Faction [NJO] The Quarren Games- Enhance Attribute training

[Tel Ahren]

After nearly dropping the crate—by now well aware that it was deceptively dense—Tel had reset himself. Hands on the box again, but crouched down, getting himself under it just enough to try and activate his legs for the lift. Had he known that would be the case from the beginning, he already would have; now, he had only to do it the right way this time.

Of course, as soon as he was about to lift it up again—

"Hey, kid! Use your back!" Drystan called out. "Keep the crate close to your center—less swing, less wasted energy."

"That's what I'm doing!" he called back, grumbling to himself as he pushed against the ground, bringing the overly-heavy box up into the air enough that he could move it, rather than moving with it back towards the dirt. That done, he started taking one heavy step at a time to bring it over to where Drystan stood.

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Cora was pleased to see Bee perking up at her offer. For what he lacked in force sensitivity, he more than made up for with hard work. Though she'd felt out of place at times, especially early on in her training, Cora couldn't quite relate to this particular sensation of being on the outside, looking in.

That didn't mean that she couldn't appreciate Bee's struggle – but her own understanding lacked nuance. The best she could do was help the astromech to forge his own way forward using the unique strengths that he had. Speaking of forward…

"Oh, thank you," she chuckled softly. With a courtly tilt of her head, Cora made her way to the threshold of the corridor. It was eerily silent, save for the high-pitched mechanical hum of laser sensors and primed stun bolts. The Force stretched out along both walls, spreading like the tendrils of an overgrown plant. Through it, her senses locked into the location of each beam, each trigger, each obstacle.

"This should be-" Cora brought a hand up to tuck back an errant blonde strand. The gesture swept a little more outward than she'd calculated, and a blaster bolt stung the tips of her fingers. She flinched, pulled back, and sighed.

On the monitor above, a large red X flashed, accompanied by a loud buzzer.

"Ah."

Cora looked over her shoulder at Bee, wearing a tight smile. "I suppose that means its your turn. I'll have another go after."

BB-610

 

[Shan]

Tag: Zaiya Ceti
Objective: Support his Padawan!

"It's good she's been helping you with your emotions. I haven't exactly been great with my own emotions recently. It's nothing to worry about, I assure you though. We can talk more about it later. I just don't want my problems to become your problems, y'know?"

He knew Zaiya well enough that she'd want to help. It was part of the reason he was always proud of her. Though he raised an eyebrow at the blush coming to Zaiya's cheeks and broke out into a grin of his own. He wasn't going to comment about it, but he had his own ideas about what was going on. Shan did however tilt his head at the comment about the lights.

"That's pretty neat. I haven't really...paid attention to colours if I'm being honest. But I can see how it could help with healing. You can...more easily take in the state of someone's physical and mental well-being I suppose through that. I just have to play by eye."

Shan followed Zaiya towards the Trial this time, keeping his arms folded along his front as he kept his eyes ahead of himself in thought.

"Of course I'd let you tag along. It's just the previous cultures I've been exploring haven't been...fully safe. I visited Diarchy Space. I didn't want to risk anyone else getting hurt there. And then I went to visit the Anzati with one of the new Padawans. The Anzati have...advanced skills in using the Force for suggestions."

 

[Ezorea Zethussaln]

Ezorea stayed nearby, arms folded, watching with that same sharp, calculating stillness. Her violet, pupil-less eyes tracked Tel's stance, the strain in his movement, the sheer determination on his face as he lifted the crate again—this time with more control.

When he grumbled back at Drystan, she almost smiled. Almost.

She stepped alongside him as he took those slow, heavy steps, keeping her pace even with his. Not interfering—just walking with him.

"you're using your legs now. Good," she said, tone flat but not unkind. "The crate's not going to get lighter, but at least now it won't fight you the whole way."

As they neared Drystan, Ezorea moved slightly ahead to clear the path. Once Tel set the crate down, she gave him a short nod.

"Not bad," she added, more genuinely this time. "You'll feel that tomorrow."

Then, with barely a pause, she turned her focus toward the next Echance attribute trial—her stride smooth, steady. She didn't linger, but her voice drifted back over her shoulder just loud enough for Tel to hear:

"Don't let it beat you twice."

tag: Tel Ahren

 

[BB-610]

​

| LOCATION: New Cov Jedi Temple, New Cov |
| INTERACTING WITH: Corazona von Ascania |

He rolled to the side, happy to watch and eager to learn as Cora took to the trial with a running start! She flipped, twirled with all the grace of a ballerina, seizing the Force to weave betwixt beams and spring into a gifted sprint blessed by cosmic ener—— oop never mind none of that happened.

The sound of alarm had made him jump, a startled squeak etched past his voicebox. Cora hadn't even started yet; BB-610 blinked with the shutter of his optic, at a loss for words.

Then he giggled, cheeky and friendly. BB-610 had hoped to get some pointers from his viewing experience, but the lady certainly did go first and thus her invitation had to be accepted. Such was the rule of the expression, he believed.

With a nod, the astromech got into position. A fair bit of the corridor appeared barren, save for the storage containers and weighted crates pressed flush for added difficulty. The real quicker was the array of mechanisms hidden from plain sight, the very same that can kissed Cora's digit with a harmless sting.

BB-610 was lacking in Force sensitivity. BB-610 was not lacking in advanced photoreceptors with telescoping lenses and sensor transparency. The droid may not have been able to sense the motion-triggers, but he could absolutely pinpoint their exact coordinates via one quick, meticulous scan.

His droidbrain got to work; servos humming, BB-610 was fed all the data he needed to calculate the route granting his highest possible chance of success. He was no Jedi, but BB units were made with travel in mind — they were deceptively speedy little things.

Optic narrowing, the whirring of his motors sounded him off as the astromech charged forth. A blaster bolt snapped to his location, narrowly dodged by the well-timed swerve of his head along the front of his chassis. BB-610 never slowed, internal springs pushing him into a low hop over one of several unseen tripwires.

The assortment of crates soon approached. He needed a much higher jump than he could manage; the trial's apparatuses angled themselves, two adjacent beams aiming to cut him off in anticipation. Two compartments dotting the rim of one tool-bay disk popped open with a hiss, liquid-cable launchers having shot a pair of grapples at breakneck speed. With the clatter of metal, they'd hooked around the storage units.

Throwing himself airborne, BB-610 managed to just barely thread the needle, body gliding along the crate's surface whilst he recalled his cables. Looking to carry his momentum, the lower compartments of his disks clicked open, jet thrusters sizzling to life as ten everburning flames kept the droid afloat.

A volley of blaster fire creeped after him, power rerouted to his thrusters for a burst of speed that inched him just out of their reach. The last stretch of the corridor held many tripwires and carefully positioned beams; thankfully, BB-610 had all the speed necessary to launch himself past them following the withdrawal of his jets.

Sparks of metal flew as he was reunited with the trialgrounds, though he never once spiralled out of control. Rather, BB-610 shifted his weight to one side in order to slow his propulsion, gradually losing speed until he'd magnetised and summarily screeched to a halt entirely. Head swirling around his chassis, BB-610 turned to face Cora, circuits buzzing with synthetic adrenaline.

The monitor flashed a green ✔ with the accompanying ding of approval most gratifying.

BB-610 cried in celebration, wobbling excitedly and rocking from side to side to his own fanfare.‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ He did it, Cora! He did it, he did it!

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x | Companion: Domxite
Interacting with:

Zaiya's rosy golden skin dimmed just slightly, the amber glimmer in her stripes deepening with concern. She didn't push, not yet, but her opal blue gaze flicked sideways toward Shan with quiet understanding.

"You know I don't see your emotions as problems, right?" she said, voice soft but steady. "We don't have to talk now, but… I'm here. You're always carrying so much for everyone else. You don't have to do that alone."

The pink still lingered faintly across her cheeks, and she caught him noticing, which only made it pulse a little brighter. She rolled her eyes with a playful groan and shoved her hands into her robe sleeves. It was evident that while the Lovalla Padawan had matured a bit over the years, she was still very much prone to her silly, comedic, adorable tendencies.

"Don't even start."

She perked back up at his reaction to her Force-colors comment, the amber in her stripes lightening to bright citrine with excitement.

"It's not just physical health either. It's subtle things -- like stress or emotional conflict. Sometimes, the colors around someone get muddy or frayed at the edges. I'm still learning what it all means, but it's like… the Force is painting people in truth."

When Shan mentioned Diarchy Space, her skin shifted to a cool silver hue at the edges in pulsing concern, her brows drawing close.

"That sounds intense. No wonder you didn't want anyone else coming. And the Anzati? Yikes. That sounds like a nightmare trial all on its own."

Still, her stripes rippled back to warm bronze as she looked up at him.

"So, while maybe not the most dangerous spot in the galaxy, but something with new languages and weird fruit? I'd love to learn with you. Especially now that I'm not accidentally mindlinking every stranger I brush against."

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Cora looked on as Bee wove through the trial with impressive precision and control. It was hard to tear her eyes away. When had he gotten so…so capable?

A wave of guilt swept through her for that thought. She'd always known the little astromech to be reliable, but the way he utilized his various components to traverse obstacles was downright artful.

Cora laughed along with his cheerful bweeps and whistles, raising a hand for a high-five.

"Well done, Bee. I'm not certain if I'll be able to top that."

It wasn't about competition, she mused. There was genuine joy etched into the features of her face, pleased to witness her friend's success.

"One more time, then," she insisted while tying back her hair. If a single blonde lock were to get signed, she'd come down on Drystan for it.

Cora took off. Unlike Bee, she wasn't able to visually map out the sensors, leaving her to rely on instinct and the Force. Moving with conserved sort of grace, she slipped her way past tripwire, over and beneath obstacles, and around blaster fire.

The course maker had done well to mimic the reality of hostile territory. Her blood was pumping, her adrenaline was up, but near misses were still inevitable. A curse almost slipped from her as a log attached to a pair of chains swung its way down from the ceiling, nearly knocking her over if she hadn't bent sharply backward.

Not safe! Her teacher brain screamed.

This time, she received a flashing green check mark accompanied by a pleasant chime.

BB-610

 

[Shan]

Tag: Zaiya Ceti
Objective: Support his Padawan!

"I know, but right now you have bigger things to worry about than my emotions. Don't worry. I'm not going to explode into negativity whilst you do these tasks. I'm fine, I promise you."

Shan reached over to ruffle Zaiya's hair once more, breaking out into a little grin. Whilst it was true he had his own problems, there was nothing stopping him from keeping them back for a little while longer. He wasn't doing it alone anyway. If anything, Shan was starting to actually talk about his problems which was a difference for him. Though he couldn't help and grin at Zaiya's response to her blush being caught out.

"Hey, hey. I'll start if I want to. It's always nice to see how people...admire those closest to them. It makes me happy to see."

And that was the truth, even if Shan was being somewhat teasing about the admiring comment. He used to be the same when he had been at Zaiya's age. It was only recently that he had really stopped "admiring" people like that. Those kind of feelings hadn't been thought about for a long time as he then turned his focus to listening to the description of how the colours worked.

"That makes sense. The Force can show the inner truth that even some of us try to hide from others, even ourselves. But at the same time, even our view through the Force can be clouded. "
With that, he carried on walking, letting silence fill the air for a moment before he looked down at Zaiya, raising an eyebrow at her comment.

"...Yes, the Anzati can be a nightmare but I just want you to remember they are still people the same as you or me. They have darkness and light inside of them. I'm only bringing this up, because the Padawan I took there said that he gets strange looks off other Jedi when he's walking around the Temple. So if you can, I'd like for you to make sure Padawan Ahren feels welcomed here."

That was a job he trusted Zaiya with. She was the right person to make someone feel welcomed in his eyes. And hey, it was nice to try and build more friendships for people, right?

"Don't worry Zaiya. I'll be sure there will be some planets I visit that I can bring you along to. The Galaxy is vast, and there's so much for us all to learn."

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x | Companion: Domxite
Interacting with: Shan

Zaiya scrunched her nose playfully at Shan's hand tousling her multicolored curls, a little giggle escaping her as the shimmer of bioluminescent citrine rippled across her cheeks. Her mottled stripes flashed briefly with teal and soft amber, warmth and affection flooding through her in a glow she didn't even try to hide.

"Alright, alright -- no more hair-ruffling, or I might lose all dignity before I even take the trial," she teased, trying to smooth her hair with a mock offense that didn't quite reach her bright tone.

She stepped back, facing forward again with a deep breath, letting the quiet settle between them for a heartbeat. The shimmer of cobalt-flecked amber danced over her rose-gold skin, glowing brighter across her collarbones and arms like a silent promise.

"Okay," she said with a grin that was all heart, "Time to do my best on the next trial."

The Lovalla padawan squared her shoulders, the faint light still playing across her skin like a living luminescent aura, and marched forward.

Time for the Trial of Focus.

 

[Shan]

Tag: Zaiya Ceti
Objective: Support his Padawan!

"Dignity? What's that? I've never heard of it before. Is it some Lovallan trait?"

Shan grinned to himself at his teasing, It was so interesting to see how the colours worked, especially considering Shan used to have such a defined sense of what was right and wrong when he was younger. A clear sign of black or white. But he had seen the various shades of gray, and now through Zaiya he was seeing the various colours in life.

"No matter the result Zaiya, I'll be proud of you for doing your best. That's all I, or Iris can ask of you."

With that, Shan took a step back to let Zaiya attempt the Trial of Focus, folding his arms along his chest and waiting with a smile on his face. He wasn't concerned about the results of the Trial. If Zaiya managed to succeed it, then he'd proud, and even if she managed to fail, the Mirialan would still be proud of her.

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x | Companion: Domxite

Zaiya gave a final wave at Shan 's parting encouraging words before the Lovalla Padwan straightened her shoulders and made her way to her next stop.

It didn't take long before Zaiya stood just outside the arched entryway to the Chamber of Reflection, the stone cool beneath her boots, the silence thick as a Kashyyk's jungle before rainfall. Others had already gone in and had their own experiences with it. Now it was her turn.

Opal blue eyes flicked over the smooth doorway, then down to her palms. A faint shimmer of amber glided across her fingertips, chased by a nervous flicker of pale silver at her collarbones. Her skin betrayed what her breath tried to control.

You can do this.

She closed her eyes for a moment, drawing in a slow, deep inhale, just like Iris Arani had taught her. Domxite echoed next, quiet and steady -- Feel the emotion, don't drown in it. And then Shan's grin, his ruffle of her hair, the way he'd trusted her with something important... Don't worry, Zaiya. I know you've got this.

Her mottled stripes dimmed toward a soft bronze as her breathing evened. Calm. Focused. Not empty, but centered.

With another breath, she stepped into the chamber.

The door sealed behind her with a whisper, the dim lighting shifting as a black mirror, smooth and suspended in mid-air, tilted down to face her. Its surface rippled, and then she was staring back at herself -- only twisted. Warped. Her reflection's colors churned too fast: violet, silver, burgundy. Fear, shame, and grief smothered in resentment, thrown back at her with every flicker.

"You're too emotional," the reflection hissed in her voice. "You'll never master control. You'll alway show everything, even when you shouldn't."
It took every bit of control Zaiya had to try not to flinch.

The mirror's image leaned in closer, warping further, her own gaze turned sharp with doubt. "They pity you. They think you're sweet. Harmless. They don't believe you can be strong."

Her skin flickered faintly, a pale citrine, then soft teal, then back to rosy gold.

Feel it, but don't let it steer you, she told herself. Her thoughts, like anchors, circled back to Iris's teachings on how to ride the wave without being pulled under. To Shan's quiet honesty. To Domxite's comforting, grounding presence.

The mirror tried again. "You can't hide. Even now, your colors betray you."

The amber at her collarbones glowed once, then dimmed. Her stripes shifted to a soft grey, uncertainty brushing her heart like a cold wind.

But still, she didn't move. She didn't speak. She didn't break.

Instead, Zaiya locked eyes with her reflection. Her heartbeat slowed, steady. The warping colors faded, not in the mirror, but on her skin. She held her center. Held her breath. Held her truth -- that she was more than her fears. That control didn't mean denial, and power didn't mean silence.

Two minutes passed in silence. The mirror blinked, faded into obsidian.

Zaiya stood tall, skin a rosy golden hue and calm, a quiet glimmer of cobalt-flecked amber flickering like a heartbeat across her cheek.

She exhaled.

Then, quietly to herself, she whispered, "See....I can do this."

Seeing that, working through it herself, gave her hope. It wasn't completely perfect today, but it was a start. What her Masters had taught her had brought her this far -- and it will take her further still.

~ Exit thread ~​

 

[Azurine Varek]

The Galaxy Spins On

Outfit: Clothing/Armor | Glove | Right Arm | Talisman
Weapons: Lightsaber 1 | Lightsaber 2 | Hook Swords

The silence was more palpable than Azzie had expected. Her violet eyes moved from Katherine to others around the field. She wanted to say something, yet no words came out, unable to think of anything that felt genuine enough to give voice to. Her hand rose to the talisman around her neck, gripping it tightly and rubbing her thumb against the cool metal.

"I, uh... hope I didn't miss anything good." The words eventually tumbled out.

Startled from her thoughts, she was swept into a hug. Even if for a moment she flinched out of sheer instinct she didn't seem to have control over, it was quick but gentle. More silence. Her mind was torn between the joy and this deeply rooted, anguished understanding that was the core of her friend's aura. Of anything, she desperately didn't want to be pitied. She despised the idea of it even. However, this wasn't pity but a deep understanding and acknowledgment of a situation very few would ever be able to fully grasp.

Before she knew it, she'd grasped onto Kat, her fingers clawing at the girl's clothing to hold herself together. She dared not break out in the open like this. Not where everyone here could see it. If she knew what she needed, then maybe she'd be able to ask for it. So in the end all she could do was nod in response.

"Coruscant was just starting to feel—" Azzie cut herself off, making a sort of crushing motion with her hands instead of trying to put her wild jungle of feelings into words when she wasn't sure if she could. The Halls of Healing had just begun to press in on her, so... suffocating. Even if she knew she was safe, and even if she knew it was irrational, it was like a different kind of cage bearing down on her. She conveniently left out how disconnected she felt from so many different things, the Force included.

"KATDIDYOUSEETHATILIFTEDTHEPILLARITWASSUPEREASYIGOTITONTHEFIRSTTRY!"

She almost leapt right out of her skin, her eyes jolting wide as her attention was pulled elsewhere entirely. As she looked at the very young Padawan, taking in her energetic aura, a bittersweet smile took the place of her startled gaze. The kid couldn't have been older than 12, maybe 13, and there was something about her that made her think of herself when she was that young. Maybe she laughed, though it sounded a bit closer to a cough to be able to tell. "Gem-in-Trash? Should have been Diamond-through-pressure from where I'm standing." She spoke with the most encouragement she could, leaning over to ruffle the Cathar's hair (fur?).

Katherine Holt | Gem-in-Trash​

 

[Tel Ahren]

Tel really had no clue what to make of what the Arkanian lady was saying to him. Had he known just how full the crate was, he would've gotten under it the right way in the first place; the entire fiasco when he'd first lost his grip on it was a fault in judgement, not one in ability. When he set the crate down, and she decided to walk off all mysteriously with some parting words of wisdom, he nodded a bit dubiously before turning back to Drystan.

"Did any of that make any sense to you?" He wasn't entirely certain he would feel it tomorrow; it was a heavy crate, sure, but it wasn't like he was entirely out of shape. "Wait, hold on, let me go get the other before you answer..."

Grumbling to himself, he stepped back away from the Knight running the entire show, leaving him alone again in the center of it all. Where the Arkanian woman had gone on towards one of the other trials, however, Tel had another crate to move. This time he started lifting it properly from the beginning, completely managing to avoid toppling it over or toppling himself over atop it.

Just another forty paces and he'd have them both delivered as he was bid...

Drystan Creed Ezorea Zethussaln

 

[Gem-in-Trash]

Gem leaned into the pets, even giving a bit of purring at the affection. Gem greatly enjoyed this kind of contact, and let Azurine Varek pet her to her hearts' content. Gem rolled her head in Az's head until the Zabrak was giving Gem scratched on the chin and throat. The moment between them gave Gem the chance to calm down a little and get her mind back on the present.

"I like to think it's a similar meaning," Gem said, standing tall and proud, "I want to try and get through all the tests. I've got two down. I was worried about Strength, and now I think the next biggest challenge is going to be Focus. I'm told I can be..."

Gem tugged on her long sides on her face, trying to think of the right word, "Excitable. So, uh...I think I should take a moment and collect myself. It was good to bump into you. After I've done the tests, we should meet outside and I'll show you how to ride a Skimboard."

Gem knew of Az, and a bit of what she had endured, and saw her as a bit of an idol. She could also sense the other Padawan's pain, and didn't want to poke at fresh injuries with either praise or pity. In fact, she'd long wanted to get to know the Zabrak since she'd arrived.

With that, Gem began to dart over to the Test of Focus - but calmed herself, and reduced to a walk, trying to get herself to a calm level. Before entering, she sat down, and, against her inner urges to run around, Gem attempted to meditate before going in.

Meditation was always difficult for her, though. There was so much excitement in the air, that she ended up striking up a conversation with another Padawan who also was about to attempt the test instead. After vowing to make it through the test together, and still high on her previous two successes, Gem went into the test at the same time as her new friend...And they both failed, unable to take the silence and mirrors for more than a few seconds. Gem came out, desperate to have some kind of input, tugging at her own fur.

"Okay," she mumbled, pacing in front of the test chamber, "I'm just...Worked up because I did so well. I can do this. No reason to be discouraged. I just need to focus."

The other Padawan came out, also having failed. Gem smiled and waved at them, but curled up and began to focus again, trying to use techniques that had worked before to help her meditate. This time, she had found her center, and calmed her thoughts. It was only two minutes.

She stood, and went back in.

She came out nearly an hour later, with a serene, calm look on her face.

Her new friend, too, came out after their second attempt, looking similarly placated.

"You know," Gem said to Az and Katherine Holt , "I think I'm starting to get the hang of this."

((Rolled a second Meditation attempt: 14.

Second Test attempt: 19!!))