The Force in You | Zoe Rosella

[Darth Metus]

Location: Beside a Nameless Lake​

Tag: [member="Zoe Rosella"]​

Some would say that he had gone astray.

Life had been a gaggle of twists and turns for the Jedi known as Josiah Denko. In his maturity, he found himself looking back on the cacophony of steps which had led him to the present. There were some moments he looked upon with great fondness - such as when he left the vicious streets of Nar Shaddaa in the pursuit of something much greater. However, he grit his teeth at others. A glance at the map of Galactic powers was all the truth he needed to feel the cold lash of failure seeping into his bones. Though he had thrown his lot in with a congregation that was familiar, he could not shake the feeling that he could have done more. The Confederacy, despite its local population of Dark Side faithful, got as much right as they did wrong. They did what they could to quell the rise of slavery; and seldom suffered other Empires to run rampant across the stars.

However. They were not a bastion of Light. There were twinkling stars among them - such as the Sacred Lotus on Monastery. But their guiding hand was not one steeped in the righteousness that Josiah served. Yet, with every day, their dominance across the Galaxy grew. With each victory, their place as a master of the Southern Systems became evident. They were on their way to being far greater than the Galactic Alliance. And, a small part of Josiah wished that the Alliance was still the dominant force in this region of space. But they were battered and broken into oblivion. They were shattered by the Dark Side so finitely that even their remnants had yet to recover. A piece of Josiah's soul blamed himself for not rising to fight when the Alliance fell victim to the Imperial assaults.

They died, and he did nothing. The last, militant arm of the Light fell - and a zealot stayed his hand.

In the wake of the Alliance's fall, Josiah had resolved to never sit on his hands again. And thus did he return to the Confederacy and resume his service to the nation. As far as he could tell, His Light could make a difference. He had studied at the feet of Grandmasters. Bested a Sith Emperor in single combat. And razed a burning path of Light throughout many battles. Here, despite their lack of Light compared to the Alliance, he would make his mark. But, it would have to be more than just the way he entered a battlefield. No. It would be something lasting. Something finite that would grow as time went on. He had sat on more than his hands for far too long...he sat on his knowledge. His principles. His skills. All of which were better suited in the hands of the next generation.

And so, beside a humble arbor at a lakeside, the Jedi Master meditated. With eyes lulled to a close, he opened himself fully to the will of the Force. It was faith alone that would see the one he was meant to guide enter his life. And all it took was a mustard seed.

 

[Zoe Rosella]

Location: Beside A Nameless Lake​

Tag: [member="Josiah Denko"]​

​

This was her first time meeting an actual "Jedi", she had heard the stories of their selflessness and courage but knew little about them altogether. Today would be her first meeting and she wasn't sure what to expect.. after being informed to meet this Josiah Denko she found her way onto an unrecognisable planet that had a particular defining feature, a lake. Zoe found herself stumbling through brambles and bushes to reach this lake, on her way she had grazed her knees and scratched her arms whilst passing through the thickness of the forest and upon arrival she saw a mysterious figure sat down by an arbour, looking around the edge of the lake she came to realise that there was a pathway to the lake all along, except she completely missed it. Frustrated, she gawked at the lake, a mass of disbelief and confusion about how she missed the pathway rendered her flustered.. "Compose yourself, Zoe" she muttered to herself, allowing a moment to calm down before approaching the figure who she believed to be Josiah.

After composing herself she stumbled towards the figure sat beside the lake whilst trying to hide her grazes and scratches, eventually she reached the mysterious figure, "Excuse me, sir? Are you Josiah? Josiah Denko by any chance?" she spoke confidently yet was trembling inside, his response worried her most, what would he say? What would he think? She wanted to make the best first impression as she possibly could.. her mind went wild with questions and worry as she became increasingly anxious while waiting for him to respond...

 

[Darth Metus]

Location: Beside a Nameless Lake​

Tag: [member="Zoe Rosella"]​

At last.

When the young woman made her journey to the lakeside, the Jedi sensed her presence long before she breached the brambles and leaves. While she yet labored to push through the dominance of nature, Josiah could feel the emotion roiling forth. She was a stark contrast to the silence of the lakeside - a vibrant star amidst an ocean of calm. Apprehension colored her journey. Doubt. Worry. All things that could lead to the Dark Side if left unchecked. It was only when the young woman graced the man with her voice that his eyelids creaked open. He blinked twice against the sudden influx of light, yet offered her a smile that was as warm as the sun above their heads. "Yes, I am Josiah Denko. And you are?" came his response. There was a time when he would have clinged to the mantle of Knight or Master and proudly announced himself as thus - but in the grand scheme of things, ranks did not matter.

What mattered was the journey that he had to offer the young woman. A straight and narrow road to something far greater than he. In one, fluid motion Josiah indicated the leafy ground before him. "Please, sit." he insisted, before placing the same hand back upon his knee. His gaze watched the young woman intently, studying her face. He knew very little about this stranger who had sought him out, and so the first aim was to ascertain if she was the culmination of his hopes. Was she what he had been waiting for? "Tell me...how did you come to find me? What is it you seek?"

 

[Zoe Rosella]

Location: Beside A Nameless Lake​

Tag: [member="Josiah Denko"]​

​

She was surprised to see him smile, from what she knew of the Jedi they were serious about their occupation. "I uhh.. I'm Zoe Rosella" she spoke wryly, appeased about his response she took a seat on some leaves set beside the Jedi, she wasn't particularly graceful about it however as she had just come out of the thick of a forest but she appreciated the gesture. "Why am I here? Oh! uhh.. I was told to come and see you by some hooded man from some planet, he told me you could teach me about the force? Is it true? could you? she excitedly replied, still holding hope that he was definitely the one she was looking for.

She looked out towards the lake and she could immediately see why he chose it as their meeting place, the light shimmering gently off the surface, the serenity of the waves splashing on the shore and the arbour which they sat by felt like it had history and meaning. Smiling as she finally settled down she continued to take in the view whilst listening to Josiah's response ~ Zoe felt calm for the first time in a while..

 

[Darth Metus]

Location: Beside a Nameless Lake​

Tag: [member="Zoe Rosella"]​

A hooded man from some planet?

There was a short list of who would have known Josiah and fit that description these days. Most, when inquiring about tutelage in the Light, would have been directed towards the Silver Jedi or one of the Fringe, Jedi communities. For someone to deliberately steer this young woman to Josiah was...well, a sign that he knew whoever that was. The Jedi did not dwell on the thought for too long, as what mattered was the fulfillment of his own desire. He had faith that the one he was to guide would enter into his life - and lo, [member="Zoe Rosella"] had literally waded through the bush to find him. Upon hearing her desire to learn, Josiah simply nodded his head in affirmation.

"It is a pleasure to meet you Zoe." he began.

He did not immediately answer the question of whether he could teach her about the Force. But rather, motioned to the scenery all around them. Even as his arm moved, he could feel that the young woman was slowly finding peace. That the doubt and apprehension were bleeding away. This was good, especially for what he had in mind to teach her. "The Force is everything. In everyone. It lives. It breathes. It has a will of its own." His hand lowered and returned to resting upon his knee. "I can teach you how to listen to its whisper. And how to call for its aide. But."

He settled his gaze upon her. An intent look was upon his face. "Why do you want to learn about the Force? What do you hope to accomplish with this knowledge?"

 

[Zoe Rosella]

Location: Beside A Nameless Lake​

Tag: [member="Josiah Denko"]​

She looked up from the scenery to listen to Josiah and after pleasantries were exchanged she began listening as he started talking about the force, "The force is in everything?" whispering to herself imitating his words, her gaze laying upon him whilst he continued to explain about the force and watched as he gestured towards the lake as to demonstrate his point. Josiah had reached his question, why does she want to learn about the force.. this wasn't an easy question and Zoe took a moment to think about it, she mulled over some of the reasons but she felt like none of them would be the right answer.. was there a right answer? Finally she came to a conclusion; "I'm not really sure actually.. all I know is that this is what my mother would've wanted me to do when she gave me this" she said, brandishing her lightsaber, "I would've like to have thought she'd have wanted me to do something worthwhile with my life so here I am.." Zoe proclaimed, hoping that it was an adequate answer whilst still protecting her pride by not getting too personal. She gave a slight smile as she detached her gaze to Josiah and continued to admire the lake and its surroundings, she was starting to feel more comfortable and confident as they spoke as she felt like she made a good first impression which put her mind at ease.

 

[Darth Metus]

Location: Beside a Nameless Lake​

Tag: [member="Zoe Rosella"]​

He was looking for something.

In asking her the reason why she sought tutelage in the Force, the Jedi was attempting to gauge the young woman's character. Was she driven by avarice? Was she motivated by a desire to grow her own power? Were there any symptoms that could later manifest as corruption by the Dark Side? As the young woman took her time in responding, Josiah's gaze remained intent. He studied each word that formed and fell from her lips, attempting to see if there were any obvious hints of malicious intent. Yet what the man found was a link to the past. Her mother had been the push that she needed to seek out tutelage in the Force. And she wanted to do something with her life - something positive judging by how she chose a Jedi to mentor her.

Upon hearing these words, Josiah's gaze softened and that warm smile eased back onto his face. "Well, we shall see to it that your mother is made proud." His words were coupled with a slight nod of acceptance. "Your life is going to become very different from this point, Zoe. An apprentice follows in the footsteps of her Master until she is ready to fly on her own. Until then, where I go, you will go. My battles become our battles. And everything I know will become everything you know."

"Now, that is not to say that you are leashed to my side and unable to live - but rather, I will take responsibility for your well-being until you are learned. If that is acceptable to you, then there is no time like the present to get started."

 

[Zoe Rosella]

Location: Beside A Nameless Lake​

Tag: [member="Josiah Denko"]​

​

She could see Josiah clinging to every word that came out of her mouth. Whilst looking at the lake he began talking, gently looking up to him from the ground nothing but positive words came out of his mouth, he took every word she said in and understood it all perfectly, it seemed. Josiah quickly moved on to explaining her apprenticeship and how things are, will and are meant to be. Focusing on every word she nodded her head to it all, ensuring he understood that she knew the costs of learning under his guide. "I understand completely.. Master" she exclaimed, understanding the ways of apprenticeship terminology whilst hoping it wasn't too soon to begin calling him her master. Zoe stood up, more gracefully than when she sat down, "What do you have in mind first?" grinning with excitement, bubbling and ready to begin her training which she has been waiting to do for a very long time...

 

[Darth Metus]

Location: Beside a Nameless Lake​

Tag: [member="Zoe Rosella"]​

At last, they were on the same page.

The Jedi could not help but smile as he felt the excitement bubbling within his newfound apprentice. She was eager to begin her new path - and frankly he could not blame her. When Josiah first ascended the steps of the Jedi Temple, he was just as excited as she was. The question was, where to begin? Josiah tapped his index finger upon his chin in thought for a moment before rising to his feet. A mere wave of his hand caused a sudden snap! to erupt above their heads, and he easily caught the two, thick branches which tumbled to the earth. Wordlessly, he stripped both of their twigs before offering one to his Apprentice.

"You carry a lightsaber, let's make sure you know how to use it. We will start with the basics." he said.

Once his Apprentice rose to the occasion, Josiah would move a few paces off from her. He held the branch within one hand and assumed a relaxed stance - one that did not betray any of the Forms. With but the motion of his chin as a challenge, he bid the young woman to show him what she knew.

 

[Zoe Rosella]

Location: Beside A Nameless Lake​

Tag: [member="Josiah Denko"]​

​

His face when she got up was promising, he seemed to be joyed by her excitement to learn, which was good news for her. Josiah passed her a twig once he saw the lightsaber she carried, he indicated towards a training by mimicking lightsaber with branches.. how obscure but at least it was safer. She knew that she wasn't too good at fighting as she grew up watching other people fight and never had much chance to practice herself. To get into stance she raised the branch above her head as she believed it was a good attack and defence stance as she could move around easier. She saw Josiah indicate to begin the fight with his chin, she nodded to him to indicate she was ready and she began to move towards him steadily to begin an attack, unaware of whether the tactic would actually work..

 

[Darth Metus]

Location: Beside a Nameless Lake​

Tag: [member="Zoe Rosella"]​

He felt confident in his decision.

As her Master, it fell upon the Jedi to ensure that she enjoyed safety and security underneath his wings. To this end, he had seen fit to begin her tutelage by assessing what she knew of saberplay...with twigs. And as the young woman assumed her starting stance, Josiah lofted a single brow in the air. It was a good call on his part - for the way she approached was like an open book. He likened it to a warrior with a club: the trajectory was something that could be estimated at a glance. When she swung, Josiah simply stepped out of the branch's path before retaliating. If the blow landed, the young woman would find her posterior thwacked - albeit very lightly.

She knew very little, which was good. There would be no preconceived teachings to smooth over. He preferred it that way. She would be like a sponge, and his teachings a pail of water. "Right off the bat...you are an open book my dear apprentice." he began, pausing their duel by raising his offhand. "So your first lesson will be... unpredictability."

He motioned to the tree before them and tapped a knot that was about eye level with him. "Imagine this is the head. One." He then proceeded to map out an imaginary body by tapping on the wood. Two half bent twigs - two and three - would be the shoulders and arms. A hole where a nest resided was the torso. Four. And two cuts in the base of the tree would be the legs. Five and Six. "Your goal is to flow, quickly from limb to limb, without giving your opponent a chance to think of where you will strike next. Like so."

The Jedi held his branch in a simple stance before striking the shoulder with a slash, then whirling on his heel to strike the side of the torso. Fluidity in motion brought the branch down to the leg, and back to the head.

"We call this Shii-Cho. The first of the formal lightsaber forms. Now, you try."

 

[Zoe Rosella]

Location: Beside A Nameless Lake
Tag: [member="Josiah Denko"]

His lessons were invaluable.

Her attempted attack failed rather miserably yet her master seemed to take it as a positive which took her to surprise. She watched as Josiah gave and demonstrated instruction, her task was to hit a tree unpredictably? As demonstrated, the head was one, shoulders and arms were two and three, a nest within the tree was four, the torso and the legs were two and three, quite easy to remember. Mirroring his stance she prepared herself to strike the tree, glancing back and forth, to and from her master to see if she was getting it right. With little hesitation she began her offensive on the tree;

1) Head - Blow from the Right
2) Right Arm - Swiftly brings branch to the other side and attacks from the left
3) Left Leg - Swings the branch down from the previous attack to strike the leg
4) Left Arm - Uses the momentum to swing the branch back around to hit the other arm
5) Right Leg - Swipes the right leg from the right
6) Torso - Uses the swooping direction of the attack to pause in the middle and to thrust the torso

She was rather proud of the strikes she dealt upon the tree, she turned to Josiah: "How was that?" she said with a wide grin, hoping her technique was adequate to say the least..

 

[Darth Metus]

Location: Beside a Nameless Lake​

Tag: [member="Zoe Rosella"]​

It was clear that she was a fast learner.

After the Jedi made his demonstration, his Apprentice undertook the task right away. Admirably, she worked against the trunk with strong, precise blows. But above all, they were reminiscent of the flow that he had just displayed only moments' prior. It was clear that she would be able to mimic her mentor and follow directions as they were given - which was an excellent trait for any learner to possess. However, what Josiah needed to ensure was that she would retain the information. But for now, he had to give credit where it was due. His hands clapped together at once and he offered the young woman a toothy grin. "Yes! That was excellent Zoe!"

He then motioned for her to join him for a moment. "It's clear that you are able to mimic what I show you, but now we must work on making this an instinct for you. So, starting tomorrow, I will have a training regime for you. You will practice until Shii-Cho becomes second nature over time. Then, we will begin working with an actual saber."

Josiah then lowered himself to the earth, motioning for to continue striking the tree. "Now then, tell me about yourself. I'm sure we will learn more over time, but I do not know anything about you beyond...well, your name and your ability to swing a stick." To hold a conversation whilst swinging a stick would seem counterproductive at face value. However. A Jedi would have to keep their focus on the battlefield. This was simply a basic version of a skill she would need to master if she was to survive any warzone.

 

[Zoe Rosella]

Location: Beside A Nameless Lake
Tag: [member="Josiah Denko"]

She couldn't help but feel immensely proud of how quickly she picked it up, and the praise from Josiah was promising as a show of her progress already. She silently nodded to every sentence that came out of his mouth until another set of instructions came, this time he wanted her to keep attacking the tree whilst talking about herself.. she hated talking about her self.. a lot. "So uhm.." she said as she began to attack the tree, "As you know I'm Zoe.. Zoe Rosella - I come from a tiny village in Alderaan - my mother was a.. Jedi herself - and I never met my father, he disappeared when I was young.." she managed to dent the tree a bit as she came to the subject of her father, "I haven't heard anything from him.. ever.." she said, turning to Josiah...

 

[Darth Metus]

Location: Lakeside​

Tag: [member="Zoe Rosella"]​

The timing of the dent was not lost upon him.

When the young woman mentioned her father, there was a force there which enabled the stick to bite into the flesh of the tree. Frustration, perhaps? Pain? Josiah, initially, said nothing as his newfound apprentice turned to him. His gaze searched her eyes. "Do you know why that is?" he began, "Why you haven't heard anything from him, I mean." It was a very personal question to ask...but there was a good reason behind it. Old wounds could fester into the Dark Side. A corruption which can take literal decades to manifest - and by then it would be too late. If there was a pain here...if there was a path to the Darkness here...then he would have to do something about it.

"Was your mother the one who guided you to me?" he added - this one, for the sake of pure curiosity.

 

[Zoe Rosella]

Location: Beside A Nameless Lake
Tag: [member="Josiah"] Denko
He noticed..

Her slight twitch which she decided to take out on the tree hadn't gone unnoticed under the watchful eyes of Josiah, she looked around in a slightly rage filled manner; "I have no clue.. my mother would never talk about him and as far as I know he's on some other planet drinking his life away, or better.. dead" she spoke heavily in response, she had always believed her father was a sleaze, a nobody and she didn't care much for wanting to think about or see him.

Josiah soon moved onto the topic of her mother, who, in fact, was a much better topic and the source of her inner spark, "Yes, my mother sent me" she said as a smile came out, "She wanted me to experience the galaxy for myself instead of moping around Alderaan, in turn she directed me to you in hopes that you would act as a guide.. I guess it all worked out in the end, huh?" she was now grinning at how everything seemed to be working out, she finally felt like she had purpose instead of wandering her homeplanet without anything important to do.

She soon switched the conversation to Josiah, "Why did you say yes..? To me becoming your apprentice, that is?", she said, attempting to move the conversation from herself.

 

[Josiah Denko]

Location: Lakeside​

Tag: [member="Zoe Rosella"]​

The Jedi could relate.

His own sire was the pinnacle example of what a native of Nar Shaddaa looked like. A drunkard. An abusive spouse. A failed Jedi. Just hearing the young woman utter those words reminded him that their stories were not that different. The Force had chosen his pupil well. He stepped closer to the young woman, placing a hand upon either one of her shoulders. "There is a great pain there." he began simply. "Pain. Anger. They lead to the Dark Side. And while there is nothing wrong with experiencing them, letting them fester will corrupt you. In time, we will strive to overcome this wound that is your father. Because it will only hold you back."

"You will come to forgive him for being himself. Not for his sake, but for your own."

The topic of her mother seemed to lighten the air just a bit, as Zoe offered a smile to the man. Moping around Alderaan certainly would pale in comparison to what the Jedi had to impart to his apprentice. And he could not help but find himself smiling in response to her own grin. "Well, your mother has excellent tastes in mentors then." he said, his tone alive with amusement. And then she asked a question, placing the spotlight on her Master.

"Because you are everything that I have been asking for." The admission was totally earnest. He had asked the Force to provide, and quite literally there was a Zoe in the Bush. "In my meditations, I made it clear to the Force that I was seeking one worthy of learning everything I had to offer. And then you came bursting out of the bushes. I would be a fool not to say yes to my dream."

 

[Zoe Rosella]

Location: Beside A Nameless Lake
Tag: [member="Josiah"]

Zoe hung off every word that came out of Josiah, she understood what he meant about her feelings festering into something more and his response regarding why he chose her simply fed her personal ego whilst, at the same time, telling her more about her master in the process. "Well, that's all well and good but how can I control my feelings towards my father?" interested in techniques about solving this issue at hand, hoping to prevent her feelings absorbing into something terrible that she can not yet even begin to comprehend..

(Sorry for the short post ^-^)

 

[Josiah Denko]

How can I control my feelings towards my father?

The question carried more weight than the collective mass of the Galaxy. However, Josiah offered the young woman a confident smile and answered her plight in two ways. First, the here and now. Second, permanently. "We bearers of Light have spent eons perfecting meditation. It is the perfect technique for controlling one's emotions and stifling the Darkness within. However. This may be only a temporary salve upon the wound, Zoe. Ultimately, confronting the man directly would be for the best."

He paused, folding his arms in thought. "My own father was not the greatest man. Abusive. Lover of alcohol. Think of any sordid behavior and he embodied it. It was not until I confronted him that I understood my worth is not dependent upon another human being. And, that there must have been some shred of decency in him for my mother to have brought me into this world with him. It helped me, I'm certain it'll help you."

[member="Zoe Rosella"]