Jedi Academy on Yavin IV (open to the Jedi Order, regardless of faction)

[Ashin Varanin]

OOC/ On the board where I got my start, we used to have location-based threads. A Jedi Academy thread would see writers pop in and out every other page as people pursued their own storylines, trained, met, debated, left for missions, came back from missions, sparred and socialized. If people moved on, other people pressed on or joined. The threads got long, really long, and people loved having a coherent narrative for a single location. The Jedi Academy forums still have room for one-on-one training and group training, but for anyone who just wants to RP in a Jedi Academy, here you go.

IC/ The Jedi Academy on Yavin Four was the site of Luke Skywalker's Jedi Praxeum. The Massassi temples were rebuilt long ago, and jungle surrounds the ancient stone pyramids. The Yavin system is Mandalorian territory, specifically the Rekali clan, and the Jedi consider themselves guests and act accordingly. A nearby Rekali clan village of Mandalorians and Dathomiri Witches has shops, services, and potential allies. The Rekali clan chief is a retired old Jedi Master named Ember (NPC).

The Academy is led by Headmaster Eyal M'ti (NPC), an ancient Neti. She often teaches classes on meditation, nature, healing and the Core Powers. Other frequent or occasional instructors include:

• Shule Windspeaker (PC), formerly Grandmaster Je'gan Olra'en, who focuses on lightsabre, mind, and Force senses;
• [member="Chloe Blake"] (PC), the Jedi-trained Warden of the Sky and famed explorer;
• [member="Aaralyn Gyndar"] (PC), Sword of the Jedi and skilled duellist;
• [member="Anastasia Rade"] (PC), Jedi Knight of the Mandalorian culture;
• The Twi'lek telekinesis specialist Iara Clane (NPC);
• Others (both PC and NPC - invent your own if you like) who have come to call the Academy home, or are simply passing through. These include Jal Shey, Ithorian nature priests, and Tyia Thuwisten.

The Temple Quartermaster, responsible for helping new arrivals get situated and find their way around, is a friendly Nautolan woman named Kali (NPC). She is an experienced Jedi diplomat but weak in the Force. She holds occasional classes on Niman, Form Zero, and diplomacy.

Within the Academy, Jedi have the resources to construct their own lightsabres, train in a variety of settings, select Padawans, study under Masters, and stay connected to the Jedi Order as a whole. The Jedi Order Library Cards allow communication with the Jedi Order's holocrons, which are far away and heavily secured. Secured hypercomm suites allow Jedi to learn of crises quickly, communicate with other centers of Jedi learning, and participate in meetings from far away. Libraries allow comprehensive research. Docking bays and landing fields hold personal ships and X-Wings.

The central courtyard of the Academy, a common place for training, holds a massive marble slab. On it are inscribed the words of the Jedi Code, as well as the standards laid down by the ancient Jedi after centuries of refinement and hard lessons:

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.​

​

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.​

​

Jedi serve civilization and the Force above all other allegiances.​

Jedi do not allow civilization to destroy needlessly.​

Jedi do not take revenge or nurture resentment.​

Jedi do not act for personal power or glory.​

Jedi do not use the Force for personal gain.​

Jedi respect all life, even each other.​

Jedi are united in the face of crisis.​

 

[Lina Djo]

Central courtyard.

Aella had set herself a task when she left her home planet. To learn. To understand the galaxy around her and why its inhabitants behaved the way they did. To see and understand all aspects of the force. She'd spent the first few years a vagabond, moving among pirates and smugglers and bounty hunters before approaching the Protectorate. She'd made it clear to the Lord Protector in their first meeting that she was not their to train with the force, but to hone her skills without using the force. Her choices, with regards to where she learned and who she learned from in terms of the force were her own.

The sun had barely shown its face over the horizon when Aella found herself standing before the marble slab, a slight frown creasing her forehead as she read the engraved text. The idea, that the Jedi were selfless was one that, in her experience, was greatly disputed among the lower levels of civilization. Could someone be entirely selfless? Or would there always be some selfish reason, no mater how small, behind a persons actions? Her own reasons for being here was selfish.

She wanted to learn. To understand. To truly understand, she had to explore all aspects of the force and here, was as good a place as any to start.

 

[Jorus Merrill]

The Gypsymoth settled down in the Great Temple's hangar bay, and Jorus finally allowed himself to relax. Smoke rose gently from a few exposed wires, and the viewport had a discoloration where a yorik-something-or-other had tried to take a piece out of his ride about eighty parsecs back. His heart rate slowed. After a couple of minutes, he slugged back some water and pressed Send. Not a lot of point in issuing invitations if he'd have been dead.

TO: Eyal M'ti, [member="Iella E'ron"], [member="Kana Truden"], [member="Corvus Raaf"], [member="Syn"], [member="Kian Karr"], [member="Thurion Heavenshield"], [member="Ilias Nytrau"], [member="Xander Carrick"]
FROM: General J.Q. Merrill
RE: Ribs

Esteemed Masters,

Just got back from a recon run through the Deep Core. While getting my spaceframe lightly roasted by Sith and Vong interceptors, it occurred to me that another kind of roast might be in order. I aim to land at the Jedi Praxeum on Yavin Four, and once I've gotten patched up and gotten the lay of the land, my goal is to cook some nerf ribs. A lot of nerf ribs. If any of you happen to be out this way, drop by and have a meal with me. Bring who you like.

 

[Jak Skirata]

Central Courtyard

Davin watched the stone slab, carefully reading over every word of the Jedi Code of this era of Jedi Knights. He was by no means a consumer of this Force tradition but in order to better protect those he cared for, in order to protect his vode he needed to be stronger. Stronger in mind, stronger in spirit, body and stronger in the Force. It was the Manda's gift to him in this era of crisis and chaos.

He ran a gloved hand down the side of the stone slab. Clad in his blue-stripped armor his helmet hung from his utility belt along with his other weapons and bobs. He wasn't so much of a strange sight on the planet of Yavin considering it was in Mandalorian space, but on the grounds of the Jedi Academy he felt like he stood out like a sore thumb.

The code did not sit well with him. It felt rigid compared to the culture he grew up in, but he could give it a try, at least once. He needed to try.

 

[PadawnPrawn]

Central Courtyard

Fletcher noticed the Mandalorian eyeing up the stone slab in the courtyard and narrowed his eyes. He had never seen a Mandalorian at the Academy before. He could tell that they could feel out of place. Considering the Mandolorians past allies, he wasn't instantaneously trusting in any way towards this person who was in the Jedi Academy. Though Fletcher assumed that he must be here for a reason, he didn't see a reason for him to be inside the Academy.

He pushed himself up off the wall and walked over to the Mandalorian, first seeing what he was looking at, then looking at the armour clad person. "Are you lost?" he asked the stranger, an heir of coldness in his voice.

 

[renegade solstice]

(OOC: was invited by a certain interesting Master of the SJO.. so lets see how many jedi can be antagonized. (joke))

(IC)

Ivy, one of the newer padawans of the Silvers, and most likely the only rogue jedi in existance to find herself in an uncommon affiliation with any force order, or faction. The blond haired Jedi came to Yavin four due to the behest request of the Order of the Silver Jedi to try and not only train for no apparent reason, or mingle.. somehow they might have thought this a joke, sending a darkside rogue into a world filled with a bunch of pansy irritating lightsiders. Yea its true.. she is a rogue with a serious darkside pull, but enough lightside to not fall under the dark jedi tag and also will never consider herself a grey either.

This time she left her plasma pistol at the barracks, and brought her one shotoh, the main weapon she prefers.. Previously she was given some lessons in soresu, yet her skill has yet to be refined into anything more than useless.


Her presence here most likely will be felt by the higher ranks of the jedi, and unnerving as it might be it wont radiate with intent to harm, but merely to observe and maybe seek direction.. She knows enough of the normal type of jedi to know there might be enough hostility thrown in the air once they get wind of her aura, and taint.. so she is ready to try and remain cool headed and try to not cause too much issues for their kind, besides.. she is not here to fight or make waves for them.

(OOC: the player behind this main is nervous, idk if I should be posting.. but I guess we will see. and sorry for the lame typing skills, have my own issues with perfection of writing.)

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Mallory Pryde"] was far from the first troubled or tempted student to set foot in a Jedi Academy, and this praxeum especially. Shortly after her arrival in the guest quarters, she was met by a floppy-haired man with a friendly, slightly bemused expression and the scarred hands of a career fighter.

"Padawan Pryde? I'm Master Windspeaker. Welcome to Yavin Four. Care to take a walk with me?"

 

[renegade solstice]

Watching the male jedi walk up to her she glared in suspicion and remained unmoved, this was their planet.. not hers, so as it was she would remain non-hostile just to provide for a more neutral environment, not only for herself.. but also for them.


Upon his arrival she smirked with arrogance and listened to his words, when he spoke she could tell he had experience with being a fighter.. one thing didn't sit right though. Why would a jedi have the scars of the life of a fighter?, granted jedi go to war, but the ones on his face wouldn't be battle scars, would they?


Hearing him ask to take a walk made her a little wary, last person that asked that was a security on the smugglers moon, he ended up in a pool of his own blood after trying to get frisky,, she doubted this jedi would try that, but best to be cautious anyway.
Nodding but saying nothing and remaining reserved she studied him and motioned for him to lead the way, besides.. she knows nothing of Yavin so it would be best if he lead anyway.

[member="Shule Windspeaker"]

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Mallory Pryde"]

He led her from the guest quarters into one of the courtyards, where jungle encroached on an open expanse of ancient stone. At the far side of the courtyard, Headmaster M'ti was instructing children in some kind of a telekinetic game involving pebbles. Shule took a seat on a granite bench, in the shade of a tree.

"You know," he said, "every student who comes here -- and I'm including myself and all Masters in that -- has to decide whether he or she wants to be here. What they hope to get out of it. What they want to become, and what they're willing to sacrifice to become it. What was it that brought you here, Padawan Pryde?"

 

[renegade solstice]

(Apologies Shul, forgot that when I use certain fonts on this new account I gotta edit the post and save it just for those fonts to actually appear.. its weird.)

Walking with him as they arrived to a courtyard she looked out upon it and just stared in amazement, Yavin was uniquely genuine it appears in its scenery, she sorta enjoyed it in a more unique way. Seeing him seated she found an opposite bench and sat down while listening to him.

I take it from your more relaxed nature you get some darkside padawans alot, Master? She stated and ended it with a question of who he was, granted she knew jedi often fell to the influence of the dark side but she would never have guessed they would come to Yavin Four afterward.. or would they? Apparently she still has alot to learn about the will of the force.

I guess I came for similar reasons as others.. to figure out where to focus She stated as she looked at the scenery once more, the padawans training weren't of her concern, they were secondary and beneath her notice.. not important.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Mallory Pryde"]

"You could say I teach Darksiders, from a certain point of view. Jedi who struggle with self-control, ambition, anger. I show them how to put selfishness away and find directions in life that will satisfy them." He shrugged. "I try, anyway. This is a place to grow, but look at these trees. This one here has been trimmed back where it rotted or where it shoved up against the stone. Now it's tall, healthy, and covered in fruit. This one over here, though, has just been allowed to grow whatever way it wanted. You can see how it hasn't really gotten anywhere, and its fruit is wrinkled and sour.

"The Jedi Code makes bad people good and good people better, if we let it. You probably saw the Jedi Code written on the monument when you came in here, and I'm sure you've heard it many times before. What elements of the Code would you say you appreciate best, and what elements do you struggle with as a person?"

 

[renegade solstice]

She thought it over for a moment as she watched the scenery and focused her mind on accessing the mantra's of the jedi, her thoughts resonating with trials and goals, her own inner conflict for a moment lending aid to the part of the mantra that speaks mostly to her.. allowing her mind to focus on what she actually feels alot for.

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.​

​

She echoed the mantra she felt best described her long term goals.. and then tore her attention back to the jedi master, and spoke Peace is the goal of the order in which I serve now, to defend others from those that would do them harm is the ultimate goal of most jedi, dark sided or not.. and for all life to remain they need guidance, and acknowledgement.​

​

She was uncertain if what she said was the right words, but they seemd to be the best way to describe her own feelings and goals, and then allowed her mind to trail off and be lost in thought for a moment.​

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Mallory Pryde"]

"I'd agree with that, for the most part. Just remember that there's a very large difference between walking down a dark path on purpose, and being tempted toward it. Remember, we try for serenity over passion. That's not because we feel one is inherently better than the other, at least not primarily." He tapped his temple. "It's because when you let your emotions get the better of you, the Force responds, and your behavior starts to change in ways you can't control. Pretty soon you don't want to control it. And that's when you start thinking things like 'I'm on the good side, so if I have to do bad things to win, that's what has to happen.' As Luke Skywalker said once, there may be times when the ends justify the means -- though he certainly wasn't talking about actually embracing the Dark Side on purpose -- but if you make too many of those times, you'll find you've constructed a whole philosophy of evil.

"There were once three pilots being interviewed for a job, flying bulk freighters around the Maw. Black holes and spacetime distortions -- very nasty place. The interviewer asked them how close they could get to a black hole safely. The first one was very proud of his piloting ability; he said a hundred thousand kilometres. The second one was even better, and just as proud; he said fifty thousand. The third said 'I stay as far away from black holes as I can.' Which one of them do you think got the job?"

 

[Jak Skirata]

Davin's brown eyes fell on the young Jedi rather lazily. He could taste the hostility in his voice, the distrust though if anything the Jedi were the ones who had little trust in this sector of space. In general Mandalorians had a few superstitious beliefs when it came to Force Users. To many there wasn't even a Dark or Light side to this mysterious power that seemed to permeate all things in the Galaxy. There were however Sith and Jedi and there was an observed usage of the powerful tool they coveted.

Davin grunted in response.

"Lost," he asked. "No, boy, I'm not lost." Well, not physically anyway.
[member="Fletcher Lorcan"]

 

[renegade solstice]

Listening she glared as she allowed his own words to be sifted through as if the words themselves needed to be judged and weighed upon, some of it made sense.. then the last came, and she was a little dumbfounded at first. Pressing her fingers to her chin in thought she allowed her mind to sift through the information he gave and began to tear it apart, and piece it back together.


It took several minutes to complete but she looked back at him with some confusion but also with a discernible confidence about the pilot she thought would be the more logical choice, granted she could be dead wrong.. but to her it felt right.
If I were to guess from the info you gave me about the philosophical views of the jedi, the fact the darkside embraces unnatural occurances of evil and that it only leads to ruin by your terms, then I would have to answer you on this.

She leaned on her knee and regarded him with a more casual stare If it came between using the lightside to heal a single innocent, or allowing the fuel and power of the darkside to stop the death of an entire planet.. which would be your choice? she actually chose the 3rd pilot, but some of it made little sense.. if he truly thinks the darkside is evil, then why would he be speaking to her now? or does he? there must be more to learn, more here.. more to go on, to weigh and to judge her mind raced as she wanted to figure out more. Her statement and question might seem useless to him, but it made sense to her.

[member="Shule Windspeaker"]

 

[PadawnPrawn]

Fletcher shook his head at Davin, giving him an amused smile. His strong powers in the force led him to become confident which often could be perceived as arrogance, depending on how the person wanted to look at it.
He believed that Mandalorians chose the side they thought would win and not actually what they believed in. But that was just what he thought, though he hadn't heard otherwise. He had tried to think positively of them but anything or anyone not accepting of the Jedi fully was like an enemy to him as he perceived the dark side so badly.

"Then what are you doing in our Academy?" he asked, standing directly in front of Davin by now.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

[member="Mallory Pryde"]

"It's an interesting dilemma...but it's actually what's called a false dichotomy, meaning that in most situations like that, it's not a matter of one or the other. For one thing, Jedi training shows you how to use your intellect and your instincts to find other solutions -- and instinct like that isn't available to Darksiders as a general rule. For another, the Dark Side is no stronger than the Light. And there's also the issue of what you'd become if you made the Dark Side choice once too often. But even if I was to take your situation at face value, if I had to use a specific instance of the Dark Side to save a million lives...well, here's a secret, Padawan Pryde. The Dark Side isn't just about when you get angry. The darker choice in that situation, unquestionably, would be to let millions die just so you could feel good about yourself. Evil is still evil when it's calm and feels righteous. So don't be too quick to call yourself a hardened Darksider just because you have a temper and like to hit things. I like to hit things; I have a temper. But I'm a grownup, so I keep that on a leash, and I'm a Jedi, so I refuse to let my emotions and my desires define me or control my actions.

"I should also note that I've never seen a Jedi faced with a choice that extreme. Impossible moral quandary? Absolutely. Jedi training can't let you know every time which choice is best. Jedi training is about learning to ask yourself the hard questions every time, and never letting yourself be too comfortable with the answers. Like Skywalker said, there are times when the ends justify the means, but they're rare, and hardly ever that extreme."

 

[renegade solstice]

Chuckling innerly as his statements and philosophical views were made apparent she regarded him with a cold gaze as she judged in silence about the stern views of the lightside and then weighed in with her own personal views The lightsided Jedi claim that if you fall to the influence of the darkside its due to personal weakness, the darksided sith and jedi feel that your views and lightsided ways are the actual corruption of the force.. she paused a moment to try and allow her own words to sink in, and allow her meaning to try and take a life of its own, but not influence him in any way. Besides, she wasn't here to do anything but learn.

Have you ever thought your very inability to accept the sith as a people of their own would eventually be the final error and downfall of your entire system and order? her question wasn't meant to offend, or to seem like she knows more than he does, it just is meant to see if he too owns the jedi mentality that there is to be no other order unless its of the jedi and their tainted light.

She knows some of the history of the order, and it appears to her they seem to have a twisted sense of justice, and seem to allow hatred or intolerance to run rampant in their own ranks.. besides, if they tried to tolerate each other then the centuries old war and conflict wouldn't be an issue, would it?

[member="Shule Windspeaker"]

 

[Jak Skirata]

The kid was taller than he thought. They were about the same height. Okay, so the kid was tall, tall just meant a bigger target to hit...No he wasn't here to fight, though this kid reeked of conflict. He would make a good warrior one day, if the Jedi didn't quash his fighting spirit first.

"You're here by the grace of our Mand'alor, I'd watch your tone whelp." He knew why he was here, if others felt like they needed to know why he was here, well it was none of their business. He was here for a certain Rekali and to learn what the Force was truly capable of.
[member="Fletcher Lorcan"]

 

[Kian Karr]

Kian Karr settled Dorin's Hope down on the landing pad and opened the hatch to his ship. Kian hadn't been to Yavin IV before, but when the invitation come from [member="Jorus Merrill"] to have a BBQ on the planet, Kian had been in the system. Besides, how could he turn down the such a tempting offer. Kian had no idea what Nerf ribs looked like, but he decided it was something he needed to see for himself.

Leaping down from the cockpit, Kian began to make his way toward the Temple. Kian wasn't exactly sure where he was going but he was certain he would stumble across Jorus and the others shortly. Meanwhile, as he walked he glanced around at the place. It was what you would expect at a typical Jedi Academy. Students were scurrying around trying desparately to make it classes on time. Several older students were in groups, levitating rocks and dueling.

Smiling behind his anitox mask, Kian found his mind wandering to the first time he'd come to the Jedi Academy. He had been a different person then.