Faction Temper Your Mind (League Forcers)

[Tiland Kortun]

YUMFLA
CHURCH OF THE FORCE CHAPTER HOUSE
==================================

Tiland placed the heavily engraved and sealed box on a table at the far end of the room and touched the room’s controls to close the windows before turning to look back to the doorway, hands clasped on the top of the vor’cha stick. He could feel the sickly sensations of the Dark Side trickling from the case, despite its sigils of warding and shielding.

His face, always ancient, was unusually grim in its seriousness, and shadows lingered in his eyes. The gentle smile always remained, however, and the same soft humming to himself as he was wont to do while preparing tea.

The dreams had been dark of late, both his own and those of the Tree-Deeamers. Dreams of fear, of terror, of pain. Dreams of the Dark. He did not doubt the courage of those who dwelt on the edge of the galaxy, nor their will to fight, if it came to it.

But the Dark Side was a pathway to abilities that many considered unnatural. Powers to turn one’s own mind against the will, to sap the strength of resolve and the courage to fight. Powers that used fear and pain and despair as weapons. Powers against which no lightsaber could defend against and they among the Sith’s most potent weapons.

And Tiland was honest with himself. War would come to the Rim, sooner or later, and the Sith or Dark Jedi or any number of those who used the power of evil would strike. The eyes of the galaxy looked to the Maw and their zealots, but those on the Rim had learned the hard way. When the enemy is obvious, look for the one nobody else sees. Urgency filled the Force whenever Tiland reached out, a sense of anticipation, a sense of foreboding. Something loomed on the horizon and nothing could say what it might be.

What he knew was that he needed to be ready, to prepare all who served the Light along the Outer Rim. What threat they faced, he could not say, and so he focused on the fundamentals.

Others could teach the lightsaber better than be. Others could teach the arts of espionage and subterfuge that turned a Force sensitive being into a razor edged weapon that could cripple an enemy fleet.

But Tiland? He had the Force and the Force had him. He had lived long centuries combating the Dark within. He would teach them to protect their most valuable and vulnerable aspect— their minds and their souls.

Force resistance. Force shield. Force immunity. The technique had many names over many years, but it’s goal was simple.

Protect your mind against the intrusions of the Dark. Negate the fear and anguish they used as a weapon. Remove the power they so enjoyed wielding. It took practice and dedication to reach that level, but even the basics could prevent someone from being overwhelmed.

As the students trickled in, he nodded at each of them in turn, indicating a cushion as a seat. Incense burned softly in a corner and, outside, the chatter of passerby trickled along the street as they perused the shops and food stalls.

But inside, it was quiet.

“Welcome, one and all,” Tiland said gravely. “I have invited you all head to teach the ability known, initially, as Force Resistance. It wards your mind against the influence and powers of the Dark Side that plant fear and panic into the minds of their enemies. It is not natural fear they inflict, not even natural panic, so the natural methods by which we transcend and release these may not always be effective. But this, however, can, with a great deal of time and practice, completely seal your mind off from these powers, making you immune. While the galaxy knows Jedi for their lightsabers and their robes, it is our minds that are our greatest tools. We must protect them as strongly as we would defend ourselves with a lightsaber. Any questions before we begin?”

 

[Caltin Vanagor]

IT'S ALWAYS DARKEST BEFORE THE DAWN...​

Location: Yumfla Church of the Force Chapter House

Spoiler: Lightsabers

"ELOAH" (Secondary - Long Handle)

"CONSERVATOR" (Primary - Long Handle)

Spoiler: GEAR

Comm-link, Rebreather, Custom Robes, Battle Armor,Toraynor-Henkan(mind crystal added) Advanced Jedi Utility Belt

Spoiler: STARSHIP/COMPANIONS

Starship: Starlight Sentinel, (Jedi Interceptor in the landing bay, Dilorian, and Bike both in the cargo bay, the late Karki Eusith's Armor, Shield, Temple Guard Lightsaber mounted on the wall)
Companion: Astromech R01R - "Roller", Pilot droid Mu51c - "Music", "Aricsias" Wookiee Clan (pops in and out of posts)

Tag:

Caltin was in here, just like many of the others. He didn't know why there was a session and it was not his business until it was made known by Master Kortun. He was not here to be a Master, or an Elder, or really be anything but a Learner like everyone else. While there was much in the Force that he was capable of, Caltin was not foolish enough to believe that he "knew it all", he had the Bendu to remind him of that every time that they had met. That was partially the reason as to why he was here. Something in the Force told the big guy that he was not here to learn in the general sense though, he was here to learn something else. This was more than fine because it was those lessons that were the most important.

When Master Kortun (yes, he knew Tiland by his first name, but Caltin was "old school" and believed in addressing others by their honorifics) informed everyone why they were here, to learn how to project a Force Shield, Caltin smiled. He was going to enjoy learning the methods on how someone else had taught this skill. It was always good to see how others taught, it made you better.

This was actually going to be fun.

... YET THE DAWN ALWAYS COMES.

 

[Pash Tafo]

He had come the the Circle not only to help and to serve, but to learn. Pash had quickly come to hold Master Kortun with the highest respect. He himself had few to turn to to learn more of the Force, after the death of his parents. The Silver Jedi served as a home, for a while, but the Matukai felt out of place among the jedi, and again ventured into the galaxy alone.

The Circle, and the Trade League in general, proved a more eclectic and comfortable place for Pash to expand his knowledge of the Force, among other things. As a Matukai, Pash had only learned the Force as a means to enhance physical ability. His body was trained as an antenna and amplifier for the Force, with physical rituals required to boost his relatively unstable connection with the Force. So, when Master Kortun offered mentoring in a Force practice foreign to him, one necessary in the face of the challenges they faced as they served the Light, Pash was excited to participate.

Pash had entered with others, most whom he had yet to meet. One stood out, as he always did, the hulk of a Jedi Master Vanagor. Pash found a seat near "The Walking Boulder", as he had heard others refer to him, never in his presence. Pash, of course, never did. he offered Master Vanagor a nod of his head.

"Adept Pash Tafo." He offered in way of greeting to the large Jedi. He often used his Matukai title, though most did not understand the implication. A Matukai was either an Apprentice, like an Jedi Padawan, or an Adept, which would equal both Knight and Master, depending on experience.

Master Kortun began to speak, and Pash gave the old sage his attention.

 

[Jorco Czeku]

---

All this Force stuff wasn’t very well known to the scoundrel Rodian. He had always felt the whispers of The Force inside of him. But that was all it was for a very long time, whispers. Only fairly recently has it really come to be a part of his life, no longer passively aiding him in the cockpit of a starfighter or getting a lucky guess on where someone may have been located. It all seemed so mystic, so beyond himself. It made him feel so small yet so connected. Like he was now in constant awe over a grand force of nature so vast and grand that not even thousands of years of dedication over many countless generations has it become truly “known” to any order. At least that was his mild understanding on how many of the orders could comprehend The Force.

Currently the Rodian stood in the room with the others, a seemingly ancient many were before him. Although clearly weathered from many years they seem to have a serenity to them, a rather pleasant vibe. He stood among others as well, clearly looking to learn as well. Both seem human and wearing garbs that seemed like they were actually force sensitive. A far cry from Jorco’s own pragmatic looking olive flight suit. He looked more like a random pilot that stumbled upon this place rather than looking like he actually meant to be here.

Nonetheless he hoped that they didn’t care to judge a book by it’s cover. He listened to the instructor carefully, listening to their words about resisting the dark side. Jorco himself has a rather poor understanding of the light and dark in The Force. He went out of his way to try and get in touch with The Force on his own in a sort of self taught manner. However, he had trouble really knowing how to go about it or what to do. Even if he didn’t do too well in today’s lesson he could at least probably get a good idea of how to try and approach things in the future for his own practice.

Hearing the instructor ask if there were any questions that people had Jorco looked at both his “classmates” and saw that they too didn’t have any questions to ask. So keeping his mouth shut he looked back to the instructor ready to learn with and open mind.

 

[Tiland Kortun]

Jorco Czeku Pash Tafo Caltin Vanagor

Tiland waited, hands clasped, for any who might have questions. None did, so he gave a quick nod and stood to pace the room. One hand tapped his chin, while his eyes were deep in thought.

“Master Caltin, I know, has a great deal of experience with what the Dark Side of the Force is capable of. But what about you, Pash?” He paused to give the young Matukai a look. “I understand you handled yourself excellently in that droid affair. Well done, indeed.” He paused ti look at the third student, and then bowed. “I do not believe we have met. I am honored to have you though, and I hope it will be of benefit.”

He resumed pacing again, thoughtful. “Many have tried to explain the Dark Side through metaphors, through philosophy, through condemnation. All are, I think, inadequate, just as most attempts to define the Force are. But for this, we are looking specifically at the aspect of the Dark that craves the power to force its will on other sentient beings.”

A pause as he considered the next statement. “According to ancient records I found, a Sith holocron set as a booby trap was powerful enough to force Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi to try and crash the ship he was flying, nearly killing both him and the Senator he was assigned to protect. Fortunately, he was able to defeat it at the last minute after being taken by surprise, but he was an exceptional Jedi. Not all of us can be so fortunate. And even more recently, in the past thirty years, the One Sith often deployed dark sorceries and Sith spells on the battlefield, notably at Kashyyyk, to fill minds with despair and terror, afflicting everyone who couldn’t protect themselves or be protected.”

Tiland stopped and locked eyes with each of the students. “We may all be Force sensitive, but we are not immune, and in many ways, may be even more vulnerable to certain attacks. The galaxy knows us for our lightsabers, but our minds are what we must consider our most valuable, thus worth defending the hardest. Any questions so far?”