The Path of the Jedi Consular (Cath Lorr).

[WolfMortum]

The Temple of Yutan.​

[member="Cath Lorr"]​

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​

This was to be his second private lesson scheduled for the day; the morning had been cleared, taken up by the open class for the youngest of students followed by the private and unorthodox meeting with Ayumi Pallopides of whom Veiere would no doubt continue to train and guide where he possibly could, providing it was of service to her. This next student however was to be much like the majority of others that filled his temporary classroom, the massive circular room whose rows of seating lined the walls the entire way around, surrounding the open inner circle that was more often than not used for the public lectures and open and competitive sparring of the girls generation.

Much like Master Ayumi, Veiere had yet to meet this one. Cath Lorr, he had been informed by the leading instructor of the floor, young and eager to learn the ways of the Force, it was suggested that he might be teaching her the basics first and then progressing from there, though the instructor seemed to be assuming more than he actually knew and Veiere had decided to wait out the meeting and decide for himself where best to begin. What had also been suggested was that the girl was an aspiring Consular, who's interest lay more-so in the Force itself rather than the art of swordsmanship and defensive combat like the Guardian, or the use of technologies alongside the force itself like the Jedi Sentinels who were responsible for the maintenance of their Jedi fleet and many other technological gifts that Veiere struggled to understand. Though the galaxy turned with the tides of technology and wars were won and lost by the advantage of such things, Veiere was not much a man of gifted interest in such things; a scholar of the Force and not just by keen interest but the strong and old school faith that it had a will of it's own for all; this was the true beauty of the galaxy to his mind. One with mysteries that no sentient mind could ever truly hope to understand in it's entirety.

 

[Armand Temi]

After an assassination attempt on her life on Nubia, Cath Lorr, Home Secretary of the Republic, had taken a little time to focus on what her role as Madame Secretary actually entailed – dealing with affairs of the homeland. While the Eldorai padawan knew there were uprisings across Mimban and Gyndine, she needed to make sure the interior of the Republic was still operating as it should. It would do no good to get into the fray as of yet as she was still a learner to the ways of the Lightside.

Furthermore, she could not train in the Order as that was forbidden to those in office and with political positions. Which was fine, she had Senator Rumor of Nubia working on a Senate bill to change this outdated restriction, but the man had been quite slow to draft the bill. Cath wondered if his time spent carousing at the casino, as he’d tried to do with her, had anything to do with it.

So it was with great interest that Cath approached her first lesson with a Jedi named Veiere Arenais. He was an expert in the Consular path of which the dark-haired Eldorai aspired to take. She left her ever present security detail - a side effect from the earlier assassination attempt – at the entrance, not wanting to frighten any teachers or student or make herself appear more powerful than she really was.

She entered the circular room, wearing traditional Padawan robes over a light-colored tunic and belt, boots on her small feet, Cath noticed the unassuming middle aged man and said in a Bardottan accent, which signaled a noble upbringing: “Good day, Master Arenais. I’m your student, Cath.”

[member="Veiere Arenais"]

 

[WolfMortum]

It was a common saying that 'Ignorance is bliss', this was as much true today as it was in any other term that it had been referred in. That those caught up in the vipers nest of politics would seek training in the ways of the Force from the Jedi Order, a second time for the day and proving to be one of the driving forces behind the Orders fall from grace; it was fortunate that, for the sake of the pursuit of knowledge, Veiere Arenais did not know. Instead, who he saw entering the room to meet with him was nothing short of a promising young student with the mind and eagerness to learn of the Jedi Path, the many mysteries of the Force that had thus-far been discovered and condoned by the Order and the discipline in how it was to be practiced. While he considered himself anything but an 'expert of the Consular path', he did hope that he might provide [member="Cath Lorr"] with an introduction in the Order, that she might choose to pursue and dedicate herself to the way. Why else would one seek the learnings of the Order, naturally.

Not one for first impressions yet pleased to see the robes and tunic of the Jedi adorned by the girl, it was a comforting fact to see that at-least in attire and appearance, she held herself in a manner of self respect and composure. "Good afternoon, Padawan" He replied with a welcome smile, soon lowering his gaze as he bowed formally, as was their custom in greeting another member of the Order appropriately. "It is my understanding that you wish to learn the path of the Jedi Consular?" He questioned though with a hint of rhetoric, he had already been informed of this by the instructors that had referred her to him; the Order itself seemingly lacking in its teachings and availability to its students and Veiere had much happily found his time busied with their passing-on's to him. "Tell me, if I might be so bold, what does it mean to become a Jedi Consular, in your mind; that you would choose to seek this path for yourself" His gaze remained poised on her, his mouth a slight curl to the corner of his lips as he mused with himself whether or not this would seem like a test to her, quickly adding "Naturally this is your view of the path, there is no wrong answer" to ensure she was comfortable speaking her mind with him.

 

[Armand Temi]

Cath was extremely humbled to have this experience, quite honestly. This was the first real training opportunity she’d encountered as part of the Republic, and she wasn’t going to squander it. “It is a good afternoon, indeed,” said the stately Eldorai. “Ever since I was a little girl on Bardotta, I’ve dreamt of being a Jedi, and as I grew older I knew in my heart that the Consular path was the right one for me.” Walking slowly, her hands folded within her sleeves, she explained:

“My father is a Jedi, but he wanted me to pursue my own path rather than study under his tutelage. My Eldorai upbringing has taught me to value peace and spirituality above all else. Sentient life is precious, and we should strive to help it flourish wherever and whenever we can.”

Giving her teacher a soft smile, she said finally and quite firmly, “That should answer your question I suppose. Violence and warfare are last resorts. Utterly, last resorts.”

The Padawan was young but spirited in her belief in unity for the galaxy. However there was the matter of her political role.
“I am also the Home Secretary of the Republic,” she added as though it were a dirty secret that she should be ashamed of. "I realize that it’s frowned upon to be both a bureaucrat and a Jedi, but here I am."

Not so perfect after all, Cath thought. Yet, her pale grey eyes took in the older human with nothing but kindness and vibrant curiosity, wondering what he thought of her answer. It had been so long since she’d had a chance to test herself in a classroom setting, and she was very eager to learn. Already the Jedi before her made her feel quite at ease.

[member="Veiere Arenais"]

 

[WolfMortum]

Veiere's head lifted, offering something of a reluctant half nod though his gaze glanced to the entrance of the classroom, a look of slight frustration offered to whomever was on the other side of the wall, the head Instructor of the Temple of Yutan had already been spoken to once about the matter of his teaching those tied to the political nature of the Republic, yet it appeared they were not prepared to inform the student themselves and alter arrangements but rather leave it to himself to explain and disappoint those who had arrived eager and excited to learn. To make things worse, [member="Cath Lorr"] had sounded to be the exact sort of student that any teacher of the Jedi path could want, her interest was keen, her family had strong ties to the Order and her morals and intentions for joining the Jedi were true and just, admirable in the way that she had answered him so emphatically.

"Home secretary of the Republic..." He spoke gently, his eyes returning to study her, his tone inquisitive yet also reluctant as he did not want to have to turn a second student away for the day and bare the personal guilt that he had as Ayumi had left the classroom disappointed. "A position in politics..." He continued, not speaking in any derogatory sense though she would see the discomfort as he spoke on the subject. "The Order has changed much in the years since I was...-Away. It now tolerates the teaching of the force to those in such a place of change for the Republic; unfortunately this is not something I personally agree with though before you are discouraged, allow me to explain myself, why...".

"The act was first put into effect in the very early history of the Order..." He moved, stepping slowly towards the first row of seating that surrounded the room, passing a hand out in an inviting gesture for her to join him and find the discussion much more comfortable whilst not standing idly. "The Jedi Order has always supported the Republic and often recognized the need for it's place in the Galaxy, yet their politics it was decided, was too dangerous for someone experienced in the force, to be a part of", such information he had confirmed could still be found in the archives on Yutan, yet he had to wonder if she hadn't already researched the past surrounding the connection between the Jedi and Republican Government. "Politics are a game of cathar and kath-hound if there are immoral people involved, something that you can never be certain of within the senate who's systems are represented by Emissaries and Senators of their own accord. Let us imagine for a moment, a Jedi Knight who was involved in such things, having the history of the Order behind them yet disagreeing with the direction that the Republic was taking; war for example..." He bobbed his head to the side briefly as he thought up the example on the spot, though mimban still hung over him. "A Jedi that wishes to deter war, this is something the Order stands for yes? Yet to use their abilities to sway the minds of senators to agree with their wish to avoid it, this is also manipulating the lives of possibly thousands as all their citizens are being represented by those people in congress. It sets a double standard and this is but a lesser possibility. If you require any more reason or justification for my view here, look to the history of the Jedi Purge and the beginning of the dark times under the first Galactic Empire...".

Veiere offered Cath a sympathetic and apologetic smile. He had dove right into the heart of the issue at hand out of not wishing to lead her astray nor insult the girl due to his belief that Jedi and Politics should never be mixed; yet he also knew of her keen interest in the Jedi Order and the path of the Consular. "I am sorry my young friend, it is regrettable and I do not enjoy turning others away for any reason yet this is a matter of safety and the security of the greater good. You do not strike me at all as to be someone of immoral taste nor selfishness though I cannot pick and choose whom I accept or deny based solely upon personal bias. My advice to you is to question the path that lays ahead of you, you are still young and have plenty of potential I'm sure in both directions yet if you truly wish to be a Jedi Consular, in my opinion, there is a choice to be made....", he almost didn't want to add what was to come next yet it was the truth and he was but one man in an Order whose standards had, in his opinion, clearly slipped.

"Not all agree with me, however...-There are others that will help you and they are plentiful. It would seem that I am but an old man now, built of ideals forgotten to many..." he offered her a look that read of evident skepticism, not for her but both himself and the way the Galaxy had changed so much in the last three decades.

 

[Armand Temi]

Cath noticed the frustration on Master Arenais’s features; while not crestfallen, he seemed to take issue with her political role, and his words only solidified her assumptions. She took a seat to hear his position on the matter.

“While I’m not sure I entirely agree with what history dictates, I do tend to feel…” She searched for the right way to express herself. “As though I’ve been able to do nothing as Madame Secretary.”

Relief washed over Padawan Lorr at finally realizing why she felt so ill at ease over the last few weeks.

“There’s so much bureaucracy and flimsiplast work. Don’t get me wrong, I am extremely dedicated to the Republic, but after there was an assassination attempt on my life, I have felt sequestered and shackled, unable to impact change in a meaningful way.”
Master Arenais was right in that most of the Senators, Ayumi Pallopides notwithstanding as she was a good friend to Cath, seemed to use their power for selfish reasons. Senator Rumor of Yutan spent more time trying to get the Padawan into his bed, rather than getting her bill written.

“Do not think my decision hasty, Master Arenais. I’ve been considering this for some time. I will resign as Home Secretary of the Republic in order to fully dedicate myself to the Consular path,” she said.

She knew in her peaceful Eldorai heart that it was the right thing to do, and Cath was quite certain, she would serve the galaxy better as a Jedi.

[member="Veiere Arenais"]

 

[WolfMortum]

It was gratifying that [member="Cath Lorr"] would see reason to put priority in the path of the Jedi rather than that of the politician. Aside from his obvious views, it sounded as if she herself had been involved in a deal of negativity through out her tender as home secretary. Unfortunately the Jedi Path held dangers of its own though it also taught it's followers how to loose themselves from the impact and weight of their emotions, that they might find the calm when it was so required. "Part of learning and progressing down the path of the Jedi, Consular as well as all others, is to learn of Discipline and Control. These are the initial two concepts that you will come to practice and eventually to understand the reason for such training.." He spoke for the time, first focusing on elaborating around the Jedi themselves in response to her voiced concerns and that of the attempt on her life; "It is a very long path to undertake, one that even many Jedi Knights do not fully grasp as they grow into their age. It requires a sharp yet also open mind and the will to persevere through ones hurdles as they teach you to accept and over come your struggles such as dealing with feelings of inability or the discomfort of not being able to meet the action you wish for...-The Jedi Code encourages much in this way and if you haven't already, I would advise you research it and then feel free to discuss it with me in the future...".

Considering her will to turn away from the political nature of her life, now took the focus of his conversation with her, first allowing a pause for her to consider what he had said before acknowledging her will to move ahead with her training. "You must understand that in undertaking the path of the Order, means to let go of your past ambitions and desires. It may see you through to eventually serve the Galactic Republic as you've always hoped too, though we do not rush the training that comes before. Patience, understanding, awareness of self and finally faith in the Force will be your first hurdles. The Patience to learn, to not rush ahead until you are ready. The Understanding that not all in the Galaxy is as we see it. Awareness of yourself in learning to detach yourself from your immediate wants, to know that what you are working toward serves not only the people of the galaxy but the light of the Force itself and finally, faith in the will of the Force and in the life of all things, that it binds and connects, strengthens and flourishes...", clearly Veiere was a man for words. The Scholar and one most at home in discussing the many theories around the Force and other controversial topics such as the Jedi Order's place in the Republic, he was no stranger to being told that his lectures were long winded and never-ending. This of course amused him as one could not learn if another was not willing to share, yet he too recognized the impatience of the mind of youths today and hoped that he was not putting this one to sleep or discouraging her from the path.

"Does the Jedi Order truly feel to be, without a doubt, the place for you?" He asked, this time leaving her with a question that sounded as if the time the had was hinging upon what her answer might be; though technically she'd already told him, he needed to know that she was certain in her dedication to the Order before they could proceed.

 

[Armand Temi]

Cath’s emotions to date in her young life had been firmly kept under lock and key. As an heiress to the Bardottan throne, a fact which wasn’t well known in her political life and even less recognized in the Jedi circles, she’d been raised in a way that favored esoterica over free expression. While both the King and Queen urged her to be whoever she wanted, there were responsibilities of the noble court which the girl needed to adhere to.

Luckily for the Eldorai princess, she was not the rebellious type, quite the opposite, in fact.

But her emotions had never been truly tested. She worried at times, what would happen if she were to experience true horror – like being tortured under duress, or even at the end of the spectrum, if she were to fall in love?

What would happen to me? How quickly would I break, she thought?

“I will research the Code, including the limitations it places on us,” Cath said. She was eager to get back into the library that was for sure, missing that part of her student life on Bardotta.

Veiere spoke of ambition. She supposed she needed to come clean in this respect. “Yes, it does,” remarked Cath. “Joining the Order was an aspiration I was raised with. However you must know that I’m in line to inherit the Bardottan throne. I have no ambition but to see that my Mother and Father’s legacy are honored, and that the Bardottan people are kept safe. Is that the type of ambition, the Order frowns upon?”

Veiere was certainly a wise man, paternal almost. King Lorr would be proud of her that she sought him out.

[member="Veiere Arenais"]

 

[WolfMortum]

Veiere would nod slowly in acknowledgement of her expressed long term plans and ambitions for herself; they would not be something that would deter the years that she might serve in the Order before returning to her family's estate, nor did it mean that she might not still continue to support the Jedi Order long afterwards. "Attachment to ones family used to be heavily frowned upon long ago; it was believed that as younglings entering the Jedi Order in their childhood, letting go and disassociating themselves with their parents would inevitably help them to focus on what lay ahead, to learn to let go of your present desires and to focus on the needs of others. This has changed however as the Order has reformed since the last great purge, the Order has accepted that students of all ages can be accepted providing that their will and perseverance to give themselves to the path is strong. In some cases, even family lines moved through out the Order, descendants of other Jedi Knights were more and more common to hear of and that connection and background even encouraged their ability to progress as they knew what was to be expected of them through the guidance of their siblings of elders, much like you yourself are the daughter to a father who has been with the Order in the past. If not still is".

He was glad to hear that [member="Cath Lorr"] was willing to research the Jedi Code and the meaning surrounding it, the many aspects of what it meant to be a Jedi, that it taught. That, coupled with the fact that he had confirmed now that she was wishing to take the path of the Order rather than continue to follow in her former life as a member of political congress, led Veiere to offer to instead teach her of the Code, himself.

"The Jedi Code can be found in the archives here, rather easily as our data-base likely gets used to search for those particular readings more so than most. I can however go over it with you now, if you'd like. It might help to hear someone else' opinion of what it means. The Code itself has been viewed in various different lights by all who have studied it and most Jedi don't often agree that they are able to interpret it in the same way as their pairs without some variation of difference".