Private Ice and Kyber does not a drink make

[Caltin Vanagor]

REDEMPTION IS NEVER OUT OF REACH...​

Location: Silver Rest flightline​

Equipment: Conservator(Lightsaber)​

Companion: Astromech R01R - "Roller"​

Tag: Desbre Gensan Aveline Cuiléin Jorah zos Darnus Irridia Solensis Tom Kovack Sarah Candor Kuxirra Tano-Bonteri​

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The morning sun slowly rose over the horizon of the Silver Rest Temple on Kashyyk, Caltin had been up for hours. This was not because he had trouble sleeping like he did when he was younger but because at the last minute it was decided that he make a “class trip” of Padawans, not just his own. The big guy did not really mind that more would come, not at all, but finding out more than six hours ago would have been nice.

Telle est la vie

What the frell did I just say?

That was going to be something he would dwell on for a while, but that was for another time. Standing on the ramp of the “Starlight Sentinel”, the big guy had a huge mug of caf in his hand.

Dant you, Spark.

Chuckling to himself, the massive Jedi Master jokingly cursed the existence of the Master who got him “hooked” on this stuff. There were refreshments and food for anyone that was hungry, he always prepared, and usually ended up eating it himself. Everything was ready to go for the long trip to Ilum, Caltin knew a few secluded places to land that would not draw attention. The speeder was a snug fit at the roof, but large enough to carry everyone once they were on the ground.

The big guy hadn’t been to Ilum in a long time (not just the time on ice, but personally) the trip should go off without a hitch, he already did his due diligence and looked up the current status of the planet. The thing is, every time the guy had everything lined up, the other shoe dropped.

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[Desbre Gensan]

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Location: Onboard​

Equipment: Simple Jedi Robes, inherited lightsaber, light-filtering lenses​

Tag: Caltin Vanagor​

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Des was already on-site and helping with preparations. She'd given the ship a captain's walk-around, inspecting fittings, looking for seal leaks on the outside then followed into the interior. Satisfied things were in order, she'd checked over the speeder he'd brought too, and then helped with the meal prep. She worked in silence. It was just after Tol Amn, they'd been rotated back to the Silver Rest. She could still taste the bacta on her breath, and she wasn't entirely sure she'd gotten it all out of her hair.

After checking on Caltin, she'd hardly said a word. Her head pounded and her jaw ached from how tight it was set. She'd been looking forward to going to Illum. She should have been excited. In some ways she was. But in truth, her mind was still at Tol Amn.

She moved about in a fresh uniform and robe, and like most Jedi attire, they were weather-adaptive. She wouldn't need as much cold protection thanks to her Arkanian heritage. And it would be a good chance to practice Tapas while she was out there, rather than standing in the mess hall freezers in a soaking uniform at the Rest. But a fresh change of clothes and a good long shower did nothing to hide the dark circles around her eyes or ease the tension in her neck or head. Or stop her from wearing her shoulders for earrings.

​

 

[Kuxirra Tano-Bonteri]

Kuxirra looked around, still nervous about the trip. She looked at Caltin Vanagor . "Master, what should I expect? My parents didn't really tell me about this..." She fidgeted with her parka sleeve, though it was the trip she was referring to, not the garment. "Unless...that's the point? We don't know what to expect?" The Togruta sighed. "Or should I wait for you to explain it to everyone?"

 

[Jorah zos Darnus]

It seemed that he was trading one soulless contraption for another.

Disembarking from the shuttle that had arrived at Kashyyyk from Alaris Prime, the young Nightbrother gave a sigh of relief that drank deeply of the smell of the forest. The planet of the Wookiees was a vibrant world, rich with the blessings of the spirits.

Space was a cold void. He did not feel the communion of either the living or the dead among its stars. To travel in space seemed unnatural. Or, at least, at a distance from the natural. From what he had been told to expect, this sacred pilgrimage of the Jedi crystal was a long one. The journey aboard a vessel of metal across the endless void was not one that he was particularly looking forward to.

But, even if he could not commune with the spirits, perhaps he could still find a way to make the time useful. In the satchel he carried, which contained his parka, the boy had also brought a copy of Wild Power. It was one of their religious texts that dated to before the founding of the Mistwalker Clan, before the exile from Dathomir. So far as he knew, no complete copy existed. Merely excerpts. Scraps pulled together to form a book from out of the pages that survived along with those who had successfully escaped the Clone Wars massacre.

The rancor tooth talisman was around his neck, though he did not imagine he would be using its magic if this planet of the Jedi crystal lived up to its reputation. Instead, the boy had fashioned a totem of elements. Specifically, a totem of fire. It was a sacred icon carved with the Dathomirian runic symbol for the spirit whose blessing he had sought.

Without the ability to use the Force as the Jedi did, this would allow the witch-boy the closest that he could arrive to duplicating the ability of the Jedi to regulate their body temperatures in cold environments. Something he had witnessed on Kattada, and been unprepared for. Tapas was their name for it. And, like all Jedi magic, it was frustrating how they all seemed to invoke its power without spell casting.

Crossing over to the ship that would ferry them to this... Ilum, the Nightbrother gave a bow. Were he Jedi, that probably would have acknowledged Caltin Vanagor before the others. However, the systematic sexism of Jorah's upbringing was a tad more ingrained that his exposure to the Jedi. Instead, he bowed first to Desbre Gensan . He knew her from Deneba. She was a warrior. Thus, the ranking female in his mind.

The second female was a Togruta that Jorah had not met ( Kuxirra Tano-Bonteri ). When he had straightened up from his first bow, his second was to honor her. "Tashi dalek," the youth intoned meekly, slipping into his native Dathomirian for the customary greeting. Switching to his second language, he spoke Basic and said, "I am Jorah of the WItches of Dathomir."

That left Master Vanagor as the final recipient of the Nightbrother's quiet greeting. As he bowed a third time, to honor the Master Jedi, it may have been thought that the best was saved for last. The reality was that, on Alaris Prime, women were first and men were second.

Even with the awkwardness of being around the Jedi, Jorah was looking forward to this opportunity. He'd briefly been able to commune with a Jedi crystal during the training with the so called light-saber.

The opportunity to observe a Jedi pilgrimage and perhaps connect with the spirit of such a crystal in the wild would be an excellent opportunity to try and better understand the magic and beliefs of these strange believers in The Force.

 

[Desbre Gensan]

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Location: Landing area, Silver Rest, Kashyyyk.​

Equipment: Simple Jedi Robes, inherited lightsaber, light-filtering lenses, aquata breather, Hush-style comlink, energy pills, food/nutrient pills​

Tag: Kuxirra Tano-Bonteri | Jorah zos Darnus | Caltin Vanagor​

​

Hearing and feeling the shuttle arrive nearby, Des made her way out from the ship's interior. Her robes made in colors of whites, grays, and blues stood out.

The trees and jungle areas of Kashyyyk and the Silver Rest afforded her shade, but, out on the landing platform, there was no cover. She was forced to slip her light-damping lenses into place. It was there she noticed the rail-thin Togruta who was only a couple centimeters taller than herself. Des hadn't seen many of that particular species, but they were immediately recognizable. As she looked the girl over she found her mind going back in history. Jedi history. This one put her in mind of Ahsoka Tano, a legendary figure from almost a millennia ago. Brash and hotheaded, overconfident. But, she'd grown to become a great Jedi, even if she'd left the Order. Or perhaps the Order had failed her. That she'd survived The Purges was a testament to her strength in the Force and her ability. Her story was one the Arakanian identified with on many levels and gave her a measure of hope and peace.

She was hammering Caltin with questions. The Togrutan girl vibrated like a molecule in the Force with nervousness. That she understood. This was new ground, new territory. Even she didn't have all the details. This was a trip she and Caltin were primarily undertaking, and she would need to help the others. That she did not mind, but she only knew so much. But recent events at Sepan, Tol Amn, and Deneba had shown her, she didn't always need them. Making her way over to Kuxirra she inclined her chin a little. "Take a breath and ease down a bit," she admonished gently.

It was then that a more familiar figure approached, small, but welcome. Jorah at his approach and greeting her icy countenance warmed up dramatically. At his greeting, she returned the bow. "Same to you," she replied. She still had no idea what it meant, but she could only assume it was good, or at least respectful by the way he felt to her when delivered. It was hard not to reach out and hug him tight and she clearly wanted to, for anyone paying attention via Empathy. Her mind flashed back to Tol Amn, and as much as she wished he had been there, it was far too dangerous. She was glad he hadn't been. But if he had been, and hadn't made it back like... the others in Omega Squad. Behind her lenses, she had to blink furiously a few times to keep her eyes from watering too much. "You look well," she supplied. This was probably the most she'd said to any one person in a couple days.

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[Kuxirra Tano-Bonteri]

Kuxirra nodded at Desbre Gensan , acknowledging her advice. She bowed back to Jorah zos Darnus . "Kuxirra Tano-Bonteri of the Grey Jedi. What does Tashi dalek mean?"

 

[Aveline Cuiléin]

"Wait for me!" A voice familiar to at least three of those already gathered sounded. Underneath a brown duffle bag, upon which layers of thick clothes and what looked like furs were stack, stumbled a certain Padawan. Her face was hidden behind the tower she was trying to balance in her arms, only the side of her head popped out from the side to make sure she was running in the right direction.

Aveline didn't want to get left behind. Her and Des had spoken about it once, she recalled, during the downtime they had on the journey to Deneba. The thought of going out and hunt for her very own Kyber crystal had seemed like a far away dream to her then. Still, she had said that she would be there by her side, and now here she was! It was on a little bit of short notice though... And she didn't know much about Ilum other than to expect it to be really cold.

"Hi guys!" she said with a big excited grin. There were familiar faces, but also a new one in Kuxirra Tano-Bonteri . Aveline was a ray of sunshine and positivity though. Going to a new planet was always exciting, certainly in such good company as this! "Where can I drop this? Oh-" she turned and saw the Jedi Master. To be fair, he wasn't hard to miss. "Hey Calti-uhh, I mean, Master Vanagor" she corrected herself quick when she realized who she was speaking to. Was that too familiar? Hope he won't get mad, she thought to herself.

There really was no deep concerns, and she flashed the Jedi Master a big smile. She had been a little scared of him once, but once she got to know him a bit better, he struck her more as the mountain who shielded them from the harsh weather beyond the valley, rather than someone who always looked upon them with scorn and harsh judgement.

Caltin Vanagor Desbre Gensan Jorah zos Darnus Irridia Solensis Tom Kovack Sarah Candor Kuxirra Tano-Bonteri​

 

[Kuxirra Tano-Bonteri]

Kuxirra noticed Aveline Cuiléin struggling with the tower. "Need help with that?" She asked. Despite her slight frame, she was stronger than she looked and willing to help.

 

[Sarah Candor]

Sarah followed the others, she begins to wonder where the kyber crystals are and so she asks "So we're here for Kyber Crystals right? So where are they exactly?" She really wants to know because she has a feeling if she knows, she will find her crystal.

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Caltin Vanagor Desbre Gensan Jorah zos Darnus Irridia Solensis Tom Kovack Aveline Cuiléin

 

[Desbre Gensan]

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Location: On the tarmac next to the Starlight​

Equipment: Simple Jedi Robes, inherited lightsaber, light-filtering lenses, aquata breather, Hush style comlink, energy pills, food/nutrient pills​

Tag: Aveline Cuiléin | Caltin Vanagor | Kuxirra Tano-Bonteri | Sarah Candor | Jorah zos Darnus​

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Des turned as that familiar voice reached her pointy ears. Only to see a walking armload of gear approaching. Then Aveline poked her head around the stack. As Kuxirra asked if she needed help, Des didn't even bother to ask. One hand reached out and split the stack in half, taking it under one arm. The other arm latched onto Aveline for a moment with a tight embrace. "Glad you made it," she said to her other paddiebuddy. There was more packed into that tight little sentence than maybe Aveline could guess. So much had transpired since they'd seen each other last. What if Aveline had been there? Would she have made it, or would Des lost her too?

The silent question hit her like a sledgehammer right in the heart. Blinking rapidly she pushed that thought aside as she let go. The pale-one turned her gaze on Sarah at her question. Her expression darkened once more with a burst of annoyance. Her eyes were unreachable behind the darkening lenses she wore. The question, the way she asked smacked of impatience and entitlement. Or at least that was how she took it. Des took a breath in through her nose and then back out, letting a touch of the Force wash away her irritation as much as she could afford. "Not here, on Illum. It's a long trip there, and then a long ride back. And sub arctic temperatures when you get there. So hope you packed warm."

She glanced toward Caltin then wondering how he'd react to Aveline's less than formal greeting. What she knew of him, he didn't care much for decorum, and she didn't either. He'd probably be fine with it. But then she saw his right shoulder and the Omega Squad logo tatooed there. The look that crossed her face, while stoic on the surface was the look of someone who'd just been run through, almost. I do not need to kriffing lose my chit here. Clenching her jaw, she gave the big guy a nod as she considered getting one to match.

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[Tom Kovack]

Tom, by now used to being a little bit late to most Silver field trips, was just glad the ship hadn't left without him. He scrambled to the tarmac, his pack of supplies banging against his back as he ran, held on by only the straps on his shoulders. The fact that he was also wearing his utility belt might have seemed like overkill, but he figured he was better off too prepared than not enough.

He spotted Desbre Gensan and Caltin Vanagor waiting outside the ship, apparently greeting the Padawans as they arrived. Or taking attendance, perhaps. Tom slowed down as he approached, giving both of them a polite nod as he caught his breath.

"This is the ship to Ilum, right?" It was. "I'm Tom Kovack. Are there assigned bunks, or... Where should I go?"

Aveline Cuiléin Kuxirra Tano-Bonteri Sarah Candor Jorah zos Darnus​

 

[Caltin Vanagor]

REDEMPTION IS NEVER OUT OF REACH...​

Location: Silver Rest Flightline​

Equipment: Conservator(Lightsaber)​

Companion: Astromech R01R - "Roller"​

Tag: Desbre Gensan Aveline Cuiléin Tom Kovack Irridia Solensis Sarah Candor Kuxirra Tano-Bonteri Asher Sonata Jorah zos Darnus​

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“All the gods, all the heavens, and all the hells are within you.”

” Okay, this is getting ridiculous.”

Doing your due diligence means that you are preparing yourself for “everything”, to prepare for all possibilities, nothing outlandish but reasonable. For Caltin that meant to look up the Padawans that were coming with him and Desbre. It was traditional that if you were trained in at least “The way of the Saarlac” were you then able to go on the quest for your own lightsaber. That was his time, not this time, he got that, it was wrong in his eyes, but he got that. There were at least two that had quite literally no training whatsoever, so that would be a challenge in itself.

” Challenge accepted.”

What was bothering him was not Aveiline’s almost] informal greeting, accidents happen, he was not really concerned about the Padawans with no skills, so be it. What the massive Jedi Master was concerned about is how serious the lack of communication to Padawans was getting. He did not fault them, he did not fault anyone to be honest, but there was the concern, from one being worried about what to expect to others wanting to know where to go and what to do. He would make this into a teachable moment for Desbre, for all really because right now he was being taught as well.

Walking and waving for the Paddie Pack to follow him up to the front of the ship. It was mainly storage, but was made into a makeshift “bunk-room”. There was all that everyone needed, but clearly, this was not what the room was for, it would do everyone just fine though as the big guy made sure of that. He was still oddly silent at the moment, deep in thought, something in his mind clicked and he was pondering what it meant. There had been a lot of serious events recently that took a lot out of him, out of them all, but it meant more to continue than ever before.

Once everyone was settled and stowed away, he stood in front of the holovid map of the galaxy. Finishing his cup of caf, he looked everyone over and offered a respectful nod to each of them. Des’ was already doing a fantastic job, again, being a role model as well as a calming presence for those who needed it. He didn’t want to be this way right now, but there was something about this trip that was making him dwell on it, even more than he would previously.

Thanks for coming, we’ll be getting underway for Ilum in a few minutes, just waiting on one or two more. The trip should be simple enough, but it is going to be seriously cold, so if you do not feel that you have packed warm enough, let my astromech "Roller" know, and arrangements will be made for warm clothes to be brought out quickly. As for what to expect, we will get to that when we get to the planet, just relax, get to know each other, and enjoy the ride. If you have any questions feel free and ask either myself, Desbre, or my astromech “Roller”. In the meantime, I want you to consider these words and their meaning. “All the gods, all the heavens, and all the hell are within you.”

With that, the big guy went back to taking in the rising sun, but not before clarifying one thing with someone privately in their mind through the Force.

~"By the way Tom, we've met in the saber training class."~

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[Kuxirra Tano-Bonteri]

Kuxirra sat down to meditate, unsure what else to do. She had made sure to pack warmly, and wore warmer clothes then she usually did.

 

[Jorah zos Darnus]

"Kuxirra Tano-Bonteri of the Grey Jedi."

Gray. Not Silver? Tilting his head to one side, the Dathomiri boy was caught off-guard somewhat by the introduction. Kuxirra Tano-Bonteri 's question, however, was one that one both easy and also difficult to answer.

Nothing ever completely transferred in whole between translations. What did his offered greeting mean? It served a similar function to the Basic hello, but it was more a blessing than a salutation. So to simply answer that it was how his people said hello would seem an inaccurate translation. One that might capture function, but not context.

"It is Dathomirian," the Nightbrother explained, before adding, "It is how my people greet one another." None of which was inaccurate, but neither did it really answer her question. But perhaps it was enough of a response for now. He was not sure he was qualified to truly translate it into Basic. There were many words in the common language that he was still familiarizing himself with.

They were joined by two more. Another woman and a male, the latter of which Jorah thought he may have seen in one of the temple trainings. The other was not familiar to him. And, of course, there was Aveline. A Jedi he had shared several experiences with to this point.

Master Caltin Vanagor led the group into the ship, showing them where they would be berthing for the voyage. Selecting one of the bunks, the boy set his satchel down. It seemed that people were gathering around a holo-map, where Master Vanagor addressed the group. The comment about serious cold prompted the boy to reach into his pocket to verify that the fire totem was still in his pocket.

These star ships were cold enough. He definitely had no plans to wander around a world of ice and snow without a fire spirit to warm him.

“All the gods, all the heavens, and all the hell are within you.”

Opening the book that he carried, the Dathomirian produced a rather antiquated stylus, which he used to write in the margins of the book. It was a habit of his, which made studying easier. Plus, most of his books were hand-me-downs from his sister, so they already contained notations.

All the gods, all the heavens, and all the hell are within you. After he had written down the statement, the Dathomirian stared at what he had written. The concept of gods was certainly one he understood well. The Dathomirians believed in elder gods. They were the source of all magic

Heaven and hell. These were harder concepts to conceptualize. Particularly as Jorah stared at them and wondered what Dathomirian word might take their place. "Am'eno kosta zirs'la, sino meni qe res terhan," the boy murmured softly.

God is in her heaven, all is right with the world.

Desbre Gensan Aveline Cuiléin Tom Kovack Sarah Candor​

 

[Tom Kovack]

Venturing near one of the makeshift bunks, Tom removed his backpack, setting it on the bed. No sooner had he done so, he heard Caltin Vanagor 's voice in his head, much like he had during his first lightsaber training session. Weird. Did he do that to everyone?

"I knew that," he replied out loud to the Master's telepathic remark. "I just figured... you might not remember me. Most people don't. Lot of names and faces to keep track of among the Jedi..."

He trailed off, realizing that the people around him hadn't heard Caltin's message, and to them he seemed to be talking to himself. Besides, he didn't want to sound ill-mannered or self-deprecating. On the contrary, he liked being a wallflower that blended in with the background, easy to forget or overlook. It drew attention away from his generally poor performance as a Jedi Padawan.

“All the gods, all the heavens, and all the hells are within you.”

Since they were going to be heading to Ilum to retrieve their lightsaber crystals, Tom supposed the Joseph Campbell quotation was meant to refer to the crystal in some way. Although that still didn't make much sense. All the gods, all the heavens, and all the hells are within you...

He looked around at his fellow Padawans. Jorah zos Darnus was scribbling notes in a book, while Kuxirra Tano-Bonteri meditated. The Dathomirian muttered a phrase in his own language - Tom actually understood the latter half of the statement, although to him it sounded like "all be right with the planet", a rough translation to say the least. Shrugging, Tom decided to go for it.

"Anybody got any idea what that phrase means?" he asked the others. "'Cause I'm stumped."

Desbre Gensan Sarah Candor Aveline Cuiléin​

 

[Desbre Gensan]

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Location: Inside the ship​

Equipment: Simple Jedi Robes, inherited lightsaber, light-filtering lenses​

Tag: Caltin Vanagor | Aveline Cuiléin | Tom Kovack | Sarah Candor | Kuxirra Tano-Bonteri | Jorah zos Darnus | Asher Sonata | Irridia Solensis​

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Des looked to Tom as she sat Aveline's stuff on the bunk below hers where her pack already rested. "Your focus determines your reality," she said. "You create the experiences reflected back to you by the Universe and the Force. It speaks to the power to choose. Choosing Light or Dark. Heaven or hell. It's not as much a spiritual thing as it is... what kind of experience do you want to create for yourself, and for others. You become what you focus on," she said after a moment of reflection. Her shoulders drooped a little. She supposed those words were meant as much for the others as it was for her. But it was also a reminder of Tol Amn. Bartleby had those words on his assault pack. She knew that from reading the A.R.R.s (After-action reports)

She looked at Caltin for a moment, pursing her lips before nodding mostly to herself. Des spent most of her recovery reviewing the events in that cursed swamp, and try as she might she could find no real fault with her actions. She should have been farther from the waterline. But that wouldn't alter the outcome. If she went here instead of there, others would have perished. There were no right or wrong answers, and she'd answered to the best of her ability. Possibly the ability of any Jedi Knight. In her mind, she knew it, but her heart ached anyway. She'd gotten them out. But it seemed that the only number that mattered... was how many she lost. But she couldn't afford to think like that. Not if she wanted to push forward. For in that way lie madness, darkness, and despair.

She'd already looked into that mirror once. It's crushing gaze stared back. And she'd almost lost the first time.

Her mind went back to just after Sepan, and the conversation at the Rest, the day she'd agreed to apprentice with Caltin. They'd had a similar discussion. It was still hard to accept. But she'd saved lives. Not as many that day, but perhaps extremely important ones. The Omegas, while having to do some very dirty, tough jobs, were a force for good, for the Light. Saving what she could must be a victory. And they could continue to push back the dark just that much longer. Save more lives. Even if she only saved one. Even if she only just saved one.

And those men, dangerous, quiet professionals had given their lives to save her and Caltin. The last thing she should do is wallow in it. They had returned to the Force so that she might help others, push back that dark. If they were meant to carry on, they would have.

The vice around her soul eased as she stood there, reflecting, her head resting against the side of the bunk. If her grandmother, Karlize, hadn't passed on she might well be dead. Certainly, she would still be on Arkania if she was alive. Sending her away was the best thing Holward, her grandfather, could have done. Maybe the hatred she had seen had been something else. A silent goodbye, and not one he truly wanted to say but needed to harden his heart, trying to be strong for her. Had she been wrong in her assessment?

There was nothing she could do about it right now. Wiping her eyes, she straightened up, squaring her shoulders. Stepping back a half meter she leaped, vaulting up onto her rack, and twisted to sit, landing cross-legged. Reaching into her pack she fished out a large-screened datapad and fished out a stylus. After a few moments, she began to ... draw? It seemed so, as it was unlike writing. Though what would take shape was anyone's guess for the moment. "Who else are we expecting," she asked out loud, seemingly to the datapad but it was meant for Master Vanagor.

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[Asher Sonata]

"You're wrong..."​

It was a bold move, but Asher had been listening to some of the things that were being said over the last minute or so, the boy wearing the digital snow camouflage coat which boasted a hood with a fur interior, blue-grey military fatigue leggings and what appeared to be a serrated vibro chakram hanging at his hip. The open coat revealed a primal necklace of predator teeth, a single fang from both Anakkona and Kkorrwrot while a string of Katarn teeth donned the rest of the tribal necklace. His stance was confident, cocky but most of all, calm. Asher was happy to finally be out of hospitals away from psychologists and prying mental institutions. A mission to illum to look for a light-saber crystal was something kids dreamed about, but, it solidified all of the work that he had done to get this far, least of all was being minded by Jedi Knights. ​

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"All the Gods, all the heavens and all the hells are within you, right? You're wrong..." Asher couldn't help but give off a slight chuckle. He wanted to enter this group with a bang, stepping forward to confront the, Padawan? Young Knight? He couldn't tell, every face here was new to him for the most part making him have to judge by demenor alone as the boy until now had been trained and minded somewhat closely by a close inner circle. His skills with the force were already cultured since he was young by his parents, but learning the philosophy of the Jedi was what he had really thrived on for the past six months since he had been rescued from the shadowlands. His eyes betrayed the sly look he was giving as he would move to elaborate on his position. "I'll happily tell you why, if it was a matter of choice, the wording would say something like 'can be within you' or 'can be seen within you,' 'may find rest within you.' But that's not what the master said, they are within us... as in already. therefore there's no choice to be made. The sentence speaks to the unfathomable potential for what we already are, what we are all capable of doing, what circumstances can push us to become if we slip for but a flicker of a moment."​

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"And the grand weight of the responsibility that comes along with it." Asher would look to the master, not searching for a confirmation or a denial, simply bowing and holding up a data-pad which would show his clearance from both his medical ward as well as from his psychologist. The clear would signal that he had not had an episode in the last three days, a personal record for Asher considering everything the kid had been through, the fact he would ever sleep again was something of a personal miracle. Asher would turn to the group with the intent of introducing himself. "Hi! It's a pleasure to meet you all, I'm Asher." He would proclaim proudly, posturing to the others with a respectful bow, but raising to give Desbre another sly smile. ​

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But shortly after the confident child would fall into line, hearing out their master if there was anything else to add. Though, it wouldn't take an empath to know that there was something hidden behind the faux veneer of self assuredness which clung to Asher as a desperate mask. The kid needed some wins, wounded animal syndrome was running high in the persona that was Asher, he sought validation, to prove himself in the few areas that he was good at, philosophy and inward thinking happened to be two of them thanks to the history had had as an ascetic hermit who lived in the middle of nowhere. This he was good at, the debate, the back and forth the world of wisdom over intellectual thought.

Tag: Caltin Vanagor | Aveline Cuiléin | Tom Kovack | Sarah Candor | Kuxirra Tano-Bonteri | Jorah zos Darnus | Irridia Solensis | Desbre Gensan ​

 

[Caltin Vanagor]

REDEMPTION IS NEVER OUT OF REACH...​

Location: Silver Rest Flightline​

Equipment: Conservator(Lightsaber)​

Starship: Starlight Sentinel​

Companion: Astromech R01R - "Roller"​

Tag: Desbre Gensan Asher Sonata Aveline Cuiléin Jorah zos Darnus Irridia Solensis Tom Kovack Sarah Candor Kuxirra Tano-Bonteri​

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Caltin was not going to give his take on the subject of the quote right away. In fact, he was going to wait until after they were on their way back from the iceball that is Ilum, there really was no need to do otherwise as it was not something that should take their focus away from what was ahead of them. Then the new Padawan sauntered in, Asher. He had never met the kid, but the old Caltin would have wanted to punch him, now, the big guy just let the kid ma… wait. Listening to what he had to say, the massive Jedi Master was glad that he waited. This was a good segway, and Irridia was on her way up anyway. She was able to hear him from where he was at.

Actually, she’s right. You both are. You all are, each and every one of you with whatever kind of answer you might come up with is right. “All the gods, all the heavens, and all the hells are within you.” Is not some kind of rule that you need to live by, it is not some mantra that is in the texts. It is little more than words, and how you look at it is up to you. Your choices do determine your life, but your capabilities enable you, your heritage guides you, but your community drives you.

Shifting his weight and cracking his neck, the big guy waved the incoming Padawan further in as he continued to speak. His words were calm and intuitive but there was a sense of pride in them. As if they were something ingrained in his own being, not something that he read in some text.

Look at it this way, we are Jedi, yes, but we are sentients first. That means that you have to trust in yourself, if you feel what you are doing is the best option for you, then it is. There is no magical rule that will destroy you if you choose otherwise. This is not to say that you should be carefree and suddenly choose to be the type that would have to be carried out of a cantina at closing time and such, but that in order to have the respect of others you have to be honest with yourself.

Looking at the different variations of the Jedi Code, the traditional:

There is no emotion, there is peace.
There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.
There is no passion, there is serenity.
There is no chaos, there is harmony.
There is no death, there is the Force.


As well as the variant next to it:

Emotion, yet peace.
Ignorance, yet knowledge.
Passion, yet serenity.
Chaos, yet harmony.
Death, yet the Force.


As well as the one infamous Jedi’s code:

Jedi are the guardians of peace in the galaxy.
Jedi use their powers to defend and to protect.
Jedi respect all life, in any form.
Jedi serve others rather than ruling over them, for the good of the galaxy.
Jedi seek to improve themselves through knowledge and training

And finally below them all, the Jedi Oath:

"I, ___________, do swear on my honor, and on the faith of the brotherhood of knights, to use the Force only for good, denying, turning always from the Dark Side; to dedicate my life to the cause of freedom, and justice. If I should fail of this vow, my life shall be forfeit, here and hereafter."

He pondered the meaning of each of them for but a moment before remembering what they all meant to him, taking a little from each one and combining them with his own beliefs.

We have the Code, I will not recite it, or ask you to as we all know it. If you don’t, they are on that wall, different forms of it but all the same in the end. When it was first derived, it was doctrine, it was not simply a code we all lived by, it was the will of everything. Jedi HAD to follow the code word for word or any trust and credibility in them was lost. There are Jedi who believes that the mandate to follow the code to the letter was the basis for motivations for many of the Jedi to fall to the Dark Side. They actually feared what would happen for so long if they had the emotions they were meant to suppress, that when they did, there was no temperance, the emotions were embraced so recklessly that they lost who they were.

Remembering his own experiences, Darth Senestia and Balthazaar invading his mind simultaneously, the fall of Jerec, Ano, Tul. The big guy made his own choices, had his own epiphany, and even trial of faith in many respects in the days after. It was a tumultuous time for Caltin and cost him in the eyes of the Council, but it made him a better Jedi.

That was even true in my time, but I did not feel this way, I learned to accept who I was, my hell was within me and I adapted it to the very fiber of who I am. It cost me a lot of friends over time, however, it helped me as a Jedi. I learned to embrace my flaws and to accept my fears. Yes, I have fears and frankly, they motivate me to continue forward. I know, without even looking into your minds that each and every one of you do as well, whether you will admit it or not. Do not be afraid, or ashamed of this.

This is not to say that we should not follow the ways of the Light side, you do not have to hide who you are. You are all Jedi and you are going to experience emotions, we make every attempt to go into each situation without them but it will happen. Jedi have attachments even if not in family and loved ones but each other. My Padawans are like family to me and I will defend them in ways that will make even the most masochistic Sith have to change their pants. I do not regret that, I do not regret anything because I am who I am, that is my heaven. Jedi get mad, we all do laughing genuinely you should have seen me in my younger days. We all have fears, we all have everything in us, accepting will relieve a weight we all have… as long as it does not control us. Letting your fears control you, your anger consumes you, that is the problem that the Code refers to in its own… unique way. Accepting who you are and paying attention to yourself in that fashion can only help you.

This is my interpretation of those words. That I am not a Jedi because I have to be. I am a Jedi because I choose to be. I do not expect this interpretation to be yours, or anyone's. The point is, be who you are.

Letting the words hang, Caltin looked at Asher as if he was telling him in a friendly but commanding way to never to walk into any room that he was in like that again before walking over to the drink machine and refilling his cup. “Roller” was gyrating around introducing itself to everyone, the droid reminded him of his old astromech, “R2-T3” in that way, crazy social. It made him smile again.

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...YOU JUST HAVE TO REACH FOR IT.

 

[Jorah zos Darnus]

The Dathomirian boy had his head down in his book, furiously scribbling as he tried to get some of this down.

Tom Kovack was first to offer his thoughts. Which were... a stump? Like a tree stump? The boy looked confused at the statement. That didn't make any sense. Stumped.

Should he have brought a Dathomirian-Galactic Basic dictionary along with him?

Luckily, Desbre Gensan spoke next and the boy was not only able to follow along, but understood her meaning quite well. Light and Dark. He had heard the Jedi speak in these terms before. It was very similar to his people's view of the Winged Goddess and the Fanged God, except that one was not necessarily better or stronger than the other. Instead, the Witches believed in maintaining a balance or harmony between the two elder gods.

Flipping back to where Jorah had written down the words heaven and hell, now he had a context for putting them into translation. Superimposing Dathomiri script above those words, he felt he was now able to follow the conversation...

...except they were wrong?

Another male spoke. A dissenting view of what Des had offered and, while Jorah was able to follow every word that was said, the man had dropped unfathomable and there quickly lost the boy again.

Un-what? Was that one word or two?

He definitely should have brought a Galactic Basic dictionary with him. This was going to drive him to look into one of those mechanical devices that the Jedi liked. The soulless bits of technology that were infuriatingly convenient for moments like this, as opposed to shuffling a book around and flipping through dog-eared pages of handwritten notes.

After this male who introduced himself as Asher Sonata had spoken, then Master Caltin Vanagor spoke again, and it seemed that both SIster Des and this male named Asher were right. Tilting his head to one side, the boy lowered the book for a moment as he listened to the man speak.

But for the fact that Caltin was a male, he would have made an excellent Nightmother. The notion of one heritage as guide and community as a driving force all resonated with the youth. It was intriguing to hear such things from a non-Dathomirian.

The invitation to examine the Jedi Code was, also, intriguing. Given that the Jedi did not worship the Force, at least not in the same way that the Witches of Dathomir worshipped the gods and spirits, then he was tempted to ask to whom the Jedi gave their oaths to? However, unlike these males who spoke freely before a woman, Jorah was not so comfortable with the females present that he would claim the same luxury.

Oddly, Des was one such female he would feel comfortable asking his question of. Perhaps if the opportunity presented itself, he would do so. She might direct him toward Master Vanagor, but Master Vanagor seemed to be a powerful Elder of the Jedi. If one of Jorah's elder Sisters bid him speak to the man, that would relieve a bit of the boy's anxiety at approaching him on his own.

The rules of Dathomirian society were so simple. The culture of the Jedi still mystified him in large part.

Particularly the men speaking so freely in front of women. If Jorah had spoken in his village as Tom or Asher had, he'd likely have been banished to the Nightmare Lands!

 

[Irridia Solensis]

Equipment: E-11D, Vibrorapier, lightsaber (in pieces)
Gear: Nearly every article of warm gear available
Muse soundtrack: Shinedown "Burning Bright"
Tag: Caltin Vanagor | Desbre Gensan | Aveline Cuiléin | Jorah zos Darnus
Tom Kovack | Sarah Candor | Kuxirra Tano-Bonteri | Asher Sonata​

"This is my interpretation of those words. That I am not a Jedi because I have to be. I am a Jedi because I choose to be. I do not expect this interpretation to be yours, or anyone's. The point is, be who you are."

Irridia slipped into the space as quietly and unobtrusively as possible, a pack on her back and a small duffel bag hanging from her left hand. There was a discussion in its nascent stages, and she was loathe to interrupt it as she did her best to stow her things in the last available spot. She'd only just returned from a trip to the Temple on Kattada and a whirlwind of training sessions with Brooke. They had gotten along absolutely wonderfully from the moment they'd met, and she fervently thanked the Force for bringing them together as Master and Padawan.

It was so comforting and energizing all at once to have someone who understood her own dual nature so well from her own experience. Irri's features bore a soft, warm smile as she put her things down and took off a few of her warm layers for the sake of comfort on the journey. A trip to Ilum for a lightsaber crystal was an important step on her Jedi journey, in spite of the fact that she wasn't going to be happy being so cold for the duration of their time planet-side. She shivered out of reflex and took a moment to fuss over her weapons, stowing them carefully in the case within her duffle bag.

Master Vanagor's words echoed in the warm space, and Irri gave them all due consideration alongside the rest of the conversation she'd caught while coming aboard. She'd not come to her path easily, given the initial journey she'd undertaken and what she'd endured at the hands of the Sith in the intervening years. But she knew with a deep, unshakable certainty that she was here because she was meant to be, and also because she wanted to be. That was a foundation that she and Brooke were building upon with their training, and it was proving as illuminating as all of her lessons had so far in her time on both Kattada and Kashyyyk.

The palm of her right hand turn upward in her lap, a small orb of water briefly popping into existence before shimmering back out again. She sighed softly, the sound barely audible as she curled her legs beneath herself. A small astromech droid trundled up to her and whirred happily in greeting, which made her smile that much brighter. "Hi there, Roller! I'm Irri. It's lovely to meet you too." she echoed softly, reaching out to gently pat the top of his dome before he was off again.

While she had an affinity for technology enough to maintain her personal items, her gifts in the Force were heavily based in healing and support, along with an odd affinity for animal friendship. Perhaps not entirely odd given her dual nature, but still a peculiar gift among the others. Pulling a datapad out of an exterior pocket of her pack, she checked over the thermal cover and adjusted it before calling up the information and reports she'd pulled about Ilum before leaving the Archives earlier.

Lifting her head, she gazed at each of the others assembled and offered each a smile by way of a non-intrusive greeting, before returning to her task of becoming more familiar with Ilum.