Populate [GA + Friends] Niv Hani Fire Festival | GA Populate of Takodana

[Tarw Rhyfelwr]

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Objective: 4 - Destroy enemy snowballers.
Location: Niv Hani
Attire: Life Day Soldier
Tags: Allies - Katherine Holt | Enemies - Nos Voros and Vera Noble

Tarw spotted the infamous Vera Noble heading over to Nos, the Noble was notorious for snowball hijinks and siding with Nos was an interesting choice. He was going to make sure that they both realise that they are going to be on the losing side. As Nos threw the ball at him, Tarw reflexive moved out of the way of the shot but someone else interjected and took the hit on their chair. Tarw smirked to the other person, "sure. Tarw, by the way. Which one did you want to handle?"

He didn't mind who he was focusing on but since Nos decided to throw the first ball in this battle, Tarw decided to use one of the balls he had stored in a den. Reaching back, he threw it hard and added a fun spin to the throw. Tarw wanted to send the ball on a curve throw, something a little flashy and with a partial ball in his other hand, Tarw prepared to launch it over to Nos again. Tarw was going to fight fire with fire, overwhelm his opponents as much as they attempted to overwhelm himself.

"There's a den with a couple dozen pre-made balls. Also use the fort as well for cover. I'll draw their fire." Tarw called back to his ally, "they are going to want to focus on taking me down, let's use their eagerness against them." Tarw smirked as he compacted the second ball. Throwing the ball low, he aimed to hit Nos in the legs with the second strike. Taking a few steps away from Katherine, giving her time to get set up and attack from the side.

 

[Diogo Talon]

BYOO
Braze

The Fire Festival. It was bland. The vibrant mix of light and heat couldn't keep the achingly dull night at bay. Diogo meandered threw the marketplace sipping on what might have been his fourth, maybe fifth, possibly sixth, bottle of locally-brewed beer.

Life had been hell recently. Iridonia, Rishi pirates, Keshi, Ettiau… Lacking something to ground him, the green-haired boy felt like a paper bag lost in the wind. Alone, no guiding light in sight.

Everything tonight seemed to drown him deeper into despondency. When he thought of the warmth of Niamos, he grew cold, body and mind threatening to succumb to the seductive, self-destructive state of total numbness—a paralysis of the spirit. The flames here were a half-hearted tickle, incapable of assuaging the festering emptiness that threatened to swallow him whole.

Exiting the marketplace, Diogo finished the last of his drink. He tossed the empty bottle in the recycler and sunk his hands into his pockets. He wandered off.

As he got further from the festivities, stars sprang to life, twinkling in the velvety night sky. In the distance, he saw two dancing lights weaving patterns in the empty air at the behest of a dark silhouette. Approaching, the figure came into focus—a snow white haired boy, clad in a rich black outfit featuring swirling streaks of red, gold, and orange. Diogo felt a sudden, strange warmth pulling him from the depths of his own nascent melancholia.

Feeling like an intruder, Diogo turned to leave, but something compelled him to stay, like the heat soldered him to the ground, trapping him in place. No part of him protested. It was an aesthetically-pleasing performance, the likes of which he'd never seen. As Diogo watched, his pale yellow eyes reflected the flames, shifting into liquid pools of molten gold.

Niamos suddenly felt close; its orbit shifted from aphelion to perihelion in an instant. As each swoosh of the fire brand and lantern echoed in the night, Diogo could've sworn he heard the lapping waves of his home planet, soft and rhythmic in his ears.

 

[Vera Noble]

Niv Hani

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Tag: Nos Voros Katherine Holt Tarw Rhyfelwr

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Vera crouched low in the trench beside Nos, the mischievous sparkle in her multi-colored eyes brighter than ever. She packed her snowball tightly, her fingers working with precision as she prepared to unleash snowy chaos. Her grin widened at Nos' salute and his readiness to follow her lead. The sight of Tarw preparing his fortress only fueled her determination.

"Overwhelming firepower? I like your style," Vera whispered back, her voice carrying a conspiratorial edge. She gave Nos a quick nod of approval before shifting her attention to Tarw and his ever-growing arsenal.

At the count, Vera rose alongside Nos, her first snowball flying through the crisp winter air just as Nos' missiles were launched. She aimed hers for Tarw's shoulder, hoping to catch him off guard before he could fully establish his dominance on the battlefield.

"Take that, Red Hat!" she yelled, laughing as she ducked back into the trench to grab another snowball. "Let's see how long you can keep up!"

But just as she was about to launch her next attack, a blur zipped into the fray, intercepting Nos' second snowball with precision. Vera froze for a split second, her jaw dropping as she recognized the newcomer.

"Katherine?" she exclaimed, half in disbelief and half in delight. "Oh, this just got interesting."

She quickly recovered from her surprise and fired off another snowball, this time aiming for Katherine's chair. "And you brought backup! That's so cute," she teased, her tone dripping with mock sweetness.

Vera ducked again, a flurry of snowballs whizzing past overhead as Tarw retaliated with his own impressive throws. One narrowly missed Nos' leg, and Vera gave him a playful shove. "Hey, watch your feet, Commander. This guy's got an arm!"

The battlefield was alive with flying snow and laughter, but Vera's grin never faltered. She wasn't just fighting for the trenches — she was fighting for the sheer, unfiltered joy of it all.

​

 

[Nos Voros]

Objective IV: Operation Snowball Superiority
Outfit: Thermal resistant shell coat | waterproof insulation gloves | festive social camouflage hat.
Weapons: Small snowball pile

The opposition gained another ally, something of a rival to the winter-officer of the trench. Their hoverchair provided cover for Tarw as his reflexes dodged the first throw and bought time for retaliatory barrage. Vehicular backup, this would get hairy.

Another pair of projectiles soared towards Nos, one off to the side and the other towards his legs. No time to drop back into the trench, Nos instinctively life's his leg at the knee briefly to dodge the second snowball, but why was the first offset?

The answer revealed itself as Tarw's curveball seemed to alter trajectory, the spinning momentum finally adjusting its path more visibly, curving dramatically near the end of it's path. His leg was raised in anticipation of the second snowball, any sudden dodges would throw him off balance; Tarw had trapped him in place for the headshot.

In the final instant before contact, Nos raised his elbow to block the snowball from hitting his head, the shattered sphere sending a spray of powdered ice across the zeltrons's determined face and broad shoulders.

In that instant, time seemed to slow down. The debris of the projectile cascaded past his face horizontally, causing his hair to ripple dramatically as if in a breeze. With the no-man's-land separating the two combatants, Nos's cyan eyes made locked onto Tarw Rhyfelwr . Two comrades now on opposite sides. It was clear neither would hold back.

Nos would not underestimate his opponent further.

Calmly, Nos lowered his leg and his frost-covered elbow. A breeze kicked up a flurry of snow between the two sides and by the time it cleared, Nos was gone, appearing to have vanished into thin air.

Inside the trench, after having suddenly dropped and lowered to a crawl, Nos put a finger over his lips to silently signal his intent to Vera Noble and whispered "keep them distracted" then grabbed a pair of snowballs and stalked down the trench towards the other ends, setting up to flank at the opportune time.

As he stalked, Nos grinned. Despite perhaps taking this too seriously - no - because he could take this seriously, he found himself having more fun than he had anticipated.

Allies: Vera Noble | Foes: Tarw Rhyfelwr , Katherine Holt​

 

[Rulonom Laborr]

Rulonom's steely gaze shifted from the crackling flames to the Jedi Knight seated before him, who shifted the narrative as a way to counter the poor economic performance of the Alliance, contrasting it with the selective interpretations that the Skakoan was employing to support his own argument. While the Jedi's overall assertion that individual bravery was overlooked held some validity, it would stand up to the fact that numerous planets were under threat from market collapse.

"You might want to save the sales pitch for your fellow members of the Jedi Order, and not the Viceroy of one of the largest corporations in the galaxy." Rulonom replied with a hand-gesture, making sure that Gil Horn understood that the Skakoan species had a different mindset about the issue than most as they were industrialist more so than humanitarian leanings.

"While you are correct that courage and hope can't possibly be measured in exact figures down to the last detail, one only has to look at the numbers of refugees pouring into the Alliance from war-torn regions to see that individual circumstances far outweigh the broad concept of a belief in tomorrow's good graces " He further commented in recognition of the man's points, but found them lacking as the number of refugees coming to the Alliance certainly weren't thinking of a brighter tomorrow when their stomachs were empty and their pockets dry.

"You can choose to act, that is for certain. And yet I do not see you down at the soup kitchen, helping citizens carry groceries and making sure their children arrive at school on time not harassed by numerous criminal gangs and starving refugees who do not see the light at the end of the tunnel. The Jedi are supposed to represent hope, but more often than not we see you on the holonet with saber in hand cutting down enemy troops one after another, sometimes dissecting them with a swift stroke." The Skakoan explained, resting an armored hand gently on the log.

The Alliance's citizens did not often see the Jedi has hero's but reluctant defenders they have to rely upon in order to ensure they survive another day, while they surry around day after day looking for food and avoiding criminal gangs. Such thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of 17-KR7 "Enigma" , apparently an old tactical droid model whose logical thoughts on the conversation was taken into account.

"I will not divulge the nature of the Trade Federation to an outsider, but you can be assured that we are still the largest commercial power in the known galaxy with numerous strongholds, expansive merchant fleets and corporate laboratories churning out advanced designs" He replied knowing that giving any information about the current state of the organization would invite curious eyes, which could be better served by looking into the financial records of their competitors.

"Do not attempt to lecture the Viceroy of the Federation on matters to which you understand very little beyond pre programmed responses and logistical data from a bygone era when the previous iteration of our organization was at its weakest. We have survived by looking at the future instead of the past, and through trial and error we have established our own methodology that can ensure our success " Rulonom dismissed the Tactical Droid's assertion, knowing that the Trade Federation of today was far stronger than they were in the past.

He became silent as Serina Calis made her own thoughts clear.

 

[Kahlil Noble]

Niv Hani had come a long, long way from the temporary refugee structures. In the shining city that was now slowly becoming the very capital of the survivors, a beacon for those who still traveled the stars as nomads to come here and find home again. To reclaim what made them Epicanthix. The Fire Festival was one of those events. Fire was not just something that burned everything wicked away. It was renewal. Warmth. Hope.

He was among the crowd of giants. Epicanthix were, after all, pushing near eight feet on average. In his arms, Eryx and Yvaine. All three sets of eyes were glued on stage, watching in sheer bubbly enjoyment as Valery and Aris danced. Eryx hadn't been too excited to be separated from his mother, but seeing it now, seeing mom dance as she was, he was completely enthralled.

Even Yvaine, who'd made a habit thus far of ignoring Valery outside of meals, was just as focused on the stage as her brother. The only one who could match how glued they were to the stage?

Kahlil himself.

He wasn't slack jawed with wonderment outwardly, but he certainly was through their bond. She'd been practicing a lot in secret just for this moment. It'd paid off. Aris similarly was doing great and there was a couple things he was going to ask his son about his own dance, but his focus was on his wife. He met her gaze with a much brighter smile. Did his heart skip a beat?

He didn't show it, but she'd know for certain.

Valery Noble

 

[Aris Noble]

He'd invited everyone he could think of. Braze , Zaiya Ceti , Loomi , Azurine Varek , Ayhan , Mahsa . He wanted to show them. A lot of his life, his interactions with his friends, was often from a place of calm and almost robotic responses. Far too controlled, far too much thought. He often seemed like he wasn't really alive. Or, well, that's how Aris's mind thought he seemed.

But here on Niv Hani, during this festival, he found a chance to actually show who he was. Not the robotic answers he could give, but the drive and passion he had. He joined the dance on the stage with Valery as planned, followed the dance not with the rigidness of a mind that had memorized it but the soul of someone who lived for it. Dance had become something he found far more enjoyment in than he thought.

Valery shifted the flame about the stage, manipulating it with the Force to show her mastery, how entwinned it was with her very being. The other dancers on stage spun staves of fire, as most didn't have that type of control over the flame.

Aris, though, was the flame. His body flickered as he danced, his very body seeming to shift between stages of translucency to outright being the flame itself. All the while, he had a big grin. A happy, excited grin akin to the kind he had when he fought Azurine without the realization of dread shortly after. Right now, he was just dancing and having the most fun of his life.

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

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Outfit: Red Epicanthix Dress | Wedding Ring

As the dance reached its final crescendo, Valery moved with a fluid grace that matched Aris's fiery intensity. The stage was a spectacle of light and shadow, the flames swirling around them like living extensions of their movements. Her crimson and gold garments shimmered like molten fire, and with one final sweeping motion, the flames began to fade, their brilliance dimming to embers that drifted softly into the night air.

The applause erupted from the crowd, a wave of cheers and whistles that filled the festival grounds. Valery's chest rose and fell with exertion, her amber eyes scanning the audience until they found him — Kahlil, holding Eryx and Yvaine, both children wide-eyed and beaming with delight. Through their bond, she felt Kahlil's awe, his heart skipping a beat, and her lips curled into a radiant smile. In this moment, she felt like the happiest woman in the galaxy.

Her attention then shifted to Aris Noble , whose energy still seemed to flicker like the flames they had danced with. His grin was infectious, his passion palpable, and Valery felt a swell of pride so immense that she couldn't contain it. "Aris," she called, stepping toward him with her arms open. "That was incredible. You were incredible."

Before he could react, Valery wrapped him in a tight hug, lifting him slightly off the ground in her enthusiasm despite her much smaller size. "I'm so proud of you," she said, her voice warm and affectionate, though the gesture likely left the younger Noble looking utterly mortified. The sight of his friends in the crowd, undoubtedly made it far worse.

But she needed her Mom moment.

After a moment, Valery finally let him go and offered him a smile, "We'll talk more about the dance later, okay? Go, be with your friends and enjoy the night. This is your night, as much as it is ours." She kissed his cheek gently, then stepped away and looked into the crowd one last time.

With the applause still ringing in her ears, Valery stepped off the stage, her red Epicanthix dress flowing around her as she made her way through the crowd. Her gaze was locked on Kahlil, and as soon as she reached him, she threw her arms around him and the children, pulling them into a warm embrace.

"You all watched," she said, her voice breathless but full of joy as she kissed Eryx on the cheek and brushed a gentle hand over Yvaine's soft hair.

Eryx nodded enthusiastically, his little arms wrapping tightly around her neck. "Mommy!" he exclaimed, his bright eyes full of wonder. Even Yvaine, nestled quietly in Kahlil's arms, seemed calmer than usual, her tiny hand gripping the fabric of Valery's dress.

Valery turned her gaze to Kahlil, her smile softer now but no less radiant. "I think we all needed this," she said quietly, leaning her forehead against his for a moment of shared peace. In the warmth of the festival lights, surrounded by family and friends, Valery felt the galaxy's chaos fade away, leaving only love and happiness in its wake.

Kahlil Noble ​

 

[Katherine Holt]

Location: Niv Hani
Objective: 4 - Snowball Fight
Tags: Tarw Rhyfelwr (Allies) | Vera Noble Nos Voros (Enemies)​

As she had ducked behind the wall, Katherine just barely missed the snowball that Vera had thrown. It had missed, but it was close all the same. Reminding the Padawan of just how sharp the young Noble was with her throws.

“Katherine,” she replied, giving Tarw a nod. “I’m going after Vera, she’s overdue a little payback.”

One would think having a pair of wings; being capable of flying, would’ve been a boon on Katherine’s side. But they only ended up being an extra pair of targets for the chaos gremlin that was Vera.

I suppose it’s a bit of dark irony that I feel like I have more maneuverability now that my wings are gone.

Katherine grabbed a handful of the snowballs Tarw had already made, adding to her existing pile. She gave the soldier a curt nod, signalling she was about to make her move. Within the same moment Nos made his move, Katherine propelled herself up into the air with the Force.

Incidentally, using the Zeltron’s action of kicking up a flurry of snow, to hide her ascent.

Carefully peering over the side, Katherine hovered forwards until she could see down into the trench. She spotted Vera, but quickly noticed that Nos was nowhere to be seen. The Padawan went to shout, but stopped herself from immediately giving away her position.

Grabbing a couple snowballs, Katherine leaned over the edge of her chair, and lobbed them both down at Vera. It was only then that she shouted.

“Tarw, watch out! The Zeltron has moved positions.”

 

[Jack Wright]

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(Tags: OPEN)

Ahhh...

The warmth of the flames illuminated his right features, Jack found himself stargazing amidst the waltz, head rested on the back of his hands. No contemplating on the Force, no worrying about the galaxy's future.

Just... Being here.

What else was there to do, on the dusk of another year of war? Maybe hope will be more brighter, this upcoming next chapter.

 

[Aadihr Lidos]

Outfit: Casual Attire
Weapons: Walking stick / Lightsaber Pike

Azurine Varek had said this was a 'fire festival', but Aadihr expected less fire for some reason. He could feel the heat and see the force-flame from those who used it, as well as the bright aura of all the dancers enjoying themselves.

Aadihr stood at the edge of the dancing, feeling the heat from the flames in front of him. The sweat on his brow was not entirely due to the heat, however.

Aadihr couldn't sense fire.

It was intangible and inorganic, and therefore didn't reflect any aspect of the force for him to identify. To wade into the dance was a deathtrap. The crackling sound of flames was oppressive. It was normal to fear fire. Healthy, even. Just... He hadn't expected so much of it.

Azzie seemed to be enjoying herself, and the Noble family shone brightly through the force, their love for one another unifying the lights almost blindingly.

Aadihr smelled something different burning, feeling the heat from the edge of his robes catching alight from a nearby candle. He quickly shook the robes, snuffing the flame out, and stepped further away from the heat of the dance, his foot crunching into the snow.

He was letting his mind get to him. He tried to cast his Sight away from himself, to meditate in place, but shortly anchored himself back to his body, deciding it'd be best to at least be present if someone walks by with a torch.

The miraluka felt out of place. Aadihr had no credits for the markets, the flames themselves isolated him from dancing, and in the field nearby some sick Zeltron man was recruiting children into mock-war games and enjoying it too. Aadihr shook his head. If he ever met that red bastard ( Nos Voros ) he'd give him some choice words.

Aadihr sighed and leaned on his staff.

Azurine Varek | Temporarily Open​

 

[Tarw Rhyfelwr]

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Objective: 4 - Destroy enemy snowballers.
Location: Niv Hani
Attire: Life Day Soldier
Tags: Allies - Katherine Holt | Enemies - Vera Noble and Nos Voros

Tarw watched as the second ball missed but the trickier first nearly hit Nos square. Tarw was pleased with the results of the first exchange of blows but the pair of cunning warriors had some more tricks and ideas in their minds. Tarw picked up a couple more balls, restocking his load as he crouch ran in a direction. "Red hat?" Was that his nickname now? It seemed a little redundant in terms of nicknames, or a little simplistic, he would have assumed that Vera could have come up with something better.

He watched as the snow obscured his vision and Nos disappeared from sight. Tarw sighed deeply, his target was out of sight and he refused to waste throwing balls around on an off chance he could hit Nos at this point. They needed to switch targets briefly since Katherine could soar high in the air. She could spot out Nos long before he could. "Switch up then, you keep a look out for Nos!" Tarw called out, figuring he could assist Katherine in being a pain towards Vera.

"Hey, shortstack, let's see what your arm is like." He winked over to Vera with a chuckle, knowing that she was much closer in his height than most girls were. Throwing a couple of easy throws to lull Vera into attacking him. She was smart so it was likely too obvious in a move but Tarw also knew that this was a fun snowball fight so she might give into the temptation of chaos win.

 

[Vera Noble]

Niv Hani

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Tag: Nos Voros Tarw Rhyfelwr Katherine Holt

Vera ducked back into the trench, her multi-colored eyes sparkling with mischief as Nos disappeared like a snow ghost. His whispered instruction to keep them distracted was all she needed to hear, and she couldn't suppress the grin spreading across her face. This was about to get interesting.

"Roger that, Commander," she muttered with a playful salute, even though he was long gone.

She peeked over the edge of the trench just in time to see Katherine hovering above in her chair. Her smirk widened. "Katherine, you know I'm your favorite target!~" Vera called out, feigning offense as she spotted the snowballs flying toward her. She dove dramatically to the side, narrowly avoiding one while the other smacked the edge of the trench, sending a puff of snow into the air.

Vera rolled onto her back, laughing as she scooped up a handful of snow and compacted it into a perfectly round snowball. "You're going to have to try harder than that!" she taunted, lobbing it up toward Katherine's chair with a wicked gleam in her eye.

But then Tarw called out, earning her attention with a wink and a challenge. Shortstack.

Her brow arched, a mock glare aimed at the towering Tarw. "Shortstack? I'll show you..." she mumbled. packing another snowball with lightning speed. She wasn't one to resist a good challenge, especially one involving snow and chaos.

Vera popped up from the trench and hurled a fastball straight at Tarw's chest, grinning as she sent another quickly after, this one aimed for his shoulder. "Let's see how your reflexes hold up, big guy!" she called out, laughter bubbling in her voice.

She could feel the energy of the battlefield shift as the snowball fight escalated into an all-out war. Katherine was zipping around above, Tarw was lobbing his own arsenal of snowballs, and Nos was somewhere in the flurries, plotting who-knew-what. She was getting hit, she knew, but she was ready to dish out just as much!

​

 

[Nos Voros]

Objective IV: Sabotage Enemy Ammunition Stockpile
Outfit: Thermal resistant shell coat | waterproof insulation gloves | festive social camouflage hat.
Weapons: Snow-Boulder (SBMD)

The large snowball Nos had been assembling in the dugout had reached a large enough size, almost a meter in diameter. The dugout itself was much larger thanks to the rolling contributions to the SnowBall of Mass Destruction (SBMD). Kneeling to the side of the Snow-Boulder, he pressed his shoulder into it, then engaged his legs to get it rolling once more, reaching underneath to give the boulder some lift as both he and the SBMD burst forth from underneath the driven snow, sending a cloud of powdered snow raining from emerging mass.

The hulking Zeltron continued with momentum, course correcting the boulder he rolled across no-man's-land. The SBMD only grew larger with each meter rolled, with each snowball it blocked from the enemy fortifications. Nos prepared to face an onslaught of Snowballs as he drove the payload forward with his shoulders, rolling it towards the strategic objective: Tarw's pile of snowballs.

If left unchecked, Nos would roll this increasingly large snowball right into their fortifications and over the ammunition, crippling their supply of ready-made snowballs and vastly slowing their retaliatory capacity, an estimated 60% reduction in their snowballs per minute by Nos's estimation.

A mission like this was a one-way trip. He would die a martyr, disarming the... oh right this was a play-fight. At least it would provide spectacle for the younger children. Nos could ham up the drama a bit.

Nos grunted as he rolled the massive snowball in front of him towards Tarw Rhyfelwr , Nos considered maybe the SBMD was bit too much for a lighthearted snowball war. Then he saw Tarw's stature once more and wondered if the SBMD would be large enough to reach the ammunition stockpile.

"SBMD Payload ready, requesting permission to launch!" Nos called out to winter-officer Vera Noble even as he increased his speed.

Nos leaned in further and put his weight and strength into rolling the boulder of snow, trying his best to ignore the snowballs pelting him from above.

Allies: Vera Noble | Foes: Tarw Rhyfelwr , Katherine Holt​

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Diogo Talon

Braze was more so playing with his new 'toys' than practicing, feeling out a kata he was inventing. Perhaps combining both at once was a bit much, but he couldn't help himself. Twirling his firebrand, he stabbed one end into the snow, extinguishing the flame while leaving it to stand like a torch, casting a soft, flickering glow across the frozen clearing. The snowy expanse around him shimmered faintly in the firelight, the crystalline flakes of snow catching the orange hue like scattered embers on an untouched canvas of frost.

He turned his attention to the gimbal lantern, marveling at its clever design. It fascinated him how the tiny, encased flame stayed steady no matter how he spun it. With a playful flick of his wrist, he sent it whirling, the golden light tracing arcs through the crisp, icy air. He moved to practically dance with it, his movements fluid, his steps crunching rhythmically against the snow's surface. The world around him was serene, the only sounds the faint whistle of wind over the trees and the occasional rustle of a distant branch shedding its burden of snow.

As he became winded, Braze shifted to something more subdued, experimenting with contact juggling. He rolled the lantern across his hands, up his forearm, and along his shoulders, the small flame casting a warm glow over alabaster skin. The moment felt almost invigorating—his playful meditation amidst the quiet majesty of winter.

But then he stopped, turning sharply. Someone was watching him.

His concentration broke like fragile glass, and the lantern slipped from his fingers, landing in the snow with a muffled thud. Braze froze, his pale complexion—already tinged pink from the cold—deepening to a vivid blush across his ears, nose, and cheeks. How long had they been standing there? He hadn't noticed. He'd been utterly lost in the rhythm of movement and the catharsis of playing with fire away from prying eyes.

Clearing his throat, Braze stared for a moment too long before hastily retrieving the dropped lantern. "Oh, uh... h-hello there. Sorry, I didn't realize anyone was... uh, here," he stammered, words tumbling clumsily as he struggled to string them together. He felt a wave of awkward embarrassment flood through him—the same kind of mortification that comes when you're caught singing in an empty gym shower, only to discover someone else had walked in.

Braze usually loved attention. He thrived on it, carefully crafting an air of bravado for his peers. But this was different. This was unguarded, raw—something he hadn't meant for anyone to see. He glanced up, his somber jade eyes meeting the stranger's, and allowed himself a longer look at their visage. The emrald haired man seemed vaguely familiar—someone Braze might have noticed from a distance but couldn't recall meeting face-to-face.

He swallowed hard, smoothing a hand through his snowy bangs in a nervous gesture, brushing them back as though primping himself might restore his composure. A deep sigh escaped him, carrying some of the tension from his chest. Finally, he forced a smile.

"Let me start again," he said, his voice steadier now. "I'm Braze. Needed a bit of quiet away from the crowd too?" He attempted a touch of levity, hoping to dispel the lingering awkwardness. He knew there were only so many reasons someone might wander into the tranquility of the snowbound woods instead of embracing the crowded revelry of the festival.

 

[Mahsa]

"C’mon Ayhan, we don’t wanna be late…!" Her words urged the Firronthix, delightful oranges and merry yellows weaving through her hair as they finally reached the festival. They were meant to catch up with Zaiya Ceti , Vera Noble , and Azurine Varek somewhere around here, but time had slipped through her fingers and the pair had barely managed to make it in time for the dance.

"A-Ayhan look, that’s them!" Her hand reached for his excitedly, tugging against his pinkie, ring, and middle fingers as the Kazelrrian stood on her very tippy toes to get a better look at the stage. "Whooaaa, that’s amazing—oh, look at Aris… it’s like he's made of fire!"

The loose strands of hair shimmered in a mixture of bright citrines and awed apricot hues as she gazed at their dance, mesmerized by the sight of mother and son as they danced together. It wasn’t until the song started fading away that Mahsa noticed the tingling sensation against her skin, her hand quickly releasing his fingers upon realizing she’d been holding onto him still.

"C-Can you see the others?" She tried to ignore the heat that rushed onto her cheeks as Mahsa shifted the conversation towards their friends, her smaller stature making it hard to spot any of them among the sea of Epicanthix bodies. "M-Maybe they’re c-closer to the stage…"

---

Outfit & Accessories
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Ayhan ​

 

[Colette]

The roaring fire practically sparkled across the glossed over surface of her eyes and their long-gone stare. With each flare and sway of the campfire before her, a new memory emerged and if she focused on the warmth of the fire alone she could almost feel herself being back on her homeworld again. Back where things made sense, where she didn't have to pretend to be happy with the world. Where people cared, where people were satisfied with what they had or at the very least not unhappy with what they needed.

She had lost track of the days now. Space was still scary, not every planet aligned with whatever the time had been when she had left the previous one, and with each world she visited the galaxy started to feel just as small as her home once had. The realization that the deserts of her home had become a speck of dust — a little grain of sand, really — in a vast ocean of all kinds of dirt and sand terrified her. While she would always be thankful for what the Jedi had shown her there would always be a small part of her that mourned the loss of importance that this one particular grain of sand held for her and it showed in the way that her guitar ever so gently wept for her as she plucked away at it in front of the fire.

Life day was such a stupid concept. It was just a single day to be merry, to be with family, and to give freely to the ones in need as if it was something to be celebrated just this once and not rejoiced over every day of their lives.

Instead what they had was this. People spending imaginary currency on items without purpose or inherent value to satiate the appetites of monsters with bottomless stomachs; corporations that put a price on survival and sold it to you piecemeal saying "Give us something important to you, that we made up for you to value, or we will allow you to die."

Not even the Jedi order was safe from this. These days she wouldn't be as openly appalled by it, but she held disdain for some of the things she had seen them partake in and it made her needlessly upset over. Things such as buying expensive items, comforts beyond what was necessary, galas and balls, ownership of companies that perpetuated the lies of the capitalist pigheads that ruled the galaxy and the needless nonsense that-…

She sighed and finally managed to avert her eyes from the fire. The guitar playing stopped and she looked at the metaphorical blood she could feel running down the palms of her own hands. It wasn't exactly as if she was exempt from her own accusations either. The very guitar she had played on was worth more than she could ever fathom something like it to be worth, and the home that she lived in more than she could ever have imagined.

Her eyes wandered for a bit until they set on the lively fight between Vera and some soldiers, the joy that she felt and the child-like wonder that these grown men and women felt over something that they could experience every day if they just allowed it, and despite it all she smiled. The only thing that made this galaxy worth fighting for these days, the only redeeming factor that it had, was the blind people that lived in it and the ones that you kept close.

Colette could settle for focusing on that this holiday. At least until things were back to the same old needlessly glum everyday life that she had grown used to.

 

[Ayhan]

Objective 1: Find the others
Mahsa
​

Beings enjoyed their metaphors. Similes. Whatever they were called, Ayhan wasn't sure which was which but he knew they were common throughout the galaxy. So when he was invited to the Fire Festival, Ayhan hadn't took the 'fire' part to be literal. Surely it was just part of the name, right? Fire was dangerous, you couldn't just let people play around with it (because what else were festivals for?).

As it would turn out, the 'fire' in Fire Festival was, in fact, very literal.

With Mahsa dragging him along, Ayhan had only caught glimpses so far, but there sure was a lot of it. When they finally came to a stop at the edge of the crowd though, Ayhan was able to see over the gathered beings, and able to truly enjoy the spectacle Aris and his mother put on. Ayhan nodded silently at Mahsa's own use of metaphor (simile?) It did indeed look like Aris was made of fire.

She'd let go of his hand (how long had she been holding onto that for?) and began to look around for their friends, but from all the way down there, it proved to be a bit hard for her to see over the gathered bodies around them.

Suddenly, the little Kazelrrian would find herself being hoisted into the air to be perched on Ayhan's shoulders. "Can you see them?"

 

[Gil Horn]

Tags: Serina Calis 17-KR7 "Enigma" Rulonom Laborr

Gil leaned forward, resting his gloved mechanical hand on his knee as the conversation unfolded. The flickering firelight played across his calm expression, but his green eyes betrayed a keen focus on the words exchanged between the others. When he finally spoke, his voice was steady, carrying a warmth that contrasted with the tension in the air.

"There's a lot to unpack here," he began, glancing first at Rulonom, then Enigma, and finally Serina. "Each of you speaks to a different truth about the galaxy—and about us as individuals. But I think, in all this talk of survival, power, and purpose, we risk forgetting something vital: the people we're meant to protect, and the spirit they carry."

He turned his attention to Rulonom, his tone measured but firm. "You raise valid concerns about the realities many face—starving refugees, fractured communities, and a galaxy in turmoil. And you're right: courage and hope aren't things you can measure with data or use to fill an empty stomach. But they are the sparks that keep people going when the odds seem insurmountable. They inspire action, collaboration, and innovation. Without that spark, even the most efficient supply chain or strongest fleet would be built on sand."

Gil leaned back slightly, the fire reflecting in his eyes as he considered his next words. "And I understand your skepticism of the Jedi. We've made mistakes—too many, if I'm honest. Sometimes we've focused so much on fighting the darkness that we've lost sight of what we're fighting for. But don't mistake that for indifference. Many Jedi are out there, in the streets and on the frontlines, working alongside those in need. It's not always glamorous, and it doesn't always make the holonet, but it's happening."

He shifted his gaze to Enigma, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "You make an excellent point about balance. Hope without structure can be fleeting, and strength without purpose can be dangerous. But I think you underestimate the power of individuals coming together—combining hope, strength, and yes, even a bit of chaos—to create something new. The Confederacy had its vision, but it faltered because it sought to impose control rather than foster unity. True strength isn't just about power; it's about connection. It's about lighting the way for others, even when you don't have all the answers yourself."

Finally, he turned to Serina, his expression softening. "And you—your words remind me of where I was not so long ago. Searching for clarity, for purpose. Struggling to understand what it means to be strong in a galaxy that feels so divided. It's not an easy question to answer, but I think you're closer to it than you realize. Strength isn't just about control or conviction—it's about knowing when to stand firm and when to bend. It's about shaping the galaxy not with fire alone, but with the light that fire brings."

He glanced back at the flames, letting the quiet crackle of the fire fill the space between them before continuing. "This festival—it's a reminder of what's worth fighting for. Not power, not survival for its own sake, but renewal. Growth. A future where our differences don't divide us but strengthen us. That's not idealism; it's possibility. And it starts with each of us choosing to believe in that possibility—and doing the work to make it real."

Gil's mechanical hand flexed slightly as he leaned forward again, looking at each of them in turn. "The question isn't just who will wield the flame. It's how they'll wield it—and for whom. If we can keep that in mind, maybe we have a chance at shaping something worth believing in."

With that, he sat back, letting the warmth of the fire settle over him as he left his words to linger in the night air.

 

[Mahsa]

Despite coming to Niv Hani plenty of times before Mahsa has never felt as small as she did today, perhaps because she’d never been around a densely packed crowd of Epicanthix until now. She’d been so focused on trying to see around the towering figures that the Kazelrrian hadn’t felt the pair of hands that had come to her sides until her field of view changed entirely.

"E-Eh…?" It took a moment for Mahsa to realize she was now sitting atop Ayhan’s shoulders, her hands instinctively reaching for his wrists once the jolt of surprise hit to keep her balance in check.

It was a miracle her ears managed to pick up his voice amidst the rapid thrumming flooding them. "N-Not yet… oh!" It was hard to fully appreciate how different the world looked from up here when her heart felt like it was about to burst from her chest, but it meant she was able to catch the last traces of a flame as Azurine Varek ’s own dance came to an end.

"I s-see Azzie…!" He’d find the grip on his wrist had been released as the Kazelrrian pointed in their direction. Her left hand continued to hold onto his prosthetic limb as she continued to scan the crowd for the familiar bioluminescent shimmers of Zaiya Ceti , certain that if she did Aris Noble and his family wouldn’t be too far from the Lovalla.

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Ayhan ​