The Spectre's Custom Universe!

[The Spectre]

Audio only excerpt from Melinda Carras' mission log (continued):

"...I could not understand at the time why the Warriors would be assembling a massive tripod-mounted weapon downstairs, or why it was being set up so that it pointed towards the chamber's entryway...

...I began to make my way to the far side of the second level to the hallway heading up to the throneroom. I entered the hallway and began to head upstairs when I almost ran straight into the heavily muscled, insect headed "God" that had come through the gate with all of the others earlier...[sounds of sobbing]...I skidded to a halt barely half a meter in front of him and began to fall backwards...he grabbed one of my flailing arms and pulled me closer to him...he was so strong that he lifted me off my feet as easily as if I were a child...[sounds of sobbing]...the ornate copperoid/bronzium mandibles of his ornate helm snapped together twice...so close to my throat that I thought I was about to be decapitated...[sounds of sobbing]...he said something in their harsh language that I could not understand but I felt an unpleasant and deeply unclean, violated sensation in the pit of my stomach towards it's meaning...He began to pull me closer to his body...[sounds of sobbing]...a commanding shout from somewhere behind him made him suddenly stop and drop me like a ragdoll...I landed on my feet but was so scared that my knees buckled and I landed flat on my posterior on the cold stone floor...the insect headed "God" made what sounded like a disgusted snort, raised his hand threateningly...causing me to flinch back in expectation of a blow that never came...at the sight of my fear...[sounds of sobbing]...he lowered his arm and said something that I took to be very demeaning, turned his back on me and began to walk up the sloping hallway to the throneroom above passing the individual that had come to my "rescue"....a being that I'm sure would have allowed the insect "God" to finish whatever his intentions were had there not seemed to be something more important needing his attendance...[sounds of sobbing]...as the insect "God" passed him in the hallway I could finally get a look at my savior...it was the hawkbat headed "God"...

...the hawkbat headed "God" looked down at me with all of the disgust that an Ithorian botanist would show when looking apon a pest he had found eating the leaves of his favorite balforr tree...[sounds of sobbing]...and then he too turned his back on me and began heading upstairs...I cannot tell you the menace I felt radiating from him...not the menace that I would feel in the presence of a crazed murderer...[sounds of sobbing]...but the menace one would feel in the presence of a madman who would be so heartless as to order the murder of an entire planet's population...[sounds of sobbing]...

...as shaken and frightened as I was...[sounds of sobbing]...something inside compelled me to follow these savage "Gods" up into the throneroom...whatever this feeling inside me was...this urge that was pushing me onward....[sounds of sobbing]...it was telling me that something terrible was about to happen...[sounds of sobbing]...something in which I had an important part to play...."


Excerpt from the research log of Dr. Daniel Jackson, planet Abydos, Oct. 27, 1996:

"I came across records this afternoon of an individual that has never been referenced to in any of the known Egyptian myths. An individual of such disturbing habits that he was ostracized by the rest of the Egyptions and only contacted when they either needed his vast army or when there was a decision to be made that affected the future of the entire Egyption race.

A being known as "Sca'Rah'Bus" (the closest pronunciation I can give for his name is "Scuh-rah-bus"), the scarab headed "Eater Of The Dead". According to these records, Sca'Rah'Bus ate the flesh of his slain enemies to absorb their souls and any powers that they may have posessed. Sca'Rah'Bus also ate the flesh of any of his followers that displeased him in any way, feasting on them in magnificent public displays that were meant to prevent any future actions by his subjects that might displease him.

While he was widely disliked by the rest of the Egyption Empire, he was respected for his age and feared becuase of the fact that he had the largest personal army in the Empire next to R'ah's. He was also present at the time of "The Great Betrayal"...

Sca'Rah'Bus:








Parts:
Body- "Pirates Expeditions" Scorpio Morgan (modded)
Lower part of headdress- "Stargate" (movie) Anubis (heavily modded)
Top part of headdress- "Microman" Acroyer parts + "Avengers Animated Series" drone antennae
Skirt- "Stargate" (movie) Anubis
Staff- "Stargate" (movie) Anubis
Sword- "Dino Power Ninjatron" Badface (modded)

Sca'Rah'Bus is a creation that is entirely my own and not based on an established character forom either the "Stargate" or Egyption mythos. He came about because I had a spare Anubis helmet and some great bug parts from an Acroyer I got for $1.88 at Suncoast. The headdress was a real pain in the backside to make but I am really happy with how it turned out

[The Spectre]

Audio only excerpt from Melinda Carras' mission log (continued):

"...I crept up the passageway...trembling all the way...the feelings of darkness and dread were so heavy that you could almost reach out and physically touch them hanging in the air...when I reached the throneroom the male slaves were cleaning up the remains of a massive feast and the "Gods" were arrayed in an incomplete circle in front of R'ah's throne...the circle was incomplete because there were two gaps in it...one to R'ah's right, and one almost all of the way across from R'ah...it was as if these gaps were left to represent individuals who were not in attendance, but were integral parts of some larger body...

...I took notice of the fact that there were no Warriors on the Throneroom level, but the two droids that had arrived with Im'Ho'Tep had taken up residence on either side of R'ah's throne...

...the slaves began to pass by me carrying baskets of leftover half eaten food, dirty dishes, and other remains of the feast...they were followed by the "Gods'" female attendants....the "Gods" were left alone save for one being standing next to the large gong on the far side of the throneroom...I had not witnessed this being's arrival...he must have come through the portal while I was in the lowest level with the female attendants...as I looked at him...I felt that he was not one of these glorious yet terrible "Gods" but that....like me...[sounds of sobbing]...he too had an important part to play in the horrible events that were to unfold in the very near future...[sounds of sobbing]...I have to stop doing this...I'm getting ahead of myself again...I have to keep the details straight or else this record will be useless to anyone that might find it...

...hiding in the entranceway...daring not to intrude on this meeting of the "Gods"...I drew my attention back to the circle when R'ah began speaking...he was calling those assembled by name...I know this because in turn, each would bow slightly after being spoken to...he went around the circle starting to his right addressing the empty space first...

...the empty space was addressed as "Os'ir'Us"...the canine headed one was next...he was addressed as "An'Ubis"...R'ah went on...the avian headed one was "H'or'Us"...the dragonsnake, "S'et"...the empty space next to him as "Ha'Thor"...the hawkbat directly across from R'ah, "So'Karr"...the cyborg "Im'Ho'Tep" was next...the cruel feline "Ba'Hast" and then the insect that attempted to violate me just moments ago was addressed as "Sca'Rah'Bus"...

...after the introductions were completed...R'ah launched into a long speech that was soon cut off as several of the other "Gods" began to inturrupt him...often quite angrily...these interruptions were answered by angry retorts and gestures from "Gods" that appeared to be in agreement with R'ah's views...I do not know what they were discussing...but it was clear that it was something that there were passionate feeling about....passionate feelings that were clearly at odds with each other...

...shouting soon broke out and R'ah put whatever discussion was at hand to an end and dismissed the assembly...the majority of those in attendance retreated to other positions in the throneroom while the few that had appeared to oppose whatever R'ah's views on whatever subject they were debating exited the throneroom....radiating such anger and hatred that I could almost see it clinging to their bodies like a black viscous haze...[sounds of sobbing]...H'or'Us passed me moving quickly, clearly agitated...angrily fingering the two diamond-shaped objects on his belt....I could sense that he was just waiting for the right time to use...them....[sounds of uncontrollable sobbing]....to...use them to kill...R'ah....[sounds of sobbing]..."


Excerpt from the research log of Dr. Daniel Jackson, planet Abydos, Oct. 31, 1996:

"Horus" (or "H'or'Us" in the original Egyption), falcon headed god of the air and all that dwell therein.

According to the records I have just found, H'or'Us was also a brutal warrior that had asperations towards the Egyption throne. H'or'Us was not so intelligent or ambitious as to believe he could rule the Empire on his own, he would do so by joining with the deadly and ambitious Ba'Hast. Somewhere in the long millenia of their existances, she had taken him as one of her many lovers and they began their plot to rule. But it was a plot that they could not initiate alone, despite their large armies and Ba'Hast's intimate knowledge of R'ah's routines, vices, and weaknesses. For centuries they waited and drew their plans against R'ah. When the time was right, they found the accomplice they needed and their fiendish designs were set in motion...

If H'or'Us was plotting against R'ah, why did R'ah have his Jaffa wear helms that bore the visage of one of his enemies?"


Excerpt from the research log of Dr. Daniel Jackson, planet Abydos, Nov. 28, 1996:

"After weeks of searching (Egyption records classification systems are neither alphabetical, by related subjects, nor chronological, this storeroom would give even the toughest librarian an anurism!), I have finally uncovered the documents referring to the event known as "The Great Betrayal". It appears that there had been many plots to assassinate R'ah (or those rulers before him) and take control of the Egyption Empire since the beginning of recorded time, each one failed (well, except for the one where R'ah assassinated his predecessor, but that's a story for another day.). Most often the plots had failed because those involved realized that even if they were to successfully assassinate R'ah, there were far too many that were loyal to R'ah for them to ever wrest control of the Empire away for any real length of time. They knew that Osirus, Anubis, Set, or any of the other members of their most powerful ruling class (known as the "Circle Of Nine") would quickly launch their armies agains any who would violate the throne.

"The Great Betrayal" only succeeded because the threat had come from within the "Circle Of Nine"..."


H'or'Us:










Parts:
Body- "Pirates Expeditions" Scorpio Morgan (modded)
Head- "Stargate" (movie) Horus (modded and filled in w/scraps from a dollar store knight)
Skirt- "Stargate" (movie) Ra
Bracers- Target Exclusive "Dino Warriors" villian w/ rubberband strap extenders
Staff- custom
Raptorangs- "Battle Of The Planets" Mark

[The Spectre]

Audio only excerpt from Melinda Carras' mission log (continued):

"...[sounds of sobbing]...after a short while, the "Gods" were called back into assembly again in the throneroom...after another round of honorifics the debate began again...this time more heated than before...R'ah once again called it to a temporary end and everyone went off to different sides of the room...

...R'ah took a seat apon his throne, flanked on either side by the tall imposing droids...So'Karr, Ba'Hast, and H'or'Us gathered on one side of the room conferring amongst themselves...oh Gods...the sensation of impending doom was so concentrated around them that it almost hurt to look at them...I gazed around the room surveying those assembled...I wondered if these beings...these magnificent "Gods" that could be as old as time...knew how short the remainder of their lives were...[sounds of sobbing]...

...I knew I had to warn them somehow...[sounds of sobbing]...but try as I might...[sounds of sobbing]...I could not even hope to get them to understand me...I yelled and screamed and cried with all of my might...[sounds of sobbing]...all it drew from these "Gods" were curious stares and sounds of disgust at the antics of this silly little being dancing and yelling before their glory...[sounds of sobbing]...I noticed out of the corner of my eye that H'or'Us and Ba'Hast were moving to opposite sides of the room...Ba'Hast moving to take up position behind the droid on R'ah's left....H'or'Us moving to the opposite side of the room by the gong....[sounds of sobbing]...everything seemed to slow down...I saw all that happened with crystal clarity...An'Ubis moved into my line of sight and picked me up by my throat...from this newfound vantage point I saw a shudder...a shudder ever so slight that I would not have noticed it had my perception of time not slowed down...run through the tall stoic droids...as I was being thrown backwards into the hall...I saw the soft metallic blue of the droids central eyes go out and flare back to life...as I landed hard on my back...[sounds of sobbing]...in all of the commotion...I saw the droids to either side of R'ah's throne lower their staffs from an upright at guard position into a two-handed grip...[sounds of sobbing]...oh Gods!...[sounds of sobbing]...they lowered their staffs and opened fire...."


Excerpt from the research log of Dr. Daniel Jackson, planet Abydos, Nov. 30, 1996:

"As I continue my research into the event referred to as "The Great Betrayal", I come apon the final player that H'or'Us and Ba'Hast needed to put their plan into action. That final player was "Sokar" (or "So'Karr" in Egyption), ruler of a hellish volcanic world, one of the eldest members of The Circle Of Nine, keeper of a golden-bound tome containing the complete list of Stargate "addresses" (even worlds that were unknown to R'ah), and the sole living member of the royal court of R'ah's predecessor. So'Karr had helped R'ah do away with his former leader, thinking he could control R'ah as a puppet emperor and rule the Egyption Empire by proxy. R'ah had never trusted So'Karr but had kept him in his place by reminding him of the long and excruciating centuries of torture the previous emperor endured for standing in the way of R'ah's ambitions.

For millennia, So'Karr fumed and plotted to overthrow R'ah, but it was not until taking Ba'Hast as his concubine that he could amass the forces necessary to achieve his goals. Ba'Hast had pledged to add her armies and those of H'or'Us to So'Karr's forces, ensuring that no single remaining System Lord's armies would dare stand against their alliance after R'ah's death. Ba'hast also assured So'Karr that once the remaining members of The Circle Of Nine were diposed of, their armies absorbed into their own, and R'ah's head displayed on a pike in the throneroom of their homeworld, fear would keep the remaining Lords from banding together to stand against them.

While Ba'Hast believed herself in complete charge of the upcoming revolt (and no doubt planning to rid herself of the dim-witted H'or'Us and foul So'Karr, seating herself apon the throne as sole ruler of the Empire), little did she know of the true depths of So'Karr's intent...



So'Karr:












The Conspirators:


Parts:
Body- ROTS Supreme Chancellor Palpatine (#35, heavily modded and stupid action feature removed)
Head- "Legends Of Batman" Egyptian Batman (heavily modded)
Faceplate- "AvP" "Birth Of The Hybrid" boxed set "dead" Predator's skirt trimmings
Hands- POTJ Lando Calrissian
Staff- "Masters Of The Universe" (modern) Orko
Book- "Star Trek: TNG" (Playmates) Ambassador Spock

[The Spectre]

Audio only excerpt from Melinda Carras' mission log (continued):

"...[sounds of sobbing]...the droid to the right of R'ahs throne's first blast caught Im'Ho'Tep square in the back at point blank range blowing him apart...[sounds of sobbing]...half of his torso hit the ground spraying hydraulic and biological fluids across the bright stone floor...his lower torso and legs stayed upright for a moment before falling forward...the droid attempted to fire again but was beheaded by a blast from the weapon mounted on Im'Ho'Tep's remaining arm...

...the droid to the left of Ra's throne's first blast hit Sca'Rah'Bus in the face...[sounds of sobbing]...reducing his ornate helm to molten slag and sending his now dead body crashing to the ground...the droid's second blast would have hit S'et had he not moved so quickly that the droid could not track him...as he began to move with such impressive speed, he pulled the pair of batons from the front of his beautifully colored robes...wickedly curved serated blades sprang from their topmost portions...the blades hummed to life as S'et evaded more shots from the droid until he was close enough to dismember the droid with a pair of slashes in an "x" formation...his blades ripped through the droid so cleanly that it simply seemed to fall apart...

...[sounds of sobbing]...I crouched down in the corner near the doorway...[sounds of sobbing]...making as small a target of myself as I could...

...[sounds of sobbing]...while everyone was distracted by the droids' attacks...[sounds of sobbing]...H'or'Us made his move...he pulled one of the diamond shaped devices from his belt...it sprang open into a razor-winged bird...a bird whose deadly flight terminated when it sunk one of it's wings deep into R'ah's chest...[sounds of sobbing]...

...I then heard a roar of anger and dispair that made my heart sink...that roar was followed by a series of metallic sounds that I first took to be the ringings of the gong...[sounds of sobbing]...but it wasn't the gong...it was the gongringer using his gong staff to cave in the avian headdress of H'or'Us...[sounds of sobbing]...he kept hammering on the headdress until it was crimped nearly flat in the center...and blood was flowing freely down H'or'Us' chest...the gongringer finally ceased his barrage and H'or'Us slowly fell first to his knees...then facedown on the floor...his crushed helm hit the stone with a dull metallic thud...

...[sounds of sobbing]...confusion reigned in the throneroom...[sounds of sobbing]between the completely unexpected attack by the droids, H'Or'Us's sneak attack on R'ah...[sounds of sobbing]...H'or'Us's being killed by the gongringer, and the dead bodies hitting the floor....[sounds of sobbing]...no one saw Ba'Hast slink out from behind R'ah's throne...wrap her arm around his chest and bury a small dagger into his back...[sounds of sobbing]...

...R'ah's eyes flared a bright white and he tore himself free of Ba'Hast's grip...[sounds of sobbing]...he whirled to face her...he grabbed the front of her helm with his right hand...a hand that wore a strange and ornate piece of what I originally thought was just jewelry...[sounds of sobbing]...but it was more than just jewelry...it was an incredibly powerful weapon...[sounds of sobbing]...

...as R'ah grabbed her faceplate...there was gravimetric distortion between his palm and her helm...[sounds of sobbing]...a distortion that caused her helm to ripple and then contract as if crushed by an enormous fist...her body flailed for a split second and then went slack...[sounds of sobbing]...blood pouring from under the base of her crumpled helm...S'et rushed to R'ah's side and propped him up as he began to slump towards the ground...

...[sounds of sobbing]...as soon as So'Karr saw his acclomplices fall at the hands of R'ah and those loyal to him...he turned and bolted out of the throne room...[sounds of sobbing]...a split second after he passed through the entrance into the hallway...the doorway was full of Warriors...[sounds of sobbing]...Warriors that took momentary stock of the bloody situation in the throneroom...[sounds of sobbing]...then leveled their fearsome weapons on the surviving "Gods" and opened fire..."


Excerpt from the research log of Dr. Daniel Jackson, planet Abydos, Dec. 02, 1996:

"Set" (or "S'et" in the original Egyption), snake-headed God of the underworld. Fierce weilder of the deadly twin swords known as the Serpent's Fangs.

S'et was not trusted by most of the Circle Of Nine due to his sometimes traitorous past ties to So'Karr and his minions. If I were a betting man, I would have placed good money on S'et being one of those that would have plotted R'ah's death, but that is a bet I would have lost. S'et turned out to be one of R'ah's greatest defenders, standing alongside a slave named A'hks."


Excerpt from the research log of Dr. Daniel Jackson, planet Abydos, Dec. 04, 1996:

"My research into "The Great Betrayal" continues. I have discovered that the first strike in the "Betrayal" came not from So'Karr or one of his Egyption cohorts, but from the deadly robotic Jaffa that had accompanied Im'Ho'Tep through the Stargate. Somehow, somewhere in the vast centuries of their planning, the conspirators must have had an opportunity to implant a virus into the robots. A virus that would enable them to turn the droids on those they were built to protect. I'd be willing to guess that this ultimate unreliability of the robots is what prompted R'ah to discontinue their use as not even artificial warriors were immune to corruption..."


Jaffa Droids:






Shots with other figures:






Parts:
Body- ROTS Grevious' Bodyguard (heavily modded)
Head- some cast I got from Master Gunzz
Shoulder Armor- some "D.I.C.E." figure and Spytroops Overkill
Skirt- "Ninja Battles" Stormshadow
Staff- custom


S'et:








Defending R'ah!:


Parts:
Body- Saga Senator Jar Jar Binks
Head- custom
Hands- Spytroops Cobra Mountain Shipwreck
Feet- McDonalds "Treasure Planet" figure
Swords- "Darkness Warriors" (cheap dollar store fantasy figures) (modded)

S'et received his traditional blood sacrifice as this is the figure that temporarily cost me almost half of the topmost segment of my right middle finger  

While I was making modifications to the Sigma-6 Cobra Commander staff that makes up the majority of the helm, the brittle plastic that the little cobra head atop the staff is made from shattered and the razorblade flew into the top of my finger at an almost 45 degree angle severing a large chunk of my finger! It took 3 weeks for my finger to regenerate and almost 2 more weeks for the nail to grow back and cover the new flesh/muscle/etc. Everything grew back almost perfectly, but I bear a nasty indented scar at the point where the blade entered my finger

[The Spectre]

Audio only excerpt from Melinda Carras' mission log (continued):

"...[sounds of sobbing]...Oh Gods!...the Warriors just opened up on them...firing blast after blast into the enclosed throneroom...[sounds of sobbing]...I slipped past the Warriors as they entered the room to finish the massacre...they were so focused on the killing that they never even noticed me...

...I ran down the small hallway that lead to the ziggurat's entrance...[sounds of sobbing]...only to find that the doors had been sealed tight...almost as if my team and I had never gained entrance to this charnal pit...[sounds of sobbing]...oh how I wish we had never even gotten the transmission that brought us out here...[sounds of sobbing]...this place should never have been found...

...I ran back down the short hallway...[sounds of sobbing]...the sounds of weapons fire and the screams of the dying still came from the throneroom...[sounds of sobbing]...the Warriors may have gotten the drop on the "Gods"...[sounds of sobbing]...but it looked as though the "Gods" were going to take as many of the traitorous Warriors to the afterlife with them as they could...

...I ran down the passageway leading to the second level...[sounds of sobbing]...and took refuge behind the statue of R'ah...I looked from under his upraised arm to the level below...So'Karr had assembled four of his Warriors at the base of the portal's ramp...[sounds of sobbing]...suddenly...[sounds of sobbing]...the sounds of fighting ended in the room above...So'Karr's Warriors raised their right arms and gave a shout of victory...a shout that soon turned into what I'm sure was a curse from So'Karr as the sounds of running and the shouting of at least one of the "Gods" came from the hallway leading downward...

...So'Karr raised his staff...bringing the ring shaped finial at the top of the staff to his eye level...[sounds of sobbing]...he touched several places on the staff's ring and then struck the bottom tip of his staff hard apon the ground...[sounds of sobbing]...and everything began to tremble as the portal awakened and sent it's liquid light geyser spewing into the open space above the ramp...after the geyser receded...So'Karr and his Warriors went forward and I heard the portal close again...just as S'et and An'Ubis...[sounds of sobbing]...both bloody and horribly burned...oh Gods!...An'Ubis' left arm was gone below his bicep...the remainder of his left arm was a ragged charred stump hanging from his shoulder...they were followed closely by the gong ringer...[sounds of sobbing]...covered in so many charred wounds that his once white flesh was now nearly black...the gongringer was carrying R'ah's body...[sounds of sobbing]...a body that seemed to be shrivelling...diminishing right before my eyes...as the gong ringer passed...I saw that what was left of Im'Ho'Tep was clinging to the back of his skirt by his single remaining limb...

...as they passed the control device for the portal...An'Ubis stopped just long enough to grab the near dead tech that was laying on the far side of the device...I was so frightened that I had not even noticed him...An'Ubis shouted something to the bloodied tech and the tech began to touch a series of buttons atop the device...[sounds of sobbing]...the surviving "Gods" and the gong ringer proceeded down to the portal level...as they disappeared into the hallway...I saw the tech finish programming the device...[sounds of sobbing]...but as he raised his hand...palm open downward towards the raised mound in the center of the device...[sounds of sobbing]...he was struck down by a double blast I recognized as coming from one of the Warriors' serpentine pistols...the tech fell over sideways without activating the portal!....[sounds of sobbing]...So'Karr had left at least one Warrior behind...[sounds of sobbing]...I ran to the device...crouching low as not to make myself a target for the Warrior below...the survivors were running headlong into a trap...I was of no concern to the Warrior...

...as I looked over the ledge to the level below...I saw An'Ubis run into the room...[sounds of sobbing]...and right into a point blank blast from the enormous cannon the Warriors had assembled...[sounds of sobbing]...he was blown to shreds...[sounds of sobbing]...from within the still expanding cloud of what was once a "God" came the flying form of Set...his leap carrying him across the length of the portal chamber...the Warrior had backed away from the cannon...he could not elevate it enough to hit the fast moving S'et...he managed to fire the deadly double pulse from his pistol...straight into the decending form of S'et...[sounds of sobbing]...S'et crashed down atop the cannon...one of his swords cut completely through the cannon...[sounds of sobbing]...the other through the torso of the warrior....

...[sounds of sobbing]...the gong ringer, still carrying his precious burdon, entered the room next...and skid to a halt at the base of the ramp...[sounds of sobbing]...the portal would not bring his Lord to safety...he turned to look at the control device...[sounds of sobbing]...and we locked eyes...[sounds of sobbing]...even though I could not see his eyes through his large electric blue eyepieces...I knew our eyes met...[sounds of sobbing]...and I was filled with such a sadness and longing that I had to grasp the side of the device just to stay standing...[sounds of sobbing]...this gong ringer...this slave...[sounds of sobbing]...he so loved R'ah...[sounds of sobbing]...loved him to the point that even though he was so wounded that he should already be dead...[sounds of sobbing]...he refused to succumb to his injuries until his beloved master was safe...[sounds of sobbing]...

...without even thinking...I found my arm raising...my hand opening up...and my palm coming to rest on the central hub of the device...the portal roared to life and this poor...[sounds of sobbing]...this sad...[sounds of sobbing]...heartbroken man...[sounds of sobbing]...began to run up the ramp...[sounds of sobbing]...his run to salvation was cut short...[sounds of sobbing]...the impaled Warrior...flat on his back under part of S'et's inert mass but still clinging to life...had shot him...[sounds of sobbing]...shot him with a double blast from that horrible pistol...

...time came to a halt again...[sounds of sobbing]...I found myself screaming in anger...[sounds of sobbing]...anger that consumed me completely...I reached out..and suddenly...[sounds of sobbing]...unexpectedly....I found the strange Eopieshoe shaped device from the tech's belt flying into my hand...[sounds of sobbing]...my finger found a trigger...[sounds of sobbing]...and I fired...[sounds of sobbing]...fired at the pinned Warrior until his armor was reduced to slag...[sounds of sobbing]...and his body was a flaming wreck...

...[sounds of sobbing]...my attention was drawn back to the ramp again...the gong ringer was still standing...[sounds of sobbing]...he was still trying to reach the portal...he was staggering ever so slowly...making step after painfull step...Im'Ho'Tep had dislodged himself from the slave's belt and was dragging his torso towards the shimmering disc...the gong ringer stopped...[sounds of sobbing]...mere steps from the disc...[sounds of sobbing]...and collapsed forward onto his knees...[sounds of sobbing]...Im'Ho'Tep had reached the disc and was disappearing into it's liquid surface...[sounds of sobbing]...the gongringer raised his arms...[sounds of sobbing]...pushing R'ah's limp form as close as he could to the disc...but still too far away for his Master to escape...[sounds of sobbing]...he turned his head ever so slightly...and I saw the light fade from his helm's eyes...with his last dying breath...[sounds of sobbing]...he launched himself forward...landing partway through the portal's disc...[sounds of sobbing]...the portal closed...[sounds of sobbing]...it closed and left the gong ringer's lower body behind...[sounds of sobbing]...severed just above the waist...[sounds of sobbing]...severed as neatly as if by the finest surgical droid...

...[sounds of sobbing]...they were gone...and I was alone in a tomb...[sounds of sobbing]..."


Excerpt from the research log of Dr. Daniel Jackson, planet Abydos, Dec. 07, 1996:

"A'Hks", slave to the Egyption Empire, former gladiator, gong ringer in R'ah's court, and two time savior of R'ah's life. Born into slavery on one of the numerous worlds under R'ah's sway, A'hks was what we would now classify as "mentally challenged". Although slow-witted, he was fiercly loyal to those he loved and incredibly strong. Considered by his Egyption masters to be too stupid and clumsy for labor, he eventually ended up in the gladiatorial arena, where he became a favorite. While not brutal by nature, A'hks was tortured and conditioned to make him unbeatable in the ring. One night when an assassin, disguised as a fellow gladiator, attempted to kill R'ah during a celebration, A'hks placed himself in front of the assassin's thrown blade. The small blade struck him in the chest, which would have been a mortal wound for anyone not of A'hks' bulk. A'hks simply looked down at the blade sticking out of his body and then charged the assassin. He tore the assassin's helmeted head off with his bare hands, and proceeded to crush it under his heel until it was reduced to a greasy smear on the stone floor.

R'ah was so impressed with the giant that he took him from the bloody arena and gave him a place in the royal court. A'hks became the royal gong ringer, travelling with R'ah wherever he went and announcing every visitor that sought audience with his beloved Lord.

During the event known as "The Great Betrayal", A'hks carried R'ah's dying form to the safety of the Stargate, but all records of him cease at that point. I can only theorize that either A'hks did not survive the event or R'ah allowed him to retire someplace nice for the remainder of his years. I honestly wish that he had never succeeded in sending R'ah through the Stargate (or from that first assassination attempt), as he would have saved  generations of humans from R'ah's cruelty..."

A'hks:












WIP:


Parts:
Body- POTF2 Malikilli
Head- custom made from a Visionaries helmet and a Vintage Emperor's Royal Guard head
Skirt- custom made from trimmings from several different toys
Staff- unknown dollar store knight accessory


Solar Heavy Cannon:






WIPs:










A'hks (pronounced "Ox") started out as a throwaway background character, but the more I worked on him, the more personality and character the figure developed. He eventually evolved into my favorite character in this story. I actually wish I could have had him survive, but his sacrifice was necessary to his character's development.

The Solar Heavy Cannon was entirely scratchbuilt from almost 2 dozen different pieces salvaged from several different toys.

[The Spectre]

Audio only excerpt from Melinda Carras' mission log (continued):

"...[sounds of sobbing]...I was alone and they were all dead...[sounds of sobbing]...all of them...I left the portal chamber...and went down to the chamber where the female attendants were kept...[sounds of sobbing]...knowing full well what I would find...but hoping...[sounds of sobbing]...hoping to find at least one other living being in this tomb...

...I entered the lower level chamber...[sounds of sobbing]...and saw them...[sounds of sobbing]...oh Gods!...[sounds of sobbing]...the bodies...[sounds fo sobbing]...the Warriors had slaughtered these poor defenseless women...[sounds of sobbing]...and they had taken their time...[sounds of sobbing]...there wasn't a single body that bore the telltale wounds of the Warriors' energy weapons...[sounds of sobbing]...these women were tortured...[sounds of sobbing]...tortured and then sliced to ribbons by the Warriors' blades...[sounds of sobbing]...they must have done it during the long ceremony in the throneroom....distance, solid stone, and the shouting of the "Gods" must have completely masked their terrified screams...[sounds of sobbing]...

...and then I saw her...[sounds of sobbing]...the young girl that had shown me kindness...[sounds of sobbing]...oh Gods, no not her as well...[sounds of sobbing]...one or more of the Warriors must have held her down...[sounds of sobbing]...held her still while another Warrior....[sounds of uncontrollable sobbing]...he...[sounds of sobbing]...he...[sounds of sobbing]...did terrible...[sounds of sobbing]...things to her...[sounds of sobbing]...he sliced her open....[sounds of sobbing]...he cut her open from a few inces below her navel...[sounds of sobbing]...up to her chin...[sounds of sobbing]...I had to look away...[sounds of sobbing]...I couldn't bear the sight of those beautiful eyes...[sounds of sobbing]...eyes that had held such compassion...they were now glassy and empty...

...[sounds of sobbing]...I felt such intense anger and sadness...why should an innocent suffer so...[sounds of sobbing]...I began to feel sick...so sick that I wanted to curl up and die...

...as I made my way back upward...I found a small alcove that contained remnants of my team's equipment...[sounds of sobbing]...there were no weapons...but among the smashed scientific equipment, clothing, droid parts, and glowrods...I found several of the soldiers' packs...packs containing field rations and a small repair kit..."


Excerpt from the research log of Dr. Daniel Jackson, planet Abydos, Dec. 12, 1996:

"After "The Great Betrayal", So'Karr returned to the Egyption throneworld, claiming that he was the only surviver of a sneak attack on the Circle Of Nine by a new foe. He had killed the 4 Jaffa that had accompanied him back to his world so they would never be tempted to reveal what had truly transpired on far off Giza. So'Karr had claimed that this afront to the glory of the Egyption Empire could not go unpunished, and the remaining System Lords were so overcome with anger and grief that they did not even question So'Karr's claims. So'Karr identified this foe as "The Brood" and provided coordinates to their homeworld. The Egyption Empire launched their massive armies against this new foe, obliterating their world and forcing the survivors to become spaceborne wanderers.

R'ah, on the other hand, was sealed up inside one of his lifesaving Sarcophogi while his ship made the long journey to Earth. R'ah's knowledege of Earth was very recent. He had only just learned of it's existance from his herald, Os'ir'Us (could this be the being that inspired the legends of Osirus?). Os'ir'Us had in turn just learned of Earth's location and it's inhabitants during a chance encounter with the spacefaring hunters known as the Yautja. It seems that the Yautja had been developing the cultures of Earth for millennia (Just how many alien species have visited Earth? Could those flying saucer lunatics have been right all of these years?) and pointed Os'ir'Us in our direction. R'ah could have travelled to any number of worlds, but there was something special about us, something that no other species in the universe could provide him: a body that he could repair time and again throughout the long centuries..."


R'ah (Diminished):






Parts:
Body- Saga The Emperor (modded)
Head- random Joe (heavily sanded) w/ Saga Zam Wessel Clawdite mask (modded)
Hood- Saga Barris Offe (heavily modded)
Clasp- trimming from a "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider" (movie) Stone Monkey Warrior Illuminatti idol accessory


R'ah's Life Support Sarcophagus:






















To Sleep Until Earthfall...:


This sarcophagus was made from over 2 dozen parts from my various bitz boxes. The largest piece is the "Time Chamber" from a "Retro Micronauts" Pharoid. The gold tablet at the top of the sarcophagus contains labels from the original "Stargate" (movie) Winged Glider (I had one years ago that I made into a futuristic Cobra ground attack vehicle for a comission).

[The Spectre]

Audio only excerpt from Melinda Carras' mission log (continued):

"...time passed...I don't have any idea how much...day and night had no meaning anymore as I couldn't see the sky...all I know is that after some time...the warm glow faded from the temple's stones and I was alone in total and complete darkness...I was able to fix one of our glowrods...I only used it for a few minutes at a time to conserve power...I only had a few working powerpacks and couldn't waste them...

...[sounds of sobbing]...more time passed...oh Gods!...the smell of the bodies rotting away was sickening...[sounds of sobbing]...there was nowhere to bury them...[sounds of sobbing]...I dragged them all to the bottom most level and closed the massive decorative doors...[sounds of sobbing]...but the stench could not be contained...

...the oddest thing had occurred to the bodies of the slain "Gods"...[sounds of sobbing]...they had shrivelled up shortly after death...[sounds of sobbing]...they were now only about three quarters of their original size...I managed to find the activator that caused their helms to retract...[sounds of sobbing]...they were far different than I expected...[sounds of sobbing]...their skin had gone an ashy gray and was wrinkled and baggy....their eyes were oversized and black...at first I took them to be some relative of the Duro or the Neimodians...why had they looked so much like standard humanoids when alive?...was this what happened to them at death...or was this their true appearance?

...more time passed and I used the repair kit to jury rig the recording device you are now listening to...I utilized the remains of Ocho's head....his eyes were smashed and there were no other viable eyes in the remains of the other droids...so I am unable to provide you with any visuals...just audio....the food ran out some time ago...I'm now so weak that even narrating this tale has drained me...[sounds of soft sobbing]...I can't go on any longer...I'm dying...

...I know I'm dying...I can feel myself wasting away...to anyone that may come across this record.........remember me...and my crew...and the brave soldiers that attempted to defend us...all of the poor slaves....and the "Gods"....we all lived.....[sounds of soft sobbing].......and we all....died....

...remember us....and tell the universe what transpired here....

....everything is growing brighter...this is the end........everything is....shaking.....

...is this what it feels like....to....die?....

....[sounds of joyful crying]....someone's here....it's an armored angel.....he's beautiful....he wants me to....come with....him.....................I'm not afraid..........................................." [Recording ends]


 In a room deep within the headquarters of New Republic Intelligence, three men finish listening to the recording of one woman's account of her final frightening weeks. General A'bernathy, the hard man seated behind the large synthwood desk leans forward and addresses the man removing the leads from a battered droid head sitting atop the desk.

 "Is that all of it, Breaker?" he asked in his calm, strong voice.

 "Not exactly, sir." replied the wiry communications expert. "The recording goes on for several more hours but it's all either silence or static. It looks like she died without shutting it down and it just recorded until the power cell ran out. If the timeframe she gave at the beginning of the report is accurate, this recording was made over a decade ago."

 General A'bernathy reclined back into his deep chair, steepled his fingers and inquired "How did we come into posession of this droid head? Has anyone else entered ths zigurrat?"

 The third man, a dark skinned human who had been silent until now, spoke. "It came to us through the hands of a smuggler named Daxxon Ral. He claims that it was given to him by a treasure hunting aquaintance of his. She told him she found it buried in the sand outside a temple that she was unable to gain access to."

 The general's eyes turned cold. "Who else has heard this recording?" he asked.

 "Just Ral and his Wookiee copilot, Kielbassa. The treasure hunter was unable to get it to work." replied the third man. "Ral can be trusted, he did alot of work for the Alliance during the war and brought the recording straight to me." he continued.

 The General stood up and addressed the third man "Stalker, assemble the team....."

The Beginning.



Excerpt from the research log of Dr. Daniel Jackson, planet Abydos, Dec. 15, 1996:

"Osirus" (or "Os'ir'Us" in the original Egyption), worshipped on earth as a sun god, was actually more of an Egyption equivalent to the Norse thunder god "Thor". Os'ir'Us is referred to in these documents as "The Stormbringer" and is credited with the ability to kill his opponents with lightninglike discharges (whether these discharges are technological or biological in origin is not defined).

I can see how he ended up as a sun god in Egyptian mythology though. He was R'ah's herald, sent across the universe looking for worlds R'ah could subjugate and add to his empire. R'ah would often send Os'ir'Us to worlds under his control in his stead to ensure that they remained in fear of his power. Over time and retellings of the stories, the ancient Egyptians must have come to see Os'ir'Us as something of a substitute sun god and adjusted their mythology accordingly.

Os'ir'Us travelled the cosmos with a small winged robot companion referred to as "An'Ti". In Egyption mythology, An'Ti was a falcon winged guardian spirit, perhaps that's how the early Egyptians saw this machine. Was it Os'ir'Us' bodyguard? Navigator? Personal secretary? The documents here do not say. They only mention that they travelled together.

According to these documents, Os'ir'Us travelled to the farthest reaches of our universe and beyond. If these records are to be believed, he even travelled to at least one parallel universe where he encountered a race called the "Gou'uld", a race of parasitic reptillian worms that had developed a society that closely mirrored that of the Egyption Empire. These Gou'uld also utilized that universe's Stargate network to control a vast empire. The timeline of this universe was very similar to our own as well. Their R'ah had even come to that earth just as he did in our universe. I just wonder if there is another Daniel jackson in that universe and did he ever get to go through the Stargate? Or even more importantly, if there is, does he have to wear these damn glasses all of the time?

But I'm getting off on a tangent. The thought of another universe, with R'ah and the other Egyptions existing as parasitic worms sounds like a bad television program that you'd find on basic cable....."

Os'ir'Us:




















Parts:
Body- "Pirates Expeditions" Skorpio Morgan (heavily modded)
Head- "Mummies Alive!" Hunter Ja-Kal
Torso armor (front)- Spytroops Barrel Roll (heavily modded)
Torso armor (back)- "Shadow Raiders" Prince Pyrus (heavily modded)
Torso armor wings- "Retro Micronauts" Pharoid
Bracers- "Aliens vs. Predator" "Birth Of The Hybrid" "dead" Predator
Hands- "Legends Of Knights" villian knight
Skirt- custom
Boots- "Legends Of Knights" villian knight
Hammer- "Mummies Alive!" Fighting Armon
Sword- "Dino Power Ninjatron" Badface


An'Ti:














Parts:
Body- "Stargate" (movie) Winged Glider artifact (modded)
Stand- Saga Orn Free Ta camdroid accessory

[The Spectre]

Like any good Special Edition rerelease, I wanted this thread to have special supplemental material available nowhere else. In this post you will find the decade old genesis of this project, a real world influence for one fo the plot points, some random thoughts and anecdotes, some Easter Eggs, and 4 EXCLUSIVE pictures of what the Egyption Temple diorama looks like filled up with all of the custom figures from this series!


Genesis Of A Dream Project

This project is the culmination of a dream I have had for over a decade. I have wanted to combine the characters and concepts of Stargate with those of Star Wars and do it in a believable, cohesive way. I had fallen in love with "Stargate" from the moment I read the film novelization months before the film's release. When the film finally came out, I was blown away.

Originally, way back in late 1994 I had aquired a set of the "Stargate" movie toys on clearance at KayBee Toys in the Willowbrook Mall. I got the entire set for under $15. I didn't know what I was going to do with them, but for that price I grabbed them for a future project. The figures themselves were rather lackluster, but the accessories were exquisite. Over the years, parts of the set came and went (the dune buggy being turned into an arctic fast attack vehicle for a G.I.Joe commission, the Winged Glider being turned into a futuristic Cobra ground attack jet for another G.I.Joe Commission, gave away the "Human" figures to a friend's kid, gave the unaccessorized "Egyptians" to a Stargate collector last spring, etc.) but one thing remained clear- the helmets and accessories MUST remain for the eventual day when I can bring my dream to life.

The following year, Star Wars returned to the toy shelves and I knew that I was one step closer to achieving my vision. Ten long years passed and I spent that time amassing every bit of Egyptian themed 1/18 scale (or near scale) accessories and parts that I could get my hands on. I found a dusty but sealed pair of "Stargate" plastic models priced at $.27 each jammed onto clearance shelves with unsold TRU Exclusive G.I. Joe toys in Wayne in 1998. A carded set of the insanely hard to find at the time of their release "Legends Of Batman" Egyptian Batman and Catwoman for only $.19 at the Bradlees in Saddle Brook on the last day of their being open for business. A few random accessories taken from the failed "Mummies Alive!" action figures I got at KayBee for $.99 each. Etc., etc., etc.

It wasn't until February 2006 that the final piece fell into place that allowed me to actually start this massive undertaking- the random finding of 6 TRU Exclusive Jedi Council Sets on clearance for the REDICULOUSLY low price of $.48 each! Over the following weeks after that first jackpot find, I found 3 more identical scores bringing my total of Jedi Council Set diorama sections up to 24. I got the 25th and final piece in a trade with someone over at CorePlantes.com a week later. I'd like to eventually score 5 more to make a roof for the diorama, but I'm very happy with how it turned out anyway

Creating the story was an insane process of revission after revission as I researched deeper into not only the Stargate mythos, but actual Egyptian mythology. After about 20 rewrites, I was satisfied with what I had created with one exception- it was far too long and had way too many characters and events to be contained in a single storyline. So, like Lucas before me, I broke it down into a beginning, middle, and "almost end" (I say "almost end" simply because this saga is a prequel to the film and the film is ultimately the "end" of the story). The beginning became what you have just experienced as "Through The 'Gate, Lies Adventure...". The middle will be released (hopefully) next Fall/Winter as "Once More Through The 'Gate...". The "almost end" will follow sometime in 2012 (not yet titled).


Art Imitates Life
 A key plot point that sets this entire storyline in motion is Palpatine's search for mystical/legendary objects of power. A search that mirrors that of a maniacal dictator and would be ruler of the world right here on earth- Adolf Hitler. Allegedly, during World War II, Hitler sent his agents across the globe in the attempt to use the paranormal to ensure victory over the Allies. Some of the objects of power he was said to be in search of were the Spear Of Longinus/Spear Of Destiny, the Philosopher's Stone, Napolean's foreskin, the Ark Of The Covenant, and the remnants of the One True Cross. These tales of his search for occult objects inspired many a comic book, film, television show, and novel with the most well known being the classic adventure film "Raiders Of The Lost Ark".

I decided early on that I needed some reason for this abandoned Egyption outpost to be discovered to get the characters together in the first place. I knew that in order not to interfere with the established continuity of the Star Wars films/comics/novels, it had to be something small scale and isolated. I couldn't just have an Egyption armada drop out of hyperspace and start blasting away at Coruscant. I figured that there were so many parallels between Palpatine and Hitler already that one more could be believable. With the arcane knowledge, both Sith and other, at Palpatine's hands there could very well be a reason that he would at least have some knowledge of the Stargates (but almost certainly not the Egyptions as they have not been seen at large in the galaxy fro over 10,000 years). As for what other items he was searching for...well, you'll have to wait and see what I come up with over the coming years


In No Particular Order: Random Thoughts, Anecdotes, And Easter Eggs

The title of this project is actually the original tag line for the movie "Stargate". It appeared on all of the teaser posters, in the teaser trailers, and on the very first release poster.

I dropped several very subtle hints in the chapters leading up to Chapter 12 that Melinda Carras is Force sensative. If you read the storyline, she always instinctively knows where to look to see significant events unfolding, as well as being able to sense the emotional states of the Egyptions and the young slave girl. She finally uses an "actual" Force power when she calls the Tech's Scarab Blaster to her hand to kill the last Jaffa. Coincedentially, she also submitted to the Dark Side with that act (the ramifications of this act will be felt in the second installment of this saga next year).

I REALLY dislike the television series and chose to ignore it almost completely and stick to the continuity of the original film, it's novelization, and the 3 "sequel" novels released the year prior to the show first airing. The only things I kept from the television show were some terms (Jaffa, Cha'appai, System Lords) and 2 items (Zat Gun, "Dial Home Device").

The metallic patinas used in this project were completely formulated by me during the initial prop/accessory design phase. The various colors were achieved by multiple drybrushings of different colors over a solid base color. There are 3 different shades of brown as well as 2 different metallic bronzes in the majority of the props, weapons, and armor. The black headdresses such as those worn by Ba'Hast and So'Karr were achieved by drybrushing 2 different metallics (dark pewter and antique silver) and 2 different grays over a black base. The R'ah statue's "ancient Egyptian gold artifact" look was achieved by drybrushing platinum and gold metallics over a custom mixed pastel blue base color.

The 3 characters listening to Melinda Carras' mission log are part of another custom project of mine entitled "Galactic Intelligence: Joint Operations Elite", a G.I. Joe/Star Wars crossover. In this continuity, the Joe team are a New Republic Intelligence Unit that originally answered to General Madine until his death in the novel "Darksaber". General A'bernathy is his successor and is a character based on the leader of the G.I.Joe team, General Hawk. My Joe team will be the main characters in the third arc of this saga and travel through the Stargate. You can see the completed "Galactic Intelligence: Joint Operations Elite" customs and read their backgrounds elsewhere on this board.

The research droid's name "ES-PN8" (also referred to as "Ocho") is a reference to one of my favorite films- "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story".

The spacefaring hunters referred to as the "Yautja" are, indeed, the same species seen in the films "Predator", "Predator 2", and "Alien Vs. Predator" (as well as countless comics, novels, and videogames). I have made several Yautja customs as part of my Star Wars "Universe".

The smuggler Daxxon Ral, who is referrenced at the beginning and end of this tale, is my all-time favorite RPG character. I had a great time playing him for several years and even wrote a trilogy of short novellas about his adventures with his Wookiee co-pilot Kielbassa and the revolving cast of motley characters that travelled in his modified YT-1300 freighter, the "Howling Wolf". Ral will return again in the next chapter of this tale.


Some non-Stargate items hidden in the diorama and their locations:

Vulcan gong (centerpiece of the Egyption gong)

6 Colombian 1000 Peso coins (underside of the throne room level)

most of the base from the large electronic Deep Space Nine Space Station (underside of the throne room level)

an actual Austrian crystal pyramid (atop the small device to the right of the right Stargate support arm)

a Deep Space Nine "orb cabinet" (part of the 'Gate's powersource, it sits just in the middle of the device containing the Austrian crystal pyramid

108 childrens' wooden blocks (support columns)

the "frisbee of death" from the very first Xena toy (part of the top of the Dial Home Device)

most of a pair of "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider" Stone Monkey Warrior figures (R'ah and An'Ubis statues)

the bases from the figures above (top of R'ah's throne and base relief sculpture visible through the 'Gate)



EXCLUSIVE Pictures Of The Diorama Filled Up:

[The Spectre]

While going through an old computer, I found a massive photo folder full of WIP pictures from this project and thought you all might like to see them.

Diorama Pieces:





















































Accessories:







BONUS!

Sneak Peek at 2 unpainted diorama pieces from Episode II: "Once More Through The 'Gate!"

[JediMerc]

These are both spectacular and extraordinarily creepy at the same time!  Religious cults are super-intriguing; we just can't take our eyes off them!

[The Spectre]

Laserbeak is a deadly spy/attack droid of avain design in the employ of "Bloody" Bil Ni'Hee, the most dangerous and deadly of Aquos' five "Pirate Lords". Equipped with a highly advanced sensor and targetting array in it's head, Laserbeak is often used as a spotter by the gunners of Ni'Hee's vessels during naval battles and can even join in the attacks itself with it's dual, fire-linked blasters and on-board compliment of four concussion missiles. Laserbeak is often cranky and unruly if anyone other than Ni'Hee is interacting with it, no one really knows why, but the droid seems to be very attached to Ni'Hee. When not in flight spying on or shooting at Ni'Hee's enemies, Laserbeak can be found sitting, powered down, on it's perch near the steering column of the "Reaper", Ni'Hee's personal Flagship.

Laserbeak:












Parts:
Head/neck/legs- POTJ Security Battle Droid (heavily modded)
Body/missiles- G.I. Joe General Hawk v3 backpack
Blasters- POTF2 Garindan blasters (heavily modded)

[The Spectre]

The Jade Dragons are one of the fierce pirate clans that terrorize the 23 seas of Aquos. Lead by the Pirate Lord X'anoi X'an aboard his flagship Jade Dragon, they are responsible for some of the most devestating pirate attacks in the planet's history!

Feng X'an is the younger brother of X'anoi X'an and helmsman of the Jade Dragon.








Parts:
Whole figure/sword- Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End deluxe Seo Feng (modded)
Feet- unknown Star Wars figure
Hat- Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End deluxe Elizabeth Swann
Blaster- ROTS Sneak Preview General Grevious

Notes- Virtually the entire figure was repainted as the one I bought had a particularly shoddy factory paint job

Minn Mae and Lynn W'ong are twin sisters that serve as both concubines and bodyguards to X'anoi X'an. Do not let them fool you, they are as deadly as they are beautiful!

Minn Mae W'ong:








Parts:
Entire figure- Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End deluxe Elizabeth Swann
Topknot- POTJ Aura Sing
Chakram- Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End deluxe Seo Feng

Lynn W'ong:








Parts:
Entire figure- Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End deluxe Elizabeth Swann
Braid- unknown
Chakram- Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End deluxe Seo Feng

Jade Dragon Warriors are the heavily armed and armored members of the Jade Dragon pirate clan. Carrying blasters and assorted bladed weapons (both vibro and old fashioned non-powered), they are ruthless fighters and the scourge of the 23 seas!

Jade Dragon Warrior (typical):








Parts:
Whole figures/swords:  Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End Tae Huan (modded)
Feet- Saga Supreme Chancellor Palpatine
Blasters- custom
Pikes- G.I.Joe "Ninja Battles" playset accessories

I made 6 of them for this project.


Their blasters are custom made to look both sci-fi and pirate-ish at the same time:



Several years ago when I was initially developing "Deep Sea Danger!" I knew I wanted to have an "Asian" (Asian is in quotes because they are not really Asian, they are from another planet and just happen to resemble Asians just like Han/Luke/etc. just happen to resemble caucasians) pirate clan, but was at a loss as to how I would achieve it with so few realistically designed Asian action figures available in 1/18 scale. When the "Pirates Of The Caribbean: At Worl's End" figures hit the shelves my concerns evaporated as not only did I now have access to a couple of new Asian headsculpts, but the figures offered almost perfectly matched my visions of the characters I had designed! Aside from their sandled or bare feet, the POTC:AWE figures very closely matched what I wanted to do so minimal modifications were needed to achieve my goals. Finding 6 pairs of matching boots for the Jade Dragon Warriors was not easy though

[The Spectre]

Excerpt from field report filed by Galactic Intelligence: Joint Operations Elite aquatic mission specialist Deep Six:

For as long as there have been ships sailing the 23 seas of Aquos, there have been five major pirate clans each ruled over by a Pirate Lord. These individuals rose to positions of power through their cunning and ruthlessness, through treachery and (literally) backstabbing their way up the ranks of their clans.

Each of the five Pirate Lords also holds one of the seven fabled "Keys Of At'Alantis", holy relics believed to have originated in a fabled "lost continent" that sank beneath the waves of Aquos thousands of years before the world was colonized by outworlders. These "Keys" were stolen centuries ago from the Aqualon monasteries they were entrusted to and have been passed from one Pirate Lord to his or her successor through rite of combat or taken by murder ever since. A sixth "Key" is in posession of a being known as "The Last Prophet", one of the few remaining native Aqualons (the native population was enslavd by the first coloninsts and worked nearly to extinction), the seventh and final "Key" is unaccounted for. It is believed by the superstitious Aqualons that if the seven "Keys" are reunited, At'Alantis will wise from the depths and it's inhabitants will rule all of Aquos.

Throughout the history of Aquos, the five pirate clans have fought each other just as much as they have fought the military forces of the established government of Aquos. This savage infighting has prevented any one clan from becoming a major threat to the stability of the planet's economy or government. Recently, this has changed for the worse. Through unknown means or reason, there has been documented sightings of vesels from different clans working together for coordinated strikes against the major fishing companies' vessels (exporting seafood is Aquos' major source of income) and against military and government targets. This newfound coordination coincides with reported attacks by a "mythical" creature from the depths of Aqualon legend, the Leviathan...

Subject: Captain "Bloody" Bil Ni'Hee
Captain "Bloody" Bil Ni'Hee is currently the most powerful and feared of the Pirate Lords. He commands the largest pirate clan in the history of Aquos, the "Crimson Corsairs" from the deck of his flagship, "The Reaper". Ni'Hee's ruthlessness is known far and wide across all of the 23 seas and has even been known to kill his own men simply for displeasing him in any way shape or form. An expert swordsman and marksman, Ni'Hee is not one to be challenged if you plan on having a long lifespan.

It has been learned that through as of yet unknown means, Ni'Hee has recently aquired the entirety of rival pirate clan "Tortuga's Raiders", formerly commanded by the Pirate Lord Captain Jak Sparrow.

"Bloody" Bil Ni'Hee:








Parts:
Whole figure- Pirates Of The Caribean: At World's End Human Davey Jones (modded)
Hat- Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End Battling Barbossa (modded)
Blaster- POTF2 Jawa
Sword- random Pirates Of The Caribean figure
Key- Pirates Of The Caribean: Dead Man's Chest Rigetti (modded)


Subject: Captain Hector "Shipwreck" Del G'Ado:
Commanding the pirate clan known as "The Sharcs" Captain Hector Del G'Ado earned the name "Shipwreck" by reportedly sending more vessels to the bottom of the 23 seas than any other Pirate Lord, often with all hands aboard. Del G'Ado wears the remnants of a Harbor Master's (the highest military position on Aquos) uniform taken from the body of Harbor Master Ev'erett C'Olby after Del G'Ado killed him. Del G'Ado is bloodthirsty in battle and will often sacrifice a huge payload of cargo, treasure, or slaves and sink a target vessel just to instill fear of him into his enemies. Del G'Ado is not above personally entering into combat and often utilizes a pair of vibroblade boarding hooks against his foes with devestating effects.

Del G'Ado is believed to be plotting some form of revenge against the Aqualish Pirate Lord Captain Zan Zibar after Zibar killed and ate Del G'Ado's beloved pet avaian Pah Li.

Captain Hector "Shipwreck" Del G'Ado:








Without hat:


Parts:
Head/hat- Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Barbossa (modded)
Torso/arms/jacket/skirt- Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Commodore Norrington (modded)
Pelvis/legs- Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Prison Escape Jack Sparrow (modded)
Blaster- custom
Sword- random Pirates Of The Caribbean figure
Boarding hooks- custom
Key- Pirates Of The Caribean: Dead Man's Chest Rigetti (modded)


Subject: Captain X'anoi X'an
Leader of the "Jade Dragons" pirate clan, X'an's twisted sense of "honor" has driven him to fight harder and deadlier his entire life. Believed by his almost cult-like followers to be a diety in the flesh, X'an has an inflated ego and even the slightest disrespect shown to him will result in a swift death. X'an is never seen without his two beautiful concubines/bodyguards at his side or his pet dragon Draco at his feet.

Captain X'anoi Xan








Draco:


Parts:
Entire figure/sword- Pirates Of The Caribean: At World's End Seo Feng (modded)
Bun/braid- POTF2 Victory Ceremony Princess Leia
Beard- Pirates Of The Caribean: At World's End Elizabeth Swann braid (modded)
Feet- POTF2 Snowtrooper (modded)
Blaster- G.I.Joe Recoil (modded)
Key- Pirates Of The Caribean: Dead Man's Chest Rigetti (modded)
Dragon- unknown item from craft store


Subject: Captain Jak Sparrow
It is unknown how Capain Jak Sparrow, a drunkard and a fool, came to posess his "Key Of At'Alantis" and leadership of the "Tortuga's Raiders" pirate clan. Stories of his misadventures and uncanny luck abound from one end of Aquos to the other, often attributing unbelievable, almost Jedi-like, skills to Sparrow. Whether or not these tales are true or are simply drunken stories spread by Sparrow himself is unknown. What is known is that recently, the entire "Tortuga's Raiders" clan mutinied against Sparrow and forced him to walk the plank of his flagship, the "Black Pearl". Sparrow was saved from a watery grave by his still-loyal first mate Gibbs, who sole one of the Pearl's gunskiffs and caught the falling Sparrow, pulling him aboard and racing off before the Pearl could fire on the gunskiff (Gibbs had sabotaged the Pearl's engines beforehand to prevent pursuit). Currently, Sparrow and Gibbs sail the 23 seas in their stolen gunskiff, now dubbed "Miss Swann's Regret", in search of a new ship, a new crew, and of course- more rum.

Captain Jak Sparrow








Parts:
Head- Pirates Of The Caribbean: Secrets Of The Deep Deluxe Jack Sparrow
Torso/arms/coat/skirt- Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dean Man's Chest Captain Jack Sparrow (modded)
Pelvis/legs- Pirates Of The Caribean: Dead Man's Chest Prison Escape Jack Sparrow (modded)
Blaster- Saga Zam Wessel
Sword- random Pirates Of The Caribean figure
Key- Pirates Of The Caribean: Dead Man's Chest Rigetti (modded)


Subject: Captain Zan Zibar
The Aqualish Captain Zan Zibar has only recently returned to Aquos having spent the last several years running with the mercenary swoop gang known as the "Dreadnoks". Apon his return to Aquos, Zibar challenged his own father for leadership of their pirate clan, the "Ravagers". Zibar quickly dispatched his father and assumed command of the powerful pirate clan. Zibar has since begun a campaign of terror across the whole of Aquos to show the world his newly aquired power. Brutish and slow-witted, Zibar is abusive to his own crew and even worse to his captives and enemies.

Captain Zan Zibar








Detail pic:


Parts:
Head- POTF2 Ponda Baba (heavily modded)
Torso/arms/skirt/blaster- 30th AC Vilmarh Grahrk (modded)
Pelvis/legs- Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Commodore Norrington (modded)
Sword- custom
Hammer- G.I.Joe Zanzibar v1
Key- Pirates Of The Caribean: Dead Man's Chest Rigetti (modded)


Notes:
These figures are meant to look like traditional pirates as an homage to the old Marvel Star Wars run which often feaured space pirates that resembled earthly pirates (not to mention the Tof from the end of the run that were essentially just green skinned British soldiers  :lol: ). There will be a bunch of sci-fi-looking designs like Zan Zibar as well mixed in with standard pirate designs as the crews of the ships are a rag tag bunch and aside from the Jade Dragons, there are no set "uniforms".

Don't worry, there will be plenty of alien pirates, it's just the majority of the Lords are human. Aquos, being covered by 95% water, is a comfortable environment for all sorts of species. Expect to see many of the aquatic and amphibious races (Mon Cal, Quarren, Gungans, Chagrians, etc.) represented in this series as well as some new ones that I am creating!

By the time this series is done there will be 5 large pirate vessels with full crew compliments, several smaller ships, droids, various sea creatures (just wait until you see what I have planned for under the surface of Aquos!), the Aquos Defense Forces (Harbor Master, Troopers, patrol craft), and several items I cannot divulge as of yet as they are still top secret...

[The Spectre]

Mara Del G'Ado

Mara Del G'Ado, wife of "Shipwreck" Del G'Ado and first mate of his flagship the "Moray" is an amphibious Mer from the planet of the same name. Mara Del G'Ado is every bit as ruthless as her husband and her proficiency with a blade is feared across all of the 23 seas.

Mer are capable of breathing both air and water but are more at home in the water than on land and have to return to the water every few hours or their skin begins to dry out. Mer eyes are also more suited for the twilight of the depths requiring most Mer to wear red tinted lenses while on land during the daylight hours to prevent light blindness. Beneath the waves, Mer posess incredible speed and strength and can withstand pressures far greater than humans or most amphibious races.

Mara Del G'Ado:








Working holsters:




Parts:
Head/torso/pelvis/legs- 30thAC Comic Pack Mara Jade (modded)
Arms- 30thAC Comic Pack Dark Woman
Holster- G.I.Joe Spytroops Lady Jaye (modded)
Sheath- Chap Mei "Sea Exploration" (modded)
Blaster- Saga various figures
Pistol- G.I.Joe Barbeque (modded)
Sword- Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End Deluxe Elizabeth Swann
Knife- custom

This character is an homage to the old "G.I.Joe" cartoon episode where Shipwreck falls in love with a woman who was part of Cobra's genetic experiment to create an amphibious trooper. I painted her uniform in the traditional colors of my "Brotherhood Of The Serpent" project as another homage to the character's cartoon roots.

[The Spectre]

Jade Dragon Crewmen

The junior members of the Jade Dragons are forbidden from wearing facial hair by decree of their lord and master X'anoi X'an. Only his chosen Jade Dragon Warriors or senior members of his crew are allowed the honor of wearing goatees or beards, the rest of his crew are clean shaven. These Jade Dragons serve their master however he sees fit to use them. They do everything from swabbing the decks of the Jade Dragon fleet to operating the ships' energy cannons against X'an's enemies. Fanatically loyal to X'an, his Jade Dragons will defend him to the last man.

Jade Dragon Pikemen:








Parts:
Head- POTF2 Rebel Pilots Cinema Scene Y-Wing Pilot
Body- Ep.I Tattooine Darth Maul
Hat- Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End Singapore Disguise Elizabeth Swann
Pike- G.I. Joe "Ninja Battles" playset









Parts:
Head- POTJ Bespin Guard (modded)
Body- Ep.I Tattooine Darth Maul
Hat- Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End Singapore Disguise Elizabeth Swann
Pike- G.I. Joe "Ninja Battles" playset


Jade Dragon Swordsmen:








W/blaster:


Parts:
Head- POTJ Bespin Guard (modded)
Body- Ep.I Naboo Obi Wan Kenobi (modded)
Hat- Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End Singapore Disguise Elizabeth Swann
Swords- Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End Deluxe Seo Feng
Blaster- custom









Parts:
Head- POTJ Bespin Guard (modded)
Body- Clone Wars Twi'Lek Jedi Knight
Hat- Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End Singapore Disguise Elizabeth Swann
Sword- Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End Deluxe Seo Feng

Jade Dragon Gunners (will eventually man the Jade Dragon's cannons):








Parts:
Head- POTJ Bespin Guard (modded)
Body- Ep.I Mace Windu
Hat- Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End Singapore Disguise Elizabeth Swann
Blaster- Vintage (1978-1985) Jedi Luke Skywalker









Parts:
Head- POTJ Bespin Guard (modded)
Body- VOTC Obi Wan Kenobi (modded)
Skirt- custom
Hat- Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End Singapore Disguise Elizabeth Swann
Blaster- Vintage (1978-1985) Jedi Luke Skywalker



With the exception of the Jade Dragon itself, this completes the Jade Dragons portion of "Deep Sea Danger!".