Hush Now

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

"A mixture of both, those trained in the force as you called it are able to see the steps leading up. THose skilled and trained to handle the dangers will be able to ascend them and others won't even know they exist. These regions of the world, where different masters have taken up become their own realms. Passing the threshold here would take you to a very different place. There are some others, one of the guild halls functions much like a patron of children, their realm in the mountains and adults are unable to see it. Another is within the mountains and is a place or torment where those who commit heinous crimes are sent. Those who are strong and able to see these realms as considered gifted."

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel listened and wondered if her Master had the same ideas that she had. The woman’s explanation was specific and enlightening.

The fact that Sorel and Matsu could see the steps was essentially the first test. They were worthy enough to spot them and therefore ascend them. What dangers they faced when up there were another matter – but both hand endured many of the greatest challenges the galaxy had to offer. Both physical and Force related.

“Would we be permitted to see what lies above? I mean we would accept responsibility for our own safety or otherwise, but we may not get another chance to witness these realms and it would be truly fitting for your first visitors to experience all the planet has to offer – especially given we can see the steps.”

“But if there is a local law that we would transgress, we quite understand and I apologise in advance if I have offended by even raising the possibility.”

[member="Matsu Ike"]

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

"There is no law saying you can't go up there, only the ones who control it can determine the rest." Matsu was guessing that was the best they might be able to get. it wasn't exactly a yes but it wasn't a no either when she looked towards Sorel and the idea of seeing what they might discover ascending the stairs was an invaluable one for them to work with. She was motioning towards the stairs and a chance to really explore all of it here was well worth it when the jedi master started walking up the stairs. Seeing them wind around the mountain, go up until above one of the buildings was visible. The woman with them was following easily enough and walking around she knew Sorel could see plenty as the world came into view. The jungle was one thing but you could see the temple they had been at in the distance, the ocean and mountains, the city they were going towards and beyond that the ocean again. A wide open space that extended to the horizon. Other areas of the jungle were also visible where people had structures below the canopy and she could see off to the side of the building a sheer cliff going down into a gorge. The area that extended out was more like a training room with the drop off where you could see the others training. The very small hint and sight of a net there extending out got her to think about it and she focused. Seeing the reinforced metal poles and technologies to make the drop off into oblivion well it wasn't exactly a danger. It had droids and an anti gravity field to hold them suspended if they fell. She spoke looking at Sorel. "That is something I don't think I have ever seen. The illusion of danger and death to really train... for new recruits it could prove most helpful to get the point across some places don't like failure." It was also well beyond what she would want to try and she knew that if there wasn't something to motivate then people could just be lazy and if this was to train the best they wouldn't want that.

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel listened to their guide’s words. It wasn’t precisely an invitation, but it wasn’t a denial either.

And she sensed that Matsu was as keen to see what was at the top of the stairs as she was. Not curiosity so much and a willingness to learn. Teaching in the Force was always a matter that should be embraced in Sorel’s mind and she could not wait to see what lessons she could learn here that she could take back to the Silver Jedi. In her experience, you did not have to agree with an Order’s philosophy to find their teaching methods useful. Even some of the practices of the Sith were of value. Not many…but some.

Sorel followed her Master up the stairs and if nothing else, the view was worth the climb. And then she got her first glimpse of training. Her Master immediately commented. Sorel reflected on the practise. Allowing a Padawan to believe they would fall to their death if they failed was not something she was entirely sure was a good thing – even if it was just an empty outcome. It would impact their confidence in her opinion and nothing made a Padawan fail quicker than a lack of confidence. But in given situations it might well be a useful tool. Used sparingly and with specific students perhaps.

[member="Matsu Ike"]

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

Matsu looked at Sorel and as they were walking she heard voices. Seeing the others who were all around. The guide for them was taking them off to the side here. They could watch parts of it, they could hear them as an older man came out. A staff in hand that was wooden and had crystals. He seemed a lot older then the ones who were there and Matsu had a look at it. They didn't seem to be noticed but she could hear the man speaking. The jedi master couldn't hear them she couldn't see it but the older one there were showing others. Children and ones who seemed distracted for a moment. A hand indicating up towards a balcony where a small group were. Their guide spoke. "He is explaining about the strength of themselves. Showing how here trust is the foundation of their bond together. The children are the children of his students the ones who paired together. Their parents are showing they have complete trust in their master." The force energies around the place she could feel and it was stronger skills then she had expected. Matsu pointed towards the man. "He is a lot stronger then he looks, I wouldn't be surprised if those crystals in his staff channeled and focused the force letting him make the world beyond the building whatever he wanted." As she was speaking she watched as the people jumped, twisting in the air when he seemed to shout for them to do it. They were all landing and the children seemed in shocked unable to see the nets but several of the people were waiting there as they were lifted with the force from the netting and remaining there for a moment. The other groups around them. "Their resolve and dedication is important. As fighters even if they do not fight in wars they cannot allow doubt to enter their minds or hearts. My master teaching me did much the same but not like this. You can't question the other on your side, at your back or leading you will have doubts and endanger you."

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel listened and, as ever, learned. The lessons were not what she was used to but much of what she was observing made some sense.

“I can understand the point of the lesson and also the methods employed. Where I come from, we are known as Jedi. We do not protect or occupy a single planet but are seen as peacekeepers across the entire galaxy. Our philosophy is similar. The main difference, perhaps, is that ours is based upon a Code. We all follow the Code.” She chose not to mention at this point how many that called themselves Jedi chose to be selective when applying the Code. “And this dictates our actions. It is our expectation that others follow the same Code that allows us to rely upon them.”

“But the main difference, at least from my perspective, is the whole concept of trust. I trust in the Force. One hundred percent. I put my life in its hands every day and accept that it will not let me down. It has no agenda and so if I follow my instincts, I know I will do the right thing. And the Jedi to my left, right, in front and behind me will do the same. It is not that I do not trust other people, it is simply that I place all my trust in the Force. And I do so without any fear or doubt – for a lack of confidence invariably leads to failure.”

She looked at Matsu. “What is your take on trust, Master?”

[member="Matsu Ike"]

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

"That is it difficult. My trust in many has been eroded, there are a handful I really trust and I have been burned as it were because of trusting some jedi. Ones like Je'gan and Kiskla or Aleidis, Darron. They are talented jedi but they are also very selective about how they judge the code and apply it. To the point many jedi were exiled from the Republic by Kiskla which is why they became the Silver Jedi. Banding together to try and protect from her methods of demanding all jedi be loyal." She let it hang and had been one of them, worse she had been severed from the force and left to well it hadn't lasted and instead of like many of them turning away from the lightside and embracing their own ego.

"But I trust in the force completely it has only shown me that the lightside is stronger then many know and here in the galaxy it is important to make sure you find people you can trust and have you stay grounded with. Otherwise you run a dangerous risk of thinking you are above others." Matsu was still watching them and she trusted Sorel, the girl followed the lightside fo the force, allowed herself to bask in it and immersed herself in study and knowledge over seeking the easy path to be stronger then everyone else. Everythign she did was with sweat and each inch clawed to make it count for something. That she had a master who was willing to give her knowledge others wanted showed her character as she respected that power and knowledge and barely used it or flaunted it.

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel listened. Much of what she heard pre-dated her involvement with the Jedi – or more accurately happened at a time she was a Youngling and innocent to the politics that even the Jedi endure, or was a Padawan but travelling the galaxy with her Master. The names were familiar – but that is all they were to her…names.

But she understood the situation well enough. Trust and loyalty were often strange bed-fellows and were sometimes interchanged without good reason. Sorel was loyal to the Silver Order. She trusted the Force. She saw them as complementary but not the same. The Force was easy to trust because it was without motive or agenda. An Order comprised people. And people made mistakes or pressed their own cause under the banner of upholding the Code. As if life wasn’t complicated enough!

Sorel turned to face their guide. “The galaxy is complicated in a way that a single planet cannot comprehend. The way of the Jedi is to keep the peace and manage that against the will and values of a whole host of governments and races and cultures. It is not always easy – but things worth achieving rarely are.”

Then she turned to face both, “So, where is best to visit next?”

[member="Matsu Ike"]

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

Matsu was looking at Sorel as she explained it and the woman looked at her as she spoke there was something on her face though. "Yes it can be different but remember jedi, we are not simple courntry bumpkins who have not left this world. We came from worlds across the galaxy, brought here and to other planets. Then settled and found a purpose. We could have left these worlds when most of the galaxy was still trying to crawl out of their mud pits in ships that were able to decimate as the Go Nagai used them planets to levels of technology that was weaker. Instead we staye dhere and chose isolation because we had seen the galaxy and most of what it had to offer."

She was standing there but not showing anger or anything really just leading the way towards the ccity itself that was in the distance leading towards the seas. "We should head to the city. There are many aspects of our culture there you might like and being able to see some fo the guilds that roam around the world preforming tasks as well as working out to help the people using your force could be beneficial." There was also the sounds of celebration and what looked like flashes of light all around them that Matsu was interested in seeing before they moved around. THey started walking and Matsu could see more people who were roaming around.

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel listened. In part it felt like a rebuke, but Sorel reflected on what she said and she had spoken from the heart and shared only the truth. Isolation often led to perceiving the rest of society was wrong and only you are right. There is no debate and therefore no external validation.

Not that Sorel was going to say any of this. They were guests and she had no desire to upset their hosts. Nor was she going to point out that most ancient civilisations had been wiped out by less advanced ones. And being right counted for little in the galactic scheme of things.

So she smiled politely and allowed her Master to take the lead as they headed towards the city.

[member="Matsu Ike"]

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

She could feel Sorel and matsu was walking with them. Down the mountain and into the city as the stones that lined the roads between the buildings were standing tall. The people were much the same and wearing different clothing all around the city. Colors and designs that came off like a regular city until they were coming up on what had been called the guild by their guide.... and Matsu was looking at it as different beings were there. Showing their force skills as well as some of their own skills. Boards with papers and everything around as trophies were around the building and the guide brought them inside. It was like a large mess hall so that they would be all together. "This is one of the guild halls, there are many but this is one of the best. FOrce users can gather, be trained and get paid to solve problems across te continents."

 

[Sorel Crieff]

As they entered the city, Sorel felt it was more like a mainstream planet than at any time previously. Perhaps she was just growing accustomed to the way they did things around here? Or maybe it was because it was more of a bustling metropolis with a wide range of people – just like any other city. People were people at the end of the day, regardless of the planet they hailed from.

But the guild had more of a feel of a Jedi Temple – at least to Sorel. The concept of learning and collaboration was very much in tune with what she was used to in any corner of the galaxy.

Once more she had questions and she checked them off, inside her head, before asking – in case she offended again.

“Where we come from, progression in our use of the Force is designated by what can crudely be described as levels – or ranks. Do you have a similar system here?”

[member="Matsu Ike"]

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

"Yes in a manner for this." She was looking at them and went to one of the ground floor boards. "These are for everyone and are generally considered easy. Rodent problems, investigation, retrieving something that was lost or if there are some creatures." She was looking at it and showing them the details. "Then on the second floor is where more dangerous jobs are located and only those who have been able to prove themselves to be stronger. The third floor is more dangerous then that and the guildmasters have in their offices the most dangerous for only the strongest of their fighters here. Most of the ones here are just your average fighter but there are some with a great deal of skill that can make a very impressive living. With no more wars though jobs like assassinations or bounties on people from other armies, their families have become outlawed and illegal."

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel was initially surprised by the answer and had to process it a couple of times before she better understood the consequences.

But finally it made perfect sense to her. In the wider galaxy, the Jedi were constantly fighting for justice and peace and loosing so many that a constant requirement to replace and train became the way the Order was structured.

Yet here, where wars were non-existent and crime appeared to be minimal, the role of the Force user was clearly to manage day to day issues, with locating things or protecting people from wild creatures featuring highly. And so it made sense that the levels attributed to Force users was linked to the challenge faced – with the ferocity of creatures appearing to be the main criteria.

Sorel nodded when she finally understood this. “It is a model to be commended. I have often wondered what would become of people like ourselves,” she indicated her Master and herself, “If there were no more wars.”

[member="Matsu Ike"]

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

Matsu looked at Sorel as she spoke. "We would likely be in the pillow making mentality. All that time we would be able to sit and meditate in the temple would mean we'd look towards comfort to keep from going numb." She said it as a joke but if there were no wars between jedi, sith and parts of the galaxy she could see a lot of the innovations going towards improvement of quality of life and everything that they would be abel to get their hands on. Matsu was nothing if not wanting to make sure all of them had a great place to meditate and live in the temples that at least gave the jedi a chance to have semi quality food and clothing that wasn't going to rip and tear.

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel chuckled. “I have to admit, there are so many different ways to meditate, I'd gladly spend a few years investigating each one.”

“I mean I’ve looked into Alchaka and Floating Meditation and Healing Meditation and Heji Tal and Meditation of Emptiness and the Meditation of Immersion. I’m working on Serenity now and looking into Battle Meditation of course.”

“And then there’s the less obvious ones like Arch Pose and Bardottan Meditation and Ner Yan and Susheer State.” Finally, she paused, aware she was slightly breathless. She bowed by way of an apology to their host. “Sorry, I can get excited by one or two subjects and meditation is one of them for sure. Crystals is the other – as my Master will attest.”

[member="Matsu Ike"]

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

Matsu looked at Sorel with some amusement though as she was listening to the girl herself. She wanted to work on more of it Sorel stopped herself and she gave a nod of her head. Their guide was showing a few more areas and some of the others around the guild itself. Namely the leadership themselves as they were led by a guildmaster who was part of a circle of masters who reported to a singular leader that worked on the main continent and with the supreme leader. They were working on many of the things themselves. She was noting how it sounded in some ways like the order and the council even complete with a second in command who seemed different when she was there but there wasn't a lot of things. Matsu was seeing some fo the training rooms as tey had others meditating as well as a number of the people here who were around. They didn't seem to have all of the jedi training but there was a lot here. These guild halls were built like jedi temples she could see but they were able to come and go to she was guessing their own housing instead of it being here. They were coming out and she could see the ocean where an area of beach was in use by them to practice different techniques. Floating platforms and some of the places in the sand they could have it looked like sports. Their guide was going about it casual as she led them around the city showing the different shops that some of the names had been offered to the board for creatures and such. Ornate carvings from bone, exotic meats that were showing up or the scent of food on small metal rods that she could see.

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Having spoken enough for the time being, Sorel returned to being attentive and listened as they were guided further around the facility.

And as she did, she better understood how they were organised and operated. And it was interesting that, isolated from the rest of the galaxy, they formed what appeared on the surface, a largely similar structure to the Silver Order. Not identical, but close enough to cause comment.

And then they moved into the wider community – where training gave way to what appeared to be sports and finally they reached a retail section of the area where the theme appeared to be items related to creatures. Either to eat or to wear or to display it seemed.

[member="Matsu Ike"]

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

Sorel seemed interested as they were walking through and seeing everything. the Shops here were not bad but Matsu looked at her and pointed to the ones as the people were making exchanges. She didn't see credits but the whispers of the force around. Crystals in various sizes and colors themselves were there as she worked on all of it. She moved over and was looking at some of it when she spoke. "What is the standard currency here?" She hadn't thought about it, hadn't even looked beyond but they were showing many things before the guide was speaking to them. "Crystals and gemstones that are mined from caves across the planet. Different sizes can denote value and importance as the larger and stronger crystals are highly valued and there are many who can sense and find them."

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel had to supress a smile. Invariably talent attracted wealth – and she suspected that many here were unable to locate crystals but had other talents that enabled them to gain enough to spend where they needed. But typically such commodities on planets were the preserve of industry – be it precious metals, gems or rare ores. Here it appeared to be something individuals discovered and she suspected the process was Force related.

So she stepped forward and closed her eyes. She entered Force Sight and, as she suspected, she could sense all of the inorganic materials around – including the gems, but the crystals shared a Force aura. It seemed a Jedi could live very comfortably here if they wanted to do a little searching.

For Sorel the purpose of seeking a crystal was purely for her role as peace-keeper but she wondered what sort of rare or even unique crystals existed here. “Do any of the crystals have any special properties that are known?”

[member="Matsu Ike"]