The Merchant Quarter

Sat Jul 31, 2010 5:14 pm by Dread Lord Havok

Dread Lord Havok wrote:*Not too far from the merchant quarter was the office of a certain lawyer: A Mr. Edmund Mercator, Esquire, of Rustor, Felix, and Mercator; an eminent Firm of Lawyers. Mr Mercator was none other than one of the sons of the esteemed Mercator that gained prominence in the title of the Firm: Rustor, Felix and Mercator.
It would have been named Rustor, Felix, Mercator and Sons, but only Mercator and Rustor were blessed with sons, and of them, only Mercator was pleased to have sons that followed in his lawyer-ing footsteps.*

*And so it was that on this fine day, Edmund Mercator Esq. Of R. F. and M. was serving as Probate of a singular Will.
His rich and lavish wood paneled office was inhabited only by a single soul survivor and executor of the deceased. He sat in the Nerf-Leather upholstered chair, as still and silent as a stone statue. His head bent as if in a benediction for the dead, and the wide brim of his hood drooped over his eyes, concealing the rest of his face in shadow.
The lawyer read the will solemnly and his secretary, Mr Wilsioux acted as witness to the probation of the aforementioned document.*

"...And I, Baron Ozvald Von Palentine, being of sound mind and frail body, do proclaim Anaximander, my adopted son, my sole heir. My Lands, My title, my fortune, my trusts and all my possessions are his to do with as he pleases. Let no man set their hand against my son. Let him know that while I never knew the pain and torture of his soul, My heart was full of grief and sympathy for him. I took you in, my son, to give you a chance for a better life. And even while you are disgraced and... in exile, I will forgive you.-"
**the Will had the effect of producing a single tear. The survivor reached to his face and wiped it away quickly as if its mere existence might be enough to weaken him, before he resumed his stony posture.**

"- I have kept my Identity anonymous from you, my son, to allow you to rely on yourself and feel no obligation to any man or woman; but to feel obligated to an unseen hand of fortune that my come and leave as quickly as the fates and foibles of fortune. It was important to me that you feel the drive to become something of consequence, and I am proud of you. While I am not sure If I will hear of you in your exile before I go to my grave, I write this with the assurance that knowing you and your tenacity, you will be successful and a person of reputation no matter where you settle.
I thank the Force for the opportunity to have saved you that day, and Hope you will never hesitate to do the same for your fellow men.
Your Loving adopted Father,

[signature written in a full, round hand]
Ozvald von Palentine, Baron, Legion of Honor, Honorary Colonel in the Royal Guard. "

**The Lawer Mercator concluded his reading of the will to peer across his desk at the form seated before him.**
"Do you accept the contents and execution of this will, Anaximander?"
**The shadow nodded.**
"Then Mr Wilisioux will witness the transfer of the deeds, titles, investments, account balances, trusts, and properties of the late Baron." **Mr Mercator pulled an electronic key from around his own neck and inserted it into a lock-box that sat on his desk. With a beep it unlocked an opened with a hiss.** "This box and its contents are yours and open for perusal, Mr Wilsioux will provide you with an inventory of the items contained herein. Having concluded our business, I ask that you remember us if you have need of our services. You may examine the contents at your leisure. Since you are the last client of the day I shall take my leave of you, and Mr Wilisioux will provide any assistance you deem necessary. Good day, Baron Anaximander von Palentine."

**the Lawyer had been assembling briefs and notes, putting them in a case, and disintegrating others as he spoke. He finally pulled his cap of the hat rack, and with a "good day" he left the office, empty except the man in the chair and the secretary.**

*The new Baron sat in his chair, contemplating the father, whom he never knew. It was true that during his time as an orphan, most of his feelings towards his unknown benefactor oscillated between frustration and anger for this relationship lacking intimacy and personal contact, and Gratitude for the abundance of resources that were made available to him.
His absence of education as a child would have forever hampered his intellectual growth. Cruelty and abuse were all he ever knew. He would have almost certainly been forced to turn to crime to forward himself in life. But the adoption by the Baron put the best teachers and tutors to task in educating Anaximander, to make up for his intellectually impoverished youth.
His future had been forever changed as a result.*
*His feelings were somewhat overwhelmed in the moment by the words of the will. Particularly this passage:
"I thank the Force for the opportunity to have saved you that day, and Hope you will never hesitate to do the same for your fellow men."
Anaximander was not in the business of saving lost souls.*
*In a moment of weakness, he thought about his life, and whether his father would be pleased with this path he had chosen. He also pondered the paradox resulting from the sequence of events. Anaximander was who he was, because of the love, sympathy and caring of a man that saw fit to help those weaker and poorer than himself. Anaximander by contrast was a man that did not believe the weak deserved to be saved. But he owed his education to this merciful man, and at the same time he was not willing to extend this same mercy to others. It was a logical and Ideological struggle that cast doubt on himself.
He felt the subtle shaking of the foundation of his psyche.
He sat for another quarter of an hour in silence, pondering his dilemma. Could a man that relied on the mercy of another, really consider himself the master of his own destiny? No he couldn't. Not in an absolute sense.*

*Mr. Wilsioux was about to break the silence, and started with a long inhale, But the new Baron silenced him with a hand gesture. Wilsioux let the breath out without saying anything. He would wait for the wealthy client. Even if it took all night.*
*It wasn't long before the Baron reluctantly decided that this wasn't the best location to rethink his life. He would continue these deep thoughts later.*
"I am prepared to review my father's legacy."
**Wilsioux opened the safe and began pulling out documents. These were deeds to various properties. Apparently the Von Palentines were an old family of substance:*
Inherited Holdings of the Barony Von Palentine(of Onderon):
Residences:

*

There was a ring of electronic keys to all of the properties.*

Capital:

*There was another ring of codes and keys to the companies, bank accounts, and stock portfolios.*

Material Assets:

-Signet Ring/family seal. List of banks and safe deposit boxes, and the items inside. Various antiques, and precious objects d'art. jewelry, furnishings, Speeders, collections, heirlooms, Art, priceless artifacts, genealogy traced back to the Monarch, and other documents. Value has not been definitively appraised. Approximately valued in hundreds of millions. Other Items are listed as "priceless".
*With the keys to the safe deposit boxes, there was a list of all items, since they all had to be insured. Onderon occasionally experienced wars and revolutions, and sometimes Aristocrats and their belongings were convenient targets.*

Non-Financial holdings:

*Anaximader had to raise an eyebrow at this last Item.*

"I just need you to sign here to acknowledge that you have received these items."
*The Baron review everything on the list, double checked it, and then signed it.*
"If you wish to tour your properties, We will be open first thing in the morning to-"
"Make it so."
*He pulled out a Brief case and packed the documents, keys and datapad away with the inventory list.* *It was a rather large amount of important and valuable things.*
"Do you wish me to call a security service to escort you back to your hotel?"
*The newly endowed Baron hefted the briefcase and was on his way out.*
“I pity anyone stupid enough to waylay me.”

Mon Sep 06, 2010 4:07 pm by Dread Lord Havok

*The next day.*
*The Von Palentine Ancestral Manor was an huge affair just outside the enormous walls of Iziz. The manor itself was built during the period of peace that existed between the royalty and the beast riders. While there had been upheavals since then, the house had survived, though considerable work had to be done to restore it from time to time. The manor's grounds actually had a wall around it, that connected it to the Iziz wall. The properties grounds were not continuous. the majority lay outside the suburbs around the city. 64 square kilometers. It was a sizable and grand estate.*

*The Baron got his first look at the manor as they passed through the ornate gate and wall, passed 2 security guards and across the well manicured greens and shrubs. The house was a great gray stone affair, with a cupric Patina roof. The gentle green over the years had stained the stones near the roof if a faint green. Architecturally the house was nothing short of magnificent. Gothic spires and parapets along with the associated windows and fixtures were rampant. Pseudo-flying buttresses added accents, and high swooping gables for the individual roof windows sealed the deal.*
*The speeder stopped at the main entryway and 2 butlers were there to greet them. Identical twin butlers. Manfred and Gottfree. They both bowed.*

*Edmund Mercator introduced his client.* “This is the Baron Von Palentine, back from his exploits in the outer rim.”
*The butlers:* “How shall we call you sir?”
*Anaximander answered quickly.* “Angstrom. Baron Angstrom Von Palentine.”
*Manfred:* "Very good sir. Come right this way Master Angstrom.”
*Gottfree:*"Your cloak sir?"
*Angstrom Flipped the cloak off in a flourish and gave it to Gottfree, who draped it over an arm.*
*Angstrom's strange attire was revealed. Underneath, the baron was wearing some sort of strange travel garb with boots, leather pants, a tunic, with tabards, and a belt. The belt was particular because it seemed like a peculiar utility belt. Even more odd, Angstrom was wearing a dark visor which completely concealed his eyes. It was so dark it would be difficult for anyone to see through even the wearer, and he showed no indication of taking it off.*
*The butlers led him and Edmund into a large entryway, where the servants had assembled at attention.
Cooks, maids, guards and servants and everything in between was there assembled. In all, 42. It wasn't all that different from a military review. These were all his troops.*
*Edmund Mercator addressed them:* “This is Baron Angstrom Von Palentine. He is the late baron's heir.
*They all bowed or curtsied.*

Thu Dec 23, 2010 2:02 am by Jace Stealer

*The two agents arrived in the quarter hours after leaving their camp that was out in the terrain. Splitting up, they decided to cover two areas of interest. The first agent booked a room near the spaceport, and set up a small recording device that watched over the air-space above the port. While that fed into a small portable computer by a wire, that agent went about the streets, building up a cover and even getting a boyfriend so that she wouldn't be suspected as an agent.

The other agent moved himself into a hotel that overlooked the royal palace. He got a room that had an angle on the Sky Ramp as well as the hanger of the citadel. Here, he could note ship coming and going as well as any military activity on the ramp.*

Tue Jan 04, 2011 11:25 pm by Jace Stealer

*The two men got an encrypted message from their group in the field. Literally. They're only a few hours out in the wilderness from Iziz. Anyways, the two agents, seeing how they were a bit undermanned they decided to split the duties. While one went to the local crime organization (which is on any planet with a city with a population, even if its a small operation), the other sat himself down in the local cantinas. Both started to spread the word of smuggling opportunities, keeping themselves from being noticed too much as well as telling the right degenerates to spread the word.*

Sun Mar 06, 2011 10:23 pm by Jace Stealer

*The two agents continued to check up on the cantina and the city in general. The usual gossip flowed through the clubs, and the city bustled along as usual. Nothing out of the ordinary. Although, one of the agents had received word that someone of importance may have landed at the spaceport. A change in pace perhaps? No matter, it would be confirmed once this individual left the spaceport and was heading to wherever he was going within the city.*

Sat May 28, 2011 10:26 pm by Gaiscioch Dearg

*The more prosperous citizens of Iziz moved throught he Merchant Quarter with confidence for once. A relatively new feeling as it seemed. Just a few months ago many of the people going through the Merchant Quarter would have to look over their shoulder constantly and even had to consider carrying around a weapon. Iziz used to be a dangerous place all over. Street toughs and thieves arrogantly walked through the streets, attacking at will and stealing whatever they wished. They could back then. The man that had succeeded Gaiscioch Dearg had not cared for the people of Iziz at all and cared not if they attacked each other or lived in peace. Unfortunately human nature had taken control and most had opted for the first option. People getting attacked became an every day occurance in the city of Iziz and it was worse in other area's. The Merchant Quarter was actually one of the safer area's if anyone could call Iziz safe anymore. But things were finally looking up. Gaiscioch Dearg had come back to Onderon after his absense. Some had thought him dead, they had certainly announced him dead. But dead men did come back from the grave. So it must have been some kind of ruse. In any case, the King had come back and he was not please with what he had seen. He had not liked seeing his people run down and scared for his life. He had not liked seeing the other half of his people scaring the rest and running them down. A public announcement had been made very soon after his return stating that things would change. That Onderon would return to how it had once been. Gaiscioch Dearg was going to be making a lot of changes in the city...

The strike teams had begun immediately. Soldiers were brought down from ships in orbit and given instructions to clean up the city. The whole city. Soldiers in uniforms bearing the symbols of the New Order of the Eye had entered the city and began stamping out crime. Soldiers that had training, soldiers that were armored, soldiers that had weapons made for war. These were not kids with personal blasters sold in gun shops and wearing sport pads. The men and woman that were trained by the New Order of the Eye's General's had arrived to bring order back to the planet. For the first group of weeks family's would tremble in fear as high powered blasters would ring out shots in the night. Putting out insurrections of citizens that had tried to stand up to the military. It had not lasted long and it had been both bloody and brutal. Groups of men young and old had tried to stand up to the Order and had not done so very well. Many died, but teams of them were also arrested. Sons and husbands were put into prison and questioned. Possessions returned, locations of hideouts were given up. The New Order of the Eye was a Sith run militaristic faction, and it was because of that they were so good at what they did. They were not a small town milita that were nervous and scared of what their own neigbours may do. They were cold hearted and calculating soldiers. They were given a job to do and they followed those orders to the letters. Anyone with a mind for criminal acts or terrorism were sweapt up and broken down. If men and women had to die for those orders to be completed then so be it...*

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