Owner	Pose
Athena	It's a fine afternoon in Sundari, with the midday sun bright and not a cloud in the sky to obscure it. Traffic in the Civic Center is clogged and sluggish as per usual, and in the center of the city square, a large holodisplay scrolling relevant news reports of the beginnings of more political unrest, with the dowry of the daughter of a powerful Mandalorian warlord being the ownership of ten fiefs of varying House alignment. The daughter in question is marrying into House Vizsla, apparently, much to the chagrin of many of those affected by this power transfer. Consequently, the wedding itself, has been announced to be both a public and political matter. Now, two Mandalorians in particular may or may not be a bit surprised to find themselves in the middle of this matter - Volken himself would have received a request from a particular noteworthy but non-partisan Duke Thyssel- father of the groom, to speak with him about a ... special invitation, with the promise of monetary reward and perhaps more. And naturally, a similar request had been made of House Viszla as well, to send one of their richest and most honorable female house members. The clan Thyssel receiving party is waiting patient on the south end of the square with a luxury hovercraft escort, hoping both of those whom the special request had been extended to would arrive in a timely fashion.
Volken Mons	Great More Mandalorian politicking and feuding. Not exactly his idea of a good time. Volken had made it a point to keep his visits to Mandalore limited in the aftermath of the events that led him to abandon the world and seek his fortune of his own accord. Sometimes necessity required a return home but by and large he'd attempted to wash his hands of the culture and those in it. A failed effort. He's as much Mandalorian as one can be, enhanced body and foundling status aside, and when the rquest for him, speficically, reached him....against his better judgement he decided to honor it. His approach towards the south end of the square lacks any subtelty as he towers gigantically over even the next largest citizen by some degree. and his tree trunk sized arms swing heavily at his sides as he trundles in with large steps just shy of rumbling the ground itself from the looks of him. He heads right for the rendevous point, saying nothing to anyone and paying no mind to any looks that come his way.
Ellari Zin	It doesn't come as a surprise to Ellari that she has been selected to meet with Duke Thyssel for...whatever it was he had planned for her involvement. Specifics hadn't been given. But the monetary reward was handsome enough.     So she makes her way to the square where the escort is waiting. Yes, she noticed Volken, but this time she doesn't give him any dirty looks.
Athena	The Mandalorians in the receiving party nod respectfully at both Volken and Ellari. "Mons and Zin, well met. Thank you for responding to the Duke's invitation." Stepping aside, one of them gestures to the luxury hovercraft. "The pilot will take us to the Duke's estate, the Bastille of Thyssel. Shall we?" The doors of the escort vehicle slide open, permitting Volken and Ellari inside. However, as Volken is rather ... oversized, he'll have to duck rather low to get in, and may discover that the inside of the vehicle is a bit undersized. He'll have to take up two and half whole seats to fit, leaving Ellari little room.
Volken Mons	To be fair, everything is undersized to him. He's not exactly even uncommon for a Mandalorian foundling and the planet wasn'tabout to re-arrange the way it functions just for him. So he's somewhat masterful at fitting into places not made for him. At least he's properly hygiened and such given the close quarters! "Well...look who it is." he says as he notes Ellari. He can't resist. But his tone lacks some of its usual schooyard bully sort of teasing that he seems to enjoy doing to her knowing he'll get a rise. Seeems that like her he's a little subdued. With a grunt, he compacts himself in for the ride.
Ellari Zin	Ellari just barely manages to fit herself into the seat, nodding politely as she is greeted. "Thank you for this invitation, I consider it a great privilege." she tells them.     "Indeed," she remarks toward Volken. "It seems that we keep crossing paths."
Athena	Even the escorts seem amused, but they do not comment on their interaction. The ride to the Bastille of Thyssel will be uncomfortable, but short, at least. Once they arrive, they'll bear witness to a massive stronghold, complete with marble columns and obsidian colored permacrete surrounding a moat with a wide girth. Their escorts will speak briefly to the sentries before gesturing towards the massive gates, which swing wide as soon as they come within a hundred meters of it. As soon as the gates are cracked open, four akk puppies rush to greet them, barking happily and drooling all over their beskar. Following the pups is the Duke himself. "Welcome," he says formally. "Excuse the akk pups... they are the newest additions to the family. Come inside, please."
Volken Mons	"Well you're certainly treating me nicer. What, did I only have to save a starport and pick you up after you got shot point blank to keep ou from looking at me like you want me dead?" rumbles Volken. The amusement of the escorts is noticed by him and he eventually does fall silent as no doubt Ellari won't have much to say on the ride over. At the actual mansion, he steps forward and looms up - looking unperturbed by the excitement of the akk pups and instead turns his full attention to the Duke as he introduces himself. He makes a gesture of greeting but says nothing and instead seems to wait to see what Ellari has to say, being the more eloquent between the two.
Ellari Zin	Ellari doesn't seem bothered by the pups either, nodding politely to the Duke as well. "Thank for the invitation, Duke. I am honored by it."
Athena	The Duke nods politely, and if Ellari and Volken allow him, he will lead them into the inner courtyard, where a spread of Mandalorian delicacies and refreshments have been prepared on a table covered with a white tablecloth. He gestures for them to help themselves. "As you both may be aware, my son Thaelin is soon to wed the late Lord Santiss' daughter, Sanza." He pauses to pour himself a glass of wine. "Yet, as you two may also be aware, this poses a political predicament. The ten fiefs formerly owned by the Lord, recently, have fallen prey to much civil unrest, and with this colossal transfer of power to House Vizsla, there is, as expected, much dissent." Another pause. "To remediate this, my family has decided to divide the dowry fiefs up within the bridal party. One fief to each bridesmaid, and groomsman, to do with as they please. Consequently, we have chosen for the bridal party to be from a variety of clans, with varying house alliances, to avoid weighing power too much in one direction."
Volken Mons	"Smart move." rumbles Volken, speaking for the first time as he reaches up to remove his helmet and let his messy dark hair fall loose and free and his lightlyb earded jaw to loosen up some. He reaches a massive hand down and takes hold of a hunk of meat from the offered foods. "No fault in that there. so what's that have to do with me? Us? I know why she's here. House Vizsla. Right. What do you need me to do?"
Ellari Zin	Ellari nods and helps herself to a few bites of the refreshments. "Of course, Duke. That would be a very shrewd maneuver, to abate the unrest. Some of it, at least. So, what would you have us do to help with that?"
Athena	"I am formally inviting both of you to join the bridal party," the Duke says frankly. "If you accept, you will receive a gift of twenty thousand credits, and governance over a fief. If you do not prefer to govern, you may sell it, or retain ownership over it while allowing the most of the maintenance of the fief to the local deputies." He removes his helmet, revealing a full head of dark hair, greying at the sides, and piercing blue eyes. "If you refuse..." he shrugs. "I suppose that is within you right to refuse, but I will say this now: You should care."
Volken Mons	The giant mandalorian sputters right in the middle of a drink of wine. With his face visible, his surprisd expression is rather clear here and it takes a minute for him to pull it together. "-Me-?" he rumbles in disbelief, "Govern a -fief-?" The Vizsla girl he can understand but he has to press the matter. "You could have gotten any rank and file Mandalorian if you're just looking for a potential scapegoat if things go wrong. Why me?"
Ellari Zin	Ellari smirks at Volken's reaction. She'd somewhat expected the Duke to say something like that, and Volken to react similarly. She picks up a glass of whatever beverage has been offered, sipping at it a little.     "He did say you wouldn't have to govern it if you didn't want to." she reminds him. "But you should consider this a great honor, Volken."
Athena	The duke chuckles warmly. "And why not? Clan Mons, and I mean no offense, is not a clan or house with significant political prowess or influence. I am trying to foster unity and diversity, instead of breed civil unrest. Why not include a clan that perhaps some other houses and clans have never heard of?" "I'm not searching for scapegoat, Volken. I am looking for someone who is willing to shoulder some responsibility, even if you choose not to govern it. In fact, the fact that something might go terribly awry was far from my mind."
Volken Mons	"Hmm.." Lord Volken. Or whatever thet title is. That has a certain ring to it despite his better judgement. "You're not wrong...." he admits, concerning the reputation and size of his clan, such as it is though he adds, "The infighting and politics of Mandalore have as much to do with that as anything but.....maybe ..." He glances at Ellari once and then finally back to the Duke, "Alright. I'll do it."