Faction [Jedi] Assessment of Strength and Spirit

[Braze]

TAGS: Kaelos Vryn

Braze wore simple dark robes today—clean, freshly pressed, and tailored to allow ease of movement without sacrificing comfort. They fit well, neither too tight nor cumbersome, granting him a full range of motion. He moved soundlessly through the training halls, pausing at doorways to steal quiet glimpses of the ongoing drills and sparring sessions.

His Force signature remained tightly masked, shrunken to near nothingness. Each step was a ghostly whisper, his mastery over Force Wind bending sound itself to render him nearly undetectable. He prowled the halls like a shadow, observing the students without intrusion. The younger Padawans caught his attention first—their energy, their raw potential—but even those older than him warranted a second glance.

He lacked the imposing presence of someone like Jasper Kai'el , his shorter stature and youthful appearance allowing him to blend in rather than stand out. It was an advantage, one he wielded well. Braze wasn't here to impress; he was here to assess. To take the measure of his fellow Jedi, to see who among them had promise, who needed guidance.

And perhaps… who he could teach.

 

[Kaelos Vryn]

Location: Courscant
Tags: Braze
Equipment: N/A​

​

Assessment day.

He'd been through an assessment before in the Jedi Order, however this was different. This time he was adamant he was leaving this assessment with a new Master, he was leaving not a Jedi Initiate but a Jedi Padawan. This time he was adamant this was his time.

Kaelos had dressed simply for the assessment day. He was donned simply in a tanic tunic and some darker brown trousers. His brown boots completed the look. It was simple and not overly flashy, he wanted to set a good example to those Jedi Knights and Jedi Masters whom had gathered.

The young Jedi Initiate had arrived to the designated room early. He'd arrived nearly an hour early actually, giving himself time to warm up and meditate on the force and get himself in the zone. He was adamant he needed to pass the assessments this time and needed to impress an older Jedi and thus he needed to be at the peak of his abilities to do so.

No matter what, he was leaving as a Jedi Padawan. For too long he'd watched everyone else be taken by a Jedi Knight or a Jedi Master and now it was his turn. There was an entire galaxy out there he wanted to see, and passing the assessment day was the first step towards doing so.

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Kaelos Vryn

Braze took his time weaving through the temple corridors, pausing now and then to peer into different classes. The early hours had revealed a lone figure practicing well before the usual bustle began, but Braze had left him to his own devices, observing from afar. As the day stretched on, he found himself drawn deeper into the training halls, mingling with various Initiates and Padawans, exchanging words, insights, and the occasional spar.

Eventually, his path led him to Kaelos Vryn. Standing off to the sidelines, Braze watched as students stepped forward, one by one, demonstrating the velocities they had drilled into precision. The ebb and flow of their movements painted a picture of dedication, some more refined than others, but all shaped by discipline and persistence.

Kaelos had just finished a set when Braze approached, having observed from the periphery with quiet interest. There was an unmistakable energy in the young man's form—sharp, controlled, and relentless in its execution.

"That was impressive," Braze remarked, stepping forward. His tone was measured, yet laced with curiosity. "You seem particularly driven… Did you make a bet with one of your classmates over today's results?" A small smirk ghosted across his lips, teasing but not unkind.

​

 

[Kaelos Vryn]

Location: Courscant
Tags: Braze
Equipment: N/A​

​

He'd kept himself calm and centred in the force.

The young Jedi Initiate had gone through everything that had been drilled into him in his classes, putting his all into everything he did. He'd gotten lucky of course, he was one of the last students to preform his drills and thus had been able to study those who had gone before him.

He'd even managed to levitate the small rock without even breaking a sweat.

Kaelos had been that focused on his drills he hadn't noticed the young Jedi Knight watching them, hadn't sensed him in the force or anything. He'd been caught off guard by the young male approaching him and he'd jumped a little bit when he heard the Knight's voice.

"Not at all" he responded in answer to the Knight's question on if he had a bet with his classmates. "I have no intention of not being selected as a Padawan during this round of assessments" he stated, simply. There was no malace to his voice, just determination.

"I need to show exactly what I'm capable of, especially since Initiates younger than myself are getting selected and going off to see the galaxy. I need to show something different" he continued. "I spent hours alone in the archives studying just to give myself an advantage"

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Kaelos Vryn

He seemed to listen quietly and nod along as he heard what the boy said. "What do you think will change if you get chosen by a knight?" Braze asked curiously. "Are you hoping for a specific Knight to notice your hard work?" Braze asked. "What do you think you get from becoming a padawan that you can't already do?" He asked yet another question. "Have you thought about the future of what happens if you're never chosen?"

 

[Kaelos Vryn]

Location: Courscant
Tags: Braze
Equipment: N/A​

​

Kaelos listened as the Jedi responded to him with further questions.

He took a few moments to forumlate answers to each of the questions in his head. What would truly change? What was he hoping for? What would happen if he wasn't chosen? Well that last question wasn't even worth considering, it was something he refused to think about.

"Your first question has a twofold answer" he settled on finally. "Firstly, the ability to explore further than just Courscant and Kiffu becomes available" he continued. "Secondly, a Knight or a Master is able to offer on the field training, better than anything recieved in the Jedi Temple or self taught out of books. It's something which will allow me to continue to grow in the force".

The young Kiffar paused briefly after such an open answer. "As for your second question, no-one in particular" he offered quite simply. "Your third question, I like to think I've already answered. That field training and the further one on one development"

Shaking his head, he took a pause again before answering the final question. "Your final question isn't even worth an answer, because it's not an option. I will be chosen. I have faith in the force" he stated, determination lacing his voice.

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Kaelos Vryn

Braze was quiet, listening to Kaelos' answers. They sounded more like textbook responses—practiced, logical, the kind of thing someone would say because it sounded right. And that last answer… it held such conviction, such confidence, that it almost felt like arrogance. I will be chosen. No doubt, no hesitation. Just faith.

He hadn't even considered a specific Knight, and that made Braze wonder—what would he do if a diplomatic Knight chose him? If he never saw the battlefield? If his grand expectations of on-the-field training never came to pass?

It was something to think about.

Braze had never carried such unwavering faith in himself before he was chosen by Jasper Kai'el . But this kid didn't just believe in his own strength—he believed the Force would see him through.

His fingers tapped against his leg before he finally asked, "What do you think are your strongest and weakest attributes that would stand out?"

 

[Kaelos Vryn]

Location: Courscant
Tags: Braze
Equipment: N/A​

​

Kaelos had to pause for a moment.

He'd always been told he could sound textbook at times, and even replaying his own answers in his head it was quite apparant to him that he could. He considered for a moment changing them, or adding more to them but before he could a further question was thrown at him.

It caused him to take a second, to truly think about himself and do a deep dive. He'd never actually truly thought about his biggest strengths nor his biggest weaknesses. He'd always just gotten by. He'd never stopped to truly evaluate his own character.

"You know something, I've been so focused on achieving my goal of being taken on as a Padawan for so long I've never actually stopped to think about it" he admitted quite honestly. It was a realisation he wasn't expecting this random Jedi Knight to cause him but it wasn't one he was prepared for. "Which I suppose in of itself is a strength and a weakness. A focus to achieve goals, but at the cost of forgetting to just slow down and take in everything else going on around you" he offered finally.

"When I was young, I was recruited into the order by a Jedi no longer with us. I've been so focused on living up to his expectations of me I don't think I've ever stopped to question what happens if I don't do that, what happens if I'm not enough"

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Kaelos Vryn

Braze studied Kaelos for a long moment, letting silence stretch between them. The boy had given him a lot—more than he probably realized—but there was still something missing. His words painted a clear picture of determination, of a relentless drive toward his goal, but Braze had learned that sometimes, the most focused individuals weren't actually moving forward. They were running. Running toward something—or worse, running away.

His head tilted slightly. "What do you think your late mentor saw in you when they recruited you?" His voice was steady, even, but laced with genuine curiosity. "Was it your talent? Your drive? Something deeper?"

He let the question linger before following up. "And what happens if you don't live up to his expectations? What does failure look like to you?"

There was no judgment in his words, but his gaze was sharp. Kaelos spoke like someone who couldn't afford to fail, but failure wasn't something the universe offered as an option—it happened whether you prepared for it or not.

"You say you have faith in the Force," Braze continued, "but do you trust yourself?"

A pause. Then, softer: "Or do you only trust the idea that you'll be chosen?"

His hands folded behind his back, his tone musing but deliberate. "You've spent hours studying, working hard to stand out. But have you taken time to understand who you really are outside of your ambitions? If you weren't striving toward becoming a Padawan, if you weren't pushing yourself to be seen—then what would be left?"

And finally, the last, unspoken question, the one that would cut the deepest.

"Are these truly your ambitions?" His silver gaze met Kaelos', searching. "Or are they what you think other people want from you?"

​

 

[Kaelos Vryn]

Location: Courscant
Tags: Braze
Equipment: N/A​

​

Kaelos had to pause once again.

The young Jedi Knight had asked another round of questions towards him and again many of them caught him off guard. Now he'd been asked the questions, he was realising he'd never truly taken the time to slow down and realise exactly what he was doing. He'd been working towards one singular goal for so long he'd almost forgotten who he was as a person.

"It was potential, or so I was told" he answered the first question truthfully. The story of what led him to joining the Jedi Order at such a young age was one that he hadn't shared before and one that he still wasn't comfortable sharing again. Braze would likely notice that the young Kiffar was hiding something, his face turning somewhat sombre for a few moments.

"He told me that he saw potential in me, the way I instinctively help people before I even think about helping myself" the young boy stated after just a few moments. "He sensed the force within me, the way I used it without even knowing what it was or what I was doing. It was just that need to help people in a dire situation, it just overtook me and I did whatever I could"

Failure hadn't been an option for so long, but now this random Jedi Knight was making him question what would actually happen if he failed and he realised in that moment it was something he hadn't actually considered. "If I fail, I don't know" he responded truthfully. "If I don't make it as a Jedi, then I go and help people elsewhere. I use what I've learned to just try and make the galaxy a better place. Sometimes all it takes is one person to be a spark"

Trust was also an interesting question, and again it was a question he pondered on for a few moments. "I trust that I'll do the best with the opportunities I have" he said at last. "I trust that I'll give every option my all, because that's what I do. I'm not going to put half effort into anything, what's the point?"

As to if they were his ambitions, he nodded. "At first, I wasn't sure if these were my ambitions or if I was doing it just to keep a memory alive. The longer I've been here though? The more I've seen the positive impact a Jedi can have. These are my ambitions, it's what I want. It's what I've wanted for years"

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Kaelos Vryn

"Failure is inevitable," Braze stated plainly. "It isn't a question of if—it's a matter of when. The real test isn't avoiding it, but knowing how to recover when it happens." His tone was light, almost offhanded, but there was weight behind his words.

His jade green gaze sharpened as he studied Kaelos, considering him carefully. "I'm looking for an Initiate I can trust with a task. Someone reliable." A pause. "Do you have any further obligations today, or are you willing to assist me?"

​

 

[Kaelos Vryn]

Location: Courscant
Tags: Kaelos Vryn
Equipment: N/A​

​

The young Jedi offered a nod.

Failure was inevitable, the words hung there for a few moments. The tone was light, but there was a truth in the words. Everyone failed at some point and Kaelos had to admit the Jedi Knight was right. The real test was indeed knowing what to do when you inevitably failed.

"Provided the assessments are wrapped up, I believe that this is all that was required of me here today" he answered in relation to the question asked about further obligation. He wondered silenty what task the Jedi Knight was going to ask him to complete.

Then it dawned on him that they'd skipped an important step. "I just realised we don't even know each other's names" he said softly, with a chuckle. He didn't even know the name of the Jedi Knight who was about to give him a task. "Kaelos Vryn, Kiffar from the planet Kiffu" he added on

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Kaelos Vryn

Braze flashed a fleeting, devious smile before dipping his head in a slight bow.

"You can call me Braze," he greeted smoothly.

His reputation preceded him. From a young age, he had been known for scrapping with older Padawans and, at times, bullying the younger ones. He had practically tormented Ko Vuto when they were much younger in the creche. He was a brat from a spoiled back ground who broke the rules and ran away often... He was frequently in Oros detention hall and often seen with punitive chores around the temple when he was young.

Beyond that, his name carried weight as the student of former Council member and now Jedi Master Jasper Kai'el . Together, they had fought on Coruscant and brought in a war criminal—not all that long ago.

Nevertheless, the white-haired half-Echani smiled.

"Grand. Please come to room 573 at 1400 hours," Braze instructed. "Enjoy your lunch."

With that, he turned and padded off, leaving the other boy to let their conversation marinate. He had things to set up, after all.

​

 

[Kaelos Vryn]

Location: Courscant
Tags: Braze
Equipment: N/A​

​

Lunch took forever.

He'd taken a few minutes to decompose after his assessment and had spent a few moments in meditation. His interaction with the Jedi Knight Braze seemed to have gone extremely well and he felt like he put himself on a good footing with the boy.

Following his meditation he had wondered off to lunch, although he didn't eat much. He was oddly excited about whatever Braze was about to task him with. It was very rare a Jedi Knight tasked an initiate with anything so Kaelos was adamant he was going to put his all into it.

Following a brief lunch break, he headed back to his room and freshened up. He had some time to kill and he figured he'd try and appear somewhat put together when dealing with the young Jedi Knight. He dressed quite simply, a grey tunic and some dark pants with dark boots.

Around ten minutes before he was due to meet Braze, he headed out and made an attempt to locate the room. He took a wrong turn but corrected course soon after. He arrived with just a few moments to spare, stumbling in and taking a second to compose himself.

"So... Braze. How can I be of assistance?"

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Kaelos Vryn

The room was a conference room—plain, functional, and devoid of anything remarkable beyond its intended purpose. A long table stretched across the center, surrounded by chairs that had seen their fair share of deliberations.

Braze lounged at the table, a cup of tea cradled in one hand. Steam curled lazily from the surface, the faint scent of something earthy and spiced lingering in the air. As his guest entered, he straightened slightly, setting the cup down with a quiet clink against the table's surface.

Without a word, he slid a small black wooden box across the table. It was unmarked, nondescript—its only feature a simple latch on the front that could be undone with a single push to the side.

"Welcome," he said, his tone neutral but carrying an undercurrent of something weightier. He reached for a note card and nudged it forward.

"Take this box and deliver it to the location written on this card."

He let the instruction settle before adding, with deliberate emphasis:

"Under no circumstances—no matter what you see or hear—do not give the box to anyone."

His eyes sharpened, fixing the other person with a piercing look.

"And do not…" He leaned forward slightly, enunciating each word with quiet gravity. "I repeat. Do. Not. Open the box. Understand?"

 

[Kaelos Vryn]

Location: Courscant
Tags: Braze
Equipment: N/A​

​

Delivery boy.

He'd almost expected something more exciting than simply being used as a delivery boy. He was almost disappointed, though he did everything in his power to not show it. Whilst he was wishing for something more than just being a delivery boy, it was at least a chance to prove his use to Braze.

Kaelos heeded the young Knight's warning and nodded. "Got it, don't open the box" he confirmed. Intrigue was plaguing him, though he wasn't stupid. If the Knight had told him not to open the box, he was sure there was a reason for it.

He cast his eyes to the card and memorised the address. He pocketed the card just to be safe however. He had to admit, the potential for him to forget the address without carrying the card was quite high and so it was better to be safe than sorry and take the card with him.

The young Jedi Initiate took the box in his arms, testing the weight of it briefly before getting ready to set off on his way.

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Kaelos Vryn

Braze's expression remained composed, but there was the faintest glimmer of amusement in his eyes—perhaps at the subtle frustration flickering beneath Kaelos's carefully controlled demeanor. A test of patience, of discipline, of resisting curiosity. It was a simple task on the surface, yet one that held layers beneath it.

"Good. Just get it there in one piece," he said, his tone even, almost dismissive.

The journey would not be a short one. The destination, buried deep within the heart of the city, would require hours of foot travel. Public transport wouldn't serve him here—the location sat just beyond easy access for some one one foot, and Braze had ensured the most convenient routes were closed off in ways subtle enough to go unnoticed. A Jedi should be able to endure the monotony of a long walk, after all.

Yet the real challenge wasn't the distance.

The box was deliberately plain, almost too plain. No markings, no weighty presence to suggest what lay inside. And yet, wasn't that what made it all the more suspicious? A Jedi Knight wouldn't go through the trouble of emphasizing its secrecy without good reason.

The city pulsed around him, vibrant and alive. Streets stretched on, lined with storefronts and vendors, the tantalizing scent of roasted meats and spiced drinks lingering in the air. Occasionally, a glance would land on him—curious eyes noting the unassuming box. Did they know? Had they been watching?

Time wore on, the monotony settling in like a thick fog. Feet ached. The weight of the box, slight at first, seemed to press heavier against his arms. The thought came unbidden—wouldn't it be easier to know what he was carrying? Just a peek. Just enough to satisfy the gnawing curiosity curling at the edges of his mind.

The temptation would only grow as he neared his destination—a sleek, towering building belonging to one of the city's most renowned speeder manufacturers. Polished chrome and tinted glass reflected the skyline, an image of wealth and status. What business did a Jedi have delivering a plain black box to a place like this?

And more importantly…

What in the Force was inside?

​

 

[Kaelos Vryn]

Location: Courscant
Tags: Braze
Equipment: N/A​

​

Nothing.

The box weighed hardly anything, and that piqued the young boys interest just a little more. It was an absolutely plain box that weighed next to nothing. There was no markings on the box, nothing at all to suggest what was in the box.

Kaelos shrugged it off and headed back to his room after leaving the conference room. He collected his rucksack and some water bottles that he would need. He also took a few moments to look up his location on a map. Courscant was still pretty unfamilar to him.

It wasn't the longest walk, nor was it the shortest of walks. It was pretty much bang average, just outside of the threshold where most people start getting bored and tired. It was across the Ecumenopolis, deep in the heart of the city planet.

After a few minutes of final preparation, the young Initiate set off on his walk with box in hand. It would have been an extremely dull walk if not for his brain working overtime to try and guess what was in the box. It was really intriguing him and the walk was passing by quickly.

He'd come up with a few suggestions, though he didn't check. It had been made quite clear to him that he wasn't to check. As much as he wanted to, his instructions were to simply deliver it without losing it or having it taken off him and without opening it.

The final destination just added to the intrigue. Kaelos had to wonder what Braze was doing associating with one of the city's most renowned speeder manufacturers. It added to the intrigue of what was in that box, although again, he refused to open it.

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Kaelos Vryn

Unfortunately, by the time Kaelos reached the building, closing time had passed—thirty-seven minutes earlier, to be exact. The front entrance was locked, its sleek glass doors reflecting the dimming city lights. No receptionist sat at the front desk, no workers bustled about, and not even a single droid remained to greet him or receive the package. The building stood silent, empty, and unyielding in it's closing time... shich had already past.

It was just him and that blasted box.

The weight of it felt more pronounced now, not just in his arms but in his mind. Hours of travel, aching feet, and all for what? To arrive at a locked door? He could turn around, trek all the way back home, and return in the morning when the building reopened. That would be the logical choice, wouldn't it? There was no harm in waiting.

And yet…

The box remained, sealed and inscrutable, pressing against his patience like an itch beneath the skin. If he was meant to deliver it, why hadn't Braze ensured the timing was right? Had this been intentional? A mistake? Or was this part of some unseen test?

The night stretched on, the city's hum a steady presence around him. The temptation whispered again—he could check, just for a moment. A single glance. No one would know. Right?

But the words Braze had spoken echoed back with quiet insistence.

Do. Not. Open. The. Box.

​

 

[Kaelos Vryn]

Location: Courscant
Tags: Braze
Equipment: N/A​

​

Odd.

He was confused, that much was obvious. He'd arrived to a building that was locked up and secure with no obvious post box. Either Braze had made a mistake or this was all some form of set up on his part to test Kaelos for something.

The young Kiffar took a seat in the gutter and shook his head. The rule was not to open the box and he hadn't, but the intrigue around the box and why he'd been sent to a closed building was annoying him now. Clearly something was going on and he wanted to know what it was.

Then it hit him.

Kiffar had a tendancy to have a proficency in psychometry. Kaelos was no different, he too possessed the ability to touch an object and see it's history. Technically he wouldn't be opening the box, thus he'd still be doing as he was asked but he'd be able to figure out why this stupid quest has been given to him.

Placing his hands on either side of the box, he closed his eyes. He allowed the force to flow through him and allowed psychometry to show him the history of the box, especially trying to focus on what was placed into the box and Braze 's plan around the box.