The Rist Family, an aristocratic Alderaanian lineage, had already established itself as renowned spies and assassins by the Cold War. Their beginnings can be found in a criminal kingpin from the Exchange who furnished illegal assistance to the aristocratic class of Alderaan. After a long period of clandestine operations, the crime boss was granted land, and the Rist family gained official recognition as a lesser noble house. Despite their rise in status, the Rists did not forsake their criminal past; instead, they continued their deadly craft in secret, all while relishing the advantages of their elevated position. This, in turn, gave them influence and advantages when interacting with other aristocratic families on Alderaan.
Eventually, House Ulgo made contact with House Rist and successfully took them on as a subject. While this promotion was contentious, it was a clever move that allowed the Ulgos to maintain exclusive control over the Rists' extensive criminal assets. After the passing of Gaul Panteer, Rist and Ulgo both became suspects, as a large number of individuals thought that Senator's death was caused by assassins from this house.