Hush Now

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

Looking at her with a nod of her head while they were going now. She had a small crude map as they were being joined by their guide here on the planet and she looked much the same as she had before. The outfit and the hair but she had taken up a small dagger that could be used as they had the opened doors. "We'll head back towards the tower and investigate in the daylight itself. Easier to see if there is a trail that will show us where the creature last night went. We'll see about the tower as well, if there is an importance to it we should be able to see." Would also give them a chance to partake in some of the local culture, if this tower was part of some rite of passage or some display of power then they could likely find a way to integrate and learn more about the culture. Matsu had a small look while she was stepping outside and could see more of the places that were here. she could smell the scents of the morning itself. Freshly baking bread and everything that was here.

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel popped a new piece of fruit in her mouth and her face reflected the fact it was both sweet and sour. It was not unpleasant, just surprising. And had she known, she wouldn’t have taken such a large bite.

Taking a sip from her canteen, she rearranged her features and nodded as her Master spoke.

“Daylight is a boon, but there is every chance the creature will not leave a trail. But we can only look. And I concur, the tower appears to be the key here. There must be a reason the creature returns to it – and if we can understand that, we are closer to understanding the creature itself.”

Outside it was warm and sunny, and if Sorel had not already eaten, the smell of fresh pastries would have tempted her to try some. Instead she fished for a new piece of fruit and, after checking it was not the same as her last mouthful, she popped it in her mouth. It was the sweetest flesh she’d ever tasted.

[member="Matsu Ike"]

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

Matsu was in agreement and they were heading out towards the tower now as the streets were beginning to fill with people. From all over, with all of their different wares to set up in small shops and small chances to be able to do anything. It would serve likely only for a couple of things but the jedi master traded a few of the crystals from one of her belts compartments for small repairs and in case of damage to her lightsaber for some fo the bread and some of the teas they were selling. The different scents here for the journey out there. Bringing many more to the two jedi and seer who was coming with them to head around. She was quiet for most fo the journey out into the mountains and finally the tower was standing there letting her see up it as it went itno the morning clouds going high up. The thick pillar she could see was more white nd gold marble with carvings on it. Matsu looked at some of the parts here when she stood still and reached out with the force to sense the area around them.

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel noted the willingness to barter here. She rarely carried credits – usually just enough for a single meal – but nor had she brought with her items for trade. The hold of her ship, however, was always brimming with items for barter – or for helping out people in need. Typically she carried ship and droid parts, non-perishable medicines and foodstuffs as well as things like datapads and a small amount of alloys and crystals.

But soon they left civilisation behind and were heading into the mountains and finally back to the tower. It looked so different in the daylight, the thick pillar was mostly white and gold and shone in the early morning light.

And she sensed her Master using the Force to scan the area, so she used her natural senses to ascertain anything of use – but detected no special aromas or noises and saw nothing out of the ordinary.

[member="Matsu Ike"]

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

Matsu was looking at the Pillar and then at their guide as the woman spoke. "It was said that the strongest fighters went to the top, there they could be trianed by the different gods in the ways of your force and how to use swords made of energy. It was one fo the things that was used to combat the creatures you saw last night. Bringing light in the darkness that they can create." Matsu was listening to her and there was a benefit to going up higher if they could. They might be able to see places you could go to disappear or to hide with many more of the things. Matsu looked at Sorel and the other woman as she spoke heading over to the pillar and touched it. "Well if there was a way to fight these creatures then it might have information on them. More so then what we just looking around. It knows how to likely get away from us. here." With a look on her face though as she could find hand holds on it and was looking up.

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel listened to her Master and nodded. If there was one place they could go and ask questions, it was going to be the top of the Pillar. It was inaccessible to most and as such, would be a perfect hiding place – or somewhere you’d keep secrets.

Sorel closed her eyes and faced the Pillar. Using Force Sight, she saw it in an entirely different way. It was a typical inanimate object in many ways – it had no Force signature and due to its size and density, she could not see through it. But the glyphs around it did register an aura and when she reached out to the closest, she felt a handhold.

She opened her eyes and saw that, with her normal vision, there was nothing to see. “Force Sight,” she said softly to her Master and once again closed her lids. Then, slowly but surely she found handholds that became footholds and she began to climb the Pillar. To the naked eye, it would appear she was holding on to thin air. This was clearly the reason only some could find their way to the top.

[member="Matsu Ike"]

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

Matsu was looking at her and she could see it in the force as well as going up as she started climbing. The sun was coming through the early morning and ascending with the seer and the hand holds gave her more. THe journey upwards and going into it allowed her to look out at the mountains themselves and she dind't know how long they had been going. Even with the force to keep her muscles from being strained and herself from being tired the jedi master still had to admit that this was quite a sight to behold. Holding on one area with her hand as she got a canteen and took a sip before setting it back there with a nod of her head. She couldn't see anything up there above them just just more of the pillar as the glyphs on the stone had never seemed to repeat and she was speaking.

"So what do all fo these mean?" She said it and the seer with them had been sticking around with them and keeping pace as her outfit here was letting her get more sun and it reflected the light. "IT is a recorded history, based on the legends, these were created and each stone records more and more. The history of the world itself and all that we have done is what makes it a trial as one must ascend." They were looking at it and Matsu looked up as she squinted there for a moment with a small look on her face though as she started to climb again for several hours. The length of the day was there and it started to become twilight with dusk on the hoizon when she looked up again. A round white area with what looked like repulsor technologies to actually make it stable and the pillar going into the ends of it was visible.

Before she could see more of it until she was looking over towards Sorel where they coudl go. It allowed the three of them to go up as there was small areas t climb up and enter the large room with a look on her face. The sun was going down and she could see everything around them while standing there and was uncertain about what to do. Mid way through she had been relying on the force to focus the body and stamina so they wouldn't tire and fall or have to start again. While she knew how to levitate and fly it seemed like it would be a form of cheating to try such a thing here. Where she was uncertain about the idea of what could happen. In here ther was jars she could see while searching them and they were sealed with wax and the clay jars looked to be about her siewhen she tapped them.

Liquid sloshing around inside for them to see, the jedi masters eyes coming around to guide her as she could see stairs as well as a small collection of plants that were growing food. "Someone might be here." The seer with them was moving around and she could feel it going up their stairs. The air was much much thinner compared to the ground. Here where she could look out on the planet itself it was small, everything on the continent even when she focused and enhanced her sight seemed smaller then needed. Matsu went up the stairs looking around as she was working to control and alter her breathing just enough. Seeing everythign around here as there was a large open lookout from it she could see, a fountain in the middle of the room, areas here so the jedi master could stand around with the seer looking.

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel listened to her Master and the Seer as they climbed. There was a beautiful imagery that they quite literally ascended the history of the planet in order to reach the top. Each glyph telling a new part of the story and every climber having to travel along that story-line to reach the summit.

The climb was long and as the hours wore on, it became more challenging. Sorel ate pieces of fruit at regular intervals to refresh her and to maintain sustenance – and once or twice had to dip into the Force to replenish her energy. It was a form of Meditation she’d learned quite recently and it was definitely paying off now.

It seemed it was dusk all of a sudden – which hit home how long they’d been climbing but finally they reached a plateau and Sorel’s muscles could take a well-earned rest.

They then entered a large room and she scanned the jars without comprehending their purpose. She then spotted the stairs and followed the others up, before coming out on a further flat area, with a beautiful fountain in the centre. Sorel walked over to it, sure it was in some way important to the climb and their next steps.

[member="Matsu Ike"]

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

She was looking around at everything here and even with the light going away. Somewhere they would be able to better understand hopefully for now. She wanted to explore but her body was protesting the work that they had been doing for pretty much all day... that was something others usually didn't deal with as much. She couldn't sense anyone else out here though with the three of them before the jedi master got to see some of the other things in here with them. A small look of interest bringing her around to the wall where the seer was looking at the murals. "Anything that can help?" She was curious to see what they might be able to discover up here. "Yes maybe... there is supposed to be a guardian up here with the ultimate secret to stopping and learning how to face the creatures on the surface but I am not seeing one of them." She was showing the jedi master how the fountain held something in the center and Matsu turned motioning for Sorel to go around and check on the other side. She couldn't sense anything there either while walking.

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel was seasoned enough to know when to be on guard and when to be relaxed. The Force was letting her know to be alert, and so she was.

The mention of guardians added to her concern and she glanced at the murals, then to the Seer and then to her Master. And she continued this cycle until she was asked to circle the fountain – clearly looking for something.

But she could see nothing and wondered if there was even anything to see, or if there was a need to use the Force, or even White Current.

[member="Matsu Ike"]

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

Matsu was looking at everything there around them, a look on her face so that she could move but then it was gleaming there, in the fountain itself at the very top when the water went up and gravity was bringing it back down. It looked like a near crystal vase that just barely reflected the artificial light when Matsu was pointing to it there. Shifting her senses to catch the reflections of light with it and with the water then with the force. She could see and feel it there when she was moving around to check for traps. There dind't seem to be anyting there to attack them or looking like it was a protected area. The jedi master stayed there when she allowed the force to guide her through the area now and the sound came to her. "Watch out." It was a small being but they were fast and moved around the fountain itself before they were standing there with a staff looking at the three of them. "Been a long time since someone came up here searching... at least ones who managed to survive. Not many think to start at dawn."

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel was unsure why she was still wary but she hoped her face did not share her concern. Instead she focused on being alert and keeping her senses peeled.

Every now and then, her attention was focused on the fountain that appeared to be so beautiful and in some way drawing her in – or perhaps even lulling her into a false sense of security. Once she thought this, she avoided looking at it, but it was still a shock when, without notice, she was aware of a presence and then a small creature or person darting in amongst them. He – for she somehow assumed it was a male – carried a staff and addressed them.

She wished their decision to start at dawn was deliberate – in truth they simply wanted an early start – but it had the desired effect.

Sorel bowed to the person and straightening, she asked, “What do people usually search for?”

[member="Matsu Ike"]

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

Matsu was looking at the being who was standing there between them and the fountain now as she walked over and was curious about what they might be seeing. There are a few things that they would have to work with, she was curious what others came up here to see or find. "Most when they come up here believe that they will be able to find the ultimate power and ways to fight some fo the creatures on the surface of the planet." The being seemed amused and Matsu was not able to really tell anything. Their hair was well gone, bald shiny head in the light. Staff and remarkably featureless face that made it hard to tell if they were male or female. Same with the clothing they were baggy enough it looked like you couldn't see any features. Their voice was average and not really telling for the final thing but she moved the eyes tracked her. Feeling it down on her before the jedi master was curious.

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel listened and was intrigued. Who was foolish enough to seek ultimate power? It was not a Jedi trait, but that didn’t mean that Jedi did not sometimes fall foul of the trap.

But seeking a way to counter the creatures she had faced was a sensible approach and she could better relate to this request.

As she listened, Sorel wondered who it was they were addressing. Their features were so ambiguous that they could be speaking to a man or a woman. What she was sure of was that they were addressing the one thing they wanted to – and therefore trusted.

Immediately Sorel wondered if what was in front of them was the creature from last night. Before it had not had any leverage to truly entice them in, but up here and given their climb, it could easily be playing on their needs and fooling them.

Sorel had no way of sharing this with her Master but she knew Matsu well enough to be sure that she would not be easily fooled. But Sorel’s guard was up and she was keen to press the point.

“May I ask some things about you. Your name, how long you’ve been here, the things you’ve seen.” And all the while Sorel accessed the Force, keen to tell if the person in front of her had a similar aura to the creature they encountered the previous night.

[member="Matsu Ike"]

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

The creature... person thing was looking at them both and spoke. "You are trying to figure things out but I can tell you that most beings on the planet don't actually know about my species.... not anymore at least. We haven't been among them for tens of thousands of years." They were walking around to present a few things so that they would be able to see some of the other parts of it. Walking there when they sat down to present a few places where they could sit. "What you came up here for was information, yes, about how to stop or overpower the creatures on the planet below?" He seemed to be looking at them more before cross arms and the staff was there before Matsu found a small place she could sit down but remained careful. "Yes, in a manner. We didn't really know what might be up here but we were wanting to investigate these creatures whatever they are." He still hadn't given his name or her name or whatever it might be when tryign to figure it all out. "Ah honesty is helpful but there is only so much information that can be given without passing the trials that most warriors face when they come up here."

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel listened but remained wary. It seemed to be a new trait of hers and she knew she would have to understand what the cause was. But not right now.

Instead she listened to the person that was talking and everything they said was plausible and so she allowed the conversation to flow and did not interject.

When the dialogue appeared to have finished, Sorel spoke up. “We seek knowledge to help the people of this region, and so if a trial is necessary to learn that information, we should embrace the need.”

[member="Matsu Ike"]

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

Matsu gave a nod fo her head to that, if they needed to face a trial to help the people then that is what they would have to do. "OH do you believe it is just like that? The trials are meant for those worthy, you have come up here. The last one who came up here waited three hundred years before he was allowed to face the trails for a chance." The being said it while leading them and the staff had a small hook before grabbing the object from the fountain's top. It was a pearl jar with crystals on it where it caught and reflected the water. With everything they had going now she could get some interest in learning about it and imagined that was part of the trials.. maybe or it was something important. The guardian had appeared when they were looking at it. "Up here there is many things but it is lonely just a small lookout that allows one to see the world. It is also very quiet and peaceful just me and the birds when they get up here."

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel resisted the urge to frown. She wasn’t sure if they were being toyed with. Three hundred years to wait for the chance to perform the trials? Why mention them if they were unattainable?

And then Sorel noticed what the guardian was doing. Although they sensed the fountain was pivotal, they’d sensed nothing about it and so she was surprised when he reached into it with his staff and removed a jar covered with crystals. Of course it had been perfectly camouflaged, but she was disappointed she hadn’t noticed it.

She took a deep breath and calmed her mind. It would be easy to become frustrated right now, the guardian was clearly used to a different timeframe to Sorel and she knew she had to accept their ways if the Jedi were to accomplish anything. So she let him talk and awaited a sign that things could be progressing in one direction or another.

[member="Matsu Ike"]

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

Matsu was looking at Sorel and she had a fe ideas, hearing out about how long it could take to get a chance was surprising but she was also recalling that for the people here on the planet longer lives where tey could train and be around were a blink of an eye. Compared with some of the other species she knew while walking with Sorel and following as they were in a larger area. Different things being seen above here where they had a railing so she could look down. Seeing Sorel who seemed to think about it as she spoke. "In the terms of the beings on this world. I imagine three hundred years is the blink of an eye and can teach patience." She was uncertain about it though but they were up here on the look out where there were trees, small gardens and a building that she would be able to see. "Looks cozy."

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel nodded at her Master’s words. She took mortality at face value and accepted her time alive was limited by her species. Others, she knew, could live not for decades but centuries and she wondered how much knowledge it was possible to amass in that timeframe – or if the mind’s capacity for information was finite and you reached a plateau and simply remained static, at best replacing old information with new.

But she brought her mind back to the here and now. “Patience is a virtue as they say. We teach our Younglings and Padawans that fact every day. So we may not have three centuries available, but in my compressed timespan, I will wait an appropriate time if that is what it takes.”

[member="Matsu Ike"]