Faction Tying a Golden Knot | Hapan Royal Wedding of Prince Astor Daaray

[Kalen]

Among the guests, a man with long black hair tied back in a ponytail sat near the front right side of the chamber, his head bowed in apparent reverence. When the first explosion sounded, he just barely looked up, enough to avoid suspicion from the people around him.

Another explosion, this one closer. He turned his head, locking eyes with another man a couple rows behind him. A knowing look passed between them before he faced forward again, his fingers itching for the knife hidden in his boot. Not yet.

The guards attempted to control the frightened crowds while the Chume’doro whisked away the Queen Mother. Royalty always came first, after all. The Jedi and other foreign guests cared little for these conventions; he watched out of the corner of his eye as young Padawan Ben Khal started to stand up, ready to usher his relatives to safety, only to be ordered by his mother to sit back down. The boy stared at her, then reluctantly sank back into his seat.

A moment later, the floor beneath their feet shook as a third explosion hit, the closest one yet. The ceremony had grinded to a halt, but the bride insisted on continuing. Not when she was this close, so much power within her grasp.

As gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd, the man stood up and made his way down the aisle. He looked like Lord Isolder Khal, the bride’s father. He had been quite vocal about his approval of the marriage. So it came as something of a shock when, upon reaching his daughter, he plunged a knife into her back.

All hell broke loose. Screams and shouts echoed through the cathedral chamber. A pair of guards came running over, only to be met with another traitorous nobleman brandishing a stolen gun of command. And another. And another.

His holographic disguise flickering, Kalen pushed Shaya’s limp body away, then turned to face the groom. Brandishing the blade, slick with red blood, he lunged at Prince Astor.

Astor Daaray Shaya Khal Briana Sal-Soren Kha'la Daaray Liin Terallo Amani Serys Diogo Talon Kalantha Vemric Keldra Corazona von Ascania Caelan Valoren Sentapoth Findos Kahne Porte Shineke Dravenné Lysander von Ascania Lily Decoria Thayze Montserrat GAL Ltd. Anneliese Kaohal Ceri Fraissi Katarine Ryiah Roman Vossari Lorn Reingard Judah Dashiell​

 

[Aiden Porte]

The Padawan had been busy with the Vanguard back on Naboo but had opted to come last minute when he had learned that Kalantha was going to be there. She was one of his greatest friends and allies. And while there wasn't much he expected to happen at this wedding, security was always needed. The padawan remembered his last party, and he made a promise not to repeat what happened then.

Singing and all...


The Padawan dressed up lightly not to Hapan standards but well enough to make a decent impression. But once again, this wasn't about him, it was about protecting her. He arrived just in time, that was until the explosions were heard from afar and they got closer.

Then came the chaos that ensued from within. It wasn't the Hapan families safety he was concerned for. It was the Queen of Naboo's.

Sleeper agents it seemed were popping out of nowhere and he rushed to the Queen's side.

Briana Sal-Soren Roman Vossari Lily Decoria Thayze Montserrat Astor Daaray @everyone else

 

[Kalantha]

Tying a Golden Knot

Neke certainly thought what the queen did, a variety of colorful sentiments that were neither proper nor constructive to share aloud. Instead, Kalantha settled for a thin-lipped smile that had all the faux charm that the Confederate's did. She added a shallow nod to accompany it, which was well-timed and applicable to the Neimoidian who had followed Vemric's lead. When they'd gone, Kalantha faced forward but let slip one final whisper before the ceremony began.

"Audacious."

There was much blame for the Cataclysm placed on the Confederacy, and while Vemric Keldra might contest being lumped in the same boat as the CIS, his flavor of the separatist state tasted just the same as it did four years ago. Sentapoth Findos seemed a much less pretentious figure, but how useful he could be for future diplomacy depended heavily on how close he was with the Confederacy. Perhaps it was poor of her, but Kalantha had little room in her heart or on her plate for the CIS and their remnants. The way she saw it, they abandoned Naboo when it needed them most; why should Naboo cater to them now?

Kalantha pushed those cumbersome feelings aside when the ceremonial doors opened, revealing the groom. Her eyes trailed his figure as she approached the altar and joined Lady Shaya. Despite the coolness she noticed between them, the Queen of Naboo wore a kind smile. Perhaps it truly was nothing more than jitters. After all, there were hundreds, if not thousands, of guests here to witness their union. The distant rumble that shook the floor beneath her feet only moments later made her challenge that idea, however.

The queen's head turned on a swivel to Shineke Dravenné and the Daughters beside her. Another rumble, more easily identifiable as an explosion this time, shook the building again, sending fine cracks through the elegant stained glass windows that rose high above them. Already, the handmaidens behind Kalantha were moving closer, crowding her in a small pod. "We must go, your highness!" one of them hissed. "It's safer inside," another corrected.

"No, it's not," Kalantha said in a rattled voice. Her eyes were locked on the lifeless body of Lady Shaya as it slipped from the hands of her father, Lord Isolder Khal. His figure shimmered unnaturally as his holographic disguise slipped away and he lunged for Lord Astor, blade in hand. The queen stood frozen, paralyzed by fear and disbelief. A sharp white noise filled her ears as terror infectiously spread throughout the crowd. Screams and cries rang out. Panicked guests shoved and pushed, bumping Kalantha but not snapping her back to the scene unfolding around her.

It was the distant echo of her name - her birthname, Inara - that broke through the stunned daze she found herself in. Kalantha blinked, turning to see Neke. The queen locked eyes with her advisor, offering unspoken apologies for her uncharacteristic fugue. Behind Shineke, she saw Aiden Porte rushing toward her. He was busy with the Vanguard back on Naboo, and, perhaps unwisely, Kalantha had decided not to request his protection on Hapes. She was confident at the time that her handmaidens and the quartet of Daughters would be plenty for a royal wedding, but as Shaya's blood ran fast and hot across the marble floor of the altar, Kalantha felt incredibly foolish for having forwent his accompaniment.

Tags: Aiden Porte | Shineke Dravenné | OPEN(ish)​

 

[Vemric Keldra]

KELDRA
FOUNTAIN PALACE | HAPES
TAG: Sentapoth Findos | Open

REQUIEM​

It started and devolved.

The two men had taken their seats and had silently watched the ceremony get underway. And how it progressed. Both men had suspected something to go awry and it did, though Vemric did keep his composure better than did the Neimoidian...

Vemric had been somewhat bored at the tedium of wedding ceremony - and then the first explosion sounded far off. By the second one, Miles was in his ear.
<Sir, I'm ordering your extraction. Your escort will be there momentarily.> the grey man said.
<No. You will halt them in the foyer until my command. Understand?> Vemric whispered coldly just as the bride snarled at the official.
<Sir...>
<That's an order, Admiral. Out.> His sky-clad eyes then turned to Sentapoth Findos . "This is your time to be a military man, General." he said quietly as the third explosion shook the foundations. "Be ready to guide the guests out quickly from the back on my word. And do keep your distance from danger."

And then all hell broke loose.

As what looked like the bride's father plunged the knife into her back, the commanding frame of the Sephi was on its feet and moving.
"Now!" he barked at both Miles and at the Neimoidian as he swept forward just as the faux noblemen engaged the first of the guards.
At the same time, a large squad of the black armour of the Confederate Army burst into the hall.

The commander rushed toward Vemric, who turned to face him while attempting to guide some guests in a somewhat more orderly fashion than full blown panic.
"Sir, if you please. We have to get you out." the visor said.
"No. Give me a pistol and a knife, Commander, and help General Findos over there guide the people out. Now!" Vemric commanded as his face remained marble.
The dark visor remained cold as it regarded its head of state.

"Yeah, sorry Sir. Not happening. Demote me later, but I'd rather face your wrath than Vice President Xazzex Xivar ." he finally said and without further ceremony, the slightly shorter man dropped his shoulder and shoved it against the Sephi's midsection in order to fold the taller frame over it and he started shuffling real fast to the rear of the hall.
"Commander, I order you to put me down right now." Vemric's voice had gone so low and so cold, it would have frozen Mustafar. The rest of the squad were dumbfounded as they saw their commander weaving toward them, complete with their scary President draped over his shoulder.
The Commander hesitated for a second. "I'll only put you down, Sir, if you would come with us instead of running back into that nest of murderers." he then said, though his voice sounded slightly shaky, even through the helmet.

The crowd milled past them, but Vemric hung there, resting his chin on his hand while his elbow rested against the commander's back. He let out a sigh through his nose.
"A compromise, Commander. You can all come with me. How is that?" he said with a bit more aloofness.
The squad all looked at one another for a second while the bloodbath enfolded toward the dais.
"Deal, Sir."
He gently put Vemric down, back on his feet.

Vemric took a moment to straighten his raiment and smooth his hair. "Now, Commander, I need one or two men to find the General in this chaos and just stand him by with whatever he is up to." he said, much more reserved even while everyone was milling toward the door and all manner of Jedi and guards engaged what now seemed like some kind of Hapan rebellion. The Sephi was quickly starting to grow weary of all the panic in the room. This was why he preferred to stay on a ship. Much more command and order.
"And us, Sir?" the commander asked as he directed two men to find the representative of Abrion Major.

"Get the speeder to the front door and let's get back to the ship. This has been a monumental...drag."​

 

[Judah Dashiell]

Taking his seat with Director Liin Terallo , Judah had settled in to watch the ceremony. Some of the outfits were quite....cleavage forward...and he resisted the urge to gossip about such things with the Director. One, it would indicate staring at the opposite sex and two, it may be in poor taste for the woman. For now he merely kept his thoughts to himself and keep his own running commentary in his head.

That was until the explosions broke out. The Hapan Cluster was supposed to be relatively safe and stable, which is the reasoning behind his son having a home on Gallinore to fall back to. Perhaps it was merely a gas explosion in the city, a mishap...which was all fine and well thinking for one sitting in the chairs gathered. The bride and groom seemed to want to continue until the bride was stabbed. Such would put a damper on things.

Eyebrow raised slightly. Regicide? Power struggles? He didn't know the area or the matriarchal line well enough to know if there was a jealous brother looking to take the bride for himself. Men couldn't obtain real power but there would be just enough of it to drive someone to murder.

Judah took Liin's hand, standing.

"Time for us to leave Director. Stick with me...we should get our gift off the table too before we go..."

 

[Lorn Reingard]

Tags: OPEN

​

Lorn finally found a seat near the back, the ornate chairs surprisingly comfortable amidst the chaos of the room. He watched as both the bride and groom entered, their presence radiating a calculated elegance. They moved with a practiced grace, each gesture a testament to their polished upbringing. The entire spectacle felt like a carefully choreographed dance, and Lorn found himself impressed by their effortless command of the room. But as the ceremony stretched on, a low rumble vibrated through the hall, far away, followed by a sharper boom that set his teeth on edge. Another explosion, closer this time, and Lorn's gaze snapped up, his senses on high alert. He watched as the Queen's handmaidens moved with practiced efficiency, guiding her towards what he guessed was the quickest exit.

He stood, wanting a better view of the unfolding situation. A man, previously seated, was now walking purposefully down the aisle. Surely they would stop him, Lorn thought, but no one shifted to interfere. Then, in a moment that shattered the illusion of peace, the man plunged a knife into the bride's back. The room erupted into pandemonium. Screams pierced the air as the crowd panicked, a wave of frantic energy washing over the hall.

Lorn, his mind racing, knew he had to reach the Kalantha . He moved, pushing past flailing limbs and hysterical cries. The ornate hall, once a picture of opulent tranquility, became a claustrophobic maze of panicked bodies. He shoved his way through the throng, his eyes scanning for the Queen, dodging flying elbows and stamping feet. It was a slow and painful process as he was pushed and pulled by the current of frantic nobles. He finally caught sight of her, moving swiftly with her entourage towards a side exit. Then he saw Aiden Porte . They made brief eye contact, a silent understanding passing between them. Lorn knew Aiden wouldn't leave the Queen's side, no matter what. He trusted him to protect her.

Lorn moved with purpose, positioning himself between the escalating violence and the Queen's party. A man, face contorted in a fanatical snarl, rushed down the aisle, firing a weapon into the crowd. One of the guards in attendance was struck, falling to the ground as the shooter whispered into his ear. Lorn's stomach churned at the sight of the guard rising again, his eyes now crazed. He began attacking anyone he could reach, violently knocking out some of the wedding guests. The noblemen's glazed eyes locked onto Lorn, and with a guttural roar, the man charged.

Lorn braced himself, meeting the man's attack head-on. They slammed into each other the guard's crazed strength surprising Lorn. The fight spilled onto the floor, a flurry of limbs and desperate grasps. Lorn managed to deflect a wild punch, using the momentum to his advantage. He wrestled the noble to the ground, the man's weight pressing down on him. Lorn fought to gain control, his muscles burning with exertion.

Finally, he maneuvered his arm around the noble's throat, applying a tight chokehold. He held it until the man's struggling form went still, his eyes rolling back as he slipped into unconsciousness.

Lorn rose to his feet, his heart pounding in his chest. Adrenaline surged through him, sharpening his senses. He stood firm, his gaze scanning the room for any further threats. The chaos continued, but his will was firm. He would stand between the Queen and any danger that dared to approach.

 

[Roman Vossari]

Tags: Anneliese Kaohal | Corazona von Ascania | Lysander von Ascania

​

Roman stared, his mind struggling to process the horrific scene unfolding before him. The bride, moments ago radiant with life, now lay crumpled on the floor. His breath hitched, a cold dread pooling in his stomach. The chaotic symphony of screams and shouts barely registered, he was trapped in a bubble of shock and disbelief. He remained frozen, bolted to his seat, even as the world around him crumbled.

Then, a jolt of fear, sharp and immediate, ripped through him. Anneliese. His gaze darted to his side, finding her sitting beside him, her face a mirror of his own bewilderment. A surge of protectiveness overwhelmed him. He couldn't falter, not now. With a surge of adrenaline, Roman pushed himself up. The world swam for a moment as he shook off the fog clouding his mind. Around him, people were scrambling over seats, desperate to escape the carnage.

He turned to Anneliese, his voice tight with urgency. "We need to find Cora," he said, his fingers closing around her hand. "She'll know what to do." He didn't wait for a response, pulling her to her feet and pushing into the throng of fleeing figures. The crowd was a churning sea of panic, bodies colliding, voices merging into a deafening roar. Roman held Anneliese's hand in a vice grip, determined to keep her safe. He kept his focus ahead navigating through the chaos, willing a path through the terrified crowd. He shoved past flailing arms, ducked under desperate limbs, and plowed forward, each step fueled by an overwhelming need to reach Cora.

"Cora! Lysander!" he yelled, his voice barely audible above the din. His eyes scanned the crowd, desperate for the glimmer of blonde hair he knew so well. Finally, he spotted them. He pushed harder, ignoring the jostling, the cries, the fear threatening to engulf him.

He finally reached them, his chest heaving, Anneliese clinging to his side, her breath coming in shallow gasps. He looked at Cora, his eyes wide with panic and a desperate plea. "What do we do?" He asked, his voice hoarse, the weight of the situation crashing down on him.

 

[Liin Terallo]

There are certainly a lot of people here. I follow Mister Dashiell's lead into the venue and then sit myself down when prompted, keeping my posture poised with my chin held high. I half wondered if this is what my own wedding would be like. Although the very thought of me getting married is about as realistic as me becoming a podracer. Both are equally laughable and absurd.

And no sooner did I finish those thoughts that an outside explosion stirred me from them. My first glance was to Mister Dashiell to see what his reaction was, and then it fell upon everyone else. Something was very, very off in the way that the bride and groom were acting. And then it all came crashing down. Utter chaos ensued.

I sat there nearly frozen in place, as though I was taking part in some bad dream. Was I dreaming? Mister Dashiell's voice brought me back to my senses as he held out his hand and stood up. I took hold of it and quickly got to my feet. "Are all weddings in these popular territories like this? And what gift? Should we not just leave while we can?!" I can hardly guess as to what gift he's speaking of. But I will follow his lead for I would probably be less successful in getting to safety on my own.

Tag: Judah Dashiell

 

[Eloise Dinn]

Attire: XXX | Tags: Diogo Talon Amani Serys
​

The ceremony was starting, putting an end to any further conversation. Having apparently not found a seat yet, Amani plopped down right next to Eloise—officially putting an end to any further canoodling with Diogo. Ah, well. They could always sneak away during the reception.

The wedding itself was… weird. The vows read by the officiant were noticeably one-sided, demanding loyalty and servitude from the groom to the bride, but not necessarily vice versa. Lots of talk about unity and tradition, too. The bride was fabulously dressed, but seemed cold and haughty, an ice queen. The prince was equally easy on the eyes, but looked like he was constipated for the majority of the ceremony.

Then there were the explosions. Eloise’s gaze was drawn up to the window, where a ship could be seen crashing in the distance. “Something tells me that wasn't an accident,” she whispered to her companions.

Finally, the bride got stabbed in the back. In the ensuing chaos Eloise leaped to her feet, lightsaber in hand, ready to start stabbing a few MFs herself—when she happened to clap eyes on the assassin’s true visage as his disguise flickered. Hey, I know that guy! He was the infamous leader of a Hapan rebel group. The fact that she remembered his face because she had thought him attractive notwithstanding, the pieces of the puzzle were beginning to fall into place.

The whole wedding was a symbol of the old ways of Hapes, and these guys were, uh, protesting it. Rightly so, in her opinion—though she couldn’t totally justify the bloodbath this was turning into.

“Feth!” she hissed under her breath, realizing the position she was in. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. Reluctantly, Eloise lowered her inactive lightsaber hilt. "Master, we should go help the wounded," she said, her tone pretty calm despite the carnage erupting all around them. "Dio, can you cover us?"

 

[Diogo Talon]

Tags: Eloise Dinn + Amani Serys​

First came the explosions. Then the crashing ships. The ceremony air was charged, mimicking the tense, lingering moments between thunder and lightning, where you waited expectantly for the other shoe to drop. And so it did—the bride took a blade in the back. Ouch. The unknown assassin, disguise flickering, wasn't done as he violently lunged for the groom. All hell broke loose after that.

Well... great. Now they were never gonna get free food and booze. One of the greatest crimes imaginable, y'know, after all the murder and stuff.

Diogo didn't know what was happening, political maneuverings that were above his head no doubt, but his initial instinctual reflex was to protect Eloise. She was already leaping up, lightsaber in hand, though. Should've expected that. He felt a pang of admiration despite his fraying nerves. Amani was here, too, and that reminder settled more of his apprehension. Hopefully the two women could move dexterously in their dresses.

"Dio, can you cover us?"

"Sure," Diogo replied, trying to match her calm tone. The cold steel of his lightsaber found his palm's familiar warmth.

With a sigh, his appetite vanished.

 

[Serena Harth]

The start of the wedding was nice and dandy enough, if a bit boring but Serena's standards, as most highly formal events were. She struggled to get any meaningful input from the guests; They all had more important people to talk to here. After all, this event was about the politics behind the marriage than it was the marriage itself. In fact as the bride and groom eventually took center stage, Serena and her empathic senses couldn't help but notice a distinct lack of love in the air.

Serena hung to the back, making sure to keep her camdroid steadily recording the proceedings, even as her attention was drawn to some of the other journalists in the room. Her boss, the Tholothian woman, actually had to be hushed into silence by one of the guests just before things got serious. Serena couldn't help but roll her eyes. With that lack of professionalism, their outlet was never going to be able to compete with more mainstream names like those prisses on 360° Around the Galaxy.

And then, that void of love from before was filled suddenly and wholly with dread and fear.

Such quibbles were put on hold when an explosion rang out beyond the confines of the palace. Then another. The bride tried to keep things moving, but uncertainty was already spreading like a plague throughout the gathered masses. Serena was frozen, unsure of how to react, and all the while she kept her camera rolling. Even as the violence spilled into the palace itself. Even as the bride was unceremoniously stabbed in the back by a disguised assailant, and this long-hidden plot finally unfolded.

When the guards and the assassins began to clash, Serena finally ducked down for self-preservation. She felt her airways constricting in panic, but as she locked eyes with the recorder on her camdroid, there was a suddenly realized, and unspoken question.

Did you get all that?

Force willing, this career wouldn't turn her into a vulture. Serena grabbed the cambot, and stood back up, albeit keeping some cover behind the rows of chairs. She started a live recording, and grabbed her microphone, "This is reporter Serena Harth in the field! The wedding of Prince Daaray and Lady Khal has fallen to what appears to be a coordinated assassination plot! Guard and co-conspirators are engaging while chaos unfolds around us! Several of the Jedi have leapt into action as well, but I... fear it may be too late." She looked up from behind the seats and towards the altar, "Their motives are not yet known. But we're not leaving until we can uncover the truth."

 

[Jared Starchaser]

Looking over the bottle on the table, Jared Starchaser peered over the cards. A bit more of a traditional sabacc. One on one though, so weirder stakes. Outside, the blur of hyperspace, as the Pulsar was making yet another supply run through the Levantine space. The galaxy outside unknown to them. Well, mostly. Jared had turned on the Hapan wedding, just to stay in the loop of galactic politics.

As it was on int he background, he was focused more on what he was doing here, and that meant trying to keep his streak up in the winnings here against the redhead. The volume on the holovid was low, but he could hear what was going on.

The reporters giving the updates on Hapan and Alliance politics, commenting who was there… and there were a lot. Hell, Jared could find Hapes on the galactic map, but he didn’t burn any extra memory on his ship’s hyperdrive for the Cluster. “I really think I’d rather any number of boring missions than to be all dressed up there.” This was a true statement, Jared despised formal occasions.

And was when he heard the outburst. Something that peeked his interest. The anchor stating an explosion, and the bride to be screaming about… continuing? “Hopper, turn that up?” He looked at Delila Castillon and put the cards down. He didn’t care for politics, but galactic drama, especially in the Alliance? Well, that could shake a galaxy up.

What he didn’t expect to see was the bride being stabbed, and the holo cutting away from the ceremony. Jared turned to his teammate. “Oh, so… that’s happening?” Maybe it was time to dust off his old comms…

"Who's bet was it?"

 

[Kalen]

While his comrades found themselves locked in mortal combat with members of the Chume'doro and other security guards, a flamboyantly dressed man with bleached blonde hair and sunglasses came running up behind the reporter Serena Harth . He reached around and grabbed the microphone from her hand, raising it to his lips.

"Good morning, cowards! You see this?" He lifted his hand in front of the camdroid's all-seeing lens. Dangling from his fingers were the torn remnants of the bride's wedding veil, stained crimson with blood. "You can't sweep this under the rug. You can't pretend this isn't happening. We're not going to shut up! We're not backing down! We're not going to stand by and take it anymore!" He threw the bloody veil at the camdroid. "Screw the Alliance, screw the Jedi! Hang the Queen Mother and the Chancellor! Long live the Crimson Veil!"

 

[Delila Castillon]

Delila looked over her cards, making idle commentary with Jared Starchaser . They had been working together a few assignments now - Siccorro, Levantine Space, now this run and thus started having more of a rapport. Blue-green eyes slid over to the holovision playing, just as Jared was commenting about not wanting to dress up and be there.

"I used to bodyguard for the Royal House of Alderaan, Faith Organa specifically. My ex-husband was a Senator. Believe it or not you get very used to dressing up and blending in. The food is typically top notch. Only complaint is hiding a blaster but one gets creative."

Putting a card in the discard pile, she looked up once again to seeing the bride-to-be get stabbed in a rather dramatic fashion. Eyebrow arced as she witnessed the event and the reporters desperately trying to report and not be horrified at the same time. Lots of screaming and attempts to evacuate the area.

Sounded like war was going to be on the horizon.

"See, this is why I didn't remarry after my divorce." Tossing in another one credit chip, Dells grabbed a piece of nerf jerky as the chaos continued to reign on the holo. "Maybe they'll need some gun running. Easy credits there."

 

[Shineke Dravenné]

To Shineke's left, one of the Daughters grabbed at another in front of her: a young girl at the head of the group. The older sister's hands wrapped into the younger's voluminous blonde curls and pulled her into her gown to shield her eyes.

Neke's attention, however, was on Kalantha. "Majesty?" Her voice wasn't quiet as she called out, but it was clear in the queen's eyes that the sounds had been drowned on by the violence at the altar nonetheless.

"Inara," the rectress tried again, using slightly more volume and foregoing a rising tone this time. There wasn't a question about this. Something needed to be done and for something to be done Kalantha needed to be present.

When her gaze, alive and alert again, met Neke's, the older woman gave a very small smile, the mixture of her own apology for perhaps overstepping her bounds and gratitude that the queen had heard.

Neke's gaze turned on Aiden as he approached. Though she did not know him personally, she recognized his as a very friendly face. So she felt comfortable stepping back from the queen and her handmaidens. "Please take Dlora and Enshid with you," she said, physically moving the Daughter still hiding her face in the dree of another in front of her own body. This was no place for Enshid and Neke wasn't so cruel as to deny her the only comfort she currently had in Dlora's embrace. "Ressam and I must stay, Your Majesty."

This was part of the Daughters' call, at least as Neke interpreted it. They were not fighters but one did not have to participate in violence in order to combat it.

"Forgive me."

Reaching down to hike up a side of her skirts, she turned and rushed into the unfolding chaos. Ressam followed on her sister's heels. As they made their way through the riotous crowd, they came into the aisle where Lorn stood. Neke stopped to glance down at the man's Lorn had previously felled. Ressam sidestepped around her. "Quickly," she bade this strapping stranger, "help us move him into the shelter of a pew."

Adversary of not, he was at high risk of being trampled here.

As she spoke, she moved to grab hold of one of the man's hands and Ressam stooped to take the other.

Kalantha Aiden Porte Lorn Reingard​

 

[Thayze Montserrat]

|| TYING A KNOT ||
Head in the Clouds - Chapter 1

OUTFIT: Black Formal Dress
DIRECT TAG: Briana Sal-Soren | Kahne Porte | Lily Decoria
INDIRECT TAG: Aiden Porte | Kalantha | Lorn Reingard | Shineke Dravenné

Spoiler: THEME

FOUNTAIN PALACE, HAPES

It surely is going to be a long, long night. Everything, everyone was tense. It’s the grandest stage of Hapes game of thrones after all, perhaps even the most important in the Alliance political theatre. Though Thayze also suspected that there’s personal animosity between people. Politics is always personal when it comes to those who play the game; tension is burning high in the air, ambitions, grudges and long lost flame are the fuel that keeps it all going. The arrival of one Lily Decoria was supposed to break the ice, he see’s his Master smiling at the quip, and Thayze made the mental note to ask Briana about the fair lady; he hadn’t seen her in the Temple nor Naboo before. He is just curious.

Yet whatever it was only proven to be a quick momentary distraction as the regal proceedings was interrupted by explosions, coming in successions. What was a silent suspense exploded into a mass hysteria, the bride trying to psh through the holy communion despite everything. But the chaos was nothing compared to what comes after, the father of the bride striding towards the stage, at first seemingly to be there for her amidst the chaos, only to shank his daughter on her back. Then shots was fired and all hell broke loose.

Thayze first instinct was to look for his parents. A couple of disguised guards formed a wall around the Serennian nobles. Next, his eyes travelled to check on the Queen. She and the Daughter companion was protected by Master Lorn and another Jedi, it is imperative that she is escorted out of the chaos safely. Then, a figure approached him in haste, Thayze’s heart almost jumped out of his chest, but before he could reach for his lightsaber, the man revealed himself to be one of his parents’ guards, trying to convince Thayze to evacuate with the two.

“I have obligations to protect the Queen!” They have to understand how important it is for him to stand his ground and do his duty under any circumstances, that was his pledge when he joined the order, and as always he has to excel in everything he does. “Get my parents to safety! I’m safe here with Master Briana,” he commanded his family’s guard, glancing at the three closest Jedi, before shifting his head towards Lady Giulia to give here a reassuring nod.

As the guard runs back to evacuate the Palerma, Thayze’s sweaty palms reaching for his lightsaber hilt. He waits for Master Briana’s and Master Kahne’s command, looking as stoic as ever while deep down shaking to the core.​

​

 

[Orion Pavond]

HAPES - FOUNTAIN PALACE - MARRIAGE CEREMONY
@Everyone & Anyone | Lorn Reingard | Kalantha | Aiden Porte | Kalen

This entire marriage was a sham. Orion's educated deduction was right on the money. There was no love here. While lacking the full breadth of the political context at stake, Orion chuckled to himself at the power play on display for all to see before taking another bite out of his stolen cupcake. This lifeless parade would bore him to figurative tears if not for the snacks, and his current task only asked he keep any eye on the procession to ensure all went smoothly.

An order Orion was tempted to ignore as he briefly eyed the local alarm systems. A small fire alarm would hurt no one if it meant delaying this sham.

His gaze, however, focused past these systems to the window that lead to a view of the outside. He saw it before he even felt the reverberating aftereffect of the explosion. The tremors shaking everyone in their seats as plums of fire, smoke, and debris launched into the air. An attack? Sabotage? Unclear. Whatever the case, the room needed to be evacuated to more defensible portions of the estate. Even more so, all these people should be taken off the planet itself.

But there were wolves amongst the sheep. The bride's father already sunk his teeth into his own daughter. In the brief moments between the chaos, Orion spotted the hint of a flicker. All he was able to collect before more pressing concerns took ahold. Guns. There were more wolves amongst the sheep. A whole pack, spawned from the growing unrest brewing within Hapes. And these were not any ordinary guns as Orion lifted up his own chair to act as an impromptu shield.

Whatever brief melancholy Orion felt would have to wait. There was work to be done.

Immediately, he took note how a scared civilian became nothing more than an animal, a wolf of his own, bearing down the guard ( Lorn Reingard ) protecting the Naboo Queen ( Kalantha ) with a press of a trigger and a few words. Orion knew what had to be done.

He had to get himself one of those.

Watching the guard wrestle one of the civilians, Orion instead made his move towards the real threats in the room, opting to attack the root cause rather than the symptoms. Running and raising the chair, Orion tapped into that mystical power at his finger tips to sidestep the crowd of civilians in his way, leaping and running along the nearest wall before descending towards his foe. Pulling back the chair and letting loose a mighty swing at the command gun-wielding terrorist, Orion struck fast and hard.

Not yet wishing to kill anyone, Orion intended to knock the lights and wind out of him along with forcing the gun out of the rebel's hands. All in a ploy to potentially snatch the device out of the air with quick reflexes or the use of the Force if need be.

Don't make me shed anymore blood than there has to be.

A strategy to end this without further bloodshed coiled around his mind, ready to strike if he could just get his hands on the command gun. It would be key to resolving this conflict.

 

[Aiden Porte]

It would seem to some, that the safest thing to do would be to remain still.

Chaos had erupted, people were dying and then he heard someone shouting about the Crimson Veil.

The New Way, Crimson Veil, Dark Exchange.......goodness.

Everyone had some sort of gimmick lately.

He locked eyes with Lorn Reingard for a brief moment giving him a small nod in acknowledgment.

Aiden moved through the frightened masses as he reached the queen. Grateful to know that she was unharmed, although incredibly shaken. "Inara, Stay with me."

The Jedi Padawan needed to get her to safety, unfortunately it seemed nowhere was safe right now. With bombs going off in the distance and the chaos going on inside. His main priority was to make sure no hostile target get even remotely close to the Queen. He would lead her away, from the tragedy unfolding.

Kalantha Shineke Dravenné

 

[Judah Dashiell]

I took hold of it and quickly got to my feet. "Are all weddings in these popular territories like this? And what gift? Should we not just leave while we can?!"

"I've only been to so many weddings...four? Danger Arceneau 's wedding was the only one I've been to that rivaled this and no, there wasn't any chaos."

Making sure he had her hand tightly, Judah started to pull her along in the completely opposite direction everyone else was moving in. Most were heading back the way they came in. Not himself. Not Liin Terallo .They were pushing against the grain so to speak and headed back towards the ceremony.

"I was making a poor joke that we should take our gift back since the couple won't be needing it." He chuckled ever so slightly as he brought her inside a corridor. It was the servants area and with a little poking around, it would be easy to slip out back. Rich people would never think to do such a thing.

"Don't worry Director. I served in the military during my youth - I think I can still throw a punch and remember the survival skills training. Hence why we're in the servants hallway. As you can see, the rich would never stoop to be back this way, even if it meant saving their life...now lets find out where the employees exit....Any ideas?"

 

[Liin Terallo]

Four was three more weddings than I had ever been to. But that mattered very little right now. Right now I was more worried about us both getting out of here safely.

I found it rather strange that he was taking us towards the danger. But just as I had trust in my guards on New Cov, I shared some of that trust with Mister Dashiell as well. His firm grip on my hand led me to believe that he had a plan and did not want me to be swept away in the crowd like a branch caught in a raging river.

His attempt at humor went entirely unnoticed. If anything I half expected another bomb to be hidden among the gifts, so I was very thankful that we did not go in that direction.

It was not until we were in the corridor that I was able to take a breather. I leaned back against a wall, using it for support as I looked around. At least Mister Dashiell had some training, whereas I had a small lesson on how to wield a dagger some time ago. Although that was a bit useless as I did not have my dagger with me. I did not even think that such a thing would be necessary at a wedding.

"Well I doubt that either of us would be targets. No one knows who we are and could care less. I do not believe this to be some type of hostage situation. But I do not know this building. I do not know where this corridor leads. It could be a labyrinth." I close my eyes and try to think of what little I do know of this building and where we were within it. We were not in the center, for this corridor was off to the side. So logic suggests that our better option would be to keep going in that direction. "We are to the right side of the building, yes? So let us keep going that way. If we are lucky, it is not an entrance to another wing, but instead a pathway to an outside door where supplies are brought in. What do you think, Mister Dashiell?"

Tag: Judah Dashiell