Public Festival of Wishes | Eshan Winter Solstice

[Noelle Varanin]

The longest night of the year is lit by a full moon.

Echani across the nation leave the warmth of the homes and face the night as a community. Ceremonial dances resembling choreographed battles are found on outdoor stages dotting the streets, bon fires warm courtyards, and small whistles with magical properties are heard ringing throughout the bitter winter air. The force can felt on a night such as this, the air thick with something that brings hair up on end.

A special gift awaits those who makes a wish at the Lake of Tears. Million were lost to the orbital bombardment that made the crater, and its shoreline is a silent memorial for all that had been lost. The spot is an undeniable force nexus. Legend says it was filled by tears cried for those who were lost.
Rumor has it, on this night and this night only, the waters possess the power to bring back lost things. Though maybe... not as directly as you are expecting. The force is strong there tonight. Use it wisely.

And finally, a winter ball is being held for the public at the royal Palace. Careful of wayward mistletoe.

You're invited.

Objective 1: Festival in the streets
Bonfires, Ceremonial Dances, and vendors line the street. Purchase a hand-carved whistle and find yourself with a force imbued object. The shrill trill reaches the ears of the person you care for most. Blow it and they will hear, wherever they are.​

Ceremonial dances:
Are done bare foot and scarcely clothed. Both male and female participate. The dances flow gracefully through a series of moves, telling stories of both recent and folk lore origin. An outsider might struggle to follow the tale, but to an Echani every muscle shift is a clear emotion in the story being told.

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Objective 2: Make a Wish
Visit the water's edge to make a wish on this special night. There's docks that lead out to a small island, and a heated boat room lit by lanterns. More secluded spots are easily found, a regrowing forest encircling the mountains that lock the city in.​

Lake of Tears:
Legend says the lake was filled by the tears of the survivors of that day. Million were lost to the orbital bombardment that made the crater. The spot is an undeniable force nexus. Rumor has it, on this night and this night only, the waters possess the power to return what was lost. Though maybe... not as directly as you were expecting.

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Objective 3: A Tingle in the Air
Come to the palace to participate in a public ball. The tables are lined with delectable treats and the air is filled with something heavy. The mood is light, the hall a sight, please don't come and pick a fight (ha!)​

The something in the air:
Echani folklore speaks of goddesses, one being the Moon. A superstitious Echani might say the ambivalent presence you feel on that night is the mother goddess herself. Force users might say its simply the force in conjunction with the solstice. A wise person would akin it to be something in the middle. Almost as if the Echani's deep rooted believe shaped the energy that night into something ... more.

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Spoiler: OOC: An updated Account of Eshan

Over a decade ago the planet found itself victim to a nasty invasion. Orbital bombardments and underground attacks left the city's architecture shattered. Survival meant rebuilding from the underground up. The city now bares an entirely new face.

Instead of erasing the horrors that had occurred, the scars of that day were turned into something beautiful. Lakes and ponds now dot the landscape, the horrid craters from the invasion turned into a source of food and tranquility.

The most noteworthy body of water is the lake that surrounds the palace. It is the spot of the orbital bombardment. The water flows into channels that entwine with the palace and the city roads. Due to the heavy winds, frequent traffic, and thermal vents, the lake rarely freezes over. Likewise, a new mountain range encases the city like a basin. One day it will act a border that will prevent expansion, but that level of prosperity is a distant dream.

Echani appreciate beauty and craftsmanship. Those values have not been sacrificed in the slow rebuilding of this city. This marks the first winter Eshan has been able to survive without outside aid.

The steps towards healing are slow but undeniable.

 

[Noelle Varanin]

Palace Ball​

Noelle stepped in from the side door, avoiding any notice or mention of her entry. She wanted to enjoy a like this. She was pretty sure Kal would spike her drink if she didn't at least try. She stepped around the throne and descended the steps. The high widows bore a breath-taking view of the night sky. Every star was in sight, their gleam reflecting against the inky calm of the lake.

The aurora borealis danced above it all, supercharged with the energy that tickled over her skin. She stood in awe for a moment, reminded of her childhood in a hall not unlike this one.

She cleared her throat and brushed it off, a self-conscious hand checking her crown... her dress... the eyes around her... before she raised her chin and descended the last steps.

A cranberry red lace covered her from neck, to wrist and ankle. The music was lively and the dancing had just begun.

 

[Ashin Cardé Varanin]

​

STREET FESTIVAL

The ceremonial dances failed to register, regardless of the limited clothing involved. Ashin was on the prowl, a laser-focused hunt for handcarved Force whistles.

She'd opted for a lovely golden gown that muted her cold presence in the Force, so as not to be a distraction. That, and to avoid drawing the Drengir here. Wherever she went, so did they, unless she took measures like wearing The Dress. Just for one night, she could take a break from being hunted.

Handcarved whistles, handcarved whistles...

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Make a Wish​

​

Location: Eshan | Lake of tears​

Valery: Appearance​

Pregnancy: Middle of 3rd trimester​

Tag: Open​

​

When news of the Winter Solstice reached Valery, she knew she had to travel to Eshan, even if it meant going against the wishes of those who protected her. For some time now, she had withdrawn to Denon, hidden away in an apartment to get through her pregnancy surrounded by those who could keep her safe. But there were days and nights where the absence of her partner made her feel particularly lonely. ​

​

So after leaving behind a small message to her friends, she packed her winter gear and traveled Eshan alone, where she safely landed at the spaceport. It was a busy time, with many preparing themselves for the festivities on the planet, but her path was one she'd walk alone. ​

​

Under the light of the full moon and the stars above, the woman made her way to the Lake of tears, where she watched the light reflect off of the water and admired the beauty of it. But underneath the silence of the water's smooth surface, she felt the Force calling out to her. There was a somber tone to this place, created by a strong sense of loss that she could relate to more than ever before. While deep down, she felt that Kahlil Noble was still alive and out there somewhere, he wasn't with her in these trying times.​

​

Slowly, Valery lowered herself down to her knees in the snow, somewhere quiet and secluded. She had never believed in making wishes before, or the supernatural making the impossible come through. But she did trust the Force, and she felt it stronger tonight than she had in quite some time. ​

​

With her hands trailing over her stomach, and a tear of her own rolling down her cheek, she looked at her own reflection in the water and spoke softly.​

​

"Please bring him back to me."​

​

​

 

[Alicio Organa]

Eshan, Palace Ball
~ A Tingle in the Air ~
​

Alicio wasn't one for celebration.

It was difficult for him to find small happinesses. When he tried to enjoy moments like this, they were smothered by the dark events that surrounded them. How could he, in good conscious, feel joy and merriment when so many were struggling? There was so much dark in the galaxy, sometimes it was difficult to see the light.

Still, Alicio figured he would try.

He was dressed in fine blue robes, with silver gilding his collar and shoulders. His expression was distant, and just a little sad, despite being surrounded by mingling folks from all walks of life. Every once in a while, he would snap back to reality, offer an apology as he shuffled past a dancing couple or circle of talking friends, but the expression quickly returned as he continued.

The Alderaanian noble stopped his advance as he reached a long, polished window, unknowingly near the unannounced Queen Noelle Varanin , and his breath hitched as he looked out and up.

There was so much color in the sky. The dark hues of evening were pierced by a choir of stars and the lacing dance of an aurora, a veritible concerto of light painting the holiday air. The hair on his arms stood stood on end as he viewed the sight. It was as if for a brief moment, he had heard the song of creation.

Alicio could see the light, despite the dark.

He spoke out loud, although he wasn't sure if he meant to. "That's... breath-taking."

 

[Sasmay Cull]

Lake of Tears​

Accompanied by: Myunna
Wearing: Outfit
Tag: Valery Noble

Sasmay was silent for once. Her singular eye casting across the glistening lake as she took the sight in. Wonder crossed her mind as to what old friends might be doing on a day like this. Wondered quietly what path life might have taken them down in comparison to her own.

Her own selfish choices.

Made with drunken stupor for little thought but to gain some semblance of control when things had fallen through her fingers. As the past had done once, it repeated itself in the dissolution of the group that had taken her in. Had given purpose to someone that had little more than the clothes on their back and little value beyond simple muscle.

Her eye stung.

The friends that had been made through turmoil and lighthearted moments. Shared laughs and pain with. She wondered how many would have a sharp word for her current career choice. Wondered how many would shun her. Wondered which wouldn't care or maybe congratulate her.

It didn't matter in the end.

They were gone. Flung to the far cosmic winds at their own whims. She might not ever see them once more. They were always on her mind though. She knelt, the snow crunching beneath her boot as she dipped her fingertips into the chilly water.

Myunna watched in equal silence. Confused by the willingness to become wet and cold as she grumbled to Sasmay about her actions. Wiping the tear from her cheek, she chuckled to herself about the silliness of it all.

Then again, the force existed and some called it hokey. What were the chances her wish for her friends to be happy and well if she couldn't see them again, wouldn't be received in some way.

"Come on. Let's get back. The ship is probably upset already hanging out so close to civilized space." She patted Myunna before setting them back on the path in as the hound turned her face sharply down the way.

A brow rose in question as she leaned and strained to see further.

"Trouble? A snack? What do you sense?" Sasmay bothered to ask before Myunna began walking. "Ey! You're gonna give someone a heart attack creeping up on 'em. Lemme-"

Sasmay tried to corral the hound as they crunched and grumbled to one another as they walked closer to Valery.

 

[Onrai]

Eshan.

The planet had remained out of Onrai's mind for many decades - her recollections of it were sparse. Spencer Varanin 's claimancy to the throne and establishment of the Varanin dynasty had been the last time she, while a mortal, had considered the world. The devastation that had been wrought to it had, as it always did, begun to heal, which had led to the very state the world was in now - and where a nexus of power once more had coalesced. The agony of the deaths, the tremendous effect annihilating life from reality had created on the world, as always consolidated energy on the world's surface.

So it was that in the last masque of an appearance she had many years before, her toes delicately pawed at the lapping water that ran upon the shores of the island. The feeling was so... so simple. A sensation so long ignored or forgotten that it was new again in her own feelings.

And she thought.

What was there to bring back? A lover? Love had been fickle. Her daughter? The retrieval of that one's soul was not an impossible task, so certainly out. Perhaps the power and prestige she had once wielded as a Sith Lord? She was a god to her followers now - that would not have been of benefit. It then came to the mind of the twice-false goddess that she had done everything she had wanted to do, acquired everything she felt she could acquire. The one thing she wanted was the thing she had never had before - a thing that only Ashin Cardé Varanin could guess the ultimate aims of.

"What is there to want?" She asked, speaking idly to herself. "Peace? Innocence? How nice it would be, to have such peace wound into the fabric of all..."

Whether her idle wishing came true or not, was something to yet be seen. At the least, whether the presence of a Force entity raised alarms was another potential issue for her to deal with entirely.

 

[Starlin Rand]

Starlin could be found skulking the streets, a forlorn figure, tall and thin, clad in a worn out old hoodie. Uninterested in the local folksiness, he scoured the vendors, blue eyes searching.

His gaze landed on a basket full of whistles. Were these the things he'd heard about? The magical whistles that could call to someone from across the galaxy? The possibility of being able to contact Syd Celsius again, even if it was just in the form of a whistle, was pretty much the only reason he was here on Eshan, a planet full of people that were somehow even whiter than him. He got in line, looking around as he waited his turn at the counter... only to find the basket had already been emptied by the time he reached the front.

"You got any more of these?" he asked.

The vendor shook her head. Starlin sighed and walked away, resuming his hunt. At this rate, all the vendors would be sold out. Maybe he could buy one off a person?...

Ashin Cardé Varanin​

 

[Ashin Cardé Varanin]

The whistle was a lovely thing, hand-carved from antler.

"You got any more of these?" asked a young man, a boy maybe, and for a moment Ashin thought he was talking to her. Lean and threadbare, he made her feel an odd spark of shame for wearing the golden gown. It threw her back to her long year of abject poverty on Trevel'ka, well before Starlin Rand 's parents had been born. She clung to that jagged piece of memory. After this many body-trades, deaths, careers, identities, and reinventions, memory tended to erode. But that one wasn't going anywhere.

"You can have mine," she said quietly, in a friendly sort of way. She blew it once and felt the Force thrill in response. If the folklore was true, Spencer Varanin might hear it, no matter where she was. She wiped the mouthpiece with a handkerchief from one of her gown's pockets, and held out the whistle to Starlin.

 

[Starlin Rand]

A woman in the crowd overheard him asking about the whistles and offered her own. Starlin made a slight face as she blew on it, though the severity of the expression relaxed when she wiped it off afterwards.

"Thanks," he said, taking the whistle. He waited a moment, half expecting the woman to ask for some form of payment in return.

At the back of his mind, Starlin felt a small doubt growing. What if it was fake, just a gimmick? What if it worked? Would Syd know it was him? Would she even be able to interpret the whistle's call?

What if Syd wasn't the one who would hear it?

Either way, he was about to find out who he loved most. Tracing the intricate carvings with his thumb, he raised the whistle to his lips and blew.

Ashin Cardé Varanin Syd Celsius​

 

[Dagon Kaze]

FESTIVAL OF WISHES
STAY AWAKE WITH ME vol. II
Issue #1 w/ bae Yula Perl

Bonfires lit the streets, chatter and laughter animated the market, and all sorts of pleasant, wintery smells permeated the air and filled the nostrils. Under the starry night, ceremonial dancers moved as one in an impeccable choreography of which even Dagon was envious of. He was to embrace and bask in the comfort and reprieve - take his mind off the War. Oh, how hard did Yula try to disconnect him from the toiling work of duty. All the time. He wasn't even wearing his usual leather jacket, instead - a stylish winter one Yula had bought him on the way here.

And yet, as they meandered through the streets, hand in hand, Dag's eyes constantly shifted from one person to another looking for crime, even if it was a pickpocketer, where there was none. Some sleepless nights he'd wonder whether the Jedi's duty was just a selfish excuse to pursue the adrenaline high of vigilantism and crime-fighting. Worse - was paranoia creeping up on his senses? Ever since he'd taken Jem under his wing, the raven-haired Knight was rarely seen as anything but tense.

The plaguing ruminations did not end there. Taking Val in for a safe shelter through her pregnancy made him think of other things. Things that had never before occurred to him. Things like being a father and how the hell would that even work out. With his service as a Jedi, he's always gonna keep moving, never stop moving. A rolling stone, he'd heard someone call it.

A shove in his ribs yanked him back to the present, "Uh, sorry, was just... uh, lookin' at something--"

"-- you found something you wanna get your mom?" ah, yes, the mom he was yet to meet. That somehow scared him more than anything else, really.
​

 

[Dantum Kryszar]

Dantum "Dan" Kryszar landed his ship, The Dragonfly, just outside of the city and the main celebration. Dan had heard of these legendary parties from fellow spacers and mercenaries, and decided to attend. He felt like he deserved some time off after the many successful but tiring missions he had undertook. 'Bounty hunters need rest and relaxation, just like other people' he had told himself. And who knows, he might even have fun!

After doing a bit of research on where he was going, which had recently become a habit, he had picked the Palace Ball as a destination. Food, drink, dancing- it all sounded good to Dan. He walked the distance from his ship to the Palace, taking in the beautiful streets, architecture, and bodies of water, all of which had come from a war zone. Incredible. While looking up at some magnificent arches, he accidentally ran into someone.

"I apologize." Dan said courteously as he helped the man up. Now he realized that the man looked like a vendor, with a box of what appeared to be whistles around his neck. Dan was curious.

"Sorry for knocking you down, sir. What are those whistles for?"

"It's quite alright. I saw you looking at the arches- they are indeed impressive." the man said. "As for the whistles; it is said that they are imbued with the Force, and that their high-pitched trill will be heard by the one you care for the most."

"That sounds interesting." replied Dan. "I'll take one."

He took a whistle from the box, and gave the man a couple credits. "Here you are."

"Thank you, sir" said the man. "Enjoy your visit!"

Dan waved at him as he continued his walk towards the palace. As he neared the palace, he noticed several more vendors occupying stalls filled with trinkets and food. He stopped to get a little something to eat, a snack to divert his hunger. He wanted to save room for the legendary feast. Finally, Dan reached the bridge that went over the lake surrounding the palace to the palace entrance. He crossed the bridge and knocked on the gate. Not to his surprise, he was warmly greeted and admitted.

Dan strode into the enormous hall, full of people eating, drinking, dancing, and having fun. He immediately strode over to the buffet table and filled up a platter of delicious-looking food. He then set the plate down on an empty table. Dan noticed that everyone was moving over towards the center of the room, wearing their finest. He glanced down at his modest white suit. Nothing special, but not too shabby either. Dan did something he didn't do very often- removed his helmet- and made his way to the hub of activity that was the dance floor. With his natural good looks and charm, maybe he could find a dance partner.

 

[Noelle Varanin]

Palace ball​

"That's... breath-taking."

Her lips quirked up. "Isn't it?" She rocked back on the gentle height of her heels and looked to the man besides her. His dark hair and creamy flush to his skin marked him as foreign in an instant. Most of the hall was a swarth of white with spark of color speckled throughout. Noelle's smile warmed a little more as she gestured to the aurora dancing overhead.

"Our ancestors believed that on nights like this, the veil between our realm and the next was thin. If it was cold enough, and dark enough... and if you held your breath... you could see those that have moved on dance in the sky." She looked back to the windows, her crown threatening to dislodge as she craned her neck to take in the full view.

"A ball for the afterlife."

​

"To think of all the advancements we have made, and science has yet been unable to debunk that."

 

[Wes Fontain]

CT-1284 "Spark" was one of three crew members aboard the prototype former republic stealth ship nicknamed Blockade Runner called this because of its ability to not only become invisible to sensors. but to the eye as well. The three former spec ops specialists were debating on weather to go to this festival or not. until CT-7787 "Fish" spoke up," Maybe we could use this as an oportunity to make a few credits."
CT-3112 " Sticks" gave a confused glance to his aging friend," what'da you mean Fish?"
"what I mean is what if we could try and sell some ice to the locals." he answered with a smirk.
"I dont know..." Sticks trailed off, " I saw we lay low for a while and let the guild get off our trail."
"I say we do it." Spark blurts out, sipping his imported scotch.
"whats that?" Fish asked grinning, "Have I finally had a good idea?"
"yeah i recon you have." Sticks grumbles. pondering over the thought of selling the illegal narcotics to the locals. They have contacts with a vendor on the volcanic world of sullust who created the drug. called ice for its constant melting state its easily worth 100 credits a pound on the outer rim. maybe three times that on a core world. finally losing his internal struggle, Sticks gives in," if ya'll think we can pull it off, lets do it."
With that the crew begins their journey to Sullust.
after a few hours of hyperspace travel they arrive at the sullustians lab. an old Republic bioweapons plant that was shut down due to "no point against droids." apparently the Empire, in their hasty birth, forgot about the old plant. landing the long, needle like ship on a relatively flat block of hardened lava, Fish lowers the rear ramp and steps down with Sticks behind him. Sparks is manning the belly turret in case this is a trap. After several seconds, one large sullustian male walks out of an outcropping of rocks waving at the clones as if they were long time friends ," HELLO MY FRIENDS!" he yells, further implying that they are friends and not just some men trying to earn a few credits. ha men, Fish muses, bred to go die on the battlefield so the politicians can make more money. "you must be here for de ummm.... ice??" he asks stepping within ten yards of the duo.
"Thats far enough." Sticks orders, holding his a-180 pistol at the ready. the whole crew adopted the powerful modifiable blaster pistols after the fall of the Republic. "We'll need a dozen cases of the product."
"What product do you mean? Nadu has a hard time remembering why you come?" the Sullustian calls back, his ugly face pulling back into a kind of smile.
"we dont have time for this, do you have it?" Sticks persists, showing that Nadu isn't in charge.
"Yea-Yea i got it... Clone." snarling the last bit as if it were a slur.
paying no attention, Sticks nods at Fish, who, in return, goes to get the liftbot from the ship.
"right this way," the alien beckons.
Sticks begins following the criminal toward the rocks in which he came from,"found this palace about 12 years ago." he brags.
"Shut up." Sticks responds flatly, constantly looking at all possible angles in which a trap could be placed.
Nadu, noticing this releases a croaky laugh," worry not old friend, why would I hurt my vendors." walking into a shattered blast door, he becons," In here." showing a once top secret Republic Military installation now drug lab.
Sticks begins following the alien, never letting the plump alien out of his sight, until they reach a t-section,"this way" Nadu waves. rounding the corner, Sticks comes face to face with hundreds of repulsor pallets laded with case after case of the drug. "How much do you need?" Nadu asks knowing that Sticks is thourghouly impressed at the amount of money in front of him.
"As much as we can carry." he answers, dreaming of what all they could spend the money on.
"Yes sir, just remember, Nadu get half." the alien answers suddenly growing serious.
"Now just hold up fatty." Sticks begins," We're the ones taking all of the risks while you get half the reward. thats not how it works you little twerp. 60/40."
and with that, Sticks calls for Spark and Fish to come and start loading the cargo.

when the last case was loaded onto the corvette, the crew zooms out of the volcanic atmosphere into the vaccum of space.
after taking the three day journey to the festival, Sparks finally asks,"How are we gonna get this through?" knowing that they have all been pondering this very question themselves.
surprisingly, Fish is the one to answer," I have made contact with some of the Empires last clones, apparently they are stationed with security, said as long as it didn't bother them they wouldn't mind."
"anyone there we know?" Sticks asks
"44 and Hound are stationed there."
with that Sparks announces," coming into orbit."
they land on a particular rock ledge overlooking a massive city with every kind of freighter you can see, they even see their old friend nicknamed the Correllion Shooter step off of his ship the dragonfly and into the pary, "lookee there boys even ol Dantum come to have some fun." Fish muses
¨Ha I wouldnt call that crackshot old just yet.¨ Sparks laughs, ¨ I bet hes still a charmer.¨ with that the three begin unloading their cargo with the hopes of making a fortune, and maybe sitting down with their old friend. Not quite sure how the crowd will react to the narcotic, one things for sure. these three are bound to get into some trouble.

 

[Wes Fontain]

feel free to carry on, just dont leave them dead in a ditch

 

[Sidra Ater]

Make a wish…​

Sidra stood at the water’s edge, the glassy surface of the so-called Lake of Tears shimmering with promises. She looked hard, and her reflection stared back. Would this work?

Or was it foolish to even hope?

Dropping to a knee, Sidra turned her attention to the other people that had come here — what had they lost? They all had something in common: desperation. And, yes, she was desperate too. She closed her eyes, and tried to reach out — to communicate somehow with the lake. Though, she’d heard rumors about the power of the force in this place, she felt nothing.

The light was here, but beyond her reaching grasp. Her connection to the light — and the force — had been severed. Sidra didn’t even know how, be it self-inflicted or punishment. Now, she waited on Eshan for a sign…

Would it return to her?

 

[Ashin Cardé Varanin]

Tracing the intricate carvings with his thumb, he raised the whistle to his lips and blew.

Ashin Cardé Varanin Syd Celsius​

​

As Starlin blew the whistle, a signal to some unknown other, Ashin found herself smiling with an edge of old loss. And there had been so much loss along the way here, no matter how good her life today. Just a couple of years ago, Spencer had died profoundly, trapped in the nastiest, most bizarre corner of the netherworld.

The rescue had gone as well as could be expected. But even after all this time, Ashin couldn't shake the pain. So as the whistle's high keening slid between the snowflakes and raced off to find the perfect ear, Ashin drew on that pain and amplified the note. She'd learned a thing or two about sending out a call in those days. The note resonated deeply, took on overtones, thrummed in the dancers' bodies and reverberated with their rhythm. Far away, whoever Starlin Rand had called would hear, regardless of whether the whistle functioned as folklore advertised.

Not a simple technique, but not a flashy one either. Maybe the Force-sensitive around here would feel a whisper of the dark side — a cold breeze, here one moment and gone the next.

Starlin Rand Syd Celsius Dagon Kaze Yula Perl

 

[Syd Celsius]

Wearing: 90 Suit

Armed with: Hurricane Blades (Double Bladed Spinning Lightsaber)

She had been half way to the unknown regions in her ship when she heard the Whistle.

Months she had spent looking for Xiphos, looking for House Io. She couldn't find it. Laertia had closed off her bond. She refused to respond.

Syd wasn't surprised. She had long since stopped telling herself Laertia could be reasoned with. She loved her, but there was no getting to her.

But the scant clues she HAD dug up suggested Laertia's group (Clearly the rumblings of a faction now--even Syd could not help but admire Laertia's persistence) was constructing an arsenal of terrible power. Next Generation Weaponry.

Syd Celsius was one of the biggest reasons House Io existed. If not for her early support at several critical junctures, Laertia's group would have floundered in key battles, lost too many personnel.

She knew that she bore a great deal of responsibility for the threat Laertia had become. She was desperately trying to find some way to atone for that.

The whistle reached her out in the middle of the Stars and she knew who it was instantly.

Starlin Rand had called out to her. And she had to answer, having deeply missed her son these past few months in hiding.

She had to go to him. Had to stop thinking about trying to find some way to atone for Laertia every waking moment. Had to stop, at least for a while, looking for an opening to bring to a close the rampage.

Syd knew where he was. The Scorched Earth would get her there in no time...

The Armored Star Courier leapt into Hyperspace...

The stealthed vessel came out of Hyperspace over Eshan flying at top speed to reach him. She lamented having spent so much time away.

She lamented a lot of things to do with Starlin. Lamented not having been the one to Knight him, lamented having left him due to her own severe emotional breakdown over everything that happened...

She hadn't wanted to fail him. But she had just the same.

She landed the ship at a discreet docking bay (Laertia's criminal knowledge had allowed Laertia to show Syd how to look for the ones that wouldn't ask too many questions) and paid the hiked up docking fee for "privacy" (AKA "We won't rat you out if you give us enough credits")

She flew at high speed, casting a spell of invisibility over herself to avoid being spotted by onlookers after leaving the bay, sensing where he was, sensing the source of the whistle, and landed in front of him, the invisibility spell ending as she touched the ground.

She strode up to him in her blue and gold catsuit, the red headed Force Spawn constantly wearing her most magic resistant armor these days due to constant attacks from the Cult of the Brain Demon as well as specially trained Assassins sent by Countess Arianna Belasko who had orders to bring her in alive, along with Starlin.

"Starlin?" Syd called out to him, stepping forward. "I heard your whistle...it's good to see you again...and I'm very sorry I haven't contacted you lately...things have been pretty messy on my end..."

(OOC: I'm assuming at least a few hours past between him blowing the whistle and her actually arriving, so feel free to change the location, Starlin.)

Ashin Cardé Varanin

 

[Kal]

Noelle Varanin | Alicio Organa | Current Body - Anric Ferevin Vae​

Out of all those watching the luminous display above, Kal had a unique perspective. Not because of his location, which was quite average, nor even because of his entirely ordinary eyes. No, he saw things differently because of who he was and more importantly where he was from. The veil between worlds was thin - it made him feel at home.

As if answering a higher calling, he was drawn to an opportunity for snarkiness like a moth to a flame.

"Actually, that is not entirely true. Similar phenomena have been observed on other worlds. I would know."

Not something a regular courtier would be aware of, but Kal could not be bothered to be a regular courtier. He made no effort to keep the fact that 'Lord Vae' had returned home with not insignificant expertise in mystical matters.

It certainly went a long way towards explaining Noelle keeping him fairly close.

 

[Valery Noble]

Make a Wish​

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Location: Eshan | Lake of tears​

Valery: Appearance​

Pregnancy: Middle of 3rd trimester​

Tag: Sasmay Cull | Open!​

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In peaceful silence under the moonlight, Valery watched as her tear fell into the calm water, creating ripples that gradually expanded out across the lake. She had made her wish and while she hardly believed that it would come true because she made the wish here, it made her feel better inside.​

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Slowly, and with a decent amount of effort, Valery moved her way back up to her feet and placed both her hands over her stomach, her eyes still fixed on the lake and the reflection of the moon and stars. She could feel the presence of her daughter, which grew stronger every day that passed, and soon, she would hopefully meet both her parents.​

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But after a few minutes of quietly and peacefully looking around, her attention was suddenly drawn away from the lake.​

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She felt two presences approaching and turned her Keshian eyes to look at the source. With the light of the moon and her better eyesight, she was able to spot the Tuk'ata, and Valery's eyes widened immediately - she had fought them before, and right now, she was in no state to deal with one. ​

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Another figure moved close behind it - possibly its owner? Valery didn't know but she wasn't going to take any risks, and quickly took a few steps back.​

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"Who is out there?" she asked, her voice defensive.​

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