Faction Defense First(High Republic)(Jedi)

[Aiden Porte]

Tags:Open​

The training grounds at Shiraya's Sanctuary were quiet in the late morning light, touched by the golden spill of Naboo's sun through the tall windows. Jedi Knight Aiden Porte moved calmly across the open floor, each step echoing faintly against the stone. He set aside a small cluster of training sabers near the entrance before turning to the circle of mats laid out for today's lesson.

Though had been part of various trainings before, never had he led one, there was always a kind of anticipation in these first moments, when the room was still empty, yet charged with possibility. He let his eyes linger on the doorway, patient, unhurried, waiting for the familiar shuffle of boots or the hushed murmurs of students arriving.

Aiden extended a hand and drew upon the Force, letting its presence wash over the chamber. It pooled here like a current beneath the stone, steady and calm, ready to be called upon. In his mind's eye, he visualized the barrier he would soon teach them to shape, a translucent veil of will and intent, stronger than steel when focused, yet supple enough to bend like flowing water. A shield not of armor or durasteel, but of trust in the Force itself.

He imagined the younger Padawans testing themselves, holding out palms and watching faint ripples form in the air. He pictured the older students, more confident, straining to extend protection around others, learning the difference between guarding only the self and embracing responsibility for all nearby. It would not be easy. Force barriers required more than raw power; they demanded discipline, patience, and above all, clarity of heart.

Aiden drew in another long breath, eyes half-closed, and whispered to the silence, as though to prepare the room for their arrival.

"Strength is not found in the wall we build to keep danger away. It is in the barrier we shape to shelter others, even as we stand with them in the storm."

His voice settled into the stillness, and he folded his hands together, content to wait. The students would come soon enough, and when they did, the lesson would begin not with words alone, but with the calm foundation he laid here now. The quiet before their steps was not emptiness, it was the promise of what was about to be built together.

 

[Feng Huang]

Feng took a deep breath. She'd been avoiding this. Avoiding training sessions with other Jedi, particularly in group settings. Afraid they'll sense it within her, afraid they'll know just by looking at her. The Dark Side. She had almost given in to it during the attack on the Kattadan Enclave, her Master had pulled her out of it with a few simple words.

"Remember you're village."

An image had flashed into her mind of her village being burned to the ground, the men who had done it laughing as they had done horrible things, drinking precious stores of rice wine the villagers saved for special occasions, looting anything of value. Master Wu standing before them, between them and her. Asking them quietly to surrender. They hadn't. Feng sometimes felt bad about not feeling bad about that.

Master Wu had told her after that he had hoped the words would recall a time of peace in her life, remind her what she was defending. He had been sad to hear that it had reminded her of the worst of times, when her village had been attacked by evil men, burnt to the ground. Feng had glanced away sadly and ashamed.

"It worked. I was reminded not to become those men. I don't ever want to become those men" Feng had declared softly and cried.

Master Wu had just pulled her close in a hug and held her tightly.

Feng had half been expecting some empty promises that she would never, could never become those men. Master Wu however avoided lying even when it might temporarily soothe wounds.

"You need not. I think it's time we go back to the basics of your training."

So they had going painstaking over training Feng had thought she had mastered a thousand times over. Feng hadn't even felt any bitterness over it a certain amount of shame perhaps, but she understood why it was necessary. Strangely her obedience only seemed to worry Master Wu more.

Eventually Master Wu had decided the isolation was harming her, and requested in that way he did that made her squirm, acknowledging it wasn't a request she start resocialising with other Jedi. He suggested even training with them could do some good, perhaps give her perspective.

So here she was, squirming as she entered the room to find Knight Aiden already present and practicing.

"Master Aiden." Feng said formally bowing. Aiden was a friend so the formality felt strained, but Feng had been wondering if her rebellion against Jedi conformity had helped her along to her near fall to the Dark Side. "I look forward to receiving instruction from you."

Aiden Porte

 

[Aileni Ifor Xeraic]

Location: Naboo
Attire: Large brown hoodie, grey shirt
Equipment: Dathomiri Energy Bow, practice saber
Tag: Aiden Porte | Feng Huang

Aileni arrived several minutes late. He had overslept after a late night of staying awake, in part due to the growing pains that he was still getting, but also he was exploring conspiracy pages on the holonet. Specifically on cryptids and other fantastical beasts that may lay hidden in the galaxy. So when he woke, Aileni realised he had missed the first three or four alarms that he had set for himself. Instead, he had to rush into his clothes, skip the shower he might have needed and arrived at the training session a dishevelled mess of a Padawan. Still rubbing the sleep out of his eyes as he wandered in and looked around. Seeing several students in attendance for Aiden's lesson, he noticed an unfamiliar face, someone with purple hair.

She seemed nervous and there was a stiffness to her. Aileni wondered what had happened to cause it, though she would sense in Aileni that he was a lot closer to touching the Dark Side than she would be. His emotions and primal instincts were encased in a darkness that Aileni was barely holding under control as he looked over to Aiden and gave a bow to the Jedi Knight.

"Apologies for being late, I overslept after a night of studying." Not entire truth but also not incorrect either. Aileni had selected the words perfectly to avoid lying or being called a liar. He had been studying, it was just not what he should have been studying and he shouldn't have been up so late studying either. But though were technicalities that Aileni didn't worry over.

Placing the Dathomiri energy bow to one side, he was never seen without his bow since it was too important to him. It was the weapon that Aileni was the most skilled in and it felt bonded to him in a way that was beyond the Force or normal connection to a weapon. Today was going to be a lesson on Force Barrier from what Aileni had heard, so it was a lesson in which his bow would not be needed. So he kept it close but not on him for that reason. Moving into position, Aileni stood tall and stifled a yawn as he attempted to give as much of his full concentration as he could to the class.

 

[Reina Daival]

Tag: Aiden Porte Aileni Ifor Xeraic Feng Huang

The class wasn't anything new to Reina. Force Barrier had been something that Reina had made great use of if she was being honest. Of course, that didn't stop her from wanting a physical barrier in the form of a shield but that was neither here nor there as she strolled into the room, late herself before raising a hand in some form of greeting before she plopped herself wordlessly down on the ground, flicking her legs up into the air before letting them slam back down onto the ground.

There wasn't a reason why she was late. Or at least not an excuse. It wasn't like she fell asleep, or lost track of time. She had just walked here. Taking things at her own pace instead of running herself ragged. Her eyes darted over towards the two other Padawans in the room before looking over towards Aiden, letting out a small sigh.

"Yeah. Sorry for bein' late. Don't got an excuse."

And with that, she just laid down on the ground, staring up at the ceiling as Reina was waiting for the class to start. Drumming her fingers along her waist in thought as she turned her eyes over towards her hip for a moment at where the sword she wielded was. Not her lightsaber. She still hadn't taken it back from Colette. It still wasn't something Reina thought she deserved as of yet. No. She hadn't proven that she had the strength. But the fact that Reina was even in this class was a sign that she was healing. Immersing herself amongst other people of her own accord, instead of being surprised with a gathering.

Spoiler: OOC Notes

: Means written/typed communication : < Means Sign Language communication >

 

[Aiden Porte]

Feng Huang Aileni Ifor Xeraic Reina Daival
​

Aiden had already sensed her long before she entered not her steps, but the turbulence beneath them. The tremor of someone carrying weight, trying not to let it show. He remained seated where he was, centered in quiet meditation at the heart of the training chamber, but when Feng's presence reached the doorway, he opened his eyes.

"Feng." he greeted, his voice warm but even, "I'm glad you came."

The formal bow that followed made his expression soften further. There was respect in it and perhaps uncertainty, too. He took a few steps forward from where he was, and inclined his head in turn, returning the gesture but never overpowering it.

"There's no need for titles here." Aiden said gently. "Not today." He gestured around them, where faint shafts of sunlight filtered through tall windows, glinting off the faint shimmer of the Force he'd drawn into the space. "You're among friends. The lesson is only beginning."

Aiden turned slightly as Aileni entered, his calm gaze shifting toward the young Dathomiri. He felt the faint ripple of fatigue beneath Aileni's practiced composure a trace of exhaustion wrapped in discipline. The words, polite and measured, carried just enough truth to satisfy the letter of honesty if not its full spirit.

"Aileni, I'm glad you made it." Aiden replied gently, a note of understanding threading his tone. "Remember not to overwork yourself my friend." There was no censure, only quiet acknowledgment, the kind that came from experience.

It was then another showed.

Aiden glanced toward the voice, his calm expression untouched by the lateness or the blunt admission. There was no judgment in his gaze only quiet acknowledgment as Reina stretched out across the floor, her silhouette framed by the gentle morning light filtering in through the tall windows.

"You're here." he said simply, voice steady, the weight of the words more than they seemed. "That's more enough."

"We will go ahead and start, I will catch others up as they show."

He took a step closer, the hum of the Force between them calm, like a river slowed by stones. "Today, we'll work with barriers not just those of the Force, but the kind we hold within. The training will touch both." He didn't explain further yet, part of the learning was in discovery.

He paced to one side of the room, hands clasped behind his back, letting them have a moment to breathe and settle. "A barrier," he said, voice low and measured, "Can be formed in many ways. Some create it out of fear. Others out of strength, or purpose. The truest barriers, though… those drawn from the Force itself, are built on balance. They protect without consuming."

Turning, he looked towards them. "We'll start with something simple." he continued. "No rush. No pressure." His tone softened further, the Naboo lilt of his voice carrying reassurance. "I'll show you how to listen to the current that gathers when danger nears, and to the quiet strength that answers it."

He lifted one hand, palm outward. A faint pulse shimmered in the air translucent, barely visible, like a breath caught in light. "This is a barrier of intent. Not against an enemy. Not yet. It's a promise. A declaration that harm will not pass this line."

Lowering his hand. "In time, you'll feel it too not just around you, but through you. A shield is only as strong as the heart that shapes it."

He offered a small smile, patient and encouraging. "When you're ready. The Force doesn't demand perfection only presence."