Post by Holden Orson on Sept 24, 2016 23:03:51 GMT -5
A small gathering of mostly Outlast participants and UGWC staff has formed at a sidewalk in front of the parking lot. After a bit of hesitation, you begin walking slowly towards them, hoping that you'll either spot a friend amongst them. It seems the directions on the invitation were simply a ruse. UGWC's hipster must find it a sport to waste everyone's time. There are no signs of the promised Masquerade Ball. You approach, still scanning the group or people and0 you see no one you're to thrilled to be standing next to. You decide to stand outside the group and push you hands into your pockets. Fall is coming and this night air is giving you a chill.
You keep you head down and eavesdrop on the conversation from the other guests. It's mostly content for Mr. Orson and the current situation. A small breeze picks up making that chill just a little worse. This isn't worth your time, so you decide to leave.
You spin your heels to retreat back to your vehicle, but you stop after hearing a gasp from the small crowd of guests. You turn around and look down the street and see a brightly lit horse drawn carriage coming down the street. A smiling Holden Orson stands in the buggy, waving at the waiting crowd. The carriage is large; large enough to seat 8-10 guests comfortably. Two beautiful white horse walk towards you and the other guests dragging the carriage and Holden Orson behind it. The spectacle has caused you stop stop your retreat and has caused the small crowd to stare in silence. You stay a few paces behind the rest of the group as the horse drawn carriage pulls up in front of the group. After it stops, Holden Orson steps down from carriage in a bight, freshly pressed white tuxedo. His face is covered with his trademark green masquerade mask and a perfectly matching bow-tie is neatly ties around his neck. You watch as he greets the crowd with a wide smile.
“Hello everyone!” Holden Orson exclaims, rising his arms up, trying to seem welcoming.
A silent contempt falls over the crowd. You take a more complete look at the crowd and see the faces of several people who would have many reasons to hold contempt for Mr. Orson. Thinking about it, most people would. You also choose to remain silent.
Holden lowers his arms and frowns. “Spiteful words would have hurt my feelings, but your silence breaks my heart.”
'Did he just quote mother Teresa?' you think. Letting the smile return to his face, Holden ceremoniously opens the small door to the sotting at the top of the stairs that take you into the carriage.
“I know many of you have reasons not to trust me, but this is not some play to hurt anyone. I invited you to the Masquerade Ball as a celebration of the greatest Outlast lineup ever assembled. This group boasts 4 Global Challenge wins, 4 Massive Melee wins, 3 Outlast Winners, 15 UGWC World Tile reigns, 18 Cross-Hemisphere reigns, 32 Cooperative Title reigns, and 11 Chaos Title reigns. All that with a team of people from OWF that have never competed in a UGWC ring and it's safe to say that this may be the biggest event in UGWC history.”
'Who looks this crap up?' you think.
“Like all the rest of the participants, I plan to win this year. It's that magical time of year where anyone can walk out as UGWC World Champion. A member of the OWF roster could walk out with our World Title. Someone like JK could make the greatest return of all time by winning the most difficult challenge UGWC offers. Ichabod, Jason Ingalls, Cynric the Crusader, or Taylor Ryan could make their first major UGWC accomplishment winning the World Title from a champion that's defended successfully since February. Yes, it's a magical time of year, and I simply invite you all to celebrate. Please,” Holden motions to the open carriage door. “Join me.”
Begrudgingly, the guests in the crowd begin boarding the carriage. You find yourself standing at the foot of the carriage contemplating whether or not to dedicate a large portion of your night to a party hosted by Holden Orson. The white sleeve of Holden Orson's arm extends.
“Join me, friend.”
You look up and see Holden's eye peering back from you from behind his mask. What's the worst that can happen? You take his hand and he helps guide you into the carriage.
You settle in to the surprisingly comfortable carriage seats. 'Are these leather?' Before you can examine the seats any further you hear the distinct sound of cork popping off and Holden stands champagne bottle in one hand chilled glasses in the other. Holden begins filling and passing out glasses as you peer around trying to discover where they came from. One ends up in your hands before you can solve that mystery. You take a sip and it's surprisingly good.
“What kind of champagne is this?” someone asks.
“You've probably never heard of it.” Holden says, smiling. “But there's plenty of it! Have your fill!”
The champagne gives you a warm felling that makes the chill the night air has brought actually welcome. Holden's overly-joyous demeanor seems infectious as you catch yourself smiling as Holden refills your glass. The frustrated murmurs from the other guests has turned into light and causal conversation. The smell of a sweet tobacco fills the air. You look over and see Holden puffing on a very intricatly carved wooden pipe. Catching your eye, Holden extents the pipe but you decline.
The clomp of the horse's hoofs, the carefree chatter, the slight buzz from the champagne, and the small of the tobacco has created some sort of surreal atmosphere. Something someone says gets the other guests in the carriage laughing. It's actually nice.
Just over the head of Holden Orson, you see the lobby of well lit, lavishly decorated building. You see Waldo Geraldo Faldo ushering another group of guests into the lobby from another carriage. Holden stands again as your carriage approaches.
“We've arrived! I'm glad all deciding to come! When we come to a stop, we'll all go to the lobby and prepare for the ball. But before the ball begins I'll be speaking to each one of you and prepare you for the ball itself.”
The carriage comes to a stop. Holden opens the small door and motions for everyone to step out.
“Please.”
Guests, now with a couple of glasses of champagne in them are much happier to participate. Guests from all the different carriage trips start to mingle. Holden Orson slowly walks around and disappears to the side of the building. You peer over, wondering where he went. Didn't he mention speaking to everyone?
“Will you join us inside?”
You snap your head around, seeing Waldo Geraldo Faldo. He's wearing the same white tuxedo Holden Orson was wearing, complete with an identical green mask and bow-tie. You look up to see Gian Jones and a couple other masked men in tuxedos inviting everyone into the lobby. You and a few others follow Waldo inside. You step inside and see lively lobby. You and the other guests peer around as masked waitresses come around with more champagne and hors d'Oeuvres.
People in the crowd indulge themselves. You grab a glass and a couple of hors d'Oeuvres yourself find an empty seat and study the room. Holden rattled off a list of accomplishments and you start looking around to find them. Former Champions. Former Outlast winners. Those with resumes still to fill. You watch as bitter enemies start to socialize. The charming wait staff has seemed to lighten the moost with cheerful banter.
Like everyone, else you end up lost in the atmosphere. You lose track of the time and nearly forget about the ball itself. After what could be either minutes or hours a trumpet and sounded and Waldo Geraldo Faldo and Gian Jones stand in front of the large double doors leading to what's most likely the ball room itself.
“Ladies and Gentlemen! It's nearly time for the Masquerade Ball.” Waldo announces. “But Holden would like to speak with each of you before you make your way into the ball room.”
“The waitresses will some to you and fins you on the guest list so you'll know when it's time to speak with Holden.” Gian says.
There's a but of a pause before everyone starts to murmur to themselves again.
“Hi, could you give me your name?”
You look up to see one of the masked waitresses. She's holding a guest list in front of her.
“Which one are you?”
You find your name for her.
Alan Wallace
Alex Stein
CJ Wylde
Chaos
Cynric
Dave Rydell
Donovan Hastings
Eden Morgan
Gabriel Baal
Ichabod
JK
Jason Ingalls
Jet Somers
Killian King
Lorenzo Demarco
Lucy Wylde
Mil Vidas, Jr
Phrixus Deimos
Redemption
Rogan MacLean
Taylor Ryan
Travis Pierce
Travis Roberts
You keep you head down and eavesdrop on the conversation from the other guests. It's mostly content for Mr. Orson and the current situation. A small breeze picks up making that chill just a little worse. This isn't worth your time, so you decide to leave.
You spin your heels to retreat back to your vehicle, but you stop after hearing a gasp from the small crowd of guests. You turn around and look down the street and see a brightly lit horse drawn carriage coming down the street. A smiling Holden Orson stands in the buggy, waving at the waiting crowd. The carriage is large; large enough to seat 8-10 guests comfortably. Two beautiful white horse walk towards you and the other guests dragging the carriage and Holden Orson behind it. The spectacle has caused you stop stop your retreat and has caused the small crowd to stare in silence. You stay a few paces behind the rest of the group as the horse drawn carriage pulls up in front of the group. After it stops, Holden Orson steps down from carriage in a bight, freshly pressed white tuxedo. His face is covered with his trademark green masquerade mask and a perfectly matching bow-tie is neatly ties around his neck. You watch as he greets the crowd with a wide smile.
“Hello everyone!” Holden Orson exclaims, rising his arms up, trying to seem welcoming.
A silent contempt falls over the crowd. You take a more complete look at the crowd and see the faces of several people who would have many reasons to hold contempt for Mr. Orson. Thinking about it, most people would. You also choose to remain silent.
Holden lowers his arms and frowns. “Spiteful words would have hurt my feelings, but your silence breaks my heart.”
'Did he just quote mother Teresa?' you think. Letting the smile return to his face, Holden ceremoniously opens the small door to the sotting at the top of the stairs that take you into the carriage.
“I know many of you have reasons not to trust me, but this is not some play to hurt anyone. I invited you to the Masquerade Ball as a celebration of the greatest Outlast lineup ever assembled. This group boasts 4 Global Challenge wins, 4 Massive Melee wins, 3 Outlast Winners, 15 UGWC World Tile reigns, 18 Cross-Hemisphere reigns, 32 Cooperative Title reigns, and 11 Chaos Title reigns. All that with a team of people from OWF that have never competed in a UGWC ring and it's safe to say that this may be the biggest event in UGWC history.”
'Who looks this crap up?' you think.
“Like all the rest of the participants, I plan to win this year. It's that magical time of year where anyone can walk out as UGWC World Champion. A member of the OWF roster could walk out with our World Title. Someone like JK could make the greatest return of all time by winning the most difficult challenge UGWC offers. Ichabod, Jason Ingalls, Cynric the Crusader, or Taylor Ryan could make their first major UGWC accomplishment winning the World Title from a champion that's defended successfully since February. Yes, it's a magical time of year, and I simply invite you all to celebrate. Please,” Holden motions to the open carriage door. “Join me.”
Begrudgingly, the guests in the crowd begin boarding the carriage. You find yourself standing at the foot of the carriage contemplating whether or not to dedicate a large portion of your night to a party hosted by Holden Orson. The white sleeve of Holden Orson's arm extends.
“Join me, friend.”
You look up and see Holden's eye peering back from you from behind his mask. What's the worst that can happen? You take his hand and he helps guide you into the carriage.
You settle in to the surprisingly comfortable carriage seats. 'Are these leather?' Before you can examine the seats any further you hear the distinct sound of cork popping off and Holden stands champagne bottle in one hand chilled glasses in the other. Holden begins filling and passing out glasses as you peer around trying to discover where they came from. One ends up in your hands before you can solve that mystery. You take a sip and it's surprisingly good.
“What kind of champagne is this?” someone asks.
“You've probably never heard of it.” Holden says, smiling. “But there's plenty of it! Have your fill!”
The champagne gives you a warm felling that makes the chill the night air has brought actually welcome. Holden's overly-joyous demeanor seems infectious as you catch yourself smiling as Holden refills your glass. The frustrated murmurs from the other guests has turned into light and causal conversation. The smell of a sweet tobacco fills the air. You look over and see Holden puffing on a very intricatly carved wooden pipe. Catching your eye, Holden extents the pipe but you decline.
The clomp of the horse's hoofs, the carefree chatter, the slight buzz from the champagne, and the small of the tobacco has created some sort of surreal atmosphere. Something someone says gets the other guests in the carriage laughing. It's actually nice.
Just over the head of Holden Orson, you see the lobby of well lit, lavishly decorated building. You see Waldo Geraldo Faldo ushering another group of guests into the lobby from another carriage. Holden stands again as your carriage approaches.
“We've arrived! I'm glad all deciding to come! When we come to a stop, we'll all go to the lobby and prepare for the ball. But before the ball begins I'll be speaking to each one of you and prepare you for the ball itself.”
The carriage comes to a stop. Holden opens the small door and motions for everyone to step out.
“Please.”
Guests, now with a couple of glasses of champagne in them are much happier to participate. Guests from all the different carriage trips start to mingle. Holden Orson slowly walks around and disappears to the side of the building. You peer over, wondering where he went. Didn't he mention speaking to everyone?
“Will you join us inside?”
You snap your head around, seeing Waldo Geraldo Faldo. He's wearing the same white tuxedo Holden Orson was wearing, complete with an identical green mask and bow-tie. You look up to see Gian Jones and a couple other masked men in tuxedos inviting everyone into the lobby. You and a few others follow Waldo inside. You step inside and see lively lobby. You and the other guests peer around as masked waitresses come around with more champagne and hors d'Oeuvres.
People in the crowd indulge themselves. You grab a glass and a couple of hors d'Oeuvres yourself find an empty seat and study the room. Holden rattled off a list of accomplishments and you start looking around to find them. Former Champions. Former Outlast winners. Those with resumes still to fill. You watch as bitter enemies start to socialize. The charming wait staff has seemed to lighten the moost with cheerful banter.
Like everyone, else you end up lost in the atmosphere. You lose track of the time and nearly forget about the ball itself. After what could be either minutes or hours a trumpet and sounded and Waldo Geraldo Faldo and Gian Jones stand in front of the large double doors leading to what's most likely the ball room itself.
“Ladies and Gentlemen! It's nearly time for the Masquerade Ball.” Waldo announces. “But Holden would like to speak with each of you before you make your way into the ball room.”
“The waitresses will some to you and fins you on the guest list so you'll know when it's time to speak with Holden.” Gian says.
There's a but of a pause before everyone starts to murmur to themselves again.
“Hi, could you give me your name?”
You look up to see one of the masked waitresses. She's holding a guest list in front of her.
“Which one are you?”
You find your name for her.
Alan Wallace
Alex Stein
CJ Wylde
Chaos
Cynric
Dave Rydell
Donovan Hastings
Eden Morgan
Gabriel Baal
Ichabod
JK
Jason Ingalls
Jet Somers
Killian King
Lorenzo Demarco
Lucy Wylde
Mil Vidas, Jr
Phrixus Deimos
Redemption
Rogan MacLean
Taylor Ryan
Travis Pierce
Travis Roberts
