Faction To Ilum We Must Go [Galactic Alliance; New Jedi Order]

[Spirit of Justice]

Source by Mark Molnar

Ilum, circa 860/861 ABY
In Orbit: The New Jedi Order's Home, The Prosperity

The ancient home of the Kyber Crystals, Ilum has survived in a unique position within the galaxy. Over millennia it was a site of pilgrimage for Jedi on a journey to build their first lightsabre or to replace an unexpectedly misplaced one. Youngling and Padawan, Knight and Master alike would venture into the labyrinthine caverns on a quest to discover their kyber crystal, awaiting them somewhere deep inside the frozen tunnels and caves. For a kyber crystal was not merely a gem to power a weapon, it was a faithful companion that would accompany a Jedi wherever the Force would take them. As such, the pilgrimage to Ilum had become one of the most significant events in a Jedi's life, their first step towards being a fully-fledged Jedi of the Order.

After all those millennia, the tradition of the pilgrimage to Ilum continues. A new generation of Jedi follows in the footsteps of countless renowned peers who have tread this very path during their times, long ago, to find the heart of a lightsabre. Though Ilum now resides deep in the territory of a government that looks at Jedi with indifference, through the brave actions of the Galactic Alliance's senate, the planet's independence and the safety of travellers on the hyperlanes to it have been guaranteed. And so, the ancient traditions of the Jedi are safe to be carried out again, today, when many of the New Jedi Order's adherents of the Code embark from their home, the Prosperity, to Ilum's surface on the time-honoured search for their own crystal.

It is said that the crystal isn't chosen by the seeker, but rather the seeker chosen by the crystal. If the legends of a Jedi's deep bond with their weapon are to be believed this saying rings true, but you will have to find out yourself, here on Ilum.

 

[Seela Khaan]

The Prosperity loomed over Ilum's icy white surface, the pain from the actions of the Zweihander Union radiating into her. She sighed, placing an old hand on the viewport as if to reach out and carcass its surface, telling the world that everything would be alright. The planet had gone through so much in its lifetime. Exploited for military gain, destroyed for crimes it had no choice but to commit, rebuilt only to be lost in obscurity again...The tomes of the ancient Jedi told stories of how Jedi for thousands of years made the pilgrimage to the world in order to build their first lightsaber. Even as a youngling herself, she'd wondered what it would have been like to visit the original world. The echos of the past could be felt by those attuned to the Force, and it always made her a little sad hearing them.

It was during these thoughts she felt the tug of her energy chain, a grim reminder of the price she paid to be in Ilum's presence. She smiled inwardly to herself as she was led away to the hangar deck.

---​

The hangar deck was buzzing with activity. A trail of younglings and Padawan Learners led into a sturdy looking transport bound for the surface, several hard-eyed Knights and Masters watched and tapped at datapads, casting her and her escort sidelong glances as she passed them. They were mostly older and non-combat oriented as many other Jedi heroes were off on the Braxant Run fighting against the Sith. She caught a youngling staring at her and she tried her best to give him a smile and little wave. A young Knight stood between her and the child as the little boy began to wave, a stern look on his face and his hand firmly on his lightsaber. Seela huffed, blowing a tuft of white hair out of her face. If she was going to be here to observe and teach they could at least allow her to connect with the younglings and padawans. What did they think she would do? Bit their heads off for use in some Sith ritual?

'That would be an interesting experiment,' said the voice in her head.

"Quiet," she hissed as they boarded her smaller prison craft.

"You say something,?" asked the Jedi holding her energy chain.

"No," Seela muttered, "Just, just blowing some hair out of my face. Hard to reach with these chains so tight." A grunt was the only response she got as the hatch closed behind them and they lifted off for the planet's surface.

 

[Auteme]

Ryv ​

"I want to be a knight.

"I mean, I know- I know the rank itself doesn't really mean anything. I mean, not anymore. I mean it does, because historically Jedi Knights were granted a lot more freedoms and were assigned missions and stuff, but with the decentralization of all the orders right now and how few Jedi are actually part of the NJO so I've been on a bunch of different missions and all kinds of other dangerous things I just think that it doesn't mean that much anymore. But I still want to be a knight. Everyone else is a knight.

"Well, everyone else has also done, like, a lot more than me, in terms of traditional Jedi stuff, so it makes sense, but I guess I want to catch up? But since I haven't completed all the trials -- I mean, you guys haven't either, but it doesn't really matter -- I want to do those first, so... um... yeah."

Auteme twiddled her thumbs. Honestly, she didn't know why she wanted to be a knight. She didn't want people to just respect her for her title. Plus, any benefits it might entail didn't much matter to her -- she already had access to the entirety of the Archives because of her position as an assistant there. So why? Maybe it was that little need to stay with her friends. With Loske's knighting at Bastion, Auteme was among the last of the padawans she knew well that had yet to graduate (Bernard was basically a knight in her mind).

Or maybe she just believed that she'd grown enough.

Watching the younglings run off into the crystal caves while the older Jedi waited outside made her feel like she had grown. They waited in the Ilum Temple's Gathering Room for the younglings to return with their crystals -- she remembered doing the same, once, when she thought she might actually need a lightsaber. She'd dressed light for such a frigid planet; compared to many of the other Jedi she should've been freezing, but with a liberal application of tapas she felt as warm as an afternoon on Kattada.

"So... is that okay?"

 

[Leon Gallo]

Leon had never been to Ilum. Even under his old master, the young Jedi had used a borrowed Kyber Crystal to construct his first lightsaber. After he'd lost that one he had done the same to make his second. He knew he would have to at some point, part of his new commitment to the way of the Jedi. He just...hadn't. He told himself it was because he didn't have time. He knew it was a lie. After Brentaal, both the evacuation and returning, he'd felt off. He'd been neglecting his duties as a member of Saber Squadron. He had been unfocused, but he didn't feel the energy he used to. Even working on his art didn't bring him the same peace he used to have. Everything Leon had painted lately was darker than usual. Scenes of death and pain, of struggle and destruction. He'd painted the figure he saw fighting Abbadon at least half a dozen times.

Maybe this trip to finally get his own Kyber crystal would be a good start to refocus him. The cold air certainly kept him from rest as he made his way to the caves. Tightening his coat and gloves, Leon pushed on. At least it wasn't windy. The snow crunch under his boots reassured Leon of his path. The Jedi had his lightsaber with him, sans the crystal. HE would not need that one now. Before him was the entrance to the cave. With a sigh, Leon walked through the cloud formed from his breath and into the cave.

 

[Sigyn Vanir]

Ilum was one of the few planets that Sigyn sincerely liked. It was cold and snowy, but not dessolate and unforgiving like Hoth. And it had that special Jedi aura about it, probably because of the long standing tradition of the Jedi getting their lightsaber crystals from the caves there. Which Sigyn had once done.

She was standing outside the Ilum Temple, and looking out at the rest of the planet. The cold temperature felt good on the skin on her arms, which were bare. She didn't ware much more than usual, only a warmer fur vest and a cloak. The possibility that this planet would be occupied and the Jedi wouldn't be allowed to go here and retrieve their crystals was frightening. And it had been a good chance of that heppening. She took out her lightsaber, and looked at it, thinking back to when she found her crystals. There had been two of them, one big and one smaller. Which is how she came to use her unusual design of having one standard blade, and one shorter blade coming out of the underside of the weapon.

After a moment, she decided to go back to the other Jedi. There had been mostly knights that had come along on this journey, which made sense, given that the New Order had a majority of knights. Sigyn was still a padawan, despite having been without a master for some time, and having to learn things by herself. But it had allowed her to be more free, and travel where she wanted, to learn about the different aspects of the force from multiple places. She could probably request to take the Jedi Trails, but there was honestly no need. With a new title came more responsibility. And that was something she did not want.

There was at least one other Padawan with the group waiting for the younglings to come back with their crystals. Sigyn had met her before, though only briefly, and she would not claim to know her, other than that her name was Auteme . It seemed like she was talking with one of the older Jedi about her being promoted to the rank of Knight. "Hey, what are you talking about?" asked Sigyn, as she approached them.

 

[Kir Dantos]

Ryv Auteme Seela Khaan Leon Gallo Sigyn Vanir


The hubbub of young Jedi buzzed around the Prosperity's vast hangar bay as they came in to land on the stark white ice ball. Freshly returned from battle on the Braxant Run, he'd been to Ilum once before. Master Maynard had taken him there to collect his emerald kyber crystal, his first before he'd received his second orange crystal on his fateful trip to Dagobah. It had been a rollercoaster ride since then, the last few months had tested him farther than he ever could have thought capable. Despite that, it'd also been quite enlightening to travel on such a journey and Kir felt somewhat privileged to have been given the chance.

The group of intrepid jedi students soon touched down on Ilum, he pulled up the fur hood on his olive green snow jacket and equipped his snow gloves. Kir stepped out onto solid ground with a crunch, snow capped mountains stood stoic in the distance as the archaic Jedi Temple loomed over them. For a moment, he wondered what other legendary force users had stood where they stood right now, who's boot prints had probably been lost to time. To his immediate right, he overhead Auteme conversing with Master Ryv. It was somewhat inaudible, but he did capture many allusions to Knighthood. Lately, it had been something he'd rather been thinking of himself. Every padawan wanted to become Knight, whether they were ready or not. He was mostly grateful to have a teacher, never mind becoming a Jedi Knight. In his own opinion, the title was become both outdated and significant, though he did acknowledge, it was the prestige that came with the title that most coveted.

Not every Padawan had a master that could decide whether they'd progressed enough in the Force, it was a certain luxury that some might dream of. Yet, he still felt a little empty. Maynard gave him a lot more freedom to adventure and explore on his own while still remaining in that guidance role whenever he needed it. The ideal relationship between teacher and student. But often he wanted more, not necessarily from his teacher, but from himself.

In the tightly knit pack of Jedi, there were a few familiar faces to Kir, some he'd known for years, others newer. He sauntered over to Ryv, Auteme and another red haired padawan who's identity he was unable to locate in his memory. Kir turned to Sigyn Vanir and gave a friendly wave before turning to the two. "That's where you're wrong Auteme, I'm not a Knight, neither is Leon or Bernard. There are quite a few people who are still Padawans. Look on the bright side, you've still got all of us." He laughed, giving his fellow Jedi a friendly nudge.

"In all seriousness, I know you'll get there soon, we all will." He told her, with a genuine look that he reserved for more serious occasions.

 

[Iroh Gedari]

Ryv Auteme Kir Dantos Seela Khaan Leon Gallo Sigyn Vanir

It had been nearly half a century since he had come here for his own kyber crystal...a decade since he brought Caldon here for his kyber crystal...

Why was it that it always seemed colder for him each time he arrived on this planet? Iroh chuckled under his breath and tugged the fur trimmed collar of his coat up closer around his neck. ‘You’re getting up there in age, old man.’ He thought with a wry smile as he looked over the assembled group of padawans and other masters. He knew that his time was short, being he was merely human. Perhaps another twenty years of service before he would have to retire.

These were the future of the Jedi Order, and of the galaxy itself. They might not be kings, emperors, chancellors or senators, but one could argue that one Jedi might have more impact on the galaxy than anyone else. Look at Revan, and the Chosen One for instance. Two Jedi whose actions shaped the course of the galaxy for years after they were gone. In fact, the actions of Anakin Skywalker were in a way still shaping the galaxy today, as they were living in the result of Operation Knightfall and the Great Jedi Purge.

He shook himself from his thoughts and turned his attention towards the assembled group of padawans that were discussing Knighthood ( Kir Dantos , Auteme , Sigyn Vanir ) He did not recognize them, but as he overheard he smiled slightly. While it was always good to believe in oneself, a little help from others did go a long way. Speaking of which, they had a ways to go and not much time. He came close to them, nodding to the other Jedi Master that was there ( Ryv ).

“Wise words indeed, padawan. But remember, 'be mindful of the future but not at the expense of the moment.' Our duty calls us elsewhere.”

He gave a wry smile and wink before he turned and headed towards the cave, hands coming behind his back as he walked and opened himself to the Living Force. It felt good to be here, in a place which channeled the Force in purity...

 

[Auteme]

Kir Dantos Iroh Gedari Sigyn Vanir Leon Gallo Seela Khaan Ryv
​

Ryv seemed to take a moment to consider, but the silence was soon filled by the arrival of other Jedi. She'd assumed everyone would've already headed into the caverns. She'd assumed wrong.

First was a girl who looked about her age and had a familiar face. Curiosity had drawn her; though in truth what Auteme was talking about was more personal than not. "Um, Knight stuff," she said, not a Knight.

She was searching for the girl's name when Kir arrived -- it seemed like he'd taken the liberty to eavesdrop. A Jedi Master, too, approached and left with only a few words of wisdom. Maybe she should've been further off to the side when talking about this stuff. She sighed. As much as she doubted Kir's genuineness she wasn't in the mood to start arguing with him (or rather, trying to reason with him while he didn't listen).

Just... be kind. It'd never been difficult.

"Thanks," she said, nodding to them.

"I'm gonna go into the caverns, wander around a bit. Remember not to disturb the younglings." That comment came with a glance to Kir. With that she headed towards the icy gate, taking Master Gedari's words as a reminder. She felt the frigid air, the crunch of snow and ice under her feet, felt the Force flowing through it all.

She paused, and turned back to the others. "Come on, let's go."