[center] [b] Pax-ra [/b] [/center] The planet of haze, the planet of acrid smells, and the planet of peace. Gnarled forests of dark wood and unique fruits tangled high above the dangerous mineral rich floors. Pits of sulfur and strange liquids burped clouds of gases to add to the overwhelming concotion that blanketed this world, leaving it in it's own shaded splendor of endless night. The strange creatures that dominated this wild landscape scurried from holding to holding, little settlements in the trees, and the occasional highly regarded forum that dug into the forest floor as fortresses of scholars and hissing public baths. Their milky white skin was the only tell tale sign of life in the canopies as these anthropomorphic creatures hunted and socialized among themselves in a strange clicking and grunting language that presented itself as clear gibberish to human ears. In a great wooden complex of domes and intracitely designed courtyrd of running water and suares upon squares of huddled up Muni, the creatures of Pax-ra, a pair of dark jet like eyes stared at another, belonging to such creatures. The pair huddled close to each other amid a large blob of other Muni, all staring deeply into each others eyes as they slowly breathed in a resting fashion. Now and again a hand would be raised and one of the muni would announce a new concept they had been pondering on in such a close fashion. Chattering vibrated throughout the group as various comments stirred discussions, discussing the new proposed idea, usually revolving around the base Muni virtues: compassion, love, friendship, and family. Though their mouths were filled with dagger like teeth and their sensitive agile bodies were made for hunting, they spoke of reverance for all life, and respect for peace and avoidance of strife. Although these human-esque beings spoke of dulling the senses to such viceful passions as violence and lust, their very bodies were made to feel right into the heart of those they touch or the heated presence of those around them. Black tendrils and whiskers jutted from their elbows, ears, and down their backs, feeling everything in the immediate area, just as they spoke of closing their light sensitive nocturnal eyes to the evil temptation of bravado and war. The pair however, did not speak, they did not chatter, and they did not repeat the virtues along with the rest of the meditating Muni. One was clearly a woman, with black hair flowing from her pale scalp and a femenine curve to her athletic body, while the other was not, presented by his lean muscular masculine figure and bald head. The two sat naked with the rest of the commune, soaking their crossed legs in warm bubbling water as they thought deeply and looked longingly into each others eyes. Their untrasensitive skin flared their senses as the warm bubbles popped against and heated the under of their thighs. The pairs eyes sparkled as they reflected what little ambient light could be found in Pax-ra under the thick smog, but despite their senses itching at the back of their minds, they did not move, and they did not speak. With hands clasped gently over one another, they stared, as if reading each others minds, they stared. Someone in the huddle moved slighty, probably trying to balance the comforting warmth of the bath to the rest of their body. The vibration of movement sent the pairs whiskers thrusting to an attentative pose, breaking the conscentration. The man breathed deeply, filtering the smog of the world through his strange alien lungs as he blinked his eyes, stretching pinkish offwhite eyelids over his deep blacks. Although the man only held his fingertips to the womans hands, he could feel every muscle in her body clenching and unclenching as her body functioned and her mind buzzed with emotions, emotions he swore he could taste through his delicate pores. He knew she was now uneasy from the overload of senses from the fellow Muni's abrupt movement and he dropped his fingers from her hands. His arms dangled as he let his hands fall into the shallow pool of water, sending bursts of heat to his fingertips and spiderwebbing up his forearms. The woman sighed, a colorful mist swirling around her breath. The man smiled a toothy grin as his throat clenched, about to speak when suddenly a powerful gust sent his senses reeling, sending his heart pounding into action. As above them, their whole world was about to change. The clouds above seemed to partt but only to reveal a far larger object that drew its shadow for miles. As the sky darkened and the shape became visible through the now clear sky, a singular object from the heavens had arrived. Some thought it to be an asteroid or but as it began to decellerate, any one would easily conclude that it was not a natural celestial body. As the massive vessel continued to descend and winds began to pick up which brought what would be dry lightning began to jolt around the fringes of the massive object. It was surreal watching it come down but as soon as the intense arrival had begun, it had ended. The Muni below could only stare with confusion and awe as the object halted and hovered ominously above. Its far reaching edges blotted out the sun for many which only caused more confusion and in some areas panic. There had never been anything of this sort in the Muni history. More and more Muni had flocked to the area as more than an hour had passed. Hunters and Civilians alike could only speculate as to what it was and what its intention could be. Another hour passed and as people had gathered around the areas directly below it, a set of massive beams of light erupted from the central portion of the bottom effectively blinding the light sensitive masses. It was an azure blue ray that rapidly shifted from left to right, as if someone shining a flashlight down a hallway. The lights finally pointed straight down, forming a singular pillar of light, to a point of only a few feet across. Within seconds, a strange burst of lightning hit the ground directly below the ship, between the lights. There was no thunder though but rather a pair of blurred figures. As they became clearer to the shocked Muni around them, The figures began moving from the lights in to plain sight, revealing arachnid like creatures, whom silently survayed the group in front of them. With a clear voice that seemed to echo within itself, simple words were spoken, ones that meant so much to a frightened and confused mass. [i]"Fear not, for we are heralds of peace."[/i] The blinded masses seemed paralyzed at the sudden explosion of sensation, their bodies like throbbing beacons of stimuli cascading in a raging torrent directly into their brains. Some seemed to cough uncomfortably at the sudden lack of miasma, while others tried to blink away the sudden light. Eventually the pollution of the world started to roll back into the area in many sickly colors while the Muni remained silent. Then all of a sudden the youthful man of the pair spoke up, but he did not speak the Muni tongue. He was a young scholar by the name of Plash Shree, one of the four leading minds of the entire planet. Plash Shree was unique, he was one of the few to ever converse with outsiders before, and one of the few who knew the language. "Heralds of peace, are friends of Pax-ra. You are welcome as if you are Muni," Plash said rather smoothly before ending his statement with a click, turning to the still startled forumers to translate. Some Muni seemed to accept Plash's words and tried going back to tentative meditation, while others continued to stare, whiskers erect and eyes glaring with curiousity. Plash stood up from his bath and started to walk towards the aliens, his female companion only offering a startled grab of his hand as protest. He squeezed her hand gently before letting go and continued his approach, his bare feet padding softly against the wooden tiles of the forum. His dark eyes were slits under halfclosed eyelids, trying to adapt to the excess of light the guests had brought in. He started to notice the air growing thicker once again and the colorful rolls of gas and smog diffusing back into the area. He grew worried for his guests, past experiences with aliens proved these smokes and smogs that the Muni happily breathe through filtered lungs harmful to outsiders. He stood mere feet away from the aracnids as he posed his warning, all muni eyes on his back, "the miasma is rolling back in, will you be okay?" The arachnid turned towards the oncoming miasma and then back towards the young Muni. "Your kind hearted gesture of care is welcomed whole heartedly but alas, we have been watching this world and have studied your unique ecosystem and know its potential effect on extra terrestrials. We have adapted ourselves to counter this so there Is no need for panic, we will be... Okay." The arachnid survayed the growing crowd then back towards the young Muni. " i am Hwael, i hail from the race known as the Toff. On behalf of the Arnost Confederacy, i bid you all hello." "I must ask you, Plash of Muni, do you speak for all here?" "Just myself," Plash said. He turned to see the curious eyes of his friends and fellow muni grow impatient. Plash turned back to the alien, "but with their concent, I may speak on their behalf as I am appointed fourth forum voice, why?" Hwael reared back a bit as the swirling gasses retook the ground it had lost to the Toff vessels arrival. As the dust began to settle, the Toff began speaking back, in seemingly perfect Muni tongue. "Our reason is that of typical first contact, we would like to speak to a leader figure. Your government is loose so we would require a ruling body of sorts for any formal decision making." It turned and pointed to the crowds around, "Where we come from, all are represented and it is easy for all to be spoken for. We merely wish to have the ones speaking for your people present." Plash Shree scratched his bare chin as he listened to the clicks and hisses that mimicked Muni speech perfectly. His eyes flickered pink as he blunk twice, "join us in the pools then, the body of Pax-Ra will speak to you." The young Muni gestured with his hand and began walking back to the crowd, his spines and whiskers upright, vibrating softly at a rhythm shared by the onlookers own whiskers. As Prash placed one foot into the bubbling water his skin flared with stimulated nerves and the woman he was paired with gave him a toothy smiles as they enterlocked hands, instantly reading each other with bliss faces. Prash Shree turned back to the archnids as the woman clung tightly to him. "Come, as a collective, we are the leader, and I am the voice. Speak to me as you would the representatives of your world," Prash clicked and sputtered with a quick acrobatic tongue. "as you wish." The arachnid said before turning to its companions. "we, the Toff, on behalf of the Arnost Confederacy we come on a mission of peace. We seek out those that are willing to learn and grow. We have seen your advance beyond your home planet and even the easy acceptance of foreign cultures such as the Federation." The Toff had spent a long time researching and investigating this new culture and had prepared gifts, new foods that were adjusted to be consumed by the Muni. It wasn't the best starting gift but the Toff knows the old phrase, the quickest way to a mans heart is through his belly. "here, we offer trade in most things you could desire. We merely wish to teach and help your race rise to the galactic stage and maybe in some future, help others to greatness." The arachnid knew this would be alot to take in but one thing the Toff were notable for, aside their appearance, was how incredibly blunt they could be. Chatters and clicks erupted among the small horde of Muni, some claiming they already reached perfection, while others humbily admitted the need for improvement. The swarm of Muni held each other hands as they spoke in quick floods of words, spewing entire speeches in seconds as their whiskers stood abrupt. After the barrge of chitters finished, Plash Shree turned to the Toff. He nodded slowly, "We accept help, but are curious to what help you have to offer. Many claim we have reached perfection, a homeostasis of peace, an absolute balance. They claim interference will disrupt the balances, while others admit to the need for advancement. Advancement might improve our understanding of philosophies and compassion. How shall we advance? " The female Muni clicked her tongue as she leaned over Plash, tickling his ear and forcing a smirk. Plash nodded, "Thousands of years gave way to our culture, and while accepting of others, we must tread carefully when it comes to such influences. Compassion and love comes first in all things." If the Toff had facial features capable of showing happiness, this was indeed that moment. It spoke clearly, its intentions genuine and honest. "from the moment you encountered the Federation, you became a player in the galactic peoples ebb and flow. There is no returning from this path that has been laid out." It paused and turned away from the Muni then with one of its larger arms, it pointed to the sky. "We offer protection from the outside influence should you wish but should you choose to accept our active presence, we offer something grander than anything else in this existence. To travel the stars, to explore new peoples and have an active voice in a far greater stage.. This gift we offer is precious beyond all measure." It turned back to the Muni, "We offer you knowledge." There was a clamoring of chatters and chips, but in the end, one final voice rang from the crowd of Muni, "we will accept your knowledge." [hider= Ye Olde Things to Know] - The Muni now have friends in the confederation as well as the federation - The spread of Toff interstellar technology and space gadgets take the Muni forums by storm - Some Muni grow more isolationist to aliens - Other Muni grow more curious and continue their gregarious attitude - Try the sausage Alternate ending after initial greeting -- "and now good bye!" He pulls out his ray gun and fires at the man, vaporizing everything but his skeleton. "bwaaaahahaha!!" Behind him, the ship opens fire.. Creating swaths of bodies!(HAHAHA) Typical M and Gold banter: M: So... so much detail.. Bah! Gold: I always do XD Gold: money for nothing, chicks for free - Julius Caesar M:My anaconda don't want none unless ya' got buns hun- Saladin to Guy of Lusignan, Battle of Hattin, 1187' [/hider]