A Walk in the Woods

[Isla Ashen]

I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees – Henry David Thoreau​

A small, unassuming ship set down on the surface of the Forest Moon of Endor. There were two women aboard, the only occupants. Ashen Ren rose from the pilot’s seat, her emerald eyes shifted to the side to find [member="Misha Ren"]. She had traveled with Misha to the Bastion of Ren on Virgillia, it had served as an introduction, but the young woman with long, white hair was still very much a mystery to Isla. She hoped that this trip would change that.

Isla had agreed to provide training to Misha, and this would mark the beginning of their journey together. The Knight of Ren did not like to call herself a teacher, for she was not one to give lectures or lengthy instructions. Though she had learned much during her time with the Ren, enough to speed her ascension in their ranks... Isla still felt that she had a long way to go. This would be an opportunity for both women to learn side by side, and work to hone their skills.

“Come, let’s get started.” Isla spoke, offering a nod to Misha.

The ramp lowered to let them view the tall trees of Endor. Isla was aware of that this place was steeped in history, much of it linked to the Galactic Empire of old. To set foot here, it was almost like walking upon hallowed ground. Isla also had a special place in her heart for the wilds of the galaxy, she felt at home in the woods. She placed her rucksack on her back, enough supplies packed for a few days. Perhaps they would even do some hunting...

However, they would not be hunting any Ewok, their hides too were small for anything useful.

 

[Susanoo Tsukuyomi]

[member="Isla Ashen"]

Misha was looking at the woman who was for all intents and purposes her master within the knights, sticking with most of the information she had to herself. She sat there in the chair allowing it to hover silently for the time until they came down. Isla was prepared to train her here on the moon where they could walk among the trees... or roll in her case but no matter. She was more then content with it as the sarkhai caught her face in a reflective surface when she was going down the ramp. The look of black veins intermixing with her facial tattoo's and the pale skin near her hair that obscured her hands working the controls. She had equipment set within it for whatever they might need when the scent of the forest moon came to her. She was ready to begin and pushed forward down into it letting the force go around her when she reached out with her senses to feel the moon and her master around her. "There are many different forms of life on this world."

Image Source: Professor Charles Xavier, X-Men
​

Intent: To give Misha's personal chair a submission

Development Thread:
Hoverchair in use
A Walk in the Woods
A Blaze in the Endor Sky [First Order Dominion of Endor Hex]
The Bastion of Ren (KoR)

Manufacturer: [member="Misha"] Ren/First Order

Model: Hover Chair

Affiliation: Misha Ren

Modularity: Modular Compartments for equipment and small upgrades

Production: Unique (Only One Character)

Material:
Alusteel
Duraplast
Internal components

Role: Personal Movements

Height: 1.5m

Length: 2m

Width: 1.25m

Weight: 75kg

Minimum Crew: 1

Optimal Crew: 1

Propulsion: Repulsorlift

Top Speed: 22 KM/H

Armaments:
2x Sonic blaster (forward mounted)
2x Rapid Fire Blasters
Shockwave generator

Squadron Count: N/A

Passenger Capacity: N/A

Cargo Capacity: 33kg

Misc. Equipment:
Anti Grav Unit
Waste Recycler
Mini Moisture Evaporator
Mini Shield Dome Generator
Rylith Crystal
Mini Reactor
Duraplast Plating
Pop Out awning

Strengths: Miniature partial self sustaining capabilities
Weaknesses: Large with a slow turning capability and leaves the one using it mostly exposed.

Description: Designed for Misha Ren after her accident her hover chair is bulkier and designed so that she will have a more protected connivance instead of just an open and exposed on. Its size make it fairly difficult to be in cover in fights making combat prowess with it next to useless or impossible. it has very minor weapons built in for personal defense and the rest of the systems so that she can be somewhat presentable. Thoughts reeling as she was confined to the chair and without feeling in her legs in internal workings have small machines to work the muscles to prevent atrophy from disuse, from the functions there are recyclers within the chair. Small evaporators that are able to produce water for her and some small area to store/cook food as needed. Ration packs, equipment and generally everything she might need. To protect the vital systems of the chair it has been given a layer of hardened duraplast to protect the delicate systems from emp and ion weapons as well as different weapons in the field. Internal weapons that are forward mounted and an anti grav unit so she can drop from higher areas. A small pop out canopy to protect from the skin and the elements where she is exposed. Waterproofing and seals so nothing can seep into the internal areas. Her chair is able to hover and go over water with a small reactor built into it that generates power with a back up rylith power crystal.

Primary Source: (Please link the source of another writer's submission that you are modifying for your use; only necessary for "Chaos Canon" submissions)

 

[Isla Ashen]

Isla’s expression was considerably softer when around Misha, perhaps it was because the young woman reminder her much of a younger sibling. Whatever the reason, she felt determined to help [member="Misha Ren"] ascend to greatness. It was easy to feel the power that the Sarkhai possessed. From what she understood, force sensitivity was rare among their people. It seemed that Misha was special for that reason, but there seemed to be something more about the young woman that stirred the curiosity within Isla.

“Yes, this place is very much alive.” She agreed.

Emerald eyes shifted to Misha’s hover chair, she knew that she needed to utilize it to move about, but she had never asked about the cause. She did not want to pry, and she did not want to make Misha uncomfortable. Had her force skills developed differently to compensate? It seemed that now would be the time to truly get to know her new apprentice.

“Have you a saber?” Isla turned slightly as they moved into the forest. “Might I ask, how do you defend yourself?”

Isla did not know if Misha had ever been in combat, but she was interested to see what she could do.

 

[Susanoo Tsukuyomi]

[member="Isla Ashen"]

Misha looked at her for a moment curious while she gave a tight lipped smirk while her mind raced. The master seemed to have a question but the sarkhai was looking at many of the things around them. She spoke letting her voice come out when she tapped a small switch and the one arm opened to reveal two small blasters and she was speaking. "I do not have a saber yet but I had small defense measures in place in case I need them but the force is my ally in many cases." she knew how to work mental tricks and talk her way out of some things, no one wanted to attack someone in a wheel chair. If you managed to win then you beat up someone who was in a hover chair and if you lost... you got your butt kicked by someone in a hoverchair. It didn't really add to the whole reputation thing which worked to her advantage.

 

[Isla Ashen]

Isla’s eyes shifted down and to the side, finding the small compartment built into the arm of Misha’s hoverchair. For a moment her gaze lingered on the two blasters, and she gave a small nod. It was a good back up plan. Isla was well used to her saber now; it was her weapon of choice. However, she could not dismiss the raw power of the dark side; it was a weapon that she did not utilize far enough during her own battles. But it seemed that training [member="Misha Ren"] would be the perfect opportunity to improve.

No doubt, the young woman would need to draw upon the force in order to defend herself. Perhaps it was time for a test. “Do you ever resent the fact that you are confined to a hoverchair?” Isla asked, her tone quite neutral. It was not her wish to patronize Misha, but she felt that perhaps a little nudge was needed to provoke her.

“Does it make you angry?” Isla voiced another question, tilting her head, but not waiting for an answer. “These feelings will give you power. Draw from these emotions, let them give you strength.”

The two continued forward, moving down a path that seemed to cut through the middle of the forest. On each side, the tall redwoods rose to meet the sky, and their branches sheltered the Knights of Ren from the sun.

“Have you ever made the Dark Side into a weapon?” Isla asked, a gleam in her eye and a smile on her face. She had heard of others forming their shadowy power into effective weapons – ones that were unseen by most, but deadly nonetheless.

 

[Susanoo Tsukuyomi]

[member="Isla Ashen"]

Misha was feeling it, she felt something in her masters words while she was lookng over with it before she prepared to answer the first question. it was something to think about, it was someting you didn't talk about but then her master kept going and she went silent the normal demeanor calm and not quite serene but she wasn't one to make overt showings of her own emotions. Anger and hatred came to her while she felt it in her body and it coursed through when she wanted to direct it and her eyes flicked towards her wanting to extend it outward and that neck, that throat that was there before she stayed there. her hands clenching in her seat while she turned and the air moved shifting with the force before she ground her teeth. "My injuried came from those who betrayed me and they are dead, the kngihts of Ren brought me back and bound me to this chair and.." She trailed off lashing out with a distorted slap to go for a telekinetic strike to try and smack her master in the throat.

 

[Isla Ashen]

There was an unnerving quiet between the two women for a moment. It seemed that Isla’s plan was working just as she had planned. The young woman’s feelings were quite guarded, her face did not display them... but they were there. Isla could feel the anger burning inside her apprentice, moving through her veins. Emerald eyes locked on the sight of Misha’s hands tightly clutching her chair.
Finally, [member="Misha Ren"] spoke; her words betrayed the hatred that she held within.

And then it hit Isla, quite literally...

It was like a sharp lash across her throat. The Knight of Ren faltered, and her back slammed against a thick tree trunk. Her eyes narrowed slightly, indeed... looks were quite deceiving, just as she had suspected. There was much power within her apprentice; it seemed that it would only be a matter of helping her to sharpen her skills even more.

Isla stood against the tree for a moment more, pulling breath into her aching throat. The pain was beginning to subside now, and she straightened up to her full height.

“Good,” She muttered, flinching. “You are very strong, Misha.”

So, it appeared that Misha had a grasp at putting the force to use as a weapon. Defensive skills would be needed too. Isla’s gloved hand pointed to a clearing up ahead, a peaceful spot in the forest where the sunlight streamed down from above.

“There,” Isla said, swallowing hard. “Can you summon a whirlwind? Have you tried that before? If you have mastered force push, the principal is much the same. Manipulate the air, make it into a storm.”

[member="Misha Ren"]

 

[Susanoo Tsukuyomi]

[member="Isla Ashen"]

She was still angry but as quickly as it could rise up she was looking to make it subside, anger was good when it burned hot it kept you warm, gave you focus and the energy you needed but if you just burned with anger you were going to burn yourself out. Misha didn't need to hate everything and be angry all the time it would not serve a purpose for her to be as she looked at her master who seemed please when she was pointing towards a clearing and she moved over towards it with a nod of her head. "Yes master." She moved towards it and looked up allowing the force to breath around herself when she was focusing the force and she knew the skill but knowing and doing were two different things as she pushed at the force reaching at it. To turn and twist it to follow the energies around them in a circle then stretch it out so that it would become a funnel and then she pushed it away from herself.

 

[Isla Ashen]

Isla watched as [member="Misha Ren"] did her bidding, making the air in the clearing swirl around, picking up various leaves and debris from the forest floor. It was very much like a small tornado, branches snapped from some of the nearby trees, and were immediately pulled into the storm. An amused smile formed on the flame-haired woman’s face, a lantern bird called and then took flight... having to fight against torrent of wind.

Her apprentice had a clear aptitude for using telekinesis.

“Excellent work,” She spoke, directly into Misha’s mind. “And now, can you form this storm into a powerful wave?”

It was still a variation of force push, but a more advanced application. Highly useful for use in cramped quarters, a key move to give a fighter time to think and regroup in battle. Isla wished to see the full power of her apprentice; could she knock some of these ancient trees from their roots in the ground?

“Let it wash over the clearing,” She instructed, grinning.

 

[Susanoo Tsukuyomi]

[member="Isla Ashen"]

She was focusing on the force energies as her ideas came to her, the feeling the force wind within the force itself was there until she turned it over and listened to her master as she spoke. To move it and train it going outwards into a wind that washed over the clearing as she was focusing the energies. She pushed at it to expand outwards more and slowly as Misha was controlling it she knew she could feel it as it was washing outwards kicking up dirt and twigs that had been caught up within it until it washed over her and past with the energies dissipating the further it went out. SHe didn't know if it touched her master but it was going over the entire area which pushed things away and made more space for the apprentice.

 

[Isla Ashen]

Isla watched [member="Misha Ren"] put her skills to work, and she could feel the powerful force energy that the girl had gathered and sent outwards. The dirt swirled around her feet, mixed with twigs and leaves. It was quite the display, indeed. As the wave exploded outwards, Isla squeezed her eyes shut to guard them from the debris floating in the air. Though she couldn’t see, she could hear the force wave hurling through the trees, branches snapping and being carried away. Once she had felt it begin to calm, she opened one eye and then the other.

“Well done, my apprentice.” Isla grinned.

And now the path was clear for them to travel, she motioned with her open palm for Misha to come along. The sky above them was still light; they had more than enough time to do some exploring. They passed through the clearing; the evidence of the force wave outlined a large part of the surrounding area. Isla folded her arms together, glancing down and to the side at Misha.

“So, I have seen that you are more than capable with telekinesis.” She perked a brow, “What do you struggle with? Where do you wish to improve?”

Her boots came to a halt, and she peered around. There was something nearby, moving closer...

"Do you feel that?"

 

[Susanoo Tsukuyomi]

[member="Isla Ashen"]

Hmm as she continued to move having impressed her master or at least not made a joke of herself she thought about the question. Where did she struggle outside of telekinesis... just about everywhere. She wasn't going to say se was unable to do things but you didn't use Ateru with a hover chair, you use something with a wide area of defense and ability to benefit from being still or in one place more often. She also knew she didn't have a taste for the magics of the darkside but she liked the idea of being able to use her mind to upset and damage the others who might try and come after her. "I struggle with the physical aspects of really getting to use the force aside from telekinesis techniques master."

 

[Isla Ashen]

Isla heard the bushes rustling off to their left, coming from an area of thick foliage. Her sharp eyes could see the small branches swaying gently, something was moving their way. However, its form did not reach far above the branches. It was not an immediate threat to them. But Isla’s hand found the hilt of her saber, just in case.

Her gaze then shifted to view [member="Misha Ren"] out of the corner of her eyes. Indeed, the more physical aspects of the force would be difficult. She wondered silently if the young woman had ever sought alternatives to her hover chair, such as prosthetics. Isla did not know if it would be possible, or if it was something that her apprentice desired. A conversation for a later time, perhaps.
And then, the dark gray form of a boar-wolf appeared.

The animal was not fully grown; it had the long and lean look of a young creature. It lowered its head, barring teeth at the two women. Isla ignited her saber, but did not make any moves towards the beast. Instead, she looked to Misha.

“Do you think you can frighten it away?” She asked, raising a curious brow. “Focus. Use the force to instill a sense of fear, break down its defenses. Make it run.”

Now, this boar-wolf was simple minded, no doubt. But, she supposed that it was a starting point, and yet another chance for Misha to show her skills. The beast began to charge. Isla stood ready, should her apprentice falter.

 

[Susanoo Tsukuyomi]

[member="Isla Ashen"]

She was feeling her master, she was focused to work on it and there was a lot here on the planet. Endor seemed to be one of those worlds where everything appeared in the deep woods. She was feeling out with the force herself though when the energies came to her and she narrowed her eyes on the creature when it came to her. Stopping for a moment as she heard her masters voice and narrowed her own eyes onto it. Her vision going into an almost tunnel when she was thinking about it so that she could focus the energies. She wanted to let it go outwards and into the air for a moment until she was ready to begin and then she was speaking her native tongue allowing the force energies to seep out and creep along her line of sight. 'Fear, scream for me' She was letting the orders go to it, her own works when she wanted to work on more of the things here with the force energies until she was moving with more of her attention on some of it. The creature was looking at her with a moment of silence between her and the creature as it seemed to be looking at her and its pupils were wider and getting wider before it tried running around and went into a tree for a moment.

 

[Isla Ashen]

Isla could feel the force energy gathering around her apprentice, her eyes watched as [member="Misha Ren"]’s eyes narrowed. As the young woman focused, Isla stood ready, her fingers closed around the hilt of her saber securely. The air almost seemed to grow cold around them. Isla heard unfamiliar words, Misha’s voice weaving them in another tongue. She let her attention shift back to the wolf-boar, the creature was standing with head bowed and back displaying bristles.

It seemed that there was now an unseen connection between Misha and the beast, and both had gazes fixed upon each other. However, the eyes of the boar grew wide. After another moment, she watched as it turned tail, running in the opposite direction. With the boar subdued, Isla perked a brow... the image of a side of boar ribs roasting over a camp fire formed in her mind. She smiled at the thought.

“Threat neutralized.” Isla said, looking down at Misha. Again, her words were followed by a nod.

The warmth of the sun touched them, falling between the cracks in the canopy of branches. Isla glanced up; there would be daylight for a few hours more. She was not sure if Misha would be up for spending the night in the woods, so she figured they should not wander too far.

“Which way would you like to go?” Isla asked, nodding to two paths that sat before them. “This time, I will follow you.”

 

[Susanoo Tsukuyomi]

[member="Isla Ashen"]

Misha was looking at her master and she was prepared to work on it, staying with all of the things that they were doing as she felt the forest around herself and if she was leading the way there was only one way to go. Deeper into it in her opinion before she glided the seat forward with some small feelings that were going outwards. "Alright then." She was thinking about it and leading the way through the forest as the sounds of other creatures came around herself and her master. Wanting to find a good place the pair of them could go over just some random creature though she went towards the greatest source of light revealing a field with some of the dancing flower warriors in it that were going against a small group of the ewoks. She could see it and feel it before the sounds finally came with a small look at them. "Very strange creatures."

 

[Isla Ashen]

Isla followed along, her eyes on the back of [member="Misha Ren"]’s hoverchair. She glanced around, the forest alive with the sound of birds calling and branches rustling in the breeze. It did seem that this place was very much alive. There was light streaming in ahead of them, and it looked like the tree-line began to thin slightly. As they continued on, she let her emerald eyes take in the sight of a large field. It was a welcome and pleasant sight... until she saw the small creatures that were seemingly engaged in battle.

“Agreed,” She nodded, unsure of what to make of the Ewoks. “Very strange.”

Perhaps the two women could find a quiet spot to talk for a while.

“This world reminds me of my home on Skye.” Isla said, without even thinking. “I used to roam the woods there. Of course, we did not have the tall redwoods like there are here. And we did not have anything like those tiny creatures.” A smile formed on her lips.

“What was your home like?”

 

[Susanoo Tsukuyomi]

[member="Isla Ashen"]

Hmm she continued to watch but finding a small space where they could work and really get into working on things themselves. She wanted to see what the jedi might be able to do when she thought about her world and there was a lot to it that reminded her of here. Sarkhai was vast forests and cities with a king. "It is very much like here with large forests, the rulers generally like to keep them protected and we only do what we need to. That is why when we had experiments on defenses and new things they were in remote places. It prevented medical attention to get quickly to us." She stayed there moving the chair back with a nod of her head when she moving around back in the field away from the others.

 

[Isla Ashen]

Isla turned to listen to [member="Misha Ren"], genuinely interested. She offered a small nod to acknowledge her apprentice’s words. The note about medical attention being difficult to access did not go unnoticed. Emerald eyes shifted towards the hover chair again, but moved back towards the open field before them. “Perhaps you will take me there someday.” Isla said, her arms swinging at her sides as she walked on. She brought them to the far edge of the clearing, nestled up against the tree line once more.

“And before,” She spoke, “You had mentioned that the Knights of Ren bound you to this chair.”

She paused, trying to find the right way to form her question, without sounding overly nosey or rude. Isla took a seat on a large rock, bringing her gaze level with the dark eyes of Misha.

“Did they rescue you?” Isla asked, her head tilting to the side slightly. However, before her apprentice could answer, she decided to give her a few details about her own induction into the Ren. It was a day that she remembered well.

“A Knight of Ren came to find me on Skye; he spoke to me in the darkness of night as I ran through the woods. I can still remember the power he displayed, it made force work look easy. It was not that long ago, so I am still learning new things too.”

Most of Isla's skill came from a knack for fighting, many of her force powers were still developing. It was something she needed to work on. She only hoped that it would not be seen as a weakness by her apprentice.

 

[Susanoo Tsukuyomi]

[member="Isla Ashen"]

She looked at her master and remained there while she stoped the chair and prepared. All of the work and things that they were trying to handle and do. She was rather comfortable sitting in her seat when she started speaking. "They were there yes, different ones then who are around now. The first order was just starting to return so no one on Sarkhai knew who they were so when the lab exploded they found such a primitive world interesting. Coming there they found me and when I couldn't work they realized I was one of the force users from the planet so they brought me out and ensured I would be able to move should they ever want to go to the world and establish dominance. Hearing it from one of their own would likely go over better."