Remove ads

May The Invisible Hand Be With You - (Star Wars CK2-Style Quest)

Reader mode
Dr. Snark said:
The more I learn about the various Force Orders in the galaxy the more I'm beginning to realize that there's a lot of characters you could slot into the Star Wars verse and completely justify it by having them be a part of one of them. And that's just for starters. Be real with me people, if I hadn't told you Zinnerman was from Gundam Unicorn, would you have noticed?

Anyway just wanted to give the usual reassurance that I'm not dead, still plotting out the choreography of the interlude (as strange as that may sound at first glance).
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Make Iroh one of the Force Order's Yoda equivalent. You know you want to.
 
Remove ads
He's A Maniac (Currently Non-Canon)
  • Threadmarks
    • Kuat - Unknown Location

    I've been quite used to very weird situations occuring after the last decade or so. The fact that I alognside Gramps ended up in some haphazard trap due to my presence being requested at a meeting with a bunch of corporate henchmen in a out of the way plaza due to Zam being too busy to handle it isn't even remotely remarkable. Happens more often than I care to admit.

    On the other hand, the thing that did turn everything weird was a YT-1300 transport suddenly plowing through about half the goons and into the ground followed by a maniac (whose fashion sense could rival Galvins... I mean, snake-pattern jacket, leather clothes, eyepatch?), that jumped out who immideately began to beat the crap out of everyone left standing... with his bare hands and a knife. The fact that he screamed "Ciaran-chan! Gramps! I brought presents!" when he jumped out of the wrecked cockpit just made it even more bizarre since I was quite sure I've never seen him before.

    "So... gramps. Who is that?" The fact that gramps actually flinched at the question was allready proof enough that everything right now was his fault.

    "Ahh... I may or may not have had the idea to hire some more people due to how our plans have been going in recent times? Him being one of them? I kinda underestimated how crazy he is when I went to Panatha to hire him until he allready took the money. Honestly, I can't gurantee for anything with this guy, You see, he..." Gramps didn't get much further in his explanation as he instead was interrupted by a particularly unhinged laugh and one of the goons flying straight past us as the maniac apparently just kicked him half way across the plaza... after having pummed several others into the ground and stabbed some others, leaving nobody standing. I think I even saw him block a knife with his teeth. Honestly, I think he could outpace me in a fight and I have the Force.

    "Oi! Ciaran-chan! Do you always run into so much trouble? I'm asking, since I like to be paid for having fun~! Now, if thats all we should get a drink and sing some tunes! Where are we anyway?"

    Gods have mercy on us...
    -------------------------------------
    Summary: Casualties via stabbing and Martial Arts during Abyss Watcheres related operations heavily increased
    Abyss Watchers personell avoided any chance for Karaoke like the plague for weeks (Dani even suspended her groups training for her next musical number for a good while)
    Countless terrified recruits due to them getting the crap beaten out of them during training

     
  • Threadmarks
    • I still find it funny that we managed to troll Anakin about his Dark History (read: His script from Phantom Menace) without even being th-....

    ....wait, we were still on Naboo, right?

    Never mind.
     
    (Omake) The Illusion of Choice (Canon)
  • Threadmarks
    • The Illusion of Choice​

    If I'd surprised Grievous' personal guard with my awareness of the droids, I'd lulled them back into the belief everything was normal during the rest of the exercise. I stuck to my usual tactics: stay to the fringes of combat, take potshots at the enemy, and melt away if I draw any attention. Keep an eye on the rest of them, cover them when and how I could.

    So why was it more fun this time? I kept wondering that as I went through the combat, picking off a battle droid and then vanishing to my right, behind a boulder. Breathe, turn to the right side of the boulder, pick out a droid that had lined up Lenny in its sights, hold breath, squeeze off two shots, roll back behind the boulder, breathe. Breathe, turn to the left side, take out another droid, duck back. Watch as Ronny and Donny pincer-move on a bunch of droids, pushing their backs towards me. Breathe, go to the right side, pull the fire blade in my other hand, spring forward and shoot a droid that spotted me before leaping onto a droid's back and burning its blaster arm off at the elbow before riding it into the ground and stomping through its head.

    It didn't dawn on me until Grievous offered his assessment at the end of the battle. "When we first met, I said there was no way you would ever manage to reach the personal fitness and combat capacity of the rest of the squad, and that you didn't belong." His expression was odd to place: warmth in his eyes, a dangerous smile on his face, and a body language that spoke volumes about confrontation. Then he laughed. "I could not have been more wrong. Keep it up and we'll make you the most dangerous medic in the galaxy."

    I thanked him in the moment, pleased at the recognition. So why was there something screaming in the back of my mind? I filed that feeling away for later, took my congratulations from my squadmates politely, and realized that feeling was still there. I had a bit of time before we needed to move out, so I headed for my tent and watched Master Veskasa's lecture.

    "Now, Riphath, given that you work with Grievous and the Kaleesh, you may not always have the opportunity for formal meditation like you did when we first met. So I will instead instruct you in two forms of moving meditation. Find an empty space and walk back and forth or in a loop. Move slowly but naturally. Concentrate on making your steps smooth and fluid and slow." She began to walk across the area she'd been recording in, at a pace I'd have found positively glacial were I behind her in a hallway trying to get to lunch, but I suppose that was the point: that the walk itself was the destination. "Be aware of your movement. Feel your steps, your arm swing, the wind on your face, and then let the thoughts pass. When you find yourself thinking of something that is not related to your walk, note it and then let your thoughts return to your walk. You will know when you are done."

    The recording seemed to cut out and then cut back in with Veskasa holding a pair of long needles and a skein of some form of textile. "You may also find that certain activities occupy your hands but not your mind, because they are so practiced and your full awareness is not necessary for them. During those activities," she said, beginning to spool the textile over the needles and starting to loop it over itself in a pattern, "you may proceed through the same process. Be aware of your movements, let the thoughts pass. When you find yourself thinking of something that is not the movement, take note of what you are thinking about and then return to your movement. You will be done," she noted, showing a full-length scarf attached to the needles, "when the activity is complete. Practice your meditation and you will find yourself more balanced and more able to let the Force flow through you."

    What was the source of my fear? It didn't take long for me to realize my fear had three parts: first of all, that being engaged in combat frequently like this could get me killed. Sure, I'd get better at fighting and at not-dying, but it only took once. Secondly, that my Matukai secret would be found out. Grievous didn't seem to have positive feelings towards the Jedi, and I wasn't sure how he'd feel about the Matukai. Also that using the Force in a unit like this might be felt to be cheating. Third, and perhaps most concerning to me, was this: what if at the end of the war I decided I wanted to keep working as a medic, a mercenary, or a Matukai Adept or some such, instead of the doctor life I'd been planning ever since going to med school?

    The combat fear I pushed aside. I'd channel it into moving quicker, being more evasive. The lifestyle fear I pushed aside because depending on how long I kept up with Grievous' unit, I might not need a real job for the rest of my life. So for immediate things, my Matukai secret was at the front of my mind. I thought back to Grievous' issue with Jedi. It was about the Jedi themselves and their actions, rather than the use of the Force. As long as I made it look like the result of physical training, I didn't figure I'd have a problem.

    I walked out from my tent content, saw that the others were breaking down their tents and got moving to do the same.

    I overheard a discussion between Grievous and one of the others...hold on, that was Jonny. Jonny had wanted to try to get me integrated into the squad and feel like one of them long before any of the others had. Oh no. That wouldn't mean what I thought it meant, would it?

    We'd packed for the day and were ready to move. Grievous told us we were getting in a shuttle and going "home". I raised a hand. "Which one?"

    I was answered by a grin from Jonny. "Kalee. We're going to help you find your mask."

    My eyes went wide. "I'm honored."

    "You've earned it, Rip. Provided you manage to hunt the mumuu," Grievous insisted.

    I then knew two things: I was going to need to keep pushing my limits, both physically and through the Matukai arts...and that I was staying with this unit through the end of the war, as much as it was in my power. These were my people. I suspect they wouldn't recognize me at Byblos at the ten year reunion, but I wasn't one of them any more. I was one of me. How many humans had a mumuu mask that was rightfully theirs? Okay, Lady Ciaran's got one, but if the list consists of Lady Karking Ciaran and me? I'd say it's pretty exclusive.

    A/N: Something of a halfway point for this character arc for Riphath. I've got at least three more of these in the pipeline, and Riphath's growing awareness of himself and his place in the galaxy is interesting.
     
    Last edited:
  • Threadmarks
    • Also, Miraluka are regarded as 'Near-Human' (in caps) which means they only have minor differences and can cross-breed with baseline humans without issue. Ciaran would certainly be regarded as 'human' by most inhabitants of the galaxy, save for the most xenophobic/humano-centric groups.
     
    Andres110 said:
    Ciaran is an alien.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    Barondoctor said:
    Ciaran is a Miraluka / Human hybrid. For Riphath's purposes, she counts as a "human" (read: non-Kaleesh) with a mumuu mask. He's also not always the most reliable narrator.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    Publicola said:
    Also, Miraluka are regarded as 'Near-Human' (in caps) which means they only have minor differences and can cross-breed with baseline humans without issue. Ciaran would certainly be regarded as 'human' by most inhabitants of the galaxy, save for the most xenophobic/humano-centric groups.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    Yep. And after the Arkanians cloned and inserted some functioning eyes into her head (she had some before, but due to being only approximately quarter human they degenerated so far that they were there, but blind) there is absolutely nothing that can identify her as a Near-Human without someone checking her DNA (since even a medical examination would only uncover the oddity of a second liver).
     
    Teron said:
    Yep. And after the Arkanians cloned and inserted some functioning eyes into her head (she had some before, but due to being only approximately quarter human they degenerated so far that they were there, but blind) there is absolutely nothing that can identify her as a Near-Human without someone checking her DNA (since even a medical examination would only uncover the oddity of a second liver).
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    I can see her selling that second liver on the black market to fake her death if need be.
     
    Still not dead. Family things happened (that are well in the past now don't worry) and as it turns out it is hard to write a good fight. Contrary to what people might believe there's more to it then 'and then the womans hit each other until one of them died.' Go figure :V

    Anyway, commenting on omakes:

    Teron said:
    Kuat - Unknown Location
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    What wasn't mentioned is how most of 'the maniac's' victims screamed out "NOT THE FACE!" before he promptly broke them so hard no amount of plastic surgery could fix it. Currently non-canon, +10.

    Barondoctor said:
    The Illusion of Choice
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    That voice in Ripath's head is the remaining vestiges of his sanity; fortunately for him it's not holding him back anymore. Canon, +10.
     
    Remove ads
    The First Quasi-Annual Invisible Hand Q&A Session!
  • Informational
    • So as penance for the interlude taking so long (and mostly because I really want to do this anyway) I am hereby announcing:

    The First Quasi-Annual Invisible Hand Q&A Session!
    ​
    No question is too inane! No query is too absurd!

    Do you want to know what Ciaran's favorite brand of music is? Done! (She says operas to maintain her high-class image but her real love is for gangsta rap. Straight Outta Coruscant!)

    Do you want to know how Grievous hires on Kaleesh warriors? Now you know! (The process generally involves rigorous physical trials and intensive training but according to rumor it consistently involves Grievous glaring at the applicant for a minute straight. If they don't run away in terror, they're guaranteed to be recruited. Anyone that manages to glare back is fast-tracked for a promotion.)

    Do you want to know why most low-level employees are willing to stay with an organization that hires on bloodthirsty Kaleesh warriors, sinister Sith assassins, and murderous machines? Of course you do! (They are paid very, very well and they get fantastic benefit packages.)

    Just ask away and you're guaranteed an accurate* answer**! Simply post now to be a part!

    *: Answer may or may not include the following: feigned intelligence, blatant Wookieepedia quoting, QM bias and/or general inanity. Consult the Abyss Watchers Legal Office for details. Offer void on Jedha.

    **: Answer will not have explicit details on any events the QM has planned for the future. No Spoilers.​
     
    Last edited:
  • Informational
    • Dr. Snark said:
    Just ask away and you're guaranteed an accurate* answer**! Simply post now to be a part!

    *: Answer may or may not include the following: feigned intelligence, blatant Wookieepedia quoting, QM bias and/or general inanity. Consult the Abyss Watchers Legal Office for details. Offer void on Jedha.

    **: Answer will not have explicit details on any events the QM has planned for the future. No Spoilers.​
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    Ok. Why is this offer void on Jedha?
     
    I'm honestly not sure if this qualifies as spoiling futurebstuff, but what exactly does the special Fprce artifact crystal thing do in your verse?
     
    Reader mode
    You must login or register to reply here.
    Remove ads
    Back
    Top