm not sure about that, but I'm wondering if it follows TPM's plot of being on the way back to Coruscant from a mission of some kind and somehow being sidetracked? Or they're just assigned there to check up on the coven or they're investigating something, or searching for something, but I don't think it initially has anything to do with the twins BECAUSE:

then yeah, not unlike Qui-Gon in TPM who meets Anakin and is like 'nice, side quest' when they land on Tatooine, Sol just happens upon the girls in the forest and accepts this new padawan acquisition side quest. This could also explain why Indara initially takes the lead in the first confrontation (she's higher ranked, in command of the primary operation), but then keeps deferring to Sol about what he saw and how he wants to proceed with the test.

I also believe that, like in episode 3, what we're going to see on screen is for the most part objective truth. Popular theory is that Osha had things literally altered in her memory, but if that was the case, and we were meant to be seeing things from her perspective exclusively, we wouldn't have all the scenes that she had no way of witnessing. I think we're meant more to wonder about what context we're missing, rather than the essential veracity what's being shown to the audience. (*with possibly Mae in her room, who does seem out of character, that could be a vision of some kind, I'll cop to that one)

like the scene where they hear something in the reactor room and Koril goes to look and doesn't find anything. We're just missing the context, which I think is Sol spying on them (or whoever is shown in the trailer scaling the exterior of the fortress, I'm inclined to say Sol though)

I do NOT think the Council or Vernestra ordered them to do anything. There's been a lot of 'the Council ordered them to wipe out the witches' theories floating around and that makes 0 sense, both because in the show a big thing is confessing to the Council, and because Headland keeps saying one of the issues being explored is how far-flung these missions get and the lack of oversight. They were operating independently, probably without good communications (BIG high republic theme, that the long-distance communications networks are shaky at best, and we saw last episode they're still not great), and had to make decisions in the field they independently chose to cover up. Vernestra also really does not seem to know anything about what happened besides their cover story.

I also still don't think it's a conscious, premeditated decision even among just the four to kill anyone. I think there's probably an argument over the girls, the coven overrides Aniseya and won't let Osha leave, the Jedi push back on that because Osha clearly really wants to leave, and things escalate from there. With the spell on the table...yeah I just don't see this as that simplistic a situation as 'the Jedi just decide to slaughter everyone because reasons'.

Already posted a longer version of this, but still feeling good about my theory that the coven casts a spell on Kelnacca (at the very least) to puppet him into the fight, Sol steps in to keep him from killing Torbin, and Indara attacks/kills Aniseya to break the spell (which possibly rebounds and takes out the rest of the coven). Would cover why the witches all seem to die at once, why Aniseya's body is separate, and why Mae accuses Indara of attacking the unarmed (she doesn't think of her mother's magic as a weapon, while in Indara's eyes, she's eliminating a threat to their lives)

I'm a little shakier on this one, but I'm inclined to speculate (ok I just would really, really like this) that they do a Parent Trap (Jedi and surviving witch/possible Sith each taking one twin) and one of the reasons they want to cover it up is because they know there is something left back on Brendok for Osha (counter to Sol's sus line 'there's nothing back there'), but they want to make the decision easier for her or they've specifically cut a deal to each keep one twin and stay out of each other's way. (Could explain Indara's 'this isn't a road you want to go down' if they'd agreed to all stay separated...but also that was probably just a Matrix reference lol...)

That would also be a reason they don't want the Council to know. Making deals with the Sith (or any dark side group) and leaving an innocent child with them? That would be BAD, especially given how Vernestra reacted to the revelation Mae was still alive. Killing a dark-side coven that was threatening them? Yes also bad. But is it 'hide from the Council for 16 years while wracked with guilt' bad? Especially because the Jedi aren't particularly into punitive justice, it's not like they're going to be executed or something. They all (minus Sol) more or less exile themselves anyways. I can't quite figure why they keep this secret while they're so haunted. There has to be another layer to it, possibly something to protect Osha. (Sith keep making deals in this series...was this another one? Though the Jedi probably would not know they were Sith.) (Ok that last part was really just spitballing.)

I'm so looking forward to finally finding out but I am going to miss the mystery! I guess there will be a few things remaining to guess about the finale, but 'what happened the night of the fire' has really been the core mystery for me and I'm a little sad there will be no more theorizing. And I have to wait until Autumn for the next High Republic book???? Tragic.

I guess we'll all find out in a few hours. I'm gonna go see MaXXXine first though.

*I am going back on one thing, ok so either the initial reason for the assignment to Brendok is what I thought above, initially unrelated to the twins and connecting to Qui-Gon's side quest vibes in TPM, or they ARE specifically sent for the girls because of the prophecy. That could raise a lore complaint among the kind who were freaking out about Anakin and the prophecy back when episode 3 aired, and that could connect Sol and Qui-Gon. But I don't know how much these writers know or care about Qui-Gon's prophecy side project, it hasn't been brought up at all in the series. And like the main critique you CAN'T make about the show is that it doesn't telegraph its twists. It seems unlikely that they'd toss a massive curve-ball in at the last act. Plus, it really doesn't seem like the Jedi know beforehand that the twins were created in any other way than uh, traditional methods (Indara asking where their father is). I'm not sure how I feel about this one, I don't love the prophecy thing in general, but that might close the 'lore complaint' hole I'm struggling with. It would just fall under a general 'I would have liked more foreshadowing' like a lot of theories I'm kind of meh on, but wouldn't totally ruin things for me. But honestly, given how much they freaked out about a characters noncanonical age...a lore complaint could really be anything at this point.

And all the interview material about a 'lack of oversight' still makes me lean more towards 'they got sent out to do something unrelated and decided to pivot without checking in first and got in over their heads' which is also fairly in-line with what we see happening with other High Republic Jedi, that they have to make more decisions in the field than the more centralized Prequel era.

I'd also prefer the latter theory, because then it would tie in thematically to The Phantom Menace AND a moment in the show from episode 4: when Osha touches the umbramoth and muses that she caused its death by disturbing. That might have just been to point out that she still follows some of her mother's ideas about the Thread (that everything is connected, and to pull on the Thread is to have consequences), but it could also be a nice bit of foreshadowing, that disturbing something, even in what initially appears to be a minor way, could have dire consequences. Not unlike in The Phantom Menace, when essentially an accident of fate, choosing Tatooine to land to repair the hyperdrive, which leads Qui-Gon to randomly stumble on Anakin, leads to the destruction of the Jedi Order and the rise of the Empire. And given that my other main theory (that Sol is going to be framed from the deaths and this is the solution to the 'how to kill a Jedi without a weapon' riddle, to destroy a Jedi's legacy) also mirrors the fate of the Order in the PT, I just think it would be really neat if this was also a microcosm of something that happens to the Order as a whole in the PT (a chance meeting leads to destruction).

But now we're fully in the realm of 'what I want'/'how I'd do it' vs 'what I think is likely to happen or supported by the text/leaks/supplementary interviews'. I just think it would be a neat thematic package and just be nice as the vindication of The Phantom Menace continues, as someone who has loved it since 1999. XD Likely? Maybe not, but I have put up with so much shit for 25 years for liking TPM, it would be nice for a new Star Wars thing to be that directly linked to it.

Ok I'm really going to go see MaXXXine now. Bye! Pray for me that Indara doesn't turn out to be an evil Sith lord, I really doubled down on that on Reddit, I do NOT want to make that apology tour...

[oldworldfantasyrp]

Hayase holds up his arms. Uppies, please! UPPIES!!!

Zhao, without ever breaking conversation with his imperious sister Miao Ying, lifts the boy into his arms.

"The Western trade routes have been harried by Greenskins in the northern mountains of Mourn because the Goldtooth Ogres have been distracted with the Dawi-Zharr" Zhao explained "I have sent expeditions into the mountains to assist the convoys but have yet to route them fully, this is why the taxation from the western provinces have not been as lavish to help strengthen the bastions walls"

"you waste time bandying words with the brutes and" Miao paused as she watched the boy in his arms "Zhao... what is that" "His name is Hayase" Zhao answered with a shrug "He is not one of fathers children so i assumed he must be a lost cousin"

"then it is a Dragon?" she questioned, scrutinising the child "it seems...small"

"children generally are small sister" Zhao sighed

[ebisul]

Star Wars Rewatch: Phantom Menace

Keep in mind this is intended to help me analyze where they are politically at this given point in time as well as my own commentary here and there. A lot of it is just what is happening at the given time. I havent been able to watch TCW in the past few days so i thought i’d finally post this instead. TLDR at the end.

* Right off the bat, the trade federation is blockading trade to Naboo due to taxation of trade routes

* Chancellor sends two jedi to deal with the conflict without informing the Congress of the Republic because the debates were taking too long(?)

* The jedi are defined here as guardians of peace and justice

* The blockade is legal and receptive to ambassadors (definitely a trick)

* Not politics but i hate qui gon just dismissing obi wans concerns when he was also told by yoda to be mindful of the future

* Trade federation turns wary specifically bc the ambassadors are jedi

* Palpatine bends law to his whim for trade federation

* “I will make it legal” he is just a senator at the moment so idk how exactly he did it

* Attempted assassination of the jedi

* Chancellor sending jedi was meant to force an end to the trade boycott

* This was mentioned earlier but i didnt write it down

* Trade federation invades naboo to further palps plot but what does that do for them?

* Was it out of fear of palps? Do they just want to own naboo? What does the Trade Federation gain from any of this?

* Palps uses procedures to distract and force the senate to allow trade federation to take control of naboo

* Successfully

* Land on tatooine due to lack of federation control, but it is controlled by the Hutts

* Palps wants a treaty signed. What does the treaty entail?

* Anakin introduction

* “Youre a slave” “im a person and my name is anakin” get her ass

* Watto says government currency is not real money

* Interesting business decision?

* Naboo citizens in danger and potentially dying

* Told not to contact naboo bc it may be a trap

* Padme mentions Republic antislavery laws are only effective to republic worlds

* Ineffective for worlds outside of that jurisdiction so the maintaining justice only applies to republic worlds?

* Force sensitive children are only identified as potential jedi under the republic

* Qui Gon thinks anakin is the chosen one and takes his blood without permission from him or his mother

* Bets to win a small boy and when it was left up to chance he used the force to ensure he won anakin and not his mother and then proceeds to not tell anakin about the bet

* Decided to make anakin a jedi without talking to anakin or shmi about it beforehand

* Palps tries to manipulate sabe(acting as padme) into overthrowing chancellor valorum and place himself in power

* Queen amidala goes with palps plan to question valorums ability to assist naboo and move for a vote of no confidence

* Palps gets nominated and acts as though he has already won based on sympathy alone

* Presumably the manipulation of the trade federation was a tool to win him the role of chancellor

* Queen amidala believes the senate can no longer function because of the amount of procedures involved in fixing known problems and their inability to make decisions fast enough to help anyone

* Qui Gon states anakin is the chosen one as if its a fact whereas Yoda says his future is clouded

* This usually means its dark

* Qui Gon immediately throws Obi wan aside when he has the opportunity to take on anakin as a padawan wothout discussing with obi wan if he even feels he is ready for the trials despite telling him repeatedly that he has much to learn

* Says obi wan is ready and then immediately back tracks and says he still has much to learn in the same sentence. That Bitch.

* Padme allying with the gungans on naboo

* Gungans left to deal with the droid army

* Gungans are a diversion in order to sneak into the capital and capture enemy leadership and take out the droid control ship

* Why the fuck did qui gon bring a child to infiltrate occupied territory???

* God I hate Qui Gon

* “We will watch your career with great interest” he wants to groom him

* The council still don’t want to train anakin as a jedi but qui gon insisted he was the chosen one to his dying breath despite the known fact that prophecies aren’t always cut and dry

* Reemergence of the Sith

* Peace on Naboo between humans and gungans

This is basically the beginning of the end for the Republic, the set up for the clone wars, Palpatines first rise in power and the actions taken that led up to it. Its the demonstration of how far back Palpatine’s manipulations go, from Padme Amidala to the Jedi Order, the Senate, and the Separatists even the roots of his manipulation of Anakin as a small child.

[pepnksy]

SPACE PEPEMALY, sold for 0.202E on Rarible

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away....

Pepmoil has engulfed the Pepectic Pepublic. The taxation of NFT trade routes to outlying PEPE system is in dispute. Hoping to resolve the matter with a blockade of deadly pepeships, the greedy Trade peperation has stopped all shipping to the small planet of Pepoo. But our dunk and relax fren can get over this blockade and can enter the planet.

[jedi-hawkins]

Short Negotiations

A/N: Welcome to (one of) the beginnings of Bryn's story. This is an insert fic that follows the general plot of the prequels and Clone Wars timeline. Info about my OC, Bryn can be found pinned at the top of my blog. I don't have a set posting schedule, but I will write and post when I have the motivation. I just wanted to put this fic out into the world incase anyone might enjoy it!

3.4k Words

Pairings: Jedi oc x Obi Wan

Warnings: None, SFW

Next Chapter

Turmoil has engulfed the Galactic Republic. The taxation of trade routes to outlaying star systems is in dispute.

Hoping to resolve the matter with a blockade of deadly battleships, the greedy Trade Federation has stopped all shipping to the small planet of Naboo.

While the Congress of the Republic endlessly debate this alarming chain of events, the Supreme Chancellor has secretly dispatched two Jedi Knights, the guardians of peace and justice in the galaxy to settle the conflict. With the aid of another will they be able to stop a war before it begins...

"Captain."

The woman turns around to face the cloaked Jedi master in the doorway of the cockpit. "Yes sir?"

"Tell them that we wish to board at once."

"Yes sir," she replies, before speaking into the communications transmitter. "With All due respect for the Trade Federation, the Ambassadors for the Supreme Chancellor wish to board immediately."

The Neimoidian Viceroy on the screen nods as he replies, "Yes, yes of course. As you know our blockade is perfectly legal, and we'd be happy to receive the Ambassadors. Happy to."

The Jedi Master who spoke earlier turns to a second, shorter cloaked figure at his side. "Come apprentice, let us greet the Viceroy."

His apprentice nods and follows him out the door to the loading ramp. "I'm still not quite sure why the Chancellor sent us, Master. Wouldn't any other politician suffice?"

"In situations such as these, it is often better that those with level heads are the first to approach." The Master simply replies as the loading ramp opens.

The pair stride across the hangar and wait for a set of blast doors to open. On the other side, a TC-14 droid awaits them. It leads the two through the battleship to a dimly lit conference room.

"We are greatly honored by your visit Ambassadors. Make yourselves comfortable, my master will be with you shortly," the droid says before shuffling out the door.

"I have a bad feeling about this, Master Qui-gon." The shorter figure says as he throws his hood back.

"I don't sense anything, Padawan Kenobi," The master replies as he does the same.

"No, it's not about the mission, Master. It's something elsewhere... elusive."

Qui-gon rests a hand on his apprentice's shoulder and begins to stride across the room toward the window. "Don't center on your anxiety, Obi-wan. Keep your concentration here and now where it belongs."

Obi-wan's brow crinkles in thought as he follows, "But Master Yoda says I should be mindful of the future."

"But not at the expense of the moment. Be mindful of the living force, my young Padawan."

Obi-wan simply nods. "Yes, Master. How do you think the Viceroy will deal with the Chancellor's demands?"

His master smiles and shakes his head, "These Federation types are cowards. The negotiations will be short."

"Have you dealt with them much, Master?" Obi-Wan asks as he moves to take a seat at the long board table.

"Not as many as some, but more than I would have liked." Qui-gon says as he sits across from his padawan. "Though, I've never had the pleasure of dealing with the Viceroy himself."

"Is it in their nature to make us wait this long?" Obi-wan asks as the TC droid shuffles back into the room, this time with a tray of drinks.

"No," Qui-Gon shakes his head, "I sense an unusual amount of fear for something as trivial as this trade dispute."

Obi-wan graciously takes one of the drinks from the tray the droid offers him, his thoughts tumbling in his head.

Suddenly, a large explosion echoes through the battle ship and both Jedi jump to their feet, activating their lightsabers.

"Oh! Sorry!" The CT droid exclaims as it drops the tray.

The two Jedi quickly canvas their surrounding, but no threats are in sight. In seconds, a quiet hissing fills the room as a green-tinged gas flows from the vents.

"Dioxis. Take a breath Obi-wan, and don't let it go." Qui-gon instructs.

Seconds feel like minutes.

But it always feels like that when you're holding your breath. Obi-wan thinks to himself. The doors to the room slide open and Obi-wan moves to exit, but Qui-gon holds him back and lets the CT droid shuffle out first.

They can hear battle droids humming in the hallway. "Check it out Corporal, we'll cover you." One of them says.

As soon as the droid steps forward, the two Jedi ignite their weapons and leap into the hallway. They make quick work of the droids, deflecting their blaster fire and slicing them in half. Just as Obi-wan decapitates one, he looks up and sees three more approaching. Quickly, he raises and hand and force pushes them to the ground.

Qui-gon sighs and straightens up as he takes out the last droid. "Ah well that wasn't that bad."

"There will be more, Master."

"I would be upset if there aren't, Obi-wan." he replies, "Come on, we should get to the bridge."

Obi-wan nods and follows his master's lead through the battleship hallways, dodging and cutting down the droids that cross their path. When they finally reach the bridge doors, Qui-gon thrusts his lightsaber into the door and begins to cut through it while Obi-wan holds the rear flank. It seems to be going well until a loud boom resonates from behind the bridge doors.

"That sounded like the blast doors, Master." Obi-wan calls out.

Qui-gon stabs his lightsaber back into the center of the door, "Not a problem."

"Maybe, but that might be one." Obi-wan warns as two destroyer droids roll toward them down the hallway.

Qui-gon gives up on trying to slice through the doors and starts helping his padawan deflect the blaster fire back towards the destroyers. The two Jedi have good aim, but the deflected blaster rays simply bounce away from the droids.

"Master! They have shields generators!" Obi-wan exclaims.

"You're right, it's a standoff. Let's go!" His master replies as they turn to speed down one of the adjacent hallways, blaster fire flying over their heads.

Obi-wan glances over his shoulder to his master. "We can't keep running forever, we have to get off this battleship!"

Qui-gon nods in agreement. "You're quite right." Then he stops running.

"Master?"

Qui-gon suddenly moves and kicks in a vent in the nearby wall. "Get in, hopefully we'll find a way to the hangar."

With Obi-wan leading the way, the pair squeezes through the vents. They had gone up a few floors to reach the bridge, so hypothetically, going down would lead them to a landing bay.

Thankfully, the found one. Sneaking behind some crates, they finally started to gain the bigger picture.

"Battle droids," Qui-gon observes. "It's an invasion army. An odd play for the Trade Federation. We've got to warn the Naboo and contact Chancellor Valorum. We should split up, stow aboard separate ships and meet down on the planet."

"You were right about one thing, Master." Obi-wan points out. "The negotiations were short."

Qui-gon smiles at his apprentice's comment and moves to sneak aboard an invasion vessel. Obi-wan follows suit to the neighboring ship. He's always liked missions like this, uncovering the puzzle. It's one of the things he loves about being a Jedi. In that moment, a thought crosses his mind. A thought of a long time friend from years ago.

Bryn-ayla Del Caro, a fellow Jedi padawan. Obi-wan wondered what she was up to. They had arrived at the temple together when they were kids, but it had been years since he had last seen her. The Council had sent them on a mission to Mandalore to help protect a noble from an uprising. Qui-gon had proposed the two of them for the assignment since they had near twelve years of history. After they had completed the Mandalore assignment and parted ways, Obi-wan barely heard any news of Bryn. Wherever she was, Obi-wan hoped she was safe.

Obi-wan is pulled out of his thoughts as the doors to the transport slide open. As quickly as possible, he slinks out of the ship, trying to stick to shadows as much as possible. A breath escapes Obi-wan as he finally reaches the tree line, but all too soon.

"There's a Jedi! Blast Him!" A droid cries out.

Obi-wan turns and runs deeper into the forest, weaving in through the trees and ducking the blaster fire zipping past his head. Before he knows it, he stumbles into a clearing where Qui-gon stands with a tall aquatic-looking creature. Qui-gon ignites his lightsaber and deflects the blaster fire back into the assailing droids.

"You saved my again!" The aquatic creature exclaims.

Obi-wan looks at him curiously, "What's this?"

"A local." Qui-gon replies. He opens his mouth again to speak but is cut off by his comlink beeping. "Hello?" He says, adjusting the volume so Obi-wan can also hear it.

"H-hello? Hello, can you hear me?" A female voice says through the comlink.

"Yes this is Jedi Master Qui-gon Jinn, who on Endor is this?"

"Oh! Yes! Finally I reached you!" The voice exclaims. "Master Qui-gon, it's Padawan Bryn-ayla Del Caro. I was on Kalinda when the Council sent me word that they lost communications with you and they wanted me to provide support if I could. I've managed to slip past the blockade and I'm on my way down to the surface. Send me your coordinates and I can join up with you."

"Yes, of course. Sending the coordinates now." Qui-gon replies, "How did you manage to contact us? I thought the blockade was intercepting communications."

"I managed to piggyback off of one of their transmissions, I don't know how long it will take them to realize. I've got your coordinates, stay put as much as you can and I'll be there..." Bryn's voice crackles away.

Qui-gon slips the comlink back into his robes. "Looks like they found her. We'll wait until she reaches us, shouldn't be long."

Excitement rises in Obi-wan's chest, he can't believe it. He's going to see Bryn again.

A Jedi starfighter ducks and weaves to avoid fire from the invasion ships trailing it. The pilot frantically pushes a few buttons on the dash to redirect all power to the rear shields.

"Damn those droids really don't quit." The pilot mutters. "Almost there."

The starfighter enters the atmosphere of the blue planet of Naboo, still swerving to avoid as much fire as possible.

"Now where are you two..." The pilot grumbles.

Suddenly, the right wing of the starfighter is hit, causing it to lurch sickeningly.

"Come on you piece of junk, just hold together a little longer." The pilot urges the starfighter as the treeline approaches. "Just a few more seconds."

Obi-wan looks up at the sound of an approaching ship and spots a Jedi starfighter approaching with two invasions ships in close pursuit. "Is that smoke?" He asks his master.

"It would seem it is." Qui-gon replies.

The pair watch as the transports fire again on the little starfighter. It manages to dodge most of the rays but the left wing is also hit. The ship begins to plummet into the tree line, the right wing is sheared off by the timbers, quickly followed by the other. The flightless body of the starfighter crashes into the dirt a few hundred yards away from the two Jedi on the ground. They glance at each other before running through the trees to the wreckage.

As the fighter comes into view, Obi-wan's eyes fall on the empty cockpit. "No..." He mutters.

Before Qui-gon can say anything, a voice drifts around from the other side of the wreckage.

"Stupid piece of space metal. Can't even have rear shields that I don't know, shield the rear!" The voice sighs. "This would've been so much easier if Master hadn't taken D7 with him." A loud thunk echoes from the hull of the space craft as if the voice had kicked it in frustration.

Obi-wan and Qui-gon walk around the craft to see a young woman, about twenty-four, with a long braid draped over her shoulder and soot on her face, straightening her robes and grumbling at the spacecraft.

"Padawan Caro." Qui-gon says, clearing his throat.

The woman straightens up and a smile instantly lights up her face. "Master Qui-gon! Padawan Kenobi! Oh how great it is to see you two!"

"A smooth landing as always Padawan Caro?" Qui-gon asks with a slight smirk.

She smiles back, "Of course, Master. The transports got in my way."

"As did the trees, I assume." Qui-gon retorts back. "Did your master not accompany you?"

She shakes her head. "No, Master Plo had other matters to attend to. I was on Kalinda alone."

"Well we're glad you're here. Those transports following you won't be able to land without a clearing, but we should go before the droids on the ground find us." Qui-gon says, turning to walk away from the wreckage, with a gungan galumphing after him.

Bryn turns her attention to the man still standing in front of her. "Is that really you Obi-wan?" She asks with a smile. "Four years doesn't seem like a long time, but you've really changed."

Obi-wan smiles. "The same could be said for you, though sadly your flying has yet to improve."

Bryn scoffs at his remark but immediately begins laughing. "You know I'm a much better pilot than you will ever be. Now shut up and give me a hug."

The two embrace, a hug that was a long time coming.

"Obi-wan! Bryn! let's go!" Qui-gon calls through the trees, breaking them apart.

The two look at each other and begin to laugh. "Adventure awaits, Kenobi."

"Better not make it wait, Caro."

The pair begin to jog through the trees to catch up with Qui-gon and the gungan who is speaking to the Jedi Master.

"Ex-squeeze me, but de most safest place to go would be Gunga City. Is where I grew up. 'Tis a hidden city."

Qui-gon stop running and turns to the Gungan. "A city?"

"Uh-huh."

"Can you take us there?" Qui-gon asks.

The gungan opens his mouth, but pauses and shakes his head. "Ah, on second thought, no not wealy."

"No?" Bryn inquires.

"Iss embarrasing, but my afraid my've been banished." The gungan says. "My forgotten der bosses would do terrible tings to my. Terrible tings if my goen back dare."

A rumbling in the distance roll over the hills.

"You hear that?" Qui-gon says, pointing in the direction of the sound. "That is the sound of a thousand terrible things heading this way..."

Obi-wan nods and adds, "When they find us, they will crush us, grind us into little pieces, then blast us into oblivion."

Bryn takes a step toward the gungan. "I know you may be afraid of what they may do to you if you return to Gunga City, but I think it would be very brave."

The gungan nods. "Yousa point is well seen. Dis way! hurry!" He says before running off through the brush.

After a while, Obi-wan glances over his shoulder to make sure Bryn hadn't fallen behind. To his surprise, she's jogging right behind him.

"I'm alright Obi, no need to worry." She says when she notices him checking on her, her breath slightly labored.

The group comes to stop at the banks of a body of water. "How much further?" Qui-gon asks.

"Wesa goen underwater okeday?" The gungan says, gesturing to the water. "My warning yous. Gungan no liken outsiders. Don't expect a warm welcome."

"Don't worry," Obi-wan replies, "This has not been our day for warm welcomes."

The three Jedi look to each other and pull their respirators from their robes before wading in after the gungan. Bryn sucks in a sharp breath when the cold water soaks through her robes. Obi-wan, having heard, gives her a sideways look, one eyebrow cocked. Bryn rolls her eyes at her companion and jumps on top of him, dunking his head under the water.

The group of Jedi follow the gungan until the glowing Gungan city appears over a ridge of rock. Glowing orange bubbles float in the water, connected by an intricate system of walkways. The Gungan swims all the way up to the largest bubble at the center of the city and stands on a platform just outside what could be assumed as a doorway.

The gungan walks through the jelly-like substance first, followed by Qui-gon. Obi-wan steps aside and gestures for Bryn to follow next. She does so with a smile as she steps through the doorway. What a weird sensation it was, walking through a jelly-like border into a bubble of air. Bryn expected to be cold as she was still soaking wet from the frigid water outside, but as soon as she steps into the glowing bubble, the water begins to gently steam off of her robes.

"So good bein home!" The gungan exclaimed, taking in his surroundings.

"I'm sorry," Bryn says, grabbing the gungan's attention. "I never did catch your name."

"Oh!" The gungan says, "Meesa is-"

"JAR JAR BINKS! Stopa dare!" A guard bellows, riding up to the small group.

"Heyo-dales, Cap'n Tarpals." Jar Jar replies cheerfully. "Meesa Back!"

The guard shakes his head. "Noah gain, Jar Jar. Yousa goen to da bosses. Yousa in big dudu this time."

Another guard rides up and pokes Jar Jar in the shoulder with an electric prod, causing the gungan to yelp in surprise.

"How wude" He says under his breath.

The group is escorted through the network of bubbles until the come to a small one at the very heart of the capitol.

"Yousa younglings will be quiet in the room of Boss Nass." One of the guards sneers as they pass through the doorway.

Bryn leans towards Obi-wan as they descend the stairs into the chamber. "We should probably let Master Qui-gon handle this."

Obi-wan nods in agreement. Five gungans look down upon the three Jedi.

"Tkk-tkk-tkk-tkk! Yousa cannot bees here." The one in the center says. "Dis army of Mackineeks up dare is new weesong."

Qui-gon steps forward. "A droid army is about to attack the Naboo. We must warn them."

The center gungan, Boss Nass shakes his head. "Weesa no like da Naboo. Tkk-tkk-tkk-tkk. Da Naboo tink day so smarty. Day tink day brains so big."

Obi-wan steps forward as well to stand beside his master. Bryn tries to grab his sleeve to stop him but he wiggles his robe out of her grip. "Once those droids take control of the surface, they will take control of you."

Boss Nassshakes his head again. "Mesa no tink so. Day not know of uss-en."

"You and the Naboo form a symbiont circle." Obi-wan argues. "What happens to one of you will affect the other. You must understand this."

"Wesa no carrre-nn about da Naboo." Boss Nass says. "Yousa. Small girl, whata do you tink?" He says, pointing at Bryn.

The two male Jedi step aside to allow Bryn to move forward. "I agree with my comrades, that it would be in your best interest to help the Naboo. But I also understand having to put your own people first. If you will not aid the Naboo, you will simply let us go about our mission." Bryn says as she waves her hand gently in front of her.

The gungan tilts his head to the side in consideration. "Well mesa guess..." He shakes his head. "No, wesa can not let yousa go."

Qui-gon places a hand on Bryn's shoulder and steps forward. "You will speed us on our way." He says calmly, gently waving his hand.

"Wesa ganna speed yous away." Boss Nass repeats.

"And we could use transport." Qui-gon adds.

"Wesa give yousa una bongo. Da speediest way tooda Naboo 'tis goen through the planet core. Now go." Boss Nass says, pointing to the chamber exit.

The three Jedi bow in thanks. "Thank you for your help" Qui-gon says. "We go in peace."

As they walk away, Obi-wan asks, "Master, what's a bongo?"

"Transport, I hope," he mutters back.

Just before they reach the steps leading out of the chamber, Bryn notices Jar Jar, bound in chains, shaking his head. "Jar jar? What's wrong?" She asks.

"Daza setting yous up. Goen through da planet core is bad bobin!" He cries. "Any help here would be hot."

Qui-gon rubs his chin in thought.

"Master, we're short on time," Obi-wan prods.

"We'll need a navigator, Master." Bryn interjects. "Maybe Jar Jar can help."

Qui-gon walks back to Boss Nass. "What is to become of Jar Jar Binks here?"

Boss Nass sneers at the mention of the meek gungan by the steps. "Binkss brokeen the nocombackie law. Hisen to be pune-ished."

"He has been a great help to us, I hope his punishment will not be too severe." Qui-gon replies.

"Pounded unto death." Boss Nass says with a sickly grin.

Qui-gonn rubs his chin in thought once more. "We need a navigator to get us through the planet's core. I have saved Jar Jar Bink's life. He owes me what you call a 'life debt.'"

Boss Nass turn his gaze to Jar Jar. "Yousa havena liveplay with thisen hisen?"

"Your gods demand that his life belongs to me now." Qui-gon continues.

Boss Nass sneers again, "Hisen life tis yos, outlander. Begone wit him."

The guards begin to unlock Jar Jars chains, but he shakes his head. "Count mesa outta dis! Better dead here, den deader in da core. Yee gods, whata mesa saying?"

Bryn shakes her head with a smile and beckons for Jar Jar to follow her and the other Jedi. "Come on, Jar Jar. What do could go wrong when you're traveling with three Jedi?"

Please let me know if you want to be tagged in future works!

[burnwater13]

An ex-Imperial Stormtrooper approaches a Trexler 906 Armored Marauder (troop transport) from the side, while Cara Dune and Greef Karga pilot it. Image from The Mandalorian, Season 2, Episode 4, The Siege. Calendar from DataWorks.

Did Grogu know what a Trexler 906 Armored Marauder looked like? No. Did he know that the Empire used them? No. Did he know that one existed on Nevarro? No. Did he know that the people who built them didn’t include any failsafes that would have helped the owner keep them from being stolen? No. He knew nothing about the other stuff that was happening on Nevarro because his dad had left him under the care of a protocol droid ‘teacher’ that had obviously been repossessed from a pirate or a smuggler or both. 

He tried not to be annoyed about it. He was sure the Mandalorian had a good reason for doing what he did. After all, Grogu wasn’t as familiar with Imperial architecture as… um… hmmm. That’s right, none of them were familiar with Imperial base design, concepts and limitations. Grogu hadn’t been formally trained in Imperial design, but he had taken a special class in the design and construction of common buildings and structures. 

Jedi needed to know that sort stuff because you couldn’t help people fix a damaged building if you had no idea how it could have been damaged in the first place. And he had a lot of practical experience hiding and escaping from the Imps. He doubted that Greef, Cara, or even Din Djarin had that sort of experience. That meant he knew about all the little places. The ports, ventilation hatches, grills, etc. 

The maintenance access ways were Grogu’s favorite way to escape from any space an Imp thought was secure. Stormtroopers couldn’t fit into them and officers refused to go in them because it was below their pay grade. Eventually they’d send some guy in a coverall after him and that person never found Grogu. With the Force, Grogu didn’t need to actually use the ladder. He would just jump from the entry point to his exit point. 

But that protocol droid was more than up to the task of keeping it’s sensors trained on him, when it wasn’t pointing out that the Hydian Way was a great smuggler’s run if your ship had a functional hyperspace drive. The best he’d been able to do was snarf some sweets from the kid who sat next to him. The droid hadn’t noticed which was funny because the kid next to him wasn’t happy at all, but maybe the droid was programmed to ignore piracy and smuggling? Whatever the case was, it was not programmed to ignore a certain small being trying to sneak out of his seat and leave the school.

The first time he tried to go after his dad the protocol droid asked him if he needed to use the privy. Since all the kids around him began to laugh loudly, he decided not to pursue his escape at that moment. Everyone was watching him like a shriek hawk and that wasn’t the hallmark for a clean getaway. 

The next time, the droid was boring them all to tears about taxation of the various trade routes and why that had lead to the conflict with the Separatists. Grogu didn’t bother to correct it when it started rambling on about how they were to blame for the need to implement extra security measures. It had all been a big scam and Grogu was surprised that a droid that so clearly liked talking about pirates and smugglers didn’t extend that fonds to other forms of liars, cheats, and Sith. It was a big miss on their part. 

Anyhow, some of the kids had begun to nod off and Grogu had very gently pushed the seat of one kid who was sitting on the far side of the room and they kinda fell out of it and the droid rushed over to see if they were alright. They weren’t and he had to abort his dash for freedom in order to use the Force to heal them. It wasn’t easy from across the room, but it was worthy. Plus, he kind of felt the presence of Master Beq hovering over his shoulder with a kind of vexed look on his face. 

After that Grogu just hunkered down and accepted that he was there for the long haul. The very long haul because that protocol droid seemed to only really know a single topic and it just blathered on about it endlessly. It kind of reminded Grogu of a course that one of the older Masters taught. Master Gnilbeor. She taught history and technology. The other younglings joked that Master G (as she was known) invented both of them and that’s why she knew everything about them. Grogu had tried not to laugh at that joke, given that it was well known that Master Yoda was the oldest person at the Temple. He didn’t want the Grandmaster Jedi to find out they were laughing about people’s age. Especially because Master G was only half of Master Yoda’s age. She had lots of good years left. At least that’s what he thought at the time. 

Master G had retired shortly before everything went sideways at the Jedi Temple, but as Grogu knew from personal experience that didn’t really spare you from anything. Before Master Beq had to leave him, they had both sensed that Master G had become one with the Force. Gone, but never forgotten. 

Grogu began to laugh. Of course Master G would never be forgotten. She was the person who had taught all the younglings how to identify a vast array of ships, speeders, cargo carriers, and troop transports, including the Trexler 906 Armored Marauder. While there were people who thought it was over designed, Grogu could see that it’s basic design was similar to the Republic Troop Transport used during the Clone Wars. 

Certainly it had been updated and more of it’s functions were automated, but the bones of it were there. How Master G had gotten a hold of the preliminary designs of the Trexler 906 was a well guarded secret, but Grogu had appreciated that when you’d been around as long as she had, you knew people. Chances were good she had designed the thing herself.  

Grogu sighed. He’d give a lot to be back in that classroom learning about ships and speeders and all the rest. He might have been able to ask the question about those red and blue wires that Din Djarin had asked him to fix. She had probably designed the Razor Crest too. After all, someone had to have made that hatch just big enough for Grogu to get through. 

[stardial]

anons dont have you because you're cis, they hate your policy on taxation of trade routes to outlying star systems

i think the trade federation should be able to do whatever they want

[ketsukanekid]

Ok but what are your thoughts on how turmoil has engulfed the Underground? I mean, the taxation of trade routes to outlying regions is in dispute! Of course, hoping to resolve the matter with an army of buff fish people, the impatient Royal Guard has stopped all travel to the small town of Snowdin. I mean, personally I think it's ridiculous!

[sw5w]

...Which Started Right Here With the Taxation of Trade Routes...

STAR WARS EPISODE I: The Phantom Menace 01:27:14

[casimirtully]

A SNAKE IN THE REEDS. || 141 AC ||

Nearly a year after the beginnings of his reign, a plot against King Casimir Tully of The Riverlands has been discovered mere days after arriving in Highgarden for the wedding of King Cedric Tyrell and Lady Illya Oakheart. 

WHAT HAPPENED?

In one of Casimir Tully’s first official acts as King of The Trident (nearly a year ago,) the agreement that promised free trade between The Riverlands and Lys, as well as the promise of aid via slave soldiers intended for use in Grover Tully’s army during The Dance, was formally ended. This alliance was sealed with the marriage of Grand Magister Lysaro Rogare and his daughter, Emilee Tully. This returned Lys to the normal standards of taxation on all trade between The Riverlands.

While ending this alliance, Emilee’s son, Salladhor, was removed from the line of the Riverlands Succession, as he stands to inherit a great deal due to his position in Lys. Casimir also announced his intentions to legitimize his sister’s son, Lucian Rivers, and name him heir until he has children of his own. This was to honor his brother, the late King Cian Tully. 

And it all seemed well enough — until nearly a year later, when Princess Iona Tully was removed as Ambassador of The Riverlands, and Casimir made it known he planned to find a replacement for his eldest sister as Hand. 

While The Riverlands and their various lords and households readied for the journey to The Reach, despite being seen entering one of the carriages, Emilee and her son were not among the travel party several days later, seemingly in thin air. Her absence was noted by King Casimir himself, and when he sent a servant asking about her whereabouts, she was quickly reported missing as they made to meet the Rose Road near Tumbleton. 

Several small battalions were sent out to search for the missing princess and her son along the travel route. Several days later, Ser Altair Vance, sent by the king to see his sister to safety, found the princess and several of her Lysene household in a small vessel sailing down the Blackwater Rush. When asked to return to the group — now days ahead — she refused, stating that she was a Princess of the Riverlands and Hand of the King. She would not be ordered around by her own brother’s soldiers. The soldiers report that she was in hysterics, and seemed to imply that Casimir had sent her separately from the party for a task that must stay between herself and him. 

The soldiers insisted on behalf of their king, and somewhere in the arguing, the princess became hysterical as the men tried to load her belongings back onto carriages. One chest in particular seemed to cause her more distress than the others, and as a soldier lifted it, she attempted to pull it away from him. The chest fell, breaking open, and soon all was revealed.

WHAT WAS FOUND?

Documents, letters, and raven scrolls were discovered, sent between Princess Emilee and Regent to the Grand Magister Syrelos Rogare — her good-brother.  They show that the two were plotting together to oust Casimir and install Emilee on her younger brother’s throne.  

Though their father, Grover Tully, married her to the Grand Magister of Lys against her wishes, it has been uncovered that the princess began planting the seeds for Grover’s eventual usurpation as her revenge for the unwanted match. 

Princess Emilee had been influencing her father long before Casimir was passed over as heir, convincing him that he would never make a good king. Though, despite this information, Grover Tully’s assassination was not her doing. Instead, it merely helped push her plans along. After Grover’s death, Emilee was named Cian’s Hand, which gave her even more influence. 

Grover’s assaination was not her doing, though only helped her plans along, as Cian was chosen over Casimir and she was appointed his hand. 

With Casimir departing quickly after, the perfect window was open, and soon plans were quickly laid. Both brothers would go tragically missing, leaving her The Riverlands.. 

Cian’s disappearance went accordingly. Though it is still unknown if the late King Cian is dead, it is assumed. 

During the six months that Casimir was in Essos, Casimir was meant to go missing as well.. Instead, he unexpectedly joined the Second Sons. It is because of this that the news of Cian’s disappearance reached Casimir quicker than she expected, before the Lynsene could hold up their end of the bargain and assassinate the young prince. Casimir was able to return home and take his crown rather than Emilee taking it for herself as she had hoped.

A letter was found, kept hidden by Emille, addressed to Casimir from Cian himself.

With Casimir now King and her own son removed from the line of succession, Emilee began asking (fervently, and more plainly when compared to her other letters) Syrelos to “see to my nephew, Lucian.” It has been included that Emilee intended to dispose of Lucian as she had Cian. 

It is unknown if Emilee  is responsible for the death of her husband, but it is a current theory, given that she was conveniently back in The Riverlands prior to Cian’s legitimization. Though it is only implied and never said outright in the letters, it is also possible her husband’s brother is responsible. 

After learning she would be replaced as Hand and all her quiet efforts to claim the throne having not worked, she planned to sail back to Lys. There, she would convince the Magister’s Council to back her son’s claim to Lys, over his uncle, and press her own in The Riverlands as the eldest surviving child of King Grover Tully. 

WHAT WAS DONE?

Because she was once family, Casimir decided against execution. Instead, Emilee was imprisoned with her son to wait for trial until he is able to make his return to Riverrun from Highgarden. She has been stripped of her title as Princess, as well as any wealth or lands in her name. 

Yet, another raven reaches King Casimir in the night. A particular poison has once more reared its head within King Casimir’s kingdom. Emilee and her son have been killed with Tears of Lys. Though her person was searched before her imprisonment, it is unknown if she poisoned herself and her own son, or if someone snuck into her cell. Murder has been (as of now) ruled out due to the origin of the poison, the letters were in the Emilee’s’ own hand, and the likelihood that, if someone snuck into her cell, it was likely at the princess’s own behest. 

With this new information coming to light, King Casimir Tully has placed a full embargo on all trade (as prior it was the reversal of free trade) between The Riverlands and Lys.  

Upon the death of his sister, the Lord of House Blackwood has been named King Casimir’s Hand of The King. 

Though Casimir put a stop to a public funeral (given his absence and her treason) he has still allowed his sister to be sent down The Red Fork, with her son, like their father and mother before her. As the small boat burned on the water, only a small group of servants were present to watch.

[tvlandofficial]

hey tennana what are your thoughts about how turmoil has engulfed the Galactic Republic? I mean, the taxation of trade routes to outlying star systems is in dispute. Obviously hoping to resolve the matter with a blockade of deadly battleships, the greedy Trade Federation has stopped all shippings to the small planet of Naboo. I mean-

📺 THINK YOU GOT THE WRONG DAME, BUCKO.

[republic-korlan]

Ikaroa announces first steps of the ‘unity bill’

Today Ikaroa Storinka held an interview near Koura River in Āina regarding the ‘unity bill’. During the interview the president announced he will be drastically increasing spending to Korlans navy in order to protect valuable assets all across Ailou. Korlan will begin enforcing its control on its sea claims and have naval vessels stations all throughout. The government will also begin research on better radar and radio technology to better prepare itself for hostiles entering its claim. Storinka also plans to begin taxation through waterways controlled by Korlan, of which there are several, including some of the most important routes into central Ailou. Taxation of these waterways will begin only for nations which are not allied with Korlan. Organisations such as the UKC, TA and CCoA still have tax free travel throughout these waterways. 

Once Korlans navy has reached a decent size Ikaroa will begin enforcing these claims and the taxations that go with them. The president has also expressed a that the CCoA and other Ailouan nations hold a summit together to determine safe trade routes and sea claims, as well as their potential entry into the CCoA.