Faction The Jedi Praxeum: Rebuilding Knossa City

[Hoon]

According to the Qel-Droma Epics, Knossa was built from stone and bronzium, and its squat domes were located high in the western Eocho Mountains. These mountains were allegedly riddled with crystal caves. Knossa supposedly consisted of the Eye of Ashlanae, a powerful Force vergence on one of its peaks, from which the city expanded outward from.

Once a key stronghold for the Jedi Order, Ossus was allegedly destroyed thousands of years ago by a Sith-triggered supernova that devastated it’s landscape. Several centuries later, the once jewel of Jedi origin remains in the crosshairs of war. Soon it came under the corrupting influence of The Sith Empire, where they wiped any influence of the Jedi and their history from its surface.

However, in the wake of adversity, the Jedi find themselves back on an ancient world that has strong ties to their origin. With the Great Jedi Library and it’s Halls of Knowledge rebuilt, the Jedi look to commit to restoring all of Ossus to its former glory, starting with its capital.

Knossa once served as the center of Jedi culture for nearly twenty thousand years.


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Objective 1: Establishing Diplomatic Relations with the Ysanna​

According to legend, what few Jedi survived the Cron Supernovae banded together to survive the vast wasteland Ossus had become. Over a millennia, while the non-human population quickly died out, the humans became the tribal Ysanna, a group of near-humans with a higher percentage of Force users among them -- they define the Force as some sort of atavistic magic. Small tribes still live near the caves in the valleys near the Eocho Mountains. They’ve grown extremely mistrustful of outsiders since the Sith occupation. Now would be the time to interact with them properly, establish dialogue, and interact with a culture far distant from your own.

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Objective 2: Exploring Ruins​

During the refitting and conversion of the old Sith Library to the new Jedi Praxeum, some of the mysteries beneath the surface were able to remain just that -- long-lost mysteries. The catacombs of the old Sith Structure were thoroughly searched and purged but in the aftermath of it all, a hidden mechanism was triggered inside this labyrinth, which revealed ancient tunnels running deep underground.

Dating back to more ancient times of the Jedi, these tunnels are likely to hold many lost artifacts kept away from even the scavengers. It is in the Jedi’s interest to explore these ancient ruins, and resurface this lost piece of history.

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Objective 3: A Lost City​

Some broken structures and ruins remain where the original city stood. A handful of salvage groups have returned to inspect them. Due to the unstable nature of these buildings, they could likely collapse, but what's more interesting is that caches of long lost items and relics have begun to unearth themselves, likely left over from the original Jedi evacuation. However, the Ysanna are familiar with this area. Assist the natives, maybe find some nice artifacts and such along the way.

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Objective 4: Hunt for the Crystal Cave​

According to ancient texts, The Crystal Caves of Ossus were once a series of deep cave systems within the Eocho mountains, rich in Adegan crystals used for lightsaber construction. But the vergence within these caves also made it an excellent location for Jedi Padawans to undergo their Trial of Spirit.

For this reason, the Praxeum seeks to rediscover the lost Crystal Caves of Ossus, in hopes of finding this center of growth for young Jedi. Both its purpose within the Jedi Trials of Knighthood and the Crystal gathering make it a highly important location. With the help of Jedi Master Valery Noble the rough location was determined within the mountains, as the crystals inside retain their presence in the Force.

All that remains is for a group of Jedi to find and explore them thoroughly. But beware, for those who venture inside may undergo dreamlike experiences that challenge their deepest vulnerabilities.

Are you ready to confront your innermost self?


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Objective 5: BYOO​

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Relevant Links:
Ossus
The Cron Supernova
Great Jedi Library (Converted/Cleansed Sith Library)
Eye of Ashlanae
Knossa Spaceport
Agorn Mountains
Eocho Mountains

Spoiler

Tag List:
Matsu Ike
Coren Starchaser
Tiland Kortun
Alana Sunrider
@Mishel Kryze
Audren Sykes
Caltin Vanagor
Naata Sil
Viera
Sor-Jan Xantha
Cotan Sar'andor
Dagon Kaze
Two-in-One
Kirie
Janos Sovv
Kyyrk
Yula Perl
Aeris Lashiec
Jerek Zenduu
Jax Thio
Caedyn Arenais
Starlin Rand
Zahira Trabalos
Allyson Locke
Marakai Al'Orren
Nahyra Akull
Kaleleon
Yenna
Kitter Bitters
Julius Sedaire
Iris Arani
Kat Decoria
Kahne Porte
Judah Lesan
Justice Lesan
Okkeus Dainlei
Alexandra Porte
Sakadi Marathi Sinvala
Ruslan Zorlu
Sabatha Sayle
Valery Noble
Kaia Starchaser
Teyla Sal-Soren
Chiara Viren
Briana Sal-Soren
Spasa
Eza
JediJade09
Zad Arex
Nylea Apollodor
Aleena Aryss
Merrick Sato
Brandyn Sal-Soren
P PaleBlueDot
Mylo Thorne
Kahlil Noble
Ajinar Djo

 

[Iris Arani]

This was beautiful.

The colors danced from the caverns entrance. Bright hues of yellow, blue, green, orange. It wasn't anything like what Iris was expecting. Better, it was real. It wasn't just something that the young Padawan alone could see, like so many other times she'd seen color like this. The people with her could see it. She could share this with someone. The brightest of smiles formed on Iris's face as she glanced up towards Valery Noble .

"This is.. I didn't think it'd be this pretty."

Why they were here? That was an after thought. Iris was just thrilled to be able to share something that looked almost like what she saw all the time with someone else. "This is almost what I see every day. It's beautiful."

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Location: Ossus | Crystal Caves​

Valery: Appearance​

Outfit: Factory Link​

Lightsabers: Link!​

Ship: Factory link​

Tag: Iris Arani ​

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A smile found a way to the woman's features, as she looked into the caves and admired their beauty. For a long time, the entrance into these caves had been collapsed but after talking to Romi Jade , Valery had gotten the opportunity to help rediscover them. Now she stood here with her Padawan, who was ready to take an important step on her path as a Jedi.​

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"It is very beautiful, and for many years, nobody has set foot inside these caves," Valery said as she placed a hand on Iris' shoulder. She gently squeezed it and then looked down at her.​

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"Within them, you'll be able to find crystals that we use inside our lightsabers, which is why we're here. But as I'm sure you can sense and see, these caves are also very strongly attuned to the Force - it's a Nexus. It's a beautiful thing but also quite challenging, as the caves will likely test you during your journey."​

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"Not every crystal is meant to be yours, and only if you're deemed worthy, one will call out to you. So step inside these caves, and be aware of what you see, for it might not be real. Overcome your inner darkness, doubts, and fears; and continue your path." Valery said with a soft smile. She knew her words would likely not be super encouraging to go inside, but it was important.​

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"While you're in there, I would also like you to think about another Code. It's called the Crystal code, and goes into the role of our lightsaber crystal. it goes like this." ​

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Valery cleared her throat and began to recite the Code many were not all that familiar with.​

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The crystal is the heart of the blade. ​

The heart is the crystal of the Jedi. ​

The Jedi is the crystal of the Force.​

The Force is the blade of the heart.​

All are intertwined. The crystal, the blade, the Jedi. You are one.​

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[Coren Starchaser]

The world of Ossus held many secrets. As a member of the Order of Selab, Coren Starchaser was privy to most of the secrets that the world had, and the ones he wasn't? Well, those he would just have to help himself to. Traveling the galaxy in a few different ships, but using the familial refurbished star destroyer, the Dawn Treader as a home base, moving between his freighter, the better of his two ships, and his combat shuttle. His family was with him, at least the more recent ones, Celeste Rigel and the twins, at the very least. He would cross paths, assist where he was needed, and share family time with the rest, Kaia and Jared, and he had been working, at her pace, to make sure he kept a relationship with Kyra Perl . She was thrown into two very strong families, it wasn't her fault, and he wanted to make sure she felt comfortable coming to the Force, and what that meant for her.

The Jedi Master, dressed in robes designed to aid with movement, and the chest piece of the Vanguard armor that was developed for the Levantines so long ago, the Jedi Master was feeling much like his old self. While he loved his family, and his wife especially, there was something to be said about going it alone. On his hip was the Starchaser's Light saber, the one that glowed with the colors of a star, this one was an almost aqua edge with the white core, and another saber he had rescued from a fallen Sith and purified, a skill he had learned somewhere along the way. There were other Jedi who traveled with him, including an Ithorian… who may not have been a Jedi, but had become a partner-of-sorts to Coren's eldest.

He kept rambling about seeds… That was the thought that stuck with Coren as he turned to walk down the gangway of the Tachyon Rising, only to be stalled by a worried tweet from his faithful astromech. The Jedi Master laughed and shook his head. "No Porter. You're not coming. You have to watch the ship and help coordinate. Kaia is going to need your help with the salvage efforts. I saw she brought some of her SERGIOs down. And I need you to help me with some translations." He grabbed the visor that was hanging around his neck. "It'll transfer right to you, and you log it so I can see what it says when I get back, yeah?" Unless it was written in basic, or one of the Jedi scripts he did know. "Just watch the ship." He hefted up a length of rope around his shoulder and was looking every bit the part of his old self.

A rogue Jedi who was more interested in the way he was finding the secrets, proving he could unearth them from where they were hidden, rather than the use of them properly. This was before the Alliance of Sullust let him know he was pretty damned good at war as well. But this, this is what his family was about. Starchasers were wanderers, seekers of the knowledge. As he stepped off the gangway, and turned back to the ship, he tapped wrist top commlink.

"This is Starchaser, heading for the ruins, coordinates attached to my entry point. Let me know if you want to coordinate." It felt good to be out there, and the world of Ossus didn't feel so broken in the Force. Not this time. He turned the frequency to contact another. " Romi Jade you sure you're good? Diplomacy hasn't been my… forte but if you needed the hand?" He was hoping not as he made his way to the coordinates where the beacon was set up, and where he'd start his entry into the ancient ruins.

 

[Justice Lesan]

"Youth is wasted on the young..."
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Justice, he had been named after something both of his parents held as an ideal, a virtue. There was no possible way he was ever going to live up to the idea, and yet here he was trying. The padawan could not have been more than 18 years old, yet there was something about him which made him different than most his age. Some would call it a lack of maturity, others would say he was too mature. The only thing Justice knew was that he did not feel as though he fit in anywhere. It was just like the mission to rebuild the city.

He was not a diplomat.

Archeology did not push all the right buttons for him.

There was no desire to get lost in the ruins of the wreckage that was littered about the former warzone.

Maybe the only thing that remotely interested him was hunting for a crystal, but he did not feel ready for that.

There were others far more advanced in their training, and Justice felt behind where he should be. Where it seemed others excelled in learning the skills needed to advance, the teenager struggled. He worked hard for everything. Even his mediocrity had been earned. Maybe today would be the day he found something different about himself which would make him think he was more than below average.

He shrugged as his feet carried him around the outskirts of the city. Justice didn't know what he was going to find, or what it was he was even doing there, but he hoped it was at least something that would make him stay. Nothing was worse than being mediocre when it came to using the force... unless that thing was being a Lesan that could barely make a rock move.

Briana Sal-Soren | Vizion Trozky​

 

[Matsu Ike]

THE LOST CITY

Ossus was a world of wonder and fun... the skies alone were great as the jedi master hovered... allowing herself to soak in the light and she allowed the force to wrap around her. She looked down at the temple and the eye.. they had worked several times on it each time the jedi were able to retake the world from darksiders and it was a matter of old hat in some ways. The Ysanna were friends after all and had taught her a few things when she journeyed across the galaxy.

Moving down as she didn't need to clasp her hands behind her back she was just moving and floated over the Eye of Ashlanae in the center of the city. She knew a few other things like the library and the caves were there but they presented more fun for others... Her hands came out and the jedi master focused the force into it as the crystal on her necklace gleamed... glowing warm and with blue light as she held a hand out and cleared debris letting her mind focus on it in the span of a microsecond and deconstructing it to become dust in the wind she was creating.

She formed it into a meditative circle and touched the surface of the building as her hand came up and she spoke. "It is strange, through my fingers the small grains... some can see them as haphazard... random, a disorganized stream of silicone that is prregnant with the possibility of any and every conceivable shape." She said it and moved brishing her hair to the side. "But this is an illusion, things haave their shape in time, A marble block will have a statue within it for the future."

She said it and looked at the circle she had created while her smile came though. She could feel the others here. Romi Jade was easy to feel she was like a beacon and Coren Starchaser was always impressive. She could feel the flow of the force within the world as it connected everything and she allowed more to flow around as the city itself needed fixing and ebbing it to restore and aid them was important but she had spent much of her time on Ahch-To learning big aspects.

"There is no future... no past." THe words echoed in herr thoughts as she was looking at the city. "Time is simultaneous... an intricately structured hypergem that most insist on viewing one edge at a time. When the whole of the design is visible in every facet." She had been taught to look but the future in premonitions were more difficult... no it was easier to see what she was looking at and the AIng-Tii had taught it to her along with how to fold within the rift that the jewels around the circle could create.

 

[Sakadi Marathi Sinvala]

K N O S S A- C I T Y
T H E- J E D I- P R A X E U M​

"Watch! This time I'll get it." She leaned forward, snatching the three wood-carved dice from the flagstone. "Nu-uh!" "We'll still beat you!" "Yeah!" The circle of children closed around the improvised table. She casually shook the dice with both hands, and dropped them on the flagstone in dramatic fashion. "Well well well..." Her eyes went over the crowd, gauging their reactions. With her telepathy, she had been able to breach the language barrier and meet some of the more complex Ysanna tribes. Although their simple children's game showed that she didn't fully understand them yet.

It was made clear by one of the adults. A broad-shouldered man with a repulsive mask. He stood beside her, eyes focused on the game. "Don't act smug. You lost again." He chuckled. She turned her head to face him, surprise written all over her features. "What? But I thought..?" "It's the combination of the three. Not the individual values of the dice that count here." He explained, watching as the children took great delight in her loss.

"Don't bother explaining our games to her." The voice came from the pile of rubble that once was the ruin's southern wall. Their leader, a so-called Shaman by the name of Kalto, sat on top of it. Like the other adults, his expression was hidden by the Sith-inspired mask he wore. "We know why you are here." She could detect a slight malice in his surface thoughts.

"To do what your people do best."

"Bringing war and devastation to our planet."

Perhaps this was going to be more difficult than she had anticipated.

 

[Iris Arani]

Inner darkness?

Of everything Valery Noble said and advised Iris on, it was that part specifically that stuck the most. Iris had never thought about an inner darkness. Did Valery have one? She watched her master for a moment, then smiled and nodded. She could do this. "Whatever I might face, I'm ready. Thanks to you." The dark orange of worry emanating from the older woman was all too obvious to the younger one. She smiled, reaching up to pat the hand on her shoulder.

No matter what, she was ready.

Taking a breath Iris turned and headed into the cave. Always move forward.

The deeper she went, the brighter the colors got around her. The hues of so many crystals, and.. More. The Force. The deeper in she went, the brighter it was. Her eyes narrowed some, trying to adjust to the colors. Behind her she was already out of sight. Minutes of walking through, but.. Nothing stood out. Everything was just color. Just.. Bright. Like her earliest memories where she still couldn't see the people underneath the colors. Even now she had trouble remembering that there were people and things under the lights.

The deeper in she went, the brighter the colors were.

Panic gripped her heart as the colors got too bright. Too intense. She couldn't see the crystals anymore. Couldn't see the cave walls, the natural light the crystals gave off. All there was were the swirling colors of the Force, brighter than she'd ever seen. She closed her eyes, but the color remained. She couldn't escape it.

The deeper in she went, the brighter the colors.​

She gripped the sides of her head as she fell to the ground. Too much color. Too bright. Iris curled up on the ground, too overwhelmed to think, to feel. Lost to the shades that swirled ever around her.

 

[Julius Sedaire]

It had been a long, long time since he had worn the emerald robes most Corellian Jedi did. His were of a different cut, closer fit to allow for movement and the Aing-Tii armor he wore over it. His right arm still a prosthetic of their making, the wayward rogue stepped off the ramp of his ship and dropped cloaking his presence in the Force, drinking in the restored connection. He didn't deserve friends like Romi Jade and Coren Starchaser , who had constantly pulled him from the wreckage of his own making. But rubbing a trimmed and neat beard and slicked-back salt and pepper hair, he smiled anyway as he spoke out onto Comms. Much better put together than his last tenure on Socorro.

"Sedaire, arrivin on outskirts and ready. Romi my darlin, where can I be of most help?"

Speaking these days he had dropped the learned Coreward accent in favor of the natural slow drawl of the middle class of Corellia. The slums spoke like Coruscanti, as did the uppers. But the bulk of Corellians spoke like countrymen on a hot summer day, sipping something soothing and cool. As he awaited a response from her, or anyone, he gripped the lightsaber at his hip, an ancient one said to be from the Skywalkers, and next to it the one of his own mind, the sentience of it's crystal humming and washing over him as he sought its calm to help balance the excitement and nerves he felt.

 

[Valery Noble]

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Location: Ossus | Crystal Cave​

Valery: Appearance​

Outfit: Factory Link​

Lightsabers: Link!​

Ship: Factory link​

Tag: Iris Arani ​

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"Whatever I might face, I'm ready. Thanks to you."​

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Valery blinked and for a moment, all worry washed away. She smiled proudly at her Padawan as a hand was set on her shoulder, and she'd nod with confidence in the young girl. After all, Valery would not take her Padawan here if she believed that she wasn't ready for it. ​

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It was time to take a big step forward.​

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But as Iris wandered through the caves, she'd experience the overwhelming sensation of the crystal's combined presences in the Force. Valery had told her that one would call out to her, that one crystal was meant to be hers if she proved ready for the responsibility. But now? None stood out yet, and the girl crumbled to the ground as the sea of colors sought to engulf her.​

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But through this chaotic front of colors, she'd hear a voice within her mind.​

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"Focus Iris, on the Force. Let it guide you."​

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The voice sounded familiar to her, but was it really Valery? It would be hard to tell, but the words echoed through the Force, and tried to get the girl to move deeper into the caves. There was something warm and full of life she could faintly feel out there, if she were to focus.​

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But in another direction, she felt something different... Despair, pain. Someone was hurt and in trouble, she could feel it. The emotions were much stronger within the Vergence of this cave, the colors bright.​

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Which path will she choose?​

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[Briana Sal-Soren]

BYOO ​

Briana’s favorite thing about Ossus was all of the wide, open spaces, and the numerous ruins that provided her plenty of room to explore. She’d had half a mind to go and salvage with the other groups, which meant the possibility of mechanical parts, which could mean old ships or other relics for her to take apart, but likewise meant personnel and security droids to keep her from doing what she liked to do the most - play around with the old systems and see what she could do with them. She doubted any of the Jedi Masters, nor the Ysanna natives, would want some barely-twenty year old to be messing around with items that rightly belonged to the temple and the planets people.

So for now, Briana had set out to find a different sort of adventure far away from the temple, tasked with minding her Ps and Qs as had been requested of her. Ok. Maybe it wasn’t exactly what Val had in mind, but specifics weren’t laid out and Briana was reveling in the freedom of being out on her own.

Along the far outskirts of the enclave, she'd found some old structures that she assumed were already excavated, to use for a little of her own quiet exploring. A place she could test and stretch her abilities.

The only oddity with the entire scene was the protocol droid hovering over her shoulder as she got ready, the same droid that’d had the misfortune of crossing paths with the young Corellian the day she arrived, its silver plated face looking somehow concerned, despite its non-adjustable framing. At its feet were several large bags, their contents a mystery to whoever looked upon them.

Briana was quite proud of the droid, now that she’d reprogrammed it to follow her around and basically do her bidding while informing her about the various structures and machinery littered around Ossus. Not exactly ethical, but Briana was so impressed with her own work that she had no intention of changing things back any time soon.

“Mistress Sal-Soren, are you sure this is safe?” the droid inquired in a worried tone.

“Uh-huh, of course it is,” The response was automatic, and clear that she was not really paying attention.

Her ocean blue eyes were alight with challenge while busily she secured the harness about her slim waist. The lightweight fibrecord from the belt was held aloft and she twirled in her hand a sturdy grappling hook. The muscles in her arm rippled, releasing the hook. Much to her disappointment, instead of finding purchase in a ledge of the craggly wall, it bounced back down and fell at her feet.

Briana huffed, frustrated.

Spotting someone wandering about in her peripheral, an idea struck. “Hey, you!” she called, motioning for the boy to come over. “I want to get to the top of this old thing so I can get a real good look at the whole ‘lay of the land’. You know how to use the Force, right? Think you can help me out?”

Justice Lesan | Vizion Trozky

 

[Iris Arani]

Iris was still curled up on the ground. There was too much light blinding her. She gripped the sides of her head tighter as the pounding headache grew worse. This was horrible. No matter how she looked at it, she couldn't handle this sort of sensory overload. She couldn't block it out. Every second this was getting worse and worse. She was such a fool to think she was ready. A couple lessons in how to understand the Force and use a lightsaber. She wasn't ready! Doubt filled her mind, threatening to consume her. Then another voice spoke.

"Focus Iris, on the Force. Let it guide you."

The voice cut through the blinding light. It became something to focus on other than the overwhelming colors. But.. Focus on the Force? The colors were what was blinding her in the first place. She needed to find a way to ignore them, right? No, wait. That's what she was trying to do. To look past them, separate herself. She took a breath, letting her eyes open. The colors were the Force. The Force was her.

She was the colors.

Rather than block them out she focused on them. At first, it made her head throb with a new level of pain. But that pain lessened bit by bit. Rather than be a door for the colors, she let them pass through like a window. The headache lessened, and before she knew it she was on her feet. She smiled. No, there was no reason for her to try and separate herself from the Force.

Then something else caught her attention. Something or someone was.. Hurt? There was no hesitation in her mind as she rushed off towards it. The trial, abandoned. She needed to help whoever it was that needed help.

 

[Justice Lesan]

He had been lost in his own reality. Justice knew that he would likely end up getting booted from the Jedi Enclave at some point. The only reason he was there was as a favor to his uncle, the great Judah Lesan . He had a reputation of course, one that Justice heard about constantly. Apparently Judah went all the way back to the Army of Light. His legacy as a charter member of the Silver Jedi was well known, and his fall from grace well documented. Still the things Judah had accomplished made following in those footsteps a daunting challenge, on that Judah Jr. seemed to handle well.

Justice simply fell short when it came to being a Lesan. He always had.

There was someone calling out to him. It was a voice he did not recognize, and he was curious. That was at least one Lesan trait that Justice seemed to have an abundance of. Eyes fell on the girl as she was trying to do something with a thin cord and a grappling hook.

Pretty girl... that girl is pretty... she's talking to me... pretty girl...

Justice stood there a little awkwardly for a moment as he pointed to himself.

"Me? You uh... want me to help?"

Did she know she was talking to a padawan that was about to flunk out of Force School. He nodded his head as he approached.

"I mean, I'm not very good, but I can try."

Justice stuck his hands in his pockets, or tried to. The stupid pants of the standard Jedi uniform didn't have pockets. It likely looked like he was fidgeting because the girl was so damn pretty... which that was exactly why he was fidgeting.

"I'm Justice... or just Just... right that was awkward... hold on I'm gonna start over."

He cleared his throat...

"Hi, I'm Just. How can I help?"

Briana Sal-Soren | Vizion Trozky​

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Location: Ossus | Crystal Cave​

Valery: Appearance​

Outfit: Factory Link​

Lightsabers: Link!​

Ship: Factory link​

Tag: Iris Arani ​

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Having made her choice, Iris rushed through the ancient caverns of Ossus' Crystal caves, having chosen to pursue the despair and pain she felt, rather than the warmer feeling emanating from a different direction. But as she moved, the source of whatever was needing help hardly seemed to get closer, all whilst the crystals around her seemed to get dimmer, their colors fading away against those produced by the emotions she felt through the Force.​

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Whereas the tunnels of the cavern were initially covered in bright crystals, they now seemed to get emptier with each step she took, and slowly, the darker emotions began to envelop the young girl who wanted to help so desperately. ​

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"Please help me, it's so dark."​

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The voice seemed to echo back-and-forth in the girl's mind as she walked forward, now feeling that she was getting closer to the cavern that contained the source. If she were to look behind her, she'd notice that even her Keshian eyes couldn't see through the darkness. She had chosen this path, and now she had to commit to it.​

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The only way was forward.​

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"I'm scared.​

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[Iris Arani]

There was no looking back for Iris. As the voice echoed in her mind, cutting through the static of colors that she saw, the Padawan found herself completely focused on finding this source of despair. She continued down the path, her eyes only searching for the darkness that this voice was calling from. The colors that faded were already gone from her mind. All she wanted to do was help. That's all that mattered.

Deeper and deeper into the darkness she went. A soft smile formed on her lips as her eyes glanced around. Like before, with the children she and Valery Noble had saved, she reached out. Unknowingly trying to calm that which was upset. "It's okay." She kept her voice soft.

"You're not alone."

 

[Darth Carnifex]

"I can't see, it's too dark. Please help me, Jedi, I'm so scared."

The childlike voice continued to echo through the cave but was becoming closer and closer the further Padawan Arani traveled into the dark. Far from the light of the surface world, the Crystal Caves surrendered to utter darkness. It was in this darkness that the perfidious evil of the Sith endured on Ossus, shielded from the efforts of the Jedi above to snuff out the flame of hatred and fear.

And in the darkness, predators of the spirit lurked around every turn.

"Far above, far below," the childlike voice sang, "We don't know where we'll fall." The peripheral edges of Padawan Arani's vision swam, the shadows appearing to move on their own accord and closing in with every step.

"Far above, far below, what once was great is rendered small."

Without warning, a lightsaber blade the color of blood erupted into the air a meter in front of Padawan Arani's face. The sudden introduction of harsh red light would have been startling, but not as startling as what the light revealed around Arani. The floor of the cavern was littered with bones, easily identifiable as belonging to the sentient races of the galaxy. Tattered remnants of Jedi robes still clung to many of the bodies with broken lightsabers scattered throughout.

The figure holding the lightsaber moved into view, the top of his head nearly scraping the cave ceiling as a pair of burning eyes stared down at her in hatred. To those who knew the enemies of the Jedi, the spectral phantom wore the visage of the Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Carnifex. He pointed his lightsaber at the Jedi threateningly, "Witness the end of the Jedi, my young apprentice, and rejoice in the downfall of the Light!" Should Padawan Arani look down at her body, she would find that the clothing she had worn into the cave had suddenly been replaced by the trappings of a Sith Acolyte.

Laughter echoed through the cave, the haunting mocking laughter of the Sith.

Valery Noble | Iris Arani ​

 

[Iris Arani]

The deeper the darkness grew, the more Iris tried to be the light for the soul lost within it. Deeper and deeper she walked until even the shadows danced around her, consuming what was left of the light to leave only the Dark. But she didn't feel afraid. She was here to help someone who needed help. She needed to be that calming light. Yet nothing was as it seemed.

The sudden surge of red caused her to stumble back. Confusion filled her gaze as she landed roughly on the cavern floor. A.. Red lightsaber? Why was there..? To her knowledge there wasn't supposed to be anyone else here in the cave. Her confusion was short lived as her hand bumped into something. Not crystal, not rock. Oddly smooth, and cold. Her eyes widened as she turned her gaze towards the skull by her fingertips.

Fear welled in her chest.

Her eyes went back towards the saber, unable to see the wielder but clearly able to see the colors that escaped them. No, the lack of colors. Pitch black swirled in her vision, consuming the remnants of colors that emanated from her. That creeping darkness that swallowed everything, the more it consumed, the colder she felt. The more afraid. Then Darth Carnifex stepped into view.

Iris wasn't one for studying the past. There was so much to read through and learn that she focused more on the immediate things. Current politics, the various Jedi Orders, their enemies like the Sith. She knew this Dark Lord, but she never expected to ever see them in person. Fear turned to pure horror as the saber was pointed at her chest. She didn't want to be here.

"Witness the end of the Jedi, my young apprentice, and rejoice in the downfall of the Light!"

The words only brought more confusion. Her gaze lowered to herself, to see the black robes of the Sith. "Wha.." She didn't understand. She was afraid and she didn't understand. Where was the one who asked for help? Was this all a trick? She gritted her teeth. Afraid as she was, there was one thing she knew for sure.

"I'm not a Sith."

 

[Darth Carnifex]

"Oh? How pious."

The phantom took several steps forward, detaching from the shadows that spawned him and becoming more and more realistic. It held the lightsaber at her throat, the heat from the plasma blade radiating against her skin as if it were as real and solid as she was. Faces began to materialize at the darkness' edge, indiscernible at first but becoming more recognizable with every passing second. They were faces she would recognize, faces from her memories, and they all silently shrieked at her with dead white eyes.

"But the piety of a Jedi is wasted on you, Iris Arani. Through the Dark Side, you could achieve a power greater than any Jedi, the power to make your every dream a reality. The strength to right the countless wrongs, the ability to help all those who cry out in need."

At this, the phantom lord pulled aside the veil of his robe to reveal a child hidden among the darkness. Emaciated and weak, the child had gone for too long without nourishment and was little more than paper-thin skin clinging to withering bones. Manacles were clasped tight around the child's wrists and ankles, symbols of the oppression inflicted upon countless children throughout the galaxy. The child looked to Padawan Arani with pleading eyes sunken in a gaunt skeletal face, their lips chapped and bloody from dehydration.

"Help us," croaked the child, whose hair began to slide down from their head as they continually wasted into dust. "Why can't you save us, Master Jedi? Why won't you save us?" The faces in the dark had all shifted to resemble that gaunt slave, repeating the same words as they too withered away until nothing was left.

"Would you deny them succor? Cast aside the Jedi and embrace the liberation of the Dark Side, it is your destiny."

Valery Noble | Iris Arani ​

 

[Iris Arani]

Every step forward from the shade was a frantic scramble back from the padawan. She only froze when the blade was too close. Too real. Fear filled her heart as she felt the heat of the saber near her skin. Was she going to die? In that fear came the purest desire to live. Desperation sent her gaze around the cave, looking for something, anything, she could use to save her.

Only to see faces. The old woman from her apartment who gave her breakfast. The Rodian who always helped her get home and asked others to find her if she was out too late painting. The children she and Valery Noble had saved. Confusion filled her gaze, but she couldn't think on it. Too much was happening. Yet everything was immediately forgotten as the sickly child was revealed.

The one calling for her help.

She gritted her teeth before diving past the saber at her throat. Reckless, foolish, but it didn't matter. Her only objective now was the child. To protect them, shelter them from the dark. She'd seen what the dark did to people. Even as the child crumbled to dust, she smiled. Reached out to hold them. "It's okay." Iris already knew they couldn't save everyone. The other slaves that had been left behind when Valery saved her and the other two.

The most she could do was try to save someone in front of her, no matter what happened to her. She closed her eyes as she hugged the child close. She wasn't strong enough to save them both, but at least they wouldn't be alone in the end.

Darth Carnifex

 

[Darth Carnifex]

"You fool."

The phantom Dark Lord raised his lightsaber, poised for the killing blow.

He swung it down...

And...

Nothing.

The red light faded as quickly as it had come, darkness rushing back in to fill the vacuum. All of the apparitions that had plagued Padawan Arani had vanished, the specters of the Dark Side dispelled back into the blackened crevices from which they had emerged. All that remained in the caves was Padawan Arani and her convictions, convictions that had been strong enough to resist the temptation and corruption of the Dark Side's lingering energy deep within the cavern.

At least for the time being.

For the dark yet lingered, hiding within shadows untouched by the light from above.

In time, the Dark Side would tempt another.

But for Padawan Arani, she had withstood.

Valery Noble | Iris Arani ​