Act I: Sands of Time

[Valiens Nantaris]

@[member="Alexandra Shadowstalker"]
It was terrifying, seeing the wall of sand coming to engulf them. Tamara turned to flee, but the hand of the kind stranger restrained her. Compared with the storm the water looked inviting, so she jumped in.
Tamara was no athlete, but she had lived in her early life by the sea and could at least wade without drowning.

Jumping, she hit the water just as the storm hit. Taking a deep breath she dived under the water, unsure where everyone was, but grabbing onto a log or post to stop herself being swept away.
When she came back to the surface she found the sky shadowed in dust, and darkness all around.

 

[Onrai]

"I risked a Star Destroyer by sending it straight at the Mandalorian flagship. I could ask where the rest of the Sith fleet that SHOULD have been there was, but it of course was busy elsewhere. I didn't have to bring my fleet out of storage to protect a planet that should've had more ships around it than any other world in the entire galaxy, but I did. And you know, I had to move on to other planets with my fleet to interdict Republic and Mandalorian ships that, oddly enough, the Sith ships weren't engaging. As for your claims of 'molesting' that traitor, who threw her lot in with the Imperium when she first had a chance, I was simply attempting to get her to do my bidding. I do not have relations with someone without their consent, and I'd highly suggest you stop your pathetic rhetoric."

Not even a thank you from Tyrin with regards to her keeping him from being covered by the sand. No surprise there - Tyrin never was grateful for help.

@[member="Gerion Ardik"] @[member="Queen Naala"] @[member="Young Akala"] @[member="Darth Vornskr"]

 

[Cyrus Tregessar]

At the sound of the name 'Viera Kisep' Cyrus couldn't help but let out an involuntary laugh. The child masquerading as an admiral? In his opinion, she had been the foremost cause for the collapse of Val'Ryss's ill-fated Imperium. Not that she hadn't proved herself to be very talented, but all the talent of youth couldn't balance out inexperience and skill. Some things simply didn't' come naturally, and commanding a fleet was one of those things. Sometimes, experience really was the greatest quantifier of true skill.

Experience was also the thing that let you realize when it was better not to be a a bystander. Cyrus had watched the trail of the meteor while the Umbaran, now identified as a previous Sith Emperor (and thus someone whom Cyrus had himself served) argued with the plantlike woman. It was the sort of argument that the random observer knew not to get involved in. There lied unpleasant fates and death, the sort of thing any 'normal' person learned to avoid while serving the Sith. Rather then make himself an object in the current debate, he had edged ever closer to the human Fringe-aligned Sith Lord. After all, those with the power to avoid would never welcome death with open arms.

Sure enough, as the tidal wave of sand hit it blew around Darth Vornskr, and those close enough to him to benefit from his power. This was the sort of thing any senior commander in the Sith military had learned was to their benefit.

As for the Umbaran-who-was-a-previous-Emperor, well, whatever else he seemed to be in the right of things. Altering the flow of time would benefit nobody who was presently here. Cyrus had worked hard to establish his reputation as one of the great commanders alive in the galaxy, it would be a damn shame if someone mucked up now and made their great-great-great-granduselessnewphew the next would be conqueror. Besides, currying favor with prior Emperor's could almost never go wrong.

@[member="Gerion Ardik"] @[member="Circe Savan"] @[member="Darth Vornskr"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen was about to follow @[member="Alexandra Shadowstalker"] and the queen when the dust zoomed towards them, attempting to take over the crowd. "I think the kid might have a point, go in the water and stay there for now, I'll join if things get too dusty up here." With those words, he called upon the force and stood next to the Queen, drawing upon the power of those around him to project a wave of telepathy just large enough to make the sand go around him and the royals. After all, it was always good to earn brownie points with the ancient peoples. They might just leave you presents. Still, his power could only hold for so long and he wasn't sure how long he could keep up the constant pushing without assistance. "Your highness, I believe your telepathy would come in handy so if you wouldn't mind helping a noble merchant's son and his aloof companions, it would be very appreciated." Once more he was glad for the group of people as their combined power seemed to radiate around him, giving a strong anchor of life sources to access as he diverted the rivers of the force into his own paths to success.

@[member="Queen Naala"]

 

[Orn'komad]

Okay, feth that. Definitely tripping.

Before the logic centers of his brain could argue, Orn'komad threw himself towards the river and dove in clumsily. All the arguing was getting boring anyway. With any luck at all, they would warp again momentarily, before the worst of the sandnami's effects hit.

....aaand so much for that.

Unable to hold his breath any longer, Orn surfaced and found that being above the water only helped slightly. The dust cloud left even after the worst of the wave had passed was thick enough to cut with a blade. He quickly pulled his soaked shirt over his mouth to breathe, looking around the rest of the group to see who was foolish enough to simply brave the storm.

 

[Vorhi Alestrani]

Main Group, buncha arguing ninnies.

Vorhi sighed as he was ignored yet again. The queen said come with so he slowly followed. More arguing, now Gerion and Polarine/Circe/Linda were arguing. He sighed with annoyance. In all fairness, Gerion had a point. Information was a lethal weapon, and spreading any, true or false, had unknowably dangerous consequences. Like, for example, a meteor falling to earth and nearly killing everyone.

Okay, so it probably wasn't a consequence of Circe shooting her mouth off. Unless, of course, the being in charge of this circus felt that causing an extinction event was the best to prevent her message from going anywhere important. At which point, said being's aim could've been much better. He frown, nodding to many of the light-siders and non-forcers. "Get behind me, I'm gonna do something stupid," he said as he lower his blindfold around his mouth and nose, improvising a face-mask. He pulled out a thermal detonator from his pocket. Breaking his own rule about not doing anything injurious to the environment. Damn.

He threw the detonator, watching as it blew, the flames spreading out and fusing the sand into a weak crystalline glass. He focus as he force punched the still liquid glass into a conical shape, forcing it forward, creating a moving glass wall to stem the sand wave "Force-users, push it wider! Melt the glass!" he shouted through his blindfold before re-tucking it into his shirt. None of them were dying. Not today. Nope. He was going to have to talk with Circe and Gerion after this.

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen's jaw nearly dropped as he watched the plan of @[member="Vorhi Alestrani"], unfold. "Brilliant." This time he put his abilities into the cone, using it to create a shield with as large a diameter as possible. Without any sand slipping through to distract him, Vulpesen's abilties were put to far more use, quickly doing as the man said. "Well your highness," He started, casting a small glance to @[member="Queen Naala"], "It seems like your guests have a few more tricks than expected. With this in mind, do you have any idea who dealt the hand of sand?"

 

[Alexandra Feanor]

@[member="Vorhi Alestrani"]

As Vulpesen did before her she threw her own power into protecting them by aiding with the cone, pushing the diameter a bit further herself, but she remained silent, letting all her focus remain on the cone. Her eyes did glance back once to make sure the @[member="Queen Naala"] and @[member="Tamara"] were ok, but more importantly they focused on @[member="Young Akala"] for a few moments, everything was happening and they could be altering history, the Queen and her daughter could possibly have died in history at this moment and now they were changing that by saving them, this could not bode well for their own time if what they do truly effects the future. Perhaps it was better if they should die.

 

[Satara Hawk]

Apparently, curiosity was an annoying problem. Satara barely reacted to that, her eyebrows rising for a quick second before returning to their natural position. She remained quiet then on, though she remained with the group, curious about the child which the group seemed to mostly assume was the one that had been born... a moment ago? The Witch seemed to be slowly accepting that things were odd and no dramatizing about it would make it end any time soon... or maybe it would never end... either way, a calm mind was what she needed.

Her attention was taken by a moment as the pink girl who seemed to be telling she had some sense. Satara just smiled. It was what she was aiming for so nice that at least someone noticed.

For a moment, it seemed she had spotted a familiar face, @[member="Gilamar Skirata"]. Satara was almost glad to see the Mando even though she didn't really know him all that well. Then again, she had been glad to see Tamara earlier and the woman didn't seem quite the same. In the distance between them, Satara nodded slowly, maintaining a small smile on her face.

The Mandalore had made her wonder for a bit, whether to talk to him or to follow the small crowd that had upset the child. Thankfully, said child yellowed, reminding her she should probably learn more about this time so she joined the crowd as the queen began to speak of the force, how it was not permitted to lower castes. That reminded her how much trouble she had with the Elders of her clan when she was younger, when she chose to train a young male slave.

She remained slightly in the back though, not paying much attention to the rest of the crowd, keeping in the back of her mind somewhat of a focus on the Queen and the child. They seemed to be the best source of information, nothing better to do. Though, she did look back at Gilamar and reached into the Force, sending a thought to mind: 'Come, friend. The Queen of this world knows a lot, she may be able to help this situation.' Before she sent more to his mind, the child shouted and took her attention once again. She was quite a live one.

Then something else came in. @[member="Queen Naala"] said they knew the ordinary bit of telepathy. They knew telepathy? "Telepathy?" She suddenly repeated outloud, completely surprised. Sure, she understood knowing but actually having a power such as telepathy? Then that meant... Satara had never... they said Allya had arrived but that wasn't for centuries to come. And that Allya had brought the Force and taught them... It seemed, for someone who knew quite a bit of the planet's history, Satara was learning quite a bit from a woman she never thought she'd actually meet.

But she definitely did agree. This situation needed to be handled. She didn't belong here and clearly, a lot of these people didn't. And no one should have meddled with time.

Her head snapped of the green skinned one. She was telling the Queen of Kwa the future of Dathomir? Just as she believed time shouldn't be meddled with, Satara was now realizing the other thing that had never crossed her mind... no one was meant to know too much about their destiny or their future. The Witch inhaled deep and shook her head. Such a foolish thing to do. At least the man with white hair had run into that discussion, labeling the green one with a great deal of labels. Hopefully, that would be enough. Though it had been said already. The damage had been done. "Foolish child," the female merely said quietly, shaking her head once more.

The sudden dark creeping before her made Satara look up. It couldn't be night. The had been too warm for the hour to be so far ahead. And yet, the sky had turned black, thunder following it like its faithful sidekick. Satara turned on her heel quickly but all she could see was fire coming down. The sight had taken her by surprise, she only reacted when another screamed to go to the river, her feet suddenly moving towards it, missing out on what else had risen in the desert, before she turned. Sand in form of a wave. Huge. Satara just jumped into the water, inhaling deep. She felt all of her get consumed by the liquid, her dress soaked and becoming heavy. She had barely held down though, her hand reached to her sides, trying to remain as still as possible but the current did pushed her slightly ahead. Only as lungs lost air and her eyes seemed to register somewhat brown clearing above her, she emerged out of the water, gasping for air, inhaling particles of sand instead. It made her cough out, her hands reaching for the sandy shore.

Her mind tried to think of a solution to the remains of sand from the wave but instead, she just coughed out a few more times as her eyes struggled with it as well, seeing blurs further back. The river had taken her away from the group. Not too much but she still needed to come back to them. Slowly, she got out, slipping against the sand with her wet dress before she finally crawled out, standing up slowly. She returned back to the group then, forgetting herself, using her Paecean as she spoke to herself alone: "Odio questo. Come ho fatto a ottenere risucchiato in questo mondo?" And she had such a day planned. But no... the spirits seemed to have decided to play some sort of game with her.

@[member="Alexandra Shadowstalker"] @[member="Simone"] @[member="Young Akala"]

(Odio questo. Come ho fatto a ottenere risucchiato in questo mondo? - I hate this. How did I get sucked into this world?)


(Apologizes for the very very late reply, but it's finals season)

 

[Talos Rygat]

MAIN GROUP

Talos was lost and buried in the sand from the collision. He dug his way to freedom, and once he felt air on his arm, he used the Force to dissipate into his Echoes and flow through the sand like water. Once he reappeared above ground, Talos moved towards the main group. The Echoes were restless, asking so many questions that he finally broke.

SILENCE!!!... NO MORE QUESTIONS!!!...WE ARE HERE...WE ARE ALIVE...SO YOU WILL BE SILENT!!!

The Echoes feared their host and tried to run, only to be pulled back by the strength of Talos' heart and mind. Cries could be heard across the land as the Ghosts of the Fallen were ensnared in the will of the Force. The last of the Echoes captured in the hands of Talos, he crushed it between his fingers. The souls came to rest inside his own, understanding the frustration in their host.


@[member="Young Akala"]

 

[Antares]

--MAIN GROUP-

He heard the sound of impact, but he didn't know where it came from. But when he turned around to investigate he saw the sand rising up and he formed a force shield around his body as soon as he could and it wrapped around him just as he had been consumed by the hot sand.

Eventually he found his way out of the sand, he felt like a moving sand dune and he looked about to the other people emerging from the sand as well. He wasn't really focusing on whether there had been a loss of life or not. But there could have been, but it was time to find out what had made the mess.

 

[Caulder Dune]

MAIN GROUP

@[member="Circe Savan"] | @[member="Darth Vornskr"]

Of course Circe thought it was herself that saved Tyrin from the sand tsunami. If she had been paying attention, she would have noticed that Tyrin threw in his lot with Kaine. No surprise there- Circe never paid attention.

"You wasted an entire Star Destroyer by sending it on a suicide run, additionally dooming thousands of naval personnel. Were you even on that ship? Did it even work? Why you think such a statement lends your case credibility is beyond me. All I hear is another example of you cowardice and ineptitude in any tactical situation. Do your bidding? Yes, Circe, I believe we all know what 'your bidding' entails, you revolting sex criminal."

Once the threat of the shock-wave had passed and been soundly defeated by Vorhi's maneuver, Tyrin stalked towards Circe, lightsaber in his hand. He could kill her, right here and now if he truly wished it. She had already tried to tamper with history. Her intents were clear. All she had were a duo of paltry, outdated pistols. The sun had been blotted out by upturned dirt and sand and darkness permeated the area. Tyrin could not imagine that would be very good for any plant-esque monstrosity.

"Speak again, to me or anyone, and I will gut you like the brainless cur you are."

He figured she would refuse. In fact, he was counting on it.

 

[Satara Hawk]

~ Main Group

Someone yelled. Satara didn't care much for the yelling, flapping her hands, causing the long sleeves of her gown to wave around her as she tried getting rid of the water left on her clothes. She still moved back and once she moved closer to the group, the green one and the old man still seemed to be at each other's throat.

Even after everything.

She certainly didn't miss him threatening to gut her if she spoke again. "Please do. The damage has already be done, I'd hate to find out what else she can do to make it worse," the Witch said and covered her mouth with the back of hand before coughing a bit more.

@[member="Gerion Ardik"] @[member="Circe Savan"]

 

[Alexandra Feanor]

Alexandra sighed and smiled at her work, of course she hadn't completed the job alone nor was she the one who was the strongest supplier of power but she was proud in her ability to put out as much power as she had. Breathing slowly she turned to the river and waded into it and extending a hand to both @[member="Queen Naala"] and @[member="Tamara"] before doing the same for @[member="Young Akala"] as well. "Are you all ok, we dont need you dead now do we, that would end very poorly for the future of your people... Do you know what could have caused that sort of destructive wave of sand, my Queen." She added the last part as both a form of respect for the woman and because she could not recall hearing the woman's name. What ever had caused that is a problem they would likely have to deal with, but first she knelt in the water and looked over Tamara. "Are you ok miss, nothing broken?" She would hear the girl's words before helping the three of them to a shore and looking to @[member="Gerion Ardik"] before bowing to him, speaking lightly. "My former Emperor, it is good to see you are still alive, i had been wondering what had happened to you since the fall." She avoided speaking to @[member="Circe Savan"] other than giving a nod in greeting at seeing her then looked at Kaine, or rather @[member="Darth Vornskr"], without realizing it was him, she felt like she knew him but she couldnt say if she did or not with his disguise up.

 

[Vorhi Alestrani]

The wall of glass had deflected the Rancor's share of the sand that had tried to consume them. He lifted his blindfold over his mask. "Given the intense lack of subtlety, I suppose we should head towards the falling rock of doom," he said calmly. He had wanted some guidance, so I guess this was going to be it. Funny, he hadn't had a teacher use rocks as teaching tools in a couple of decades. He gestured with a severe, pointed, nod at Circe and Gerion. "You two aren't stupid. Quit acting like it. I'm sick of warning people right now. Circe, you want to not get hurt, I suggest you avoid vague allusions to the future. Information becomes prophecy, prophecy becomes dogma, dogma become law, and we go back to find ourselves relegated to Hutt cabana waitresses--or removed from existence entirely--because you couldn't shut up."

He sighed. "Gerion, that weapon stays at your side. Even if you're acting in instinctive self-defense, one dead body now means whole populations gone down the road. Unfortunately, we live down the road," he said with a frown. He then nodded to Simone. "Keep asking questions. You're getting close to it, I think." He focused, letting his force sight give him enlightenment. Seeing remotely, there was something coming off the rock other than heat. Some kinda energy. He needed to close the distance.

 

[Queen Naala]

The Queen surfaced with a gasp. Fortunately the river was not flowing swiftly, and was shallow at this point, so she'd not been swept far.
Looking up at the cloud of dust she found @[member="Young Akala"] and pulled the girl to her.
"My darling, are you alright? Are you hurt?" She looked to the strangers nearby. "You, all of you, we need to get back to the palace to my husband! Please, we need your help!"

 

[Tormax Tryte]

Arvis Syphex, or, Darth Naefas had been watching from the distance for as long as he could. That was until he had been swamped by scorching sand. And when he had emerged he trudged through the sand to the last place he had seen, @[member="Queen Naala"]. Questions had to be answered, and then he saw her re-surface. "Why do we need to return? What crashed in the sand?" When he asked the latter question he pointed out into the distance where it crashed. Whatever it was, it obviously wasn't friendly. Not that Naefas needed friends.

 

[Alexandra Feanor]

@[member="Queen Naala"]

Alexandra nodded and waved for @[member="Tamara"] to come near and to follow, if the child would that is, there would be no forcing her to do so. "Gladly your highness, lead on." She had no reason to question the woman or worry about what the falling object had been, if it scared the queen enough to need to go for help even with all them here, then it was worth the time to travel to and to get to. She was not stupid and she knew tech this old was far more advanced than the 'modern' items they had on them.

 

[Onrai]

Rolling her eyes, Circe turned away. "Temporal paradox. If something changes, I change to where I can't have changed it in the first place. Then the universe rewrites itself to prevent the change from having happened in the first place so it doesn't explode. At least, if our Celestial overlords have anything to say about it." Turning, she pointed at the place where the large fireball that had kicked up the dust storm was located.

"Now, let's see what's inside that fireball."

 

[Arage Bao]

It was then that a world wary soul arrived on the scene, no one really knew where he had come from. Jared had been watching the events unfold from the shadows, without actually participating in it. Why? Because that was the first way to change things in the past, which could have detrimental consequences for the future. But a certain Plant Lady's ignorance and casual disregard of simple laws of physics, though simple was a bit subjective, unnerved him so much that he decided to get into the thre-- argument anyway.

"For the love of the Living Force. Temporal Paradox assumes that one travels back in time with a set cause in his or her mind. So when one accomplishes that cause through a change of the past, there would not be a cause to travel back in time anymore. This would effectively void the whole change. Now, tell me this. Did you arrive here voluntarily? Did you -want- to change something here, so it would have an effect on the future? No? Then that change would not create a Temporal Paradox, because the past you would still appear here."

The Lord of the Fringe snorted and then mumbled something beneath his breathe. Just loud enough that everyone could hear though.

"Even a karking child would know better."