Reflections of the Force

[Muad Dib]

The Devil's Flame cut through the emptiness if hyperspace headed toward it's destination: Christophsis. He was going to meet with a mining corporation who were carefully extracting a rare vein of concentrated and priceless Kyber. The details of the transaction had already been agreed upon and all that remained was arriving to purchase and retrieved the precious crystals.

Sitting in a chair the man silently went over the Chronicle he had obtained. On his armrest was a book that he was carefully marking with notes for the upcoming attempt at creating his first talisman. Pausing in his reading he closed his eyes for several moments as he sensed the ship editing hyperspace and begin it's final approach to the planet.

With a small sigh he slid the items into a satchel on the seat next to him and folded his hands. This was the first step to creating his artifact that would be of great use to the Mandragora. His first real to the Magiks. And though the price would be hefty, it would be worth it.

 

[Muad Dib]

Back upon the Devil's He supervised the careful loading of the crate containing the Kyber crystals. The price was without doubt large, but the Mad Master neither flinched not hesitated in paying for them after careful examination. As the crate was secured he moved back to where he had sat before his arrival. The ship refueled and began to head back across the stars to return to Candy Mountain. But Muad was too preoccupied to pay attention to the trivial details of travel.

In his seat he carefully held a Kyber crystal in his hands. The jewel warned noticably in his palms as he focused on the crystal. An echo returned to him, a sense of life and force seemingly sensing he as he studied it. Pulling his senses back slightly he wrapped the crystal in a handkerchief and slid it protectively into the satchel.

Sitting back his mind raced at the possibilities that he could use the crystal for. Yet he knew what a decent portion would come to be... A talisman for the Witches of Ryloth, the Mandragora. The Doashim Patron within the Shaman murmured his agreement with his Shaman. But it would take work and a sacrifice from the Mad Master, one he was willing to make.

 

[Muad Dib]

The lambda shuttle lowered onto it's birth within the Kaer Orbital Station renamed Candy Mountain. Again he watched the crate off loaded and taken to his study which was located in one of the pylon rings surrounding the hub of the station. Making his way to his quarters with his satchel over his shoulder, Muad went to collect a few items needed.

In his quarters he tossed his sheathed beskad and collapsible energy bow into the bed and moved through the sparse quarters. At his desk he sat and looked at the items arrayed around the surface. The the dagger made of stone, a stasis field generator that kept a fist sized flame burning, a globe that slowly circulated water, and another small generated field that circulated wind from the planet Ryloth in a small vortex.

With the items gathered he moved to his study. There he had half of the crystals removed from the crate by a Droid and carefully laid out upon a table, the light glistening off their multi faceted surfaces. None would touch them until they were given to the one that would claim it.

At another table he arrayed the items collected from his quarters before placing his satchel in the center to remove the books and the carefully wrapper Kyber crystal he had already handled. Looking at the jewel he once again felt the pull off the force aura that was reminiscent of a small child stretching forth his hand for it's mother.

But he was not prepared. Not yet.

 

[Muad Dib]

Having studied the Kyber Crystal he was aware that the one that wielded it could potentially wound it, causing a bleeding effect that could lessen it's power. And a Sith or Darksider attempting to force their will upon the jewel would do the same. This required a sacrifice from the Mad Master, one he had one would come if he wanted to truly make something worth while for the Witches. He had to face his own demons and temper the madness that stained his soul, if for but a time.

The Patron spoke to the Shaman, offering his strength and guidance, but they both knew this was something there man would have to do alone. And as the crystals were interconnected, wounding the crystal he handled risked infecting the other jewels that were to be Talismans. And he would not create something for the Mandragora that was defective.

Moving away from the tables to a clear spot on the ground, his have held two items retrieved from his satchel. Slowly he dropped to his knees and slowed his breathing, calmed the turmoil of thoughts, found the peace that so frequently evaded him. As he dropped into the meditative trance he set the two items on the floor before him.

 

[Muad Dib]

Slow, deep breathing calmed him as he emptied himself. At his core existed a maelstrom of emotions that constantly fueled and fed him. Rage and fear stood at the fore. His life and the choices he had made during it merely fueled the flames that existed at his core. But he had learned how to temper the madness that created the distorted aura he cast in the force. He had learned how to find peace.

With his right hand he lightly clasped the smooth stone in his palm and let the Force guide him. Psychometric ability came to the front and his mind journeyed into memory, his own.

The planet was divided. On the mountain outside of the temple he watched the dusk, or was it dawn, permeate the sky. This region of the planet was always cast into eternal struggle between darkness and light, and as the planet rotated, neither side won. He had come here to learn how to not be crazy, how not to be a monster, how to be sane. But that was not the lesson he had learned. The force was unifying, the force was neutral, the force was life and death. The power that bound everything in the Galaxy was neither inherently good, nor was it evil. It existed as a force of nature, and was not able to be placed into a box that claimed it to be good or evil.

And so it relied upon the individual. Some were selfless, caring, and protective and hence utilized attributes of the force that only came natural to the lightside. Others were defilers, selfish, and sought wanton pleasure for their own gains and gravitated to the Darkside. But the Force was merely a reflection of the individual. But some were able to find a balance within themselves and carry away the stigmata that came with 'choosing' a side. It took soul searching and introspection and realigning your priorities to understand who you were, what you were capable of, and what you were willing to sacrifice.

Opening his eyes he looked upon the stone remembering that who he had once been, he was no longer. The Mad Knight of the Sith, the raving monster that snuffed out all forms of life. The being who craved death of those he hated and was envious of, those who had peace. It was there, on Tython, that he had learned balance was within his grasp. Though it was something he failed to attain at that time, it was a truth that it was possible for him to turn from his own darkness.

 

[Muad Dib]

Slowly he placed the stone once more in the ground and closed his eyes again. The memories relived were vivid and he drank in the reality that he had achieved. A knowledge that balance could be gained. A blending of rage and peace, fear and hope, love and hate. A being could not have one without the other and retain their balance. It was at that moment that he had learned that balance was something he could have if he so wanted it.

But he had not, not then.

Reaching out with his left hand he slowly opened an aged cloth that revealed withered blossoms. Gently he plucked some from the cloth and again surrendered to the memories that aimed his senses and brought him to Voss with a meeting with a Silver Jedi Master.

He stood there seeing, hearing, and feeling what he had experienced. This was a time when he knew he was broken, the pieces of who he was sharp and brittle, drawing blood from friend and foe alike. He knew he was wounded and shattered, the pieces of who he was threatening to be scattered but by a strong wind. Yet stubbornly he had held to who he had been, afraid of change and surrendering to the realization that he was not trapped in the path he walked.

Glowing, blue eyes took in the pleasant form of [member="Coci Heavenshield"] who had offered to assist him in his journey, if he truly wished it. Her words echoed in his ears and mind stirring his core now just as it had then. "Peace, in any form is a journey we take to achieve but never do. But it is the journey that leads us ever closer that we must embark on and in so doing we shall find calm and hope. I am sure you would have heard the old Jedi Code line of, There is no emotion, there is peace? and I am equally sure you understand it as well, not like those that do not think on the words and what they might mean, who believe we the Jedi, rid emotions from our very souls and become nothing in the process, no. It is the control of emotions in order to control our actions and when we do act, it is informed. I do not have the problem of instability you do, but Jedi fight each and every day for this control because we are but sentient beings like the rest and so we have failings and 'demons' we must face as well. Those that think we do not, are foolish whether those that think this are Sith or Jedi alike."

A sigh escaped him as he let the petals drift back to the cloth before enclosing them in it's protective embrace once more. That day he had learned it was something he wished, to be whole. And though he inevitably fled from the planet and the woman's administrations and offer to help, the truth remained. He wanted to be whole, to find a balance within.

Closing his eyes again he turned the inner eye within. Life and it's experiences had changed him. Despite claiming to care nothing but for his own pleasure he had grown close to some. Arabella, Dresdin, Atin, Gabe, Ijaat, Arrbi, Anija, Mirshko, Ginnie, Derek, Kentarch, Sol, and Jia. He had felt commraderie, love, and loss. Yet he tried to bury himself in his rage and hate, not to become a force against those that were arrayed against but rather to protect himself.

Looking at the different aspects of who and what he had been he accepted them into himself. Murderer, warrior, son, Sith, friend, brother, lover, killer, mando'ad, soldier, protector, Witch, shaper, Confederate, enemy, Shaman, father .... As the different aspects of himself swirled around and finally coalesced into him his eyes opened.

He was the quiet in the storm, the darkness in the light. He was the killer of his enemies, the shield for those under his protection. He was the madness within the sanity, a voice of reason in times of unrest. He was neither evil nor good, for a distinction such as that was incomprehensibly false. He was what he had been, and what he feared to be.

He had found balance in the savior and destroyer.

 

[Muad Dib]

It is time. The Patron spoke to the Mad Master. The man nodded with consent. Inside he felt the power drawing him, his mark warming against his flesh, as the Doashim Spirit summoned him. A mist slowly rose from the ground and enveloped him hiding everything from sight. Slowly a small wind brushed against his brow and cleared the mist away.

Gone was the station and the study. Instead Muad found himself in the wastelands before the Altar where the Doashim Patron stood watching, waiting. Rising fluidly from his kneeling position his hand pulled the Mythosaur imbued kal from it's sheath and advanced toward the great entity. The Doashim swished it's great tail as it watched the man advance.

My blood, my power, a gift. Muad reached the great being and raised the blade to cut a vertical wound into the Patron's chest. Blood dripped from the rent and the Doashim summoned a small stone bowl, capturing some of the glowing emerald blood. Once filled the wound sealed and the Doashim extended the bowl to the man who had sheathed the blade. My blood, my power, a gift. Do not squander it, my Chosen.

Muad nodded an agreement as his hands gripped the bowl. Mists swirled around him once more obscuring the landscape of the spirit realm Ryloth. Slowly it dissipated and he was back in the study upon Candy Mountain. The spirit ichor rested in the stone bowl within his hands.

 

[Muad Dib]

Moving to the desk he placed the bowl with the other items around the crystal. Still concentrating on his breathing he focused his cleared mind onto the crystal, finally granting that which had been denied: a union. As the two auras in the force swirled around each other he bared the reality of who and what he was while sensing the complexity that was the jewel. Faint echoes from the other crystals swirled within his mind.

Slowly the Mad Master tapped into the force. Letting the power fill and roll over him he slowly infused the crystal, the lattices and facets glowing as the melding of power from man and jewel began. The other jewels thrummed with power as through the connection in the force the imbuement touched each and every one.

Slowly, as the kaiburr crystal sensed the neutrality of the force wielder it lowered it's natural resistance and accepted the man for what he was, a flawed individual who sought balance yet at times failed. As the current of power opened without restraint the power of the force beckoned with limitless possibilities.

 

[Muad Dib]

As the Force flowed from man to crystal and back again in a conduit of energy he slowly began the process of the enchantment. As he moved each corresponding item around the crystal on equal sides he chanted with the touch of each. First the stone dagger.

"Bone of earth"

Next he slid the globe with gently circulating water against the crystal.

"Body of water."

Again he moved another item in, this one the vortex of wind.

"Breath of air."

The generator containing the flame touched the multifaceted crystal.

"Passion of fire."

Last the bowl of ichor was put into contact with the crystal.

"Spirit of Life."

As they all were brought into alignment tendrils of each rose to wash over the crystal in a coalescing, writhing power that strengthened the crystal and the energy contained inside with a raw ambiguity yet to be defined.

 

[Muad Dib]

The connection grew and morphed as Muad pulled the Kal from it's sheath and ran the blade across his left palm. Making a fist the blood rained crimson drops upon the crystal. The blue Sith runes flickered to life in his left arm, glowing as brightly as the Mad Master's eyes. Directing the flow of energy and power he began the incantation.

"Cabur be Solus, Parjai ru'parjir.
Aranor gar vod, Dralshya tome.
Ara'novor ven'jurkad, yaimpar bah te aru'e.
Solus ti tal, Dral adol Suni.
Ver'gebuir ka'rta, Aliik be ara'nov.
Cabur be Solus, Parjai ru'parjir."
(Translation)

Spoiler

"Protector of One, Victory won.
Defend your brother, Stronger together.
Block attacks, Return to the enemy.
United by blood, Power through Spirit.
A Guardian heart, Symbol of defense.
Protector of One, Victory won."

The tendrils of dust, air, fire, water, ichor, and now blood covered the gem in a translucent sheen. But as the words were spoken they were pulled into the crystal which began flashing as the kaiburr crystal became something more. It became a Talisman of Reflection.

Rocking back on his heels Muad swayed from the sudden surge of power that stained from him and intro the Talisman. But through the force the surge continued outward to the neighboring, resting crystals, that also underwent the change. Legs weakened and he dropped to a knee, hands clasped to the edge of the table.

Slowly he pulled himself to his feet and reached out with his right hand to claim his Talisman which, upon his touch, flashed colors then cooled to a pale blue. Gripping the Talisman in his right he moved to the chair at the desk and felt the acceptance of the crystal echoing to him through the force.

(End Dev)