Star Wars Roleplay: Chaos

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Faction A Second Chance at the First Step




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TAGS: Ikenna Tahj Ikenna Tahj



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Tirin was in search of a Padawan who could use his assistance. He had helped offer stability to some of the young ones he had met, but they didn't seem to be the right fit so far as an apprentice. His quest to find a Padawan with whom he would not make the same mistakes was starting to feel like an endless one. It had been several years now, but he remembered the past as if it were yesterday. He shook his head, dispelling such unpleasant thoughts as he let out a gentle sigh before disembarking the Ares.

Alderaan was not a place he often made a habit of visiting, but he had been making efforts to visit temples, audit classrooms, and observe the young ones attending their education, hoping to find someone who would fit—someone who wasn't so reckless, someone a little more meek, and perhaps less confident in themselves. Tirin knew well the tricks the mind could play and how they often had a significant effect on one's ability to attune to the flow of the Force.

As Tirin stepped off the Ares, the scent of fresh rain mixed with the earthy aroma of Alderaan's diverse flora flooded his senses. The green hills rolled gently in the distance, and the echoes of laughter from the nearby temple grounds resonated in the humid air. Yet, despite the beauty surrounding him, a heavy weight rested in his chest. His hand reached up, taking hold of the violet kyber crystal he wore as a pendant and held it, as if drawing some semblance of calm from it.

The Temple of Alderaan stood proudly before him. Tirin had previously spent many hours wandering its hallways on his last trip here, observing the younglings, initiates, and hopefuls alike as they navigated lessons on the Living Force, lightsaber drills, and the complexities of Jedi philosophy. Despite being a skilled Jedi Master himself, he couldn't help but feel a sense of inadequacy when faced with the prospect of training another. The last Padawan he had taken had thrived for a time but ultimately succumbed to rebellious impatience. He had given them too much free rein, which had led to their gruesome demise. Tirin vowed he would not repeat such a mistake again, but he had to be certain about his choice. The Force often spoke volumes to him, but in this endeavor, he found it frustratingly... silent.

He entered the main hall, where the sounds of laughter shifted into a more structured ambiance, embodying the rhythm of lessons being taught. Students sat cross-legged on mats—some practicing forms with lightsabers, others engaged in meditation exercises. Tirin's gaze landed on a cluster of young ones near the far wall. They were grouped together, sharing ideas and insights, their faces alive with eagerness.

He stood there, taking his time observing what the students were doing in this hour. It was more of a free period, he could surmise, given the variety of activities. He allowed his violet gaze to sweep across the room, taking in each prospective student, curious to see if anyone seemed to stand out. There were a few students here who were older that Tirin knew about, but he would undoubtedly cross that bridge when he got there—if he didn't find what he was looking for first. Perhaps if he was lucky, he might capture a glimpse of who the prospective students were, unfettered by the complications of a Master nearby seeking an apprentice. It often got hopes up and ultimately made it more difficult to see how they genuinely behaved when no one of authority was watching.
 
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"Isn't it almost time for you to be back at the temple, Ikenna?" Mother said, leaning against the wide double barn door. Ikenna frowned and looked up at the sun, shading his eyes, a frown on his lips.

"Maybe," he said, both unsure and uncaring before shoving his pitchfork back into the pile of hay and hoisting it into the nerf pen. This time of year, they needed double the hay for the nerf's pens, and it felt like he was adding more layers every day. Ikenna sighed and stuck his pitchfork into the compacted ground. "It doesn't matter anyway- Ma!" The snap-hiss of a lightsaber cut him off, the blue light illuminating the barn.

"Would be a shame not to put this to good use." Mother said. Fear shot through Ikenna.

"Ma! You know you can't- You shouldn't-"

"It would be such a shame if such a beautiful tool were to accidentally- Oh!" Ikenna gripped the blade in the force and deactivated it before snatching it form her mother's hands with a sigh.

"Ah! Good! You came to your senses before we had to make an emergency trip to the temple. Its a good thing I had your swoop ready just in case. Now get to the temple!"

---
Ikenna walked into the Alderaanian Jedi temple, late for his first remedial class and just in time for the open period. One of the Masters spotted him and scowled.

"Ikenna? Late again? You missed Connections in the Force."

Ikenna winced.

"Oh nooo," he said sarcastically. The Master glared blaster bolts in his direction and he winced. "I mean, I'm sorry Master. It won't happen again."

Tirin Raene Tirin Raene
 




The sharp tone of someone being scolded drew Tirin's attention. His eyes quickly found the source, a youth he recognized at once from the records he'd reviewed before arriving. One of the names recommended by the Council. One of the ones he had intended to seek out today.

He observed quietly. No excuse was given for the student's tardiness, only a formal apology. Polite. Almost too polished and curt. Placating, even. Tirin felt a flicker of doubt at the sincerity, but quickly chastised himself for the thought. He tucked his hands into the wide sleeves of his robe and stepped forward, the hesitation in his stride vanishing.

"Tell me, Padawan Tahj; What pressing matters delayed your arrival?" Tirin asked, curiosity in his tone as he entered the conversation. He gave the overseeing Master a respectful dip of his head. The glance he offered the Master beside him was a silent gesture of deference, an acknowledgment of their standing and the structure and context of the moment. The quiet nod he received in return, granting him the space to proceed.

His presence here, sanctioned by the Council, afforded him a measure of leeway when it came to selecting students for closer observation. And in this case, he was particularly interested.

Now, faced with the youth in question, he studied them settling his heliotrope eyes on the lad. "A well-spoken apology can soothe an ear, but it does not undo the effect of one's absence."

He added the words lightly, his voice as soft and unassuming as summer rain. Tirin was a man of modest stature, with a lithe build and willowy frame, physically unthreatening by any conventional measure. Yet despite that gentleness, his gaze sought eye contact without hesitation, unwavering in its directness There was nothing forceful in it, but something about the steadiness and calm certainty, could very well be disquieting. It was the kind of gaze that left little room to hide. And for now Ikkena had his complete undivided attention.
 
Ikenna bowed as yet another Master approached him due to his tardiness. He grimaced and one of his head tendrills twitched in annoyance. He'd never seen this one before. Some bigwig from Coruscant?

"Of course Master." Ikenna said, still bowed. "I apologize. As I said, it won't happen again."

The other Jedi Master frowned and folded his arms across his chest.

"He does this all the time. I don't know why the Master of the Temple allows you to visit home so often. Your parents can handle the farm just fine on their own, Ikenna. You have a higher calling."

Anger flashed in Ikenna, but he stamped it down quickly.

"My parents are old Master, and cannot afford to pay farmhands."

"Still. It should not be keeping you from your studies."

Tirin Raene Tirin Raene
 




The story came into focus, and Tirin gently pieced the threads together. It was clear the youth had little desire to speak of such matters. He didn't press, only allowed a moment's quiet to settle between them before shifting his gaze.

"Ah… I see," he murmured, voice soft with understanding. "It's a kind thing, to care for your family so deeply… Duty often asks more of us than we believe we have to give," he added, tone mild. "And when it pulls us between two worlds, it can feel like there is no right answer."

He considered his next words carefully.

"Your loyalty to your family speaks well of your heart, Padawan. But I wonder…" His voice gentled even further. "Do you carry this weight because you are the only one who can bear it… or because you've convinced yourself no one else should?"

A long pause passed, one that allowed the question to settle.

"Forgive me," he said turning to address the Master, "but I believe I've found precisely what I came here seeking."

" I believe I would benefit from seeing more of Padawan Tahj's temperament firsthand, outside the expectations of the classroom."


He turned slightly toward the overseeing Master, offering a courteous bow of his head.

"With your permission, I'd like to excuse him from his remaining lessons today and the following two weeks. A brief assignment. It won't be strenuous, merely a chance to speak without the weight of structure, and to observe how he carries himself beyond these halls when on assignment."

His heliotrope gaze returned to Ikenna briefly and he smiled.

"And I should verily like to meet your family before we depart. "
 
"My Parents?"

Before he could protest the other Jedi Master stepped in, waving a hand in the boy's direction.

"We try to stay out of the boy's personal affairs, as the Order does with most other Jedi who maintain families outside of the Order."

Ikenna frowned. It wasn't that he wanted to have the Jedi talking to his parents about his behavior like some unruly school child, but the fact that the Master didn't give him a chance to speak up for himself frustrated him. He wrinkled his brow, but otherwise kept his mouth shut.

"Is there a mission from the Council you were sent on that you need help with? I'm sure I can find another Jedi more suitable. Force knows we are spread thin as it is, but the Alderaan sector has been quiet these days. Even the Killik hives have been more dormant than usual."

Tirin Raene Tirin Raene
 
Ikenna Tahj Ikenna Tahj

Tirin could grasp the professional rigidity of severing ties, but he also understood how it could breed doubt and unease in a person.

Perhaps the Padawan wouldn't want Tirin to meet his family, and that would be fine too. He wouldn't know unless he asked directly. Yet, it would make it far more difficult for Tirin to truly understand the youth's perspective. Without witnessing firsthand what Ikenna valued and worried over, any attempt to bridge the gap between his two worlds would remain incomplete. And Tirin suspected that, perhaps there was room for a growing resentment toward the Order's stance on family obligations.

For now, Tirin wished to observe and understand. How did Ikenna handle responsibility without the rigid boundaries of the Temple? How did he act when he was distracted by personal concerns, unmoored by the Order's watchful eye? That was what Tirin intended to find out.
Tirin was being presented with a delicate challenge in a manner of speaking.

Though he turned those soft violet eyes to the student and smiled lightly.

The Force was drawing him toward Ikenna, that much was certain. Yet something within him resisted... a tension he couldn't quite shake. Fear, perhaps. Fear of repeating past mistakes, of misjudging potential, of letting another student slip through his grasp as his last had. It was enough to make him second-guess his instincts, seeking tangible proof rather than trusting the Force's guidance. Balancing the two was a far more precarious act than he cared to admit.

His gaze lingered on Ikenna for a moment longer, searching for something beneath the surface. What was the boy thinking? What lay behind that expression?

It was a two-way street, after all. If Tirin were to make this decision, he would need to understand the youth's heart as much as the Force's whispers.

"I think this young man is what I came here for," Tirin announced softly, his words carrying both conviction and uncertainty. Then, after a brief pause, he added, "But traditionally speaking, the bond between a Master and a Padawan is an affair often a deeply personal and intuitive connection, determined by the Force."

Tirin offered a gentle incline of his head toward the other Master, maintaining that calm, unassuming demeanor.

"I understand your concerns," Tirin said, his tone soft yet firm. "But the connection between Master and Padawan is not something that can be forced or arranged by decree. It is a bond forged by the Force itself, and recognized by both parties."

His violet eyes shifted to Ikenna for a brief, thoughtful moment before returning to the other Master.

"I would like to spend some time with him, outside the confines of the Temple," Tirin continued. "Observe him without the structure of lessons and expectations. If he is to walk this path with me, I need to understand him as he is."

Then, his tone quieted further. "And, with your permission, I would like to extend that same opportunity to Ikenna. To see if he feels that same pull of the Force toward me."

He shifted his violet gaze to the youth, his eyes remained fixed on Ikenna, his expression open, almost inviting.

"Tell me, Ikenna," he said, his voice lowering to a gentler, more personal tone. "What does the Force tell you about me?"
 
Ikenna wrinkled his nose at the Jedi, but caught himself, his aggitation and unease shifting to his head tendrils which twitched ever so slightly. Why was this person so intent on him? He wanted to shrink away beneath the gaze of those purple eyes. But something was pulling him towards the Jedi. He could just barely feel it in the force.

"I guess," he said, "I wouldn't mind going with you." What was one more try? Maybe he'd finally find out if he was truly cut out to be a Jedi. He looked at his boots, shame bubbling up in his gut. "I don't know what the Force tells me about you, but maybe that isn't a bad thing."

"Well I don't see any problems with this arrangement!" The other Jedi Master said, stepping blocking Ikenna's view of the other Master.

Ikenna rolled his eyes.

Tirin Raene Tirin Raene
 
Ikenna Tahj Ikenna Tahj

Tirin offered the other Master a small, courteous bow, his smile soft but restrained. "Thank you," he said, voice as gentle as a breeze. "If you'll excuse us."


His hands folded neatly before him, fingers interlacing beneath the wide sleeves of his robes. "We have much to discuss," he continued, his tone warm."I'd like to brief him on our assignment."

Turning toward the entrance, Tirin paused, his violet gaze settling on Ikenna. "Before we depart, is there anything you need to address?" he asked, his voice calm but firm. "Clearing your mind of distractions is crucial. Focus will be essential for the task ahead."
 

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