Private Finding Roots

[Tigris Aphra]

Outfit: Robes
Equipment: Lightsaber, Bracelet, Echo Stone
Tag: Junko Ike

Tigris had been to many worlds. But the Agora Temple, the entire valley, was like something out of a fairy tale. The magnificent size of the tree upon which they stood was a marvel itself, in that as they walked along one of its many road-like limbs she almost forgot it was a living plant. Place was an unrivaled mix of natural beauty and gorgeous Atrisian architecture.

The Atrisian style of garments and even armor of the Wukong and their students was unique, the exquisiteness of it increasing with rank, right up to the remarkable robes and adorments of the princess herself. She continued to listen as she and Fang Min described the training and activities of the temple students.

They were interrupted by a subtle shuddering of the wood beneath their feet, enough to disturb leaves that hung from a myriade of smaller branches around them. Tigris looked to the princess, and then to Grandmaster Fang, who were clearing a path for someting yet unseen. The visitor was assured whatever it was would be arriving soon.

A strange six-legged creature appeared, loping head long towards Princess Ike. It looked dangerous, with a huge gaping mouth and a multitude of teeth. But no one seemed alarmed. When it bounced around the princess like a puppy, and she reached to pet it, Tigris laughed lightly. She didn't expect to find it was a tamed beast and apparently very fond of the princess.

It seemed the giant tiger-cat was not the only creature who adored Princess Ike.

"I find it interesting, these social events to not only help the students connect to one another, but as more intimate teaching opportunites." Tigris commented, thinking back on what Fang Min had explained. Perhaps she could take that back to the NJO.

 

[Junko Ike]

Tigris Aphra

"IT is just to help them function, the same for emotional control and maturity. Too often someone tries to promote the emotional suppression or purely embracing them to the point they are influenced by any small feeling they might have." She said it as Junko was petting the large beast and finished when she looked back at Tigris with a nod of her head. Tio standing there next to her and the creature walked over with her while she looked aat the folds of skin. "You've been feeding him a lot." She said it as Fang Min looked at herr and nodded. "Not as true... he likes to eat and goes from room to room in the temple always looking for people to give him something."

Junko laughed at that as she looked at the kappa who was laying down and looking at her with its eyes slightly downcast like it was begging... a feat to be sure. "Oh you just beg everyone.... no one feeds you ever." The kappa's tail betrayed their begging and excitement though as Junko was walking. "Come along... I'll get you something." She said it when thinking about it and Fang Min walked as she spoke. "The Lord of Swans came by, he has done constructing near the shadow rivers and restoring some of the oldest areas down there.. I warned him those were abandoned for a reason but he has the invincibility of youth."

Junko laughed at that and gave a nod of her head. "He is a skilled fighter and his soldiers understand how to protect themselves. It is part of the restoration efforts and if there is danger he knows to call in reinforcements." There was a laugh and Junko looked at the woman. "Is he still?" She said it and Barca spoke from the side as the handmaiden laughed. "The prettiest man anyone has ever seen... most likely. I swearr even when he fought in the arena the dust was afraid to mess up his robes." SHe didn't say it as a bad thing... Junko just laughing. "That man will never cease to be prettier then most of us... just genetics."

 

[Tigris Aphra]

Outfit: Robes
Equipment: Lightsaber, Bracelet, Echo Stone
Tag: Junko Ike

The creature, Tio, was large and would have seemed dangerous, if it didn't behave like a puppy. It clearly loved the attention Princess Ike gave it, and it seemed it served as a sort of pet or mascot for the temple complex, as it seemed the kappa made it's rounds gathering treats and handouts from residents.

They continued to walk, Tigris walking behind the Princess and Fang Min, listening to their conversation. The visitor learned a lot simply from overhearing what Princess Ike and the others discussed. It was like an inside view to the inner workings of Atrisian life.

Especially interesting was the conversation about the man called the Lord of Swans. he sounded particularly interesting, and the lord seemed to catch the eye of the Atrisian women, even the princess.

"Excuse me, Your Highness, who is this Lord of Swans?" Tigris ask, no longer hesitant to ask questions, since the Princess had been so gracious to answer inquiries and offer information so far.

 

[Junko Ike]

Tigris Aphra

Junko turned her head for a moment and laughed. "Oh he is... well he is Mori." She thought about how best to describe him. "He manages the mountain range as the lord of the region. Is one of the few who houses the Tsura." She said it and motioned for her to be able to walk with them as the branch pathway went towards the center of the valley and the areas of the temple. The structures beginning to look more and more like a jedi temple with the rooms and areas holding various groups of children as their ages could be seen going up. Saber and force practice. Then other rooms were there as the walls were being scaled up and other force users were firing a mixture of projectiles and force energy at them.

"SHe is also a childhood friend, I used to visit him when he was in the hospital so he has managed to maintain his sunless complexion." She said it while walking as the training for the various robed students moved from children to teenagers and then there were some adults as the interior closest to the trees trunk itself. Fang Min walked into one of the rooms as it was two parts... a massive staircase that could be moved and wrapped around and then the interior rooms which resembled a library. Junko and Fan Min leading the way up towards the audience chambers. "He is also one of the more financial focused of the lords and generals."

She said it while looking around. "Credits are needed for everything and being able to make them is just as important as collecting them... so he is one of the minds behind trade deals and relief efforts. As much as stockpiles are sent to worlds in need they are usually able to help out in the future be it with ores or contracts for companies. Not to exploit them or the tragedy but they function to reboot whatever economic infrastructure remains. It rebuilds, allows us to benefit and if there are refugees they are able to go back home." Junko said it while walking up the stairs and the audience chamber was beautiful with a sunken seating area.

"Grandmaster, princess." The voice was there as someone rose up and turned around. Their cloak disappearing as a slender, girlish figure, similar in every detail to a human women... Her face was oval and beautiful in the extreme, her every feature was finely chiseled and exquisite, her eyes large and lustrous and her head surmounted by a mass of coal black, waving hair, caught loosely into a strange yet becoming coiffure. Her skin was a light golden copper color, against which the soft glowlights illuminated her cheeks and the ruby of her beautifully molded lips shone with a strangely enhancing effect. She was as destitute of clothes as the others who accompanied her; indeed, save for her highly wrought ornaments she was entirely naked, with the ornaments covering her up.

"Oh my." Junko raised an eyebrow as she was looking at her and the woman along with her own handmaidens bowed when she moved forward and bowed. The small group remained there but offered a similar bow. Fang Min bowing as she looked over the women and then was moving towards the inner doors. "When I am finished with the princess, I shall come and converse with you." There were nods and Junko was going into the inner chambers with her handmaidens and motioning for Tigres to follow when she spoke. "Ah the fun of diplomatic talks with the Kiliean Matriarchy it is never a dull moment."

 

[Tigris Aphra]

Outfit: Robes
Equipment: Lightsaber, Bracelet, Echo Stone
Tag: Junko Ike

As they walked deeper into the complex, Tigris listened to the story of the Lord of Swans. So much information had been fed to her already that day by Princess Ike and others, she wondered if she would remember even a fraction of it to share with Everest.

The surroundings began to resemble what she knew of as a jedi temple, training and classrooms, robed students milling about. But as they entered what appeared to be a library, their course altered to climb a large set of stairs. They entered a beautiful audience chamber,

A voice came from the sunken sitting area, and Tigris turned to look. She was mildly shocked. A remarkably beautiful woman stood to address the princess, her copper-toned, statuesque body nude aside from some strategically placed ornaments that covered her modesty. With her were what appeared to be the woman's own handmaidens, equally lacking clothing.

As the two groups met, Tigris bowed as well, not wanting to appear unmannered. It appeared the woman, some dignitary, had come to meet with the princess and grandmaster. Master Fang and the princess headed for some inner doors. Tigris was summoned to join them. She followed, turning to look again at the group of mostly naked women.

Everyone on Atrisia was so astoundingly beautiful, Tigris was beginning to wonder if she should bring Everst to see her homeworld at all. She laughed to herself. Tigris could hear the scolding she would get if Eve heard her talk like that.

Ah, Princess Ike inferred that the immodest visitors were Kilean, a people Tigris had read only a little about in her research.

 

[Junko Ike]

Tigris Aphra

Junko led the way inside as she closed the doors and the inner chambers were beautiful. With seats for several to sit down. Fang Min leading the way in further as she spoke. "Their visitors are trying to build a temple on the world. With most of the fighters in the civil war captured or fled they have finally started to recover." She said it as Junko nodded her head. "Yes, I went there with more relief supplies and I saw how much they were working to fix things and improve it... stabilizing the birthrate was important after the sith decimated many of the male populations on the worlds." Junko said it and found a place to sit down as she motioned for Tigris to sit as well.

"How are you enjoying the temple?" She offered a smile as Tio sat down and found a place to lounge while eying platters of smaller food that were set out in case anyone got hungry. "I hope it does not disappoint. I know it is not as grand as coruscant or some of the others. The Vatsu temple on Ruusan is equally beautiful and the Citadel or the antiquium rival it in terms of scope and scale." She said it while sitting there and took a small piece of frut as she ate it. Her other hand getting a cup as Fang Min poured out some juice for the moment and then some for herself as she bowed. "It is an endeavor to make sure the temple appeals to many."

 

[Tigris Aphra]

Outfit: Robes
Equipment: Lightsaber, Bracelet, Echo Stone
Tag: Junko Ike

Tigris followed the Princess' gesture and sat with her. She was gaining an insight to the diplomacy of Atrisia in real time, as the dignitary awaited outside for the Princess. The newly discovered Aphra woman had not yet grasped what she had learned earlier that day. That she was of a noble house. It helped explain why Princess Ike was so willing to make her visitor a part of all she did that day, though, Princess Ike had shown her hospitality and kindness even when she was known only as a padawan visiting from another order, who was far from her Atrisian heritage.


Tigris nearly laughed out loud when Princess Ike asked if the temple disappointed. Nothing could have been further from the truth. The princess named off a number of other temples that might rival, Agora, but in Tigris' mind, the temple of the Wukong was more beautiful and meaningful than any she had visited. "Oh no, your highness, Agora is the most stunning temple I have seen. It is more unique and special by far." The guest replied enthusiastically. Showing more excitement than the brooding padawan typically displayed, except to Everest.

"Everything I have seen is, well, almost overwhelming. So wonderful and amazing and intriguing." She paused, glancing at Miyoung, then back to the Princess, as if hesitant. "May I asked, with all the success and achievements here, are there...problems, troubles?" It seemed a bit naive, surely every system had their issues, but Tigris had yet to see any in Atrisia.

 

[Junko Ike]

Tigris Aphra

"There are always problems, either small or large. The constant one when it comes to Atrisia and many worlds within the Commonwealth is population and birthrate. The Sith when they came allowed one to be in charge who killed or enslaved most of the male population on several worlds. If they had been imprisoned or kept on the planets it would be one thing but he sent them to fight on a dozen other worlds usually as a shield for his other troops." She said it and sat there. "In some cases we have been able to recover... survivors and those who were either too young or too old were able to do a lot more but it was still dangerous.. the sickly survived by being hidden in remote locations."

Junko said it and sat there. She had done a lot.. she knew they had done a lot more to try and make sure things were safe. "That is the main pressing problem but it is slowly remedying itself... it will take longer maybe but as we work to improve the quality of life... families are able to rebuild as well as expend." She smiled while taking a drink. "IN the smaller scale, problems at various areas are more logistical. Some animals in ruins, a couple might go missing for a time in the desert or the mountains. The southern continent compared to much of Atrisia is still undeveloped despite thousands of attempts by many emperors and empress or corporations."

She said it and moved a hand showing the planet as she rotated it and the massive continent of Ukiyo came up. "It is considered in legends and myths to be the first continent where our people came from and from there spread out across the planet. "SHe rotated it showing the nine continents. "With other information we have gotten it seems to be where the Ancient Atrisians entered Chitai the hollowed core of the world after they were attacked. There is an entrance there and one on the other side of the planet in the northern region." She indicated where the hole looked more like a line going from the north to south.

"Covered in dark jungle with deadly creatures. It is closer to Dxun or Gallos then some other places in the galaxy. The parasites alone keep most exploration to a minimum as the water or in some places the air is filled with it. The flora will try and eat you and the Atrisians of the continent are dangerous. Even meeting with them is difficult and the few times hostile.. we only have a tentative agreement to avoid going into the jungles deeper then the coast out of respect." SHe said it and showed a small settlement. "Even being able to have that is considered dangerous as farming or fisheries are proving dangerous with the waters and land."

 

[Tigris Aphra]

Outfit: Robes
Equipment: Lightsaber, Bracelet, Echo Stone
Tag: Junko Ike

Her exposure to the wonders, beauty and advancements of Atrisia, and the welcoming hospitality of Princess Ike and painted the system as a paradise, and it certainly was an amazing place. But Tigris was astute and realistic. No world, no system, was perfect. Junko Ike's answer to her question reminded the new-found Aphra of that fact.

Tigris was reminded again of the terrible suffering the world endured under the Sith, and how the current successes are a testimony to a people who rose from oppression to reclaim their culture. And, of course, there were the day to day issues any large society dealt with.

What was curious was the comments the planet's hollow core, and the southern continentt. Her dark eyes watched as the holo-image of the globe spun to show Ukiyo. Tigris had no idea about the dangerous nature of the continent, and that there were inhabitants there, even as contact and interaction with them was perilous and difficult. It was also noted how the 'civilized' Atrisians were respectful of those living on Ukiyo, instead of simply invading them.

Tigris sipped at her drink, her eyes on the regal princess and jedi master. "I had read how terrible it was under the Sith. I should have remembered that your people...." she paused, hesitant to correct herself, "...our people, have recovered from such a dark time." Tigris wondered if it was presumptuous to make such a statement. After all, she was frozen in carbonite while 'her people' suffered under Sith rule.

 

[Junko Ike]

Tigris Aphra

"We have mostly." She said it and sat there. "Many suffer under them throughout the galaxy, we were only a small part though the offworlder sith did like to come back over and over even when he was disposed to claim he had the rite to rule." She said it but was looking at some of it for a moment... she thought it. "It is in the past though, come what may we have endeavored to improve and make sure it can't happen again. Be it from defenses to military and force might or simply from being able to endure a lot more. Our production as you saw is much laarger then others and we have only been spreading that further and further. All two hundred member worlds of the Commonwealth have the access to the technology, all have terraforming technologies for the other planets and moons within their systems." Junko clapped her hands though to that with a grin seeing Tigris while Fang Min spoke. "Though in more local problems, the mountains here provide less danger from attackers. The underground rivers and lake are dangerous to those unaware and some of the creatures that are more local. The crystal tiger in the forest is still always a threat."