[EVENT | TAVIMBI] HAPOYELA'S BLESSINGS

[ironwood]

Characters: Come one, come all!
Date: March 5th
Location: The Sabonile Temple, in Hatal
Situation: The Foreigners, as well as many prominent kedan, have been invited to the great Temple of Hapoyela in Hatal, where the Sabonile priest class wishes them to participate in a celebration!
Warnings/Rating: Character nudity in the after-feast comment. Indicate content warnings in subject headers as applicable.

---

According to the Sabonile priests, Hapoyela wishes to properly welcome the Foreigners and the kedan to the full scope of Tavimbi's hospitality, and has instructed the clergy to organize a suitably impressive celebration for the citizens of the oldest living Great Turtle. All Foreigners, as well as many notable kedan including the Family heads, are invited to attend a grand feast and celebration at the Sabonile Temple, one of the largest buildings in all of Hatal.

The clergy has promised an evening of good food, lively entertainment, and the magnificent blessings of Hapoyela. At the same time, the Sabonile will be hosting a soup kitchen in the Temple's courtyard, feeding the hungry and the poor, as dictated by their religious tenets and beliefs.

While those who receive an invitation to the event, which the Sabonile consider a sacred charge from Hapoyela, are not required to attend... it could be seen as a disrespect to their deity.

MOD NOTE: For the naked after party section, soul gems are still allowed to be worn. If your character isn't up for stripping down, they can excuse themselves from that segment of the evening, which will have no negative repercussions with the Sabonile. In this case, they will simply do a wave-over blessing from Hapoyela around the person, and bid them a pleasant evening before they go.

Comments

[hadthehighground]

There's a wry little smile at that.

"If the Senator is so concerned then perhaps she would like a Jedi escort?"

[angelofnaboo]

"Perhaps an escort would be a little much, but the company of an old friend would be most welcome."

She can feel the stares starting, and while that normally wouldn't bother her, she's normally more dressed for it as well.

"Maybe now you can tell me what you and the others have been avoiding telling me, like I'm some sort of delicate child."

[hadthehighground]

"Of course," he says with a broader smile and motions for her to go ahead. He would then walk along beside her, making his presence known should anyone think to stare too long.

Though the topic that Padme brings up does cause that smile to falter a little bit.

"I suppose now would be as good a time as any." What with the openness of the situation, and the lack of Anakin's presence is good too. Though there is a bit of hesitation from Obi-Wan before he starts.

"I'm sure you know by now that those brought here are not only from different worlds, but different times as well. I was brought here from your future, as well as Anakin's."

[angelofnaboo]

She finds his presence reassuring and some of the stares to back off. And since she's used to staring up at his face, she can ignore the fact that they're both in the buff. It's not as hard as she thinks it should be, as long as she figures that she has the right to do as she pleases. At least so long as it doesn't hurt anyone else.

"Considering how unpleasant you made it sound in our first chat when I arrived, I figured now would be as good a time as any to corner you." And the fact that they are alone helps. She's sure that she can process bad news better if she has time to think it through. And she's not sure that she'd have that with anyone else.

"Yes, I've had the pleasure of speaking to Jedi Knight Marek and Bail Organa's grandson, who both claim to be from the far future. I was unaware that Bail and Breha had a child, let alone a daughter that could give them a grandson."

[hadthehighground]

Obi-Wan can't help but chuckle lightly as they walk along, his hands clasped in front of him as is his habit. There is just a lack of long robe sleeves.

"Well, then I am at your mercy."

His tone changes though at the mention of Bail Organa's grandsone, which is accompanied by a look of surprise. "His grandson?" There is a pause as he thinks on this. "You don't mean, Kylo Ren?" That's the only other person he could think of that was from their galaxy that he didn't know the lineage of, aside from the aforementioned Galen Marek.

[angelofnaboo]

Even without his normal robes, she finds the movement of his arms very him. And she finds a little comfort in that fact.

"I promise to be gentle. Unless the situation requires a more... aggressive tactic." Teasing though she might be, she's also completely serious.

"Yes, he introduced himself as such. I was a little surprised, but happy nonetheless. I've known Breha for almost as long as I've been a senator. She and Bail have tried for years to have their own child. I thought they'd given up trying and were considering adoption."

[hadthehighground]

Again he chuckled, but knew that she was also being serious. Padme could be quite insistent when she wanted to be. He knew better than to keep things from her unless it was absolutely necessary.

"They did adopt a little girl," Obi-Wan replied. "Her name is Leia."

And he can only assume that Leia is Kylo Ren's mother. This is certainly an interesting turn of events.

[angelofnaboo]

What he means is that Padmé has been known to be as insistent as a rabid Rancor when she's hunting down information. Keeping things from her at this point would be silly.

"That makes sense. Although, it still makes me sad for Breha. She's far too good and kind to have to suffer that." She lets herself think about her friends for a moment before shaking her head and turning her full attention back to Obi-Wan. "Alright, that explains to me exactly how Kylo Ren is the grandson of Bail, but it doesn't really explain what it is that you've avoided telling me."

[hadthehighground]

Yes... exactly. He just tended to be nicer about his descriptions.

"Before I get to that, I'd like to know what you last remember. To give me better perspective."

It would be foolish to launch into anything without knowing when exactly she's from. That why he could determine what she already knows and doesn't. Although he has a fairly good idea. Figuring that the Republic is still deep in war at her point.

[angelofnaboo]

Please, let's not mince words. She's aware of what she's like.

"The last thing I remember? I suppose that information would be easier for you to start with, since time seems to mean nothing." It makes sense and yet leaves her feeling uneasy about the nature of this topic for the first time. "I had just dealt with being asked to find the spy for the Separatists in the Senate. Does that help you?"

[hadthehighground]

Obi-Wan stroked his beard thoughtfully. It was as he thought.

"Yes, it does. A great deal has happened in my time."

But oh where to start.

"The war has ended, but not in the way we would have hoped." Obi-Wan takes a deep breath and lets out a shuddering sigh. "I'm sorry to say that the Republic is no more."

[angelofnaboo]

He'd thought she'd just gotten over being poisoned by the Trade Federation to get to the Banking Clan? How perceptive of him.

"In your—" She stops as he continues. The war is over... But... "Impossible! How can that be? What happened? There's no way I could have agreed to that. Or Bail Organa or a great many other senators. The Republic has been in power for more than four thousand years, Obi-Wan. It can't simply disappear overnight."

[hadthehighground]

Not that specifically, but that to Padme they were very much in the midst of the Clone Wars. At a point where she would have no idea of the impending future that was to come.

Obi-Wan inwardly grimaced at her reaction. He did always hate being the bearer of bad news, but that task did often fall on him. Now that she knew that much, he could be a bit more careful with the rest of what he had to tell her. The fall of the Republic, while shocking in itself, was probably the least of the devastating news he bore.

"And yet that is almost precisely what happened," Obi-Wan said solemnly. "I don't know all the details, I was on Utapau engaging General Grievous at the time it started. The council and I had suspected something. However, the corruption in the Senate was much deeper than any of us realized."

[angelofnaboo]

How did he expect her talk news like that? It's outrageous. Seemingly preposterous. Her life was in shambles with that much.

"The Senate...But we found Clovis and his connection to the other Separatists." She took a deep breath to clear the thought of her near death on Cato Neimoidia and the way that her marriage had been strained those few days. "You're telling me that there are others. How deep does this go, Obi-Wan?"

[hadthehighground]

It's here that Obi-Wan paused in his walk, turning slightly toward Padme with his eyes downcast. As hard as this was for her to take, it was also hard for him to tell her. What he had to say wouldn't be getting any better. After a moment he finally looked up again.

"To the top I'm afraid."

He knew that she had a good relationship with Chancelor Palpatine. They were from the same planet after all, and it was the Chancelor who had helped to save Naboo from the Trade Federation. The entire Republic had loved Palpatine after all. He certainly had carefully spun his web. To the point that when the Jedi suspected something was wrong, it was far too late.

[angelofnaboo]

If it had been anyone but Obi-Wan, she might've doubted him. However, the man beside her had been a friend for over a decade, helped her and her planet in its time of greatest crisis, had stood up for her husband and trained him when everyone else had been ready to abandon him. How could she doubt him now?

Her hands balled into ineffectual fists as her breathing sped up. Sheev Palpatine, Naboo's favorite son, was corrupt and had led to the Republic's fall after 4000 years. It was...devastating. But she wasn't stupid to think it stopped there.

"Tell me the rest," she whispered, arms wrapping around her. She was suddenly cold despite the sweltering heat. "There must be more."

[hadthehighground]

He nodded solemnly, "Yes." Tentatively, Obi-Wan placed a hand on Padme's shoulder. It was odd touching her in their current state of undress, but he wanted to comfort her somehow. "Perhaps we should sit." His words a grim foreshadow to the terrible news that he still had yet to tell.

He glanced around for a moment and soon found a place to seat himself near the spa. Waiting for Padme to do the same before he continued.

"You remember Darth Maul," Obi-Wan started. "The Sith Lord who had killed Qui-Gon." Though it was an old wound, it still hurt him a little to speak of his late master's demise. "Palpatine is the other that we had been looking for. He was responsible for everything, including the war and the clones. In the end he even turned one of our own against us."

[angelofnaboo]

She followed almost numbly to the bench and sat down, her posture stiff and rigid. She was as lost as she'd felt when the Trade Federation had tried to take over Naboo. Only there was no Senate to turn to for help, no way to rescue herself from the horrible truth.

She listened with a heavy heart and tear-bright eyes to the rest of his words. A nod was given to acknowledge her faint memory of the mysterious man responsible for the kind Jedi Master's death on her planet. She'd had issues with his recklessness but his heart had been in the right place.

And even knowing it was worse, she hadn't been ready for that. Palpatine, not only a corrupt politician but a Sith Lord and manipulator of everyone and everything! And he'd turned a Jedi against the Order?! She couldn't.... No. Not...

"Who? Tell me!"

[hadthehighground]

This question draws a pained expression. Despite Obi-Wan's training as a Jedi, he was unable to completely hide his feelings when it came to the subject at hand. The wound was still fresh and raw. Even back home he had yet had the time to properly reflect and grieve the many losses that he had suffered. Particularly the one that had meant most to him.

"It was Anakin," he said in a soft, slightly broken, voice.

[angelofnaboo]

"No!" Her voice was loud, nearly hysterical in her denial. "No, not Anakin. How can you say that? He wouldn't..."

Her hand came up to cover her face as a broken sob choked off the rest of her words. He couldn't.

"Anakin wouldn't. I can't believe that."

But a part of her was already accepting this horrible news as truth. She'd known when Obi-Wan had spoken about betrayal.

[hadthehighground]

Hearing her made his heart break. The Jedi paying no attention to the glances that were shot their way. The sounds of grief among what was supposed to be a celebration was out of place.

"I'm so sorry Padme," he said with genuine sad repentance. "I failed him, and you."

There was more he could still say, but he was unsure if he should at this point.

[angelofnaboo]

His words were heard but she didn't respond for a long time, instead crying sadly as she tried to wrap her mind around what would make Anakin turn against all he knew. He loved her and Obi-Wan with his entire heart. He would die before betraying them.

What lie had Palpatine told to turn him?

"How? How did he do it? You must know."

[hadthehighground]

Obi-Wan sighed quietly and shifted in his seat at her question.

"I can only assume Palpatine had been subtley influencing Anakin from the start." It was the only thing that made any real sense to him. The change had been so sudden and dramatic he couldn't really say for sure what had caused it.

"I wasn't there when it happened. I only knew something was wrong when my clone troopers tried to kill me. When I arrived on Coruscant I soon learned that Anakin had slaughtered all the Jedi in the temple, including the Younglings."

[angelofnaboo]

"He's been using us all," she shot back, only then realizing how true those words were. From the very start, the Supreme Chancellor had groomed Anakin for dissent against the Jedi and her to be his naive pawn. "How foolish I've been to not see it. I played right into his hands this whole time."

Her trusted mentor had tried to kill her. It was ironic in a horrible sort of way.

Her head snapped up. "No, that makes no sense. Anakin and Ahsoka fought hard to save the Younglings. I refuse to believe that he would just turn around and slaughter them."

[hadthehighground]

"As did the Jedi Order," Obi-Wan acknowledged. They had all played into his hands, not expecting anything. Even the Jedi had been blind.

At her reaction regarding Anakin though, he could certainly understand. "I was just as shocked as your are, but I saw the security recording with my own eyes." There has been no doubt after that, only disbelief.