Monster Park [TSE Dominion of the Celanon Hex]

[Amaya Cardei]

​

A new Sith Hunting Park had been in development for the last year and a half. A large park where Sith could come and test their skills, where bounty hunters and Imperials alike could see what monsters had been created. Unfortunately, something’s happened recently - the Monsters have been released. Celanon City has erected a temporary force field around the city but it won’t hold out for long.

The Sith Empire saw this as an opportunity.

They would dispatch their forces to Celanon and engage in a hunting competition with those who wish to participate. The event was organized by Freia Sadler, a Galidraani who had been known for putting such hunting parties together rather quickly. Rewards and titles would be part of the incentive to hunt such creatures, as well as, lucrative land contracts.

The Park would be open and with it all the trinkets one could imagine, shopping, drinking, even an afternoon at the cinema. All the while the thousands of lives caught in the crossfire would be vanquished if the Hunters do not eliminate the monsters around them. Still, there remains a mystery, who unleashed the monsters? Perhaps it was Freia Sadler, after all, she seemed to directly benefit from organizing the hunt.

Perhaps it was the old man, Simon Astartes, who owned the land on which the park was settled. Or just maybe it was the man whose job it was - was to care for the beasts. Dereluka Caddudl, at a glance he seems quite docile but looks can be deceiving.

Whatever the case may be, the [SIZE=11pt]Zambranos[/SIZE] have dispatched brothers Sarlow and Alvarex along with their dogs. Their goal is to capture whoever is responsible for releasing the monsters and bring them to justice before the Sith Empire.

Objective I: Hunters! Sith! Have we got a great competition for you! Come one, come all how many monsters can you kill? [SIZE=11pt]Oh[/SIZE], you could try to capture them but that would mean your doom! Competition starts today, check-in at the entrance and have fun! Hunters have a chance to earn a unique weapon, title, and a beautiful hunter's trophy! [x]

Objective II: Alright gang! We’ve got ourselves a mystery! Don’t worry there will be plenty of snacks when it’s all said and done. We’re gonna find out who unleashed the monsters at the monster park! Detectives have a chance to get special gear, titles, and a unique speeder! [x]

Objective III: Don’t mind the thousands of people dying around you, you’ve got an [SIZE=11pt]ice-cold[/SIZE] beverage in your hand. Sit back and relax, enjoy the live hunting show right in front of you! Those who chose to participate in this objective will earn a special flask! [x]

Objective IV: Sometimes we’ve just gotta get on our own banana boats and do our own thing! Bring your own objective and have fun!

​

​

​

​

​

Irza Zarwa
Dragonsnakes
Wasps
Slythghoul
Gouka Dragon
Wyvern
Behemoth
Battle Hydras
Qitculeas
Zasa Raura
Arkanian Dragons
Natasizi-Tatek
Leviathan
Poisoners
Dragon-Bird
Rupturers
Condor Dragon
Horde Mother
Rayijadni Nexuhttp://starwarsrp.net/topic/130487-rayijadni-nexu/
Krayt Dragon
+ More!

 

[Darth Assimilus]

Objective: BYOO

Spoiler

A spectral blood red mist fell over scaly hide. Sinking into what seemed to be the very atoms and molecular structure within. Originating at the tail, it spread slowly with an increase in body heat. First it was the tail. Large and a noted weapon all its own. With four sharp spikes on the end poised to kill and paralyze its prey. With a clutch the mist pulsed upward into the spine, tracing over each and every vertebrae and spike that it was connected to. Soaking into the muscles and suddenly stopping. There was tension and unease. The mind of the creature was aware what was happening but not how. Again the tendrils of infections continued. Forcing a barrage of pain into the primal mind of the dragon. Thrashing about outside the city of Celanon. It struck at everything in its path with each progressing stage of control.

First agitation.

Next aggression.

Then anger.

And lastly Hate. Eternal hate.

With a stomp the Greater Krayt Dragon roared reaching the final stage. Its tail was a hurricane, its teeth sharp as the sith swords of old, its claws more curved than a ryyk blade, Its scales tough as beskar and eyes glew with faint aura. Crimson like the blades of the Sith Empire. Hate became it. Possessed and doom to unleash wrath apon other monsters that roamed.

The hunt began.

 

[Amaya Cardei]

Alvarex and his older brother Sarlow arrived at the so-called Monster Park ahead of the others. [member="Atlas Kane"], [member="Vandra Zambrano"] and [member="Vylythis Zambrano"] they were tasked with finding out who had released the creatures from their cages, and why. Alvarex stood at eight-foot two, his brother at eight feet solid both men were products from the Emperor's first wife Salara. Their shuttle would disembark from the star destroyer that orbited the planet and head for the city. Accompanying them were a pack of Annwnsi, typically these dogs didn't leave Panatha but today was a special occasion. The dogs would help Sarlow in tracking the culprit down.

Celanon City would come into view shortly, and the Prince wanted to get this over with. He should be participating in the Hunt, but here he was stuck as his brother's keeper. His upper lip curled into a snarl, Sarlow had always been the disappointment in the family. From his curse to his failures as a Zambrano, much less a man - but then far be it from him to challenge his mother. When Salara Zambrano issued an order to her sons she expected it to be carried out to the letter.

Sarlow could feel the tension and knew his brother didn't want to be here. It gave Sarlow such pleasure to see his brother fester in his own rage, Alvarex always thought highly of himself or at least that was Sarlow's opinion. In between them of, course were the dogs who laid curled up next to one another as the shuttle began its descent. Alvarex would want to talk and that was fine for Sarlow, instead, the Lycan had other ideas. He and the dogs would go straight to the cages and begin sniffing out the culprit there. Alvarex could wait for the others which included other Zambrano siblings. Celanon City mentioned that private transportation would be taking the group straight to the park from the starport.

For now, he waited, waited to hear the pilot give the all-clear.

At the pilot's word Alvarex rose and put a hand on his brother's shoulder.

Sarlow looked at his brother's hand, "if you want to keep your hand I'd suggest you move it."

"Far be it from me to challenge the brute of the family." Alvarex sneered and headed for the landing ramp.

Silently, his older brother cautioned him - Alvarex's arrogance would do him in one day. Perhaps sooner rather than later, Sarlow hoped following his brothers and their dogs down the landing ramp to wait for the others before heading into the park itself. Celanon seemed thus far not effected by the idea of rampaging sithspawn and dragon roaming through the streets just as soon as the force field went down. Sarlow turned his attention to the park and his eyes widened at the sight. If anyone - or anything was still alive it was only at the grace and mercy of the All-Father.

 

[Darth Carnifex]

A shadow crept across the land, the thrum and rumble of repulsor-engines cutting through the noise of the forest below. With hands firmly clutching the durasteel railing, the Sith Emperor watched as the land moved beneath him as the Ubrikkian Floating Fortress he stood upon lazily sauntered through the air. He had purchased the fortress many years ago, transforming it into a hunting platform in a style reminiscent of Trandoshan hunters. Trophies hunt from every wall; pelts peeled from a dozen different species, polished skulls erected upon pedestals, and weapons collected from fallen enemies. At the far end of the main hall was a towering throne, one large enough to seat the Emperor's immense body with little issue.

Several days ago, the Emperor had released a clutch of prey into the cordoned wilds of Celanon in preparation for a fierce hunt. Unlike the others who would be hunting typical monstrous game elsewhere on the world, the Emperor had an altogether different quarry in mind.

Jedi.

The Empire's latest excursions had enabled the Dark Lord to accumulate a new group of Jedi prisoners, which he had temporarily imprisoned at Lola Sayu before relocating them to Celanon. It had been a week since he deposited them in different locations on the continent Desetur, now he and his fellow hunters moved in to track, snare, and kill their respective targets. Already, his mouth salivated at the thought of hunting down another Jedi Knight and tormenting them before he finally snuffed out their pathetic life.

Another trophy to add to his growing collection.

The floating fortress briefly dipped down toward an open clearing, allowing the Dark Lord and his fellow Sith and hunters to leap down onto the grass clearing. After that, the fortress would retreat far higher than any Force-enhanced individual could possibly reach, monitoring each hunter's location and scanning the surrounding forest for any organic activity.

And with that, the hunt was on.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

​

Objective I/IV - Obtain research data on the monsters being hunted

It wasn't every day that Taeli and her scientists and alchemists got the chance to study how their monsters would do against different classes of enemies. Sure, being able to study them in the wilds of Valrar gave them plenty of scientific data, but there was something else entirely about observing how they fared against Sith and their allies. It was an exciting prospect to be sure. She had put out simple rules for any Sith or hunter that was interested in helping with the research.

As they fought and killed the creatures, they were to wear scanners and cameras to capture the action. In exchange, they would receive a bounty, whether in credits or other more interesting payments, for each creature they dispatched and transmitted the data back to her and her people. The bounty scaled depending on the creatures as she knew several of her creations would be... quite the challenge for the hunters.

And if they got data on some of the creatures let loose, well she would pay handsomely for that too or even better for live specimens for her preserve experiments. Either way, it was going to be an enjoyable and productive day for the Lady of Secrets.

 

[Sylara Vaal]

Objective 4: Watching the Jedi Hunt
Post: 1

Before the floating fortress had made landfall for the Sith Emperor and his retinue to commence their jedi hunt, Sylara had been the first to see her master off before bloodletting commenced, wishing him good fortune on his hunt for those pathetic Jedi. When the hunt had began, she watched from the fortress above via a holoemitter, reclining upon a comfortable seat beside her master's throne while sipping a glass of expensive wine. Only the best for one of the Emperor's favorite concubines, after all. She would've accompanied him on the hunt, though the threat of multiple Jedi would likely be too much for even her skills with the arts of Teras Kasi. One? She could handle. Not a group of them. Plus she suspected the Emperor would rather she not be damaged and spoil his enjoyment of his hunt.

She casually contacted the Emperor via their personal comms channel, known only to the Emperor and a few of his closest associates and retainers, like herself. "No sign of anything from up here thus far, master. The forests seem quiet, save for a few non-sentient creatures."

[member="Darth Carnifex"]

 

[Hakai Shizukana]

Objective I | [Hunting] Hunted​

​

-​

​

The addition of several scanning devices and audio video recording devices hadn't been a dealbreaker for the mercenary, though with each gentle footfall Kai had noticed the added weight. Instead of wearing his full plated armor he'd opted for a lighter build that contained less protected joints and thinner plates. When hunting, stalking specifically, the extra weight and bulk of combat armor was a liability. Of course, it also had its advantages. Despite his practiced eye and elevated awareness, he couldn't help but feel like he was the one being hunted.

With his hands free, the man reached out and adjusted the gauntlet on his forearm. If he wanted to get paid, he'd have to ensure that what was being hunted could be easily seen by the small cameras and scanners mounted on his body. A drone would have been easier but he'd dismissed that mere seconds after the thought. A drone meant noise, em waves - things that would make him just as much prey as the creatures he was stalking. To accomplish his tasks he would need to think and feel like the beasts he set after, not out-tech them. Any fool could scan for biosigns and fire a weapon, that wasn't really what this test was after though, was it? He grinned.

Their briefing had been simple, delivered effortlessly by someone important no doubt. The name hadn't stuck, only that she was firmly embedded in the uppermost tiers of the Sith Empire. The instructions had been somewhat ambiguous as to whether or not they were truly intended to capture or kill their quarries but it had been evident that their safety was of secondary concern. Data. That had been their intent from the start. It hadn't mattered to Kai, as long as he could make a few credits he was prepared to do what they needed. Jumping nimbly over the fallen stump of a long dead tree of a sort, the man paused, surveying his surroundings. Slowly from right to left he looked, listened, and waited. It was only a matter of time before he got some sign and once that happened he would be hot on the trail.

[member="Taeli Raaf"] | @Anyone​

 

[Hakai Shizukana]

​

Objective I | [Hunting] Hunted​

​

-​

​

For several minutes Hakai stood perfectly still, as a sentinel. His body remained immobile save for his attentive eyes. They read his surroundings from the subtle curve of the earth to the condensation on the edge of a jagged leaf. Somewhere here there would be sign of his quarry, some fleeting detail that would send him on the trail of a creature unknown. He could see small insects crawling beneath the lowest brush, animals squawking in the canopy - had it not been so unpredictably dangerous he might have felt right at home. This place reminded him of Rishi. The landscape was a little different, the color of the soil not nearly as fertile, but there was something about the air that brought all those memories flooding back.

As his gaze fell across a particularly large tree in front of him, a slight deviation caught his eye. Near the base of the trunk, a small portion of the bark had been scraped away. Rough edges and a set of deep impressions in the soil gave light to the hunt. Carefully Kai stepped forward to examine the sign, each breath taken quietly in anticipation. Typically in the business of hunting people, Hakai couldn't tell one way or the other what had made the markings but as he examined the torn bark he could see that it lead farther up the tree. *So it can climb.* he thought silently to himself. *That complicates things.*

Tracking things on the ground was one thing, tracking things from tree to tree with little ability to traverse the same path made things exponentially more difficult. Inclining his head towards the canopy, he looked for heat signatures using the small eyepiece equipped with his helmet. Though he was able to make out his surroundings he quickly realized that it was going to be futile. There was simply too much trapped in heat beneath the canopy, sensor distortions blocking out any useful data. He was going to have to rely on instinct and his natural ability - a precarious predicament given the volatility of the creatures let loose in this tropical playground. Again turning his attention to the impressions and the bark he gently pressed the earth beside them. *Recent. Not too recent though.* He was on the right track, that's what mattered. Yet to determine the nature of the creature, he knelt now beside the tracks. Perhaps there he could glean something of the beast's nature.

 

[Fiolette Fortan]

​

Fiolette walked in with two margaritas in hand, both for herself - as her wife was in no condition to drink. Even if she was, she wouldn't partake - the Lord Admiral sipped both diligently and behind her. A friend, a colleague of sorts, [member="Kurayami Bloodborn"] who had already downed seven margaritas, at least - which to be honest. It was more of a kind estimate for him, then somewhere along the park were their patrons. [member="Invicta Zambrano"] and [member="Salara Zambrano"], who too were enjoying the views of people dying and monsters thrashing. Such wonderful bloodsport for the Sith. "Oh, my dear! My dear Taeli, look who I found! The Empresses!"

"Oh this one is amazing, what did you say this was Mr. Bloodborn? Cassarita? Well, it is delightful."

Honestly what better way to welcome a world into the Sith Empire than with a little bloodsport. The observation area that [member="Taeli Raaf"] had - held a wonderful vantage point. The ability to see across the entire park. "Mhmm. Mr. Bloodborn, my wife Lady Raaf - darling this is Mr. Bloodborn. He and I are going to be working on a few new starfighters for the Empire. We'll be headed to Ord Cestus after this to oversee the newest starfighter installation."

The Lord Admiral was enjoying her day off, dressed in a lovely set of rose pink shorts and a white blouse that was tucked in just so. The Empresses were more than pleased with the vantage point and began taking bets on the hunters, and which body parts were going to start flying first.

 

[Kurayami Bloodborn]

Kurayami may have been seven drinks in...wait? Was it really only seven? He could have sworn the number was more than that, maybe not. Was it less? Either way, he still had a drink in either hand, one margarita per, he had every intention of finishing these as well. In all honesty he couldn't entirely remember why exactly he was here. Something about the prototype fighters or something. Man, what the kriffing hell was in these drinks? They were REALLY good. He'd have to figure out his own twist on them, they were good but not exactly as strong as what he normally drank.

All he really remembered were two things, one of which was a rather minor detail. Something about bloodgames. So that was fun. The other was something about some sort of patron, or was it patrons? Eh, wasn't overly important to him. He absentmindedly shrugged and ended up nearly spilling his drinks as he did so. Oh right he was walking next to [member="Fiolette Raaf"], probably something related to work or some such inanity. He was dressed in black utility slacks with first class Corellian Bloodstripes running down the legs, an olive colored t-shirt, his flight jacket held in the crook of his left arm, and well worn combat boots.

So Fiolette was asking him about the drinks. Well that was what he heard. He had zoned out for a bit there, oh well. He had vague memories of having told Fio the name already, leading to an exasperated sigh to signal the start of his reply to her.

'Yes, Lord Admiral. Cassarita. This is the fifth time I remember telling you this in almost as many minutes."

Normally he was not one to use titles, but figured the Sith might make a bigger deal of it than he ever really had. The seats that she had lead them to were certainly good for viewing the ongoing bloodsports, it seemed as soon as he had found a place to sit, he was being introduced to yet another person. The other Raaf it seemed. He inclined his head and shoulders towards [member="Taeli Raaf"], and without realizing it, gave a slightly more curt nod towards [member="Invicta Zambrano"] and [member="Salara Zambrano"] the women who were also the Empresses by chance. He always seemed to get stuff like this backwards.

"Pleasure to meet you all. I'd be more inclined to shake your hands if I didn't have to carry such precious cargo. And wait when were you going to tell me we were going to Ord Cestus after this? Or did you tell me during one of the short amounts of time I was sober today? Damn my memory!"

Settling more comfortably into a nearby seat, he set his drinks down on the side table, listening as bets were placed as to which limbs or other various anatomical parts would go flying first. This was a rather nice break, even if he wasn't overly busy outside preparing the materials for training the pilots on the new fighters.

 

[Cle-Var-Ri]

Objective IV - Daylight come and Jedi go home
With - [member="Darth Carnifex"]

The sound of claws upon metal was a near-constant as Clever made her way from one end of the fortress to the other. Patience was never her strong suit, with instinct opting to tear throats to shreds before bothering with interrogation or putting those throats to other uses. Now however, in the presence of her master, she exercised some restrain, only snapping at one or two of those operating the fortress. One of which had gotten just a hair too close to her tail. The other, well, someone had to show the new guy the ropes.

It was that new guy now that she'd set her eyes on momentarily, with a wicked grin and a growl in her throat. Jedi or not, currently off limits or otherwise, watching his face go white every time proved to be something to entertain herself with during the ride and wait.

The Jedi had been given one week to prepare themselves, too long in Clever's opinion. One or two could've died already, be it from hunger, infection, other creatures, or a multitude of other reasons. The ones that lived surely had to work for doing so, which called for tough meat, not exactly the most tasty. Still, meat was meat, the hunt was a hunt. Clever's tail flicked with anticipation at another Jedi falling to her talons. Forget the lightsaber and its effective killing, though she still kept it on her person, a death by her own natural weapons just added a more personal touch to the hunt.

 

[Darth Prazutis]

Objective II

Treason.

Someone unleashed the beasts. Someone opened the gates and broke containment to allow the destructive monsters out. While others moved to join other hunters in a perilous big game hunting, some carried out research. But the Shadow Hand? The Shadow Hand turned his focus on the leaders, the administrators involved in the Sith Park's creation, administration, and care. Deep inside the halls of the Goliath II he read each and every one of their files, as well as the files that the Inquisition and other sith-imperial law enforcement branches had on them. It was a mystery that drew the curiosity of the Lord of Lies. The truth was hidden beneath the surface, and no amount of research would solve the mystery, merely ensure he had all the pertinent facts. So?

He would go down to the surface.

Word was sent in advance for the administrators to prepare for his arrival. What they wouldn't know was a full team of inquisitors would accompany the Shadow Hand on his mission to uncovering the truth. The sleek black shuttle of the Midnight II emerged from the Super Star Dreadnought, and screamed down the surface. It landed at whatever landing pad the ground forces designated to the Shadow Hand, the Crownguard escort were the first to disembark from within the black ship. After them the inquisitors followed alongside the Lord of Lies himself.

They wouldn't hide from him for long.

[member="Sith Muse"]

 

[Amaya Cardei]

​

[media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=753RQJ0V7Sk[/media]​

​

Vandra had not appeared with the group, Alvarex informed his brother that their sister happened to go off with her mother elsewhere in the park. Sarlow did his best to not roll his eyes, instead ran his hand down along his stubble. The group along with their dogs headed toward the cages, they'd been informed that good ol' Uncle Brax had arrived - [member="Darth Prazutis"] to be exact. "Great," Sarlow muttered beneath his breath as he looked at his other sister [member="Vylythis Zambrano"]. It seemed it would be the three Zambrano children along with their friend [member="Atlas Kane"] and the dogs.

"Hello!" Freia Sadler shouted as the group entered the park, "you must be the Zambranos, I'm Ms. Sadler the organizer of this fine event." She seemed well put together from what Alvarex could figure. "Let me take you to our lookout, shall we?"

"Alright..." Alvarex replied before Sarlow had a chance to say anything.

The dogs gave Sadler a sniff, "oh... I see you've brought pets."

"Yeah I hope that's alright," Sarlow replied with a gruff, "after all they're family."

"Of course, ..." Sadler's voice trailed off a moment or two longer, she cleared her throat and motioned for everyone to board a small hovercart.

Meanwhile, as the Lord of Lies and his contingent settled on Celanon proper, Mr. Astartes watched from a distance. Mr. Astartes held the Manor - a beautiful home settled on the park's highest mountain peak. Surrounded by lush fields of green, and swaying palm trees the Manor was something out of a holovid. He knew without a doubt that the meddling Freia Sadler would be taking the investigators sent by the Empire to her precious lookout. He also knew that a high ranking member of the Empire would also be attached but he did not know who, and thus as he turned to Mr. Caddudl he instructed the man to release the dragons and if he could help it - make sure the dragons would be on the path for Ms. Sadler and the Zambranos.

 

[Invicta Zambrano]

​

With an overwhelming sense of delight, the Empress gently pet Salara’s hand while polishing off the delightfully frigid concoction in her glass. It was a delicious treat that somehow managed to enhance the animated discussion the ladies were having. One of the so called hunters below, a rather portly Sith who had seen better days in some bygone decade.

He was an offense to nature, fashion, the Dark Side, and the Sith as a whole. Tilting her head to the side, Invicta laughed as the man tripped over an exposed tree root even newborn Phobos would have noticed.

“That one, Salara my love...left arm first. The standard hundred thousand credits for every ten meters? Let’s start at 20. I have no faith that anything so poorly attired will get very far.”

Phobos, for his part, gurgled happily in his little hoverchair, far more entertained by the butterfly constructs fluttering over him than anything else. Glancing over to him, Invicta smiled benevolently and added a touch of extra Force energy to keep the wispy things going for a while longer.

Her attention was soon given over to the others around them, as introductions were made, and drinks refreshed by the ever attentive staff. “Delighted to see you again, Lady Raaf...I do hope we won’t interrupt your work too much.” Crimson eyes flicked between [member="Fiolette Raaf"] and [member="Taeli Raaf"], a warm smile curling her lips for a few moments.

Tilting her head down as her assistant appeared at her side, she nodded, a hand gesturing to secure the hoverchair as the woman carefully guided it into an adjoining room.

Invicta joined her arm to Salara’s as the pair stood together and her gaze finally fell upon [member="Kurayami Bloodborn"]. A peculiar character to be certain, but a very entertaining fellow to observe. He was gloriously drunk, and it made the Empress wonder if such was his natural state of being. It would have to be, would it not? Lest he simply be properly marinated and ready to be grilled.

“Mister Bloodborn...it is a delight to finally make your acquaintance. I’ve heard...so much about you.” she smiled, turning slightly enough so as not to disturb Salara at her side and to offer the man her full attention.

 

[Vylythis Zambrano]

​

A moue of distaste marred her delicate features for a moment, as she shared in the displeasure of her brother. Vylythis sighed audibly and let her hands rest on the heads of the hounds at her side, Acheron at her left and Styx to her right. They remained attentive as properly trained and well-treated hounds always did, though Styx twitched slightly upon her fingers finding that spot behind his ear.

“How lovely. I will be delighted to see our Uncle should he be bothered to grace us with his presence.” Her tone and posture left little doubt to her internal thoughts, and it took her several moments to focus herself once more and replace the calm, placid expression that normally reigned upon her features.

She followed their guide, paying little attention to the woman’s words once her disdain at their chosen hounds was made abundantly clear. Taking a seat upon the cart, she nodded to Alvarex and Sarlow in turn as she made herself comfortable and smoothed out the short vinesilk dress she wore. Fingers then trailed through her loose crimson locks, pushing them back over her shoulders and adjusting the silk headband that held them back from her face.

“Sarlow, did you bring sufficient treats? I found only one box in the shuttle before we arrived.”

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Hakai Shizukana"] [member="Fiolette Raaf"] [member="Kurayami Bloodborn"] [member="Invicta Zambrano"]

Externally, Taeli was giving a polite smile, if not a little tight around the corners of her lips as Fio, Kurayami, and the Empresses had arrived at her observation platform... drinks in hand. The hunt might be an entertaining event, it was certainly being marketed as such bloodsport and she even thought it might be even being transmitted back into Sith space proper, but for her... this was a research opportunity. While she loved the look of her wife right now, internally, she was cringing and knew her researchers were also equally... interrupted.

At least they were getting some valuable data from the mercenary.

"How many of those have you had, Fio?" she asked. Just the look of those drinks made her queasy as she was sure they were excessively high in alcohol content, and for a woman both pregnant with her second child and who never drank to begin with, it was blech. Simply blech.

"And perhaps before going to Ord Cestus you detox a bit hmm?" she continued. "I'm getting valuable information for my experiments right now love, you know that."

 

[Darth Carnifex]

"They are here."

Swinging down an embankment, the Emperor of All Sith transitioned smoothly into a crouch as he crept closer towards the end of the forest's expansion that bordered the wide open clearing. Clad in nothing other than loose vestments, the Emperor looked quite out of place without his typical opulent accoutrements. A vibro-axe was slung over his back, a massive Dathomirian dagger hanging freely at his hip, and several other instruments of the hunt hidden away across his muscular body.

In the clearing were three Jedi, no doubt having banded together for strength in numbers. Though a cunning tactic, it would ultimately not prevail them today.

Gesturing for his apprentice to approach, the Emperor laid out his plan of attack. "I will strike first, attacking their center and scattering them. You, my apprentice, will take the right flank and engage the Jedi there. The rest of you will take the left flank. Cut off their means of escape." It was a simple plan, easy to remember even in the haze of bloodlust. As the other Sith and hunters moved away from the Emperor, fanning out along the forest's edge to better encircle the Jedi, he would take one last moment of contemplation as he prepared himself for the fight ahead.

Breath in, breath out.

In a single second, the Emperor burst from his place of concealment. He soared through the air, his body propelled by his own strength and that of the Force, towards the assembled Jedi. Vibro-axe unslung and held aloft, he came down hard at their center, sending bits of earth scattering in every direction as the ground broke under the impact. Seeking distance, all three Jedi leapt back away from the Dark Lord.

Right into the path of the other hunters.

[member="Sylara Vaal"] | [member="Cle-Var-Ri"]​

 

[Fiolette Fortan]

Fiolette had to think, really, really hard on how many drinks she had had, "fouive?"

A pause as she thought about that for a moment, "yes."

And, if there was any doubt that Fiolette was from Galidraan. The more she drank the more evident it was that she was indeed from Galidraan, her accent became thicker and thicker with each downed drink. "Oh yes, so sorry, you are working - okay, okay so we have to be very - very - quiet." She put a hand to her mouth to indicate this to both Mr. Bloodborn and the Empresses. "Are we betting? We're betting? I bet another two hundred on that one - that one, there, in the blue- or is that white? Well when he goes, he goes from the waist up, like that fellow."

She finished her Cassaritas, the Cassandra Sunrise met with a Margarita. Setting the glasses down on a nearby table, "and yes so right darling, so right my beautiful, beautiful darling, we shall detox. Do you see her? Do you see her? My wife is so gorgeous isn't she?" Fiolette spoke to whoever who would listen that her wife was indeed gorgeous. It was only then she recalled their bond. Perhaps more so than normal couplings, their bond restrengthened through a pair of unique tattoos. "Oh, yes, I should detox."

It was only then that Fiolette realized, "I mentioned Ord Cestus to you ages ago, sir. After our meeting on Ryloth or was it the one after Corellia? Well no matter, I had mentioned to you we were going to Ord Cestus. Although I'm not sure if you were sober, it's hard to tell with you." Although the Cassaritas were certainly working their way through whatever was left of Fiolette's sobriety at the moment.

Granted even putting together the sentences had required such concentration that she had to sit down. The four were situated on the far end of the observation area as to not cause too much trouble for Taeli. She looked over toward the Empresses where two babies sat in little carts gurgling with joy. It was only then that Fiolette had realized they were in such a restricted area that more drinks would not- oh never mind. Empress Salara had some how come up with a flask, Fiolette took the flask from the Empress with a nod of gratitude. She took a whiff of the flask's contents and nearly fell out of her chair.

Fio gingerly sipped and instantly regretted her decision to do so. Words did not come easily and whatever amount of concentration she had slipped right out again.

The Galidraani merely shoved the flask into Mr. Bloodborn's chest as to indicate it was his turn to drink.

[member="Kurayami Bloodborn"] | [member="Taeli Raaf"] | [member="Invicta Zambrano"]

 

[Atlas Kane]

Atlas trailed behind the group that was sent to investigate the chaos near Celanon City. While the thought of working alongside the children of the Sith Emperor himself was already nerve-straining, having hounds that belonged to the Zambrano family personally there too made him downright worried. Animals had not been his friends in the last decade of his life. Be it tuk'ata hounds sent to hunt him by his Sith master, wild Nexu in the apartments of low-life criminal bosses, or the giant Droidbreakers on Belgaroth he rarely seemed to end his encounters with them in friendly ways. There seemed to be a form of magnetism he had towards the substances that comprised the claws and teeth of non-sentient species and he certainly did not fancy learning first hand what it felt like to be mauled by the Zambrano's own hounds.

Which is why he did not fancy the thought of being seated in a hovercart with the hounds so close. He hesitated slightly before getting on board, more preoccupied with calming force techniques than the words spoken by his company. He sat down as far away from the hounds as he possibly could, drawing the black cloak he wore tighter around him as though the thin sheet of cloth were armour. With at least the feeling of being somewhat more comfortable, he intended to turn his focus to the reason for their gathering during the ride to the lookout.

There were several possibilities as to how or why the beasts could have been released. Jedi sympathisers, anti-Imperialists, animal's rights activists, personal enemies of those in charge of the park, politically motivated individuals who wished to see the city of Celanon burn, there were theoretically countless possible groups behind the act that had to be considered until there was more evidence, so he instead began ruminating on a list of suspects that had the power to release all of the animals. There were the caretakers for each enclosure, of course, but the level of organisation required to pull off an incident like this was too great to make them the likely suspects unless there was a central control system from which all of the cages could have been opened at once. It was certainly possible that someone with access to such a place could have done it, the task would then be to narrow down the list of possible suspects. They'd have to do so once they arrived at the lookout.

[member="Sith Muse"], [member="Vylythis Zambrano"]

 

[Darth Chagrin]

Aboard the Midnight II, Lykas Torvol fiddled with his lighter as he waited for touchdown. He had been summoned by [member="Darth Prazutis"], the Shadow Hand of the Emperor himself, who had called up a secret inquisitorial team to investigate the cause of the monster outburst on Celanon. It had proven a shock to the Empire, but in all likelihood, the release of the beasts had been planned. Naturally, someone from Intelligence had been asked to come along for the ride... and the show.

The pilots hurriedly docked the shuttle on a landing pad, and the Sith disembarked with faultless efficiency. Lykas moved out from behind the Emperor's Shadow Hand, tucking his lighter away to take a good view of the scenery from the landing pad. Lord Prazutis had briefed him shortly before the space flight; his particular mission was more than just to find the culprits. He was to find out everything about their impertinence; the motives for it, what they intended to achieve with their defiance, anybody who had even known about the plot and failed to report it. And he had no intention of letting any of that slip out of sight.

The immediate suspects were the administrators and organisers of the hunting park. Of course, even if someone else was guilty, there was no possibility of the truth escaping from the Empire's grasp. Not with this particular party investigating the scene.

Whoever the culprits were, they had no chance.