The Reception

The Reception
Date of Scene:	29 May 2025
Location:
Synopsis:	Volken challenges Caine to a bridal duel, Ellari and Jorn make plans to visit Master Volk.
Cast of Characters:	159, Volken Mons, 418, Ellari Zin

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Athena (159) has posed:
As Jorn is making his exit, he'll pass the building where the reception is being held. He'll see that of all of the guests who'd been outside in the front are now heading for it, and he may espy Volken among them. It would appear that something important is happening - though from this vantage point, he won't be able to tell exactly what.

As for Volken, he will find himself buoyed by the crowd heading inside for the bridal duels, and catch sight of Jon'as and Er'gi. The latter calls out to him. "You're on the dossier," he says, "naturally. Will you make me a rich man tonight, Mons?!"

Volken Mons has posed:
"Of course, vod! I'm all about elevatin' my friends with a little bit of violence."

Volken's response to the other giant is cheerful and energized. A good act considering the heaviness and worry on him regarding what he agreed to do.

Of course ... A little bit of violence always lifts his spirit.

"Watch and learn and maybe you'll get biceps as big as mine." he rumbles while reaching for Er'gi's back. He then turns, searching for the dossier to see the names on it and if it's viable to enact the plan that was suggested. JOrn, naturally, escapes his notice -- especially disguised as the man is.

Jorn (418) has posed:
Jorn will head out and just try to keep a low profile. First, he needs to make contact with the Jedi. That's paramount. As he tries to move past everyone. To him, that's something they can worry about. He'll try to contact the Jedi over message. <I would like to talk to you about a situation. In person. I could use your expertise.> If luck is on his side, the Jedi will talk back again.

Athena (159) has posed:
"Is that so?" Er'gi, says, slapping Volken on the back in a friendly fashion. "How much should I bet? The pot on you is currently at a thousand credits," he says with a smirk as he heads inside the building.

When Volken comes to the dossier, he will see that his bracket is actually entirely filled up except for a single slot. Perfect. He could easily fill Caine, or Kasseady's name in that slot. Unless someone tries to stop him. However, the coast looks clear.

It would appear that Force is looking kindly upon Jorn today. The Jedi Master replies in a timely fashion. <This is a bold request> he says. <And I find the nature of your communication with me suspicious and strange. Your comrade, Zin, I assume, reached out to me prior. You, however, I know nothing about. And now you wish to speak with me face to face? You know you cannot summon me to Sundari. You must come to Jedha if you wish to speak with me>

Jorn (418) has posed:
Jorn doesn't sigh when the response comes, but boy does he want to. <True. I know I will need to go to you. Part of why I want to meet. So you can make your assessment.> He keeps on the move. <I'm making my way to you soon.> Jorn needs to figure out what to do about Ellari and Volken. Another message will head out to Ellari, <I need to head out to Ledha.> That's what he needs to do.

Volken Mons has posed:
"Ooh....well look at this...."

Volken is distracted from answering Er'gi and he glances around to see who else is nearby aside from the other Mando. Er'gi also makes for a good wall .. let alone his own width being what it is.

"Don'd mind if I do.." he drawls before reaching up to begin punching in Caine's name.

"A thousand eh?" he asks, finally absently answering Er'gi as he goes about this action. "Mm...I dunno vod. How 'lucky' do you feel? How much do you want to motivate me to make sure I win?"

Ellari Zin has posed:
    Ellari was on a tram back to the hotel when she received Jorn's message. Jedha? Well...

    |I take it you spoke with Volk. Very well then, let us take my ship. No one else can know you have left Mandalore.

    |Have you considered my previous message?

Athena (159) has posed:
<Assessment?> The Jedi Master replies <Of what exactly? I assume you are the man Zin said was wrongly accused. I know nothing of this matter. Care to enlighten me?>

But just as Jorn may be about to reply to the Jedi, another message lights up his commlink. It's from Revara. <Jorn, my love, where are you? My mother told me you spoke with her. You haven't left Mandalore yet, have you? I want to see you. Please?>

Er'gi sees what Volken is doing and adjusts his position so that no one can see what he's doing. He leans toward Volken and whispers in a low voice. "Best to ensure no one knows you did this, you aren't supposed to nominate your own opponents--" Then he steps away and laughs loudly. "Vod, more than the number of years the Jedi have been sworn enemies of the Mandalorians," he says good naturedly.

Just then, Volken will see one of the Barons elbowing their way towards the dossier. He notices his name under Volken's and his face pales. "Who did this," he demands. "Who would--" then his eyes narrow at Volken.

Volken Mons has posed:
Volken Mons says, "I knew I could rely on you vod. Separated at birth we were. Must be it. RIght bit of troublemakers at a ton and a half between us both" Volken's grin is full toothed as he finishes working the dossier and then he steps back and away from it to turn towards Er'gi as the other man laughs.

"Yeah? That's a long time I hear and so a lot of credits..."

A slight twinge of irony and guilty hits him there though. Best keep that little plan under wraps for now.

The twins provide a good distraction and Volken turns towards them to incline his head and then raise an eyebrow. "..There a problem?""

Athena (159) has posed:
Er'gi chuckles. "Alas! If only I could go back in time and rewrite fate -- I could have been Clan Mons!" And then Caine approaches, looking disgruntled.

"You," the baron growls. "Did you put someone up to this?" he says, pointing at the dossier angrily. "And you call -me- dishonorable."

Jorn (418) has posed:
<You said you knew nothing of me. Thus, you need to learn about me. That's why I spoke of 'assessments.'"> Jorn pauses at the message. <Why are you at the edge of it all? Why are you not with your mother?> Jorn is very cautious right now. He keeps his stride going. Trying to figure out the path to speaking to a jedi.

Volken Mons has posed:
"Have I ever called you dishonorable? I may have called you a coward, a weakling, greedy and untrustworthy but I don't now if I've ever said -dishonorable-."

Volken rubs his jaw, scratching at his scruffy dark beard as he considers this in a sense of mock soul searching.
"Anyway...what're you worried about? You've not had a problem tryin' to stab me with your beskar blade before and this is for fun. I suppose we can make a wager out of it if y'want... Or you can just...back out I guess..."

Athena (159) has posed:
There's a beat, as if the Jedi Master is thinking. <Very well> he finally says. <I am not on Jedha currently, but I will be leaving Coruscant in a few days to go there. Come to the Temple of the Kyber, and tell the Disciples of the Whill that your business is with me.>

<I was looking for you. Where are you now?> she asks.

But Jorn may owe Ellari a response, first. His commlink is blinking with many unread messages. Who knew a wanted man could be so popular...

This just seems to anger the Baron even more. "As if you're any better, aruetii!!" He glares at Volken. "I knew it," he seethes. "You wanted something, that's why you're doing this." He lifts his chin haughtily. "What do you want," he says in dangerously quiet tone of voice.

Volken Mons has posed:
"Everything...." rumbles Volken with a low resonant tone to his already unreasonably deep bass voice. He grins at Caine.

"Besides....You -owe me-. I got Revara out of that Coruscant prison where she'd still be while you and Khalo Fett would still be brawling in the under city. If it wasns't for me you'd never even have gotten her off of the planet but let's set aside even that. I want the truth. No games. No subterfuge. You tell me exactly what happened with the Dark Saber and what Lady Solstice is doing... and if you're lucky I might help get you out of this trouble you both are clearly gettin' wrapped up into..."

Jorn (418) has posed:
<I do need to leave planet. Where is your ship.> Jorn responds. Then he pauses. <No one knows I'm leaving.> He keeps going and will continue the messages. <I can't figure that out. She did not attack me, but her follower effectively cornered me. So, I know I have to keep things close to the chest. Things aren't what they seem.>

To the Jedi, <I will make arrangements.> It's simple, to the point and the Jedi laid out his terms. Jorn won't argue because this may speak better of his own character. That's good enough.

<Your mother made it sound like you took refuge there for other reasons. I did not know about that location. Not really.> Jorn's a little suspicious. That's just the nature of everything lately. To him everythings a blur and that's the funny thing about the setup. Jorn doesn't know the planet well enough do what he's accused of.

Ellari Zin has posed:
    |Sundari Spaceport. Meet me there in an hour.

    The tram stops near the hotel, and she goes to start gathering up her things.

Athena (159) has posed:
A muscle in the baron's cheek twitches, and his glare becomes icy as he regards Volken. But the Mandalorian behemoth will know he's got the cat cornered now.

"If," he finally says, "you win. If -I- win..." his gaze flicks around at the murmuring crowd of guests around them. "You forget this nonsense and focus on the more pressing matter at hand," he says, stepping closer and lowering his voice, "Lady Solstice's campaign to seize power of Mandalore," he says too quietly for even Er'gi to hear. "And you'll be at -my- behest."

Revara pings Jorn back. <I just want to see you> she reiterates. <Please. We can meet wherever you want to meet>

Jorn (418) has posed:
Jorn pauses thinking on it. <You didn't talk like this before everything happened to me. What changed?> That's the one thing that's different. He's honestly not sure if it's absence making the heart grow fonder, or if there is something going. That's the one thing Jorn hates about all of this. Everything he analyzes is through a borderline paranoid lense. Seeing if something is real. Genuine. He was already duped once before.

Ellari Zin has posed:
    As she is packing up, Ellari sends off a message to Volken.

    |Jorn has been summoned to Jedha to meet with Trassa Volk so that he can further assess the situation. We will be taking my ship from the port in Sundari. Will you be joining us?

Volken Mons has posed:
Information in exchange for having to potentially act as his muscle for an indeterminate amount of time -- seems unbalanced. Though at the same time ...

"That seems kinda...like we're walkin' the same path .... vod ... Seems t'me that we're both thinkin' about that. Whose side are you on, exactly?" Volken likewise keeps his voice low... trusting Er'gi to take a hint and keep his distance there.

Athena (159) has posed:
<What do you mean?> She messages him. <I didn't realize I was in love. Until now. Please, Jorn. I just want to talk.>

While Ellari is packing up, she'll receive a text transmission from Varen. <I'm leaving the wedding now. I think... Volken will do a fine job of keeping an eye on the twins. Where are you?>

Caine's expression hardens. "If we become allies temporarily, you'll not forget that I am /not/ your friend. I have no interest in expunging Jorn's name. I'd be happy to see him dead, honestly. If he isn't in league with Lady Solstice yet, he soon will be, and I will not have any qualms about ending his pitiful existence," He says quietly. "What I mean by forgetting this nonsense is you drop the investigation regarding how Jorn got the Dark Saber and align with the general public's view that he stole it and is a dishonorable hut'uun worthy of at best exile, and at worst, public execution. Do you understand?"

Ellari Zin has posed:
    Ellari hesitates, wondering if she should really trust Varen...

    |If you still want to help, meet me at Sundari Spaceport in an hour.

Jorn (418) has posed:
<What made that feeling change> Jorn responds. Then he just keeps going forward. Thinking on it, he waits for a response. Temptation lingers in him, but he has been burned before. Plus, Ellari's warnings were taken to heart. They're something that actually keeps him in check despite how it may look.

Volken Mons has posed:
Volken hesitates. HIs connection to Jorn is tenuous at best. HE finds himself doing this mostlyf or Thaelin's benefit and it was them that put him up to this. He's attempted to get to know Jorn better but circumstnaces keep conspiring to keep them apart and each time he has had direct contact he's...not been impressed with the choices Jorn has made. Again, the temptation to just walk away and let them all fall to whatever madness is happening here is strong. But things have also been set in motion - if they follow up on it - so if he does have to openly change his stance...

"That's a big ask." he rumbles finally. " I'll drop the Dark Saber investigation and beome neutral on it but I won't lie or support a lie. That'll have to do. I won't put bein' dishonorable on the line for information that I don't even know if it's of any value yet. You impress me and maybe I'll change my mind but for now that'll have to do."

Athena (159) has posed:
<I'll see you there, then. We're going off world, I suppose. But to where? And why?> Varen asks Ellari.

<I... don' t know> Revara replies. <Love can't be explained, Jorn. All I know is that one moment I didn't know you. Hated you, even. Just like everyone else who ever said they cared. And then what felt like a lifetime later but in reality was only a few weeks, you were my new constant. The north star I'd always been looking for. I don't know how else to describe it. But please just trust me when I say... I love you>

Up ahead, Jorn will see a public transit station. A transport is pulling into the station - direct line to the spaceport.

"It's not an ask," Caine huffs, tossing his curls haughtily. "It's a mandate. If I win, you'll do as I ask. If you win, I'll do as you ask. Simple, just as Mandalorian tradition should be." A beat. "I'll see you in the ring." Then he turns on his heel and heads for the ballroom, where Thaelin and Sanza are about to have their first dance.

Ellari Zin has posed:
    |I will tell you once we arrive.

    Ellari leaves it at that, grabbing her bags and heading back toward Sundari.

Jorn (418) has posed:
Jorn gets on the public transit. All Jorn does is stare at that message. <I'm making a stop first. I may need some backup.> The message goes to Ellari. Afterward, he will send a message. <This is where I will be.> The coordinates of one of the stops before the space port. Jorn needs to know if this is all a ruse by her mother, and he's just screwed. Or maybe Jorn has more allies than expected. He does not expect a happy ending.

Athena (159) has posed:
Ellari won't be able to see Varen rolling his eyes, but he is. Regardless, he heads for the spaceport, hoping this misadventure doesn't land him in more trouble that he can't get out of.

<I'll be there> Revara tells him. Hopefully he's right, and this isn't all just a ruse by her mother. Either way, he's about to find out...