Private A learning experience

[Laphisto]

Laphisto was suprised when Shan had reached out to him to learn more about his people, his species truth be told he didn't know much besides a few local legends he was told growing up, such as how his people had encountered the Jedi and subsequently been saved by them. It was those stories that he heard growing up that inspired him to join the Jedi order all those years ago.

He had asked the diarchs Diarch Reign and Diarch Rellik before hosting the Jedi on bastion and they had given him permission. Now all he had to do was wait for the Jedi to show up to the designated landing pad at the designated time.

He had made sure the Lilaste order and Diarchy ships in system knew of the mans arrival and even authorized clearance codes to be directed to the ODP stations in orbit wouldn't target the mans ship. The stations were an added security laphisto was implementing to every Diarchy world to ensure the safety of the system. The last thing they needed was another event of ships suddenly opening fire on the populous below.

 

[Shan]

Tag: Laphisto
There was a part of Shan that felt like he was flying into the belly of the beast. Of course, the Diarchy wasn't potentially as bad as the Sith Order but Shan knew every little about the organisation. The fact he hadn't been shot down yet was good news at least. At the very least he started to soar towards Bastion, making sure none of his interceptor's weapons were turned on in the first place. If this was some kind of trap or dangerous situation, he'd walk into it with open arms.

Slowly but surely he brought himself onto the landing pad, making sure to turn off his little toggles and buttons so that he could leave it on the landing pad. It was his only way off the planet at the end of the day in case things went wrong. Of course he was starting to doubt anything would go wrong, everything seemed quite hospitable but that didn't mean Shan was going to fully let his guard down.

Once he was out of his interceptor, Shan turned his attention to the surroundings of the landing pad, raising his hand in an awkward greeting to who he assumed was Laphisto . The man seemed to fit the description at the very least.

 

[Laphisto]

Laphisto stood at the edge of the landing pad, accompanied by a small detail of Lilaste Order soldiers. Behind them, the heart of Bastion was alive with motion cranes arched across skeletal buildings, sparks flared from welders suspended high above the rubble, and the rhythmic thrum of generators echoed across the ruined skyline. In the wake of the sartinaynian crisis, the Lilaste Order, working shoulder to shoulder with Diarchy personnel, had committed fully to restoring the once-great capital to working order.

As the Jedi's shuttle settled with a hiss of hydraulics and its boarding ramp lowered, Laphisto's eyes took on a sudden teal-blue glow. His Force Sight activated without conscious thought, instinctively peeling back the surface of the newcomer. He wasn't trying to pry -not exactly- but the Force had its own rhythm, and through it, Laphisto felt the Jedi's alignment, steady as a heartbeat. He allowed the current to wash over him, reading not the Jedi's thoughts, but the shape of their intent.

When the Jedi stepped forward and extended a hand in greeting, Laphisto's gaze flicked downward, and he returned the gesture with a gloved, taloned hand. His sheer size became apparent as he drew closer towering over seven foot eight, with wings shifting restlessly behind him and a long, scaled tail curling lightly at his side. Despite his formidable appearance, there was a certain grace in his movements, almost ceremonial. Dipping into a respectful bow, Laphisto brought his closed fist to his chest and spoke in a steady, gravel-edged voice.

"Master Jedi. I'm glad you made it to Bastion safely. I tried to make your journey to the surface as simple as possible. You were given my personal clearance codes meant to spare you from the usual bureaucratic nonsense." His tone was formal, but not cold. There was a weight to his words that suggested care, or at least a recognition of shared burdens.

He turned and motioned for the Jedi to follow him down a partially cleared walkway. The surrounding construction formed a maze of temporary scaffolding, makeshift tents, and power conduits snaking across cracked ferrocrete. As they walked, the glow faded from Laphisto's eyes, leaving them narrowed into a Glair - or perhaps he was squinting?- . To those familiar with the condition, the subtle signs of carbonite poisoning might be recognizable in the haze that lingered behind his stare.

"So," he said, voice shifting to something lighter, with the edge of a wry smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, "your message said you were seeking to expand your knowledge of other cultures. I take it the rest of my kin weren't exactly eager to chat?"

He chuckled softly, a dry, low sound, paired with a slow shake of his head it was a small joke on his behalf, considering he could very well be the last of his species "Well," he continued, a trace of amusement still in his voice, "I'll do what I can to answer your questions. Just know I was raised in the Jedi Temple on Ossus, so my knowledge of my own people might be… fragmented at best."

He glanced sidelong at the Jedi as they passed a group of Diarchy engineers working alongside Lilaste techs to calibrate a shield emitter. The hiss of plasma welders and the murmur of foreign languages drifted through the air like a song half-forgotten. "But I've lived long enough to collect some truths… and unearth a few lies," he added, more to himself than his guest, before returning his gaze forward as the city of Bastion slowly stirred to life around them.

Shan

 

[Shan]

Tag: Laphisto
Shan blinked at the sight of the soldiers, hesitating in his step for a moment. This wasn't fun. He never liked being seen as a potential threat to people. He had always tried to go to places with open arms. Shan's entire thing was to embrace the Galaxy as a whole, it was hard to do that when members of the Galaxy thought you could be a danger...Though he supposed it was a safe assumption to have. You could never be too careful with strangers at the end of the day, and to Laphisto and the Diarchy as a whole, Shan was a stranger.

Like always, his Force alignment was a steady light. He didn't have a single bad bone in his body. Well, that was a lie. He had started to get more of a spine after the invasion of Woostri but even then, darkness never clouded Shan's mind. Hesitation and a lack of confidence, yes but never any form of hatred or corruption was in his heart. It was somewhat ironic that he didn't know how to radiate the inner light he had but he always made an effort to try and bring the Light to his surroundings through his actions, not through the Force.

"Please. Just Shan works for today. I've been told I should take more pride in my titles like Knight, or Doctor but today I'm just a student looking to learn more about the Galaxy and those who live in it. The Force connects us all, and so it is my duty to learn about the people connected to me."

With that, Shan gave a short bow. He was used to spending time around people who were taller than him. His Master had been Kahlil after all, and there was the Valkyrie that was Katherine Holt who had been her fellow Padawan. So luckily for him, people who were larger in stature didn't quite bother Shan. If anything he found it welcoming to be amongst those who were tall.

For now, he set out to follow Laphisto, Shan's eyes set on their surroundings. Honestly, Shan wouldn't have minded the bueracratic knowledge. He was no diplomat, but he could understand the requirements for having people follow basic rules when it came to this. He knew he was far too trusting himself so it was always good to have specific rules set in place for seeing visitors. His thoughts were interrupted however as he glanced over towards Laphisto. Shan wasn't intimately familiar with carbonite poisoning, but it had been part of his studies...Interesting. He didn't make a comment on it however. He had a feeling most people wouldn't be happy about someone talking about their medical history.

"It's more I want to try and get as many perspectives as I can. Judging a culture or species by the few is a mistake I've made in the past. Mandalorians and Echani were some of those cultures that I judged without fully understanding in the past. And I don't want to make those mistakes again. Also, please don't worry about not knowing much about your people. Any information is valuable to me. I'm mostly a stranger to my own's people culture as well."

Thanks to his father's hatred of the Mirialan culture, Shan only had the basic knowledge thanks to his mother's hard work. If it hadn't been for her, he might not even have his cultural tattoos. He kept his attention on their surroundings, taking in the sights of the building. Shan was not overly fond of paying attention to the technology. As much as some of it could be helpful for his own Humanitarian work if he thought about it...

 

[Laphisto]

Laphisto clasped his hands behind his back as they walked through the heart of the reconstruction zone. The soldiers who had been stationed at the landing pad had since been dismissed at least, most of them. One lingered a little too long, their presence oddly unsettling.

If Shan was paying close attention, he might notice something strange something that didn't quite add up. There had been three soldiers at the pad, but now, it only felt like two. He could see the third if he looked directly at them... but the moment his eyes drifted away, it was as if the figure vanished entirely, like smoke in the wind. Stranger still, he couldn't sense this third soldier through the Force. It was as if they simply didn't exist they were Force-dead. A shadow among the living. Laphisto, either unaware or entirely used to this, gave a small chuckle in response to Shan's earlier words and offered a nod of acknowledgment.

"The Force connects us all?" he echoed thoughtfully. "I've heard that many times before. In fact, my people once believed the Force connected us directly to our ancestral homeworld Kiev'ara." He glanced at Shan, his tone shifting into something more reverent, as if reciting old legends from memory.

"As the stories go, my people were first brought into the galactic fold by an ancient race known as the Kwa. They came through what we called Realm Gates mystical portals that could transport one across worlds, OR other planes of eistance as we once belived. It was through these gates that my ancestors first foun dthe name for the mystical power of our world, it was called the Force. With the Kwa's guidance, our elders came to believe that all of Kiev'ara flowed with the Living Force itself. So much so that, according to legend, even those who had never touched the Force could learn to wield it with enough training."

As they walked, a Lilaste Order engineer in a rustic green uniform stepped up, saluting sharply before offering Laphisto a datapad. The commander took it without pausing, signing it quickly without reading. Yet, Shan might notice the same strange, Force-dead soldier now moving just behind Laphisto's shoulder subtly adjusting their stance to let the commander read the screen without seeming to look at it himself. Clearly, they were more than just a bodyguard; they were an extension of Laphisto's senses. Laphisto said nothing of it, instead continuing his story.

"After the Realm Gates closed, it is said Kiev'ara devolved into war and all the Visiting races were killed off as every race fought to earn thier place on the world. but soon after the victory of my people. another race came calling themselves the Rakata. They enslaved my people, used us as living energy sources to power their ships and machines. The legends say that all of Kiev'ara rose up in defiance. The war was so brutal, so devastating, that it culminated in the destruction of our system's sun. The skies burned with fire, and yet the Kiev'arian people fought to their last breath."

He paused for a moment, his gaze drifting over the reconstruction efforts as the wind rustled between his wings. His eyes swept the horizon with a restless energy, as if searching for something not yet found. "My ancestors or at least those who bore my family name, along with a few other noble houses escaped in a stolen Rakatan vessel. They crashed on Tython. It was the Jedi who found us. Gave us shelter. Gave us a place in their order. My father and mother both joined them… and, eventually, so did I and i held that tidle with pride, i was a Jedi knight, just like you."

His tone shifted again, from somber history to quiet devotion, as he added, "Before the destruction of our world, my people worshiped two gods. Dra'ko the god of life and creation. And his brother, Saurav'ix the god of death, the afterlife… and, in time, war. Together, they watched over our people. Two halves of a greater whole. Balance through contrast."


Shan

 

[Shan]

Tag: Laphisto
Objective: Get to learning!
Force-Dead. Shan didn't have much experience with them, though he had some experience fighting without the Force. After training as a Padawan through lessons that caused him to in various Force-Nullification fields, he had always believed it was a vital set of skills for him to learn. In his eyes, far too many Force Users took the Force for granted when it was always possible it could be taken away from them. It was why he had studied for his Doctorate as well, in case the day came when he couldn't use the Force to heal, he still had his mind. His hands. His body. All of that designed to protect the people he cared for.

"I have always seen the Force as a vast ocean that connects us all. Those of us who are Force Sensitives are like...floating islands, finding our way through the Force, connected through various ripples we send out to each other. It might be a foolish belief but it makes it easier to...connect to others. To understand that my actions have consequences, and those consequences can have their own...well, consequences. "

He continued to follow Laphisto, raising an eyebrow at the Datapad signing but he did not comment on it. Once again, it was none of his business as to Laphisto's health. So for now, he just listened to the tales. The stories that Laphisto told him. It was interesting to listen to the tales. There was so much similar stories in the world. At least he had heard of the Rakatans before in other tales. Perhaps it was an avenue he wanted to go and explore later down the line...

"Was. You were a Jedi Knight. Implying past tense."

It wasn't something that was lost on Shan, but it wasn't something he was opposed to either. In his eyes, being a Jedi wasn't something you could entirely give up. You might not follow the same Code as the Order that trained you, but the lessons were always there. Even the Sith followed that rule in his eyes. But he knew he was always...a bit bias when it came to them. Far too accepting.

"Two halves of a greater whole. Balance through contrast"

"It sounds like how some view the Force. Some view the Dark Side and Light Side as two halves of something much bigger. That is the Force as a whole and that using both make you more powerful. I'm unsure as if I believe that myself. In my...metaphor for the Force being the ocean, my view is far more different. I see the Light Side as the Force itself. The water, calm and at peace. And the Dark Side comes in as a storm to unsettle the calm nature of the water. Those who use the Dark Side, even for good will always bring a storm to their island. It is up to them if they can weather the storm with or without the Dark Side."

 

[Laphisto]

Laphisto nodded softly at the younger man’s words, hands still clasped behind his back as his gaze lingered on the distant skyline.

“There was a time,” he began, voice quiet but even, “when I gave everything to the Jedi Order. My master… he spoke constantly about the balance of the Force. I heard it so often it became part of my every breath. And I- well, I sought to carry those teachings beyond just theory. I tried to apply them… perhaps more broadly than the Order was ready for.”

He cast a brief glance toward Shan , then looked away again, the corners of his eyes shadowed with a weight that time had only deepened.

“I was stripped of my Jedi title and rank for my involvement in the Second Schism. My master wanted me executed. Or exiled, at the very least, alongside the others. But the Council…” he paused, jaw tightening faintly. “The Council deemed me too dangerous to release—and too valuable to discard. So, I was given a choice.”

His voice dropped just above a whisper as he frowned at the memory “Execution… or carbonite. To pay penance for my crimes. I chose the latter, hoping my sentence would last no more than a century. Maybe, with time, forgiveness would find me.”

A breath escaped him not a sigh, but something more like the weight of a ghost being exhaled. “But when I was finally awakened… it was not mercy that stirred me. It was necessity. They needed a weapon. A hunter. A relic with teeth. And by then, more than two thousand years had passed. I had left everything behind my wife, my friends, the world I knew… all of it turned to ash and memory.”

He closed his eyes briefly, head bowing slightly. Another sigh followed, this one laced with a bitter kind of humor. “And I soon learned that my sentence had changed. No longer was I just a participant in a schism I was now marked as complicit in the creation of the Sith. The Jedi declared that until the Sith were no more, I would not be allowed freedom.”

Clearing his throat, he gave a faint chuckle, though the sound lacked mirth “My apologies… I didn’t mean to drift so far off-topic. My father always said I had a scholar in methe way I rambled on.”

Laphisto turned his head slightly, listening as Shan explained his own interpretation of the Force how he saw the Light as the calm waters of a vast ocean, and the Dark as a storm disturbing its peace. He was quiet for a moment, thoughtful.

“It’s a beautiful metaphor,” Laphisto said softly. His eyes darting out towards the skyline as he thought for a moment as if trying to absorb the metaphor and it's full meaning before eventually speaking

“And I think there’s truth in it. The Light is the calm waters the natural order, the life that flows through all things. The Dark, as you say, is the storm the force that unsettles and reshapes the world. But storms, too, are part of the ocean. They bring change, upheaval… but they’re not inherently evil. They have a role, even if they’re dangerous.”

Laphisto paused, his eyes narrowing slightly as he considered the Force’s duality. And his true beliefs of what true balance in the force meant. But he also wanted to give the man a metaphor of his own, tied to his so that perhaps his understanding might be more thorough

“People often think you can only choose one or the other. Light or Dark. But I’ve lived through both. I’ve wielded them together, not as opposites, but as partners. The strength the raw destruction of the Dark Side can be a powerful tool. But it needs guidance. It needs the steadiness of the Light. Without that, the storm will consume everything and the light will blind I believe it’s possible to walk the line between them. To draw on both without falling into either extreme. It’s not about avoiding the storm… it’s about knowing how to channel it—how to control the chaos so that it serves a greater purpose. That’s what my people sought. And it’s what I still try to find, even now.”

He looked forward, tone quite and firm in his own belief but not trying to undermine the man's own world view but instead trying to offer a glimpse into how he saw things trying to put his thoughts to words

“Alone, the Light can be too passive blinded by ideals, paralyzed by restraint. The Dark, on its own, is raw, unchained… but it burns everything it touches. Yet together, when balanced, when in harmony... they become something greater. Whole. Complete. The Light offers direction. The Dark offers strength. One tempers the other. And in that balance, I believe, true power and true peace can be found.”

 

[Shan]

Tag: Laphisto
Objective: Get to learning!

Shan stayed quiet during Laphisto's entire story. There wasn't much he could add to the story nor did he think his opinions were the right thing to say either. You couldn't exactly judge someone's life story. Even if he was sure that the Jedi of today were nothing like the Jedi of old, which is preferable for him since Shan wouldn't have survived the older generation of Jedi himself. They were far too extreme on one spectrum for him, whereas he felt like he leaned too much towards being pacifistic. Of course, he was starting to change that but it was slow going.

"It's fine. I've often been told I go on philosophical rants far too much."

He gave a dismissive wave at that. He did his best to take in Laphisto's point of view about the Dark side and the Light Side, but internally...Shan just couldn't agree with it. It wasn't something he'd argue against either however. In his eyes, those who used the Dark Side regularly were going to be difficult to pull out the allure. For now, he'd just keep his opinion to himself and follow along.

 

[Laphisto]

Laphisto was still for a moment not idly, but with quiet reflection. To a certain degree, he was impressed. The Jedi walking beside him hadn’t immediately condemned him, hadn’t raised an argument, hadn’t recoiled or drawn a line in the sand. He didn’t try to “correct” him or lash out over their differences in philosophy. That alone was... refreshing.

Though they held differing views, Laphisto found himself genuinely appreciating the civility and calm between them. It was something he’d come to find far too rare among Force-users especially between Jedi and Sith. All too often, a disagreement over belief was seen as grounds for hostility. The moment opposing philosophies met, the conversation turned to judgment. Communication died. Conflict took its place.

It was that very normality that had kept him from ever truly feeling at home within the Jedi Order. And that said nothing of the arrogance or the violent tendencies of the Sith.

But Laphisto had always held to one truth: the Force was simply the Force. Not Light. Not Dark. Not good or evil. Just the current of the universe vast, unyielding, alive.

He also believed in freedom. The freedom of thought, of knowledge, of expression. Everyone had the right to believe as they would so long as those beliefs did not become weapons used to silence others.

"Another philosopher? Well it seems I'm at least not alone in that regards. It's been far to long since I have been allowed to talk philosophical debates. Ones that don't end in hatred or anger but instead allow both participants to truly deliver into the passion of Thier believes without undermining one another."

He gave a small chuckle and a slow shake of his head, the gesture relaxed until, quite suddenly, his body tensed. Every muscle locked up in an instant, his posture rigid with pain as his breath caught sharply in his throat. Along his neck, creeping up from beneath his armor, his veins began to glow and pulsed with light flickering like fire, rhythmic as a heartbeat. At the base of the glow, around the collar of his armor, a brighter flare bloomed like a branding mark forcing itself through his body.

The episode lasted only a few seconds, but when it passed, Laphisto staggered. His footing faltered, and the Force-dead commander was instantly at his side, supporting him with practiced ease. Laphisto’s breathing came in ragged bursts before gradually leveling out.He waved the commander off with a weak nod, jaw set tight, the pain clearly still lingering but he said nothing about it

Shan

 

[Shan]

Tag: Laphisto
Objective: Get to learning!

Shan had always been firm in his own belief that most people's beliefs weren't wrong. As long as it wasn't hurting anyone innocent, he'd be content leaving them to their devices. It was why he had no issue with the Sith as a whole. It was a belief system, a religion, it was only when they harmed innocents that Shan felt bound to step in. Not to prove the Sith wrong, nor to slay them. No. He always felt bound to protect the innocent. It was who he was, straight to the point.

It was a belief that he wished more Jedi had but at the same time he knew he was unorthodox in that belief. The MIrialan kept his arms folded along his front, listening to Laphisto's comments about philosophy, with Shan giving a short nod in response to it all.

"I agree. In one of my first encounters with trying to stand for my beliefs, as a Padawan, I had to fight against a Jedi Knight who believed that anything with the Dark Side needed to be put down, like a vicious animal. I was not fond of the experience, obviously. But it made me realise that there is both good and evil in every living creature. I am not arrogant enough to believe that I am exempt from that either. I know there is evil inside of me. Perhaps it is my unwillingness to fight. My pacifism that is truly evil, as it allows more harm than good. But I will never know."

Taking a moment to catch his breath, Shan stared off into the distance taking in the sight of Bastion once more. Dozens of thoughts raced through his mind as he debated over each one. Which ones to bring up and which ones to leave in the back of his mind.

"I want to be able to show more padawans, even more Jedi the state of the Galaxy. How there is both good and evil in everything you look at. I'd have loved to bring my Padawan here, but...well, I feel like it's obvious that the Diarchy does not have much love for the Alliance as a whole, and so I am more willing to risk my own safety than my Padawans. It is a shame. I would have loved to have a Jedi Temple here. To allow the two cultures of the Diarchy and Alliance to mix."

He kept a small smile on his face...up until Laphisto seemed to have an episode of some kind, with which Shan rummaged into his robes to pull out a healing crystal of fire. The one he had been given for his birthday in what felt like a life time ago. The Mirialan didn't step into action straight away, letting the Force-Dead Commander deal with it, but by this point it wasn't something Shan could ignore. His oath as a Doctor compelled him to at least offer his aid if it was needed.

"...Is everything alright? I've been noticing the signs but I haven't wanted to intrude on your health. I presume it is something you've been to various healers already?"

Once again, Shan was not arrogant enough to believe that he could heal everything. To believe that he was the best healer. Laphisto had probably been to plenty better than Shan but that did not mean the man would not offer his aid.

 

[Laphisto]

Laphisto took a few deep breaths, shaking his head slightly as he tried to steady himself. A small, dry chuckle escaped him as he looked toward Shan, his expression somewhere between resigned and amused. "I'm afraid I might be dying," he said plainly, though without fear. "Or maybe it's some sickness unique to my species… I can't tell. I've only ever met a handful of others like me and that was several millennia ago." He shook his head once more, forcing his posture upright with slow, deliberate effort. His composure returned, at least outwardly, and he offered a slight nod to the Jedi. "I've tried many healers. Medics. Treatments both ancient and modern. No one seems to know what's wrong with me. But I can feel it whatever it is it's happening more often." His voice softened slightly, a quiet layer of meaning beneath the words.

"That's one of the reasons I was so eager to meet. To pass on what I know. If I'm running out of time, then I'd rather not leave everything behind untold. I've recorded much of my people's history scattered across various places, archives, journals. But if, by some miracle, another of my kind finds their way to the Jedi… I want them to know who we were. What we believed. What we stood for." Laphisto paused, letting that sit for a moment before shifting the topic, reflecting on Shan's earlier words regarding the Diarchy and the Galactic Alliance. "The Diarchy doesn't hold animosity toward the Alliance," he said, more firmly now. "All are free to visit Bastion and enter Diarchy space to learn, to speak, to share." He glanced sidelong at Shan as he recalled the speech.

"As Diarch Reign put it in his address to the galaxy, the Diarchy seeks to guide things toward true order. Not dominance. Not conquest. But stability. He called out the faults of every major power including our own. The Senate's stagnation. Its inaction in the face of suffering. Its failure to protect worlds beyond its favored borders. And he didn't spare the Sith either condemned their mindless killing and destruction." Laphisto's voice grew more resolute, his conviction evident. "He called on both Jedi and Sith to find a way to coexist. To seek balance instead of annihilation." He exhaled through his nose and let his wings adjust subtly behind him before continuing.

"I can't claim to know much about the current Galactic Alliance. But I remember the Republic. Back then, it was much the same. The Outer Rim was hard to hold, and too often neglected. That neglect led to countless crises. But in those days, the Jedi were everywhere posted on distant worlds, helping locals survive, meditating disputes, preserving peace where they could." He paused again, thoughtful. "And they weren't limited to Republic space. The Jedi of my time had no allegiance to any one government. They served the people directly regardless of politics or borders. Their loyalty was to the Force, and to life itself." A wistful edge crept into his tone, though his gaze remained forward. "It wasn't perfect. But it meant something."

Shan

 

[Shan]

Tag: Laphisto
Objective: Get to learning!

Death. That was one thing Shan knew he couldn't heal. And he knew the dark path that could await him if he ever tried to. No. It was something he had just tried to accept about the Galaxy. It came naturally, or at least was meant to come naturally. A part of course for living. That was not to say he wasn't afraid of it, but Shan thought it was pointless for him to try and run from an enemy that couldn't tire. That wouldn't slow down. So for now, he just nodded at Laphisto's comments, before listening to his discussion of the Diarchy, letting him say what he wanted to say before Shan spoke up.

"Perhaps the true nature of life is chaos. Nothing lasts forever. No foundation or structure is eternal. Though I can agree with some of the sentiment. The Jedi Order needs more temples out of their space. More places for them to call home, so that they can protect those amongst them. I won't deny that the Alliance perhaps has worlds it favours. It is part of why I stay away from the politics myself. Though I will say, I was not stating that the Diarchy only had an issue with the Alliance. Just that I did not feel comfortable bringing my Padawan here, in case something was to go wrong. It is always good to be prepared for the worst case scenario, no?"

IT was clear to Shan at least that this was a cause Laphisto believed greatly in. That was something he could respect, even if he didn't find himself having the same belief. He could agree with some of it at least, like trying to find co-existence but he knew that he had not experienced the same affronts to humanity that other Jedi had against the Sith. After all, he could recall the anger he felt on Woostri, when he fought against the Sith Troopers. If there were Jedi that had more encounters like that...Well, he could understand why co-existence wasn't possible.

"We are trying to get more Jedi out into the Galaxy as a whole. It is hard to find planets to settle on in the Outer Rim. Some might see it as an invasion or expansion of the Alliance's reach, even when it is only meant to be for the Jedi Order. I suppose that is a problem with us being considered so closely connected to the Senate."

He shook his head at that, keeping his arms folded alongst his front as Shan kept his thoughts racing through his mind. There was so much more he could say or suggest but it was a matter of respect.

"I will admit. I am biased in my loyalty. I am loyal to the Order, but not the Alliance. Perhaps that makes me a poor Jedi, but I will never have it be said that I thought I was a perfect Jedi. I just want to help people learn. To feel welcomed in the Galaxy...I want more Jedi spread throughout the Universe."

 

[Laphisto]

"Chaos as the natural order of things?" Laphisto echoed, his tone thoughtful. "That's a phrase I've heard on occasion… and there may be merit to it." He walked in silence for a few steps, reflecting on Shan's words. A small, almost nostalgic smile tugged at the corners of his lips before he rumbled out his reply. "I could speak with the Diarchs," he offered, glancing toward the younger Jedi. "See if they'd be open to the idea of fostering Jedi presence on Bastion. Building good relations. Encouraging the people to see the Jedi not as symbols of foreign rule, but as guardians of peace and wisdom."

He gave a short nod, his smile fading into something more resolute. "Your loyalty to the Jedi, and not the Alliance, is something more of your kind should embrace. That separation between Jedi and government it's crucial. In my time, it was the foundation of what made the Jedi trusted across the stars." His wings shifted slightly as he continued, voice growing firmer with each word.

"The Jedi should be out there on the fringe worlds, in the forgotten systems not chained to galactic politics or beholden to the Senate. Their first duty should always be to the people, not to any governing body. That's how it once was. We weren't warriors. We weren't soldiers. We were keepers of the peace. Mediators. An unbiased hand offered to worlds in crisis." He paused a moment, glancing toward Shan with a quiet seriousness behind his eyes. "I miss that vision of the Jedi. And I'd welcome its return."

Shan

 

[Shan]

Tag: Laphisto
Objective: Get to learning!

"Look at planets such as New Cov, or Kashyyyk where nature mostly rules over machines. It is chaos, but in a way ordered chaos that you can navigate if you understand it. In fact, sometimes planets like those have a habit of biting back if someone tries to rule over them."

Which is why they get burnt. At least in the case of Kashyyyk. A small frown crossing Shan's face as he thought about the state of the planet. He had never visited him, but Shan had always admired the Wookies. A ferocious species that didn't give into their baser instincts. Though he turned his attention back over towards Laphisto at the mentioning of the Diarchs, raisng an eyebrow ever so slightly.

"If it would be helpful, I am willing to talk to them as well. I am not a representative on the Council of course, but I like to believe I am a good example of some of the Jedi in the Order. That's not to say there isn't more...combative members, though I think most of their focus would be on Hutt Space, as opposed to Diarchy space."

He pondered upon what Laphisto said about how more Jedi should have loyalty to the Order, and he tilted his head at that. It was an interesting thought to say the least but he wasn't sure if he necessarily agreed with it.

"I am loyal to the Order, because it is the closest family I have. I know of Jedi who have more loyalty to their family than the Order, and I do not blame them for that. I also know there's a fair few Jedi who think we're meant to be warriors for the Alliance, guardians of it. And whilst I can agree with that sentiment, I believe we should be guardians of the Galaxy as a whole."

It was why Shan himself was trying to learn more about the Galaxy and it's inhabitants. Not to just protect the people living the Galaxy but also to protect their history. Their culture. There were plenty of dead species and dead cultures in the Galaxy and whilst Shan wasn't exactly an archaeologist or skilled in looking into the past, if he could make records of the present to make it easier for the future to look back on? He'd do so.

"I like the vision of the Jedi you have, but I must say...I am concerned in this day and age if most people know where the line is. The difference between protector and attacker. The difference between Guardian and Warrior. I don't mean just the Jedi, I think plenty of groups in the Galaxy blur the line and it's unfortunate to say the least."

 

[Laphisto]

Laphisto listened intently, nodding along to Shan 's words, his expression thoughtful "You make a fine point about chaos," he said after a moment. "Perhaps then, it is our duty not to tame it but to grow alongside it. To adapt. To ensure we live in balance with chaos when needed, rather than try to control it entirely." He turned slightly, offering Shan a small, respectful nod. "The Diarchs trust me and they trust my judgment. All I need do is bring them reason, and they will listen. Should they accept the idea of a Jedi temple somewhere your people can learn from us, and we from them I'll send word to you immediately. A bridge between cultures is always worth building." When Shan spoke of Jedi believing themselves to be warriors, Laphisto's brow furrowed, though his gaze remained soft. He shook his head gently.

"You're right to believe the Jedi should be guardians of the galaxy, not just of one government or border. That was how it used to be. Jedi were peacekeepers standing between conflict and collapse, not fighting for one side or another. We were never meant to be warriors or generals, no matter how strong we were in the Force. That power was never meant to justify authority or conquest." His eyes darkened slightly, reflecting on the past. "I once knew a man who went to war against the Jedi Council's guidance. He fought against the Mandalorians when they ravaged the Republic His cause was noble his heart in the right place. But he acted not for the galaxy, only for the Republic. And in doing so, he lost his way." Laphisto's voice dropped slightly, the memory heavy on his shoulders.

"When he returned it was not as a hero, but a conqueror. The same people he once sought to protect, he came back to subjugate. He believed himself the only one strong enough to preserve peace and in that belief, he became something else entirely." He let the silence settle before speaking again, this time meeting Shan's eyes directly. "As you said the line between protector and conqueror, between guardian and warrior it's far too easy to blur. And once it's crossed it's not always easy to find your way back."