First Annual Galactic Games - Avalonia

[Ludolf Vaas]

Spoiler

OOC: This thread is open. Members of any faction are invited to spectate. Cause trouble at your own risk though. Understand that security at a venue like this will be extremely tight, so if you're here to make trouble the consequences may be heavy!

First Order: [member="Samka Derith"] [member="Decima Fortan"] [member="Rolf Amsel"]

Mandalorian Clans: [member="Titan Kryze"] [member="Undin Jaii Kryze"] [member="Daxton Bane"]

Silver Sanctum: [member="Jessica Med-Beq"] [member="Valae Kitra"] [member="Tyyni Oluja"]

A V A L O N I A​

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The silvren towers of the city of Avalonia were draped with crimson banners on this day. The now iconic sun symbol of the First Order was to be found everywhere; emblazoned on buildings, pinned to the chests of loyal citizens, fastened to the windows of the city's shops. The First Order was normally known for its overt patriotism, but today's festivities took things to another level entirely. There had just been a parade through the city's main square, new sculptures had been erected to showcase the beauty of the human form, and vendors dotted every street corner, selling food and wares of all kinds, knowing that today would be one of the first times offworlders were permitted in First Order space in such numbers. The planet of Dosuun, and the city of Avalonia, was to be host of the first ever Galactic Games, a grand Huttball competition between three factions, the first of its kind.

It was all made possible by the Supreme Leader's personal will. Such was it, in fact, that today would bear witness to an occasion most rare: a personal appearance by the Supreme Leader himself.

General Vaas would not pretend to understand Supreme Leader Sieger's true intentions behind the Games - perhaps it was simply bread and circuses for the masses, or perhaps Sieger had ulterior motives. It was not Ludolf's intention nor his place to know. The only thing he cared about was ensuring that the Games went off without a hitch, and that the First Order was represented properly to the galaxy. Beforehand, he had primed the First Order's finest legion of Stormtroopers to make a full ceremonial appearance to kick off the Games. Now, he sat in an air-conditioned skybox in the arena built in short order specifically for this occasion, itself a marvel of human accomplishment, shining like a polished diamond against the Avalonia cityscape.

​

Somewhere behind Ludolf was his rather not-so-public girlfriend, the well-known actress [member="Marzena Choi"]. Even less public was the knowledge that Marzena was pregnant with his child, a fact that the two kept completely under wraps up to this point. General Vaas surveyed the Arena floor below, a vast, often confusing array of platforms and traps, specifically built for Huttball. The games would be beginning soon, and each team would be introduced in order; the Silver Sanctum, the Mandalorian Clans, and finally the home team, the First Order. The hundred-thousand seats of the stadium were already becoming filled to capactiy, not least for the Games, but also to witness the monumental occasion of the Supreme Leader's presence. The athletes would be below on the field, most likely prepping for the game, but Ludolf's attention was at the moment, diverted elsewhere.

"Marzena?" He called behind him, craning his neck to find his lover's visage as he sat perched in his chair. "Come sit with me. The Supreme Leader will be speaking soon." And then, he placed his hand back on his chin, staring off somewhere into the brightness of the Arena, somewhat lost in thought. "Strange isn't it, that even I, a General, am kept completely in the dark as to the exact whereabouts of Sieger Ren."

 

[Dunames Lopez]

Dunames was tucked in a holostudio, with one camera trained at [member="Darth Carnifex"]'s VIP box, alongside the crew of Taking Off on a Star Tour, which included Frank, who isn't quite ready to assume his position on Lanteeb, but is along the way, as well as other journalists from other media outlets in other studios located in each segment of the press gallery. She expected the likes of the Galactic Alliance's SCNN, the Silver Sanctum's Battleon Town News, the One Sith's GNN, the Republic's GRNN and others. Mandalorian news outlets were noticeably discreet (but they had to be in there somewhere because the Mandos have a team) but they wouldn't train a camera at Darth Carnifex. Actually none of them were actually present. There were many VIP boxes lining up the first row, where marquee attendees included the Supreme Leader, Ludolf Vaas, [member="Marzena Choi"], [member="Valessia Brentioch"], [member="Natasi Fortan"] and many of the big names in First Order space.

"Welcome to the opening ceremony of the first edition of the Galactic Games, hosted by the First Order. Participation has been a little disappointing this year, with only three teams entering, but nevertheless each representing one of the three main poles of the galactic political scene: the light side, the dark side and the Mandalorians. Taking Off on a Star Tour is present on behalf of Star Tours, one of the many, many sponsors across First Order space without which the Games wouldn't be hosted"

"If I may, Dunames, the organizers downsized the Games because they seem to target a special segment of the athletic talent and also in a cost-cutting measure" Frank said.

"I know you're disappointed not to take part in the podrace, I mean, that the games were not to actually feature a podrace, but all of Marianne, [member="Abraxis"], [member="Titan Kryze"] would have competed" another journalist said as well.

 

[Marzena Vaas]

Marzena Choi looked down at her datapad, there was an incoming message from her assistant. Her manicured finger hovered over the screen for a moment; she didn’t even need to open the message to know what it said. But just like anyone else, she did not like to see the icon that indicated an unread message, so she opened it anyway.

Spoiler

From: Bonnie Park
To: Marzena Choi
Ms. Choi,

Your mother has arrived.

I will see that she is checked into her hotel in Avalonia as soon as possible. Mrs. Choi would like to know your arrangements for dinner, please advise.

Thanks,
Bonnie

PS – Sebastian will be there too, right? I just wanted to know, so that I can make a reservation for all of you...

Her dark eyes shifted away from the screen as she heard the familiar voice of [member="Ludolf Vaas"] calling her name. A smile grew on her painted lips as she made her way over to the General, and a hand slid gently over her stomach as she walked. To the observer, there would not be a noticeable change in Marzena’s figure, not yet. Despite the fact that her pregnancy was not outwardly visible, Marzena had been suffering from bouts of morning sickness and mood swings.

Marzena gracefully slid into the chair next to Ludolf and gave his arm a gentle squeeze. It was difficult to be near him and not show an inkling of affection. Her dark lashes fluttered a couple of times as she watched him, his hand cradling his chin, looking thoughtful and almost far away. “Indeed.” She replied simply. The Supreme Leader was very much a mystery to Marzena – and nearly everyone else in the galaxy. Her chestnut eyes lingered on Ludolf’s face for a moment longer, before turning towards the field below.

Huttball was also a mystery to the pop star. Her index finger tapped gently on her armrest as she leaned forward slightly. It was a confusing sight for a first-time spectator, and she wondered how the athletes would make sense of it all. But of course, she figured that they had all received training and time to practice. “How exactly is this game played? I don’t think I understand...” She turned to Ludolf, “Are those traps on the field?”

Marzena leaned towards him, eyes gazing tenderly into his. And she added in a whisper...

"Also, my mother is in town." She paused, "And she would like to have dinner with us while she is here."

 

[Natasi Fortan]

"I still don't understand what was wrong with Kalast Stadium," Natasi said as she walked with Sioux along the ring of sky boxes at the top of the hideous modern monstrous carbuncle that was the Huttball stadium that General Vaas had ordered built. "I mean, it's a drive, but what's five minutes when you think about how it compares to this?"

Sioux looked up from her datapad. "Kalast Stadium wasn't red enough, ma'am."

Natasi found her skybox and was dismayed to discover that it was between the boxes reserved for [member="Ludolf Vaas"] and [member="Aram Kalast"]. Normally she would lean over the balcony and greet the Supreme Commander but he didn't appear to have arrived. She instead turned to Sioux.

"Ask our visitors if they wouldn't mind meeting in their box. The view from this one is godawful." She sat herself down and fidgeted with her Balance pendant, once again silently cursing the business trip that had taken her companion -- she refused to say boyfriend because she was a grown woman -- [member="Darell Irani"] away from the capital --something about the Lwhekk Shipyards, she recalled. It never failed to happen anytime there was a large public event. Natasi was beginning to feel like his dirty little secret. She sighed and leaned against the arm rest of the chair.

"Anything?" she asked Sioux about changing the venue for her meeting with [member="Darth Carnifex"].

 

[Dravis Rosilla]

Peace. Must find peace. Must find...

The cheering of the crowd could be heard all around, a constant battering of the senses. Onlookers packed into the stadium, straining to get a look at the athletes below, a steady uproar that was nearly impossible to block out. Floodlights illuminated the field, almost blinding in their intensity. The subtle scent of cut grass and something sulfurous permeated the area, most likely from one of the various traps.

Tyyni coiled his body, training saber laid out in front of him. The Hutt Padawan was nervous, to say the least. He was no athlete. He didn't have a competitive spirit. He had never even met a Dark-sider before. In all honesty, this was no more than another training mission to the Hutt, the chance to open his mind to a new experience. This was definitely new, to say the least. Playing a sport against one's enemies seemed foolish, but there would be plenty of knowledge gained from it.

With an exhaling of breath, finally giving up on his meditations, he hovered his lightsaber into his hand, grasping it like a lifeline. At least he wasn't alone. [member="Valae Kitra"] and [member="Jessica Med-Beq"] stood beside him on the Silver Sanctum's corner of the field, each one bolstering his courage. The Hutt had read up on Huttball in his free-time, and felt he had a good understanding of the game. Constant practice had also honed his skills in the sport. He had never played in a match of this size before, and it was more than intimidating, even with his team behind him.

Tyyni closed his verdant eyes again, pushing against the cacophonous crowd. Absentmindedly, he spoke to Valae and Jessica, a measured tone passing rubbery lips. "I've never seen so many people in one place," he whispered, flicking his cat-like pupils open again to pass over the crowd. "I suppose growing up on a peaceful planet such as Voss has not prepared me for such a challenge." The small Hutt grinned slightly, and tried to dive into his meditation again, failing miserably.

Perhaps I should have studied more for this.

 

[Valae Heavenshield]

The day had come, much faster than Valae Kitra could have ever anticipated. She was here, along with two of her fellow Sanctum members, in the unfamiliar surroundings of Avalonia, the capital city of Dosuun. This was First Order space, a fact that would normally have made the Jedi Knight more than a little bit anxious. Well, she was still fighting a powerful wave of nerves, but for a different reason entirely. Huttball. Valae was not the overly competitive type, and sports were generally not in her wheelhouse, but she thought that it might be fun. However, Valae learned quickly that there was much more to this competition than simply attempting to score goals. Generally, she liked to stay away from situations of mortal peril, but this was just a game... they wouldn’t truly let anyone die, right?

As the teams were taken out onto the field for the opening ceremony, Valae gazed in wonder at the crowd gathered to watch. It only made her heart beat faster, and her fingers found the hem of her shirt, where they began to wring the fabric between them. Valae let her eyes shift towards the First Order team; they looked proud, and more than ready to bring honor to their home territory. She swallowed hard. And then her gaze moved in the direction of the Mandalorian Clans’ team, they looked strong and sure. Valae edged closer to her teammates.

Valae had only met [member="Jessica Med-Beq"] and [member="Tyyni Oluja"] once their team had been decided. The members of the Sanctum were many, and even after having spent so much time at the Silver Temple, there were still a large number that she had not met. As she eyed her two companions, she began to feel the confidence return. Jessica was blonde, tall, and had an athletic look to her. And Tyyni was an actual Hutt; his knowledge of the sport had been very helpful.

“Hey, are you two...nervous?” She asked quietly, so that the other teams would not hear.

She offered Tyyni a smile as he spoke, and drew in a deep breath in an attempt to calm down.

“Yeah. For some reason, I hadn’t been expecting this many people.”

 

[Undin Jaii Kryze]

Undin stood there for one reason and one reason only, to prove he was worthy of being a Mandalorian to the Mand'alor. He had only recently become a part of the Mandalorian culture and he still had no idea how it went when someone brought dishonor to the clans, and he did not want to find out. The boy was sick of being called dar'manda. There was only one problem, he had no idea how to play Huttball except that you had to get the ball. He decided it was best to ask one of the two people that stood beside him , [member="Titan Kryze"].
"Hey Titan, how do you play this?".

 

[Samka Derith]

Athleticism had always been one of Samka's strong points. Timing, precision and focus all came almost as naturally to her as breathing allowing the teenager to display talent in dancing, duelling and athletics. At the Academy of Ren where she had spent her adolescence Sam had routinely bested the other students in annual sporting events designed to test the fitness of their acolytes. Gymnastics had been a particular strength of hers but alas this was a much less... sophisticated sport. Huttball was the galaxy's most popular sport as far as she knew. It gave the masses something to watch on their days off and drunkenly argue over in the local cantina in the evenings. A pleasant distraction for all so they would not pay head to the important events being undertaken by their betters. Truth be told, Sam didn't even know the rules until she had been approached to compete a few months ago. Since then she had studied the sport intensely. Sam had reviewed footage of the most famous and dramatic games in recent history and revised the galaxy's most successful sportsmen and women. She'd studied and adhered to their training regimes and diet as best as she could while also heeding any advice they had given in interviews with journalists.

This was not just a game. The others may treat it as such or seek to take home some trophy as bragging rights but for her it was something else entirely. The First Order had largely kept to itself on the galactic stage and this would form the first impression of her nation for many. She would be giving their first impression and it had to be one of strength. In addition the several prominent members of the First Order's higher echelon would be in the stands, expecting glory from her and her team mates. Rumour had it that the Supreme Leader himself may even appear though privately Sam was expecting their shadowy master to appear through holo.

She drummed her fingers together as she waited among the other athletes, entering a focused meditation. Anything less than total victory would be a failure she could not afford. Sam could hear the crowds in the stadium chanting and cheering. For once her youth was an advantage, instead of sneering at inexperience the public would be endeared by one so young competing. She would give them something to cheer for and perhaps finally the gawking imbeciles which made up the vast majority of the galaxy would give her the respect she deserved.

 

[Jessica Med-Beq]

"Most of the crowd was First Order, although the Black Emperor, one [member="Darth Carnifex"], was the main foreign dignitary invited here. [member="Tyyni Oluja"], you're going to be mostly positioned at the back in defense of the goal. I'm faster than you on a consistent basis, but in a pinch your use of Force-speed can make you faster than I am for short bursts. I'm afraid that, because I'm a lumbering hulk, [member="Valae Kitra"] will be our go-to player for all things related to speed" Jessica whispered to the other teammates.

She might have been nursed back to health en route from Kashyyyk, Jessica just fought on a personal basis there. She knew from the onset that, because she was slow, all that she could do was to fire heavy weapons. At least she wasn't totally clueless in battle. But how long do huttball games last? She would think, from watching huttball games, that a huttball game would last all of 10 minutes. Huttball games were often designated by the number of players on each side: on Nar Shaddaa, common versions included three-man, five-man, seven-man and even eleven-man. All they have to do: don't kick the huttball. Her big particle cannon had one weakness: it could only be fired once every eight seconds or so. Between replacing it for a Z-6 or similar rotary cannon, and keeping her SI-74 the way it is, she chose to keep the SI-74. And she couldn't use her broomstick here either. All she did was to go from her hotel room in Avalonia and into the locker room where one could safely store a broomstick in a locker room. She has two spare LSAT180s and three grenades for these games, as well as a WESTAR Skirmisher armor, with the end result that she could pass for Mando with the equipment on, but she really isn't.

"We will each carry one Sanctum flag when the parade of factions begins. And here comes [member="Sabetha Tag"] with both [member="Orihime Ike"] and [member="Junko Ike"] in tow"

 

[Progflaw99]

https://youtu.be/56hKViNzyy0?list=PLuIbzLRbCGDpXlxG9qMZvJjBkki6uL_pe​

​

It was time.​

​

Rolf emerged from the small tunnel leading to the locker rooms, his eyes alight with energy as he looked out into the stadium. Banners hung from every wall, the emblem of the First Order proudly and extravagantly displayed. Already members of the other teams had made their way onto the field he saw. Many of them were stretching, preparing for the physical exertion they were about to endure. He let a sly smirk slowly develop on his face, what did they know? Did a Nexu stretch before the hunt? It was a silent question posed in his mind, and he knew the answer was no. Purposefully taking his time he took extended steps, focusing his mind for the coming games. He wasn't sure what the order was exactly, huttball had never been his strong sport but he'd signed up, taking the opportunity to be in the public eye, a gamble but if he performed well, it certainly couldn't hurt. He carefully eyed the members of the other teams from a distance, He saw the emblem of the Silver Sanctum represented on a few of the other athletes. He observed them warming up, sizing up the opposition. Noticing a fellow teammate he slowly made his way over. Sitting down next to her, he kept the silence, choosing to relax and wait for the unstructured warm up time to end.

[member="Jessica Med-Beq"] | [member="Samka Derith"] | [member="Undin Jaii Kryze"] | [member="Valae Kitra"] | [member="Tyyni Oluja"]​

[member="Natasi Fortan"] | [member="Marzena Choi"] | [member="Ludolf Vaas"] | [member="Dunames Lopez"]​

 

[Natasi Fortan]

Decima was a bundle of nerves, and it showed. She shifted her weight foot to foot, stretched her arms out and around her, her fingers flexing, her toes wiggling in their boots. She wore the same protective gear as the rest of her team, but thanks to her ability to draw on the Force it didn't feel particularly weighted down. Decima crouched in front of [member="Rolf Amsel"] and [member="Samka Derith"], catching their eyes in turn, and then glanced around at the stadium, filled with people. Idly, she wondered if [member="Darth Veles"] was there.

She had planned all along to B E C O M E L E G E N D but it would be all the better if Veles was there to observe her triumph. Or pitiable failure. Her stomach turned painfully.

"Should we discuss strategy?" she murmured to her teammates, again stretching her fingers. Her knuckles cracked satisfyingly.

 

[Darth Veles]

Of course the amphibious Sith Lord had to witness the success of his newest student, [member="Decima Fortan"], for she was to become the new Dark Lord of the Sith one day – provided she survived the trials, became a true Sith, took the title from his dead hands after proving her superiority. Wearing a human appearance provided by the Force’s infinite power, signature disguised to give away the one commonly found among non-Force sensitives, the Darth sat anonymous among ordinary people instead of picking more comfortable seats holding the First Order’s VIPs. Both eyes focused solely on Decima, what she said through body language. For all the unforgiving training, the young brunette still lacked more experience and confidence. Dangerous, but not necessarily enough to bring defeat upon her.

This event hardly mattered anyway; in the worst case scenario, the young student would paint herself as a weakling. No punishment would follow in case the Sith Acolyte’s failure brought shame on the First Order. Nothing too permanent, anyway. If anything, he'd turn his training towards perfecting the flawed practices present within the supplicant. As such, the amphibious Sith made himself comfortable, relaxedm and simply wanting to enjoy the show.

“May the Force serve you well,” muttered the greatest Sith assassin in the galaxy, his smooth and thickly accented voice not even loud enough to be caught by those sitting right next to him.

 

[William Kerkov Sr]

Kerkov watched from his skybox, him being the only occupant. He smoked a Cigarra as the procession continued, the stormies marched across the field and the players came to their starting positions. How enjoyable, He thought sarcastically. This was not his kind of entertainment, he preferred a nice slow holorecord, in a mellow place where he could talk, or read while he smoked a nice cigarra and enjoyed some Terminusian Whiskey. It tasted like engine oil, but it was the alcohol he had first had, and only had until he managed to get himself off of Terminus as a young ensign. Oh did he miss those days, when he fought for the OCA, he had a wife, three children. Now only he and his oldest child lived, the rest killed in robberies, piracy, and collateral in battles fought for almost no reason. It was a dark time for him, but he could bear through it with enough alcohol and business to deal with. Now that he had turned the OCA into a trade conglomerate, with the Open Circle Shipyards a subsidiary, outside of his rank of Grand Admiral in the First Order he had plenty of work to deal with.

The waiting displeased Kerkov further, he'd only come here to please his superior officer [member="Aram Kalast"], to show that he would be not only a commander of the First Order's fleet, but a representative of it as well. Kerkov wanted to appease his now commander, the first one he had had in a long time.

[member="Darth Veles"] [member="Decima Fortan"] [member="Rolf Amsel"] [member="Jessica Med-Beq"] [member="Samka Derith"] [member="Undin Jaii Kryze"] [member="Valae Kitra"] [member="Tyyni Oluja"] [member="Natasi Fortan"] [member="Marzena Choi"] [member="Dunames Lopez"] [member="Ludolf Vaas"]

 

[Dunames Lopez]

Dunames was surprised to see the makeup of the rosters. Interestingly she knew best about the Silver Sanctum roster, more than about the other two, even the First Order team. Perhaps because she seemed to be around Ringo Vinda rather regularly and even having personally met with one of them. Nevertheless, she pulls out the roster card ofthe First Order and immediately notices that [member="Decima Fortan"] and [member="Samka Derith"] were active Knights of Ren, Decima being a little more advanced than Samka in their training. [member="Rolf Amsel"] may well be the First Order's ranged-attack guy in this team. As for the Silver Sanctum, she knew Jessica, while looking athletic, was more a girl for brute strength than for speed, which meant that Valae was their go-to player for all things pertaining to speed and that the Sanctum was the slowest team around, especially due to the presence of the Hutt called Tyyni Oluja (the name of his kajidic isn't publicly known) who could overtake Jessica only with the use of the Force.

"It appears that factions tended to refrain from aligning their best players for huttball teams. A common theme is two lightsaber-wielders on a team, one of the Mandalorian players is even using the legendary lightsaber wielded by Grand Master Yoda himself. But the power and limitations of a lightsaber are all known by everyone in this game"

"Frank, I'm not entirely convinced that the level of competition has that much influence on the entertainment value above a certain level, parity plays a greater role. All nine players are trained combatants, so we should expect a minimum standard of competition. And a minimum entertainment value"

 

[Ludolf Vaas]

Squeezing the hand of [member="Marzena Choi"] in a display of silent, invisible affection beneath their chairs as they looked on, Ludolf smiled. He kept his warm feelings of affection for Marzena tightly under wraps, but inside at this moment, there was a feeling of warmth in Ludolf's chest, especially knowing that next to him sat not only his lover, but his future child.

He leaned in. "Well you see dear, there's a ball placed in the middle of the field," Ludolf pointed to the pedestal in the center of the arena, "And each team must take the ball and bring it to the other team's goal - by any means necessary. This will be a rather unique game of Huttball from what I understand, as there are three teams. Seems they'll be competing together at once, in a sort of free-for-all mass melee."

At the mention of Marzena's parents, Ludolf perked an eyebrow and turned towards her, meeting her chestnut eyes with his own. "Really?" His expression conveyed his surprise. "Well then, I shall have to prepare..."

Momentarily distracted by this train of thought, Ludolf's eyes once again trailed off into the frenzy below as the teams prepared and the crowds grew in size and volume. He had never met Marzena's parents before, and had no idea what to expect. Then, to further add to the cacophony inside his head, Vaas spotted [member="Natasi Fortan"] in the skybox next to him. What at one time had been perhaps the budding of a romance, only a ghost remained. There were many things Vaas wished he could say to Natasi, especially after receiving her letter, but for now all he could manage was a polite smile and wave in her direction, before returning his gaze to the arena below, in an effort to cast away his torn feelings.

Then, the lights began to dim, signaling the start of the proceedings.

"Look," Ludolf said to Marzena, "It looks like they are about to announce the teams."

As the lights dipped low, the crowd erupted into a frenzied cheer, eagerly anticipating the carnage to come. And suddenly, cutting through the boisterous chants of the crowd, came the announcer's voice, resounding throughout the stadium.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome one and all, to the First Annual Galactic Games! Three teams from across the galaxy will compete for glory in today's Huttball tournament. Introducing first, from the distant planet of Voss, representing the Silver Sanctum of Jedi, Valae Kitra, Jessica Med-Beq and Tyyni Oluja!"

A spotlight cast down from above, illuminating the figures of [member="Valae Kitra"], [member="Jessica Med-Beq"] and [member="Tyyni Oluja"]. Meanwhile, the Avalonian crowd reacted in much the same way one might expect a populace gathered from a First Order stronghold would react to Jedi - that is to say, less than enthusiastic.

 

[Natasi Fortan]

It was difficult to tell, outwardly, if Natasi saw [member="Ludolf Vaas"] smile and wave at her over the gap between their sky boxes. She did not return it. Her statuesque frame remained stock-still, except for the almost imperceptible shift of her head, turning in the other direction. But she had seen, and it had been only sheer force of will that stopped her lifting her hand, gloved as it was in lace fabric, complimenting her pale, silk day dress and matching hat, and returning his wave. But Sioux Chambers, who had been facing that way anyway, noticed. There was no love lost between Sioux and Vaas. Vaas had always seen her as some sort of glorified secretary, and Sioux was one of the few in the galaxy that knew the depth and breadth of the wounds that the so-called officer-and-gentleman had left on her mistress.

Sioux glowered at Vaas until Natasi asked her question, then turned. "I'll ask them, ma'am." Sioux bustled out of the box into the quiet hallway behind -- well, as quiet as it got in a stadium filled with a hundred thousand of your closest friends. Natasi stood and wandered to the edge of the box as the announcer boomed his introduction of the Silver Sanctum team. She applauded politely and then raised her binoculars, scanning the field. Of course she was rooting for the First Order's team, but she was their hostess -- one of them, anyway -- so it would only be appropriate for her to show good sportsmanship.

Lead by example, she had always said. And now here was the opportunity to do just that. She moved her gaze over the other teams, then focused in on the First Order team. Her half-sister Decima -- Decima Strallan, Natasi insisted, though she knew it was a losing battle -- was competing. She was a slight little thing, Natasi thought, but she had been gifted sensitivity to the Force through some bizarre genetic quirk. It must have come from her mother's side, for there wasn't a drop of it in the Fortan blood. Sioux re-entered a moment later. "I've left word, ma'am."

"Thank you, Sioux. Will you see if there's anyone who wants this box who wasn't able to get one? It seems a shame to leave it empty just because..." She inhaled deeply, her eyes rolling back. "...well, just because," she finished flatly.

[member="Darth Carnifex"]

 

[Darth Ayra]

| [member="Ludolf Vaas"] | [member="Dunames Lopez"] | [member="Marzena Choi"] | [member="Natasi Fortan"] | [member="Tyyni Oluja"] | [member="Valae Kitra"] | [member="Undin Jaii Kryze"] | [member="Samka Derith"] | [member="Jessica Med-Beq"] | [member="Rolf Amsel"] | [member="Decima Fortan"] | [member="Darth Veles"] | [member="William Kerkov"] |

The street parade had been a spectacle. A series of floats, designed to represent the Silver Sanctum, Mandalorian Clans and the First Order had been paraded to the masses of people that had flocked to bear witness to the first Galactic Games. Acrobatic dancers had performed intricately, accompanied by music of the people that they represented. Avedia had stood among the prong of tourists and civilians who had either come to Avalonia for the games or lived there, watching the parade like all of the rest. She found the spectacle aesthetically pleasing. It was a celebration, for all pretense and purposes.

Following the parade towards the Huttball stadium, Avedia purchased food from the nearby vendors, trying the Mandalorian delicacies that had been put on offer for the event. She found the Gihaal to be repugnant and quickly threw the slop into a nearby dispenser, choosing to approach another vendor for a bottle of water and a sandwich, so as to get the taste out of her mouth. She made sure that the Mandalorian who had served her hadn't seen what she did.

Entering the Huttball stadium, Avedia showed her ticket and entered through the ticket barrier. She entered the part of the stadium squared off for the fans who had chosen to support the First Order. Ascending the stairways and along the rows of seats to her own, she found herself sitting in a row that was near the front of the stadium. It was a bad seat.

 

[Marzena Vaas]

With one hand holding Ludolf’s, the other came to rest protectively over her stomach. While the pregnancy had been a bit of a surprise, it was certainly not unwelcome. Having children was on the list of things that Ludolf and Marzena had wanted to experience together, it was just happening a bit sooner than expected. It was all very new and she was still getting used to the idea of becoming a mother. But she was certainly proud to be carrying the General’s child, a fact that was very evident as she gazed affectionately at him.

As [member="Ludolf Vaas"] leaned in to explain the object of Huttball, she let her eyes shift back down towards the field. Marzena took mental notes, but had a feeling that she would still have a bit of difficulty following the game, especially with three different teams competing at once. She would have to rely on the announcers and the commentary she was sure to receive from General Vaas. “I see,” She smiled, “Thank you, darling.”

Up until recently, Marzena’s family had been left in the dark concerning her current relationship status. However, given the news that Marzena had to share, she figured that it was better to make introductions sooner, rather than later. For the moment, she had not yet decided whether or not to tell her mother about the pregnancy. Of course, she knew that her mother would be beyond thrilled. It would also put an end to Mrs. Choi’s constant harping and complaining about not having any grandchildren. Marzena watched as Ludolf’s eyes shifted away, obviously caught a bit off guard by this invitation to dinner. She gave his hand a gentle squeeze.

Her eyes began to scan the crowd, and she turned slightly as Ludolf waved to someone in the next skybox. A smile grew on Marzena’s face when she saw that it was Moff [member="Natasi Fortan"]. She had just lifted her free hand to wave as well, but it seemed that the Moff’s attention was elsewhere. Marzena let her hand fall back into her lap, turning her gaze back down to the field, just in time to miss any icy stares sent her way by Ms. Sioux Chambers.

“Oh,” She leaned a bit closer to Ludolf as the lights dimmed, “How very exciting!”

Even though she was not a hardcore fan, it was difficult not to get swept up in the buzz of the crowd.

 

[Valae Heavenshield]

Valae scratched her head at Jessica’s comment, being swift on her feet was not something that she was known for. And to those close friends around the Silver Temple, Valae had the reputation of being a bit clumsy. If there was a chance to trip and fall, Valae would usually find herself on the ground. It was not something that she was proud of. Perhaps today would be different, maybe there was an opportunity to tap into some unknown grace... but she doubted it.

Suddenly, the lights went low, signaling the start of the introductions. Valae was still quaking in her boots. The booming voice of the announcer echoed all around them, and she heard her name being called out, along with those of [member="Jessica Med-Beq"] and [member="Tyyni Oluja"]. It was surreal.

As the spotlight cast down upon the three Silvers, Valae raised a feeble hand to wave at the crowd... but found that the eyes staring at them were less than friendly. And their welcome had been a bit lackluster. Well, that was to be expected in a place like this. She attempted to steel her nerves, and looked back to Jessica and Tyyni. They had everything to prove here. Valae nodded to her companions, as if to say ‘we can do this!’

 

[Dravis Rosilla]

Tyyni looked to [member="Valae Kitra"] as she asked her question, and frowned slightly. "Yes, I am very nervous." The Hutt fidgeted with his training saber, looking between the Jedi and [member="Jessica Med-Beq"]. He was most likely the least-experienced of the bunch, and definitely the odd one out in terms of looks.

Suddenly, the lights flared, and the announcer spoke loud over the crowd. Tyyni blinked fast, trying to get the spots out of his eyes. Once the Padawan got over the minor annoyance, he slid around in a circle, extending his perception to the people in the stands. He sensed boredom, disinterest, perhaps even a little anger. Whatever the First Order was telling their citizen about the Jedi, it appeared to be working.

"They, uh... They don't like us very much, do they?" Tyyni spoke low, a little hurt in his voice. He'd sensed animosity towards him before, that was what came with being a Hutt in the Jedi Order, but this felt different. He looked to Valae, and noted her assuring face, giving a weak smile in return. He wagged his tail, in an attempt to look brave, and felt a few of his nerves vanish. He wasn't alone in this, even if the entire planet was against him.