The First Jedi Arts

[Jsc]

Karen continued to browse,

"I don't teach Battle Meditation. I find Battlemind to be a much more potent, and much more efficient method. Battlemind is a telepathic link with another Force Adept. You share your senses, thoughts, and combine your moral with your linked allies. There is no limit to the number of allies you can bring into your Battlemind and each member makes the team stronger. It also does not drain your stamina or require the active concentration of Battle Meditation. Though, I understand your interest. I'm afraid it not simply a technique that can be taught similar to most others. Battle Meditation requires the most potent of inborn gifts and a natural affinity with mental manipulation. Like many exotic talents, it simply isn't something I'm comfortable teaching to students."

There was more that story but Karen let it suffice.

"As for Lightsabers? Yes. I'd be happy to share that with you. Tell me? What do you know about Lightsabers, Vassara? Why do you think they are so important to the Jedi Orders of our times?"

[member="Vassara Raxis"]​

 

[RC 212]

[member="Karen Roberts"]

"According to my studies they are a badge of the Jedi office. Also they serve as a fall back weapons should a Jedi fail to diffuse the situation through other means and be forced to apply violence."

Vassara smirked, as she felt violence solved everything. Then she pulled her smirk back, remembering the code. It was difficult to apply it, but over time she would learn.

"I know nothing of swordsmanship however. I only handle knives, pistols and Shotguns."

Vassara took another sip of caf and set down the cup, twirling it in her hands.

"What classes of powers are there? You mentioned mentalists? What else is there to study?"

 

[Jsc]

Karen made a note of Vassara's weapon specialties. Those would come in handy later. She closed her menu and set it down.

"The Force is as endless and diverse as it's servants and practitioners. I'm afraid the answer to your question is quite boundless really. But... Amongst morals and humanoids? We tend to agree upon just three categories. Guardian, Sentinel, and Consular."

She shrugged. Names were names.

"Guardians are bastions of martial prowess. They are the vanguards amongst the Jedi. Sentinels are the fonts of endless knowledge and application. They are our scientists and our problem solvers. Consulars are our spiritual leaders. They excel in matters of power, magic, enchantment, foresight, and other spiritual gifts."

"Now. Should a Jedi live to be 10,000 years old? They would over time come to dabble in all of these arts. Becoming less of a class and more of a Grandmaster of many Arts. But do to our short lifetimes, it is recommended that the Jedi pick a specific focus and stick with it. This allows the Order as a whole to remain diverse while also having access to many different focuses of power and ability."

She nodded. That was probably a good enough introduction.

"You strike me as a Guardian type Vassara. Your leadership abilities, love of adventure, mixed with your combat talents make it a natural fit. Hehe. Naturally. How you learn and progress is always up to you. Sometimes the best class to pick is no class at all. Especially when flying solo."

[member="Vassara Raxis"]​

 

[RC 212]

[member="Karen Roberts"]

"So what does a Guardian typically study? Illusions, Mentallism? I'm assuming they work with weapons heavily."

So there were classes upon classes of the Jedi eh? This was interesting to Vassara as she had always imagined them to be one big lump. Especially the Jedi order.

 

[Jsc]

Karen waved the waiter over and ordered a light meal.

"A Guardian is a paragon of discipline, judgement, and the saber. As the vanguard of the Jedi Orders, Guardians are expected to work efficiently both solo or in pairs. They are bastions of strength, both mental and physical. A Guardian learns to trust in the Force amidst turbulent times as danger and adventure constantly come their way."

She smiled and clasped her hands together.

"A Jedi needs only one tool in his arsenal, the Force. But a Guardian is also a shield. So they learn the sword arts to compliment. If a Guardian learns other weapons or tools for which to defend the innocent? It is only because they wish accomplish their tasks and missions with an artistic passion. Not because it is more efficient. Modern weaponry is useless compared to the endless possibilities the Force affords it's Adepts. But for Apprentices, this strength to resist the natural world is not yet at your finger tips. Patience and hard work are required before guns and stones do not amuse you."

Karen nodded. It wasn't until Knight Rank that a Guardian truly became a veteran of the battlefield. Able to overcome even the most powerful of energy and ballistic weapons with skill and power.

"Tell me Vassara. How familiar are you with danger and battle? Do you have a personal philosophy about war and conflict already?"

[member="Vassara Raxis"]​

 

[RC 212]

[member="Karen Roberts"]

Vassara laughed. How familiar was she really? All too familiar, down to the point where she sometime was plagued by nightmares about it. Ghoulish Reavers eating dead spacers on Carlan station came to mind. Then Kathlan station where she had facilitated the slaughter of pirates.

Blood and guts were her daily line of work, despite trying to get away from sticky situations. Somehow Vassara alwsy found her self in the thick of the shit.

"All too familiar. I'm all for negotiation and trying to solve things nicely. But I have no compunction against putting someone to the sword should the betray or attack me or mine."

 

[Jsc]

Mm. That was a typical attitude for a lost wanderer. Not noble enough for a Jedi though. Jedi needed to be selfless, compassionate, and charitable. Otherwise they were like to be unable to bear their burdens and would eventually become tyrants of control and terrible, swift justice. Many a Sith thought he was curing the galaxy by slaying the unworthy. Such was the fate of any Jedi who did possess enough faith to endure this world and it's chaos.

Karen tapped her chin. Giving thought about how to proceed.

"And what exactly is 'yours and mine' Vassara? What is so precious to you that you would kill a man to see it preserved?"

[member="Vassara Raxis"]​

 

[RC 212]

[member="Karen Roberts"]

"The lives of any man or woman who puts their trust in me. I am a Warden of the Expeditionary Fleet. I am charged with their defense and well being. Should anyone try and kill my brethren...well I'm afraid it would be words first, and followed swiftly by violence."

As a Warden she was something of shepard tending the flock. Of course with two other wardens to help her the fleet was getting along just fine. Except for the pirate she had lain out on Tortuga, everyhting had been running ok so far.

 

[Jsc]

Karen nodded,

"And where does being a Jedi fit into that lifestyle? Can you serve two masters? Tend two flocks? Where does being a Warden start and being a Jedi end, I wonder."

She was mostly musing of course. Roberts knew well how to balance her own lifestyle of wandering while maintaining her meditations. But that had taken her ten years of violence to discover and displaced her from several Jedi Orders.

"I'm not asking you choose one or the other. Oh no. But I am wondering how you plan to be both a Jedi Knight and a Warden of this Expeditionary Fleet? Do you believe there is some common ground there. Or would the two occupations be at odds with each other?"

It was a big question. It is not easy to juggle the concerns of heaven with the concerns of earth.

[member="Vassara Raxis"]​

 

[RC 212]

[member="Karen Roberts"]

Vassara nodded. She understood what Karen meant, something about attachment and the like.

"The two are almost mutual. The Fleet offers safe harbour to the Oppressed and weary and hunts the Oppressors, while giving their members a place to grow mutually. It has already been enforced that Sith and Darksiders of the sort will not be tolerated."

She probably wanted a little more, so Vassara bit the bait and offered it to her.

"While I understand that it's a dual path I'll walk, I'm willing to do the work and do what I must. In essence the Fleet is an extension of myself and a few other Wardens. They are our responsiblity and us their responsiblity. We will defend freedom, or perish trying!"

 

[Jsc]

Karen nodded,

"I see your mind is made up then. Warden it is."

She smiled. Vassara knew what she wanted and she wasn't afraid to go out and get it. Good for her.

"Well. I suppose we can begin with lightsabers then. No time to waste, is there."

Roberts pulled out a data-stick from her pockets and put it on the table.

"This stick contains the lessons for Saber Form I. The introduction to the lightsaber. It also includes a very common recipe Jedi Padawans use when constructing their very first lightsaber. I recommend you give it a look over and begin collecting the ingredients at your leisure. Hehe."

"Included are the Form I velocities, stances, and practice recommendations. All of which will be very useful when practicing alone or in pairs."

She shrugged. It was quiet common really.

"Ah! But of course. And I have one last gift for you as well."

Karen removed a single-hilt lightsaber from her purse and set it on the table. Silver casing with a black grip.

"Waterproofed and engraved with a synthetic blue crystal. It comes with a stun function for practicing. So that you can spar in good peace. Hehe. ...She'll need a name of course? But I'm sure you can pick one at a later date. For now? She's all yours."

[member="Vassara Raxis"]​

 

[RC 212]

[member="Karen Roberts"]

Vassara nodded, pocketing the data stick and still sipping her stimcaf. The Saber forms would come in helpful, and she was eager to begin. Still she had more questions for Karen.

But they would have to wait, and she simply sat and sipped, looking at the Saber. Finally she had her own weapons, her own lightsaber. With a quick motion she scooped it up and pocketed that as well.

"Thanks Karen, you rock!"