Act II: A Trip To Wonderland

[Onrai]

A cautious jump prevented the Vinithi from tripping over the Hutt's tail. Thankfully, there would be no issues regarding that anymore. "Indeed, Anaya. I don't know what you're exactly referring to... I'm feeling rather normal. Happy isn't the right word - inebriated, perhaps?" She then paused, realizing something that somewhat disturbed her. "We're all here, at peace, calm, having a gay old time..." She looked at both of the before pausing.

"It's a trap."

@[member="Anaya Fen"] @[member="Rasho the Hutt"]

 

[Curupira Hawk]

Group 1: Festival of Light

Curupira turned to the random man with a geeky looking guy suddenly started talking about the end of days... said in the Revelation? The redhead just chuckled and shook her head. It was funny once. Then it becoming boring and Curupira moved on. She didn't much care for those kinds of nuts.

Before she had moved too far though, a female getting some kind of beverage. It was golden and bubbly and it in a pretty glass. Some far Curupira liked it. "Does that taste good?" She asked without further ado, once she was in earshot from the female, her golden eyes looking straight at her.

@[member="Darth Isolda"]

 

[Ordo]

@[member="Rianna Organa"] @[member="Penumbra"] @[member="Verz Horak"] @[member="Arla Balor"]

"Forgive me Cyar'ika." Ordo said looking at the Sith's exposed eye. "It seems we had a misunderstanding. I thought this gentleman was here for something else, but he just wants to chat after we dance."

Ordo didn't have warm fuzzies about this peace ball but then he had fought a long time and it seemed old habits died hard.

He looked at her. She was as gorgeous as ever.

"Have I told you how gorgeous you are?" He said not remembering what he had wanted to say to her.

 

[Mysterious Figure]

Group 2: The Masquerade Ball at the Citadel of Thorns

@[member="Ket Van Derveld"] @[member="Hion the Herglic"] @[member="Hawk Solo"] @[member="Darth Vulcanus"] @[member="Penumbra"] @[member="Jack Sparrow"] @[member="Coci Sinopi"] @[member="Sargon Vynea"] @[member="Reid Anaxoid"] @[member="Cyrus Tregessar"] @[member="Selena Halcyon"] @[member="Verz Horak"] @[member="Ordo"] @[member="Elanim Oke"] @[member="Arla Balor"] @[member="Break"] @[member="Antares Windu"] @[member="Rianna Organa"] @[member="Adenn Gra'tua"] @[member="Jericho"] @[member="Miles Varden"] @[member="James Mathison "]@[member="Cody Jorin"] @[member="Zius Aurus"] @[member="Grimm"] @[member="CC-777 Jackpot"] @[member="Olidiv Kenu"] @[member="Vaudin Miir"] @[member="Talon Vosra"] @[member="Emily Vani"] @[member="Rosa Mazhar"] @Commander Calico @[member="Romeo S"] @[member="Carré Inirial"] @[member="Marakai Al'Orren"] @[member="Kiyala Demont"] @[member="Lucianus Adair"] @[member="Davin"] @[member="Saren Kel-Varad"] @[member="Lord Dissero"] @[member="Vexander Graves"] @[member="Adenn Gra'tua"] @[member="Vendir"] @[member="Arthur David Hardrada"] @[member="Drake Blackwood"] @[member="Lucas Burke"] @[member="Phantom"] @[member="Phoebe Verd"]

As the night's festivities wore on, there was not an malicious feeling in the house. Everyone was at peace and relaxed, even if they weren't sure why there were at peace. Any sense of disquiet and introspective contemplation would only last for a moment before such feelings were swept away in the music. How could any one try and be anything but utterly joyous at such an event? Only one person at the ball could muster anything close to suspicion and displeasure. And as he stood atop the grand stairwell at the far edge of the ballroom, his mask hide any such expressions.

No matter the festive mood, a few souls might have caught sight of a bottle of wine that shuddered for a heartbeat before crashing to the floor as if on its own. At some point, those not deep in conversation might pick up on a quiet groan that seemed to pulse, almost like breathing, coming from seemingly everywhere in the ballroom. Soon after, a low groan would come in the wake of a second bottle crashing. Then came a faint tremor. Those especially perceptive might catch sight of a chandelier gently swaying. Each seemed to sway for a heart beat then fall unnaturally still. For a few, the feeling of rapture would waver.

All at once, the entire floor shuddered violently. Whole sections of wine and spirits crashed to the floor, their fluids mixing together and sloshing over feet. Another groan, this time much louder, tore through the ballroom. Each person could feel it to their very core as the deep bassy tone tore away the peaceful feeling that had settled over each person. As quickly as it all began, it suddenly stopped. For a long moment, it seemed as those the terror had passed. And then an ear-splitting roar shattered every piece of glass in the ballroom a second before the very center of the ballroom exploded upward.

From the dust and debris, a giant creature took shape. Spines cut through the dust and defined its back. Its gaping maw tore one chandelier from the ceiling and hurled it across the room before letting another soul-shaking roar. And then, a second roar answered the beast. Then a third. From the stairwell, a second massive beast crashed through the wall. Finally the dust settled enough for a clear picture of the creatures to form. Deep spacers knew their kind all too well. Stories were told of how they could consume starships whole. No one had ever reported seeing one on the surface. But there was no denying it. There, in the center of the ballroom, was a massive, spined Exogorath. And more were coming.

 

[Jack Sparrow]

Group 2: The Masquerade Ball at the Citadel of Thorns

"Well this is disheartening," said Jack, gaping at the giant creature. Of course, he was right there in front of the crowd, many of who began screaming and heading for the doors as fast as their legs, wings, tenticles or wheels could carry them, but Jack's hands seemed to move of their own accord. Throwing off his beautiful (and expensive) blue mask, his left hand drew the gold-painted hilt of his vibrosword while his right pulled the false-gem encrusted blaster from it's holster, accoutrements that seemed to be a part of his highly-stylized pirate's costume, but were in fact part of his actual day-to-day clothing, for the senator-pirate was well aware that one could never be too careful, not even at a gala.

"What did you do that for?" said Jack angrily to his hands. He glanced down at his legs. "Look, this is no time for heroics!" But his feet stood their ground, something Jack would regret for a long time to come.

 

[Phantom]

Picking himself up as quickly as he could, he shook his head and touched his mask - it was cracked, but still intact over his face. No matter the situation, he didn't want his mutilation shown to anyone.

The room was alive with screams; fear and panic and shouts of those issuing commands to flee and run.

There was the Exogorath; even more disgusting and horrific than Phantom had ever imagined from the stories he had heard about these creatures.

Everyone here was brought here for a reason, and it suddenly struck him that what if them being here was just part of a deadly plan from some higher power? Known faces from across the galaxy were now staring down death in the form of his spined beast.

With no weapon on his person, Phantom helped up a young man and woman shaking next to him, avoiding some falling debris, and started backwards slowly, looking for a way out.

"Is everyone ok!?" It sounded more pitiful when he shouted it, but there were too many bodies around to fear that many had lost their lives. He had to find out who was alive and willing to stand together.

 

[Hawk Solo]

Hawk was enjoying the music awhile talking to a pretty blond when all hell broken loose. He grabs the girl and pushes her behind him. His first instinct is to alway protect.

He never seen one of those up close before. "Anyone got any weapons?" He asks forgetting for the moment that he had the force.

 

[Jack Sparrow]

Group 2: The Masquerade Ball at the Citadel of Thorns

"Yes, me," said Jack, waving both and kicking away a fake ruby that had fallen from his blaster grip, "and please tell me I'm not the only one!"

 

[Rianna Organa]

Before Rianna could say it was alright, the room shifted, the roar of something very primeval filled the air. Rianna turned toward the sounds of crashing once the creatures had come through Rianna paused taking in the the creature before her, never had she seen one, and she prayed there were not many more.

Without thinking she put out a hand as if to protect and keep Ord'ika behind her, a reflex she knew for those brief moments the thought of losing him consumed her and her need to protect flared. Then the moans of the injured reached her ears, but how to get to them to help while these carnivores surfaced to raise dar'yaim. She turned to find the others that had been standing there, she looked back to check Ord'ika just to be sure he was there, and he was alright. Where were Arla and Verz, and Ket, and the man who had stood before them.

@[member="Ordo"] @[member="Penumbra"] @[member="Verz Horak"] @[member="Ket Van Derveld"]

 

[Lucas Burke]

Group 2: The Masquerade Ball at the Citadel of Thorns

Never before was Lucas so glad he had a holdout blaster strapped to his leg than he was now... Fat load of good that one would do against an Exogorath, but hey, it was better than just his fists.

Pushing himself to his feet, Lucas heard @[member="Phantom"] calling out to see if anyone was okay. "I'm fine over here," the scout answered, drawing the old Model 22T4 from the holster strapped to his shin, underneath the suit he was wearing. "So, uh, anyone got any ideas about how to deal with that thing?"

 

[Edric Vanyan]

Group 2: The Masquerade Ball at the Citadel of Thorns

Arthur stared as glass shattered and cut through his clothes, he might have been alittle suspecting though as the clothes were only covering a light armor he wore nearly all the time when not on Iferetes, he didnt trust the outside world and it was a good thing he didn't. It was for that very reason that he had stored a borrowed saber in his suit jacket as he stared at the creature. He had no idea that the hell that thing was but his hand reached inside the suit and tore from it the saber he had kept hidden. After making sure it was facing up he ignited the crimson red, not his choice color but oh well, and looked at @[member="Emily Vani"] "You wouldnt have happened to hidden something as well?" He had a stupid confident grin, hell right now he was scared shitless by this new enemy but the chance to fight something so... different from what he was used to excited every bit of him, he was even ready for a bit of testing out the energy bladed weapon in his hand.

 

[Ordo]

@[member="Penumbra"] @[member="Verz Horak"] @[member="Ket Van Derveld"] @[member="Rianna Organa"]

GROUP TWO CITADEL OF THORNS

Ordo was about to lead his wife away when a bottle fell. The room groaned and another bottle fell. He looked and noticed the chandeliers didn't move a centimeter while the building shook again.

When thw beast crashed through to the floor he felt Ri'ika try to keep him from the danger. She was amazing and he had to remember she was a Master Jedi, but she was also his riduur.

He pulled hos beskad and his ripper which had been brought more for show than anything else. A shadowy figure on the stairs seemed like the only one not caught off guard and thay said to Ordo that this was a set up from the start.

'When do these stars have peace' he thought.

"Do you have that lightsaber my love." Ordo said moving to her side and as the beast roared. "Or do you want mine." He said referring to the silver cylinder at the small of his back.

 

[Matreya]

That's different. Penumbra thought silently, casting a powerful Force Cloak Bubble (his best stealth skills all combined to hide whoever is inside) about the small group. Why did he protect them? Might have something to do with atmosphere, but he didn't know, "Stay close. I'll keep us hidden. We should avoid those things." Penumbra said, "Unless you want to attempt something stupid? Personally I may be able to fight, but it will be difficult with the way I keep feeling so serene."

Reaching against his lower back, he gripped the handle of his Shadow Dagger..

@[member="Ordo"] @[member="Verz Horak"] @[member="Ket Van Derveld"] @[member="Rianna Organa"]

 

[Alan]

THE MASQUERADE BALL


Things went from weird and ominous, to creepy, and now, plainly speaking, bad. Darin sighed as a space-worm came to. He reached for the inside of his robings, and threw off the mask he was wearing. He sensed some other presences, some responding with fear and anxiety, others with anxiousness and nervousness that was more akin to the feeling before a fight. Good. There were others who were willing to fight the...giant...space slug. He glanced around, and then remembered, that the slug had no special attributes against being cut apart or hurt. They were simply, large, and terrifying to most. But as a Jedi, he had to put those feelings aside for the greater good of the people in the room. Darin stared at the Exogarth, and looked around. He waited patiently, and dropped into the Ataru opening stance, his knees slightly bent and his body parallel to allow for better flipping against the beast. He looked to the eyes and soft squishy part of it's head, both viable spots to exploited by a lightsaber blade.

He wondered if anyone else would have a similar idea.

@[member="Mysterious Figure"]

 

[Talon Vosra]

@[member="Darin Khel"] @[member="Mysterious Figure"]

'Why me?' He thought..
'Join the Jedi they said. Peace and sereniry they said. I'm a plant for crying out loud what was I thinking?! After this I am becoming the temple gardener and that is FINAL!'

His internal dialog complete the young Zelosian who was wearing nothing but a black mask and black trousers. Began walking to face the beast. A light saber in each hand he pushed toward the beast while others began to make a dash toward the door.

"So much for pollinating with a nice plant tonight." He said as he moved toward the tining crowd and snapped on a saber. The bright silver blade lit the floor as he stood.

"At least the Blue bird isn't here."

 

[Emperor Bergmerf]

Group 1: Attending the Festival of Light
@[member="Luke Beleren"] @[member="Rasho the Hutt"] @[member="Xander Carrick"] @[member="Alejandro Ortega"] @[member="Darth Naefas"] @[member="Doc"] @[member="Syn"] @Darth Metus @[member="Avalore Eden"] @[member="Zoey Marix"] @[member="Montag Card"] @[member="Strask Ak'lya"] @[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"] @[member="Ahra Marcon"] @[member="Rexus Drath"] @[member="Rasu Gan"] @Iella E'ron @[member="R9-4U"] @[member="Astrian Callus"] @[member="Daella Apparine"] @A'donari Cinn @[member="Darth Malificete"] @[member="Alen Na'Varro"] @[member="Curupira Hawk"] @[member="Voroll Dey Astaar"] @[member="Ruusan"] @[member="The Dark Ace"] @[member="Ashelotte Saybin"] @Yasuo @[member="Thurion Heavenshield"] @[member="Desmond Voralis."] @[member="Anaya Fen"] @[member="Ronin Wendigo"] @[member="Jared Ovmar"] @[member="Kahne Porte"] @[member="Aditya Amadis"] @[member="Vulpesen"] @[member="Kitt Solo"] @[member="Holland"]

Just as the floor shook in the citadel of Thorns so did the ground quake at the Festival of Lights. At first it was almost unnoticeable, at first it seemed as though nothing was about to happen. Then glasses of liquid began to tremble, the air began to shake, and the very air seemed to grow thicker and more biting. It was difficult to describe what happened next, as nothing like it had ever been seen before.

The Ground beneath the festival of lights did not explode, oh no there was not enough room for what was about to happen. Instead seemingly out of no where dozens of massive clear skinned Manta-rays appeared from no where. Huge winged leviathans dropped out of hyperspace directly above the Festival of Lights. They began to snap and hiss, breaking and clawing at Stone structures within the Festival. Their massive wings curled and fluttered, sending gusts as powerful as force pushes across the ground.

The Oswafts had come.

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

@[member="Daella Apparine"]

@Syn

"Told you" he said as he watched these.... Things show up. "Where the kark is Admiral Ackbar when you need him?"

He sighed. Luckily, both his lightsabers were on his belt. He quickly drew his primary, but looked down at his old lightsaber....

"Yknow what... I feel like duel wielding today" Josh said as he grabbed his old lightsaber with his free hand, igniting both blades.

Why? Because guess what time it is?

IT'S CLOBBERING TIIIIIIIIIIIME!

 

[Verz Horak]

Group 2

Well feth. One minute you're about to ask the girl of your dreams to dance at an elegant ball, the next giant space slug attacks. Why did Verz even bother with anything anymore? Luckily Penumbra had decided to be nice and shield them. Hopefully they could escape this insanity. And all the spilles alcohol. Such a waste, even though Verz wasn't much of a wine drinker.

"Anybody have any good ideas on how to kill one of those things?"

@Ordo @Verz Horak @Ket Van Derveld @Rianna Organa @[member="Arla Balor"]

 

[Serah Oricion]

Group 1

One quiet evening is all he asked, how hard is that... well its too late now to worry. "@[member="Carliah Dakrone"], get out of the way and stay safe please." Igniting the silver blade of his saber he stood between her and any on coming creatures that desired to get a bit more intimate with his blade, he regretted bringing the thing but it was an object he would never part with unless he was dead. @[member="Mysterious Figure 2"]

 

[Jawa Soldier]

Group Two​

Even as the devastation the Exogorths still feel in clouds of dust, it's roar echoing throughout the room like the arrival of an avalanche, another sound could be heard, humming. Like a small buzzing sound it arose until it echoed all around the guests, a high pitch and more then slightly off key, yet rather happy sound. No hall was without the sound, and no doorway empty of an almost hypnotic shuffling sound. The Exogorths had arrived to face their wrath came on the bravest of soldiers, the Jawa Soldier.

As dozens poured out of every entrance it seemed they were an army without end, identical in every way, from the mudcrab shell sandels, complete with still living mudcrab pincers, to brown hooded robes and glowing black staves it was impossible to differentiate one from the other. As their shuffled steps brought them to the hole the exogorath's created the first ranks stopped the shuffling. Sadly for them those behind them did not, and the first rank's hums went silent as their little robed bodies fell into the gaping hole in the middle of the ballroom.

In outrage each line turned in on each other shouting insults in Jawa, as their argument got so far out of hand they began to wrestle on the ground en masse. Behind them all two Jawa Soldiers just shook their heads as they watched another dozen pair or so manage to wrestle themselves unknowingly into the very hole the Exogorths were arriving from. Luckily, there were very, very, very many Jawa Soldiers, but apparently the first group weren't going to be of much help. In possible good news there were less mudcrab pincers flailing around trying to find unprotected toes,

@[member="Mysterious Figure"] @Ket Van Derveld @Hion the Herglic @Hawk Solo @Darth Vulcanus @Penumbra @Jack Sparrow @Coci Sinopi @Sargon Vynea @Reid Anaxoid @Cyrus Tregessar @Selena Halcyon @Verz Horak @Ordo @Elanim Oke @Arla Balor @Break @Antares Windu @Rianna Organa @Adenn Gra'tua @Jericho @Miles Varden @James Mathison @Cody Jorin @Zius Aurus @Grimm@CC-777 Jackpot @Olidiv Kenu @Vaudin Miir @Talon Vosra @Emily Vani @Rosa Mazhar @Commander Calico @Romeo S@Carré Inirial @Marakai Al'Orren @Kiyala Demont @Lucianus Adair @Davin @Saren Kel-Varad @Lord Dissero @Vexander Graves @Adenn Gra'tua @Vendir @Arthur David Hardrada @Drake Blackwood @Lucas Burke @Phantom @Phoebe Verd