Faction A Knighting Ceremony

[Coren Starchaser]

As the Grandmaster, Coren Starchaser was working on a large number of different projects, from assisting with training, becoming a face for the Jedi Order, and that meant polictics. Yes, Coren was a warrior, but he had become more as he stepped into this role. Parts of it he liked more than others but today? Today was one of the types of days that Coren was always looking for. The Jedi Master was knighting several Padawans and Jedi students, growing the strength and numbers of the ranks of the Jedi Knight.

He was wearing his dress robes, which were, in fact, just Jedi robes. But as this was Coren, it was formal for him. Standing in the main audience chamber of the Silver Rest, backed by the Jedi Masters and Knights who have opted to be in attendance. All Jedi were being celebrated through the advancement of those that were standing before him. Jedi Master Starchaser was smiling as he looked at the gathered. While the chamber filled, he allowed for conversations to end on their own, exuding calm when it was getting to be that time.

A motion to his astromech and the windows would change, to bring the natural light focusing on the stage. They were Jedi, and they would make use of the living world. “Thank you for joining us. As you all know, a victory for one Jedi, is a victory for us all. A reason to celebrate. Today, we are recognizing Jedi Padawans who have proven themselves to be welcomed into our order as Jedi Knights.”

He looked to the gathered to see who was going to step forward first.

 

[Caltin Vanagor]

Caltin had only been “back” for a little while. In truth; he had yet to go out on his own yet and remained mostly in the company of other Jedi at or around the different Temples. This was not to say that the massive Jedi Master was being a shut-in, quite the opposite, but he was something he hadn’t been in the past. He was a bit shy. Oh sure, the big guy did not keep away from, or shy away (no pun intended) approaching others. He wanted to meet and get to know his compatriots, however, Caltin was still not past having lost pretty much everyone that he knew due to the passage of time.

Not that there was anything he could do about it.

This was a fresh start though, and a chance to rebuild what it was to be a Jedi, and what it was to be himself. That was good for him, and being able to be a part of ceremonies like this was always important, not just for personal health, but the overall health of the Order. To be able to stand together, you must celebrate all the pieces of the whole. This was not a Knighting ceremony like he was used to, but there was nothing wrong with that, this Order had evolved and was more social than the Order of the past. It would be interesting to watch.

Standing among the gathered he watched quietly. Anyone who wished to address him was welcome to, he made that clear in his body language, but he was mindful to not intrude on the proceedings. Master Starchaser had things well in hand.

Coren Starchaser. Heh, I wonder if he’s related to the one I knew.

 

[Jend-Ro Quill]

Behind Coren Starchaser , and far off to the side, Quill did his best to fade into a shadow beside a brilliant window. The size of the assembled crowd - a couple of dozen Jedi of all ranks, at a guess - felt like more. He sorely missed the Hoth enclave where he lived, whenever possible, alone. But he'd healed as best he could, body and mind, and was out of excuses.

Dipping his toe in Jedi business, he'd taught a few sessions at Silver Rest and a couple of satellite enclaves. Small sessions, enough to make faces familiar and take the edge off the size of this gathering.

The graying hermit stuck to his shadow regardless.

Caltin Vanagor

 

[Julius Sedaire]

Stealth? While he wasn't obnoxious about his presence, he had combed his bear, trimmed it, and cut his hair down. He wore plain Jedi robes, with his jedcred being the only singularly shouting thing Corellian about him. A saber clipped to his belt, and not even a blaster to his gear. The aging Corellian Jedi Master still managed a wry smirk as he watched Coren from the back, indistinguishable from the dozen or more others around his age, except in the eyes and the aforementioned smirk.

Time had been spent all about the Galaxy and on his ship. On Socorro. On Corellia. Training himself. Training the rare few who followed the bread crumbs to find him and seek such. The battlemaster cut a much less impressive figure than Caltin Vanagor , but there was a shared lethality about them both one could suss out. Where Caltin displayed his in stature and brawn, Julius was the whipcord of agility and grace, a duelist through and through. Even with the robes covering him, the tattoos from the Aing-Tii and the prosthetic they had gifted him could still be seen on occasion, though he was taking pains to keep his hands folded within the sleeves of his robes to minimize that occurrence.

Truth be told, he wasn't sure why he'd decided to come to this shindig when a pupil of his had mentioned it. Formal ceremonies were almost painful for him. But he had been out of the world for a spell, and he supposed it was time to step back into it and see where things led. At the least, Coren was one of the few Jedi he truly respected and liked, and it did his worries good to check on his old friend. Even if from afar and unknown.

 

[Auteme]

Jend-Ro Quill | Open​

As a padawan, Auteme had never entirely appreciated the weight of the knighting ceremony until it'd happened to her. Those moments after being knighted had surprised her -- for so long she hadn't thought about her 'rank' among the Jedi. Even as a padawan she'd been representing the New Jedi Order in the Galactic Alliance's Senate. What was it, other than a title?

And yet it'd brought her so much satisfaction. Practically no one had been there to witness it. No one paid her much attention. But it felt good.

So as she watched the ceremony begin she had a small smile on her face. Maybe it was important for these padawans, maybe not, but they were becoming Jedi Knights. Even a modicum of external validation could go a long way. No, it wasn't absolutely necessary for success or happiness, but there would always be a flush of pride when someone called her wise or knowledgeable.

She didn't doubt Coren would encourage this next generation. From what she'd seen and heard he was doing a good job.

Give it ten years and you'll be running the place.

Her attention was pulled away from the front; her eyes searched the crowd until she found the source of that little voice. It'd been in the recording from his message at Nadiem. How long had it been...

She spotted the hermit, hidden away in the shadows by one of the tall windows. It took her a few moments of squinting to properly make him out but as soon as she did she walked over. She slowed when she was just close enough.

"Master Quill, it's..." There was a pause. She stared at him before taking another step forward to pull him into a hug. "It's been too long."

She kept it brief, knowing he could be a little awkward at times, and pulled away. "How have you been? I'm sorry I haven't been in touch, I-" A look of surprise crossed her face as she spoke the words. "I've been very busy."

 

[Caedyn Arenais]

This Ceremony was a pivotal moment for any member of the Order, representing what was most likely half of someone's lifespan worth of training and service to the Force and to the Galaxy before qualifying and being granted the title of Knighthood. To be a Jedi Knight was to become the backbone of the Order of the Silver Jedi, for as powerful as Jedi Master's could be, it was the Jedi Knights that were larger in number and most commonly seen in the public spotlight risking their lives so that others might live safe and prosperous ones.

Today, Caedyn Arenais was proud to stand among his fellow Jedi Knights, to bare witness to those who were being acknowledged for all their hard work, their dedication and their achievements. It was a day that every Padawan dreamed would come true, one that seemed like it would never arrive until it did and from there on, independence and the right to train a Padawan of their own.

Truth be told, Caedyn himself had never been granted the title of Jedi Knight in any official capacity, nor had there been any ceremony. His upbringing differed significantly as he had first been inducted into the Order of the Je'daii, history that faded away just as his peers had when they sought to distance themselves from the warring territories. His Master at the time had also left to pursue her own endeavors and from there Caedyn had looked to the Silver Jedi thanks to the encouragement of his girlfriend Asaraa Vaashe . These were different times.

The Jedi Knight stood to the side of the hall, keeping himself scarce from the main scene yet being there to give all due respect and credit to those graduating into Knighthood. The Ceremony made him think of his Padawan and what the future might have in store for her. As a Mentor, it was his responsibility to see her standing before the Grandmaster and the other Master's of the Order like this...

One day.

Coren Starchaser | Caltin Vanagor | Jend-Ro Quill | Auteme | Caden Evesa​

 

[Jend-Ro Quill]

The galaxy held a vanishingly small number of people who Quill would permit to give him a hug, however brief. Auteme , once his informal student and longtime research assistant, topped the list.

"No no, I'm the one who should have..." He scratched his beard absently and gave the crowd a wary eye. "I should have been around when you made Knight. Should have been around enough to do it myself." He clamped down on memories of the stresses that had driven him back to Hoth: failure to stem or even slow the Bryn'adul genocides, burnout from planetary evacuation after planetary evacuation, the lure of the Dark Side, a doomed attempt to save an equally doomed strike team by assassinating Tathra Khaeus.

"I just...never think me going back to hermitage had anything to do with you. So proud, well done."

 

[Caden Evesa]

His eyes darted around.

The Knighting ceremony was one of the most important moments of a Jedi's path, the end of the Padawan period and the start of a new adventure. A Jedi Knight was the backbone of the Jedi Order, the most involved member of the order who tended to carry out the majority of the tasks.

It all made sense in the mind of Caden, looking back. Everything from Ossus to being woken up in the middle of the night by Sakadi Marathi Sinvala . Every little task he had been put through, been forced to lead. Every single one of them made sense in hindsight.

When he been informed of what he had achieved, that he was being Knighted, he was blown away. His first thought had been to tell Irridia Solensis but he decided against it. He was sure she would learn in time, she was probably in the crowd of people wondering what Padawan's had earned the right to call themselves a Knight.

In his mind, he wondered if Okkeus Dainlei knew. He wondered if Damian Starchaser knew, if all of these people he had come across and met through his travels knew and were in the crowd. He doubted it, but he did hold out a little bit of hope for certain people.

Caden had racked his brain to think of the trials he had completed. Some were easier to pinpoint than others, but eventually he figured out what he had done to tick all the boxes. He had officially completed all of the trials, some more officially than others.

No-one ever wanted to be the first to approach the Grandmaster. Caden especially didn't want to be the first, he had no issues with Coren Starchaser (he quite liked the man to be honest) but he had issues with the crowds of people who had gathered to watch.

He adjusted his robes and allowed his eyes to drift around. Some faces his recognized, somewhere in the crowd he saw the towering Caltin Vanagor yet most of the faces were faces he had never seen. In reality he was only looking for one face though, one single face.

Where was Irri? She was in the crowd somewhere, of that he was certain.

By the time it was clear no-one wanted to go first, the awkwardness had grown to the point that Caden didn't care about going first. The eyes of the crowd was less awkward than the awkward staring between the group of Padawan's waiting in the crowd.

He approached Coren and smiled.

Jend-Ro Quill | Caedyn Arenais | Auteme | Julius Sedaire

 

[Ilwynog Cysgod]

Ilwynog had never thought much of attending ceremonies, it was not their place to be present in raising the Padawans to Knighthood, Ilwynog had always seen their job as being one of working in the shadows and reporting back to the concord on things that they have found. Ilwynog decided that since they were training Padawans, or at least helping out training Padawans like their recent training with Andromeda Malvern , that they should attend the important ceremonies like this to see how other Padawans and Knights are doing in the Jedi Order. Wearing their usual armour with their brown cloak over the top, Ilwynog stepped into the room and kept to the back and in the shadows. Their gaze followed the room, they had been made a Knight and then later Master in a room similar to this, it was back when the SJC was based on Kashyyyk but Ilwynog was young and a bit foolish at times in those younger days. They had scars and marks from brash decisions and thinking that being a Knight meant that they knew best. They realised quickly enough that this was not the case.

Thankful that they trained in the Shadows and found their place among the Jedi Shadows, being a Knight meant that you could explore the specialised areas of the Force easier, less oversight of a Master, though a good Master should allow a Padawan to do that anyway they guessed. Teaching was still relevantly new to them. Crossing their arms, looking over to the Grandmaster, in their time with the SJC there had been so many Grandmasters within the Silver Jedi that they stopped keeping track who was in charge and just made sure they were following the orders they were given. Eventually, Ilwynog turned their gaze to the Padawans about to become Jedi Knights, Ilwynog wasn't sure about them, they seemed untested in their mind but they were happy to be proven wrong about that. However, for a long time it seemed no one was wanting to come forward and become a Jedi Knight, which was not necessarily a great sign.

Then a Padawan stepped forward, nodding their head, Ilwynog was glad someone decided it was time for them to take their next step within the SJC. Leaning against the wall as they kept to the shadows, curious to see how this grandmaster would proceed with the Knighting ceremony since Ilwynog had seen several different ways it has been done.

 

[Damian Starchaser]

Damian arrived in the crowd, for once without his suit. This wasn’t the time to stick out, it wasn’t his day. Today was the knighting ceremony. Damian remembered his own, or rather his lack of a knighting ceremony. It was just sort of declared, and under rather tenuous circumstances. For there to be a time and place like this for normalcy to overcome strife in the galaxy was comforting.

The man had taught a few classes, far fewer than his disapproving relative Coren may have wanted, and felt a particular calling to the current ceremony. Damian wouldn’t say why if asked, and frankly who would ask, but he had his eye on a particular padawan he’d interacted with a bit more than through standard courses.

Blending in with the crowd he reached into his jacket pocket and retrieved his flask. Feeling the weight of it in his hand he stared and smiled a bit before placing it back in its place. Not now, perhaps later.

 

[Auteme]

Jend-Ro Quill | Open
​

Again she found the few words of reassurance gave her a flush of pride. Still, she cared more about her friend and mentor than being validated. "It's alright," she said. "I never thought that. I mean, I know... well, I didn't. I didn't realize just how much you'd done, how taxing it must've been. I'm starting to now, but honestly...

"You're still an example to me." She smiled. "And I'll never blame you for taking care of yourself."

She'd guessed that the stresses of the many conflicts and rescues had gotten to him -- that feeling of futility wasn't far off in her own life. After all, she was just one Jedi. As busy as she'd been she knew that she hadn't helped all that many people. She was further still from changing the galaxy, or even creating peace. It was easy to forget that even Jedi Masters were people with limits and needs.

Her gaze wandered back to the front, where one of the padawans had stepped forward. She leaned against the windowsill. Her shadow wasn't all that long; the light was far too bright. "No one's stopped the Bryn'adûl, the Sith still have their empire, and there are a million other problems to solve. Sometimes it's alright to... be a hermit. But if you're ready, I know you'll help a lot of people."

 

[Alana Sunrider]

Alana slipped into the back of the crowd, only pausing to check her face in a reflection. A smudge of engine oil was smeared across her cheek, which she quickly tried to rub away with the back of her hand. Much of it transferred, although she wasn't entirely sure how much. Or if it had just smeared further across her face.

But that would be fine enough. She didn't think she knew any of the padawans being knighted, and other than Coren, she wasn't sure she recognized any of the other Jedi either. They were fine and all, but it was who she was. She hadn't had anything resembling family growing up, even a Jedi family, let alone a place to even really call home. Just shifting through the ancient junkyards of Ambria, bandied about between different groups of scavengers. Some better than others, of course, but they did their best to keep her alive long enough to look out for herself.

So as far as Jedi teachings were concerned, remaining unattached was easy. She'd never learned how to build those connections, let alone sustain them. Nor really even how to stay connected to an organization or group. If anything, she was perhaps, the epitome of the pleasant loner. Always going out into space and the various worlds along the far edge of the Concord's space, near the edge of the galaxy, and doing what she could for people there. Fixing things. Fighting crime. Apprehendings villains. Resolving disputes. Sometimes, when there was need for more Jedi, she returned to assist, as she had on Voss, but mostly shes operated out of the Silver Beacon.

This was special though, so she tried to be supportive for the padawans, trekking back from Wild Space for the occasion. She'd heard some word on the changes in the governance of the Silvers, but it wasn't really her concern. She had something most other Jedi didn't.

A bounty hunter's license. And for the most part, that was what she did, unless requested to act otherwise. But, she was here, at least. And that had to count for something.

 

[Jend-Ro Quill]

Auteme

Now wasn't the time to fall into the spiral of guilt that came with only having evacuated a handful of tiny worlds in advance of the Bryn'adul stormfront. He'd spent enough time in that mental space. Grappling with it, coming to terms, had been a major reason he'd stayed away - and also a reason he'd come back, for whatever he could do.

"Half the galaxy's on fire," he mumbled, mostly to himself. "What kind of job are we sending these kids..." One of the Padawans being Knighted looked about as big as Quill and Auteme put together. "...what are we sending them into? Just how bad is the war - or are we even at war at all? I don't know which is worse."

He flinched at nothing discernible.

"Ignore me."

 

[Celeste Rigel]

Seated in one of the front rows, Celeste Rigel-Starchaser watched as Coren Starchaser stood before the crowd of Jedi. There were younglings, Padawans, Knights, and Masters in attendance today, here to witness the ceremony. And it was nice to see so many smiling faces – some anxious, no doubt. Yes, being knighted was certainly a rather big step on the road of Jedi life.

She smiled fondly at Coren, he looked quite dashing in his Jedi robes, she had to admit. It wasn't often she saw him like this. He looked the part of Grandmaster, and he'd grown into the role very well. As always, she was there to be his support.

Glancing around, she spotted some familiar faces and gave small nods of greeting to Auteme and @Cadeyn Arenais. Her chestnut eyes continued to wander about the crowd, gaze resting momentarily on some of the Padawans gathered.

Someday, Atti will be up there.

The thought struck her. Her son was still training and traveling at the side of his master for now, but someday he would be striking out on his own, too. This thought came with a small wash of sadness. He was already independent, wasn't he? Indeed he was. Though, she was thankful that he managed to send her holo-messages from time to time to keep her updated on his journey.

The Jedi healer had watched many go from youngling to Padawan to Knight. She'd seen some becomes Masters as well. For some, the struggle for self was only just beginning. It was often difficult to break away from being a Master's shadow and dedicated pupil.

But, it was a very good fight.

 

[Coren Starchaser]

There were several faces, new and old that were in attendance. Jedi Masters he had recognized and worked alongside, Julius Sedaire , Jend-Ro Quill , newer faces like Caltin Vanagor , a Jedi who he had not had a chance to greet. Apparently there was a lot of time passed for the man, and he was out of time. Coren, himself, had found himself in a carbonite situation, but that was only for what… 10? 15 years? Time in this galaxy always seemed to be radically fluid. The fact that the ones he knew were here spoke for something.

People came to the Silver Jedi for their own reasons, but Quill stepping off Hoth, Sedaire, off Corellia? The galaxy was a changing place, for certain. Several others, from the Jedi Knights Alana Sunrider, Ilwynog Cysgod and Auteme were he, as well as his… what, wayward family? Clone of his wayward family which somehow made him better than the original in Damian Starchaser . He was going to have to catch up with them, especially Damian, after this. While Kaia was out reclaiming the role of Warden and Jared was filling in as the primary fighter in the family, Coren had… what, evolved? To the rank and role of Grandmaster.

He was going to blame his wife on that one. Celeste Rigel had been a grounding force for Coren, even if grounding meant, allowing him to venture the galaxy in search of relics.

As he looked around, Padawan Evesa had stepped forward with a grin. Coren couldn’t help but break the stoic ‘grandmaster face’ he had placed on. “Padawan Caden Evesa, please approach.” He would give the Padawan a moment to approach.

“Before all the Jedi gathered, Masters of our Order, and the future generations who will become these Masters when our time to rejoin the Force is called, we recognize you as having completed your trials of the Padawan.” A hand wave and the natural light was blocked by blinders, and the golden blade of Coren’s lightsaber illuminated the area, moving the blade towards one of Caden’s shoulder, then the other.

“From this day forward, you are Caden Evesa , Jedi Knight of the Order of Silver Jedi. Recite the code of the Jedi and be true. For you will now be seen as an example for our future Jedi.”

 

[Auteme]

Jend-Ro Quill | Open
​

She glanced at Jend-Ro, then looked back to the front. For a few moments she felt old. Maybe she'd matured. Maybe she just felt distanced from the padawans of the Silver Jedi when she'd been knighted.

Probably just that she was at the back of the room with an old hermit.

Auteme hadn't heard what he was saying, but she understood the feeling. She spotted the nod from Celeste Rigel and returned a warm smile. Back when she'd been a padawan, Auteme was already struggling with the weight of being a Jedi, the stress of some mandate to rescue the galaxy. It took time to come to terms with it. Spending time alone was fine, but the reassurance of others had done wonders for her.

It struck her that she could give those words to others now. Returning the favour to Master Quill wasn't something she'd thought she'd ever do. "They'll be alright," she said, watching as the first of them emerged as a Jedi Knight.

"We'll be alright. Just have a little hope."

 

[Jend-Ro Quill]

"I don't trust hope much," he said, very quietly. "Faith needs to be founded on reality, and success is anything but certain. Perversely, that's why I like seeing Padawans become Jedi. They're at a stage when they can really dig in and ask questions, figure out priorities, find out what their consciences demand, decide what variety and sect of Jedi they'll be. Grow, in a word, like trees that aren't planted saplings anymore."

He glanced at Auteme sidelong. "On a happier note, how've you grown? What can you do, where have you gone, what have you learned about?"

 

[Caltin Vanagor]

~Good job, kid. You’re going to do great things.~

Caden was one of the first Jedi that he met after coming out of the ice. A little mouthy, but good-hearted and a fine addition to the Silver Concord as a whole in his eyes. Slowly walking around, he acknowledged anyone who acknowledged him, this was something that he was not used to doing, but it seemed to be a good move for morale. There seemed to be some who needed it, and that puzzled him, like the elder talking to the cute girl, perhaps a Knight. Maybe he had seen his share of strife and feared more to come, maybe not.

Walking around and shaking a few more hands, Caltin slowly made his way up towards where most of the Knights and Masters were standing. This was not for status or anything, but he wanted the chance to maybe introduce himself. There were a lot of the Silver Concord who seemed to be intimidated by him, that had to stop.

 

[Julius Sedaire]

Jend-Ro Quill had a voice he could pick out easily, even if they weren't acquainted. The Corellian smiled at the question as he sat in contemplation on the others words. The look from Coren Starchaser told hi even age and heavy gray in his hair had kept the once quite dashing 'Green Devil of Corellia' still easy to pick out, and so he crossed his arms openly on his chest, the smooth and organic like lines of his prosthetic, with the white carapace like armor from his former teachers in the Rift shining. Vanity or not, he had taken the time to polish it this morning.

There wasn't anyone he really knew, other than Coren, though more than a few likely knew him. So for the moment he stayed conspicuously on the outside of the circle, eyes scanning almost habitually for threats. Some habits never left you. Caltin Vanagor was one he wouldn't mind facing off against, challenges were harder to find these days.

 

[Auteme]

Jend-Ro Quill | Open
​

She nodded. It was a curious thing, being both a spiritual Jedi and a rational, scientific person. The Jedi were technically a religious sect, after all. They believed in something beyond death, a supernatural guiding power, and practiced rituals regularly. Auteme herself ascribed much power to the Force and just as much to hope. If the physicalists needed an explanation, there was always the placebo effect.

"Oh, quite a bit," she said, smiling to Quill. As much as she knew about the galaxy, the easiest thing to talk about was still herself. Not that she liked to; only that it was easy. "I completed my Bachelor of Science at Coruscant Med just recently. Loved the course, part of me wished I didn't take it accelerated so I could've spent longer in it. There's a fast track from there to a doctorate, but since I'm not planning on starting a practice I'm probably going to take my time. Plus, there's this excellent master of philosophy program that I wanted to get into, and the university's been kind enough to accommodate me even while I'm doing other work."

Of course, she hadn't grown all that much from the classes considering she'd only been there in person a few times. Her other duties had called. The content was well-trodden by her anyways.

"I've been helping out with this new Jedi organization, too. Actually-" She glanced around the room. "Ah, he's here. It was started by Caedyn Arenais . Without the OPA, the Jedi operating in the Outer Rim might need more help, so he's established a Coalition to try and better connect and support the orders.

"It reminded me of Wyatt's, only... more calm. He's not asking for full commitments or pushing hard for unification, just trying to get people together. He's done a lot of work with the Silvers, so I think it'll work out. I'm kind of running the New Jedi Order side, in that regard.

"Still... maybe a little energy and ambition could push it to prominence. We just have to communicate. That's really the first step in changing things, making them better."