Faction Star Temple, Redux || Ascendancy

[Ascendant Muse]

Chapter I: The Sun Rises
Chapter II: Day of Landing
Chapter III: New Thing
Chapter IV: Star Temple​

S T A R _T E M P L E
Verun, Shiraya Expanse

For seven years, there had been Harmony.

Though distinct organizations, the Medjai Order* and the Ascendancy had both been born from a common ancestor. The late Confederacy had been the warmth that cultivated their rise - and it's fall saw them band together to survive. Since landing upon the desolate world Verun, both leaned on the other to make it through the day. Where the Ascendants would fight off slaver and raids, the Medjai would face down the literal monsters which prowled the night. This balance and kinship formed a bond that was thought to be everlasting. That is, until the Black Night*.

Unprovoked, three of the Medjai Order's finest attempted to slash the lives of the Ascendancy's Royal Family. The fallout from such a betrayal could have been a war that consumed both sides. But rather than turn brother against brother, the Dominus proposed to the Medjai a different solution. One that would frustrate the chaotic whims of the three who had made an attempt on his life. Unity. No longer would there be a distinction between the Ascendancy and the Medjai Order. Instead, they would all stand together under the Ascendant banner. The Medjai would pledge their loyalty to the Throne, and the Throne would guarantee their survival.

This proposal came to amend the Star-Cross Concordat* that previously ordered their steps. Now, as one, the future was brighter - but uncertain. There were many within the Order who did not know the nature of the man who steered the nation. They did not know the nature of the Legions they would now fight alongside. These were questions that the Dominus* and the Archon* sought to answer, together. To bring peace of mind to the Medjai and the Legions alike, the doors of the Star Temple were opened.

And for the first time since its construction, outside souls were permitted to enter. For one night only. This was a rare opportunity for the finest of the Ascendancy to break bread with one another and to personally establish the kinship that had defined their organizations. With this, it was hoped that there would be true Unity - and from it, True Strength.​

Spoiler: Glossary of Terms*

T E R M S

• MEDJAI ORDER: A Knighthood of Force Sensitives residing within the Shiraya Expanse. They specialize in hunting Monsters and the Unmaker's servants.
• BLACK NIGHT: A tragic event where three Medjai Lords attempted to assassinate the Royal Family. This event ultimately resulted in the Medjai Order swearing fealty to the Ascendancy.
• STAR-CROSS CONCORDAT: A treaty which formed the alliance between the Medjai Order and the Ascendancy several years ago. As of the Black Night, it has been amended with the Order's oaths of fealty.
• DOMINUS: A term which translates to emperor, referring to the monarch of the Ascendancy.
• ARCHON: The elected grandmaster of the Medjai Order.

Spoiler: Objectives

Typically-speaking, the exterior of the Star Temple is adorned only with the succulents and desert flora required to keep its midst fed. Yet this day, all manner of tent and stall cropped up seeming overnight. With so many guests arriving, the craftsmen within Order took the opportunity to offer boons. Thus, the Bazaar, illuminated by Torchlight, was a rare chance for outsiders and members alike to get their hands on a new trinket, tool, or even enchantment. Here, there was no telling what sort of treasures laid just around the corner. ​

As one travels into the Star Temple proper, following the literal red carpet would lead them to the Great Hall. While typically a place for meetings of the Knighthood, it has been converted to house entertainment and refreshments for all. From initiates performing dazzling displays of the Force to an open bar, here one could truly whet their appetite for tastes and sights. ​

While few areas of the Star Temple are closed for the evening's festivities, such as the Archives, the home of the Medjai is free to explore. From the quiet balconies overlooking the plateau, to the training halls adorned with droids and holograms, one can truly find many ways to get lost within the Temple. How will you shape your evening?​

Spoiler: Tag

Korvis Laerann
Yeshua
Teyla Sal-Soren
Finnea Virlee
Kyyrk
Alessandra Creed
Tre'von Vile
John Locke
Vyse de Valorous
Matthew Locke
Abel Denko
Nephthys Nardithi-Verd
Illyria Le Fey
Luna Evanstance
Darth Metus
Lace Verd
Darth Elyria
Kervo Namadi
Srina Talon
Binary
Kuben Woods
Rann Thress
Dreidi Xeraic
Talohn Atar
Artemis Verd
Titus Dorn
Tegan Farron
Var Talon
Sylvia Alvaro
Izovel Uzán
Ciri Jade
Tess Valnora
Iella Sunscream
Aliza Vale
Kirwin Hass
Laertia Io
Josiah
Diana Sophistica
Taiia Locke
Darth Ivum
Vanir Eris
Saer Lorian
Gerwald Lechner
Kusana
Valeria de la Vallée
Allyson Locke
Oleander Webb
Kurenai Yumi
'Juno' Hart
Lowri Rhi
Kirk Tektus
Dena Careen
Ren Bishto
Mae Tecono
Zlova Rue
Amelia von Sorenn
Valery Noble

 

[Josiah]

BAZAAR
Open for Interaction

A return to normal.

The Jedi had been apart of the Medjai Order for many years. So many, in fact, that he had witnessed firsthand their evolution. When he was but a young man, hardly an adult, he first joined them as the Templar Order. He grew with them as they shed worship of the Force and became the Knights Obsidian. And now, he survived alongside them as the Medjai. Across the decades, one thing was relatively constant. The Order, whichever form it was in, worked closely with the Confederacy.

So it was that the Medjai were essentially kin to the Confederacy's ascendant offspring.

Thus, when news reached Josiah's ears about the Black Night and its aftermath, he felt relief. Relief because additional bloodshed had been averted. Relief because things were, in essence, returning to what they had always been. Unity was a preferable outcome, especially when the alternative was bloodshed. And so, the Jedi was in quite the good mood when the Star Temple was opened. Today, he took the rare opportunity to see what the craftsmen of the Order had in store by visiting the freshly-built Bazaar.

There were all manner of stalls present, and frankly he did not know where to begin first. Eventually, he settled upon drawing nearer to a display of glimmering crystals. He had seen his fair share in his day, but none which shined as distinctly as these.

"Hello there, what can you tell me about these?" he asked of the Initiate tending the stall.

"These are Solari Crystals, but we've given them a spin. They work better in the Sun! You see..."

Josiah nodded along as the youngling prattled on proudly about the process. It was always exciting to see what the next generation was capable of.​

 

[Dreidi Xeraic]

Location: Bazaar
Outfit: Padawan garb
Tags: Open to Interaction

Dreidi hadn't known much about the Black Night, she had kept her distance from much of the politics and higher ups from the Medjai Order. There was a lot she had been unsure about, even though she had been on Verun the first day, that she had stuck around the Ascendancy and Medjai Order from their concept, seen the birth from the ashes of the Confederacy. For Dreidi, it was hard to really stay around and keep going, she was too free spirited and lately she needed to explore out of the region. See what the Jedi outside the Ascendancy were doing. When she heard about the attack, she had been devastated, she thought things were better here, more secure and stronger, however, it seemed to be ready to crash all over again. That was until a deal was struck, a merciful hand extended.

Part of her was surprised, Metus was a known Sith Lord and a threat to his family, no one would have questioned him taking a harsher, darker route. But perhaps it was the wisdom that came with age that stayed his blade, or his advisors wishing to skip a bloody and vicious war where there wouldn't truly be winners. Dreidi wasn't even sure why there had been an attack on the family. What was the aims? To cause a war? Why would people want to cause a war? War was devastating and there were never winners in war. At least from what she had read and seen in her time exploring the galaxy in the current state it was.

Looking around the bazaar, she thought about the agreement, she hadn't realised till the agreement came out that the Medjai Order was separate to the Ascendancy itself. She had always viewed them as connected, perhaps that was because she was connected to them both. Either way, it didn't matter since they were united now. Dreidi touched some of the garments and felt the quality of the fabrics. Usual bazaars, you would get high quality but you could also get some very dodgy quality so Dreidi was keeping an eye out. She didn't want to fall for a trap if there was anything she liked the look of.

 

[Abel Denko]

BAZAAR
Interacting With: Luna Evanstance + Open

He just couldn't get used to the heat.

Though it had been years at this point, the tan warrior was not a fan of Verun's native temperatures. Upon setting foot outside his quarters, he was always greeted with a wall of dry heat. It always left him with sweat beading upon his brow and forcing him to put his hair up into ponytail. Fortunately, today's event wasn't taking place at high noon or anything ridiculous. The steady decline of the sun meant that cool air was on the horizon - he just had to endure.

So, Abel chose to visit the Bazaar that had been erected for the day.

Now, while the blonde was not the crafting sort, his main motivation was the cover. Most of the stalls were set up in such a way that their awnings provided plenty of shade. And within shade, Abel could exist without wanting to burn it all down. Plus, there was the fringe benefit of being able to see what his fellows had come up with. For the most part, Abel was more than satisfied with his cuirass, lightsaber, and lightshield - but one never knew what sort of goodies might catch the eye.​

 

[Gerwald Lechner]

WEARING: xxx
TAG: OPEN

He stood above the revelry, finding the solitude of the balcony above the great hall a suitable place for his stoic observance. Once again the wolf found himself distant when he needed to be at the center. Gerwald often found himself musing on the fact life had not been what he anticipated. Most knew full well he had intended to remain a warrior on Stewjon. The many versions of his exploits and why he was where he was today found themselves on the lips of most who were aware of him.

Gerwald was beyond the point of caring anymore. It was an interesting hobby to figure out how the latest version portrayed him, or the truth of his ascension to Archon, Lord Commander, whatever the hell his title was. Change had been the only consistent thing in his life, and it was why Gerwald clung to the things which reminded him of simpler days. Standing in the balcony while he lurked was one the ways he could do just that.

A glass of whiskey remained in his right hand as he sipped it occasionally. A fluted glass with some fruity alcoholic cocktail sat on the ledge just outside of his reach. It was a reminder of the night he had come to call a missed opportunity. Whether it had been or not, Gerwald had learned that night to never let a moment pass. Yet, he was watching on as several moments passed.

The wolf had not learned his lesson.

Gerwald was not dressed in anything fancy. The days when he decided to wear anything that would make him look as though he could clean up well ended when his life became about killing monsters. He was a predator, a hunter, and the wolf allowed his image to speak to everything he was. A soft chuckle escaped his lips as he watched the young below.

“Drink it in while you can,” he muttered under his breath. “Drink it in while you can…”​

 

[Yeshua]

STAR TEMPLE
Interacting With: Finnea Virlee , Gerwald Lechner

When last the Vampyre had stepped away, it had been during the Day of Landing.

Meaning, it took a national holiday of great significance to pry him away from his Command. The reality of the situation was ironic, at least from the outside looking in. Yeshua was so concerned about his Signifer having ample time away for training that he never actually took time away himself. He was quick to approve her leave requests, but never submitted one of his own. Whenever the engineer returned, she would always find him the same as she left him - standing upon the Bridge with the next mission in hand.

But, fortunately, there was an event of great significance to pry him away. One that spoke of unity between the Medjai Order and the Ascendancy proper.

After the Black Night was resolved, Yeshua was hardly concerned with how the Knights would integrate into the empire. His focus was upon the Jericho II and making sure its crew remained breathing. And unprofessionally, his focus was upon stoking the flames of his happiness. Yet, when the call came down from above, Yeshua led the way down to the surface. Orders were orders - and mandatory fun was on the menu. Of course, he did not go anywhere without his Second. Whether it be battle or to the Star Destroyer's mess, one could not find the Vampyre without the engineer.

Today was no different. Together they strode into the Star Temple and made their way towards the Hall.

"Perhaps you'll be able to learn more here." Yeshua mused, "What with all the new camaraderie going about."​

 

[Luna Evanstance]

Bazaar

It was a true wonder that anyone could survive the smothering heat. Even with ashen hair braided back and clothing that should have helped against it, there was no escaping it. The young woman found herself quietly walking alongside Abel- her verdant gaze watchful and in an attempt to keep her tall, willowy frame from melting in the heat, she was more set on finding some relief over actually looking at the various items. “It’s hotter than a Hutt’s sweaty asscrack out here,”

She muttered with a sigh as she reached up and playfully tugged on the other man’s ponytail. “This suits ya’ you should wear it like this more often,” Shifting some as a few other beings mulled about, she almost prayed for some sort of breeze to come through and save them all from becoming dried-up corpses on the ground.

“You lookin’ at anythin' in particular?” She spoke with curiosity. She herself wasn’t one for purchases unless it was a necessity- part of the survivalist in her had always lived like that and no doubt always would. “Maybe a fan- or some ice cubes; both be sounding’ good right about now.”
​

Abel Denko

 

[Diana Sophistica]

-=Diana Sophistica=-​

---

Tags: Josiah + open
Ship: "The Red Hare"
Equipment: Prosthetics, Diana original lightsaber, Outfit and look
Droids: Orange Kitten, Blue Squid
Objective: Train
Inspirational music

---

With slow shuffled steps she entered. A large crowd, much larger then she had known for the last few years. Her feet had an odd sound to it as the woman carried her heavy frame along by a cane. Her left leg a heavy metal apparatus that was build by her own hand, it was a piece of marvel that she fueled with her powers. Her hair bright red, near neon as it once was, now decorated with thick plumes of grey hair. It was hard to deny the wrinkles that decorated her scarred face. Many who knew her from the old days would recall the emerald eyed woman for her scarred appearance. However now hunched over her cane, she made her way to her friend. She noticed him and sought a near retreat in the knowledge that someone was there she knew. She had spend time with him while training. Practicing and evolving as a Jedi to become a scholar of a skill level that could not be denied. Regardless of her skill, a broken frame seemed to let the force float around her instead of allowing it in. And thus as she stepped to the bazaar stall that the grey man stood at, she smiled hesitantly.

"Josiah, it is so very much like you to be intrigued by those... Come here old friend, it is good to see you."

She offered a friendly embrace. Josiah was a man she had the chance to get to know on a few occasions. She held great respect for him. As the sand brushed past their faces and whisked their hair up in the wind, her cloak brushed at the woman's frame. The bazaar was a collection of so many things she could hardly think a proper way to figure it all out. She looked around as she smiled at her friend with a little sly look. Her frame creaked slightly as she pushed off the cane and while her face still looked like that of a 40 something year old, she seemed to let the force in once again. Her frame straightened to the 2 meter tall giant, her arm and leg both whir into motion as new engines jumped to life. A soft blue glow coming from them as she cracked her back and an impressively muscular frame started to appear from under her cloak. She was only more build by the years, when she could use the force to give her the strength to shoulder her past.

"Have you seen anything worth our time Josiah? Or did you have an other appointment?"

---

-=The Emerald Flame=-​

---

 

[Kyyrk]

Wearing​

Kyyrk hated it here. Every minute he spent on this planet was a reminder that it wanted to kill him. What he wouldn't give for his old body back. As the black clad figure strode through the bazaar, people stepped aside to grant him the right of way. He never made a public appearance on Verun without his armor. His features were often obscured, leading the people to gossip that there was something...wrong with him. Those that knew Kyyrk personally knew a different story. One of aching bodies and skin like a shelled sea creature. The ivory man did not fare well in desert environments unprotected.

His presence here was two-fold. To enjoy the festivities as a citizen of the Ascendancy, certainly. But also to serve as a reminder. A reminder that the Dominus was always watching. That a second Black Night would not be wise. Kyyrk paused at a stall selling parts for lightsabers, giving the wares a cursory look. He'd been at the palace the night of the attack. He'd been the one to stop one of the assailants. Their duel had been brief, yet ferocious. Yet Kyyrk had refused to strike them down. Even when his opponent was left at his mercy. There was a better way.

There was always a better way. He'd reminded the wayward lords of that. Effecting change in the Ascendancy was not hard. But there was a better way. He did not plead on their behalf. Nor did he condemn them on behalf of the Dominus. He ensured their attack was ill-fated, and left the rest to Darth Metus . There was a time and a place for him to strike down enemies of the empire. This was not one of them. As Kyyrk wandered the stalls, he stopped at one selling tunics and other such garments.

There was one that had caught his eye. One that immediately made him....uncertain of how he felt. On the one hand, it filled him with a sense of pride. On the other, it made him sick to his stomach. As he stepped near the stall, he glanced to the side at the young Dreidi Xeraic who was also perusing the wares. "Young Mistress Xeraic. Welcome back to Verun." Kyyrk's face might have been obscured, but his voice and armor were certainly distinct enough to identify him easily. "I trust your travels were fruitful?" Kyyrk's gaze lingered on her as he awaited her answer, soon turning to the garment he'd picked up. A soft grey shoulder cape with a symbol perched just at the curve of the shoulder. There were many such capes on display, but the icon upon this one drew Kyyrk's attention. An Icon he never believed he would see again... ​

Tags: Dreidi Xeraic || Open

 

[Abel Denko]

The Corellian was wholly accurate.

Though the sun was steadily headed beyond the horizon, the time of day gave no reprieve from the heat. Thus, Abel attempted to steer them from shadow to shadow. At least then, they wouldn't be totally subjected to the relentless heat. "You have a way with words." he remarked, chuckling ever so slightly. That is, until Luna's fingers reached up and tugged on his hair.

"Hey! You may like your hair tugged, doesn't mean I do." His tone and grin said that he was messing about per the usual. As they browsed about, Luna asked if there was anything he was looking for. Suggesting, perhaps, he invested in something cold. "Nothing in particular buuut." he began, before pointing towards the adjacent stall.

"This one is selling fruit. Might be close enough. Interested?"

Luna Evanstance​

 

[Lunara Azure]

​

​

Wearing: This​

Tagging: Gerwald Lechner ​

​

"Because that isn't ominous at all now is it."

The click of heels on the floor could be heard as Lunara closed with the man, staring past his shoulder at the floor of the hall. Crystal blue eyes watched the swirl of bodies across the floor, the sounds of conversation and laughter reaching upto the roof, filling the room with life. You didn't need the force to see the enjoyment and freedom on people's faces but reaching out with just a sliver of the force was enough to sense the emotion that hung in the air.

The birth of the Ascendancy and the prolonged war that it had found itself thrown into had been rough for everyone involved. It had been years of constant turmoil and conflict, years of struggling for their lives against the forces arrayed against them. And then the Black Night, a moment of heightened emotion when all the pressures that had been building had snapped, had resulted in one of those moments where history was made. A moment that would set the tone for the entire order, in that second, in that one action a conflict that could have set the fledgling nation on fire had been avoided. Yet it's ghost was still there, still haunted the room with the spectre of what could have been. Perhaps that was why they needed this so much, needed the affirmation that came with a party, with seeing that they still lived and the worst had not come to pass.

Perhaps they weren't the only ones who needed it.

A delicate hand pressed against the Wolf's back as the blonde reached out to pluck the tumble of whiskey from his fingers, swirling the amber liquid for a moment before she took a sip of it, a soft sigh escaping her lips at the burning feeling as the liquid slid down her throat.

"You know, you might be doing your best gargoyle impression up here but I thought you'd have bullied the wait staff into getting you a beer or a horn of mead. It would certainly fit your aesthetic, you understand that this is meant to be a party right? You're meant to enjoy yourself, not that glaring from the shadows uttering words of doom can't be fun now and then. Here, let me try."

The elfin woman took a step forward, bumping the considerably larger man with a hip to edge him out of the way so she could narrow her eyes at the partygoers beneath them.

"The dark is always watching."

Lunara held the pose for a moment before spinning to rest against the bannister, raising the tumbler to the Archon.

"How'd I do?"

 

[Dreidi Xeraic]

Location: Bazaar
Outfit: Padawan garb
Tags: Kyyrk | Open to Interaction

As she inspected the various fabrics and allowed her mind to settle into deep thought about constructing some form of armour from fabric instead of the usual heavy and restrictive metal armour, she felt a familiar presence come closer. Snapping back to reality, she jumped a little at the attire that the person was wearing, was the sun that bright and strong that Kyyrk couldn't stand being out in it? She didn't really know the powerful Medjai Lord that well to understand if there was a particular aversion to the sun or if it was preference that he stayed the vampiric pale complexion that he had. Dreidi was fairly pale herself but she had some colour to her skin since she didn't shy away from the sun but rarely spent too long in it.

"Please call me Dreidi. Mistress sounds a bit odd," Dreidi offered a friendly smile and soft chuckle, mistress sounded something more formal like her older sisters would use. "My travels were... Informative..." Dreidi chose her words carefully, not to be secretive but due to the fact that she wanted to be honest and precise with her superiors about her travels. "The galaxy is in a lot of turmoil and a lot of the Jedi out in the galaxy, they feel lacking in representing the Code and Order correctly." Dreidi was blunt and forthright with how she was viewing a lot of Jedi that she had seen in action and the news that was fast travelling around. "I also guess you can say I met my kinda, sorta stepfather... He isn't technically married to my mother but they have been together for many years now and he is desperate to only now act like a stepfather and interact with me." Dreidi sighed, she hadn't really talked to anyone bar her therapist about Jax Thio and her issues around her mother.

Chewing on her bottom lip, she sighed, "Sorry, I shouldn't dump this on you Master Kyyrk. Enough issues going on around here without me dumping family problems on you as well." Dreidi gave a polite and sincere bow, "I heard about the Black Night, I was surprised and shocked to hear that people within the Medjai Order were so against us working with the Ascendancy. Do you think this new agreement will smooth things over?" Dreidi asked sincerely, she was hopeful that the Dominus's peaceful and merciful tactic would prevent bloodshed and war.

 

[Kyyrk]

Kyyrk snorted to himself. The Jedi were once again in disarray. Nigh professional victims, they were. "That's the big secret that no one wants to admit, young one. The galaxy's always in turmoil." Kyyrk set the shoulder cape back on the display, surveying the other items they had on display. "I wish I could say it was surprising to me that the Sith won, but it isn't." The Jedi were scattered, their faith in the code weak. The Jedi Order was on the verge of collapse. Once again, an outright war with the Sith had proven too much for them. Kyyrk wished he was surprised to hear this news. He truly did. But he also knew that the eternal war was ever a cycle. Some chosen one would rise up to lead the Jedi into a new era of prosperity.

"Your father was one of the last true ones. The Jedi of this day are no better than the Sith. Warriors of the Light, to be sure. But their wont for genocide against the Sith make them no better than the people they seek to exterminate. Redemption is the way of the Jedi. Not extermination." Truth be told, the Jedi order had been in decline long before the Silvers were politic'd into a corner and the Galactic Alliance fronted their own band of zealots pretending to be Jedi. Yet another reason why Kyyrk had never joined their order.

Kyyrk's thoughts turned towards the mention of the girl's stepfather. He frowned slightly at the notion. She did not speak of him in an entirely favorable light. Though why that was, he did not know for certain. "I'm sure he has his reasons to have waited for so long to claim you as his own. Not that I would agree with nor support them. But to him, it may seem perfectly reasonable." Kyyrk turned his head to look at the girl. "But I'll not tell you to blindly submit to whatever designs this man has. Be as accepting as you must, for the sake of your mother. But you owe him nothing. Not until he's earned the right to take the role of your father." Spoken like a man that had been in the same position once.

Kyyrk turned his attention back to the shoulder cape, eventually withdrawing a credit chit and purchasing the item. It was then that Dreidi posed the question. What did he think of the agreement between the Ascendancy and the Medjai? "One would hope it will smooth things over. But only time will tell." Kyyrk glanced back to Dreidi. "There will always be zealots within a body that think their way is better. I don't think this time was any different. Seven years in, and we're all still just as scared and weary as we were the first days upon Verun. People were never meant to live like that. Sooner or later, someone's bound to snap..." ​

Dreidi Xeraic

 

[Oriadne Hallas]

♪ Because This Must Be - Nils Frahm ♪​

Tags: Open

Linen was the best choice for a world such as Verun. Oh, she had spent much time in places with the earth beneath her boots as baked as this one (in the common robes of a High Republic Jedi, no less!) and had learned to adapt one way or another, but linen was by far the ideal. That and sun lotion, though with the waning daylight her skin was hardly at risk. Loose fitting taupe linen trousers were tucked into her dark brown boots (the very boots that had been on her person when she fled) and were overlapped by a comfortable off-white tunic in the same fabric; this was what covered her underneath a light, woodrose linen hooded cloak that unintentionally concealed the hilts dangling from her belt. Nothing fancy, but clean, tidy, and serviceable.

There was something to be said for good lightsaber design. Hers worked the same as they did centuries before, which was a marvel. Surely the power source for at least one of them would have degraded or depleted by now, but dismantling and reassembling both hilts at one point while her hands had more strength than her legs confirmed that nothing had changed, after over a thousand years, a span of time which gave her pause rather often. Over a thousand years since her birth, knowing that she otherwise could not have seen even half of it, by natural means…

…a pause in her steps, just short of the entrance to the Star Temple, saw her standing hand to forehead, attempting to bury the surfacing dregs of guilt and doubt that had been so present in the early days of her time here, in this era. So many centuries, and they were all gone. By and large she had wilfully made her peace with it over the past handful of months - surely she was this far out for a purpose - but only time itself could truly make it easier to bear, and there was no going back.

Taking a couple deep, stabilising breaths, Ori lifted her head, swallowed, found a smile, and took somewhat measured steps into the Star Temple, and followed the literal red carpet (the kind of thing you might see graced by holomovie stars, of all things) to the Great Hall. Rebuilding strength took time, as well, but she could manage now, without crutches. At least some muscular atrophy was an unfortunate byproduct of being immobile for so long, regardless of the Force. It kept her alive and sustained her, and that was enough. It would be childish to not be thankful for it.

Entering the hall, she was greeted by the energetic tune that picked up volume the closer she had gotten. Nothing quite so broadly known that might come blasting through the sound system of a cantina, but certainly meant to foster a high mood; not that she knew what was popular now. Turning her attention to the open bar, it also became clear that she wouldn’t know what to order. She wasn’t familiar with what this region of space offered, at all. Sighing out her nose at the realization of yet another thing making her general galactic knowledge that much smaller, she went to the bar to see what was shelved behind the counter, evergreen eyes taking in bottles with different coloured liquids and labels, viscosities, and names.

“Excuse me,” she pulled the hood down from over her pinned-up red hair, and spoke when the bartender came near, pointing to a bottle of pale yellow liquid with a label in an utterly unfamiliar language, “what can you tell me about that one? The pale yellow with the green label, that says…” Ori sighed, then laughed lightly, “...I’m sorry, but the script isn’t one I’ve seen before.”

So much to learn. It was almost like being a padawan again.

 

[Josiah]

Solari Crystals.

The mention of those brought back fond memories, of a time and life long since past. When Josiah was but a young Jedi Knight, his first lightsaber had been built around one such. He had also guided his first Padawan - Iella - in constructing one of her own. Now...his padawan was long since dead, he had not heard mention of her children in decades...It was hard not to feel a pang of regret. A wish that he did more, or stayed better in touch. But, the past was behind, he could only go forward.

"I think I'll tak-" he began, before a familiar voice reached his ears.

Turning, he saw the form of Diana Sophistica approaching. The past seven years had certainly done their work upon them both, for they were not nearly as youthful as before. But, their kinship had stood the test of time. Beaming, the Jedi made his way over and accepted her warm embrace. "Can't help it, I am a creature of habit." he said amidst a chuckle.

"And frankly, I believe these are our time. Come come." Guiding her closer to the stall, he motioned with his dominant hand towards the Youngling. "She was just telling me that these Solari Crystals have been augmented to function even better in sunlight. Meaning, if we are doing combat here on Verun, we'll have quite the...edge...over our competition."

Two things were constant in this Galaxy - the laws of physics and Josiah's love of "dad" jokes.

Diana Sophistica + Open​

 

[Dreidi Xeraic]

Location: Bazaar
Outfit: Padawan garb
Tags: Kyyrk

She heard Kyyrk snort behind his mask and couldn't help but let out a small giggle at that. It seemed that he didn't hold the current Jedi Orders to much esteem, it was amusing to see. "Well, you know, maybe one day one of us will be able to establish a stronger, better Jedi Order that holds up." She shook her head, "Currently the Galactic Alliance prevented the Brotherhood of the Maw from destroying Tython. The Jedi aren't destroyed, at least not yet, it is just from what I can see, they have lowered themselves to the same level as the Sith they seek to destroy. However, that is the issue for me, destroying Sith should never have been the intentions of the Jedi, for millennials now, all Jedi seem to take away from history is that Sith need to be stopped at all costs. But they keep returning as do the Jedi when the Sith nearly wipe them out. Coexisting seems the best path, like we were during the CIS and like we can now." Dreidi shrugged, "it was what my father always use to say, that the future was in the CIS. That there were bad Sith but there was also bad Jedi and seeking out peace would be the only way innocent lives were saved from the horrors of war."

Turning around, she looked at Kyyrk surprised, "you knew my father?" Dreidi asked sincerely, she was surprised about that since she didn't know many in the CIS who knew her father, it always seemed like he kept a low profile and while he was Grand Master of the SJO for a time, he never wanted to rule or remain in charge. That was how her family would describe him since a lot of Dreidi's memories of her father where blurry and half guesses that she needed to confirm with her family before she said them. "Killing should be a last resort. It was why fighting the Kainate and the other tribes feels so conflicting for me since I am not sure it is even fair that we head to war since they don't seem as advance in technology as us."

Dreidi listened to what Kyyrk had to say and felt her cheeks blush a little since it seemed that he was recommending she try getting along with the man now trying to get into her life after 7 plus years of not being it by choice. "His reasons were that my siblings and I were still grieving the loss of my father, my mother started a relationship with him around six months after my father was killed." Dreidi explained, she had learnt of the reasons. "I might doing this for her, if she had asked me to but not spoken to her since she left me and sister alone in the SJO more than 7 years ago." Dreidi stated in a cool tone, her feelings for her mother were very clear. "He will never be my father, there was only one man who had that role. But I appreciate your advice."

Nodding her head, she understood what Kyyrk felt about the situation moving forward since the Black Night as it was being called. "Yeah, it is tough to see such a divide amongst us, especially when we have all been working to rebuild after Naboo. Had hope that the rest of my training as a Padawan would go a lot smoother post Naboo." Dreidi gave a sheepish smile since it was a bit selfish to hope that she could train with nothing going wrong in their corner of the galaxy.

 

[Hisashi]

The Heat did not bother the Demon.

It was the differences that did. Throughout the whole of his lifetime, Hisashi had been in service to one Lord or another. He was born and raised to serve as little more than a hound of war - and he did so well. But one contradiction to this heritage came in the form of the Sal-Soren family. They were as gilded as any other noble lineage, but they did not treat Hisashi like a mere sword. When he knelt before them, they bid him to rise. They remembered trivial things, like his interests and the date of his birth. And every winter, when presents were exchanged, there were more than a couple with his name on it.

Towards the end, they even welcomed him into their family. Allowed him to carry their name as his own and to bear their crest upon his back. And for but a moment, the Demon almost allowed himself to believe he was something more than a destroyer. That perhaps...he too could have a family. He too could be loved. Hell, he could love. But the Calamity that laid the southern systems low put an end to that delusion. The Chaos scattered the Sal-Soren family across the winds, and the mistress of the house gave Hisashi a solemn order.

Find her children and bring them back.

And for seven, long years, Hisashi searched. And failed.

Now, even having faced Teyla, he could not bring himself to don her family's sigil upon his back. Now, he once more found himself in the service of a lord that did not know his name. He was "happy" to be among his Obsidian-turned-Medjai comrades again...but there was now a void within his chest. Things were different now. Having tasted the nectar of the gods, what man could go back to drinking mere water? Having been loved, what man could go back to being nothing? So it was that, today, during the blending of Medjai and Ascendancy, Hisashi found himself at the open bar.

It was not his usual locale, as he much preferred peace and quiet. But a bottle of sake kept the void in his heart at bay it seemed. With no missions on his plate, he silently sipped away at his beverage, allowing it to chase the memories away - until a stranger sat down. Hisashi prided himself on having a general idea of who his comrades were, but this was a completely new face. At first, he was content to simply watch out of the corner of his eye. But then, she pointed to a bottle with Basic written on the label. Unbeknowest to him, the dialect of now varied wildly from what the Jedi was accustomed to.

"Amber Reserve." he said, before the barkeep could fill her in. "A dangerous brew if ever there was one. A few shots can sit down even the tallest men." The Demon chuckled - he spoke from experience.

"I do not recognize your face. I am Hisashi." His introduction was as blunt as it was brief. But such was his nature.

Oriadne Hallas​

 

[Diana Sophistica]

-=Diana Sophistica=-​

---

Tags: Josiah + open

Ship: "The Red Hare"
Equipment: Prosthetics, Diana original lightsaber Outfit and look
Droids: Orange Kitten, Blue Squid
Objective:
Inspirational music

---

Years had seemingly been kind to her friend. They had both aged, but the man never ceased to amaze her with how a singular point of interest could make him appear a good few years younger. His enthusiasm echoed the energy on the bazaar. As left and right aliens and natives mingled and traded. Like a harmonious song of give and take, of exchange that was heralded by the clinking of coin. She stood there and let the realization that some things never change settle in. A deep breath she took, and then took to looking at the mans focus of attention. A collection of crystals that she could identify just barely as being Solari crystals. Given how much of her training had been about both the light and dark side of the force, she wasn't surprised the man knew more then her on the topic.

"You might be a creature of habit, but seemingly a crow as well. If that is what you say it is, then that would be amazing. Are you looking to alter your blade perhaps?"

There was one thing Diana loved to do, and the red haired Amazonian loved tinkering a little too much. She took up one of the crystals and then looked at Josiah, then back at the crystal and then at the man's face. She smiled almost like she had a plan and with her eyes firmly set on him she asked:

"Call me crazy but besides your inexplicable desire to renew my vow to try and not find your humour too charming, why don't we try this crystal out on your saber. We could even see if we can get you some alternatives, a little mix and match before a mission is half the charm... oh a double bladed saber would be very intriguing if we could add... I'm rambling, eh"

She smiled and stopped herself with a soft chuckle. The woman let her eyes fall on the lightsabre, and with one hand she grabbed her own. Her master had at one point wielded a golden bladed saber, she carried it with her at all times, and while its design was too light for her liking she wondered if it could perhaps be the same thing. She weight her own in her hand, the heavy metallic hilt weighing its familiar dense frame down into the hand as the other hand grabbed the light metal frame of her masters blade. She almost wanted to put it back away as she looked at her friend, holding the master's blade to her friend and nodding to him.

"You think you could check this crystal for me? I have never identified it, and perhaps you know more. A golden blade, I've been told is quite rare. Could it be a Solari Crystal as well?"

---

-=The Emerald Flame=-​

---

 

[Darth Elyria]

_____________________________________________________

Tag: [OPEN] + Darth Metus
Location: Hall
_____________________________________________________​

What strange customs their Ascendancy observed.

Elyria was unclear, exactly, what they were meant to be celebrating with this particular event. After a particularly violent and misbegotten assassination attempt her thought process ran a little more on the militant side. Still. She had promised that she would spend more time among the court and peasantry that populated Verun. It wasn't as if she had any real issue with them. Afterall—If she had crossed herself in a dark alley, truly, she could understand the fear.

The sheer panic when combined with that which was unknown. That which would be misunderstood.

The regal woman walked the Hall with a certain level of disinterested curiosity. The feeling of several someone's utilizing power in a confined space made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end but she took a moment to observe before jumping to conclusions. Was this part of the plan? To normalize usage of the Force so that people in the Expanse didn't start witch hunts?

If so—It wasn't the worst plan.

She could see short-lived humans smiling and laughing while a force user floated willing participants in the air while others utilized the elements to tell stories, make shapes, and otherwise dazzle the crowd. Elyria was more interested in the responses than the "magic" acts. She sneezed better displays of power and had for centuries. Part of her was tempted to do just that.

As the Domina, however, she had to mind her ego. Which meant minding her manners. It was exhausting. Anything that could be pulled from her repertoire was far from suitable for the eyes of such an impressionable civilization. They wanted to reassure them. Prove that their court and the crown wasn't full of monstrous wizards and witches with god-complexes. Well, that was half true.

She'd never met a Force Sensitive that didn't have one.

The common people just didn't need to know that. They wouldn't understand. When mortal could move mountains with their mind, win fights without lifting a finger, command legions with a single thought…How could they not feel like they were better? Superior? How could they not think they were a cut above the rest when some could literally see into the future.

When their dreams, often, came true.

Still.

She was going to need a lot more wine. A lot, more. The cross of insipid conversation and parlor tricks was bound to make her head pound. The bright lights were already well on its way to ensuring that. The typically monochromatic creature had added a slight flair of color to her ensemble. She had taken a liking to deep and bright shades of green. Combined with black—It left her regal, yet, not appearing as if she were in mourning. The dress she wore was fitting with sleeves that went to her wrists. The back was low and lengths of onyx hair were swept up into an expensive metallic comb that looked seriously heavy. Emeralds dotted her, here and there. Small.

She still didn't grasp nor really care how a "Queen" ought to appear.

This would need to suffice.

 

[Finnea Virlee]

FINNEA VIRLEE
ATTIRE: O
TAG: Yeshua

Oh.
Finnea remembered very well the day her commander came to ask her to come along to this..uniting. She had been busy debriefing a small crew of loyal mechanics after their last battle, mostly giving some clever insights on the newest engines and how they could easier carry out repairs should an similar code of error occur during their next battle. She heard the commanders familiar steps and the group in front of her gave their salutes to the man behind her. Finnea herself turned around to do the same and dismissed the team for now. Now Yeshua had all her attention but she could tell right away by his expression that he was up to something. "Sir..." she started, arms dropping heavily. "Not again, we were JUST at another social gathering with the crew from Dauntless, I am sorry but this time, I flat out REFUSE to go near the surface again! Nothing you say will make me change my mind!"
--
Many things could be said about the commander onboard Jericho II but he was very good at persuading his otherwise stubborn first mate and so here they were, entering the star temple that were open to the public just this once. Luckily, she'd grown more custom to these social events and wasn't as stiff and desperate to leave right away anymore.
As Yeshua spoke, she gave him a little look of amusement and shrugged quickly. "Thought they only kept pages up and down of stardust and astrology in here." Finnea studied her surroundings attentively, taking in the sound of chatter that filled these vast halls. "I could be mistaken, but somehow I doubt that I'll find what I am seeking in here as I've come to learn that what I want is not so easy to find." she slowed down a tad. "But few things would make me happier than learning that I am wrong in my assumptions today." her features grew mild as she looked up at him again.