Private Teaching Resilience (Elpsis)

[Phylis Alince]

Elpsis Kerrigan

The prospect of non-fungi food quickly drew them around Zhaleh. They were, after some marshaling by Ixzuma, remarkably well behaved. Part of it was of course a desire not to get turned away now when they were on the way up...but also an internal desire to look good in front of their new friend. They were good kids cast aside but now willing to help.
"Yay! Anything to not have a mushroom again for a while," Maz said with a grin.
Wooden bowls and spoons were provided and soon they were served their meals. After pausing a moment to make sure they were not dreaming, they tucked in ravenously. Ixzuma, cunningly, had also gotten some food despite having a meal only an hour before...something which had not gone unnoticed!

There did come a minor problem though near the end. There had been 9 pieces of bread, small ones to be fair, and each of the kids had grabbed one at the start. But now as they came to get a second they were one short.
"Hey, that's not fair!" Glint said. "Why'd you get two, Ixzy? You had food before!"
Ixzuma glared at her. Then, looking at Zhaleh, tossed it over. Glint pounced on it and consumed it quickly.

xxx

Javana had observed the discussions from within Diona's mind. "The blue creature is like a parasite," she told her host...not a little ironically considering her current situation! "She only helps because it will make her popular and the prestige can be used for her glory. She cares little for your commander."

Royal was not completely wrong about the logistics of the matter. The Xio did not have a complex electronic setup as yet. Though they had converted to the Firemane Credit (often shortened to Firecred), they still favoured the physical coins and chips as a means of counting and assessing. More specifically, many of the credit chips had Xio numbers on them to help the illiterate or those who only read and spoke the native language.
Doubtless the Chiss would find a way to make matters happen, but it might involve her showing up for a photo op with a literal briefcase of money....

xxx

"Hmmph, well usually I go through an extensive process of making sure everything is documented, that I know what the item can and cannot do before I use it. Matters somewhat forced my hand however. It can, hmm, blast Force Light out which is something a Dark adept cannot fake or reproduce. Thankfully Diona was , hmm, pure enough not to be purged. Her residing spirit was nearly destroyed though, something to note."

"We do not mind what we are called. We were called the Staff of the Rising Dawn by our creator."

"Hmmph, good to know that even all those millennia ago the Asurans were wordy. We really need to introduce you to Ardarvia sometime...though she's a bit different now."

"She lives still? Curious, we do not sense her. We do sense Eyrecae, though her sense is...different. And Tylania is...she is of the Light?"

"Time changes many things. It amuses me that through one means or another we still have, hmm, half the Paragons alive."

"There is much still to learn. We are not holy, but we will do what can be done, for the Light."

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

Phylis Alince

Zhaleh watched the bickering before interceding. "Ixzuma, don't be surly," she said sternly in a slight rebuke. "You all in this together," she. Pulling up a chair for herself, she sat down at the table. "You meet Miss Heir soon."

Hazani, for lack of anything better to do, joined them at the table. You cannot trust the Dark Ones, she thought. They're just biding their time. But these are children. She looked at Lalax, scrutinising her. "So...you are a priestess?" she asked awkwardly, speaking Basic. The robes the woman wore hinted at such. Of course, any deities the Xio worshipped were far from Kashara's light.

xxx

She is. I've seen her sort on my homeworld among clones who gained the favour of the Jedi. They could not rule themselves, so they attached themselves to their masters to graft. And forgot about the plight of their fellows. My commander's mother is incapacitated, so the slime 'manages' her fortune, Diona, who didn't view Javana as a parasite, confirmed grimly. She considered mentioning that the homeworld of these blue-skinned aliens had been utterly destroyed and that she'd fought to try and stop the barbarians responsible, but suppressed the idea. It might be too shocking for the Qadiri spirit.

Royal preened herself. "One hundred thousand. They will arrive once I've made the necessary preparations. Which, by the way, are incredibly complex, but my time would be wasted explaining them to someone without an understanding of fiscal matters. Fortunately, mine is profound." With that she cut the connection, and her holographic projection faded away.
"What a pompous, slimy woman," Nyssa remarked. The fact that the first word she'd said also applied to her seemed to have escaped her. "Elpsis needs to show her who's boss. Bet she liked it when Kerrigan made her lick her boots."

xxx

"I think Tephriki names are wordier," Elpsis commented. Even the Unchained had been unable to shake this habit. She frowned. "Who's Eyrecae? Doesn't show up in mother's Cliff Notes." Another thought came to her. "And what about the Kar'zun Paragon? They must've had one, right? Did we ever figure out what happened to them?"

 

[Phylis Alince]

Elpsis Kerrigan

Ixzuma first pouted at being singled out whilst Glint smirked as she ate. However, she lost the smug look when she got a look from Lalax.
The meal finished soon enough and the children were lined up whilst their dishes were taken care of.

Lalax took charge of clean up, with Hazani beside her. "I am a priestess, yes. I work with the Daughters of the Destroyer. I help venerate and propagate the mercy and duties of the Karishzar." Hazani would likely know who that was...and might have views about it.
"And you? You are warrior of the Qadiri or of the Karishzar's host?"

xxx

There was no more reply from Javana except a profound emotion of disdain towards Royal which emanated from her place in Diona's mind. Regardless, Royal was definitely on her way...with media in tow.

xxx

"I heard. I am perhaps a little guilty of that...but only because I try to be descriptive. Reading over the accounts of Tephrike makes it sound like the Dominion got someone with a large thesaurus and a list of euphemisms to design everything."

Phylis frowned. "Eyrecae is one of the Paragons. She is without the Force, but she has incredible martial skills and a strange nano-tech bonded system which gives her incredible regeneration and strength. I've not met her much but she is with the Shadow Knights at the moment. Hmm, not sure if you remember Kaida Taldir? With her associates."

"The records I could find are...inconclusive. But perhaps the Rising Dawn can answer?"

"There was a paragon of the Kar'zun. There was...a problem however. We do not know what became of them. We do not know if the other Paragons knew either. We know they existed, but by the time of our creation they were no longer with the others."

"Interesting. They might still be out there, or not," Phylis said with a frown.

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

Phylis Alince

Heathen idolatry, as I suspected, Hazani thought, frowning. "I see," she responded, biting down on a scatological comment. "I am a warrior of the Sistren of the Eternal Flame, assigned to the Karishzar's Host...provisionally." In my mind and soul, I will always be a Sister of Flame. Never her servant.

"Sergeant Hazani Jai Bysara leads one of the squads under the Heir," Zhaleh said, while wiping one of the remaining plates clean. If she had been one of the southron Qadiri - and not an Amikarese - she might have said something admiring about Hazani's mother. However, being of the far north, she had little connection to the holy wars of her people. And she was no sycophant.
"Yes, that is correct," Hazani said after a moment. "We have fought many battles together. She is a strong warrior." No word of sycophancy would cross her lips and sully her warrior's honour, but that was factual. "What is your name?"

xxx

"Yeah, I remember her. Almost became my step-mum. Back when...Coryth was alive. Haven't seen her in ages," Elpsis responded when the question of the frosty Eldorai came up. She glanced towards the mystical staff.

"Oh? Well, guess Phylis has another mystery to explore, and I bet my salary Firemane will sooner or later decide it has a 'vested interest' in it," she commented sarcastically. "But not today. I gotta check on the kiddos and I figure Lalax ought to know we dug up an ancient, magical staff in her house before Rising Dawn gets to chit-chat with the queen."

 

[Phylis Alince]

Elpsis Kerrigan

If Lalax noticed anything odd about Hazani she did not say anything about it. Instead she nodded enthusiastically.
"I have heard of the Sistren. They are of great strong and big with fire," she declared, again not really nailing the correct words to use. "After you have served you will return to the Sistren as their captain?" she added.

"I am Karrigan'Lalax, but you might call me Lalax. I am always happy to meet those from outside," she added, and seemed to mean it.

"Ah, I think the Heir is coming, be ready, children!"

xxx

"Ah yes, poor Coryth," Phylis said with a sad sigh. "I have not seen Kaida either for a while, I'm one of the few humans allowed on the Shadow Knight fleet, even if I get suspicious looks. I have, hmm, advised the Archon on a few things. She didn't really follow my advice, but she at least listened. I think they are trying their best...." Damning with faint praise, but Phylis didn't have it in her to be too mean...though in this case she more disagreed with their methods than their existence.

She frowned. "Hmmph, well yes. Mysteries and uncovering them are what I do best. That and research which is a subset of this. And if Firemane would like to fund my expeditions then that's on them. Depending on what happens of course other parties might do so, as it might be a vested interest for several parties."

"Hmm, yes, let's go down and see them. Should be interesting if nothing else."

xxx

And so the two humans headed downstairs. For all below, the sight of the staff would be very interesting, a new item thrust into the mix. But for the children (save Ixzuma), it'd be the first time they'd seen humans.
Feather even took a step back, muttering the word 'ghost' in Xio. Squiddy too peered at them suspiciously. Pale humans likely looked odd to them!
"Be not afraid, children, my name is Alinze'Phylise, I am friend to the Heir, Karrigan'Elpsis," she said, introducing her companion in Xio.

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

Phylis Alince

"I will serve the Sistren in whatever way I can. The manner will be for the High Mistress to decree," Hazani said piously, and perhaps a bit defensively. She wanted to lead the Sistren one day...but on her own merits. Not as Firemane's pawn to 'pacify' them. "Your bear the name Karrigan. Were you adopted by the Karishzar?" There were many former Qadiri slaves who had declared themselves Saobana. Hazani did not like it much...but after spending so much time among the sky people she could admit that there had been understandable reasons for it.

xxx

"Seems to me what the Shadows are doing isn't half bad. You gotta serve before you lead, no corpos, no nobles, no sucking up to Firemane. Firemane doesn't like them, but that's par for the course for any elves who don't do as they say. As for how it's working out for them? I can't tell. Probably has lots of holes, but that applies to everything," Elpsis opined with a shrug.

She was truly a patriotic Firemane loyalist. It probably said a bit about her that a highly regimented, semi-democratic stratocracy didn't seem that bad to her. "Anyway, yeah, let's get going. Come on, Rising Dawn."

xxx

And so they went down. Presumably Nyssa, Diona and Xilae would show up soon. Perhaps the latter had word from the Queen's office. The children being a bit anxious was understandable. Elpsis was not the most reassuring sight. Tall for a human woman, her flaming red hair framed a tanned, viciously scarred face with milky-white eyes. Aside from conventional marks of battle, there were scars that resembled burning cracks, glowing like embers. Her cybernetic leg was concealed from them since she wore trousers and boots, but her skeletal, metal arm was unmistakeable.

"Uh, yeah," Elpsis said with a nod to Phylis. "Elpsis. Hello, kids. All you well?" she asked, coming to a halt and squatting down. She extended her flesh hand, waiting for someone to take it.
"Elpsis is friend," Zhaleh said in somewhat better Xio.

 

[Phylis Alince]

Elpsis Kerrigan

Lalax nodded. "The Karishzar adopted me along with many of my sisters. I was somewhat later to the family than some. I was a scribe and knew of secrets to indict the Mistresses." She smiled at that memory, seeing the mighty brought low. "In response the Karishzar adopted me personally and made me a priestess. It was a great honour."

"You are woman of great honour too, yes? I am sure you elders will gift you strong leadership."

xxx

Phylis frowned, but did not get any chance to discuss the relative merits of the Shadow Knights. Something she'd remember to discuss later with Elpsis though. Phylis was the resident Jedi for all the Asuran races and felt she knew them better than any other human did...but she was always willing to learn more. She pondered whether she should take Elpsis along one time, would not be a difficult mission to plan, though there might be some on both sides less than receptive to the notion!

xxx

The children stared at this burning (relatively) pale woman with red hair and flaming cracks seeming to shine through. The four new kids stood together, huddled almost, staring at the hand as though it was dangerous.
Ixzuma broke the awkward pause by stepping forward and taking it, though covering the outer rather than inner part of the hand, as might be a custom.

"She will not hurt you," Phylis added reassuringly. "She only kills monsters," she added with a little smile.
First Glint, then Maz, then finally Squiddy and Feather came forward and laid their hands on Elpsis'
"It's warm," one of them said.
"Is she blind?" Feather whispered to Maz, who shrugged.
"Miss Heir, are you really the Karishzar's daughter?" Glint asked cautiously.
"I thought the Karishzar was fifty feet tall and made of fire!" Squiddy said, waving his hand.
"She looks like she's made of fire though..." Feather replied nervously.

Into this bonding scene Nyssa, Diona and Xilae would return.

The staff meanwhile glowed to itself. Nyssa might get the uncomfortable feeling that it was 'turning' to face her...though it had no distinctive edges or sighs of direction. It was very...bright...not physically so much as in the Force.
Phylis seemed unaware of this and was idly tapping her fingers on the shaft as she watched on.

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

Phylis Alince

Presumably either Phylis or Lalax translated for Elpsis due to her poor grasp of Xio. Regardless, the human who might or might not one day turn into a literal fire construct smiled slightly, trying to look reassuring. As much as she could anyway.

Squiddy's comment made her chuckle. "Translate please," she said with a nod to Phylis. Leaning forward, she looked at the kid. "The Karishzar's actually only 5'7, but she wears high heels to look taller." Strictly speaking, this was perfectly average height for a human female. However, Siobhan had a tendency to surround herself with amazonian women and her personal guard was composed of Kar'zun. As a result, she looked short by comparison.

Next she glanced at Feather and Glint. "Not made of fire. It's just...the spirits' power. I'm blind, but the spirits allows me to see, just not in the same way you can. The...Karishzar adopted me. Used to be poor, lived on the streets. But I fought my way up."

In the midst of the bonding scene, her three other minions showed up. Nyssa winced slightly when she beheld the staff, raising her hand slightly because the bright light agitated her eyes. "Can't you put your doodad away?" she grunted at Phylis.
"Did you get Royal to cough up the creds?" Elpsis interrupted. How rude.
"Yes. Why is is still staring at me? It vexes me."
"Don't be a baby. Did she say when and how it'll get here?"

"She showed no interest in proceeding swiftly until it occured to her that it would increase her prestige," Diona responded in lieu of Nyssa. She made little attempt to hide her disgust. "I suspect she will come here."
Elpsis groaned. "Lovely. Phylis, maybe fill in Lalax on Rising Dawn? Xilae, got in touch with the palace?"

 

[Phylis Alince]

Elpsis Kerrigan

Squiddy looked quite disappointed at this revelation! "Well that's not as fun," he grumbled. Then he seemed to have an idea. "Maybe she turns into a fire giant when she's angry!"
"I can confirm," Phylis said cheekily. Then, seeing the look she got sighed. "...that she is only of normal height. But she can still do amazing things!" It wasn't 'breaking reality' or moving moons around, but Phylis had dismissed rumours of such events.

Feather and Glint looked on appreciatively. "You were like us?" Feather asked.
"We can be like you some day!" Glint added. "Big and made of fire!"
"Don't want to go blind though, all the same to you, Miss Heir," Feather added apologetically.

Phylis looked at Nyssa, concealing a smile with difficulty. "Come now, Nyssa, the staff does not have a face, hmm."
"We can perceive in any direction," it communicated to Nyssa's mind. Presumably this would annoy the Pureblood.
"Ah yes, hmm, we found this in the basement. It is called the Staff of the Rising Dawn," Phylis said in Basic to Lalax. "It is an important artefact I wish to bring before the Queen."
"It is magnificent!" Lalax said, gently touching it, seemingly with no ill effect.
"Child of Mystra, we greet you," it commented.
The Xio recoiled, then looked curious. "It spoke to me! In my mind!"
"It'll do that," Phylis said with a smile.

Xilae meanwhile nodded. "Yes, ma'am. The Queen is awake and will receive you so long as we're there in the next hour or so. We can head there whenever ready." He glanced at the staff. "It seems we might have other news for her anyway...."

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

Phylis Alince

Elpsis smiled slightly after Zhaleh translated what the kids had said. She gave Feather a pat on the shoulder. "That's fine, kiddo. We can get you some cool sunglasses."

"Fabulous," Nyssa grumbled. "I'll go to Korriban and get my own, multidirectional ancient staff, with proper Sith sorcery. Before those pathetic Maw losers trip over themselves and blow it up..." Diona looked stoic. Very stoic. Deep down, the Pureblood's plight amused her.

While Nyssa had her rant, and Xilae informed the party of the situation, Zhaleh and Hazani had taken notice of the artefact. "Uh, hello, I greet you, ancient one," Zhaleh said politely, looking curious at Rising Dawn.
Hazani, meanwhile, was warier. "What are your origins? I sense no trace of witchcraft on you, but these symbols are not Qadiri," she looked puzzled.

Elpsis nodded to Xilae. "Ok, we'll get ready soon. Lalax, since it's about your people, too, it probably makes sense for you to come along. Do you have someone reliable who watch over the kids?"

 

[Phylis Alince]

Elpsis Kerrigan

As Zhaleh translated Feather pouted slightly. "Still don't wanna go blind," she muttered.
"Hey, cheer up, Feather," Glint replied. "If you're big and full of fire then we won't need to see!" he joked.
The little Xio let out a very Phylis-like 'Hmmph'.

Phylis smiled slightly. "Now, now, Nyssa, no need to be jealous. I'm sure you too can find an ancient staff if you look hard enough!" Was the Jedi trolling her?!

The staff meanwhile had new people to welcome. "We greet you, children of...the ancestors." It seemed to remember that it shouldn't mention names. "Our origins are..." it seemed to pause pointedly.
"Ah, hmm," Phylis said with a cough. "Let's keep that quiet for now too, Rising Dawn. The uhh, origins, Sergeant are complicated and shrouded in antiquity."
"We can properly describe..." the staff begun. It seemed to really want to explain things, confused why it was not allowed.
"No, no! That's fine! Let's hold the revelations for now. Sorry, ladies, Rising Dawn will be available for a chat later," Phylis said briskly, heading for the door.
"We do not understand. We can provide illumination on mysteries."
"And you will...all in good time. Come along." The Jedi swept out.

Lalax watched, a little puzzled. "Oh, yes, one of my associates will assist in caring for the children."
Xilae nodded. "I will go ahead to the palace so they are expecting us," he added.

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

Phylis Alince

"I will. And when I do, you'll be nerding out all over it," Nyssa declared proudly.

While the Pureblood was being distracted by her ego, others were more interested in the nature of the enigmatic staff. The evasiveness made Hazani raise an eyebrow, suspicion swelling inside her. "What is all this about?" she demanded resolutely. "Why are you cutting it off?"

"I would like to know more of you, Ancient One. In due time," Zhaleh said more respectfully, an expression of curiosity written across her features.

Elpsis shrugged. "I'm the wrong person to ask. All this ancient history is beyond me." She glanced at Zhaleh. "Let the Xio get reacquainted with it first, then you can have a chat." Diona said nothing, looking stone-faced. But her eyes never left Phylis and the staff as both departed. Even the noble galaxy Jedi had their secrets and their lies.

 

[Phylis Alince]

Elpsis Kerrigan
Phylis sighed. "There's a lot of things, Sergeant, which require a lot of tact. Throwing out explanations would raise more questions than answers. You will learn more in due time." She nodded to Zhaleh as a good example of what to do.
She made no comment in reply to Nyssa. She didn't want to admit it but she would be interested. If only Nyssa knew what she had in her vault on her ship....

The Jedi headed from the shelter, the others presumably following. She made her way through the streets heading towards the palace. A few people stopped to look. A human with a slightly glowing white staff was not something one saw every day!
"Any chance you can, hmm, dim a little?" Phylis whispered.
"We do not wish to be dim," the staff replied serenely. "One who follows the Light should not seek to hide in the shadows."
"Lovely...the staff is lecturing me," Phylis muttered.

As the Jedi approached the palace she saw that several Seekers were on duty, including Ximal. The Xio gave a friendly wave.
"Her Majesty is waiting. That's an interesting item, Mistress Jedi."
"It is indeed. Thank you. Please show the others in with me."
Ximal nodded. And duly when the others arrived she bowed and bade them enter, following behind Phylis to the Queen's audience chamber.

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

Phylis Alince

Once again they got to visit the Queen. Presumably her 'throne' was still a chair in a ballroom. Was it still too luxurious for Elpsis? Probably, but then she was a wee bit extreme. Regardless, they were let in. Elpsis was polite enough to bow her head slightly. "Thanks for receiving us again, Majesty. Some stuff came up at one of the Daughters' poorhouse and I wanna work with the Xio instead of trying to run roughshood over them," she began.

"I received petitions from folks who've been disinherited or need legal help against the mistresses. So we had this idea of carrying out a...what's the word?" she paused.
"Census, ma'am," Xilae said softly. "An assessment of family assets."
"Yes, that. We'd check and compare those with what the dispossessed and the old records say. That aside, I wanted to look into ways to make sure more people who are on the streets get work," she coughed. All this talk was agitating her throat. "Lalax knows more about this. And Phylis found a mystical staff that was made for the Xio way back before Mystra went crazy. It wants to help."

 

[Phylis Alince]

Elpsis Kerrigan

The Queen's throne was again just a nice chair in a ballroom. For now though a table had been pulled up to it so she could work. Occasionally aides would enter or leave with pieces of paper or datapads for her to consider.

The informality of Elpsis' address would likely have gone down poorly with a more hierarchy based monarch. As it was though it did not phase the Xio queen.

She considered a moment. "It is a good idea, and something we had considered for a while. There are groups who are...for and against such an idea. Many on the surface say they wish to 'move on' from the bad days. They are the ones who have an advantage in doing so. There are those who was a 'full accounting' because they have something to gain from it."

"As for unemployment, I am happy to consider anything Firemane may wish to do to alleviate the problems. As it is we have issues where it is not always opportunities but technical and skill limitations. The best way to get more of my people working is for them to learn skills and trades from the stars. I have done what I can but drawing in interested people is not always easy. If you can assist with that it'll go a long way I feel."

The Queen's eyes flicked to Lalax. "I see. Lalax was it?" There was...something...there. A slight raising of the eyebrow.
"Karrigan'Lalax, majesty," Lalax said softly, bowing a bit more deeply and keeping her head declined more than needed.
"Have we...met?" Lia asked curiously.
"I...after the downfall I advocated for many who could not read and write, majesty."
"Yes, that must have been where I saw you. Hmm, please explain this to me more in private later." She gestured to an aide. "Make a note of that." There still seemed to be something odd, something unusual there, especially as the usually ebullient Lalax had taken the opportunity to edge a little backwards.

Lia's eyes now turned to Phylis and the staff. "Dear me, Mistress Jedi, you have a habit of finding all sorts of strange things. I...sense...the power in it. Does it...talk?"
"We commune, Queen of the Xio," the staff replied serenely.
"An artefact from before Myrou's fall you say? How had it survived so long?"
"We were lost in darkness for many centuries. We were found by some who followed the Light. They passed us through families though we were left abandoned for many years until now."
"Fascinating. May I?" Lia asked, extending a hand.
"Of course. Hmm, it is called Staff of the Rising Dawn and...ah...."
The staff left her hand and floated, point upward, towards the Queen to hover before her.
"We sense the Light in you. After so long in darkness the Xioquo now has a leader who rejects the shadow. We will aid you should you wish it."
"Yes...I will be interested in seeing what you can do," Lia said thoughtfully.

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

Phylis Alince

Noticing the curious exchange between Lia and Lalax, Elpsis raised an eyebrow. What was that about? "Honestly, I didn't think about Firemane being that involved. And I don't think you want them too involved either," Elpsis stated bluntly. It might be a good thing the Chiss ambassadow was not there, as much as Nyssa liked admiring how she filled out her uniform.

"Giving corpos too much of a say in things? Not good. Doesn't matter how nice they are. What I like is giving people who want to pull themselves up by their bootstraps the tools they need because frankly they know way better than me what to do with them." She coughed slightly. So much talking. "Anyway, I got House Kerrigan's money bags - sorta. So I can see about getting more 'creds out of them for training and stuff."

Hazani, meanwhile, had largely paid little mind to the conversation about legal issues, and unemployment. Discord in the hierarchy? she thought when she heard Elpsis disparaging her employers. But what truly gained her attention above all was the exchange between the Xio Queen and the staff. She frowned, waiting for what would come next.

Diona remained ramrod straight, gaze stoic, and watching the exchange with the staff intently. And she studied the Queen, having not been there at the original audience. Age was hard to determine when it came to elves, but to her the woman still seemed young. She noted the bare minimum of staff in the throne room. No hangers-on, only aides entering or leaving to provide papers. It was all focused, yet formal. So this is their monarch, she thought curiously, her musings audible to Javana, should the spirit decide to chime in.

 

[Phylis Alince]

Elpsis Kerrigan

Lia was perhaps taken aback by the vehemence of the person she believed was Firemane's heir being so opposed to getting her company involved. However, she did not mention it.
"I would greatly appreciate your efforts, Elpsis. The concept of these giant companies is still new to us, so your guidance on this matter is valued. If you are able to provide the funding we will be able to repay over time."

The staff continued to hover before Lia. The Queen did not take it yet however.
"It is...safe?" she asked Phylis.
"As far as I can tell, yes," the Jedi replied.
Still Lia hesitated, not taking it....

Javana was unsurprisingly both suspicious and cynical. "Look at this one. So modest and pious and just," she whispered acidly in Diona's mind. "I dare say she has secrets. I dare say she has kept a few perks out of sight of her people."

As those words had echoed just in Diona's mind the staff, without really turning physically, turned its gaze upon Diona once more.
"Spirit, your resentments are justified but unwarranted. I have seen the Queen's mind, and though she has committed some sins she is of the Light." This pious lecture concluded, it turned back.
"I really do not like that thing," Javana muttered.

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

Phylis Alince

Maybe she strives to be righteous, but even the Light can be led astray, Diona thought in response. The best of intentions can go ill. The staff was a holy artefact deserving of respect, but she had seen too much to trust its judgement without question. She would form her own opinion of this Bright Queen.

Meanwhile, Elpsis nodded, though she felt a bit off-kilter. Smashing slaver and Sith scum was easy. There she knew what she was up against. Navigating royal and corporate politics not so much. "I'll do what I can. So...how do we start?"

 

[Phylis Alince]

Elpsis Kerrigan

The staff serenely seemed to ignore Diona's mental comments. Instead it seemed to turn back its attentions on Lia.
"Indeed..." Javana said grimly before retreating back to the former Jedi's subconscious.

Lia continued to stare at the staff, but then looked back to Elpsis. Surprisingly she rose to her feet, walked past the staff and to Elpsis' side.
"Let's take a walk, Elpsis. I'm fine," she said as one of her Seeker bodyguards came forward. "I am sure the Lieutenant can protect me from any dangers I might face, we will not go far. Mistress Jedi, if you would put the staff in a box or place where I can view it later, I would appreciate it."

Phylis looked from the staff to the Queen and back. "Ah, yes, of course. Hmm." She approached the staff and gently took it up, laying it down on the table. The staff did not protest, but the Jedi curiously looked after the disappearing women.

Lia meanwhile had led Elpsis up a set of stairs to a wide window looking out at the city. In light of the security situation and new weapons in the galaxy it had been reinforced with transparisteel.
"I wanted to speak with you briefly away from the others, Elpsis. Not just to answer your question but also to discuss a sensitive matter with you. As to how to begin, I think it would be best if you...or a trusted agent of yours...allocated the money to bodies I indicate. I do not want you to think I am taking the money with no oversight. Instead I have a selection of programs where I feel my people need help the most. Electronics, piloting, modern weapons, mining and research tools. Those are things we need most."

The Queen looked around the room carefully, as if being sure no one was there. "Your words about the corporation has struck me strongly. I know you are not formally in the Firemane organisation, but outside of it. I believe there is someone in the upper echelons of Firemane which is...causing issues for us. I believe we are being systemically overcharged and underpaid for our people's work. Worse, I feel like there are certain malicious people within my government and city placed by Firemane which are aiding this. I know I am Queen ultimately by the deeds of your mother, but I do not want to be anyone's puppet. I cannot be Queen if I am expected simply to be a figurehead to sign what the company demands. Do you understand what I mean?"

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

Phylis Alince

Nyssa watched the two depart. Her gaze might have lingered on their shapely backsides for a few moments longer than was appropriate. "Better include me if it's going to be that kind of audience," she muttered to herself in Sithese, then shot her minions a stern glare. "Look sharp. The boss being gone is no excuse to slack off," she snapped sternly.

Elpsis snorted. "Guess this is the moment where I quote the company brochure 'bout how benevolent Firemane is. Bet it has lots of fancy words. Never read it," she responded with a shrug. "Capital cares about profit, that's it. People in power care about power. So that doesn't surprise me. Course, for all I know, you're just angling for an advantage, too, but there's better people to approach for scheming than Firemane's propaganda mascot."

There was a trace of bitterness in her words she didn't bother to hide. "I'll be straight with you. I don't like the board. I wear the uniform because I wanna protect people and fight evil scum. I follow Firemane as far as they let me do that, that's it. So with that outta the way, you got any proof about this? You know I can't walk up to the board and tell them to stop being dicks. They slap my face on propaganda posters because I'm good at killing things and they need a Kerrigan mascot since the boss is out of commission."

She frowned. "As for the jobs, I get y'all want to advance instead of sucking on Firemane's teats all the time. Cool with me. But I gotta make sure the money goes places poor folks with not much of an education can find work in. Or gives them vocational training."