~A Winter’s Eve Dance~
Location: Adascopolis, Arkania, the courts of Amaunator Adasca
Location: Adascopolis, Arkania, the courts of Amaunator Adasca
It was rare that large parties would be hosted for such a colourful collection of guests, but Amaunator Adasca went all out when he threw such a ball. Tonight, under the snow-freckled sky of Arkania, the doors of Adascopolis’s finest ballroom, that belonging to Castle Adasca in the heart of the city, would be open to the throngs of gathered Sith. It was a festive time for the Order, one which the teeming masses of Arkanian society, pragmatic as they were, would not understand. The Sith had elected, through what some called archaic democracy, a new Dark Councilor to sit in the ring of thrones, only recently. Atop that, the lull in the spirit of the Order had been felt, and there were many in the higher echelons of power who sought to reinvigorate the lower ranks. One of the Dark Council had said something: “let them eat cake.” Darth Drakul Xarxes had taken it as a morale-boosting military practice, allowing a grand night of enjoyment for the sake of endearing the soldiers, so to speak, to the cause and its leaders. A reliable method, even if not ideal.
He had, however, pulled out all the stops for this one. Adorning the columns of the glass and crystal ballroom were tapestries in marvelous hues of emerald, aquamarine, lilac, scarlet, rose, and all manner of colours. Servants adorned with elegant masks stood in attendance for the guests as they funneled in through the translucent double doors, bearing trays of fine champagne and delectable appetizers. An even greater feast lay in wait in the wings of the ballroom, where across a grand table was laid a mass of meats, cheeses, stuffings, cookies, puddings, cakes, and punches. If it could be thought of, the organizer had intuited someone would desire it, and thus had prepared it.
The great crystalline dome directly overhanging the dance floor refracted starlight across its cut surface. Arkania was well-known for its diamonds and other precious gems, and it was apparent that this ballroom was decorated with many such stones. Between the balconies which ran along the second floor was hung a great chandelier, again directly above the dance floor, which caught the light of the stars in its diamond-cut surfaces, casting radiant, many-coloured across the guests below.
Visitors were greeted by the haunting sounds of a small waltz band and choir, stationed on one of the balconies overlooking the room. Four Bith held what looked to be string instruments under their necks, drawing bows across them in deliberate, rhythmic strokes. A team of three Arkanians, a Muun, and two humans comprised the choir, humming and crooning strange melodies which hung on the ears of all present, providing a double-faceted sense of excitement and dread for the tone and lyric they rasped.
Yet, it was festive, though in a way not many present, if any, were accustomed to. The usual Life Day decorations were replaced instead by a collection of brushy, spiky vines. Tinsel, Xarxes had heard it called when he visited Urrtha. Wreaths with small red berries (Xarxes found them to be foul-tasting) hung on every balcony, and at one end of the ballroom stood a great, conical tree, multicoloured ornamental spheres and spikes hanging from it, and atop it sat the choice decoration of a singing Star Weird, eerie and exotic, its eyes aglow with malice that many of the lowest ranks would find paralyzing.
Opposite the tree, dressed in purpurean finery, was Amaunator Adasca, the dreaded Darth Drakul Xarxes to this crowd. Tonight he wore deep violet robes, a silver trim highlighting the details in the embroidery. In one hand he clutched a fur-trimmed cap of similar color, a ball of silver fur hanging off the end. It had been styled off the cap the natives of Urrtha had tried to give him, which he had been rather fond of. With his other hand, he clasped the palm of his wife, Lady Alcina Adasca, the most stunning Arkanian woman to walk the planet, and the apple of his eye. She wore an elegant sapphire dress and a crystal coronet, by all accounts appearing quite the ice queen. With a bit of cryokinesis, one of her favored Force powers, she had managed to craft a very real set of ice crystal jewelry to complement her gown. In the dazzling light of the ballroom, her crystals shone brightly, making her quite the eye-catching figure.
“Do you think, darling, that you’ve outdone yourself a bit,” she whispered, leaning into her husband’s chest.
“Not at all, my love,” he replied softly. “The Empress herself requested I prepare a great party, and so I traveled across the stars to find a fitting culture to emulate in our revelry. I think I have struck balance.”
His wife looked at him with a coy smile. “So desperate to please the Empress, are you?”
Xarxes chuckled slightly. “I like keeping my status on the Council, yes.”
Alcina smiled back. “I do hope the enjoy it. You really did put so much effort into this. I particularly like the small band you found, the “Tinkerers.” But, love, what are all those boxes around the strange tree for?” It was true. Around the base of the towering tree, which must have been at least ten meters tall, were dozens of boxes of various shapes, sizes, and colours.
“Those? Well, you’ll have to see about them. Go and open one at some point in the night. It’s a little idea I had when I visited Urrtha. I’ll have to tell you the tale later, for it’s a hilarious one indeed.”
The Nightfather’s Mqaaq’it surveyed the room, falling upon the most stunning of sights to see. There was a great—quite literal—fountain of spiked punch to one side of the dance floor, where servants stood ready to serve the guests, icy crystal goblets in hand. In another part of the room sat two great sapphire thrones, one with a crystal ball in front of it. Not just any crystal ball, but one of Xarxes’s own relics: an All-Seeing Eye. That was where he was to sit for much of the night, cap on and prepared to give all who approached what they sought…if they had behaved the correct way this cycle.
He leaned forward and planted a kiss aside his wife’s temple, avoiding poking himself on her crystal crown. “I have a seat to take, my dear. Join me when you’re ready. Let the festivities begin!”
With a telepathic cue from the Nightfather, the band began playing an upbeat and jovial song, something to do with “holly” and “falala-ing,” which Xarxes was ne’er too fond of, but if it appeased the Empress to have a joyous winter celebration for the inauguration of a new Councilor, then let it be done.