Seeking Crystals

[Jsc]

Prologue
Ilum

She was a frosty blue world. Covered in ice and snow. Textured with jagged peaks and swirling purple rock. Fissure that drew magma and canyons the drew down forever. Dangerous and cold. Oh yes. Cold, so cold. But if you could look past her icy exterior and see the peaceful aura that surrounded her, you would already begin to understand. This was a sphere that hide great power. This was a Force world.

Hidden against the mountain and along the frosty plains, there lies a door. A door that opens only to the call of the Jedi way. A hidden doorway that grants it's travelers access to one of the most ancient Jedi Temples deeper within. The Blue Temple. And it was here that a new journey was about to start.

___

The Jedi Temple

Wrapped up in his dark black cloak the Jedi Padawan of Ossus waited for the others to arrive. Already he had opened the hidden door in the mountains and granted them fair access to The Blue Hall within. The hall was the main thoroughfare and centerpoint that connected all of the ancient Temple's many pathways. The stone at the center of the ice. The beginning of their story. To note, it was daylight outside and the soft pale rays of the prime star filtered slowly into the brilliant room. Glinting and glittering off the marvelous silver walls. Tall and firm they rose. Steep and sharp. Glass-like and fluttering. Oh yes. You could see your reflection in the polished stone just as easily as within the mirroring ice. What few shadows remained were chased away by the peaceful aura of the planet's spirit. Even if your breath did cling to the air like a rising ghost.

Jay Masaki breathed deeply and smiled. Awaiting the return of his companions.

[member="Illyana Nightshade"]

 

[Illyana Nightshade]

Illyana was wearing a simple heavy white cover-all with a heavy tan coat on on top. Her boots are a light grey color. She was feeling ecstatic to say the least. She had dreamed of having a lightsaber for as long as she could remember in her young life. Now moving through the temple to where she was suppose to meet the others she tried to hide her excitement half walking half running. She soon arrived seeing [member="Jay Masaki"] she approached with a wave. "Hello I'm Illyana you must be Jay right?" she asked a small smile on her face.

 

[Jsc]

"You know it."

Jay stood up and starting feeling a bit tall compared to Illyana. He was well into his thirties and his fellow adventurer looked not a day over twelve or thirteen. Welp. That's what you get for starting all over. Might as well roll with it. They had a mission to work out anyway.

"Jay Masaki. Of Ossus. Nice to meet you Illyana. Welcome to Ilum. Home of Jedi ice cream and Sith snowmen. Heh."

He wrapped his black cloak around himself and pointed to the many doors,

"I figure one of these pathways leads us to our prize. ...Though. I haven't figured out which one yet."

... "Bah. Should be this one kid."

A voice came out from the shadows of a far door. Revealing the slow smirking smile of good old [member="Sam Kazroy"] . Jedi Knight.

"...Well. If you came for the crystals that is. Heh."

Jay smiled as the old man surprised him. Good one Kaz. Still playing the ninja.

"We were. That's the mission anyways."

Masaki turned to Illyana with a wave. Time to complete introductions,

"Illyana, allow me to introduce Sam Kazroy. Of Denon. Jedi Knight and Watchman."

Kaz gave his crowd a bow,

"Hello. Welcome to the old ice rock. She already knows your here. Heh. So no worries."

The old brown Jedi wandered over to another doorway and peered inside,

"Um. Welp. I think I'll go this way and see what else I find. You two... Erm. Well. You two have fun finding your crystals now. I'll be around. Just hollar if ya need anything. Hope I don't get too lost. Sh'maybe."

Jay gave a nod and let the old man wander off. Yeah. He knew how to get a hold of him. Well. Sorta.

[member="Illyana Nightshade"]

 

[Illyana Nightshade]

Illyana nodded "well maybe it's . . ." she was interrupted by a voice from the shadows. She looked to see Sam feeling a bit uneasy until Jay began to converse with him. "Nice to meet you master I'm Illyana as you heard" she bowed a small grin on her face. She put a hand on her utility belt studying the door that had been pointed out while she waited for Jay and Sam to finish speaking. It appeared similar to all the other doors nothing really special about it from what she could tell. Once Sam had disappeared in the door Illyana looked to Jay "I think we should get underway I don't think I can wait a minute longer!" her eagerness and excitement getting the better of her as it did many young people.

 

[Jsc]

Jay smirked and walked towards the door. She was eager. Good. So was he. This was just the chance he had been waiting for to get himself a new Force Crystal. His current one just didn't work the same way anymore. Go figure. Force magicks were so fickle these days. I suppose he really was starting over from scratch after all.

"Sure. I'll follow you if that's alright. Kaz picked this door, so that's the one we'll follow into the caverns. Oh? And watch your step now. Not all of these tunnels were worked with Jedi stone. Soon enough we'll just be underground in the old quarry tunnels and it can get sorta rough from there."

He gave a wave of his cloak and nodded,

"Ladies first."

Illyana could lead them to their first room.

[member="Illyana Nightshade"] <-- Use the @Mention feature under my avatar for faster replies. I get a notification every time you do.

 

[Illyana Nightshade]

Illyana nodded she stepped into the doorway walking. As she did she looked around watching her step as Jay had advised. From all that she could see it would just be tunnel for a long while. She figured this would be a good chance to talk with her new traveling companion. "So if you don't mind me asking why would someone . . . of your years be uh where you are right now?" she asked hoping he question wasn't offensive to him the young girl was only curious after all.

[member="Jay Masaki"] sorry by the time I posted that I was falling a sleep lol

 

[Jsc]

Right. I guess that was the elephant in the Temple, yeah. Jay smiled at how forthcoming she was. He must have been a human.

"Well. Let's just say I got a very late start and had to start over a few times. Heh. But I'm a fast learner. So I hope to catch up pretty fast, this time around."

He kept pace with Illyana and did his best not to trip on anything. No maids for a thousand years can make for quite the dusty floors indeed. Smiling as noticed that the daylight managed to filter into the hallways regardless of their position. No need for a torch just yet.

"What about you? When did you become a Padawan Officially? Graduated from Youngling maybe?"

Jay had only come to the Republic within that very year. So he wasn't as familiar with the Order as many of his companions. There was a good chance [member="Illyana Nightshade"] was just as learned about it as he was.

[member="Illyana Nightshade"]

 

[Illyana Nightshade]

Illyana listened to him silently with a nod. That sounded interesting she would have to ask him about how and why he would need to start over for. She smiled as he asked her when she became a Padawan "Oh not that long ago actually, but sadly I don't have a master." She paused momentarily a small frown on her face. This was a fact that greatly annoyed the young Padawan. "Why have you come along on this mission? she mused her frown turning into a smile as she glanced back at her much older peer. "I've come along to get my crystal and construct my lightsaber." as she stated this looking around the hall way she could tell it was getting darker the farther along they went.

[member="Jay Masaki"]

 

[Jsc]

Jay stopped to examine a hole in the ceiling for a moment. They were getting deeper underground but there was still light coming though these etchings. Curious. He talked as he peered up into the ceiling,

"My last crystal was attuned to my wife. It allowed our bond to remain strong even over great distances. However, since coming to Ossus after the events of Netherworld and all the chaos that cause? It has since stopped working altogether. Leaving my lightsaber to become a rather useless trinket indeed."

He pulled out his new lightsaber from under his black cloak and looked it over again. It didn't have the life it used to,

"I grew a synth crystal last week and swapped them out. Alas. It just doesn't feel like it used to. ...The crystal chooses the apprentice, ya know. Becomes apart of you. Bonds with your spirit. So when I practice with this one? ...Meh. It's... Just not the same. Like it's resisting me. Or,... Maybe I'm just still used to practicing with my old one."

He sighed and put the hilt away. It was still 99% the sword he'd constructed on Yavin. Still the same sword he's lost to Sin Quan, reclaimed, and fought the Magistrates with. But without the Storm Crystal that linked his mind to Fey? ...Yeah. It just wasn't the same.

"So. I came to Ilum to see if she'd gift me another one. Something that will bond with my memory again. Become my arm and my will. Not just another pretty tool. ...Well. You know how it goes."

[member="Illyana Nightshade"]

 

[Illyana Nightshade]

Hearing her companion stop Illyana turned looking at him as he spoke. When he had finished she smiled at him "Of course she will she loved you didn't she?" Illyana hoped what was said came of as a rhetoric question. "I think I know how it goes, but this will be my first lightsaber I'm not even sure if I can construct it. . ." she said sounding slightly worried. Turning back toward where they were walking Illyana began moving again "I think we should get a move on" she said glancing back to see if he was following.

[member="Jay Masaki"]

 

[Jsc]

He nodded and followed. Soon they left the stone hallways and decended in the caverns. It was darker here. A mist formed on the ground. The pathways were lit by a ghostly light just behind the icy walls. Like a blue flickering flame that seemed to drift and follow you. It made your shadow branch out and cover every surface. Almost like being underwater. There was even a somber twinkling that speckled about the surface of the floor and the ceiling. A thousand tiny lights that brightened and dimmed, all in a second. Jay's breath hung in the air as his walk got slower. More pronounced, as he couldn't really see the floor. Just the twinkling lights that scattered out before him.

"This is the place Illyana. Inside these walls lurks the crystals we seek. A thousand tiny lifeforms coming and going throughout the infinite Force. One of their spirits will began to speak to you. Draw you forward. And... If you let it. Guide you to the very crystal you seek."

Jay stopped again to pull his hood up over his head. His dark vision becoming darker and darker. Fading into shadow.

"This is as far as we go together. From here on out?..."

...

His voice seemed to trail off and his presence seemed to disappear. The mist rising from the floor to cascade and obscure. Shifting the openings from the closings, and the ups from the downs. And when it settled no trace of their former passage remained. Only a whisper that lingered like an echo,

"...You are on your own."

[member="Illyana Nightshade"]

 

[Illyana Nightshade]

Illyana turned a small smile on her face thinking that her companion had been joking. This quickly turned to a frown when she realized that he was in fact gone. Illyana sighed to herself she looked around the room knowing that she must continue seeing multiple exits she sighed not sure which one to take. Closing her eyes she turned to each exit until she felt which one felt . . . right. She jogged to the entrance of the exit looking in she could see it was a tunnel. She began to move through.

[member="Jay Masaki"]

 

[Jsc]

The mist gathered and swirled. Swirled and gathered. Until finally it deposited Jay right back at the beginning again. He awoke to the center of the Temple and nodded to the sound. She was playing with him now. Beckoning him forward into another passageway. This one leading up, not down.

Jay gathered his black cloak and stepped across the threshold. It was time to follow that still small voice back to heaven.

[member="Illyana Nightshade"]

 

[Illyana Nightshade]

Illyana moved down the tunnel studying the walls and looking for the crystal that would call to her. After a while the tunnel had another opening. She paused and gathered her breath before walking into the room. She looked around wondering what this was all about. The room looked like an obstacle course and at the very end was some sort of purplish light. She could feel it . . . calling to her. Illyana closed her eyes focusing.

[member="Jay Masaki"]

 

[Jsc]

Shaun followed the footsteps to a spiral stair and pushed on further ahead. Up and up, he went. Until he came to a very familiar room. A Jedi Meditation Chamber. Sized perfectly for one. The ceiling grew tall and long icy walls drew great light. For at the top of the room was a hole that seemed to peer right at the sun itself. Warming his face and calming his mood.

Jay sat down on the small bench that marked the center room and closed his eyes. He focused on the Force and let the planet take him there. Surrounded by her gentle currents he opened his eyes once again and found himself to not be alone at all.

"Heh. Figures it was you. Been awhile, huh."

"Mm. Did you miss me?"

...

What happened next was a conversation long lost to time.

[member="Illyana Nightshade"]

 

[Illyana Nightshade]

Illyana's eyes opened she leaped forward jumping over the first obstacle it was just a small gap. She jogged forward slowing as she reached the next obstacle. the only way forward was on a small strip of land. She began to walk across slowly one foot in front of the other balancing. As she neared the end she sped up wanting to get her crystal as fast as she could. She screamed out as she fell grabbing out at the other side she barely caught on. Pulling herself up on the other side she calmed her breathing before standing.

[member="Jay Masaki"]

 

[Jsc]

While Jay was busy talking with his old friend. The Kaz had finally wandered into the same cavern as [member="Illyana Nightshade"] . My my. He really was getting quite lost today.

"Hm. Now, was I going east or west in here? Drat. I'm completely turned around. This Temple is ridiculous. Bongers."

As he stroked his beard with great thought, Kaz noticed Ilyana and her obstacle course. Oh my?

"Ah. The challenge of the cave. I remember now. Perfect for a young Padawan. I believe she'll do quite nicely."

He ignored the part about bodily injury or falling to one's doom. Kaz was optimistic like that. Sorta. He tugged on his beard and approached the edge of chasm, nearer the small Padawan. Peering down into the abyss.

"Oh my!"

And what a long fall it was indeed. Kaz nodded to himself and pulled out his pipe. He'd get a smoke in while he watched Ilyana work for it. Jay was probably busy anyway.

 

[Illyana Nightshade]

Illyana dusted herself off she'd have to be more careful. Taking no notice of the knight that was now watching her she moved along to the next obstacle. She could actually see the crystal now. She looked to the obstacle there were pillars of ice in a zig zag pattern coming out of an enormous chasm. She moved to the edge unable to see a bottom she sighed. Looking to the first pillar she moved back before leaping toward it.

[member="Sam Kazroy"]

[member="Jay Masaki"]

 

[Jsc]

Kaz took a puff from his pipe and squinted against the low light. [member="Illyana Nightshade"] was doing just fine. So, he didn't worry about actually having to fulfill his role as chaperon to the party. The embers from his pipe lite up his face as he smoked. Quiet and calm. Invisible and watching. Classic Kaz. It was the role most common to a Watchman these days. Just, observing events as they happened.

He'd wait until Ilyana had passed the danger. Then he'd probably have to retreat back into the maze and find Jay. Poor kid. All this jumping. Ugh. This was why Kaz didn't volunteer for field work. All that jumping. Blarg! Hehe.

He puffed on his pipe and waited.

 

[Illyana Nightshade]

She landed almost losing balance as she did. Once she finally caught her balance she bent her knees and jumped landing on the next pillar. She did this again twice more before she was on the other side. She looked to the next obstacle it was nonexistent. All that was there was a crystal. It was a purple color she smiled and grabbed it eagerly. "Finally you sure were a lot of trouble." she slipped it into her pocket. She looked at the tunnel leading away from where she had got her crystal. Turning she looked at the obstacle course room. Yeah she was going with the tunnel. Illyana turned moving into he opening as she began to wonder where [member="Jay Masaki"] was and if his thing was as annoying as hers.

[member="Sam Kazroy"]