The Blind Seeker

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

Jairdain found herself on a planet quite similar to that of her own home. A home she could never return to. Her home was destroyed or so she thought, her people dead and none left alive.

At the thought of her people, she had to remember the code they followed. It wasn't Jedi or Sith, it was theirs. Having followed both Jedi and Sith before, she was a confused mess right now. On the cusp of being sith, she still felt a calling to the light. While she didn't feel she could ever be Jedi again, she didn't feel being a sith was right either.

This was a quiet moment of peace before battle. A piece of the galaxy unexplored by her and Jairdain wondered if she would find it again in the future. If she had one even. Being taken as an ally of the First Order for their upcoming invasion of Ossus allowed her a bit of freedom within their territory.

Taking the opportunity to feel around, the young woman walks the streets of a farming community on Barkhesh. A planet and town drawing up her past. A local around town had approached her to find out if she needed help with anything since she was a stranger here. Not knowing what was nearby, she simply asked for a location of solitude. A place where she might be alone to think.

He seemed to know exactly what she meant and gave her directions. He must have missed the fact she was blind, but she smiled in a polite manner and listened to what he had to say. Some of his directions she could follow, others she would just have to guess at what he meant when she got there.

Using her intuition after he gave the directions lead her to a place of solitude, but maybe not what that man had described to her. Instead of a forest, it was a lake she found. While a forest might be near, this lake would do for her purposes.

Gathering up some brush and a few sticks, Jairdain set up a location for a fire and sat down. Using pyrokineses to light the fire, she sat next to it and was lost in her thoughts of confusion.

[member="Zul Grimm"]

 

[Soundwave]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoqMpJC0tZY​

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Location | Somewhere in the Forest
Company | [member="Jairdain"]

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Barkhesh was a planet that had resided on the far reaches of First Order space, sharing a border against the Galactic Alliance. It was peaceful to say the least, its inhabitants enjoying their lives though they helped to provide for the First Order's war machine. A lone sentry that kept a watchful gaze over the planet had been stationed there, preferring the solitude from the majority of the First Order as well as their peers. However, his isolation that had gone uninterrupted for quite some time had been disturbed. He felt a new presence enter the planet that he had watched over, one that felt odd; Not quite that of a Jedi, yet not quite a Sith as well. It was this disturbance that led him to trace its source.

He traveled quickly to where he had sensed the presence, seeking out information of this new visitor. Despite his intimidating appearance, he was welcomed by the people of the town, knowing he would not harm them unless they kept information he sought from them. He approached a local, inquiring about the stranger that had arrived to which he was given a quick and prompt response. The Seeker as he was known by a few did not sense hostility from this new presence, but he was cautious nonetheless, dampening his presence as he made his way to the forest in which Jairdain had sought solitude.

By the time he had arrived, twilight began to fade into the shadows of night, the cloak of darkness concealing him from view as he levitated from tree to tree, moving closer to the alien source like a moth to a flame. Sure enough he would find a campfire and a lone figure sat upon the ground. He would move without a sound, silent like a shadow, obscured in the darkness as he reached out with his powers of telepathy to speak directly to her, though it would sound like an echo, from anywhere and everywhere. "I sense a great deal of confusion from you, young one. Yet your intentions as to why you are here are unclear. State your business."

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

There was no sense of time for Jairdain as she sat near her fire. The only way she knew day had turned to evening and then night were the sounds of nature. The solitude this location provided was what she wanted, but sadly no answers came. There was nothing she could gain from the Force in answer. Picking up a stone, she threw it into the lake and put more wood on the fire. Deciding at that time she would spend the night here.

Rummaging around in her pack she brought, Jairdain found some of the food and took that out to eat. It was something simple, but she didn't feel like setting up a trap or making a hook to fish with. When she finished eating, the confused woman went back to her meditation. The flow she felt was mixed, having touched both light and dark.

Her people weren't familiar with the concept of light and dark within the Force, they did know if somebody went chaotic they had to die and thus executed them. She had yet to go chaotic like one of them, she wondered if that was the path she was on. The dark she knew had changed her, both outside and in. These changes felt wrong and she didn't want them any longer.

The light brought her peace, happiness and love. This is what she wanted, but thought maybe it was too late for her. The darkness she had would always be a part of her. She didn't want to be thought of as a monster and that is how some people viewed her. Was there a way back for her?

It was with these thoughts when a presence or rather a voice spoke to her telepathically. She was a mentalist and while the person chose to remain hidden from her, she in her turn decided to allow him to do this. Not searching for him, she did focus on her reply back to him.

My purpose is seeking an answer to my confusion.
​​
[member="Zul Grimm"]

 

[Soundwave]

Location | In the deep forest
Company | [member="Jairdain"]

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Zul levitates along the high branches of the trees, silently moving from one tree to the next before sliding down the length of one, floating down while one hand moved silently along the bark. His feet lightly touch the ground as he began to move silently along the grass. A perceptive hearing may pick up the faint sound of blades of grass being tread upon, along with fabric dragging over them. He circled around Jairdain, keeping to the trees, unaware of whether she was blind or not from this distance at the moment.

He was able to discern that the female was young, specifically a young adult; She was definitely attuned with the Force, but he sensed mixed affinities within her. Perhaps having reached a point in their life where she was torn between which path to take. He paused in his tracks off to her left by the trees, deciding to reveal his own presence though he had already made it known by making contact via telepathy. The shadows seem to slide from him as his tall, lithe and robed form emerged from the darkness, his gauntleted hands clasped behind his back.

Once the cloak of darkness had been shed, a dark presence could be felt by the young woman, not one that seemed to possess malicious intent, but dark nonetheless. He would levitate an inch off the ground as he began to slowly float towards her, keeping a fair distance as he held his position, staring down the woman with a face obscured by shadows cast by his hood. He would once more reach out to her via telepathy as he speaks. " Decisive as to what path to choose? You come seeking clarity... "

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

Being blind did in its way have a few advantages, one of them was exellent hearing. However, Jairdain was unsure of the purpose of this person, so did not turn her head in his direction. It wouldn't have mattered anyway, her vision was through the Force and she could see him when he revealed himself by lowering his stealth abilities.

She too knew how to do these skills, but had not expected to need them here. Something for her to remember in the future. To employ these skills no matter where she went. Too late now and there was no purpose at this point.

The fact he revealed himself, it showed her through the Force that at this time he did not have any evil intentions to her. He was dark though. Being in First Order territory, maybe he was a Knight of Ren. They were dark, but they weren't sith. Not able to make note of his physical appearance, it didn't disturb her at all. He approached her location slowly, Jairdain felt his gaze on her. His comment was accurate and she nodded. It might be too dark for him to see this though.

More what path the Force guides me to follow. ​

He had continued to speak mentally so she did the same. Until the silence broke between them, this would be the case.

[member="Zul Grimm"]

 

[Soundwave]

Location | In the deep forest
Company | [member="Jairdain"]

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Zul floats slowly to the female, silently hovering a few inches over the ground as his robes dragged along the ground. He would pass by her like a wraith as he made his way closer to the water's edge. He would pause just out of the water's reach, slowly floating back down until his toes had met the ground, followed shortly by his feet being planted firmly on the ground. His head turns to the right as if he were looking over his shoulder at her. The flickering flames of the campfire danced and cast shadows against the illuminated features of the two individuals, allowing Zul to have a closer look at the young woman, though his features were still masked by a veil of shadows.

He sensed no hostility from her, so it did not prompt him to be hostile in return. There was no need to be the one to spark a fire unless an inferno was needed. He remained silent for quite a while, not speaking through telepathy. For a time, all that was heard was the quiet sounds of wildlife, the gentle crackle of wood ablaze and the soft sounds of water moving in gentle waves. It was a silence that one seeking solitude may enjoy and relish, especially for the lives that the two lived. The silence would be broken after some time had passed, his voice echoing quietly in her mind, " You have yet to fully commit yourself to a path. Is it the light that makes you waver or is it the light that you walk to? "

Zul spoke asking it as more of a rhetorical question, one that he had once asked himself in the past when he too was trying to find the path where he felt he belonged. It was the ideals of the Ren that had drawn him, and where he found purpose and here this young woman was, faced with a similar dilemma as to whether it was the Light or Dark that she sought. However, judging based off of her presence he sensed that she had already traveled the path of darkness. He turns his foot to the right, twisting his entire body to follow in a fluid motion as he faced her directly, his tall, lithe figure looming over her seated position. " You are Sith, but you are swayed by the light...Why is this? "

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

Jairdain watched through the Force as Zul moved from the trees to the edge of the lake. Hearing no sound of footfalls told her he was likely floating, it was a skill she didn't know about. Eventually she heard him set down on the ground, but he remained silent, not even a telepathic communication. It was this way for several long minutes before he spoke to her again.

The question was odd, but then he didn't know who she was, what she had been through in her short life or anything about her. A few heartbeats later he continued and asked why she was the way she is.

Motioning to the fire and giving him a clear invitation to join her, she considered her answer.

You want to know about me, please join me here.
I am Jairdain Ismet. Formerly a Jedi Knight of the Silver Jedi, currently a Sith Knight ​of The Sith Order.
H​aving been accepted as an ally in the upcoming invasion of Ossus for the First Order, I sit here thinking and confused.
Where is my place? Where do I belong? I am no longer Jedi and I don't feel right as a Sith.
​​
[member="Zul Grimm"]

 

[Soundwave]

Location | In the deep forest
Company | [member="Jairdain"]

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Zul's hooded head would look down upon the girl as he continued to silently observe her. After she had made a gesture for him to join her, he would slowly walk closer to her, standing off to the opposite end of the campfire from her, his legs crossing one in front of the other before he bent his knees. He allowed his weight and gravity do the rest as he fell down into a cross legged position, though his body would remain hovering an inch or two from the ground. His hands would rest on his knees like a stoic monk preparing for meditation, his head angled to the ground as he seemed to be bowing his head, though it would not rise back up.

She once more began to speak after spending some time pondering his question. She started off by introducing herself, her background, what she was and what she is. These were all trivial details to him, since it just took a few mere moments for him to tell what she was, but he patiently listened nonetheless. He listened in silence as she explained her current situation, and how she seemed to have come to an existential crisis, torn between the ideals of two forces that had been at odds with one another since the earliest days of the Old Republic.

After she had seemingly come to an end with her words, he would let the silence take over between the two, once more waiting as the night drew on. He was by no means someone to discuss such a crisis to, but he did wish to test the resolve of this young woman before he once more began to speak via telepathy, " You have lived by and learned the paths of both the Light and Dark, but you say that neither seem to guide you the way you wish they did. Tell me young one. Do you know who you are and wish to be? " his question would echo in her mind, hopefully giving her more to ponder and deliberate on. Perhaps a misguided soul could be guided down a new path that was laid out before them. The same path that had been placed before him, as a Disciple of Ren.

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

She observed him as he moved across the grass to not quite sit down across from her. Of course Jairdain couldn't see the posture he took nor the fact her kept his face in the shadows of his hood. As she communicated to him through the Force, the thought briefly crossed her mind in wonder if he could speak. Being a mentalist, Jairdain had no issue or problem talking this way, it was just odd.

He didn't speak to her again for a few minutes, as if he was digesting what she had said. When he did, it was again telepathically. Summing up what she had said, she nodded in indication that he understood what she meant. While he questioned her, he had yet to provide a name for himself. Instead, he only questioned her. However, she would continue to answer him even he didn't get her a name to call him.

You are correct. I have lived and followed both paths. Neither one feels, for the lack of a better way to put, right for me any more.
It feels like who I am​ is currently lost so no, I don't know WHO I am. What I wish to be is happy.

[member="Zul Grimm"]

 

[Soundwave]

Location | Deep in the forest
Company | [member="Jairdain"]

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Zul's form would slowly float down as he sat himself upon the ground. His head would tilt further down as if he were staring at the ground while his hands came together, fingers outstretched and lined up with one another as he listened to her respond telepathically. With the Galaxy always being in turmoil it was hard to distinguish right from wrong, who holds the moral high ground, where one would expect to be, and so many other factors that made one question their identity and self worth, particularly for the younger ones.

Zul's hood shifts slightly as the flames of the campfire flicker and cast long shadows that stretched to the trees and water, a display of dancing shadows in the background though neither of them took the time to bother staring. Again he would remain silent after her response for a few minutes, as if allowing for the young woman to contemplate her own words in the following silence as he seemed to simply stare at her, perhaps even through her. Once more the silence is broken with an echoed voice in her mind.

" You are lost because you have decided that you only have two choices to follow in which neither help to guide you. Sometimes the answer lies in the path less traveled. Give yourself to a higher calling and let fate decide the rest for you. Perhaps by following your own path will you find what gives you peace. "

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

Why do you sit there hunched over like that?​

Jairdain then gave a moment to consider his words. Wondering what he meant exactly, but didn't give voice to the thought yet. He apparently was as much of a mentalist as she was. So there was a chance he could pick the stray thought of her shattered mind.

I had a path before I entered the galaxy. Before I joined the Jedi and before the sith captured me. That path was that of my people. Maybe that is what I should return to following. It is neither Jedi or Sith. No light and no dark.​

If he had another suggestion she would listen to it, but his comment pretty much made her decide then what path she was going to follow.

[member="Zul Grimm"]

 

[Soundwave]

Location | In the deep forest
Company | [member="Jairdain"]

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Zul's hooded head would shift to look towards Jairdain's first comment. His head slowly tilts to the right as the fire begins to flicker and die down from its former blaze. His pointed fingertips would lightly clack against each other before his fingers moved away to rest on his crossed legs, his posture slightly picking up, as he responded telepathically, " I will soon be passing my prime young one; a body like mine isn't created to last forever... "

The fingers of his hands would curl up into fists, promptly coming together where his knuckles were up against each other and on his lap in a meditation like pose as he listened to her continue with her story. After she had concluded her thought he would speak, not bothering with a period of silence. " Your path is your own. No one can decide your fate nor should you be bound against your will. I have chosen a path to follow on my own accord... "

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

Giving a simple nod at his answer, the brief passage of curiosity at his age, but nothing was said on it. Nobody or body were meant to live forever and Jairdain wouldn't want to either. Even at her young age, there were times when she had looked for the embrace of death. Now was not one of them, she had an immediate purpose or did until she had learned the woman she wanted to fight had disappeared. Now that the purpose was gone, she was again lost and sought clarity still.

Somebody had already told her that the path she was on should not be decided by another or forced on her. To hear it from another person, one that was equally a stranger helped her decide. Her original path she had six years ago, the one she grew up following was the correct one.

Even though the woman couldn't see, she looked across the dying fire at Zul. If her eyes could have focused, they would have on him. Instead the gaze through the Force was strong enough that he would know he had full attention.

Thank you. Though I have no name to know you as. Your words have helped maybe more than you can know.

[member="Zul Grimm"]

 

[Soundwave]

Location | In the deep forest
Company | [member="Jairdain"]

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A gentle breeze brushed past, causing the surface of the water to be disrupted, the faint sound of the air whistling through trees as small branches shifted in the wind. Zul was silent once more as his head turned back to its normal upright position from its previous tilted one. He stared directly at her, his face still veiled in dark despite the flames flickering and illuminating everything else around him dimly. It was for the first time he was able to realize and see that this young woman was without sight, yet she was able to see nonetheless.

As she spoke he would listen before his rear that was resting on the ground began to levitate and float up. He would continue to float up in a cross legged position until his legs had enough space to unfold and he was able to plant his feet firmly on the ground. He stared down at her as she asked for his name. In truth there really was no need for him to give her his name; he was to be an unknown stranger to anyone and everyone not within his Order, but something told him that he may see this young woman again in the future. His voice would echo in her head once more.

" Who I am is of no consequence, Jairdain Ismet...But if you must know, I am known to few as Zul Grimm... I trust our conversation has brought you a brief glimpse of the path you desire to travel... "

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

When he rose to stand, Jairdain did the same. Giving him a bit of a bow as he spoke in her mind once again. She sensed he was going to leave her soon, but they would meet again in another place. A brief vision of the future granted to her.

One where she was set on her chosen path. He was on his, whatever that was. What happened in the meeting was still clouded, but she knew it was going to happen.

After she completed her bow, she sat back down at the fire.

Who you are is of great importance, Zul Grimm.

A small smile played across her face as she spoke through the Force to him. While he may not know it, he had played a very important part in her life. A final deciding factor and his hand unknowingly placed in the last piece of the puzzle within her mind. Now she just needed to figure out how to make it stick.

Thank you.​

[member="Zul Grimm"]

 

[Soundwave]

Location | In the deep forest
Company | [member="Jairdain"]

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As she stood up and bowed, Zul's hands would reach behind his back, holding each other as he returned a respectful bow out of courtesy. He would lift his upper body upright from the bow as he stared at her, watching her once more take a seat. Her following words did not particularly strike any chords within him. He had cast himself off as little more than a hound for who he served; having been one in the form of an Inquisitor for the Galactic Empire and now, for the First Order, serving the Ren to carry out the wishes of the Supreme Leader. He would nod his head, choosing not to speak of it or comment about his importance. His presence would seem to fade as he diminished it purposefully, slowly stepping backwards into the dark of the forest to resume his original post, his final words echoing with its usual indifference.

" Take care of yourself Jairdain Ismet... Perhaps our paths will cross once again and you can tell me of the path you have gone... "