Jaxton Ravos
Mindwalker of the Outer Rim
#1 Jaxton Ravos
Jaxton Ravos
Reputation: 204
Excellent
Posted 22 September 2013 - 02:42 PM
Though Jaxton had to be pressed to admit it, the Jedi Order considered him to be a Master, both in skill and teaching. He wasn't quite sure why as his skillset was pretty much 'run fast' 'swing sword' and 'endure'. Granted, he was very good at all of those things, and had recently learned the basics of hiding his Force Signature, but overall compared to illusionary skill of Je'gan and Aleidis, the Healing Power of Kalia Walsh and Boolon Murr, the overall mastery of the Force by Ben Watts and Darron Wraith, Jaxton felt average, and a bit limited.
So, Jaxton had decided to go out from the Jedi Temple, on a quest to better attune himself to the Force and learn the ways of other cultures. The day had started with Jaxton coming out of hyperspace and navigating a weird spatial occurrence, skirting a line between two black holes to the planet of Dorin. Upon landing he found himself in a hangerbay filled with oxygen, where he paid the landing fee and then purchased a breath mask, as the world was filled with Helium and not Oxygen.
The Helium content wasn't the only strange property of the planet however, as the planet was nearly constantly covered in lightning. He had heard the Baron Do Sages, a local Force culture, had been able to predict and event influence the lightning around them. So, following up on a rumor Jaxton came here, finding himself going a few houses down as the storms waxed and waned, as interestingly enough the local Kel Dor were used to giving lodging to anyone in times of storm. They were always kind, always willing for conversation, and while he told them stories of his time with the Jedi they told him stories of their people, the old Jedi Enclave attacked in the days of ancient Republic, the Baran Do Sages, the Jedi Masters who visited in the times of the New Republic, and even the tales of the planet during the plague.
From what he gathered, the offhand references and obscure texts he had found in the archives on the journeys of Darth Caedus and the Skywalkers were true, the Baron Do had found ways to use the Force to manipulate electricity, yet not in the traditional sense usually utilized by the Sith. Somehow instead of merely exerting energy as electricity they had found a way to use the Force to detect the electricity around them, to strengthen antennas and satellites, and even to make the brain appear to be lifeless.
The tales of the Baron Do made Jaxton think for a while, as he bounced from home to home, making his way towards their temple and avoiding the ever present storms, what were the Jedi really? Sure, you had good and light and justice and all the nicety-nice things, but they weren't unhindered by corruption, pride, and overconfidence. Often times he was humbled, as the Knight Boolon Murr and the newly knighted Aledis Ijet seemed more intune with what it really meant to be a Jedi than anyone.
Not to mention their comprehension of the Force. The Jedi were strong in the arts of the saber, telekinesis, illusionary work, healing, but this wasn't the first time he had heard of obscure Force Religions doing things he didn't think possible. Though he had not seen it he had heard in passing that Ember Rekali could do strange things through his learnings with the Witches of Dathomir. So many times the Jedi thought they knew all of the Force's secrets, everything that could be achieved without stepping into the darkside and yet he knew it was wrong.
Though realizing he was not immune from the pride of the Jedi, these thoughts bothered Jaxton. The Jedi were supposed to be the guardians and healers of the galaxy, from those who would misuse the Force. But how could they do that if they believed themselves better than others, if they didn't understand their purpose? The Force was a blessing, and honor, something that entitled Jaxton to duty, not something that made him a better person than anybody else. Some Jedi believed themselves to be better than the others of the galaxy, and that was dangerous, a belief that was more Sith-like than Jedi Like.
Jaxton then reminded himself that when he appeared to the Baron Do, he would be representing them as a Jedi Master, heck, one in line for the position of Grandmaster. Similarly, when his training here was complete he would have to adequately represent the beliefs of the Baron Do back to the Grandmaster, and the Jedi overall when he filed his final report on the congregation of Force Users.
Continuing on from home to home, he found himself interested in the stories of the Baron Do. While they were described as great men and masters of the Force, they were content to remain reclusive, only using their powers their powers to predict the massive lightning storms that raided the planet and boost the abilities of their antennas and comlinks. Jaxton of course respected them for their unique abilities and willingness to help their people, but the reclusiveness piqued his curiosity. The Jedi went out and helped people, the Sith went out and conquered. The Dathomiri witches had not yet expanded, but likely would have if they had the ships to do so. Those who had the Force and didn't join one of the bigger organizations usually ended up at Omega Pyre or some offshoot, hunting bounties and getting work that way. Many with the talents of the Force went out to see the galaxy and exert their will on it, but the Baron Do were content to sit at home on Dorin.
Continuing on, he finally reached the end of the city, staying his last night in farthest home from the center of the city he could, Jaxton could see the ziggurat structure a ways away. Surrounded by a transpirasteel fence, it was blocked off from public access, and in between two humongous black columns, a reference to the black holes of the system. Once the last lightning storm had ended he rushed over, but the fence was not lowered for him.
He could have cut it, jumped it, or otherwise gotten around the obstacle, but sullying the Baron Do's wishes was not the best way to make friends. So instead, he merely sat by the transparisteel fence, and meditated. Blocking off need for food, water, and shelter he sat there, until one of the Kel Dor Sages finally came out to speak to him.
"We can feel you in the Force. You are strong, and trained, and we have no desire to be forced to join the Jedi." The Baron Do talked to him through the Transparisteel fence.
"My desire is to be that of a student, and to learn your ways, so that I might become more knowledgeable and attuned to the Force. I promise to speak nothing of the ways of the Jedi, unless asked by one of your Sages." Jaxton replied diplomatically, to which the Kel Dor merely shook his head.
"We cannot allow our teaching to be tainted by your presence. You will have to leave." The Baron Do responded, before retreating back to his Temple. Knowing he was being watched, Jaxton merely returned to his state of meditation outside the fence.
He meditated there for the next two days, stopping periodically to do some pushups, sit-ups, sprints, and other various physical exercise, until the Baron Do who spoke with him before returned.
"There is a storm coming tonight, the likes of which one cannot survive without shelter. If you leave now you can reach the city and be safe there." The Baron Do pleaded, but Jaxton continued to sit firmly.
"I came to learn of your teachings and your culture, but I believe in the will of the Force, and the kindness of your people. I will not leave, but nor will I die this day." Jaxton replied, and the Baron Do fumed, or looked as upset as he could read in a Kel Dor, before returning inside. Jaxton merely continued to remain in his state of meditation, as cloud rumbled and thunder began to roar. Finally, lightning began to pour to the earth around him, and he continued to sit, confident in his survival. After a few moments the transparisteel fence began to lower, and several Baron Do rushed out and put themselves all around him. He could feel them using the Force to protect him from the storm as they rushed him into the Ziggurat.
"You will stay for the storm, and then you shall leave this place." The Baron Do told, and then began to leave.
"If I can prove my intentions, that I wish only to learn, could I stay?" Jaxton asked, and the Baron Do looked at him with a mollusky scowl.
"I am not holding my breath, Jedi." He said, with an audible frustration in his tone.
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#2 Jaxton Ravos
Jaxton Ravos
Reputation: 204
Excellent
Posted 27 September 2013 - 10:15 AM
Jaxton was pleased when the first thing on the agenda at his new place of lodging was dinner, as while he could go on for days without it and sustain himself with the Force, it wasn't as easy, or gratifying, as simply eating some food. It was still strange eating while wearing a breath-mask,
Rather quickly he ate his portion, thought he was careful not to eat it quick enough so as to draw a bunch of attention to himself. A young Kel Dor however, curious at the new face and the culture, had been watching Jaxton intently, and noticed the hunger Jaxton had.
"Do you require more food Master Jedi?" He asked curiously and amicably, as a few of the Baran Do Sages gave him a look.
"I will be fine young apprentice." He said in a comforting and friendly tone. "And my name is Jaxton. He said, as he cleared his plate and took it over to the kitchen, before washing it and putting it away. There he stayed for a while, washing and cleaning the plates, bowls, and utensils of all the Kel Dor, and one of the Baran Do Sages came to see his progress, then left without saying anything.
After the chore was done Jaxton found one of the Sages and askes where he was to sleep. He took the Zeltron to some modest quarters, the walls and bedding being a plain grey and brown respectively. Unlike the Jedi Order they seemed a simple and humble people, distancing themselves from the ornate.
"These will be your quarters." He said as Jaxton examined the room. "Breakfast will be served at seven-thirty. Do not be late." He finished, before leaving the room. Jaxton then meditated for the next half-hour, before finally retiring, letting sleep consume him.
He awoke at about a quarter past five, then quickly went out and explored the nearly-lifeless temple as the Kel Dor remained at rest. Soon he found himself a supply closet, and began mercilessly attacking the grime, dirt, and dust fixating on the floors and walls of the temples. In a couple of short hours he was nearly done, and the Baran Do had begun to see the evidence of his work. The younger were impessed, and complimented him on his work as they passed him, while the older Sages remained indifferent in appearance and mannerism, though he could detect their approval in the Force. He conyinued cleaning until his task was done, soon realizing he had missed the breakfast bell and heading over to the dinning hall. Once he arrived he found the room to be empty, with the cook cleaning the kitchen. Shrugging, he began to leave. Missing one meal wasn't the end of the world.
"Master Jedi!" The Kel Dor Cook yelled out to him as he left, and Jaxton turned to see him. "I saved a bowl for you." He said, and pulled out a bowl of food. "That was some nice work you've done."
"Thank you sir." Jaxton replied, before taking the bowl. "But please, call me Jaxton." He said, again trying to assert himself as a man and not a title or ambassador. The Kel Dor nodded with a smile as Jaxton ate his food, and then the two finished off cleaning the dishes.
Once that was complete, Jaxton went to explore more of the Baran Do Temple, making way to where he felt the most Force gathered at once. His intuition was correct, and he soon found a training area, where one of the elder Sages was teaching the initiates and apprentices. Jaxton entered the area quietly, and sat down watching as the Kel Dor spoke of manipulating static electricity and electro-magnetism with the Force, and pulled out a metal ball and plate, and put the ball on the plate. He then held the plate and concentrated in the Force, and the ball began to float away from plate, in an inconsistent and seemingly natural way. To Jaxton it was obvious that his effort was not a display in Telekinesis, but that the effect was of some other nature.
The other apprentices watched in wonder, Jaxton began focusing, and tried to mimic the technique. As he concentrated he could feel static electrity accumulating on his arm, before he felt a hand placed on his shoulder, and turned to see one of the Baran Do Sages.
"I apologize for not telling you this sooner Master Jedi, but you cannot come train with us." He said, speaking in a polite fashion and having a look of slight annoyance. Jaxton stood up, careful to remain silent and not disturb the teacher or attact the attention of the students.
"I'm sorry master Sage." He said, before patting the Kel Dor on the shoulder. "I won't come back unless you allow it." He reassured, before leaving the room. The Sage nodded, still a bit annoyed, before closing the doors to the teaching area with a resounding thud.
Effectively blocked from his desires, Jaxton made way to the kitchen, to find the cook beginning to start making meals for the coming lunch.
"Need any help?" He asked, and the mollusk-like Kel Dor made some facial expression Jaxton couldn't recognize, but he could detect a bit of happiness with the Force and the natural telepathy attributed to his Zeltron physiology.
"I would love some help master je-" he began, before remembering their previous situation. "I mean, Jaxton." He said with a bit of respect. The two continued for the next hour or so, mixing ingredients, stirring together mixtures of with care and haste, and baking them into the day's lunch, before the rest of Baran Do arrived for their meal. The Zelton and the cook combined their efforts to get everyone served, before the two sat together for their own meal.
"What is your name cook?" Jaxton asked, as he shoved a few spoonfuls in his mouth.
"I do not believe my name is pronounceable by my people, to you it be but a few sounds and vibrations, but you may call me Roa Tul."You know, some of the sages believe you are merely helping to bribe their compliance."
"What do you believe Roa?" Jaxton asked in return.
"I believe that you are a being a better guest than we are being a host." He said a bit quietly. "Where did you go between breakfast and lunch?"
"I went to the training area, and biewed one of the Sage's lessons." He said, still cutting into his food. "Didn't stay long though."
"I suspected that was where you went." He said before pausing to take a bite. "I also suspected you would not be able to stay long." He added, before a long pause where he seemed contemplative. "I could teach you the technique of hassat-durr if you wished.
"That would be wonderful Roa." He said, before the two finished their meals and began washing the dishes of themselves and the rest of the Baran Do. As they worked, a smile lit Jaxton's face. He had earned the respect of one of the Baran Do, and made a friend in the process.
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#3 Jaxton Ravos
Jaxton Ravos
Reputation: 204
Excellent
Posted 28 September 2013 - 12:53 PM
After having a nice conversation with the Kel Dor Cook Roa Tul, Jaxton left the kitchen for a while and went to check out the small gym he had seen while prowling around for the training room. In a short walk he could begin to hear the thuds and cracks of what sounded like martial training, specifically with wooden weapons. As he came closer the cracks and pops became louder and louder, as he found the gym, a plain room with matted floors and racks of wooden staffs. In the center lay a simple floor without mats, instead being surrounded by a circle painted on the ground to signify a ring. In the ring two Kel Dor were going at it, the source of the whacks and cracks that echoed throughout the halls. Around them some of the Baran Do were doing some kinesthetic type exercises and stretches, while others watched at the combatants in the ring, and either examined their skill or waited to join it themselves. A bit curious, Jaxton went over to one of the Sages and began conversation.
"I had been told the Baran Do did not teach combat." Jaxton asked, while he remembered the stories told him by the Kel Dor he met jumping from house to house during the storms, before he reached the Baran Do Ziggurat.
"We do not teach in martial pursuits, but we do allow sparring and martial pursuit in order to help with training the body, as well as to reinforce focus and discipline." He explained. "Unlike the Jedi, prowess in combat is secondary to an understanding of the Force." The Sage quipped.
"Prowess in combat isn't the Focus of the Jedi, just an avenue to explore." Jaxton replied, being diplomatic in his approach. "While I must admit my talents lean more towards the combative side of the Force, there are several good and respected Jedi who would be lost on a battlefield, even taken vows of pacifism." He said, his mind going to that to his friends Teynara Jeralyr, Boolon Murr, and his former apprentice Aleidis Ijet.
"Combat is something we prepare for, not enjoy. We hope that we need never pull a blade, but we train because we know that the galaxy is not perfect, and those without the Force are not as suited to protect as we." Jaxton continued to explain to the Baran Do Sage, hoping to convey his message correctly.
"A wiser mind would allow one to circumvent violence, finding a peaceful solution." The Sage replied, with a small hint of haughtiness in his voice.
"Sometimes the peaceful mind isn't always the wisest, and sometimes fools will not listen to the wise." Jaxton merely returned, as the Kel Dor in the ring finished their match, both panting and sweaty from their endeavor. One of the Baran Do went up to face the victor, but the winner of the bout left the ring, to tired to continue.
"May I?" Jaxton asked the man, the Kel Dor looked a bit confused, before turning to the Sage he was speaking to, who nodded that it was allowed. With a wave of his hand he beckoned Jaxton over, and the Zeltron picked up one of the wooden staffs and entered the ring.
It was a new thing to fight with, the wooden staff. Having grips so far away from each other was odd, but he adapted quickly, and compensated for his lack of experience with the weapon with his natural strength and quickness. After a few quick strikes and parries he found himself a bit at home, more comfortable with the weapon. After a quick feint Jaxton followed up with a sweep to the legs, tripping the Kel Dor. He then leaned over, extended a hand, and helped the Baran Do up.
"You're not a good match." Jaxton complimented the man, who nodded a bit but wasn't quite as confident in his words as Jaxton was. A new student came up with a wooden staff, ready to duel. Jaxton toyed around for a few minutes, letting the Kel Dor learn a few things before defeating him. While the Sages kept their stoic look, he could tell the younger members of the Baran Do were impressed with his abilities. Another Kel Dor came armed with a staff, but Jaxton waved him off.
"I promised I'd help in the kitchen for dinner. Catch me later and I'll get a match in with you." He said, as he put up his wooden staff and left the gym. After a quick jaunt through the halls he found himself at the kitchen with Roa Tul.
"Have a good workout Jaxton?" The cook asked as he began preparing supplies, as the Zeltron Jedi Master went over to gather ingredients and cooking utensils.
"Pretty good. Few sparring matches. Went well." He said as he mixed materials and ingredients to create a new meal for the coming dinner. Roa Tul and Jaxton continued for the next hour or so, furiously mixing ingredients, creating stews, soups, meats, and drinks for the Baran Do, until they congregated for the final meal and bean eating. Jaxton again ate with the Cook, though was joined by some of the younger apprentices.
"You're pretty good with a staff Master Jedi." They congratulated and admired, while Jaxton merely ate his stew.
"Exercise has always came easy to me. I've been blessed that way." He admitted, still eating his stew. "I have my flaws though. I couldn't move a chair with the Force to save my life." He admitted. He knew he had his flaws, and while it made him a bit uncomfortable, but he was okay with helping making the young apprentices feel better. Out of corner of his eye Jaxton noted that he was being watched by one of the Sages, and then felt obliged to make sure he was doing things right.
"Is it all right with the Sages if you come here and talk to me?" Jaxton asked the students.
"We asked the Sages if we could sit with you, and they said it was okay." They replied, which brought a grin to Jaxton's face.
"Guess I'm not that bad after all." He jested, as Jaxton, the cook, and the apprentices finished the meal together. Once that was complete he once again joined the cook in cleaning the dishes, kitchen, dining hall, and making sure everything was in proper order. After bidding Roa Tul adieu he went and found a shower, then spent the next hour cleaning himself and his clothes, making sure he didn't accumulate a scent from working hard and working out all day. After the cleaning was done he went to his guest quarters and went to bed with a grin. In a day he had earned the respect of the cook, the apprentices, and grown closer to a good relation with the Baran Do Sages. In the morning he'd begin training with Roa to learn how the Baran Do manipulated electro-magnetism. He had accomplished much, and the trip to Dorin seemed like it was paying it's dividends.
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#4 Jaxton Ravos
Jaxton Ravos
Reputation: 204
Excellent
Posted 29 September 2013 - 02:21 PM
Jaxton awoke from his slumber, once again at the nice and sunshiney time of 5:30 in the morning. Well, it was mostly a day filled with lightning, but Jaxton would make due. Jaxton got dressed in his now clean Jedi Robes, then went around the temple, completing quick rounds of sweeping and dusting. Overall, due to his efforts to make every spick and span yesterday he had much less work to do, but it was good to get some work done. After a little less than an hour the Kel Dor Cook Roa Tul had come out of hiding, armed with a small metal ball on a pendulum and a metallic rod. He put the pendulum on the table and held the rod in demonstration.
"Use the Force to feel the electro-magnetism. Carry it through your body, and into the rod. The ball should end up being repelled away from the rod." He said as he held the rod and Jaxton could feel the Kel Dor emanating the Force. He then motioned the rod over to the ball, and the ball was pushed away by an invisible force, always keeping a set distance away from the rod. "Now you try." The Kel Dor said, and he handed the metal rod over to Jaxton.
Jaxton concentrated and held the rod, before moving it over the ball. To his dismay the rod clinked against the ball without any movement. He then pulled the rod back, focused his mind, and tried to move the ball again. Again and again he tried, ever failing, before Roa Tul put the rod and pendulum up.
"You are only controlling that which is visible, you must learn to control that which is imaginary and invisible." The Kel Dor said as he returned and the two continued their tri-daily jaunt of preparing the Baran Do's meals. As he worked and toiled he thought on the exercise he had performed, and the words Roa Tul used to instruct. Electricity was, for the most part, an invisible process. Unlike telekinesis he wasn't dealing with something he could see, something he couldn't really comprehend physically. Despite this, he knew it was real because he could see it's effect in machinery. Thinking on this as he cooked, he went on with helping the Kel Dor make breakfast for the Baran Do before a small electrical shock hit Jaxton's finger, causing a centimeter-long jolt of electricity to pass between the stove and his pink appendage. Quickly pulling up the hand and shaking it off, Jaxton thought little of it and went back to his work, static electricity got you every once in a while.
Or sometimes it got you twice, as another centimeter long bolt of lightning passed from metal to Jaxton's hand. He didn't remember rubbing on any wool or running around on a rug or anything of that nature, so he was a little puzzled, but continued on with his work. Roa Tul began to notice his electrical escapades and watched him intently as the two continued their work. Sure enough, after some time in the kitchen another small bolt of lightning came upon his finger, and Roa Tul came to speak to him.
"You are doing it backwards Jaxton. You are bringing electricity towards you, instead of repelling it around you. It is good that you are manipulating it, but very very bad, in that you are doing it the wrong way." He lectured. "It'd be better if you stop for now, so as not to form bad habits we need to break later." He cautioned, and Jaxton complied, putting his mind off of Hassat-Durr for now. The two continued cooking until the deed was done and the rest of the Baran Do arrived.
He sat again with his friend Roa Tul, and was joined again by a few apprentices, one of them beckoning for the duel he promised last night, others asking for tales of the Jedi and their culture, of the Sith and their battles, and of Coruscant and the coreworlds. He had gathered by now that the Baran Do traveled little, instead preferring to remain on their homeworld. Before he could begin talking to the apprentices however, one of the Sages came and sat down.
"You said before to one of the Sages that the Jedi do not prepare to fight because they wish to, but because they have to. Tell me more of this." The Sage asked, and showing a bit of authority compared to the others of the Baran Do. A bit offset, Jaxton began to think of his past, what he seen in the evils of the galaxy.
"A while back I went to the giant forest world of Kashyyyk, and trained with the wookiee people there. I learned their ways and trained with their men in living on the treetops and fighting as their warriors did, for about a month. I was going to leave before the Chieften of the tribe I was staying with asked me to explore the underbrush beneath the huge Wroshyr branches, in a place called 'The Shadowlands'."
"The Shadowlands was a place was shrouded in darkness due to the many trees and branches around them, and held all manner of beasts. The wookiees would go there for the Hrrtayyk, or coming of age ceremonies, to prove themselves strong, and if they were exiled. They had lost a group going for the Hrrtayyk, and wished me to investigate. When I went down to the forest below I found an old Whiphid Shaman, a man whose screams could rip out the earth and could the life out of a man by looking at him. I fought him and narrowly defeated him, and expelled him from Kashyyyk, but if he was ten, twenty years younger he would have killed me."
"There are some techniques in the Force that are arcane and horrible, and there are men and women in the galaxy ready to use them for their own gain. I do my best to protect the galaxy from people like that, because many do not have the strength, or the resolve, to protect themselves from threats such as these." Jaxton finished, telling the tale of his experience with the Living Holocron. Truth be told there were not many of his talents and strength in the Galaxy, but those who did could bring the galaxy to it's knees without people like Jaxton to fight them off. The Sage pondered what he said for a moment, before nodding and then thanking Jaxton before leaving, to return to the other Sages.
Jaxton finished his meal, trading smaller stories with the apprentices and having fun with Roa Tul, before heading back over to the Gym, after all he had promised a boy a match. He found the young Kel Dor waiting for him, spinning around a wooden staff in preparation. He realized then he wasn't sure if that was the Kel Dor he promised a match, he mostly told the Kel Dor apart by their clothes. Jaxton wondered if that was a bit speciest, but shrugged it off and began doing some stretches and warm-ups to prepare his body for the workout. Once he was done, he took the apprentice up for a match. Jaxton toyed with him for a little while, leading him into better and quicker movements, until the apprentice began to be a bit cocky, afterwhich he disabled the man with a few quick motions. A bit downtrodden, the apprentice left the ring, aware of his defeat. He had taken a few of the apprentices on, as the Sages were not as likely to indulge in the sparring, but those whom he had not fought had seen his matches, and respected his physical skill and ability. None of them really wished to fight him, until one Kel Dor came up with an idea.
"Why don't you fight a few of us? Maybe three on one?" He asked, in a tone that was more curious and friendly than bullying. He seemed to legitimately want to press Jaxton's abilities, not merely defeat him.
"I'm game." He replied, and a few Kel Dor came to the ring. Jaxton put himself in the center, so as to allow them to attack from different angles, and they came at him in surprising unison. He blocked a few hits before taking one himself, and then he finally tapped into the Force, allowing his body, reflexes, and speed to be amplified. Like a blur he moved in motion, blocking one and flowing to hit another in a smoothness and grace that could be compared to a dancer. Eventually one Kel Dor managed to land a hit on him, or rather a grab, to his durasteel hand. He felt the Kel Dor use the Force, and all of the sudden his hand no longer worked, and was clung to the staff in it's current position. He went for a few more seconds, but unable to change the angle of his staff he took a few hits, and admitted defeat.
"That was a nice trick there." He said, and he forcibly used his hand to move his durasteel prosthesis off of the staff.
"If you were to use the Force then I decided I should as well." The Kel Dor replied, before grabbing his hand and focusing once more. Power seemed to return to his hand, and after a quick twitch a diagnostic was ran and his functionality returned. After congratulating the trio that took him, he went back to the kitchen to see the cook, Roa Tul.
Once he arrived at the kitchen Rao took out the rod and pendulum once again, and Jaxton tried again to move the ball with the rod in close proximity. After the ball come to the rod a fe times, he attempted attacking the problem with a different approach, and the ball began to move away from the rod. With a grin and smile he continued, amplifying more strength into his technique, making the ball repel farther and farther away. With a bit of swag to his step be put the rod and pendulum up with Roa Tul, before preparing and serving the day's lunch. After the meal and cleaning was done he began to try the apprentice's trick, deativating and reactivating his prosthesis. It wasn't the most consistent control, but he could tell he was gaining more aptitude and control for the technique.
Eventually dinner rolled around and Jaxton's cooking services came to trial once again, with him helping Roa Tul. Together they made a good meal and Tul complimented Jaxton's progress. Apparently he was learning rather quick. Once the dinner was done and dishes were put away Jaxton bid Tul good-night, before getting the inkling to try to see just how far he could get with his technique.
So, he decided to walk outside onto Dorin's surface, and used the Force to manipulate the electro-magnetic forces in his body. Electricity bounced in and all around him, until, would you believe it? That Zeltron got struck by fething lightning.
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#5 Jaxton Ravos
Jaxton Ravos
Reputation: 204
Excellent
Posted 29 September 2013 - 02:22 PM
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#6 Jaxton Ravos
Jaxton Ravos
Reputation: 204
Excellent
Posted 30 September 2013 - 10:38 AM
Roa Tul awoke the next morning, got dressed, and then headed over to the kitchen, expecting a large Zeltron to accompany him once again. To his surprise though, he continued on his day making the Baran Do's breakfast alone. Perhaps the Jedi Master had decided to take a day to sleep a bit more, truth be told he wouldn't blame him. He had worked awfully hard, both physically and mentally in aiding him cook, cleaning the halls, physical drills with the apprentices, and learning the basics of Hassat-Durr with him had probably taxed his mind as well.
So he continued on in solitude making the morning meal, before he was joined by the rest of the Baran Do. After serving their meals he noticed that the zeltron still had yet to arrive. Perhaps Jaxton needed more rest than he had thought initially. Tul decided to eat his meal, and after finishing it noticed there was still an un-eaten bowl of food. Deciding it might be best to check on him, Tul went over to the guest quarters, and peeked his head in to find that Jaxton was absent his room. If he wasn't in his room, and he hadn't gotten food, then where was he? Tul did a quick round of the temple and found nothing, then decided it would be best to contact one of the Sages.
"Have you seen Jaxton anywhere?" Tul asked the first Sage he spotted.
"I haven't seen him since dinner last evening. Did he not help you cook this morning?"
"No. I haven't him this morning, and when I checked his quarters he wasn''t there either. I believe he is missing."
"Then we will find him. We will go get the rest of the Baran Do and we will organize a search party." The Sage told Tul confidently, as the two began to walk towards the rest of the Kel Dor. "Your friend will be fine." The Sage reassured.
Tul and the Sage soon found the other Baran Do, and in short time the entirety of the organization was out searching for him. They prowled through the ziggurat temple like hungry kath hounds, fervent in their actions and leaving no stone unturned. Despite this however, they found neither hide nor hair of the pink adventurer. To those who knew the body language of the Kel Dor, Tul was visibly concerned and upset. He continued to be so, and continued his frantic search for the Zeltron, until he felt a hand placed onto his shoulder.
"Roa, you need to come with me." Beckoned one of the Sages in a dire tone. He then turned, and Tul followed him. They ended by going into a room filled with nothing but the Sages. They were fervently discussing something, until he arrived, at which all their speaking ceased, replaced with looks at the cook and quick gazes to one another. Finally, one of them rose and spoke.
"Did you teach the Jedi our ways Roa?" They asked, and the cook quickly realized he might have been under a trial of sorts.
"The Jedi is a good man, and a hard worker-"
"I did not ask how good of a man he was, or how hard he worked. I asked if you taught him." The Sage interrupted, or overruled.
"I- I showed him the beginnings of hassat-durr. He wasn't quite a natural student, but he took to it well. I only taught him yesterday however." Tul informed, which was met with a great sigh from the speaking Sage, and wanderibg glances between the Baran Do elders.
"Then he may yet be alive." The Sage finally said, before taking Tul to another room, with Jaxton lying on medical bed, a bit crispier than he was previously. "We cannot pick up any brain activity with the phalosensor, but I can feel him in the Force. We found him outside. We are lucky he is not dead. You have done a very dangerous thing Roa."
"I didn't tell him to go outside!" Tul pleaded.
"Nor do I expect you did, but you gave him confidence. He was not ready. You should have left the matter of his teaching for us to decide." The Sage said, before rising, about to leave. "You are the one responsible for this, so you are charged with his care. He'll need to rest there for at least a week, probably more." The Sage instructed and commanded of Tul.
And thus, Roa Tul continued his cookly duties, spending all of his spare time tending to the large Zeltron Jedi. In truth, the man was too large for most Kel Dor beds, so he retrieved the guest room bed and linked the two for him to be abit more comfortable. He retrieved food and water, monitored his lifesigns, and in general took care of the man. After about a day and a half of care the Jedi was still unconscious, but began to move, slightly and instinctually to external stimuli. A few days later his brain finally appeared on the scanner, as the Jedi's unconscious use of ayna-seff had finally ceased, whether by exhaustion or comfort he did not know. A couple days later the zeltron finally awoke, and began to try to get out of the bed.
"No no no, don't move so fast Jaxton. You're body is still recovering." He warned, quickly coming over and putting his hand over the mans chest, to protest him getting out of bed.
"Roa? What happened? I feel like I have blisters everywhere." Jaxton said a bit groggily, as he didn't go back down to the bed, but didn't press forward either.
"You were struck by lightning my friend. You should not have tested your talents so hastily and severely." Roa said, to which Jaxton grinned and shook his head a bit.
"Bah. I'm fine. If I remember right it worked too, I just wasn't . . . consistent. Lemme get up and get some work done Roa." Jaxton said as he tried to rise.
"Going out in a lightning storm and wanting to get up before your wounds heal? Are all Jedi Masters this foolish?" Roa asked, only half in jest.
"No, just this one. C'mon now, lemme go." Jaxton said, trying to push Roa's hand away.
"No, I insist you must stay. The Sages will wish to speak to you before you leave, and you need to let your body heal. Please, rest friend."
"Very well." Jaxton said with a sigh, before leaning back into the bed and going back to rest, to prepare to speak with the Sages when they were ready for him.
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#7 Jaxton Ravos
Jaxton Ravos
Reputation: 204
Excellent
Posted 05 October 2013 - 01:20 PM
After a couple days of rest was finally at the point where Roa Tul and the doctors would let him get out of his bed. He felt he would've been fine earlier, but he wasn't the doctor, and he was also a guest, so he respected their wishes. Before he could leave however, he was stopped by one of the doctors.
"The Sages wish to speak to you before you leave." They said, beckoning him to stay a while longer. "They will be with you shortly."
"Do you know what they wanted?" Jaxton asked in return.
"They did not say, only that they wished to speak with you before you left." The Doctor said before leaving, and Jaxton remained in the medical room. Normally a Jedi Master with time to kill would enter a state of meditation, but Jaxton had spent the last few days stuck in a bed, meditating as he could. So, with the ability to move as he pleased Jaxton began doing some kinesthetics, switching off between pushups, situps, free squats, and other such weightless exercises as he waited. It was surprising peaceful and satisfying, although he could tell he had missed a week of working out from the way his body protested as compared to normal. After pumping out a few hundred of the each exercise the Baran Do Sages finally arrived, and Jaxton ended his impromptu workout.
"Master Ravos, we have decided that you are a bit of a fool." One of the Sages spoke up, and Jaxton began to raise a hand to protest but the Sage waved it off. "After a mere day of training you decide to go out to one of the lightning storms of Dorin? Are all Jedi Masters this foolish?" He continued, before Jaxton attempted to interject again.
"I am not finished. Through walking out the door you nearly killed yourself. Through accepting training from Roa Tul, who is not a Sage you ensured you would not be be learning from the best, and also supported Roa in defying our commands. As a Jedi Master you represent your people, and what you do is what the apprentices will remember the Jedi as for decades to come. In your actions you have not only harmed yourself, but any relations that the Baran Do and Jedi might have had." The Kel Dor continued, before pausing a minute, like he wanted to continue chewing Jaxton out but didn't know what to say. After a moment Jaxton decided to speak.
"So there were possible Baran Do and Jedi relations before I went outside?" He asked with a bit of curiosity and hope in his voice.
"Jaxton, you are a bit overconfident in your strengths and mastery of the Force. Yes at the same time you have approached our hospitality as if you were hosting us, not you being our guests. You have been patient and friendly with the apprentices, and you have not pushed your beliefs on anyone. Sage Ooram asked you the other why you fight the other day, why Jedi learned the more martial ways of the Force, as well as the lightsaber. While we cannot and do not promote such practices within our own Order, we can understand the methodology of yours. At the very least we can see that you believe it, and live it."
"I do not know if the Jedi are good people Jaxton, but we can tell that you are a good person, albeit a curious and foolish one." He continued, with the Kel Dor equivalent of a sigh. "Quite frankly we're not sure of what we wish Jedi-Baran Do relations to be at the moment." He admitted.
"If you want I can leave at next storm-break." Jaxton suggested, as a sort of peaceful acceptance.
"No, we do not wish you to leave." One of the Sages said immediately. "If you had continued doing what you were doing we would have likely trained you ourselves after a few more days, and now you know some rudiments of our training as well. We have no desire for our teachings to go misused, and while you are not the type to use our skills to start wars or kill people, you know incomplete teachings. We do not wish you to attempt to refine or complete our teaching on your own and fail, as that could cause you your life, as well as the lives of others should you decide to teach our practices to other students. So, we have decided that we will continue your training, but it will be in private, away from the apprentices. We will complete your teachings of Hassat-Durr, teach you of the Baran Do, and you will show us and teach us the beliefs and culture of the Jedi."
"I would be honored to be allowed another to learn master Sage." Jaxton replied truthfully, before the Sages replied.
"Come then, and we shall begin your training." The Sages said, and walked out of the medical room. Jaxton followed, and as they left the Sages split apart to handle the different duties of the Sages, while one of them motioned for Jaxton to follow. He followed the Kel Dor to a small, isolated training room. Unlike the training room he went in before this was obviously meant for one on one training, and was perhaps a bit more well-taken care of as a result.
"We will begin to see how well your foundation is, before we plunge into training you." He said, and took out a familiar training method, a metallic rod and a small metal ball on a pendulum. He smiled, took the rod in hand, then easily focused on the rod, extending his control of his body to the rod and controlling the electromagnetism it exerted, causing the ball to move away from the rod as he closed in on it. It flickered from being repeled and being attracted every once in a while, but it always exerted force on the metal ball, and was obviously not telekinetic. The Kel Dor took a few notes, waved him to continue, and he did, on and off until he bidded him to stop. "Now try this." He said, and gave Jaxton a metallic plate and a small ball, not attached to anything. The Kel Dor has his own equivalent and used a similar technique to make the ball rise off the plate magnetically. Jaxton meditated, and did as he was instructed, causing the ball to life away from the plate, although it was a bit quicker and less steady than the Sage had done. "Do it again, but have a bit more control this time." The Kel Dor instructed, and Jaxton followed, trying to opt for more precision in his next few goes. It wasn't easy, but with persistence Jaxton came to it rather quickly, certainly quicker than he had with the pendulum and ball combo.
"It is strange that you are better attuned to the practices of ayna-seff then hassat-durr, but that is alright. I will teach you how to control it with time." He said with confidence, as he looked at his notes.
"What is the difference between the two master?" Jaxton asked respecfully, though a bit confused.
"They are both techniques which control the electricity and magnetism within your body, as well as your surrounding, but hassat-durr is a technique which is commonly used to dictate where external electricity flows using that magnetism and current. Ayna-seff on the other hand is more specific to the individual, controlling the electricity in your body and making it flow outwards, making it appear that you don't have any brain or nervous activity. You actually performed it unconsciously after you were hit by lightning, perhaps as a defense mechanism. Until we talked to Roa Tul we thought you were dead." The Sage explained, and Jaxton contemplated his words.
"I am sorry for causing you trouble. I should waited until I had more control of the technique." Jaxton apologized.
"Yes, you should have waited, but that is in the past. We shall fix the now, one step at a time. Let us adjourn to lunch, we will begin our training later."
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#8 Jaxton Ravos
Jaxton Ravos
Reputation: 204
Excellent
Posted 07 October 2013 - 06:36 PM
With his new teacher at his side, Jaxton went over to the lunch hall eager to see the cook Roa Tul for the first time since he had been allowed to leave. When he arrived he found the hall filled with Kel Dor, as usual, but their demeanor changed when he had arrived. He still couldn't discern the facial expressions of the mollusk like people, but he could feel the happiness and relief evident in the apprentices. A couple of apprentices motioned for him to join them, and saved Roa a seat as well, and Jaxton took a moment to look at his Sage instructor, who swept over his hand to say he could join them. After grabbing the days meal and meal maker he went and sat with the young Kel Dor.
"Master Jedi, why did you decide to leave the temple during a storm?" One of the apprentices asked first.
"Because I'm a bit overconfident, and I thought I could do it." Jaxton replied honestly. "Y'all would do well to learn from my mistakes."
"Are all Jedi like that?" Was the next response, and Roa found himself laughing a bit.
"Every organization has their wise and foolish, and weak and strong. Master Jaxton's mistakes reflect himself, not the Order." Roa told the young apprentices.
"That's a bit harsh Roa. Fair, but harsh." Jaxton replied to the cook. "Ultimately he's right though. I'm a bit more reckless than most in my position. I'm sorry to have caused you guys trouble." Jaxton said to the Kel Dor, trying to ease their concerns. The conversation continued to shift from one experience to another, with Jaxton and Roa continuing to speak to the apprentices and answer questions on the Baran Do, the Jedi, and the differences between the two, until they had finished their meal.
"I don't think I can help you today Roa. Sages want me back at the training room." Jaxton said to the cook as he gathered up plates and bowls from the tables and put them in, helpig a little before he had to leave.
"It is alright Jaxton. It would probably be better if you didn't help, at least for a little while. The Sages are a bit wary on the time you and I spend together. Meals are fine, but more contact then that will likely be watched." Roa said quietly, and Jaxton nodded.
"I'll see you later then." Jaxton said, and left the cook to his own devices as he headed back to the training room, with one of the Sages waiting for him, yet none of the pendulums or plates or rods were present.
"Have you decided not to train me?" Jaxton asked the Kel Dor curiously, to which he merely waves Jaxton off.
"I have a theory as too a method of training that might go quicker. Tell me, have you ever seen a technique such as this before?" The Sage asked, as he held his hand to the side and a green display of lightning emerged, and Jaxton could feel that it wasn't of the Darkside, but a different technique.
"Very." Jaxton said, as he recalled the later days of his knighthood. The day he tried to help retake Coruscant, and then ended up getting infected with the Clockwork nanites, and ended up fighting the Grandmaster one on one. Wraith used that technique to remove his nanites, to free him, after he had lost his hand in battle. That felt like so long ago, back when Darron was someone Jax looked up to, instead of a man who disappeared, reappeared, and then joined the Confederacy of all things. It seemed times were always changing. "I've actually been hit with it before. During the Clockwork Fiasco I was compromised, and the nanites were purged from me using that technique." He explained, and the Sage made skme expression he could only guess was sympathy.
"Then you know it is not something pleasant to experience. The technique however, cannot kill. It only serves to sap away the strength and energy of those it hits. It is not pleasant, but it is safe."
"So you intend to shock me?"
"I noticed when you first sparred that you were rusty with a staff, yet adjusted well when the fight began.When you waited outside the temple you meditated, but you also exercised to pass the time. I suspect your mind goes faster on the run than it does sitting still. Therefore I believe the best way to train you is too fight you, if you'll allow it."
"I guess that makes sense." Jaxton replied as he began to stretch his muscles.
"No lightsabers, no strikes, only lightning. Let us begin."
"But I can't use lightning!" Jaxton protested as green currents and sparks emanated from the Kel Dor's hand.
"Then you will have to use mine." The Sage replied as he lunged his hands forward and chains of electricity rushed at Jaxton.
Luckily for Jaxton, the sage was right, and instinctively put up both his forearms in front of himself to guard the blow. When he opened his eyes and raised his hand he saw the green lightning dispersing to his sides, but not touching him. There was a centimeter, perhaps two, between him and the current but it still wasn't touching him. His face lit up with a smile for a second, before the distance was closed and electricity coursed throughout his body.
"Gosh darn it." Jaxton cursed as he reeled onto the floor, and then pushed himself backup. He needed to be better, a Sith would have killed him in that time he was on the ground.
"You had it. Listen to your feelings, to your instincts, to the guiding of the Force. Let it carry you to where you need to go." The Sage advised, and Jaxton's mind immediately went to the philosophy of Form I. Rising to his full height he took a deep breath, before remembering his first saber lesson in Shii-cho, and then getting in a ready stance. The Kel Dor again shot at him with lightning, and he extended a hand and let the green electricity fly around him, while curling his body and angling his arm towards the Sage. The electricity followed in a loop, returning to it's source before the Sage stopped feeding the current and dispelled the current with his own use of hassat-durr .
"Excellent. You're making great progress. Let us continue." The Kel Dor said, as he assaulted the Zeltron with barrages of electricity. Jaxton replied by deflecting, redirecting, and shielding himself from the coming current, only losing his focus every once in a while. The burns and stings of losing concentration and focus hurt, but the smell of success and progress bid Jaxton to have a positive outlook. Soon his work here would be done, and he would have a better understanding of the Force, it's users, and another tool to help protect the Order and the Republic.
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#9 Jaxton Ravos
Jaxton Ravos
Reputation: 204
Excellent
Posted 09 October 2013 - 11:29 AM
And so for the next week Jaxton spent his mornings, afternoons, and evenings learning and practicing the drills of hassat-durr , balancing metallic balls, moving pendulums, connecting circuits and redirecting loops. Overall, the applications and uses of the technique seemed remarkably varied. He could boost his commlinks range, disable his prosthetic, wiping the information off of datapads, and all other manner of things. To his dismay however, while the trials and drills became clearer and easier it was the combat drills in which he excelled. He was always quicker redirecting a ball thrown at him than he was in lifting a still one off a metal plate. Eventually his teacher noticed his demeanor, and confronted him.
"Master Ravos, you have progressed with speed and improved tremendously, yet I cannot help but feel an aura of sorrow from you. What troubles you so?" The Baran Do asked, to which Jaxton gave a heavy sigh.
"You were right about me, when you said I learn quicker when moving, when fighting. I've noticed it before in my training with the Jedi, that I seem to be built for battle. Their is a perception out there that Jedi are nothing but men to fight the Sith, and it's wrong. That's not the point, the purpose, yet it seems to be mine." Jaxton admitted.
"Master Ravos, there are many who believe the Jedi are brutes, wishing to absorb Force users to their ways, but I am not one of them. Neither are any of the other Sages, nor any of entire Baran Do. You, I will admit, are a warrior, and I do not believe you will be able to change that. What makes you different is you don't fight because you want to, you fight because you think you need to." The Kel Dor reassured. "You may not be a healer, or prophet, but you are a good man, and I believe you will do good work." The Baran Do said, before rising and beckoning Jaxton to follow. So, Jaxton rose up and followed the man through the halls and towards the mass training room, where he could feel the presence of every Baran Do there. Sure enough, when they walked through the door he found the Sages gathered in the center of the room, followed by the apprentices sitting around them. Making his way through a walkway in the crowd he followed his teacher to the center of the room.
"Master Ravos, you came here weeks ago to learn about our ways and our culture. We did not accept you at first, but through your thick-headedness we were forced to accommodate you, and we are glad we did. In your time here you have been polite, understanding, curious and accepting of our ways. You have shown us a promising picture of what the Jedi have become after the Gulag Plague, and short of predicting the great storms of Dorin, we have taught you all you can learn from us. In recognition of your deeds, the rest of the Sages and I have decided to make you an honorary member of the Baran Do." The Sages said, and Roa Tul brought him a set of plain robes, while the apprentices cheered. "These are the robes of a Baran Do, it is our gift to you. Should you ever find yourself on Dorin again, you are always welcome to stay here." The Sage declared, and Jaxton took a small bow as he smiled.
"Thank you Sage Koon." He replied graciously. "Should you ever find yourself or one of your students on Coruscant, I will make sure the Jedi provide fine accommodations." He said, before shaking the hands of the Sages, and a handshake-turned hug with the friend Roa Tul.
"I must leave now, and return to my people, my students Sage Koon, but I will keep your teachings and your people in my heart and in my head." Jaxton said, and they understood. After a long round of goodbyes and good wishes, Jaxton bid that the Force be with the Baran Do, and took his leave to return home.
Jaxton Ravos
Reluctant Jedi Master
- 1,237 posts
Reputation: 204
Excellent
Posted 22 September 2013 - 02:42 PM
Though Jaxton had to be pressed to admit it, the Jedi Order considered him to be a Master, both in skill and teaching. He wasn't quite sure why as his skillset was pretty much 'run fast' 'swing sword' and 'endure'. Granted, he was very good at all of those things, and had recently learned the basics of hiding his Force Signature, but overall compared to illusionary skill of Je'gan and Aleidis, the Healing Power of Kalia Walsh and Boolon Murr, the overall mastery of the Force by Ben Watts and Darron Wraith, Jaxton felt average, and a bit limited.
So, Jaxton had decided to go out from the Jedi Temple, on a quest to better attune himself to the Force and learn the ways of other cultures. The day had started with Jaxton coming out of hyperspace and navigating a weird spatial occurrence, skirting a line between two black holes to the planet of Dorin. Upon landing he found himself in a hangerbay filled with oxygen, where he paid the landing fee and then purchased a breath mask, as the world was filled with Helium and not Oxygen.
The Helium content wasn't the only strange property of the planet however, as the planet was nearly constantly covered in lightning. He had heard the Baron Do Sages, a local Force culture, had been able to predict and event influence the lightning around them. So, following up on a rumor Jaxton came here, finding himself going a few houses down as the storms waxed and waned, as interestingly enough the local Kel Dor were used to giving lodging to anyone in times of storm. They were always kind, always willing for conversation, and while he told them stories of his time with the Jedi they told him stories of their people, the old Jedi Enclave attacked in the days of ancient Republic, the Baran Do Sages, the Jedi Masters who visited in the times of the New Republic, and even the tales of the planet during the plague.
From what he gathered, the offhand references and obscure texts he had found in the archives on the journeys of Darth Caedus and the Skywalkers were true, the Baron Do had found ways to use the Force to manipulate electricity, yet not in the traditional sense usually utilized by the Sith. Somehow instead of merely exerting energy as electricity they had found a way to use the Force to detect the electricity around them, to strengthen antennas and satellites, and even to make the brain appear to be lifeless.
The tales of the Baron Do made Jaxton think for a while, as he bounced from home to home, making his way towards their temple and avoiding the ever present storms, what were the Jedi really? Sure, you had good and light and justice and all the nicety-nice things, but they weren't unhindered by corruption, pride, and overconfidence. Often times he was humbled, as the Knight Boolon Murr and the newly knighted Aledis Ijet seemed more intune with what it really meant to be a Jedi than anyone.
Not to mention their comprehension of the Force. The Jedi were strong in the arts of the saber, telekinesis, illusionary work, healing, but this wasn't the first time he had heard of obscure Force Religions doing things he didn't think possible. Though he had not seen it he had heard in passing that Ember Rekali could do strange things through his learnings with the Witches of Dathomir. So many times the Jedi thought they knew all of the Force's secrets, everything that could be achieved without stepping into the darkside and yet he knew it was wrong.
Though realizing he was not immune from the pride of the Jedi, these thoughts bothered Jaxton. The Jedi were supposed to be the guardians and healers of the galaxy, from those who would misuse the Force. But how could they do that if they believed themselves better than others, if they didn't understand their purpose? The Force was a blessing, and honor, something that entitled Jaxton to duty, not something that made him a better person than anybody else. Some Jedi believed themselves to be better than the others of the galaxy, and that was dangerous, a belief that was more Sith-like than Jedi Like.
Jaxton then reminded himself that when he appeared to the Baron Do, he would be representing them as a Jedi Master, heck, one in line for the position of Grandmaster. Similarly, when his training here was complete he would have to adequately represent the beliefs of the Baron Do back to the Grandmaster, and the Jedi overall when he filed his final report on the congregation of Force Users.
Continuing on from home to home, he found himself interested in the stories of the Baron Do. While they were described as great men and masters of the Force, they were content to remain reclusive, only using their powers their powers to predict the massive lightning storms that raided the planet and boost the abilities of their antennas and comlinks. Jaxton of course respected them for their unique abilities and willingness to help their people, but the reclusiveness piqued his curiosity. The Jedi went out and helped people, the Sith went out and conquered. The Dathomiri witches had not yet expanded, but likely would have if they had the ships to do so. Those who had the Force and didn't join one of the bigger organizations usually ended up at Omega Pyre or some offshoot, hunting bounties and getting work that way. Many with the talents of the Force went out to see the galaxy and exert their will on it, but the Baron Do were content to sit at home on Dorin.
Continuing on, he finally reached the end of the city, staying his last night in farthest home from the center of the city he could, Jaxton could see the ziggurat structure a ways away. Surrounded by a transpirasteel fence, it was blocked off from public access, and in between two humongous black columns, a reference to the black holes of the system. Once the last lightning storm had ended he rushed over, but the fence was not lowered for him.
He could have cut it, jumped it, or otherwise gotten around the obstacle, but sullying the Baron Do's wishes was not the best way to make friends. So instead, he merely sat by the transparisteel fence, and meditated. Blocking off need for food, water, and shelter he sat there, until one of the Kel Dor Sages finally came out to speak to him.
"We can feel you in the Force. You are strong, and trained, and we have no desire to be forced to join the Jedi." The Baron Do talked to him through the Transparisteel fence.
"My desire is to be that of a student, and to learn your ways, so that I might become more knowledgeable and attuned to the Force. I promise to speak nothing of the ways of the Jedi, unless asked by one of your Sages." Jaxton replied diplomatically, to which the Kel Dor merely shook his head.
"We cannot allow our teaching to be tainted by your presence. You will have to leave." The Baron Do responded, before retreating back to his Temple. Knowing he was being watched, Jaxton merely returned to his state of meditation outside the fence.
He meditated there for the next two days, stopping periodically to do some pushups, sit-ups, sprints, and other various physical exercise, until the Baron Do who spoke with him before returned.
"There is a storm coming tonight, the likes of which one cannot survive without shelter. If you leave now you can reach the city and be safe there." The Baron Do pleaded, but Jaxton continued to sit firmly.
"I came to learn of your teachings and your culture, but I believe in the will of the Force, and the kindness of your people. I will not leave, but nor will I die this day." Jaxton replied, and the Baron Do fumed, or looked as upset as he could read in a Kel Dor, before returning inside. Jaxton merely continued to remain in his state of meditation, as cloud rumbled and thunder began to roar. Finally, lightning began to pour to the earth around him, and he continued to sit, confident in his survival. After a few moments the transparisteel fence began to lower, and several Baron Do rushed out and put themselves all around him. He could feel them using the Force to protect him from the storm as they rushed him into the Ziggurat.
"You will stay for the storm, and then you shall leave this place." The Baron Do told, and then began to leave.
"If I can prove my intentions, that I wish only to learn, could I stay?" Jaxton asked, and the Baron Do looked at him with a mollusky scowl.
"I am not holding my breath, Jedi." He said, with an audible frustration in his tone.
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#2 Jaxton Ravos
Jaxton Ravos
Reluctant Jedi Master
- 1,237 posts
Reputation: 204
Excellent
Posted 27 September 2013 - 10:15 AM
Jaxton was pleased when the first thing on the agenda at his new place of lodging was dinner, as while he could go on for days without it and sustain himself with the Force, it wasn't as easy, or gratifying, as simply eating some food. It was still strange eating while wearing a breath-mask,
Rather quickly he ate his portion, thought he was careful not to eat it quick enough so as to draw a bunch of attention to himself. A young Kel Dor however, curious at the new face and the culture, had been watching Jaxton intently, and noticed the hunger Jaxton had.
"Do you require more food Master Jedi?" He asked curiously and amicably, as a few of the Baran Do Sages gave him a look.
"I will be fine young apprentice." He said in a comforting and friendly tone. "And my name is Jaxton. He said, as he cleared his plate and took it over to the kitchen, before washing it and putting it away. There he stayed for a while, washing and cleaning the plates, bowls, and utensils of all the Kel Dor, and one of the Baran Do Sages came to see his progress, then left without saying anything.
After the chore was done Jaxton found one of the Sages and askes where he was to sleep. He took the Zeltron to some modest quarters, the walls and bedding being a plain grey and brown respectively. Unlike the Jedi Order they seemed a simple and humble people, distancing themselves from the ornate.
"These will be your quarters." He said as Jaxton examined the room. "Breakfast will be served at seven-thirty. Do not be late." He finished, before leaving the room. Jaxton then meditated for the next half-hour, before finally retiring, letting sleep consume him.
He awoke at about a quarter past five, then quickly went out and explored the nearly-lifeless temple as the Kel Dor remained at rest. Soon he found himself a supply closet, and began mercilessly attacking the grime, dirt, and dust fixating on the floors and walls of the temples. In a couple of short hours he was nearly done, and the Baran Do had begun to see the evidence of his work. The younger were impessed, and complimented him on his work as they passed him, while the older Sages remained indifferent in appearance and mannerism, though he could detect their approval in the Force. He conyinued cleaning until his task was done, soon realizing he had missed the breakfast bell and heading over to the dinning hall. Once he arrived he found the room to be empty, with the cook cleaning the kitchen. Shrugging, he began to leave. Missing one meal wasn't the end of the world.
"Master Jedi!" The Kel Dor Cook yelled out to him as he left, and Jaxton turned to see him. "I saved a bowl for you." He said, and pulled out a bowl of food. "That was some nice work you've done."
"Thank you sir." Jaxton replied, before taking the bowl. "But please, call me Jaxton." He said, again trying to assert himself as a man and not a title or ambassador. The Kel Dor nodded with a smile as Jaxton ate his food, and then the two finished off cleaning the dishes.
Once that was complete, Jaxton went to explore more of the Baran Do Temple, making way to where he felt the most Force gathered at once. His intuition was correct, and he soon found a training area, where one of the elder Sages was teaching the initiates and apprentices. Jaxton entered the area quietly, and sat down watching as the Kel Dor spoke of manipulating static electricity and electro-magnetism with the Force, and pulled out a metal ball and plate, and put the ball on the plate. He then held the plate and concentrated in the Force, and the ball began to float away from plate, in an inconsistent and seemingly natural way. To Jaxton it was obvious that his effort was not a display in Telekinesis, but that the effect was of some other nature.
The other apprentices watched in wonder, Jaxton began focusing, and tried to mimic the technique. As he concentrated he could feel static electrity accumulating on his arm, before he felt a hand placed on his shoulder, and turned to see one of the Baran Do Sages.
"I apologize for not telling you this sooner Master Jedi, but you cannot come train with us." He said, speaking in a polite fashion and having a look of slight annoyance. Jaxton stood up, careful to remain silent and not disturb the teacher or attact the attention of the students.
"I'm sorry master Sage." He said, before patting the Kel Dor on the shoulder. "I won't come back unless you allow it." He reassured, before leaving the room. The Sage nodded, still a bit annoyed, before closing the doors to the teaching area with a resounding thud.
Effectively blocked from his desires, Jaxton made way to the kitchen, to find the cook beginning to start making meals for the coming lunch.
"Need any help?" He asked, and the mollusk-like Kel Dor made some facial expression Jaxton couldn't recognize, but he could detect a bit of happiness with the Force and the natural telepathy attributed to his Zeltron physiology.
"I would love some help master je-" he began, before remembering their previous situation. "I mean, Jaxton." He said with a bit of respect. The two continued for the next hour or so, mixing ingredients, stirring together mixtures of with care and haste, and baking them into the day's lunch, before the rest of Baran Do arrived for their meal. The Zelton and the cook combined their efforts to get everyone served, before the two sat together for their own meal.
"What is your name cook?" Jaxton asked, as he shoved a few spoonfuls in his mouth.
"I do not believe my name is pronounceable by my people, to you it be but a few sounds and vibrations, but you may call me Roa Tul."You know, some of the sages believe you are merely helping to bribe their compliance."
"What do you believe Roa?" Jaxton asked in return.
"I believe that you are a being a better guest than we are being a host." He said a bit quietly. "Where did you go between breakfast and lunch?"
"I went to the training area, and biewed one of the Sage's lessons." He said, still cutting into his food. "Didn't stay long though."
"I suspected that was where you went." He said before pausing to take a bite. "I also suspected you would not be able to stay long." He added, before a long pause where he seemed contemplative. "I could teach you the technique of hassat-durr if you wished.
"That would be wonderful Roa." He said, before the two finished their meals and began washing the dishes of themselves and the rest of the Baran Do. As they worked, a smile lit Jaxton's face. He had earned the respect of one of the Baran Do, and made a friend in the process.
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#3 Jaxton Ravos
Jaxton Ravos
Reluctant Jedi Master
- 1,237 posts
Reputation: 204
Excellent
Posted 28 September 2013 - 12:53 PM
After having a nice conversation with the Kel Dor Cook Roa Tul, Jaxton left the kitchen for a while and went to check out the small gym he had seen while prowling around for the training room. In a short walk he could begin to hear the thuds and cracks of what sounded like martial training, specifically with wooden weapons. As he came closer the cracks and pops became louder and louder, as he found the gym, a plain room with matted floors and racks of wooden staffs. In the center lay a simple floor without mats, instead being surrounded by a circle painted on the ground to signify a ring. In the ring two Kel Dor were going at it, the source of the whacks and cracks that echoed throughout the halls. Around them some of the Baran Do were doing some kinesthetic type exercises and stretches, while others watched at the combatants in the ring, and either examined their skill or waited to join it themselves. A bit curious, Jaxton went over to one of the Sages and began conversation.
"I had been told the Baran Do did not teach combat." Jaxton asked, while he remembered the stories told him by the Kel Dor he met jumping from house to house during the storms, before he reached the Baran Do Ziggurat.
"We do not teach in martial pursuits, but we do allow sparring and martial pursuit in order to help with training the body, as well as to reinforce focus and discipline." He explained. "Unlike the Jedi, prowess in combat is secondary to an understanding of the Force." The Sage quipped.
"Prowess in combat isn't the Focus of the Jedi, just an avenue to explore." Jaxton replied, being diplomatic in his approach. "While I must admit my talents lean more towards the combative side of the Force, there are several good and respected Jedi who would be lost on a battlefield, even taken vows of pacifism." He said, his mind going to that to his friends Teynara Jeralyr, Boolon Murr, and his former apprentice Aleidis Ijet.
"Combat is something we prepare for, not enjoy. We hope that we need never pull a blade, but we train because we know that the galaxy is not perfect, and those without the Force are not as suited to protect as we." Jaxton continued to explain to the Baran Do Sage, hoping to convey his message correctly.
"A wiser mind would allow one to circumvent violence, finding a peaceful solution." The Sage replied, with a small hint of haughtiness in his voice.
"Sometimes the peaceful mind isn't always the wisest, and sometimes fools will not listen to the wise." Jaxton merely returned, as the Kel Dor in the ring finished their match, both panting and sweaty from their endeavor. One of the Baran Do went up to face the victor, but the winner of the bout left the ring, to tired to continue.
"May I?" Jaxton asked the man, the Kel Dor looked a bit confused, before turning to the Sage he was speaking to, who nodded that it was allowed. With a wave of his hand he beckoned Jaxton over, and the Zeltron picked up one of the wooden staffs and entered the ring.
It was a new thing to fight with, the wooden staff. Having grips so far away from each other was odd, but he adapted quickly, and compensated for his lack of experience with the weapon with his natural strength and quickness. After a few quick strikes and parries he found himself a bit at home, more comfortable with the weapon. After a quick feint Jaxton followed up with a sweep to the legs, tripping the Kel Dor. He then leaned over, extended a hand, and helped the Baran Do up.
"You're not a good match." Jaxton complimented the man, who nodded a bit but wasn't quite as confident in his words as Jaxton was. A new student came up with a wooden staff, ready to duel. Jaxton toyed around for a few minutes, letting the Kel Dor learn a few things before defeating him. While the Sages kept their stoic look, he could tell the younger members of the Baran Do were impressed with his abilities. Another Kel Dor came armed with a staff, but Jaxton waved him off.
"I promised I'd help in the kitchen for dinner. Catch me later and I'll get a match in with you." He said, as he put up his wooden staff and left the gym. After a quick jaunt through the halls he found himself at the kitchen with Roa Tul.
"Have a good workout Jaxton?" The cook asked as he began preparing supplies, as the Zeltron Jedi Master went over to gather ingredients and cooking utensils.
"Pretty good. Few sparring matches. Went well." He said as he mixed materials and ingredients to create a new meal for the coming dinner. Roa Tul and Jaxton continued for the next hour or so, furiously mixing ingredients, creating stews, soups, meats, and drinks for the Baran Do, until they congregated for the final meal and bean eating. Jaxton again ate with the Cook, though was joined by some of the younger apprentices.
"You're pretty good with a staff Master Jedi." They congratulated and admired, while Jaxton merely ate his stew.
"Exercise has always came easy to me. I've been blessed that way." He admitted, still eating his stew. "I have my flaws though. I couldn't move a chair with the Force to save my life." He admitted. He knew he had his flaws, and while it made him a bit uncomfortable, but he was okay with helping making the young apprentices feel better. Out of corner of his eye Jaxton noted that he was being watched by one of the Sages, and then felt obliged to make sure he was doing things right.
"Is it all right with the Sages if you come here and talk to me?" Jaxton asked the students.
"We asked the Sages if we could sit with you, and they said it was okay." They replied, which brought a grin to Jaxton's face.
"Guess I'm not that bad after all." He jested, as Jaxton, the cook, and the apprentices finished the meal together. Once that was complete he once again joined the cook in cleaning the dishes, kitchen, dining hall, and making sure everything was in proper order. After bidding Roa Tul adieu he went and found a shower, then spent the next hour cleaning himself and his clothes, making sure he didn't accumulate a scent from working hard and working out all day. After the cleaning was done he went to his guest quarters and went to bed with a grin. In a day he had earned the respect of the cook, the apprentices, and grown closer to a good relation with the Baran Do Sages. In the morning he'd begin training with Roa to learn how the Baran Do manipulated electro-magnetism. He had accomplished much, and the trip to Dorin seemed like it was paying it's dividends.
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#4 Jaxton Ravos
Jaxton Ravos
Reluctant Jedi Master
- 1,237 posts
Reputation: 204
Excellent
Posted 29 September 2013 - 02:21 PM
Jaxton awoke from his slumber, once again at the nice and sunshiney time of 5:30 in the morning. Well, it was mostly a day filled with lightning, but Jaxton would make due. Jaxton got dressed in his now clean Jedi Robes, then went around the temple, completing quick rounds of sweeping and dusting. Overall, due to his efforts to make every spick and span yesterday he had much less work to do, but it was good to get some work done. After a little less than an hour the Kel Dor Cook Roa Tul had come out of hiding, armed with a small metal ball on a pendulum and a metallic rod. He put the pendulum on the table and held the rod in demonstration.
"Use the Force to feel the electro-magnetism. Carry it through your body, and into the rod. The ball should end up being repelled away from the rod." He said as he held the rod and Jaxton could feel the Kel Dor emanating the Force. He then motioned the rod over to the ball, and the ball was pushed away by an invisible force, always keeping a set distance away from the rod. "Now you try." The Kel Dor said, and he handed the metal rod over to Jaxton.
Jaxton concentrated and held the rod, before moving it over the ball. To his dismay the rod clinked against the ball without any movement. He then pulled the rod back, focused his mind, and tried to move the ball again. Again and again he tried, ever failing, before Roa Tul put the rod and pendulum up.
"You are only controlling that which is visible, you must learn to control that which is imaginary and invisible." The Kel Dor said as he returned and the two continued their tri-daily jaunt of preparing the Baran Do's meals. As he worked and toiled he thought on the exercise he had performed, and the words Roa Tul used to instruct. Electricity was, for the most part, an invisible process. Unlike telekinesis he wasn't dealing with something he could see, something he couldn't really comprehend physically. Despite this, he knew it was real because he could see it's effect in machinery. Thinking on this as he cooked, he went on with helping the Kel Dor make breakfast for the Baran Do before a small electrical shock hit Jaxton's finger, causing a centimeter-long jolt of electricity to pass between the stove and his pink appendage. Quickly pulling up the hand and shaking it off, Jaxton thought little of it and went back to his work, static electricity got you every once in a while.
Or sometimes it got you twice, as another centimeter long bolt of lightning passed from metal to Jaxton's hand. He didn't remember rubbing on any wool or running around on a rug or anything of that nature, so he was a little puzzled, but continued on with his work. Roa Tul began to notice his electrical escapades and watched him intently as the two continued their work. Sure enough, after some time in the kitchen another small bolt of lightning came upon his finger, and Roa Tul came to speak to him.
"You are doing it backwards Jaxton. You are bringing electricity towards you, instead of repelling it around you. It is good that you are manipulating it, but very very bad, in that you are doing it the wrong way." He lectured. "It'd be better if you stop for now, so as not to form bad habits we need to break later." He cautioned, and Jaxton complied, putting his mind off of Hassat-Durr for now. The two continued cooking until the deed was done and the rest of the Baran Do arrived.
He sat again with his friend Roa Tul, and was joined again by a few apprentices, one of them beckoning for the duel he promised last night, others asking for tales of the Jedi and their culture, of the Sith and their battles, and of Coruscant and the coreworlds. He had gathered by now that the Baran Do traveled little, instead preferring to remain on their homeworld. Before he could begin talking to the apprentices however, one of the Sages came and sat down.
"You said before to one of the Sages that the Jedi do not prepare to fight because they wish to, but because they have to. Tell me more of this." The Sage asked, and showing a bit of authority compared to the others of the Baran Do. A bit offset, Jaxton began to think of his past, what he seen in the evils of the galaxy.
"A while back I went to the giant forest world of Kashyyyk, and trained with the wookiee people there. I learned their ways and trained with their men in living on the treetops and fighting as their warriors did, for about a month. I was going to leave before the Chieften of the tribe I was staying with asked me to explore the underbrush beneath the huge Wroshyr branches, in a place called 'The Shadowlands'."
"The Shadowlands was a place was shrouded in darkness due to the many trees and branches around them, and held all manner of beasts. The wookiees would go there for the Hrrtayyk, or coming of age ceremonies, to prove themselves strong, and if they were exiled. They had lost a group going for the Hrrtayyk, and wished me to investigate. When I went down to the forest below I found an old Whiphid Shaman, a man whose screams could rip out the earth and could the life out of a man by looking at him. I fought him and narrowly defeated him, and expelled him from Kashyyyk, but if he was ten, twenty years younger he would have killed me."
"There are some techniques in the Force that are arcane and horrible, and there are men and women in the galaxy ready to use them for their own gain. I do my best to protect the galaxy from people like that, because many do not have the strength, or the resolve, to protect themselves from threats such as these." Jaxton finished, telling the tale of his experience with the Living Holocron. Truth be told there were not many of his talents and strength in the Galaxy, but those who did could bring the galaxy to it's knees without people like Jaxton to fight them off. The Sage pondered what he said for a moment, before nodding and then thanking Jaxton before leaving, to return to the other Sages.
Jaxton finished his meal, trading smaller stories with the apprentices and having fun with Roa Tul, before heading back over to the Gym, after all he had promised a boy a match. He found the young Kel Dor waiting for him, spinning around a wooden staff in preparation. He realized then he wasn't sure if that was the Kel Dor he promised a match, he mostly told the Kel Dor apart by their clothes. Jaxton wondered if that was a bit speciest, but shrugged it off and began doing some stretches and warm-ups to prepare his body for the workout. Once he was done, he took the apprentice up for a match. Jaxton toyed with him for a little while, leading him into better and quicker movements, until the apprentice began to be a bit cocky, afterwhich he disabled the man with a few quick motions. A bit downtrodden, the apprentice left the ring, aware of his defeat. He had taken a few of the apprentices on, as the Sages were not as likely to indulge in the sparring, but those whom he had not fought had seen his matches, and respected his physical skill and ability. None of them really wished to fight him, until one Kel Dor came up with an idea.
"Why don't you fight a few of us? Maybe three on one?" He asked, in a tone that was more curious and friendly than bullying. He seemed to legitimately want to press Jaxton's abilities, not merely defeat him.
"I'm game." He replied, and a few Kel Dor came to the ring. Jaxton put himself in the center, so as to allow them to attack from different angles, and they came at him in surprising unison. He blocked a few hits before taking one himself, and then he finally tapped into the Force, allowing his body, reflexes, and speed to be amplified. Like a blur he moved in motion, blocking one and flowing to hit another in a smoothness and grace that could be compared to a dancer. Eventually one Kel Dor managed to land a hit on him, or rather a grab, to his durasteel hand. He felt the Kel Dor use the Force, and all of the sudden his hand no longer worked, and was clung to the staff in it's current position. He went for a few more seconds, but unable to change the angle of his staff he took a few hits, and admitted defeat.
"That was a nice trick there." He said, and he forcibly used his hand to move his durasteel prosthesis off of the staff.
"If you were to use the Force then I decided I should as well." The Kel Dor replied, before grabbing his hand and focusing once more. Power seemed to return to his hand, and after a quick twitch a diagnostic was ran and his functionality returned. After congratulating the trio that took him, he went back to the kitchen to see the cook, Roa Tul.
Once he arrived at the kitchen Rao took out the rod and pendulum once again, and Jaxton tried again to move the ball with the rod in close proximity. After the ball come to the rod a fe times, he attempted attacking the problem with a different approach, and the ball began to move away from the rod. With a grin and smile he continued, amplifying more strength into his technique, making the ball repel farther and farther away. With a bit of swag to his step be put the rod and pendulum up with Roa Tul, before preparing and serving the day's lunch. After the meal and cleaning was done he began to try the apprentice's trick, deativating and reactivating his prosthesis. It wasn't the most consistent control, but he could tell he was gaining more aptitude and control for the technique.
Eventually dinner rolled around and Jaxton's cooking services came to trial once again, with him helping Roa Tul. Together they made a good meal and Tul complimented Jaxton's progress. Apparently he was learning rather quick. Once the dinner was done and dishes were put away Jaxton bid Tul good-night, before getting the inkling to try to see just how far he could get with his technique.
So, he decided to walk outside onto Dorin's surface, and used the Force to manipulate the electro-magnetic forces in his body. Electricity bounced in and all around him, until, would you believe it? That Zeltron got struck by fething lightning.
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#5 Jaxton Ravos
Jaxton Ravos
Reluctant Jedi Master
- 1,237 posts
Reputation: 204
Excellent
Posted 29 September 2013 - 02:22 PM
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#6 Jaxton Ravos
Jaxton Ravos
Reluctant Jedi Master
- 1,237 posts
Reputation: 204
Excellent
Posted 30 September 2013 - 10:38 AM
Roa Tul awoke the next morning, got dressed, and then headed over to the kitchen, expecting a large Zeltron to accompany him once again. To his surprise though, he continued on his day making the Baran Do's breakfast alone. Perhaps the Jedi Master had decided to take a day to sleep a bit more, truth be told he wouldn't blame him. He had worked awfully hard, both physically and mentally in aiding him cook, cleaning the halls, physical drills with the apprentices, and learning the basics of Hassat-Durr with him had probably taxed his mind as well.
So he continued on in solitude making the morning meal, before he was joined by the rest of the Baran Do. After serving their meals he noticed that the zeltron still had yet to arrive. Perhaps Jaxton needed more rest than he had thought initially. Tul decided to eat his meal, and after finishing it noticed there was still an un-eaten bowl of food. Deciding it might be best to check on him, Tul went over to the guest quarters, and peeked his head in to find that Jaxton was absent his room. If he wasn't in his room, and he hadn't gotten food, then where was he? Tul did a quick round of the temple and found nothing, then decided it would be best to contact one of the Sages.
"Have you seen Jaxton anywhere?" Tul asked the first Sage he spotted.
"I haven't seen him since dinner last evening. Did he not help you cook this morning?"
"No. I haven't him this morning, and when I checked his quarters he wasn''t there either. I believe he is missing."
"Then we will find him. We will go get the rest of the Baran Do and we will organize a search party." The Sage told Tul confidently, as the two began to walk towards the rest of the Kel Dor. "Your friend will be fine." The Sage reassured.
Tul and the Sage soon found the other Baran Do, and in short time the entirety of the organization was out searching for him. They prowled through the ziggurat temple like hungry kath hounds, fervent in their actions and leaving no stone unturned. Despite this however, they found neither hide nor hair of the pink adventurer. To those who knew the body language of the Kel Dor, Tul was visibly concerned and upset. He continued to be so, and continued his frantic search for the Zeltron, until he felt a hand placed onto his shoulder.
"Roa, you need to come with me." Beckoned one of the Sages in a dire tone. He then turned, and Tul followed him. They ended by going into a room filled with nothing but the Sages. They were fervently discussing something, until he arrived, at which all their speaking ceased, replaced with looks at the cook and quick gazes to one another. Finally, one of them rose and spoke.
"Did you teach the Jedi our ways Roa?" They asked, and the cook quickly realized he might have been under a trial of sorts.
"The Jedi is a good man, and a hard worker-"
"I did not ask how good of a man he was, or how hard he worked. I asked if you taught him." The Sage interrupted, or overruled.
"I- I showed him the beginnings of hassat-durr. He wasn't quite a natural student, but he took to it well. I only taught him yesterday however." Tul informed, which was met with a great sigh from the speaking Sage, and wanderibg glances between the Baran Do elders.
"Then he may yet be alive." The Sage finally said, before taking Tul to another room, with Jaxton lying on medical bed, a bit crispier than he was previously. "We cannot pick up any brain activity with the phalosensor, but I can feel him in the Force. We found him outside. We are lucky he is not dead. You have done a very dangerous thing Roa."
"I didn't tell him to go outside!" Tul pleaded.
"Nor do I expect you did, but you gave him confidence. He was not ready. You should have left the matter of his teaching for us to decide." The Sage said, before rising, about to leave. "You are the one responsible for this, so you are charged with his care. He'll need to rest there for at least a week, probably more." The Sage instructed and commanded of Tul.
And thus, Roa Tul continued his cookly duties, spending all of his spare time tending to the large Zeltron Jedi. In truth, the man was too large for most Kel Dor beds, so he retrieved the guest room bed and linked the two for him to be abit more comfortable. He retrieved food and water, monitored his lifesigns, and in general took care of the man. After about a day and a half of care the Jedi was still unconscious, but began to move, slightly and instinctually to external stimuli. A few days later his brain finally appeared on the scanner, as the Jedi's unconscious use of ayna-seff had finally ceased, whether by exhaustion or comfort he did not know. A couple days later the zeltron finally awoke, and began to try to get out of the bed.
"No no no, don't move so fast Jaxton. You're body is still recovering." He warned, quickly coming over and putting his hand over the mans chest, to protest him getting out of bed.
"Roa? What happened? I feel like I have blisters everywhere." Jaxton said a bit groggily, as he didn't go back down to the bed, but didn't press forward either.
"You were struck by lightning my friend. You should not have tested your talents so hastily and severely." Roa said, to which Jaxton grinned and shook his head a bit.
"Bah. I'm fine. If I remember right it worked too, I just wasn't . . . consistent. Lemme get up and get some work done Roa." Jaxton said as he tried to rise.
"Going out in a lightning storm and wanting to get up before your wounds heal? Are all Jedi Masters this foolish?" Roa asked, only half in jest.
"No, just this one. C'mon now, lemme go." Jaxton said, trying to push Roa's hand away.
"No, I insist you must stay. The Sages will wish to speak to you before you leave, and you need to let your body heal. Please, rest friend."
"Very well." Jaxton said with a sigh, before leaning back into the bed and going back to rest, to prepare to speak with the Sages when they were ready for him.
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#7 Jaxton Ravos
Jaxton Ravos
Reluctant Jedi Master
- 1,237 posts
Reputation: 204
Excellent
Posted 05 October 2013 - 01:20 PM
After a couple days of rest was finally at the point where Roa Tul and the doctors would let him get out of his bed. He felt he would've been fine earlier, but he wasn't the doctor, and he was also a guest, so he respected their wishes. Before he could leave however, he was stopped by one of the doctors.
"The Sages wish to speak to you before you leave." They said, beckoning him to stay a while longer. "They will be with you shortly."
"Do you know what they wanted?" Jaxton asked in return.
"They did not say, only that they wished to speak with you before you left." The Doctor said before leaving, and Jaxton remained in the medical room. Normally a Jedi Master with time to kill would enter a state of meditation, but Jaxton had spent the last few days stuck in a bed, meditating as he could. So, with the ability to move as he pleased Jaxton began doing some kinesthetics, switching off between pushups, situps, free squats, and other such weightless exercises as he waited. It was surprising peaceful and satisfying, although he could tell he had missed a week of working out from the way his body protested as compared to normal. After pumping out a few hundred of the each exercise the Baran Do Sages finally arrived, and Jaxton ended his impromptu workout.
"Master Ravos, we have decided that you are a bit of a fool." One of the Sages spoke up, and Jaxton began to raise a hand to protest but the Sage waved it off. "After a mere day of training you decide to go out to one of the lightning storms of Dorin? Are all Jedi Masters this foolish?" He continued, before Jaxton attempted to interject again.
"I am not finished. Through walking out the door you nearly killed yourself. Through accepting training from Roa Tul, who is not a Sage you ensured you would not be be learning from the best, and also supported Roa in defying our commands. As a Jedi Master you represent your people, and what you do is what the apprentices will remember the Jedi as for decades to come. In your actions you have not only harmed yourself, but any relations that the Baran Do and Jedi might have had." The Kel Dor continued, before pausing a minute, like he wanted to continue chewing Jaxton out but didn't know what to say. After a moment Jaxton decided to speak.
"So there were possible Baran Do and Jedi relations before I went outside?" He asked with a bit of curiosity and hope in his voice.
"Jaxton, you are a bit overconfident in your strengths and mastery of the Force. Yes at the same time you have approached our hospitality as if you were hosting us, not you being our guests. You have been patient and friendly with the apprentices, and you have not pushed your beliefs on anyone. Sage Ooram asked you the other why you fight the other day, why Jedi learned the more martial ways of the Force, as well as the lightsaber. While we cannot and do not promote such practices within our own Order, we can understand the methodology of yours. At the very least we can see that you believe it, and live it."
"I do not know if the Jedi are good people Jaxton, but we can tell that you are a good person, albeit a curious and foolish one." He continued, with the Kel Dor equivalent of a sigh. "Quite frankly we're not sure of what we wish Jedi-Baran Do relations to be at the moment." He admitted.
"If you want I can leave at next storm-break." Jaxton suggested, as a sort of peaceful acceptance.
"No, we do not wish you to leave." One of the Sages said immediately. "If you had continued doing what you were doing we would have likely trained you ourselves after a few more days, and now you know some rudiments of our training as well. We have no desire for our teachings to go misused, and while you are not the type to use our skills to start wars or kill people, you know incomplete teachings. We do not wish you to attempt to refine or complete our teaching on your own and fail, as that could cause you your life, as well as the lives of others should you decide to teach our practices to other students. So, we have decided that we will continue your training, but it will be in private, away from the apprentices. We will complete your teachings of Hassat-Durr, teach you of the Baran Do, and you will show us and teach us the beliefs and culture of the Jedi."
"I would be honored to be allowed another to learn master Sage." Jaxton replied truthfully, before the Sages replied.
"Come then, and we shall begin your training." The Sages said, and walked out of the medical room. Jaxton followed, and as they left the Sages split apart to handle the different duties of the Sages, while one of them motioned for Jaxton to follow. He followed the Kel Dor to a small, isolated training room. Unlike the training room he went in before this was obviously meant for one on one training, and was perhaps a bit more well-taken care of as a result.
"We will begin to see how well your foundation is, before we plunge into training you." He said, and took out a familiar training method, a metallic rod and a small metal ball on a pendulum. He smiled, took the rod in hand, then easily focused on the rod, extending his control of his body to the rod and controlling the electromagnetism it exerted, causing the ball to move away from the rod as he closed in on it. It flickered from being repeled and being attracted every once in a while, but it always exerted force on the metal ball, and was obviously not telekinetic. The Kel Dor took a few notes, waved him to continue, and he did, on and off until he bidded him to stop. "Now try this." He said, and gave Jaxton a metallic plate and a small ball, not attached to anything. The Kel Dor has his own equivalent and used a similar technique to make the ball rise off the plate magnetically. Jaxton meditated, and did as he was instructed, causing the ball to life away from the plate, although it was a bit quicker and less steady than the Sage had done. "Do it again, but have a bit more control this time." The Kel Dor instructed, and Jaxton followed, trying to opt for more precision in his next few goes. It wasn't easy, but with persistence Jaxton came to it rather quickly, certainly quicker than he had with the pendulum and ball combo.
"It is strange that you are better attuned to the practices of ayna-seff then hassat-durr, but that is alright. I will teach you how to control it with time." He said with confidence, as he looked at his notes.
"What is the difference between the two master?" Jaxton asked respecfully, though a bit confused.
"They are both techniques which control the electricity and magnetism within your body, as well as your surrounding, but hassat-durr is a technique which is commonly used to dictate where external electricity flows using that magnetism and current. Ayna-seff on the other hand is more specific to the individual, controlling the electricity in your body and making it flow outwards, making it appear that you don't have any brain or nervous activity. You actually performed it unconsciously after you were hit by lightning, perhaps as a defense mechanism. Until we talked to Roa Tul we thought you were dead." The Sage explained, and Jaxton contemplated his words.
"I am sorry for causing you trouble. I should waited until I had more control of the technique." Jaxton apologized.
"Yes, you should have waited, but that is in the past. We shall fix the now, one step at a time. Let us adjourn to lunch, we will begin our training later."
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#8 Jaxton Ravos
Jaxton Ravos
Reluctant Jedi Master
- 1,237 posts
Reputation: 204
Excellent
Posted 07 October 2013 - 06:36 PM
With his new teacher at his side, Jaxton went over to the lunch hall eager to see the cook Roa Tul for the first time since he had been allowed to leave. When he arrived he found the hall filled with Kel Dor, as usual, but their demeanor changed when he had arrived. He still couldn't discern the facial expressions of the mollusk like people, but he could feel the happiness and relief evident in the apprentices. A couple of apprentices motioned for him to join them, and saved Roa a seat as well, and Jaxton took a moment to look at his Sage instructor, who swept over his hand to say he could join them. After grabbing the days meal and meal maker he went and sat with the young Kel Dor.
"Master Jedi, why did you decide to leave the temple during a storm?" One of the apprentices asked first.
"Because I'm a bit overconfident, and I thought I could do it." Jaxton replied honestly. "Y'all would do well to learn from my mistakes."
"Are all Jedi like that?" Was the next response, and Roa found himself laughing a bit.
"Every organization has their wise and foolish, and weak and strong. Master Jaxton's mistakes reflect himself, not the Order." Roa told the young apprentices.
"That's a bit harsh Roa. Fair, but harsh." Jaxton replied to the cook. "Ultimately he's right though. I'm a bit more reckless than most in my position. I'm sorry to have caused you guys trouble." Jaxton said to the Kel Dor, trying to ease their concerns. The conversation continued to shift from one experience to another, with Jaxton and Roa continuing to speak to the apprentices and answer questions on the Baran Do, the Jedi, and the differences between the two, until they had finished their meal.
"I don't think I can help you today Roa. Sages want me back at the training room." Jaxton said to the cook as he gathered up plates and bowls from the tables and put them in, helpig a little before he had to leave.
"It is alright Jaxton. It would probably be better if you didn't help, at least for a little while. The Sages are a bit wary on the time you and I spend together. Meals are fine, but more contact then that will likely be watched." Roa said quietly, and Jaxton nodded.
"I'll see you later then." Jaxton said, and left the cook to his own devices as he headed back to the training room, with one of the Sages waiting for him, yet none of the pendulums or plates or rods were present.
"Have you decided not to train me?" Jaxton asked the Kel Dor curiously, to which he merely waves Jaxton off.
"I have a theory as too a method of training that might go quicker. Tell me, have you ever seen a technique such as this before?" The Sage asked, as he held his hand to the side and a green display of lightning emerged, and Jaxton could feel that it wasn't of the Darkside, but a different technique.
"Very." Jaxton said, as he recalled the later days of his knighthood. The day he tried to help retake Coruscant, and then ended up getting infected with the Clockwork nanites, and ended up fighting the Grandmaster one on one. Wraith used that technique to remove his nanites, to free him, after he had lost his hand in battle. That felt like so long ago, back when Darron was someone Jax looked up to, instead of a man who disappeared, reappeared, and then joined the Confederacy of all things. It seemed times were always changing. "I've actually been hit with it before. During the Clockwork Fiasco I was compromised, and the nanites were purged from me using that technique." He explained, and the Sage made skme expression he could only guess was sympathy.
"Then you know it is not something pleasant to experience. The technique however, cannot kill. It only serves to sap away the strength and energy of those it hits. It is not pleasant, but it is safe."
"So you intend to shock me?"
"I noticed when you first sparred that you were rusty with a staff, yet adjusted well when the fight began.When you waited outside the temple you meditated, but you also exercised to pass the time. I suspect your mind goes faster on the run than it does sitting still. Therefore I believe the best way to train you is too fight you, if you'll allow it."
"I guess that makes sense." Jaxton replied as he began to stretch his muscles.
"No lightsabers, no strikes, only lightning. Let us begin."
"But I can't use lightning!" Jaxton protested as green currents and sparks emanated from the Kel Dor's hand.
"Then you will have to use mine." The Sage replied as he lunged his hands forward and chains of electricity rushed at Jaxton.
Luckily for Jaxton, the sage was right, and instinctively put up both his forearms in front of himself to guard the blow. When he opened his eyes and raised his hand he saw the green lightning dispersing to his sides, but not touching him. There was a centimeter, perhaps two, between him and the current but it still wasn't touching him. His face lit up with a smile for a second, before the distance was closed and electricity coursed throughout his body.
"Gosh darn it." Jaxton cursed as he reeled onto the floor, and then pushed himself backup. He needed to be better, a Sith would have killed him in that time he was on the ground.
"You had it. Listen to your feelings, to your instincts, to the guiding of the Force. Let it carry you to where you need to go." The Sage advised, and Jaxton's mind immediately went to the philosophy of Form I. Rising to his full height he took a deep breath, before remembering his first saber lesson in Shii-cho, and then getting in a ready stance. The Kel Dor again shot at him with lightning, and he extended a hand and let the green electricity fly around him, while curling his body and angling his arm towards the Sage. The electricity followed in a loop, returning to it's source before the Sage stopped feeding the current and dispelled the current with his own use of hassat-durr .
"Excellent. You're making great progress. Let us continue." The Kel Dor said, as he assaulted the Zeltron with barrages of electricity. Jaxton replied by deflecting, redirecting, and shielding himself from the coming current, only losing his focus every once in a while. The burns and stings of losing concentration and focus hurt, but the smell of success and progress bid Jaxton to have a positive outlook. Soon his work here would be done, and he would have a better understanding of the Force, it's users, and another tool to help protect the Order and the Republic.
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#9 Jaxton Ravos
Jaxton Ravos
Reluctant Jedi Master
- 1,237 posts
Reputation: 204
Excellent
Posted 09 October 2013 - 11:29 AM
And so for the next week Jaxton spent his mornings, afternoons, and evenings learning and practicing the drills of hassat-durr , balancing metallic balls, moving pendulums, connecting circuits and redirecting loops. Overall, the applications and uses of the technique seemed remarkably varied. He could boost his commlinks range, disable his prosthetic, wiping the information off of datapads, and all other manner of things. To his dismay however, while the trials and drills became clearer and easier it was the combat drills in which he excelled. He was always quicker redirecting a ball thrown at him than he was in lifting a still one off a metal plate. Eventually his teacher noticed his demeanor, and confronted him.
"Master Ravos, you have progressed with speed and improved tremendously, yet I cannot help but feel an aura of sorrow from you. What troubles you so?" The Baran Do asked, to which Jaxton gave a heavy sigh.
"You were right about me, when you said I learn quicker when moving, when fighting. I've noticed it before in my training with the Jedi, that I seem to be built for battle. Their is a perception out there that Jedi are nothing but men to fight the Sith, and it's wrong. That's not the point, the purpose, yet it seems to be mine." Jaxton admitted.
"Master Ravos, there are many who believe the Jedi are brutes, wishing to absorb Force users to their ways, but I am not one of them. Neither are any of the other Sages, nor any of entire Baran Do. You, I will admit, are a warrior, and I do not believe you will be able to change that. What makes you different is you don't fight because you want to, you fight because you think you need to." The Kel Dor reassured. "You may not be a healer, or prophet, but you are a good man, and I believe you will do good work." The Baran Do said, before rising and beckoning Jaxton to follow. So, Jaxton rose up and followed the man through the halls and towards the mass training room, where he could feel the presence of every Baran Do there. Sure enough, when they walked through the door he found the Sages gathered in the center of the room, followed by the apprentices sitting around them. Making his way through a walkway in the crowd he followed his teacher to the center of the room.
"Master Ravos, you came here weeks ago to learn about our ways and our culture. We did not accept you at first, but through your thick-headedness we were forced to accommodate you, and we are glad we did. In your time here you have been polite, understanding, curious and accepting of our ways. You have shown us a promising picture of what the Jedi have become after the Gulag Plague, and short of predicting the great storms of Dorin, we have taught you all you can learn from us. In recognition of your deeds, the rest of the Sages and I have decided to make you an honorary member of the Baran Do." The Sages said, and Roa Tul brought him a set of plain robes, while the apprentices cheered. "These are the robes of a Baran Do, it is our gift to you. Should you ever find yourself on Dorin again, you are always welcome to stay here." The Sage declared, and Jaxton took a small bow as he smiled.
"Thank you Sage Koon." He replied graciously. "Should you ever find yourself or one of your students on Coruscant, I will make sure the Jedi provide fine accommodations." He said, before shaking the hands of the Sages, and a handshake-turned hug with the friend Roa Tul.
"I must leave now, and return to my people, my students Sage Koon, but I will keep your teachings and your people in my heart and in my head." Jaxton said, and they understood. After a long round of goodbyes and good wishes, Jaxton bid that the Force be with the Baran Do, and took his leave to return home.