Lightsaber Arts & Theory - The Way of the Sword.

[WolfMortum]

Aboard the "Yutan's Legacy"​

Training Dojo.​

​

Veiere Arenais sat within the center of the vast room, a polished wooden floor spanning to the four corners of the room, all laid out bare and without obstacles save for the few weapons racks of which held wooden imitations of lightsabers, as well as the portable training devices that acted as shields guarding the physical body from low frequency blows expected later on within the lesson. Before the Jedi Master, laid out across the sheet that he had placed tidily infront of himself, adorned a selection of Hilts similar to his own though varying in frequency and lacking the power to take a life. Among some of his students, [member="Thom Arden"] for example, these training sabers were crucial for practice given the boy had a fully functioning weapon within his possession already. Today's lesson would instruct them all in the initial stages of swordsmanship, the ideals and virtue in it's application as well as the first of the Jedi Forms of saber combat, Shii-Cho.

Among those he had invited were [member="Calder Icehammer"], [member="Cambria Zadira"] and [member="Alexandra Feanor"]. Those of their members of whom were already experienced to some degree yet had not been given the opportunity to practice with Veiere as of yet. He wished for them to join in on this lesson so to encourage the training of their students, especially to Calder of whom Veiere had taken under his wing in the hope of the Beorni coming to take on a student of his own, to pass on his learnings and views on the Jedi way of life. Waiting for the rest to join him, his mind moved to the lesson ahead, Form Zero being the first subject to follow the introduction of the lightsaber itself, a symbol and tool of great power within the hands of the skilled and reserved Jedi. A dangerous weapon fumbled in the hands of the careless. Unfortunate was the need for Jedi to train in the ways of combat, an inevitability that they would face the open dangers of the galaxy where they sought to be the shield to those whom could not fight, the sword of justice against the encroaching darkness that demanded dominion over the innocent.

[member="Calder Icehammer"] | [member="Asheda Tyr"] | [member="Cambria Zadira"] | [member="Gabriella Rhayne"] | [member="Karren Trask"] | [member="Thom Arden"] | [member="Tashra"] | [member="Dane Teraan"] | [member="Alexandra Feanor"] | [member="Teynara Jeralyr"]​

 

[Akio Diachi]

Life. The most precious gift that we are given. The most scared of all things in the Universe. The one thing that all experience and, yet, none truly appreciate until it is over. It is one thing that all beings believe they will have indefinitely, only to find they are without it in the end. Life. The one that Akio still had to offer this galaxy. Life. The one thing he had been trained to take without a second thought in the past. Before, as an assassin, Akio had killed without thought, without measure, without emotion. He had become the best in his academy at ending lives. They had trained him without mercy, without relent, and now he used those skills to protect the innocent.

Dryzl had told him to not mourn her too long, and he knew why. There was a need for the strong, the good, to protect the weak. And this could not be done if he continued to mourn her passing. He had loved her, he loved her like he would love no other again and like the Chiss had loved no other. And now she was gone. Yes, it was his fault. He had led her there. She had died because of her search for him. Their time together had been short--but they had life. Something Akio had never had before he met her. But now, he was wandering again, going where the Force guided him.

The Chiss' meditation was halted as he felt the ship shudder to a stop. The warrior rose to his feet, his blue hands opened, the Monk's spade leapt to his left hand from the cold, durasteel floor. The trio of his swords, bound together by silken cords, bound to his other hand. He stored them in the silk sash of his belt with a smooth motion. Without a word, the Chiss made his way through the dark cargo bay of the ship, all but unseen. He stepped into the light and off the ship he had stowed away on as the workers went about unloading its contents, oblivious to his presence.

The Chiss warrior walked without a word, his hands tucked away into the sleeves of his Kimono. He had no idea where he was, but he could feel the Force was strong here. He could feel the presence of many Force users. The light side was strong here. And Something would be happening soon. He could tell. Akio slipped into one of the nearby halls, following the pull of where he was to be lead next by the Living Force.

[member="Veiere Arenais"]

 

[Teynara Jeralyr]

Training Room, aboard the Yutan's Legacy

Although it was a thing she had dreaded since joining the Order, Teynara knew that it would ultimately be impossible to avoid those lessons that demanded she engage in combat with others - it was part of the Jedi life that they ultimately stand in front of those that might do others (and the Jedi themselves!) harm. Not knowing how to deal with that was not akin to breaking an arm and not having the slightest idea how to set a bone and apply a splinter: you'd be caught unprepared, and the consequences wouldn't be the least bit fun.

Knowing the need didn't mitigate the anxiety that the thought of it provoked, though. All Jedi carried lightsabers because the possibility of combat was considerable - particularly with the Sith ever on the look-out for those of their kind - and it wasn't something optional in their curriculum. Her own sense of pacifism wasn't necessarily acceptable here: although it was always considered a positive to want to avoid violence, that didn't always mean that you could, and that was simply something she would have to square with in her own mind.

Attendance at classes wasn't mandatory, as such, and Teynara knew she could easily have begged off, but it was fully expected that she couldn't operate in the field as a Jedi without knowing how to defend herself or others - it was part of their duties, and so she had little choice but to go along with it. That had taken her a little while to square with, but perhaps learning how to use a lightsaber might also teach her how to avoid needing to. At least, that's what I hope.

Entering the training room, she noticed Veiere seated on the polished wooden floor, looking as calm and self-possessed as she had always known him to do, several lightsabers sat before him. The bearded male looked somewhat contemplative, perhaps rolling a lesson plan or two through his mind, perhaps considering how best to take a disparate group of students and introduce them to something that would no doubt be complicated and - as was true in her case - perhaps contrary to their natures. Makes you wonder how you'd even begin a lesson, in those instances.

"Good morning, Master," she said softly, bowing in the traditional fashion appropriate for a student addressing one of the teachers in the Order. Admittedly, it was hard to tell exactly what time it was, aboard the Yutan's Legacy: as a starship in space, it wasn't subject to traditional time zones, but the chronometers aboard were still synced to Galactic Standard Time. "Hope I'm not too late," she added, though judging by the near-empty room, she was not. Or perhaps the others are just later, she amended mentally.

Her icy-blue eyes remained fixed upon the Jedi Master and she settled into a kneeling position on the floor, pulling her skirts out of the way so that they did not crease beneath her weight. She wondered if he might sense her nervousness at the approaching lesson, suspected he would probably brush it off and simply hope that the young woman would acclimatise to the nature of it given time. Every other Jedi seems fine with it, so maybe I will, too.

Her eyes closed at the thought, and she softly inhaled a single deep breath, using it to try and calm her thoughts, as she had been taught. Breathe in, one, two, three, four, then hold, one, two, three and four. Now release, one, two, three, four. Breathe in again, and gather your tensions up, drawing them the way you might draw liquid into a syringe. Consolidate as you hold, that tension stored up in your chest. One, two, three, four. And then let it go, release it all as you breathe out. One, two, three, four. She sighed softly as she released a breath, the tension going out of her shoulders, relaxing just a little as she did so.

This was where she was supposed to be, after all. Why come, if not to learn?

 

[Alkor Centaris]

The Grandmaster had asked him to come to this seminar in particular, if not to the others. Thom was the sort of person who disliked the idea of being in the way, and with little to no knowledge of the Force, he had intentionally missed out on the first lesson. [member="Veiere Arenais"] had said something about leaving his weapon behind, and out of respect he had acquiesced.

As he entered the room, Thom was acutely aware of the mock weaponry that lined the walls. He was thankful for it. His own weapon, though he had never ignited it was still a weapon. The young Arden never wished harm upon anyone. If there was even a small chance that he might misuse or mishandle the weapon without proper training, he wanted to avoid that entirely.

He moved into the room awkwardly, quiet, and stayed to the walls as he navigated toward the learning area. Like most other places of the Jedi he had observed, there was a warmth that permeated the place, almost peaceful. It helped to offset some of the anxiety he felt about learning next to people of higher skill levels than his own.

Only some, however.

Thom 's father had once mentioned to him that the merit of a man is not in his ability to take a life, but in his ability to avoid doing so. If those words were any indicator, then the use of a lightsaber was something to be avoided, if at all possible. It was important, however, to learn how to defend oneself.

He took a seat away from the group, both hands folded neatly in his lap. If Veiere wished for them to arm themselves, the man would give them a signal or order to do so. For now, he kept his mind off of the weapons and on the man before him.

What does it mean to be a Jedi? he asked himself as he tried to relax.

 

[Asheda Tyr]

Not including [member="Thom Arden"] Ahdeda was probably the most unexpected member of the order, only two year of training tended to not make one very skill. Despite this she eager to learn more about the force and order of which she was apart of and attending the seminar on light saber combat was a must in her books, even if she didn't participate.

She assumed the session would be done with practice blades of some sort, and as such kept her saber firmly clipped to her belt, coming into the room she spotted Thom acting a bit.... awkwardly still. 'Looks like he still hasn't comply gotten use to the whole Jedi thing, I don't blame him, coming into the order with not training just as its stated, scary'. Looking around further she saw [member="Veiere Arenais"] being greeted by another order member, if memory severed her correctly the blonde woman was named [member="Teynara Jeralyr"] as was a healer of sorts, 'lets just hope we won't need her healing abilities today'.

Before going over to say hello to master Arenais she decided to check on Thom, being the first person to greet the stranger when he arrived at the temple she though he'd be a bit more open to talking tho her, strolling up she offered a warm smile and polite, though not proper bow. "Hello there Thom how have you been recently, are you having any trouble adapting to the new ship"? Not having a lot of time to settle into the temple being thrown around the place must have been taxing on the boy, she hoped it wasn't too much for him, the order still needed more member to actually become a noticeable figure

 

[Aarshlût Muyel]

In the belly of the mechanical beast. Aarshlût still did not completely approve of the vessel yet he understood the reason for it. The people of Yutan did not wish for the Jedi to be there, and this way they would be more able to spare a world in case the Sith decided to attack what Jedi they found. Despite what the people of Yutan had done to the Jedi, Aarshlût was sure the jedi would still return to defend them. Such was the way, one was not to hold grudges over something so trivial. Dressed in naught but crimson robes, crafted from robeskins Aarshlût made his way through the vessel. It was so large that it would possibly tire a lesser individual to travel its numerous halls. It was far larger than the temple had been on Yutan.

The amphistaff wrapped around Aarshlût’s waste hissed still not completely used to its new environment. Aarshlût couldn’t blame the creature, he was no more used to it. Though having been allowed to redecorate his private chambers had allowed Aarshlût a slight bit more comfort. His room resembled one that Shapers would often use when grafting or creating new biots. The only reason Aarshlût left his room on this day was to attend the lightsaber lesson being given by Master Veiere, while no stranger to battle, especially not close quarters Aarshlût still hadn’t used a lightsaber, nor did he plan to use one till he found a way to make it out of his own people’s technology. The lesson would still prove useful.

Standing outside the chamber doors Aarshlût listened, from the other side of the doors he heard voices, he wasn’t too late. Pushing them open Aarshlût entered, his bare feet on the solid wood floor, cool to the touch. Flexing his toes Aarshlût bowed in greeting to Master Veiere and all the other students in the chamber. “Thisss one greetsss you.” Aarshlût found himself somewhat an outcast among the other students, rightfully so. He barely left his chambers and the times he did others could rarely find where he got off to. Not only that many still held grudges against his people, and one wasn’t to forget just how horrifying Vong could be to others. It was the one reason Aarshlût chose to wear robes. The other students possibly couldn’t handle seeing the scars of past battles. The blessings he’d been given. Or what he had considered blessings at one time.

[member="Veiere Arenais"] [member="Akio Diachi"] [member="Teynara Jeralyr"] [member="Thom Arden"] [member="Asheda Tyr"]

 

[Tashra]

She hurried down the hall ways, a bunch of datapads in her hands as she almost skidded along the floor as she turned a sharp corner. Out of the corner of her eyes she noticed [member="Akio Diachi"] down one of the hall ways she passed but she didn't put much stock in it, seeing as she hadn't met all the masters or all of those that inhabited this vast ship.
When she wasn't clued to a view port she spent most of her time in the library or physical training halls. She ran something close to a marathon everyday as she honed her body into a razors edge of perfection, her competitive hobby before joining the order had been physical training after all.

As she came to her room and uneloquently dumped the datapads on them she gripped her blood sword and left the room in a sprint as she had to make her way almost a fourth of the ships with in length to get to the training hall were she'd finally get her hands on something she had wanted to learn since arriving at the order some scant days ago. Having barely spent any time on Yutan before the order moved to this marvel of a ship.
More often than not she had simply wandered the halls completely lost but after four days of wandering she had begun to memorize it's basic layout and could make her way to the training hall.

As she came almost barreling into the training hall she stopped and bowed down, though it seemed more like she was trying to get the air back into her lungs as her hands supported her body against her legs. "Huff, huff h-hope I'm not late for the lesson master Veiere?" She panted out as she looked up with her beaming smile though there were a few beads of sweat on her forehead which she wiped away and moved to sit next to [member="Teynara Jeralyr"] and took a meditative stance to still her thrumming heart and get some much needed oxygen into her muscles.
Sitting cross legged with her robes spilling out from her form she was slightly hunched as she went through the breathing exercises she had read about in the library of the ship. "This your first lesson too?" She then asked when her heart had stilled enough to properly speak without panting out her words, having leaned slightly in towards Teynara. Someone she had seen around and thought might be as new as she and [member="Thom Arden"] were to the order.

After half whispering to Teynara she looked around to see if she met any of the others in the hall besides [member="Veiere Arenais"]. Seeing [member="Asheda Tyr"] made her smile a little, they hadn't spoken much but she liked the togruta gal quite a bit, she somehow seemed like someone fun to be around at a party. [member="Aarshlût Muyel"] she hadn't met but given his physique she began to think that he might have a similar hobby when it came to physical fitness as she did.

 

[Alkor Centaris]

Inhale.

The world around him was filled with artificial atmosphere, a juggernaut testament to the mechanical might of Commenor's collective governments. It had been a gift to the Jedi, a haven where they could go to indulge in their asceticism away from the ideologies of militaries and politicians. It was so much to take it, the boy almost tried not to. The air was clean, but it was almost overly so. The austerity of it felt stifling.

Exhale.

The same frenzied, foreign breath left his lips as a ragged, yet slow and deliberate one. It felt like his lungs had accepted the turmoil, utilized it, then purified it and sent it back. This was the sort of meditation he had witnessed the Grandmaster doing, yet it felt so laborious. He put too much thought into every little thing, as though the most microscopic aspect of life were to be observed and respected.

Inhale.

But was that the point? As he took his second breath, he found himself at a crossroads. It was less forced than before, almost natural. Thom felt like, in spite of the world around him being new and different, it was the same as every place he had ever been. That awareness drew the uncertainty from his chest and as he began to exhale again, his body bled it out like a toxin.

Until a familiar voice jarred his concentration, and he was ripped back to reality.

Thom let out a confused gasp as his dilated eyes slowly returned to focus, and the world shifted back from black to vivid color. What had that been, just then? It was like the galaxy beyond the walls of the station was one massive, yet singular entity-

Asheda. That was her name, wasn't it? He remembered the Togruta from the first time he visited Yutan, because she was the first person to greet him. Her personality was brimming with confidence, or at least, she had no problem talking to people. Her features slowly focused as everything else did, and he offered the most polite smile he could muster.

Her words rang in his ears as he answered them. "Uh, yeah, you could say that," he replied with a laugh. "I was just getting used to the temple back on Yutan, so I was more than a bit surprised when they decided to uproot and bring us out here. It just leaves me with more questions, but I'm sure everything will be answered in time." His eyes moved to [member="Veiere Arenais"] as he recited the words, "trust in the Force, right? Isn't that what he always says?"

He smiled at [member="Asheda Tyr"] again, but his eyes wandered the room. Others had gathered since he sat down, and while he had seen them before, he couldn't say he knew them. "Have you started with a Lightsaber yet, Asheda?" he asked, uncertain if he was the only one who hadn't.

Despite possibly being the only initiate who owned his own.

 

[Alexandra Feanor]

[member="Veiere Arenais"]

Alexandra was more than happy to join in on a lesson involving one of her favorite pastimes, that being beating on others with her weapons. Of course, the Jedi are a bit less happy go lucky when it comes to combat and for her that was interesting, she had been trained originally as a sith and expanded her knowledge alone. This had left her in more or less complete ignorance of how a jedi approached the idea of the saber. To her the weapons and forms had simply been means to an ends, separate from the force and simply a weapon. She never really saw it as a part of herself like the force was, only the crystals inside the sabers meant anything to her.

Perhaps the Jedi could teach her something still about the saber and its use, how their teachings differ from the way she had taken to the blade. She knew that her own handling of the forms was wild and unrefined compared to the constant practice and corrections possible within an order that can improve its members. Her grasp on the forms was meant for combat and survival, things that she didn't expect Jedi to even care for.

Her smile remained behind the mask she wore, her hair still hidden by those blue wraps and her form under a robe and cloak, hiding herself like a leper. She watched Veiere from where she sat, waiting herself for the next person to enter into the room and for her to be entertained by the lesson that was being provided. She had come when he had asked, without question or hesitation and with her she had brought something to keep her throat from getting dry. It was that waiting that she was unaccustomed to. Not waiting in general, but rather waiting on people after the years of solitude that made her nervous on the inside. She was unused to being around people again, much less being in a order. Her drink helped her stay calm though, shifting her mask a small bit and up so that she could quickly take a drink and store the container back within her robes and cloak.

Soon enough the others entered in, the faces mostly the same as when she had approached the meeting concerning the Jedi Order's code. There was the Vong, a younger man, the togruta, one species she didn't quite know who had ashen colored skin and lastly the Blond woman. She hadn't gotten to talk or meet with any of them quite yet and listened as they settled in and talked, her eyes choosing only after to return to their place on Veiere.

[member="Thom Arden"] [member="Tashra"] [member="Aarshlût Muyel"] [member="Asheda Tyr"] [member="Teynara Jeralyr"] [member="Akio Diachi"]

 

[Teynara Jeralyr]

The others joined in quick succession: a quiet human male that she didn't recall seeing before, hugging the walls in that reluctant way that people did when they wanted to participate, but preferred not to be seen (even though their actions always made them more conspicuous!); the Yuuzhan Vong with the hard-to-pronounce name, even for someone who had spent much of her student life studying alien cultures; an unusual fiery-eyed Chiss, native to the colder worlds of the Chiss Ascendency; the young blue-skinned Togruta that entered with a graceful, lithe step that spoke of much training; the strange and vaguely-disquieting Cernun; then finally, the silver-haired Jedi that she recalled from those discussions on the Code.

All an interesting group, all people that Teynara felt that she ought to get to know better at some point - indeed, they were what passed for family, in that fashion that the Jedi Order had always adopted. Though I still have a family of my own, but I spend no time with them now. These...strangers were more family than her parents were now, residing within the belly of this technological monstrosity in which they roamed the Galaxy. And yet I can only name maybe a small few of them. That thought disturbed her more than any other.

She was drawn from her reverie by the Cernun girl: a little terrifying at first glance, if Teynara was honest. Those strange golden eyes, piercing, staring at her with a predatory expression, though Tey doubted that was anything beyond her natural appearance. Those wonderfully-unusual black horns swept back across the girl's skull, contrasting sharply with that blank white hair that fell in straight lines down past her shoulders. Though Teynara suspected that the other woman was younger, she was nonetheless huge, imposing in a way that no Human would ever be able to achieve. And yet, despite that, she seems more than amiable enough.

"My first lesson with a lightsaber, absolutely," the blonde said in response, turning her body slightly so as to be able to face the other woman, though her legs maintained their kneeling position, facing towards Veiere. "We did a little weapons training when I studied Tae-Jitsu at University, but that was always more of a meditative exercise," she added with a faint smile. Wasn't exactly designed for use with a lightsaber. "Forgive me for saying so, but you look like you've had a lot more practice with a weapon than I have," Teynara continued, her pale-blue eyes glancing at the Cernun's imposing figure.

Better hope it doesn't come to hand-to-hand practice, the young woman thought silently, smiling at the thought. I'd probably get tossed around like a ragdoll. Sure, there were ways to handle a larger opponent, but that wasn't always a simple matter of execution, and she suspected that the girl had a far more dense musculature than a human: it would have been appropriate for her size and physique. Bet I could outrun her, though, the blonde added to herself in amusement. Good thing, too.

"If we end up being paired for some of the exercises, go easy on me, please," she asked by way of a gentle request. Teynara firmly expected to end up with a good few bruises, aches and pains at the close of the session, but something told her that the Cernun would make that look like a simple workout. "I'll do the same, of course," the blonde added with a wink and a rueful smile. Small chance of that!

| [member="Tashra"] | [member="Veiere Arenais"] | [member="Thom Arden"] | [member="Aarshlût Muyel"] | [member="Asheda Tyr"] | [member="Alexandra Feanor"] | [member="Akio Diachi"] |​

 

[Akio Diachi]

Akio didn't know where he was in the vast galaxy, he didn't even know he was on a space station that was supposed to be a Jedi mobile temple. The Chiss had never considered himself a Jedi, but if the Monk were to align with any sect of the Force more closely, it would be the Jedi. They were light sided, and he believed in the importance of the Force and the sacredness of life, but he had never really considered himself a Jedi. He had spent some time with the Silver Jedi Coalition, and they had been very gracious hosts. With them he had even defended their planet from the blood thirsty droids Miss Blonde had unleashed upon them. While he had enjoyed his time there and learned a great deal, the Force had called him elsewhere, back to his wanderings.

And now he was here. The Chiss felt the path the Force had lead him on turn into a training room where several of the Jedi had gathered. He could almost see their differences in training and connection to the Force, like lights of various colors and brightness. The Monk found himself a spot near the back corner to set up. Since he wasn't one of them, the Chiss was going to try to stay as far out of their way as he could, until the Force was ready for him to do what he was here for.

His blue fingers gingerly unforrowed a silken mat he had bundled behind his back and set it out on the durasteel flooring. Monk's spade stretched across his legs, the man lowered himself and sat cross legged, hands folded in his lap and waited for his moment.

[member="Teynara Jeralyr"] I [member="Alexandra Feanor"] I [member="Thom Arden"] I [member="Tashra"] I [member="Aarshlût Muyel"] I [member="Asheda Tyr"] I [member="Veiere Arenais"]​

 

[WolfMortum]

Six students and the company of one Master; Veiere's gaze traveled the group from his seated position finding himself quite content with the size of the class. "Welcome, all of you to our first lesson on the saber arts and way of swordsmanship known and practiced by the Jedi Order..." His hands extended out in-front of him, gesturing to the training hilts that lay neatly lined adjacent to one another between himself and his target audience, "Symbols of the Jedi that will signify your beginning steps towards becoming fully fledged Knights of the Force..." His eyes drifted a little, the hilts all lifting from the ground with the sudden empowerment of his aura, unseen physically yet would be sensed by any with an adept handle on the basics of force practice, it was through the practice of telepathy that he guided these hilts to cross the small distance between them and land peacefully down before their feet. "Please...Sit, make yourselves comfortable" he encouraged those who hadn't yet taken a seat upon the ground, needing not chairs nor unnecessary comforts, there on the ground the room around them was plain to see from a level they all shared. None more important than the other, all students of life, regardless of age and background.

"What I am giving you all now will remain in your possession until you are ready to construct your own Lightsabers" He gazed across the line of the six, knowing that among them, Thom Arden was already armed with his fathers lightsaber and yet at the same time he was well and truly self conscious about it, almost fearful in a way yet not without reason. "These training sabers act with a frequency far lower than the standard lightsaber an armed Jedi wields. While typical lightsabers can pierce and cut through the sentient form, these training sabers will do little but burn and bruise. Enough to encourage concentration during your sparring one another yet not nearly enough to result in severe injuries...". Fortunate were they to have such tools for practice, these training hilts would do wonders to preserve the young and inexperienced, yet still required a good deal of care in their application. "Be warned however that these training hilts are to be treated no different than the real deal. They are not to be used frivolously and only within the training dojo and sparring grounds are you to activate them. I do not wish to see the mess hall become the stomping ground of you lot..." Veiere smiled warily though his words carried genuine seriousness to his urging the group to behave themselves at all times.

Silence would follow for a time as he allowed them all to look over and study their new training hilts. Thanks to the Praxeum Vessel and the provisions he had procured thanks to the world of trade and his and his wife's home-world of Commenor, he had stocked the artisan department with all the appropriate materials used for the sake of lightsaber construction, going the mile to spend the last few late evenings constructing these lightsabers for the use of their group, small in number though the hope was that they would expand with time and training. "With the ownership of such a tool, there are a certain number of safety precautions we should discuss before we move on. For example, never point the blade emitter at another person, unless you are of course in a sparring match with one another. Contact to the eyes for example can still be incredibly dangerous and there's a certain amount of tact and responsibility required in their handling. Until further notice, do not activate your hilts until today's introduction to the lightsaber has been concluded and I have otherwise given you the go ahead".

"Most important is the need to understand why Jedi carry such tools when at the heart of all things encompassing the ideals and virtue of the Order we strive for peace. I'd like you all to take a turn having a guess as to why this is. What purpose or reason could justify the Jedi Order to carry such objects of potential harm to others...?".

[member="Akio Diachi"] | [member="Teynara Jeralyr"] | [member="Thom Arden"] | [member="Alexandra Feanor"] | [member="Asheda Tyr"] | [member="Aarshlût Muyel"] | [member="Tashra"]​

 

[Asheda Tyr]

She listened to [member="Thom Arden"] intent on making the young guy feel comfortable, for more reasons than one, "yes I do have my own saber, though I still need a lot of training before I can use it properly so for now I'm sticking with the training saber, I really want to get better with all this Jedi stuff". Her saber was given to her by a past teacher, this was done because she wanted to go her own way as a Jedi and needed proper protection which was why she joined this new order.

Looking around again she spotted [member="Tashra"], another familiar face that she could bring a name to even being together a short time the two seemed to hit off fairly well, Asheda returned a smile and was about to follow with a hello before the Grand Master's voice filled the room. "Oh looks like were starting", she briskly walked over to where [member="Veiere Arenais"] was offering a seat, patting the area next to her for [member="Thom Arden"] or her other acquaintance [member="Tashra"] to sit with her. She looked on with interest as master Arenais explained about the sabers, she treated her own saber with a great amount of care and would do the same with the training saber she was given until she was ready to wield the one she already had.

The explanation of how to use the blade, what it represented and what rules to follow when with them, most she kind of knew but a good amount was new. Though that hardly discouraged her, the prospect of finally learning how to use the blade and the knowledge that came with it just made her more excited to learn more and make her family proud. When talking about the keeping of the peace she could only continue to look on with intent at his words, this was why she had come here.

[member="Akio Diachi"]
[member="Teynara Jeralyr"]
[member="Alexandra Feanor"]

 

[Alkor Centaris]

He offered a genuine smile to [member="Asheda Tyr"] as she told him she had her own lightsaber as well, and he nodded in agreement. "Yeah," he said. I'm keen on the idea of weapon safety and all that. If you're going to have a tool, know how to properly handle it."

Thom bit his tongue when she mentioned getting better at 'this Jedi stuff.'

So he wasn't the only one.

Thom stared blankly for a moment as the object gravitated toward him. It landed gently at his feet and stirred several times before standing perfectly still. His eyes were drawn to it like magnets. The weapon of a Jedi, albeit one far less dangerous than his own. He had permission to carry it, to bond with it, and to learn with it.

Still, his hands were filled with uncertainty. It was not for fear of his own inability now, because the temptation to simply lift it and conjure the plasma blade to life was overwhelming. It was not simply for fear that he might harm another being; though that thought was ever present, and would likely persist until he ultimately understood the weapon and felt confident in controlling it.

No, now his hands strayed well away from the weapon because he understood the responsibility attached to it. Master Arenais' own words cemented the nature of it for all of them to hear- it was a weapon, intended to harm. He posed the question of why a Jedi might carry one, and the obvious answer was self-defense.

It seemed like a Jedi would have a much better answer, though. He stared down at the cylinder contemplatively as the others did, dimly aware of all the precautions and rules set forth by the Grandmaster. Where to confine its usage, and his expectations for safe practice all swept past Thom as his consciousness narrowed, and he perceived the blade in his mind. He often asked, 'would does it mean to be a Jedi?'

Now his Master asked, "why would a Jedi carry such a weapon?"

Thom concentrated on it, saw it before him and in the depths of his mind. He could feel the dangerous warmth that flickered at its heart, waiting for him to thumb the ignition switch and free it from the darkness of that hilt. He heard the thrum of the energy field, though it lay dormant. [member="Veiere Arenais"] taught him of meditation and of the Force.

Now, he tried to remain conscious of that as he considered the question at hand. Its power was potentially dangerous, yes, and almost frightening. To someone who wished never to inflict harm, its very presence could be considered a source of anxiety-

That's it! Recognition flashed in his eyes as the thought came, and he turned his attention from the weapon to the Jedi Master.

"As a deterrent?" he asked, head tilted. "Rather than simply using force, would not the threat of force suffice for most people in keeping them pacified?" It was the same as a security officer standing armed in a room. If you saw one, you were infinitely less likely to act out or commit a crime. "And as a way to give peace of mind to those around us?"

The same could be said in reverse, as well. If someone saw a Jedi, the probability that they would feel calmer or less afraid was much higher. Of course, there were exceptions to every rule.

He winced after he spoke, realizing that it was the first time he had ever done so in one of these large groups. His eyes moved over the other learners, wondering about the answers they might have to give.

 

[Teynara Jeralyr]

Training lightsabers? That was news to Teynara: she wasn't aware that such weapons existed, let alone could be used or issued to new students among the Jedi. Makes sense, though: you don't want a kid playing around with a lethal weapon and accidentally cutting their own head off. Sure, the image was a little silly, but as dangerous as lightsabers were, it was always possible. And Tey had no intention of testing that out. Good that I won't have to worry so much about being sliced into pieces, she thought idly, keeping her pale-blue eyes on Veiere as he spoke. Bruises and contact burns we can deal with. Plenty of ointments to soothe those.

It was interesting to hear of the Master speak of safety precautions: lightsabers were not known to be safe weapons, so that they might first cover safety spoke well of the Order's use of such lethal objects, a means of encouraging them not to be frivolous in their use. If you have to fight, you've already lost, she recalled, someone that she had read in one of the many texts contained within the Archives. A Jedi should never aim to fight, nor to harm another: to do so means that the situation had spiralled out of control, and the Jedi has failed to keep the peace. At that point, perhaps all that remained would be to minimise the damage caused...

The shy human male spoke up first in response to Veiere's question regarding the purpose of a lightsaber, and though she ostensibly agreed, there was a problem with his logic that the young man apparently hadn't spotted. But we can't rely on everyone being as peace-loving as we are, nor as concerned with their self-preservation, the blonde thought reflectively. Her mouth firmed into a tight line, perhaps her sole way of expressing disapproval over the idea. But it's a reality we may have to face one day.

"Surely intimidating another with a weapon is inviting them to call your bluff?", she asked softly, her eyes flickering towards Thom, watching his reaction to her words carefully. "If you use a weapon to threaten another, you better hope it works, otherwise you're committed to a path of violence when they react to it." She sighed softly, imagining how that might play out: the Jedi brandishing their lightsaber, making all aware of the consequences of not backing off, and someone taking them up on the offer of combat. At that point, you're out of options. "Some might back off, but they would likely respond to non-threatening methods just as quickly. Someone who thinks you might follow up on your threat has no reason not to do their best to kill you first", the blonde added.

And yet, what else might we use a weapon for? For one's own defense, that was obvious, as was the use of a lightsaber for the defense of another: that much seemed like the ideal function of a weapon like that. An option of last resort, something you don't want to depend on, unless you can help it. That was part of the reason the lightsaber was so well-known outside Jedi circles: it was a warning to all that violent, illegal or chaotic actions wouldn't stand.

"Perhaps it serves merely as identification, and warning: the person carrying a lightsaber is a Jedi, and to interfere with us is to know that there could easily be another ten Jedi behind us." The young woman offered the slightest shrug: she wasn't entirely convinced that the Order could spare such resources to deal with a problem, but the population of the Galaxy didn't need to know that. "See a person wearing a lightsaber, you know them to be a Jedi or a Sith, and that alone serves to encourage them not to cause any trouble around us." The girl flashed a faintly-amused smile at the thought. "Though I bet you'd mess with a Sith a lot less easily than with a Jedi. Fewer survivors in their case."

| [member="Tashra"] | [member="Veiere Arenais"] | [member="Thom Arden"] | [member="Aarshlût Muyel"] | [member="Asheda Tyr"] | [member="Alexandra Feanor"] | [member="Akio Diachi"] |​

 

[Cambria Zadira]

Cambria Zadira had received the Grandmaster's invitation to the Lightsaber Arts and Theory class he was putting on for the padawans and those in need of more experience with the weapon of a Jedi in the main dojo upon the praxeum's ship. Having taken the path of a Jedi Guardian many years ago, the Twi'lek Knight was familiar with the various lightsaber forms and looked forward to learning more from Master [member="Veiere Arenais"] and improving upon what she already knew.

Upon entering the practice room, Cambria's gold-speckled hazel eyes took in the many faces of those gathered; most familiar with a few new ones present. It brought an inner smile to the Rutian Twi'lek to see so many alien species represented as well as human in the Jedi Order. It was a nice mix of the galaxy at large in her view. Pausing a moment, Knight Zadira gave a bow to the grandmaster, who was standing at the head of the room, then she canted her head to rest as she passed by taking a place in the back of the dojo.

The blue-skinned Twi'lek removed her bronze-colored cloak revealing the modified two-piece Jedi robes she preferred to wear. On the leather utility belt worn low on her shapely hips hung her straight-hilted, silver lightsaber. Stashed in a sheath in her brown leather boots was a Twi'lek Warrior's weapon; a dagger. Taking a moment before class was to begin, she stretched her well-honed muscles out a bit, then took a respectful stance as Master Arenais greeted the class and began the instruction.

Questions were asked as a curious minds looked for clarification and knowledge. It was good to see this.

[member="Akio Diachi"] [member="Teynara Jeralyr"] [member="Thom Arden"] [member="Asheda Tyr"] [member="Alexandra Feanor"] [member="Aarshlût Muyel"]

 

[Tashra]

A wide smirk came upon her lips as she listened to [member="Teynara Jeralyr"] talk to her then with an almost teasing tone she spoke her reply to the request. "Sure I'll go easy on you~" She said with her smirk growing almost wider and then [member="Veiere Arenais"] began to speak which made her silent and attentive, almost like a completely different person from before, now intense and focused on the masters words. Her eyes flickered with amazed wonder when the hilts floated up into the air and were brought to them by nothing.
With a stern look of respect she reached out and grabbed the hilt firmly with her hand and observed it carefully almost so lightly that it might slide out of her hand with a slight gust of wind.

As she listened to Veiere's instructions she put them all to heart, besides her physical strengths and abilities alone she was an experienced brawler so utilizing a training saber in some sort of stomping ground wouldn't be required in her case though she didn't really want to go that far. She listened to the others answer the grand masters question and began to think that perhaps they all were right in a sense, it was better to be armed and not need it rather than need it and not have it.
Besides with the way jedi and sith were beginning to be almost seen as the same thing with the atrocities that the other jedi orders had performed in the name of their misguided attempt to achieve peace through superior force of arms and dedication. It had been the first thing she had realized after her researching into how the jedi were viewed and the galactic alliance and silver order jedi weren't often viewed, in any sense of the term, well.

Tashra was determined to not be like those jedi and instead become a paragon worthy of the jedi of the old republic era. However when she retrospected on herself there was a glaring flaw in her, and that was her temper. she had ruined more than one classroom and bar when it peaked while back on her home world, something she'd have to work very hard to control.
Those thoughts disappeared when she noticed [member="Cambria Zadira"] walk in, causing her face to warm only slightly. She was beautiful in an exotic manner as she had never seen a Twi'lek before but had heard all sorts of stories about them and the Zeltrons species. She had to admit the exotic look of not only Cambria but [member="Asheda Tyr"] as well had Tashra in a bit of a slight bind on which species she found to be generally more attractive of those she had met.

[member="Thom Arden"] I [member="Akio Diachi"] I[member="Alexandra Feanor"] I[member="Aarshlût Muyel"]

 

[WolfMortum]

[member="Thom Arden"] and [member="Teynara Jeralyr"] were the first among the group to respond, they of whom had put obvious thought into their answers and Veiere was glad to listen to their views having come from obvious attempt to look at the subject of the lightsaber from a pacifist state of mind similarly to what the Jedi Order was to represent and had done long before now. "As Teynara has mentioned the Sith and most if not all of us are aware they use similar designs in their own practices, we will first touch on what the Lightsaber is to a Jedi Knight in comparison with the attitude taken over the object from those of the galaxy outside of our circle" he spoke only after offering them both a thought filled yet appreciative nod in acknowledgement, then turning his attention back to himself as his hands were drawn to his waist line and he un-clipped the pair of his Lightsabers laying them flat on the mat that he remained seated upon.

"To the majority of the Galaxy around us, these are the weapons of Force Users. No matter the differences of ideals or backgrounds that run throughout all practitioners of the Force, at some point or another most of those who have made a name for themselves have been known to have used a lightsaber...-Not all however, this is a broad generalizing statement but also factual. There are those of the Matukai and other organizations who do not practice in saber arts, but among the Sith, the Jedi and those in between..." His tone faded, dipping his head in a sideways nod of resignation as if to suggest the group were following and he needed not repeat himself.

"To those of the Jedi Order however, the Lightsaber isn't considered to be a weapon alone. To focus on this belief is to focus on the possibility of needing to engage in violence, something that will certainly lead to reality of that is all you see in these hilts..." He soon reached forward for the pair of hilts, placing the pommels of each hilt against the back of the other and turning them, locking the two into place securely and then sealing the connection by shifting the couplings at the bottom of them both, creating from the two single hilts, a staff.

"These are the symbol and expression of my duty to the Jedi Order, the hilts that I myself constructed in my days as a Padawan Learner...-The joining of the two represent the two philosophies of the Unifying and the Living Force coming to form a wholesome view of the Jedi Path and the oath that I myself have taken up in service and honor of the Force itself. Each crystal that aids to power the Lightsabers, I have spent hours in meditation over them, they are imbued with my aura and I am connected to them. No other lightsaber feels right in my hands as these do for I know why they were made...-To serve the light, to preserve and protect all life around me...-And in the darkness?" both hilts suddenly ignited, streams of green energy erupting from the beam emitters with a loud snap and a vibrant hiss as the hilts thrummed to life and the blades took shape extending to either side of himself, "They light my path ahead. It is not simply a means for protecting those around me but so too a source for warmth in the cold, light when there is none and yes I'm speaking both metaphorically and plainly..." As quickly as the lightsaber staff had been activated, the hilts died down and the energy dissipated back within; those who had been paying attention to the way Veiere handled the lightsabers would have noticed that there were no toggles upon the exterior of the handles, the Jedi Master having activated both simultaneously through the use of telekinesis and the personal knowledge of the interior layout and design of the two.

[member="Akio Diachi"] | [member="Teynara Jeralyr"] | [member="Thom Arden"] | [member="Alexandra Feanor"] | [member="Asheda Tyr"] | [member="Aarshlût Muyel"] | [member="Tashra"]​

 

[Asheda Tyr]

Upon the start of the lesson she was timidity draw to the lesson at hand about light-saber design, she knew the basic of how a light-saber worked though was far away from trying to attempt taking apart and rebuilding the one she owned. The design of his own sabers was simple but still refined in their look with a strong feel about them, saber very worth of a master's, though she quickly shook her head and continued to focuses on the lesson at hand.

Asheda looked over her training saber as well as the real saber given to herb before leaving in search of the new order as [member="Veiere Arenais"] discussed those that used the iconic weapon, those that didn't as well as the Sith and Jedi alike it the use of said weapon. The part about what it represent as a Jedi of this order and how it should not be used sole as a weapons, because said thinking implies that violence would e the first action was something she entirely agreed with. Though other Jedi faction and order preferred to fight problems head on proper negotiation for when war ended was always needed.

Though the part about embedding someones force signature into their saber raised a slight question, "Master Arensia, both me and Thom have had saber's given to use for different reasons, his is a family saber and might be a bit different, but would I still be able to in-bed our crystals with our signature as well even though we did not make them our-self. Her acquired saber was a smooth white hilt with small parts of gold colored metal, it was a simple and elegant looking weapon, and though only being use a few times by her she felt a connection to if already.

[member="Veiere Arenais"]/@Tashra/@Cambria Zadira/[member="Teynara Jeralyr"]/

 

[Stephanie Swail]

It was lucky she caught the ship leaving, but nobody would have known she was there or not. Sitting towards the rear of the room, Stephanie Swail was alone, even though surrounded by honest and fellow Light-minded Jedi and Jedi-to-be.

With her stylus, she made many notes on her pad and captures images and recordings, taking everything in that the Grandmaster Veiere Arenais had to say. He looked like a warm-loving father, or a proud uncle. At least, that’s what she could imagine him being. His soft hair and beard was that of an older man, but he looked strong and peaceful at the same time, his even softer voice laced with a little humor and warmth as he spoke.

All the new faces spoke up from time to time, moving around and taking the time to stretch out and get to grips with the physical and mental side of mastering the laser sword. Stephanie smiled. Laser sword. That’s what she had known them as for years until only recently.

The lightsaber was the weapon of the Jedi. It was more than a weapon even. It was a tool. But not just any tool. It was a…a beacon. A beacon of light that cast away darkness and could protect others, and be used to cut down locked doors and hack away at large rocks blocking your path. It was so much more than just a blade to take a life.

Her brown eyes watched and she focused as if back at school, writing away and listening and watching everything going on.

[member="Akio Diachi"] | [member="Asheda Tyr"] | [member="Tashra"] | [member="Cambria Zadira"] | [member="Teynara Jeralyr"] | [member="Thom Arden"] | [member="Alexandra Feanor"] | [member="Aarshlût Muyel"] |