Faction The Burden [ TJO, THR, and Other Jedi Welcome ]

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

Jairdain entered beside Jax at an unhurried pace, her hand resting lightly at his wrist, a touch that steadied her as much as it anchored him. The hum of gathered presences brushed against her senses in layered currents familiar, unfamiliar, fractured, hopeful, and she drew a slow, deliberate breath to sort through them without allowing any single voice to rise above the others.

"I know," she murmured in response to him, her tone quiet but certain, shaped by long experience. "They always do, when they call a meeting like this." Her thumb traced a small, grounding circle against his skin, just once, a gesture meant to steady rather than soothe. "And they will listen to you. Whether they admit it or not."

She turned her head slightly toward him, a faint smile touching her lips, softening the tension she felt building in him.

"And you do not have to carry all of it alone," she added gently, her voice warm with quiet conviction. "Not this time."

As they moved farther into the chamber, her awareness widened, stretching outward like a net cast across the room. Familiar signatures surfaced through the crowd like old constellations reappearing through thinning cloud cover. Some brought comfort. Some brought ache. And one, in particular, struck her with the sudden chill of a cold wind cutting through warm air.

Orihime. The sensation hit her before her mind could form a coherent thought around it. Her step faltered.

Color drained from her face, her breath catching just enough to betray the shift. The room seemed to tilt around her, not violently, but with a slow, disorienting sway that forced her to tighten her grip on Jax's arm to remain upright. Memories surged unbidden, too young, too eager, trusting too completely. Orders given. A mission accepted. Silence afterward. Captivity, confusion, survival, and a training that had never truly been finished because the hand meant to guide her had vanished without explanation.

For a moment, she was eighteen again, standing on the edge of a life she did not understand.

Lost. Alone. Unfinished.

Jairdain closed her eyes briefly and forced herself to breathe through the rising tide, drawing inward and rebuilding the careful internal balance she had spent a lifetime cultivating. The dizziness eased, though the pallor remained, clinging to her like a thin veil.

"I am…fine," she said quietly to Jax before he could speak, knowing he would feel the shift in her presence as clearly as if she had spoken it aloud. "Just…old ghosts."

Before the echo of that admission faded, she sensed another presence steadier, familiar in a different way, grounding rather than unraveling.

Connel.

Her posture straightened almost imperceptibly as she oriented toward him. She turned her head in his direction, her expression softening despite the lingering strain that clung to her features.

"Connel," she called gently, her voice carrying across the space without effort or force. "I am glad you are here."

There was no ceremony in the words, no formality or expectation. Just honest acknowledgment, offered freely.

"You do not have to stand in the shadows," she added, a trace of warmth threading beneath the words. "Not among family."

Her attention returned to Jax for a moment, her hand sliding over his where it rested at her stomach, grounding herself again through the familiar steadiness of him.

"This gathering matters," Jairdain said quietly, her voice settling into a calm that had taken effort to reclaim. "Not because it will solve everything. But because people still care enough to try."

She lifted her chin slightly, composure settling back into place like a cloak she knew how to wear.

"And that," she finished softly, "is still worth standing for."

Jax Thio Connel Vanagor Orihime Ike

 

[Ala Quin]

With every greeting and nod, Ala felt the weight settle. Instead of pressure, she felt her focus increase. The moment had arrived. She did not raise her voice.

"Thank you for your presence," Ala said, her gaze passing over the gathered Jedi without lingering on any in particular. "And for your candor."

Her hands fell to her sides, the fidgeting ceased.

"Let me be clear. Shiraya is not our god. We serve the Force. The Order of Shiraya is ended. That truth stands here before you. I am not Naboo-born. I was New Jedi far longer than I was Shirayan. We are the Jedi Order. Call us what you wish. Your words define you, not us."

She drew a slow deliberate breath, remaining visibly unflustered and calm.

"Calls to rush Blackwall or retake Coruscant may seem like courage. But they are impatience. To commit the Jedi Order to full scale war now would invite a purge we cannot survive. I will not lead us into extinction."

There was no fire in her voice. Only calm surety in her role as moderator of the more aggressive voices.

"Our mandate remains unchanged. We stand with the High Republic because it is where the innocent still find shelter. Refugees flee into its systems because there is nowhere else left to run. If the Republic falls, so does that refuge. We do not serve the Republic, but we recognise its value."

"We are small. But we are growing. We protect what remains first. When our strength allows, we push back. To protect the fleeing masses is our sacred duty. The time to push back...may be upon us sooner than you might think."

"Should my words be unsatisfactory, and our mission be unpleasant to your ears, the galaxy is vast. There are plenty of worlds on which you can found your Enclave. No one is forcing you to join the Order, nor serve under my leadership."

| Briana Sal-Soren Connel Vanagor Jairdain Ismet-Thio Jax Thio Corazona von Ascania Orihime Ike Makko Vyres Eloise Dinn Mykel Dawson Colette Vizion Trozky Amani Serys Braze Jasper Kai'el Sela Basran Jace Rhane |​

 

[Aiden Porte]

Sanctuary
@Open​

He stood at the far back of the chamber, half in shadow beneath one of the tall arches, hands folded loosely behind him. He had chosen the position deliberately. Not to withdraw, but to steady. To be present without pulling the gravity of the room toward himself. The Force around him was uneasy, but he kept his own center firm, a quiet anchor rather than a voice in the storm.

He watched the others as they spoke. Fear and tension maybe held in check by discipline. The weight of choices no one wanted but all of them understood were unavoidable.

Aiden offered no arguments and raised no objections. His role here was simpler and no less important. To remind them, by presence alone, that endurance was still possible. That compassion had not vanished with the fall of old orders. That even now, in a galaxy leaning hard into darkness, that there were those still willing to stand against the darkness. It resided in each and everyone of them.

Hope was still alive, it wasn't going anywhere.

 

[Colette]

It would have been easier, more comfortable, to sit on the fence and 'see the merits of both sides of the argument.' Colette was familiar with who Eloise was and the way she operated. They had never directly interacted to any greater extent, but she was nonetheless aware.

The provocation wasn't entirely wrong, but like Cora pointed out it also wasn't exactly right. Beneath the fluster there was truth. The people of Naboo were extremely privileged to live in the relative peace they endured, and especially the nobility. There was really no way around that.

However, the suffering in the galaxy was a reality many had faced head on for years at this point. There was only so much fight one could carry inside before they needed to resurface for a breather. Colette had seen the frontlines once and it had taken her a long while before she recovered. During that time there were a great many faces in this very room that she knew had seen it more than her, and most certainly the even darker aspects of it.

Rest was good, and Ala's vision was clear. However, there was that one small itty bitty problem that felt like it lingered on the periphery of everyone's vision. Part of her wanted to play the devil's advocate.

And so she did.

"Well said, Quin." Colette said and stood up. "What I want to ask is if we are attacking the Sith for religious reasons, as in because they are Sith, or are we attacking them because of what they do?" Her eyes scanned the room to see who was listening. "A war on thoughts will never end, but a war on tyranny can."

"So, are we against Sith, or the Sith Order? Thoughts or people?"

Briana Sal-Soren Connel Vanagor Jairdain Ismet-Thio Jax Thio Corazona von Ascania Orihime Ike Makko Vyres Eloise Dinn Mykel Dawson Ala Quin Vizion Trozky Amani Serys Ronhol Tomm Braze Jasper Kai'el Sela Basran Jace Rhane

 

[Amani Serys]

Directly interacting with: Eloise Dinn - Ala Quin
​

It seemed no one was willing to be the first to step up and start the necessary talks. Except Eloise. Of course Eloise not only instigated the discussion, but she did so in the most brunt way possible. Amani gave her padawan an exasperated look. Grandmaster Quinn addressed a number of concerns directly, but in truth, her response made Amani frown. She gave the air of composure, but her words did not.

"Grandmaster," Amani decided to speak up, "I apologize for my padawan's lack of subtlety. She makes up for it with astute observation. I understand your decision regarding this perceived inaction. Pointlessly charging into the fray does not help anyone. It is not an easy or simple choice. Still, I believe there is room for a middle ground between these two stances.

…I must also say, your words do not inspire confidence in me. If all you have to offer for those who disagree is an invitation to leave, after inviting us all here for an open forum on the state of the Jedi, then I question why we came at all." The former Chief Healer hid her hands in the sleeves of her robes, "You call yourselves the Jedi Order. The Jedi Order. You cannot then just claim to be another brick in the wall. You are claiming a title that means something. That holds weight. So like it or not, you are now the nerve center of our religion. If we are to unify, to be at our strongest, we need more than just 'agree to disagree'.

Can you give us that?"

 

[Katarine Ryiah]

​

It had been a few weeks since Katarine had arrived at the Naboo Temple half-dead, carrying a message steeped in darkness. The healers had been patient and skilled, kind in a way she hadn't expected. Thanks to them, she was now able to limp into the very room she'd once been carried into, barely conscious. For that alone, she felt a quiet gratitude toward this Order.

But as she listened to them speak, she found herself agreeing with Amani.

The Grandmaster's dismissal came quickly, almost reflexively, and it set her on edge. There was a defensiveness there that felt out of place, an impatience, as though unity were optional and dissent an inconvenience. The if you don't like it, then leave mentality rang sharply in Katarine's mind. It wasn't the Jedi way. Not the one she had been raised in.

And if this faction was going to be so bold as to call itself the Jedi Order, speaking as though it represented all Jedi, then that attitude was more than troubling. It was dangerous.

 

[Jasper Kai'el]

Naboo
Tags: Amani Serys , Eloise Dinn , Ala Quin , Colette , Corazona von Ascania , Others...

Lightsaber, Refuge, Respite, Order of Outcasts
​

…I must also say, your words do not inspire confidence in me. If all you have to offer for those who disagree is an invitation to leave, after inviting us all here for an open forum on the state of the Jedi, then I question why we came at all."

"In fairness, I don't recall doing much better ourselves around the end of things," Jasper recalled. "Y'know, being a place for disagreements and all. Unity is great and all, and Jedi are stronger together... but maybe we haven't considered that hegemony isn't healthy. I'm not sure if it's right for any one sect of the Jedi to lead the charge, be the 'nerve center' like you said. If that gets snuffed we may as well be back at the collapse of the Galactic Alliance."

Jasper wasn't sure if he wanted a giant Jedi Order anymore. Something so large and bloated became comfortable. Complacent. Fell way harder too. They should be looking for ways to repeat the mistakes of the past, not make another New Jedi Order. Something like that couldn't work again. Not after what happened.

"I'd say your padawan clarified one of my thoughts on the matter quite well," he mused. "Perhaps Miss Dinn was out of line in her outburst. You attract more flies with honey than vinegar. But the matter of folks complaints about being beholden to the Alliance Government was wise to signal out. We should ask ourselves what else we are beholden to. Our communities, our peers, our attachments. Maybe the idea we all have of the Jedi Order as a unified power has become something we hold onto too tightly. Are we just trading out one thing for another. I guess I mean to say that perhaps we should decide if we want collaboration or unity. Those are two very different things."

Falling back into that attachment after criticism of the NJO's ties to the Galactic Alliance would just make them all hypocrites. It was something that was clear to see if you stopped to acknowledge it.

"So, are we against Sith, or the Sith Order? Thoughts or people?"

"I can speak for myself and say people," Jasper responded. Colette was a smart thing. Came with the humble rural background. She had a good head on her shoulders asking that question. "The issue becomes what we don't know. We can assume that people are suffering behind the Blackwall. They probably are. We still don't know for certain. Is that blind faith a gut feeling based on intuition then or hatred of the Sith? It's a good question to ask before going to war."

A war founded on hatred would turn them into what they hated. He had seen Jedi become twisted by it fighting the Maw. That was something they simply couldn't afford.

 

[Leos]

Naboo
Tags: Braze

Epo-1, YT-1760 small transport
​

"Tell me what you see," he murmured in a hushed tone. " What all do you notice?"

Leos frowned, crossing his arms as he took in the words of those gathered around. Eloise Dinn was a fiery tone to start off the meeting. A call to get off asses and go do something. Then words of reason from Ala Quin , then a back and forth on what should and shouldn't be. His ears flickered as he took it all in, pondering on what there was to notice about all of this. Was it that the Jedi were a little more dysfunctional then he thought? Maybe that was a bit too large of an expectation for something that spanned so much space.

"A lot of expectations," Leos decided in a hushed tone, responding to Braze's question. "But not everyone can steer the ship at once.."

There could only be so many hands on the wheel at once. It made Leos feel tense. There was a reason his father had cut out all other individuals who could wrangle some power over his cartel. You didn't have to debate anything if you were the deciding factor. Open discussions were perhaps healthier and more ethical, but that perhaps made them more stressful.

Maybe leading wasn't for him.

 

[Romi Jade]

---
​

Time, as Romi had learned over the course of it, rarely announced when it was turning a page; if it did at all. And no one ever knew what came with each flip.

The call from the High Republic reached her front on Olega quietly -- no fanfare, but she felt the familiar pull of inevitability. Another moment where remaining still would come into question. She had much expected something would come eventually, as a few Jedi connected to the Jedi Order more or less had come looking for her on Olega already at some point; Corazona von Ascania , Lossa Aureus , Acier Moonbound

She just didn't know what was on this page though.

The front she left behind on Olega would continue to grind forward without her for a bit, just as it needed to, because she believed in the idea of the Underground, and she wanted to help prop it up as much as she could with the work she had been doing there.

By the time she arrived at Shiraya's Sanctuary on Naboo, the weight of what, or who remained of the Jedi Orders was already palpable -- each carrying their own version of loss.

She took her place amongst the pack of the assembly -- standing in her square somewhere in the middle ring behind Briana Sal-Soren , arms loose, presence muted but attentive.

---
​

 

[Lily Decoria]

Location: Shirayan Temple
Outfit: Jedi Attire
Equipment: Arwr Da, Hydrangea Moonblade (concealed)
Tag: Briana Sal-Soren | Ala Quin | Vizion Trozky | Eloise Dinn | Amani Serys | Jasper Kai'el | Braze | Mykel Dawson | Jax Thio | Jairdain Ismet-Thio | Connel Vanagor | Katarine Ryiah | Leos | Romi Jade | Corazona von Ascania | Orihime Ike | Makko Vyres | Colette | Sela Basran | Jace Rhane

Lily attended the large meeting of Jedi she had figured it would be good to hear the direction that the council were wishing to proceed with the newcomers that were arriving ready to join the Jedi Order here now. It was also a good time to listen out to who might be attending on their thoughts and the feelings that people were having. There was a lot going on and it was a difficult time for the Jedi. People were leaving the Jedi life behind, finding peaceful, calmer lives out in the galaxy away from duty and away from the responsibility that she and many others still felt needed to be carried one. Lily could not give this life up, not with how dangerous things were in the galaxy. Danger seemed to lurk around every corner.

When listening to the meeting, there was many greetings that occurred amongst Jedi who were either meeting for the first time, the first time in a long time or wanting a quick reassurance before the bigger topics were discussed. Then Eloise Dinn spoke out firmly and apparently hitting the issue that many amongst the newer members of the Order were demanding answers for. Figuring out how to deal with the Sith. Mostly the Sith of the Sith Order, not the ones in the Sith Covenant, and not dealing with the Imperial Confederacy, the Mandalorian Empire's recent crucifixion of innocent lives and the growing Black Sun Syndicate. There were enemies all around for the High Republic to deal with.

Grand Master Ala attempted to confront the issue, bringing even more questions from others and growing feelings. Lily looked around and sighed, if this was the state of the Jedi then this were in a worse state then she would have thought.

"If I may speak?" Lily spoke firmly, but non-threateningly. "I am merely a Jedi Knight, but I have been part of the New Jedi Order, the Galactic Alliance, I have done my best to help the Hidden Path and I have worked with differing enclaves of Jedi before my time here in the High Republic and being part of the Jedi Order."

It was important to Lily that she explain her history, that she had seen plenty. "The Sith Order rose to their significant power while the New Jedi Order was supposedly at the height of theirs. I do not say this to comment on the failings of the New Jedi Order, I say this to demonstrate that the Sith did not immediately recover and jump into war. They fortified themselves, ensured that they were a growing force to rise from the ashes of their previously failed empire." Lily had learned what she could on the Sith Order and how it came to be. It was important information for one who wished to stand as their folly. "We are weaker in number, weaker in unity right now and we should not be chasing fights that we cannot win. Division only gives our enemy more strength. Easier to snap a finger than it is to break a fist."

Lily stepped forward, "doesn't mean we ignore what they are doing. Doesn't mean we don't try to save the galaxy as best we can. But it means we have to recognise that this is not the Jedi at the height of our power and that challenging an enemy at theirs at this point is asking for death." Lily stated firmly, "The Hidden Path did not go to war with the Galactic Empire on a large scale, in fact many could argue there was not a lot of fighting that the Hidden Path did for a while." Lily was not trying to be harsh or critical of the group, just a demonstrate that the Jedi across the galaxy have not been charging forward into fights as much as some were claiming they would want to.

"I have fought Sith Lords. I have fought against imperial genocide and I have stood in front of people and tried to inspire action in others." Lily said as she gave a sigh, "but there is only so much we can do. So, instead of demanding we go to war, where we risk the lives of millions, if not billions, let us focus on what we can do to strengthen ourselves to become a formidable force that can burn the Sith Order, the Sith Confederacy, the Imperial Confederacy and the Black Sun Syndicate back. But we need time, and we need to accept that rushing things harms us far more than it harms the enemy."

Looking around, "does not mean we stand idly by and do nothing. I intend to do missions, striking at the Sith. Perhaps considered more of a guerrilla style approach. But I intend on making sure the Sith are unable to forget we are here and we will cause them issues."

 

[Jax Thio]

Location: Shiraya's Sanctuary, Naboo
Equipment: Jedi Robes, Jax's Prosthetic Arm, Jax's Third Lightsaber, Marriage Ring to Jairdain
Tag: Jairdain Ismet-Thio , Connel Vanagor , Orihime Ike , Corazona von Ascania , Eloise Dinn , Mykel Dawson , Amani Serys , Braze , Jasper Kai'el , Colette , Vizion Trozky , Briana Sal-Soren , Sela Basran , Jace Rhane

Jax smiled when Jair pressed herself against his arm. "You always know how to make me feel better Jair," he said continuing to walk through the gathering of Jedi. He felt the presence of people he met, people he had met for the first time. They were all filled with uncertainty wit, but they were united in fighting back against the Sith. Though Coruscant has fallen and the Galactic Empire starting to disperse, the question was whether the High Republic would claim the planet as their own. No way, they'll let Coruscant be part of the Galactic Alliance or at least that's what Jax thought.

He felt a slight disturbance as he walked, he could feel Jair's anger rising. The Jedi Master raised an eyebrow his gaze turning to Jair. It was very rare to see her angry. Jax was about to speak to Jair but she immediately insisted that she was fine and that she saw an old..... friend. "Who?" Jax said looking around. "Are you sure you're okay?"

But Jair continued to reassure him as always Jax looked down at Jair's large stomach. It won't be long now before their new child will be born. "I hope so," Jax mumbled. "I left the New Jedi Order and by the time I decided to come back, it had already fallen. The High Republic...... It's a beacon of hope in the midst of a dark time. I'll..... we'll do what we can to cultivate this growing Jedi Order."

Jax stepped up and looked at the crowd of Jedi speaking their pieces. He took a deep breath allowing the Force to flow through him. "Ladies and gentlemen," Jax began addressing his fellow Jedi. "You might not know me but I'm Jax Thio: Jedi Master of the.... former New Jedi Order."

He paused then continued. "I know many of you are still in shock that the Alliance after hundreds of years has is gone and the Jedi reduced to a handful. I saw the fall with my own eyes during the battle of Coruscant when I fought against many Troopers while escorting refugees off planet. It felt like the end of the world. As a man who was raised on Coruscant, it felt like a part of me died."

Jax took another deep breath keeping himself steady. "The New Jedi Order was not perfect," he said. "We were operated too close to the government like the Jedi of the Old Republic. We allowed corruption, darkness, and we were accused of war crimes during the Hyperspace War. It blew up in our face but even in our lowest, we can still make up for what happened."

He looked around the Jedi gathering. "I approach the High Republic with great hesitance," Jax said. "I'll admit, I continued the fight with a small rebel group after the Alliance fell. Part of me wanted to regain that piece of myself that I've lost on Coruscant, but I realized fighting against insurmountable odds means nothing without a united front. Instead of trying to rebuild the old, perhaps I can start with a new Order."

Jax smiled. "I agree with Jedi Master Corazona that there are a lot of questions on how the Jedi will fit in this High Republic," he said. "The Sith smell blood in the water, and they won't rest until we're wiped out from the Galaxy. We need to make sure that the same mistakes that the NJO did will not happen here. I'll do what I can to train and help prepare everyone for when that happens. But we cannot afford any delay, the Sith Empire is the strongest it's ever been, and we must turn the tide."

 

[Braze]

Tags: Briana Sal-Soren Ala Quin Vizion Trozky Eloise Dinn Amani Serys Jasper Kai'el Braze Mykel Dawson Jax Thio Jairdain Ismet-Thio Connel Vanagor Katarine Ryiah Leos Romi Jade Corazona von Ascania Orihime Ike Makko Vyres Colette Sela Basran Jace Rhane Lily Decoria ​

Braze offered his student a soft nod before standing up to speak briefly,

"I have been beyond the Wall and I have gazed upon the sith orders of those dominions. I have stood within their most guarded chambers and watched what is done there, what is required there… the offerings that keep their engines fed, grinding on, hungry for rule and the bending of every knee.

War with them is not a matter of choice. It is inevitable. Sooner or later when they will stretch their borders again and again, gathering fresh resources to glut their vast designs, indulging appetites that know no restraint, nor mercy.

Hubris drives their genius. They delight in devising instruments ever more refined, and terrible. Fear is a currency. With it they purchase obedience, carve influence, and multiply ruin until the damage spreads farther than any frontier they pretend to defend. They revel in their blood shed and seek to further dominance, and dominon.

Their drive is all consuming and obsessive to such depths that I feel few here can fathom.

We are brave… but we are not ready." He offered simply.

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

Jairdain had been quiet beside him as the voices rose and fell around them, her attention divided between the shifting currents of the room and the steady presence at her side. She had felt Aiden earlier and had offered him a brief, silent acknowledgment through the Force, a wordless I am glad you are here, before returning her focus to the present moment, to Jax, to this gathering that seemed to grow heavier with every passing breath.

When he asked softly who she had seen, she did not answer immediately.

Her hand tightened almost imperceptibly around his arm, a small reflexive motion that betrayed far more than her expression did.

For a moment, she wondered if she had imagined it, if the sensation had been nothing more than an echo stirred up by the tension in the room. She had not thought of Orihime in years, not since she had been eighteen, not since the mission, not since her master had sent her away and never returned. The memory had been folded so carefully into the quiet corners of her mind that it had begun to feel like something belonging to another lifetime entirely.

Then, quietly, so only he could hear her over the murmur of voices, she said,

"Orihime Ike."

The name left her almost uncertainly, as if she were testing whether it still held shape in the air.

There was no accusation in her tone, no anger, no bitterness.

Only surprise.

And something faintly unsettled, like a ripple disturbing still water.

Her breath caught, then eased out slowly, her shoulders shifting as though she were rebalancing herself after stepping unexpectedly onto uneven ground.

"I did not think I would ever see her again," Jairdain murmured under her breath. "Not here. Not anywhere."

She fell silent after that.

She leaned slightly into him, listening as Jax addressed the assembly, while others added their fears, their hopes, their arguments. The Force around them was restless, threads of grief, resolve, doubt, and stubborn hope all tangled together, making the air feel charged. She let it wash over her without resisting, grounding herself in the rhythm of his voice and the familiar weight of his presence beside her.

When he finished, and a brief pocket of quiet settled over the chamber, Jairdain straightened.

Not sharply. Not dramatically.

Simply and deliberately, as though she were choosing to step forward rather than being pulled.

She took one small step ahead, enough to be seen without demanding the center of attention, and folded her hands loosely before her.

"My name is Jairdain Ismet Thio," she said, her voice calm, steady, and clear. It carried through the chamber without strain. "I am a Master of the Silver Jedi, and I served on their Council."

A few heads turned. A few presences sharpened with recognition, the air shifting subtly around her.

She continued, unhurried and unflinching.

"I have fought the Sith in more wars than I care to count. I have seen Orders rise, fracture, reform, and fall. I have watched good people become bitter, and broken people become strong again." Her gaze moved slowly across the chamber, never lingering long enough to challenge, never softening enough to dismiss. "And I am still here."

The words settled with quiet weight.

"I am here because retreat does not save the innocent. And recklessness does not save them either," she went on, her tone softening with conviction. "Only patience, cooperation, and the willingness to endure longer than our enemies do."

Her hand drifted briefly, almost unconsciously, to her stomach before she let it fall again.

"The Silver Jedi are quieter now," she admitted. "Our work was largely finished after Bryn'Adul. Many of us scattered. Some retired. Some were lost." She paused, letting the truth breathe. "But we did not disappear."

Her eyes lifted, resolute and steady.

"And neither will the Jedi."

She inclined her head slightly toward Ala, then toward the others who had spoken before her.

"We will fight the Sith," Jairdain said simply. "Not out of hatred. Not out of pride. But because tyranny does not fade on its own." A faint edge of steel entered her voice, not loud but unmistakable. "And as long as I draw breath, I will stand against it."

Then she stepped back to Jax's side.

Her hand found his again, fingers threading through his with familiar certainty, and she leaned close enough to murmur softly,

"I am alright," she said, not entirely convincing, but honest in the effort. "Let us listen now."

Her attention returned to the room, but there was a new stillness in her presence.

The kind that comes when something long buried has been stirred without warning, and a person chooses to stand anyway.

Jax Thio Aiden Porte Ala Quin

 

[Connel Vanagor]

The Burdening Burden of Burdens
Shiraya
Naboo

Omega Squad Every Day Gear Locations

• Michael, Gabriel, Azrael, Sariel, Raphael, Jeremiel, Connel, Raguel
  [Any text in brackets signifies comm-link usage and not face to face conversation]
• 
  Rides
  
  • "Enterprise" Station Ship
  • The Starlight Sentinel
  • "Jedi Defender" Corvette
  • Null Vector
  • X-wing
  • Speeder
  • Speederbike
  • Iron Psalm
  Gear/Armor
  
  
  • Mask
  • Right Gauntlet
  • Left Gauntlet
  • Nano-Tech Armor (For Emergencies)
  • Headset Microphone Comm-Link
  • Mobile "Bodycam" Datapad
  • Lightblaster
  • Shortsabers (“Night” and “Day”)
  • Throwing Lightknives
  • Force Blinding Flashbangs
  SURGICAL - CRYBERNETIC IMPLANTS
  
  • Repli Implants that would be for the limbs
  • Bonemer enhancements to strengthen structure of the body
  • Muscle enhancements.
  • Hemo enhancements for blood flow
  • Hawkeye implants for eyes
  • Advanced Medical Implant
  • Scentzy
  • Injected Nanotech upgrades
  
  
  
• Shadow Sanctuary - Enterprise

“Family”

So needed right now. When Jairdain called him over, he did not waste a moment. He needed to be around them. A hug to each, his outlook changed for the better. Maybe this would be a good thing.

Then everything started to go down. The comments, the dissenting opinions, the dismissive “Like it or Lump it” response. Incensed initially by this, Connel was beginning to again wonder why he came here, standing next to daily, he thought of his father. Thinking about what he watched that fateful day, thinking about every day since. He was not dependent on the old man, but by the Force he taught something.

I’m glad you’re not here to see this, Father. He gave it a few more moments

Connel didn’t step into the center. He spoke from where he stood, half in shadow, voice even and unraised. I wasn’t planning to speak.

A pause. Not hesitation. Consideration.

I came here because I was still looking for something. Not answers. Not direction. Just… proof that what I was taught still lived somewhere outside of memory. His eyes moved, briefly, across the room. Not accusing. Accounting.

I don’t think anyone here is wrong. I do think we’re standing on different ground. Another pause. I was raised to believe that all Jedi were part of one Order. Even when we were scattered.

Even when we disagreed. Because the obligation came first, and everything else was secondary. His jaw tightened, just enough to notice.


If what we are building now requires distance from the fire… then it isn’t something I can belong to. He exhaled once. Controlled. I need to say this clearly, so it doesn’t turn into something it isn’t.

A glance, quick and deliberate, toward a few faces. Ala among them. Not blame. Respect. I’m the same man I was when I walked in, maybe not a “Jedi”, maybe never was one, but I haven’t turned. I haven’t abandoned anything I was taught.

A beat. But if I stay… I will.

Silence pressed in. So to those who don’t deserve to hear this as criticism — I’m sorry. To those wondering whether I mean them…

He didn’t finish the thought. He didn’t need to. This isn’t a rejection.
It’s a boundary. He straightened, finally stepping back from the wall.

I’ll do what I’ve always done. I’ll go where the fire is. So that none of you ever have to.

No bow. No challenge. May the Force be with you.

And then he turned, and went to leave.

TAGS • Jax Thio • Jairdain Ismet-Thio
Personal Effects - Omega Squad Loadouts​

 

[Orihime Ike]

Eloise Dinn Makko Vyres Mykel Dawson Briana Sal-Soren Jax Thio Colette Vizion Trozky Connel Vanagor Amani Serys Jace Rhane Sela Basran Corazona von Ascania Ala Quin Katarine Ryiah Kat Decoria

She listened to everything that was being said and it was interesting to say the least. She wasn't opposed to many of them which was what made it interesting and she knew her mother would have some grand speech about unity but also the greater view of the force. She listened to then a gravidly pregnant woman step up and speak about the Silver Jedi. She wasn't entirely wrong but she was also missing the key details about some of the things that they were doing. Connel was... Connel. Even reading her mothers notes about what had happened in the netherworld of the force he had been like that while she gave a nod of her head but stepped forward.

"I have seen several battles, the worse was trying to rescue Joza from her ex boyfriend on Rhen Var... weirdest also but Sorel always said the jedi were united now matter how far we drift. Something my mother has been testing as she has been extending the jedi's influences to the outer galaxies and force planes." She turned to look at Ala. "I don't know if you will convince many to bend aa knee but the Silver jedi would offer the results of out research into everything including ways both old and new." She said it with a small bow of her head but she walked towards Jairdain and looked at her while Connel was leaving and she debated asking him to stay. "Connel be safe."

She said it though and turned around. "The precepts of the force declare an eternal struggle between light and dark so there will always be something but we can protect and aid and defend. The empire seemed to be going strong and then from what my mother said Atrisia offered more resistance with a unification then expected." SHe did offered a small grin though while she stood with her hands on her hips in a pan esque pose with a nod. "We are jedi, be it silver, green, new, preggers, old republic, alliance, bokken, something I had never heard of those shuriukans ones you mentioned grandmaster. I know my mother would support it and offer you whatever you need."

 

[Eloise Dinn]

Her little speech caused something of a stir. Hey, at least we're finally having a discussion! Eloise filtered out the comments about her lack of tact - she heard them so often that they had long since lost all meaning for her - and focused instead on what was actually being said.

For once she and Corazona von Ascania actually seemed to be in agreement. The Ukatian Princess asked good questions, too.

"What is the state of this Order? How does it interact with the Republic? What do we need to grow and succeed to the point where we're able to take the fight successfully to the Sith?"

She was followed by Ala Quin . Apparently the Grandmaster of the Jedi Order. Not the Shirayans, not the Naboo Jedi Temple - the Jedi Order entire. But you wouldn't guess that from the way she talked, defensive and dismissive.

"Should my words be unsatisfactory, and our mission be unpleasant to your ears, the galaxy is vast. There are plenty of worlds on which you can found your Enclave. No one is forcing you to join the Order, nor serve under my leadership."

Eloise's eyes narrowed, a few choice words for the little elf skank rising to her lips. But before she could respond, her master jumped in.

"You call yourselves the Jedi Order. The Jedi Order. You cannot then just claim to be another brick in the wall. You are claiming a title that means something. That holds weight. So like it or not, you are now the nerve center of our religion. If we are to unify, to be at our strongest, we need more than just 'agree to disagree'.

Can you give us that?"

The tension bled from Eloise. Just knowing that she wasn't alone, wasn't crazy for finding fault in their lack of action, was enough to make the anger ebb away. Katarine Ryiah didn't say anything, but Eloise could sense that she had similar reservations.

Others offered their thoughts, agreeing and dissenting. This was part of a healthy discussion. If everyone was in agreement, it would be a waste of time to talk things over. But Eloise sensed that some in the chamber were uneasy with the meeting. They wanted to get away from all conflict, all fighting. What the hell do they think being a Jedi is, meditating and drinking tea all day? And why did they invite us all here if not to hash things out?

"The issue becomes what we don't know. We can assume that people are suffering behind the Blackwall. They probably are. We still don't know for certain. Is that blind faith a gut feeling based on intuition then or hatred of the Sith? It's a good question to ask before going to war."

Between that and Colette trying to make some moot point about the difference between Sith philosophy and the actions of Sith people, Eloise reached her breaking point. "You assume people are suffering behind the Blackwall?!" she exploded, almost unable to believe what she was hearing. From a Jedi Master, no less. "They broadcast the massacre of the Tapani people on the goddamn Holonet! Coruscant is burning as we speak! They're Sith, for fuck's sake!"

She whirled on Braze . "At least you're honest about what they're doing. But if you think that means we should hunker down and do nothing, you're not a Jedi. You're a coward." She almost added more, revealing her bloody past as the daughter of two Sith Lords, growing up seeing everything he described and more, but she held her tongue. That wound was still too deep and too raw to bare before anyone, let alone these...

And then, a bombshell dropped. Connel Vanagor announced that he was leaving. That if he stayed, he would no longer be a Jedi. Eloise barely knew him, but it came as enough of a shock to bring her tirade to a grinding halt. She sat back down in silence.

Lily Decoria Orihime Ike Briana Sal-Soren Jairdain Ismet-Thio Jax Thio Romi Jade Aiden Porte Vizion Trozky​

 

[Mykel Dawson]

___________________________________________________________________​

The assembly got off to a rocky start to say the least, sparked by a Padawan's less-than-tactful remarks. From there, the discussion was speedily sliding off rails. Mykel found himself recalling his first conclave with cringe, which had quickly devolved into finger-pointing and accusations about who was doing enough, or who was the better Jedi.

Back then, he had remained silent and allowed the chaos to run its course. Not this time.

This was the last bastion. He could not afford to let it fall.

He rose to address the assembly, grey eyes settling on the Grandmaster as he offered a small nod of respect.

"Perhaps the Grandmaster could have chosen better words in her response to our more...animated peers," he said evenly, "but I broadly agree with her assessment that in our present form, we are unready to face the Sith in any major capacity. I see many familiar faces from the New Jedi Order among us. In effect, a near reconstruction. And last time, our tactics and strategies proved insufficient to defeat the Sith during years of unseccessful campaigns."

"Providence has granted us a brief respite. The Sith are currently consumed by their wars in the north and east. That buys us a little time at least." His gaze shifted to Cora. "But to reiterate Master Corazona's question: what concrete steps is the Council taking to prepare us for the inevitable conflict? What do you require of us to succeed? And what lessons have we drawn from our past failures so that we may do better in future campaigns?"

He turned slightly, nodding toward Decoria with a faint smile.

"For one, I appreciate Decoria's suggestion of pursuing asymmetric methods against the Sith. It doesn't have to be all or nothing; we can operate on a spectrum."

His attention moved to his other Echani associate, Knight Braze.

"Master Kai'el has wisely spoken on our ignorance of happenings within the Blackwall, and of Sith internal politics in general. Perhaps we should expand our investigations through our network of Shadows and other agents, and lean on the insight of those like Braze who have seen beyond the Wall? I have personally witnessed Sith operatives moving through Republic space. There is a possibility some could be turned into double agents for our use."

He wasn't particularly wedded to any stated solution. He just wanted to redirect the dicussion to be productive instead of accusatory, which would certainly get them nowhere.

Eloise Dinn Makko Vyres Briana Sal-Soren Jax Thio Colette Vizion Trozky Connel Vanagor Amani Serys Jace Rhane Sela Basran Corazona von Ascania Ala Quin Katarine Ryiah Kat Decoria Lily Decoria Jasper Kai'el Orihime Ike (Sorry if I missed anyone, a lot of names ha ha)

 

[Jasper Kai'el]

Naboo
Tags: Eloise Dinn , Braze , Mykel Dawson

Lightsaber, Refuge, Respite, Order of Outcasts
​

"They broadcast the massacre of the Tapani people on the goddamn Holonet! Coruscant is burning as we speak! They're Sith, for fuck's sake!"

She then turned and called Braze a coward when he said they weren't ready. Maybe padawan Jasper would have agreed. He was always eager to run off into battle and get himself killed.

He wasn't padawan Jasper anymore.

"Tapani isn't behind the Blackwall," Jasper stated bluntly. "If you want to talk about the Sith Covenant front then yeah, we know way more. Things are going to be muddled with several fronts to talk about. They're both Sith, but to make the threat addressable you have to consider them separate entities. Lose the details and you've already lost the war before you've waged it. It's obvious that you care, and I'm not going to downplay your words, but run off mindlessly and you wind up dead for no good reason. Dying in vain is the worst thing you can do for all of those people who were slaughtered. If the objective is to save lives, a dead man fails that task instantly."

Maybe that mindset would rub folks the wrong way, but war could very easily turn into a meat grinder. Throwing lives into the void just to get them killed only caused more suffering. They needed an actual real plan, something that wasn't stitched together with angst, chicken wire, and a dream.

I’ll do what I’ve always done. I’ll go where the fire is. So that none of you ever have to.

No bow. No challenge. May the Force be with you.

And then he turned, and went to leave.

And then, a bombshell dropped. Connel Vanagor announced that he was leaving. That if he stayed, he would no longer be a Jedi. Eloise barely knew him, but it came as enough of a shock to bring her tirade to a grinding halt. She sat back down in silence.

"I find that route a lot more reasonable," Jasper suggested, noting Eloise's reaction. "Go alone and the only life you risk is your own. Less bodies to send home."

The Jedi Master let out an exhale. This was more exhausting than he remembered. Between evacuating Sacorria, defending Corellia, and now this? It was a little too close to being back in the NJO for his liking. He didn't need to be slipping back into his reckless habits from those days.

Perhaps we should expand our investigations through our network of Shadows and other agents, and lean on the insight of those like Braze who have seen beyond the Wall? I have personally witnessed Sith operatives moving through Republic space. There is a possibility some could be turned into double agents for our use.

"Worth a shot, but I'd proceed with caution," the blonde Jedi exhaled. "Last few shadows I remember who went in were different when they came back."

The 'stab you in the back' kind of different.

 

[Braze]

Tags: Eloise Dinn​

"You think I am idle, because my work is quiet," Braze said.

The words left him level with careful control. Only the tension in his shoulders betrayed the effort it took to keep to such tone in as a respectful manner he could muster.

"Perhaps if you spent more time beside us, speaking with us, instead of arriving once or twice a year already convinced you understand everything… you might have some idea what others have been doing for this cause."

He did not look away as he settled that somber jade green gaze squarely on her.

"I have been mapping their chains of command, tracing supply corridors, watching how authority travels from one set of hands to the next. Who answers to whom. Which triumphs are spectacle, which failures vanish into sealed reports. Where their fleets take on fuel; where their communications strain. How their infrastructure functions… and where it can be made to fail."

His gaze held yet still as he took a breath unwavering in the soft tone of conviction threading through his words.

"To fight an enemy effectively, you must first know the enemy." A heavy breath settled as he let it go.

"And their reach, their industry, their readiness vastly outweigh our numbers. We cannot afford theatrics or reckless impassioned acts without forethought.We must cut what is vital, at the moment they are least prepared to defend it."

He paused briefly letting that thought settle. "That requires patient, careful, diligent, and dangerous work." Another slow breath followed as more tension melted away from his posture.

"I know which routes their convoys cannot abandon. I know where rivalries poison their ranks, from deck officers to the highest circles of authority all for the sake of this ceaseless war front...This is already a battlefield I walk. Information is the first campaign… and we are not ready to pretend otherwise. "

 

[Ala Quin]

"Thank you, Mykel. My words are my own and I stand by them. It is kind of you to protect me, but unncessary."

"Padawan Dinn? Is it?" Ala inclined her head. She did not bristle. The padawan was nothing compared to a berserk Bryn'adul Draelvasier. Despite her composure, Ala would likely cry into Lorn's super-muscly chest tonight, while playing with Henry. "We will speak in private. For now. Your part in this discussion is over."

Her heart had dropped to see Connel leave the meeting. She knew if she could only speak with him, he would understand her position better, but he was gone before she could insist on private counsel on the matter. Having family walk out on you...stung.

"I think some present have misconstrued our intent for slow rebuild as apathy or reluctance to fight," she, who had died for the cause on more than one occasion, said calmly, "we will fight. But we fight as Jedi. Not as reactionaries. Not as puppets of the Sith. Their crimes wound us all deeply but they win...if we give into anger...hatred...of one another, or even them."

She looked specifically at Corazona now, eyes flicking to Jasper, Mykel and Braze to bring them in on the moment clarification. "Forgive me if I do not elaborate entirely on our plans to take the fight to the Sith, but rest assured that there are plans...measured...responsible...plans. Perhaps in private counsel some may be discussed. But in such a meeting it is unwise to lay out strategy."

"However."

She took a deep breath.

"The Force is our guide. Take on a padawan. Train them to walk in the Light. Follow the guide of the Force to worlds that need our help. The borders of the Republic are no longer the limits of our focus. The Force might call some of you to become a single worlds guardian...or a warden of the Outer Rim...follow these calls. And let us aide you in your endeavours to show the galaxy that there...is...still...light. My friends. We have never been an army. And the times we have thought that we were...led to our greatest failures. We follow the Light Side. We trust the will of the Force. And we nurture this...tender bud that is yet to bloom."

Her shoulders lifted. Still, she looked so small amongst them all.

"And if the Force leads you to a fight against the Sith. I will fight by your side. As would any Jedi in this Order. But forgive me this one thing...I seek more than just a scrap with the Sith to make myself better. I seek the ultimate...final...victory...of the light. To accomplish that...we must pull ourselves back from the brink with calm, anchored steps."

Force she was going to be all over Henry later tonight.

| Briana Sal-Soren Connel Vanagor Jairdain Ismet-Thio Jax Thio Corazona von Ascania Orihime Ike Makko Vyres Eloise Dinn Mykel Dawson Colette Vizion Trozky Amani Serys Braze Jasper Kai'el Sela Basran Jace Rhane Katarine Ryiah Romi Jade |​