Master Kyp Durron

((OOC: I forgot to mention in my exit post... if someone needs to reach me, please post a: ~~~Hypercomm Transmission~~~ in the Ossus Thread once I'm officially in there. I'll respond in the same manner. Other than that, If anyone is wanting to come along on Ossus, you'll have to Hypercomm me for the coordinates. Since I didn't get to speak with the Council before I left, I "forgot" to leave the coordinates to Ossus with them ))

(The planet's position is indicated by Ossus and the red circle.) Ossus, located in the Adega system (one of the six remaining Auril systems), orbits the twin Adegan suns in a figure-eight trajectory. It was an important Jedi stronghold and learning center in ancient times, and there is some speculation that the Order of Jedi Knights began on this planet. Ossus was once covered with many cities, and a range of rocky mountains was located near the Knossa spaceport. The steep canyon walls are still covered with elaborate murals, and the planet's atmosphere is charged with occasional electrical storms. In Ancient time, following the Freedon Nadd Uprisings on Onderon, Jedi Master Arca planned to send the ancient Sith artifacts recovered from Freedon Nadd's ship there for examination, but Exar Kun was able to retrieve them first. In the chaos surrounding the Great Sith War, Aleema and Crado destroyed the Cron System, loctaed near the Adega System. Ossus was caught in the wave of destruction radiating from the supernova. The Jedi attempted to transport the artifacts and lore from the libraries there, but were only able to take a fraction of the wealth stored there over the millennia. In an attempt to preserve a cache of lightsabers, Master Ood Bnar initiated his lifecycle change, becoming a gnarled old tree with the lightsabers engtangled in his roots. He was nearly destroyed by the radiation from the Cron System. About 4000 years ago all the cities of Ossus were abandoned during the Great Sith War. The Ysanna, a tribe of warrior-shamans who use the Force to guide their primitive weapons, took up residence on Ossus following its abandonment. Over the ages, great cities grew out of the planet's rough, irradiated terrain. In modern times, the planet was nearly wiped out during the Clone Wars. The enemies of the Jedi Knights struck there, attempting to destroy the stronghold and root out the Jedi. Although the planet was devastated, the Jedi survived. Later, following the death of Emperor Palpatine's first clone on Byss, Luke Skywalker and Kam Solusar discover the planet's ancient Jedi connection, and are directed there by Master Vodo's holocron just before Sedriss executed Operation Shadow Hand. There find the Ysanna tribe and the ancient Jedi Master Ood Bnar. The planet's electrical storms probably result from the near-devastation it suffered during the Clone Wars. A 10,000 year-old lightsaber, given to Leia Organa Solo by Vima-Da-Boda, surfaced 800 years ago in an archaeological dig on Ossus. Luke Skywalker visited an arid, sandy portion of the planet during the Emperor's reappearance and discovered the Ysanna tribe, an ancient Jedi library, and a vault of lightsabers hidden beneath the roots of the Neti Jedi Master Ood Bnar. At the time of Skywalker's departure, the New Republic was planning to send in excavation teams to explore Ossus' ruins. While on an undercover mission to Borgo Prime thirteen years later, Skywalker and Tenel Ka claimed that they needed Corusca gems to open a sealed treasure vault located on Ossus. In more recent times, Kyp Durron recovered some forgotten Jedi relics on Ossus, including a Holocron, a few lightsabers, and several books and scrolls... He also feels that there could still be some hidden vaults on Ossus, waiting to be found by someone who is persistant enough to search for them... Thus begins the Kyberr Quest.

( The Redemption is in Hyperspace, en-route to Ossus.)

"It's in the Outer Rim territories..."Kyp responded, on the way to the hangar bay. "It will take two days in Hyperspace to reach... enough time to give you a primer in lightsaber techniques." As they boarded the shuttle, Kyp had a nagging feeling in the back of his mind... but he shrugged it off, and he and Xae boarded the Redemption. A few seconds later, with a whine of the repulsorlifts, the Lambda-Class shuttle lifted off and floated out of the hangar bay. As it gained altitude, the wings folded down and locked in place. Breaking through the cloud canopy, and then the atmosphere aboe it, Kyp took another look at the planet below. it IS a beautiful planet... hopefully the Jedi will still be based here upon our return... Kyp pulled the Hyperspace Actuation lever, and the starfield burst into starlines, and then the blue-white swirl of hyperspace as the Redemption Headed for open space.

((OOC: I know the meeting wasn't called on my account... you're the one that told me I should come to the Council chamber should I wish to speak with the Council.)) "Very well... I shall excuse myself. My apprentice and I are leaving this planet. I wanted to address the council on the matter, but I'll go it alone instead. If we're successful, it will be of great help to the Jedi. Now if you'll excuse me, the Redemption is prepped and ready for departure." Kyp bowed to Hou-Jo before he left the Council chamber. "Come Xae... we'll work some more on your lightsaber techniques on the way to Ossus."

Kyp Durron and his apprentice entered the Council chamber and bowed in greeting and respect to the members assembled there so far. As Xae-Lin stood quietly behind and slightly to the right of the Jedi Knight, Kyp waited for the Council to recognize him

"You may accompany me or you can wait on the ship... I leave the choice to you." With that, Kyp bowed once again to Xae's friend, and walked through the doorway into the halls, in search of Hou-Jo.

Kyp Durron walked up to the two women, the black and purple jedi cloak flowing behind him like a living thing. He bowed as he came to the two, in a gesture of greeting. He looked at the taller of the two with an inquisitive look on his face. "Greetings... we haven't met yet. My name is Kyp Durron." Kyp turned to face Xae. "Xae, I have R2 prepping the Redemption for takeoff. I found reference in my Holocron to something that may help both the Jedi and the Rebellion. Hou-Jo mentioned Jedi Battle Meditation... it's a lost Jedi ability. That is to say, it's not used by many Jedi. The last reference I could find to it being used was by Nomi Sunrider some 4000 or more years ago. There was a rumor of it being used as recently as the Jedi Purge, but that's un-substantiated. In any case, there's an artifact called the Kyberr Crystal that may still be in the ruins of the old Jedi Temple on Ossus... I need to consult with Hou-Jo before we leave, but if we find this crystal, it could tip the scales on our favor."

Kyp Durron sat in his training room, studying the Holocron's history of Darth Vader's Jedi purge. The one who was to bring Balance to the Force... Little did they know what kind of "balance" was in store for the Jedi. So many Jedi lost in the purge... We've come so far since then. And yet, at every turn, the Empire threatens to wipe us out. Something needs to be done. Kyp touched the force-sensitive crystal panel on the side of the Holocron, switching it off and returning it to it's stand on the black marble desk. "Come on, R2. It's time for us to go." R2-E6 chortled an inquisitive string of beeps, and then followed Kyp out of the room. Kyp locked the door to his training room, so that the study materials kept within wouldn't fall into the all-too-eager hands of any apprentices who wanted a quick route to power. Then he walked down the halls to the hanger bay, the astromech droid following along attentively. As they came to the Redemption, Kyp stopped for a moment. "R2, run the pre-flight diagnostics and fire up the converters. Prep the ship for takeoff, and plot a course for Ossus. I need to go find Xae." The little droid whistled an affirmative and set to the task. As the sublight converters started up with a whine, Kyp Durron left the hangar bay to look for Xae. Hopefully, she would understand...

"Of course... we can continue this conversation at your liesure. I'll be studying my Holocron in the mean time." (Edited as to continue conversation when Hou-Jo returns to my quarters)

((ooc: sorry, I assumed you were... lol)) Kyp left his room and went to find Hou-Jo... He found the Jedi in one of the meditation rooms. "I apologize... I had asked for the assemblage of the Council so we could discuss the Jedi Order and our course of action. We are dwindling in number, and I sense a disturbance in the Force... the Dark Side grows in strength. I guess what I am asking for is a mission. Perhaps as an ambassador on behalf of the Jedi to the Rebellion. If we are ever to defeat the Empire, we're going to need their help. And I am sure they would appreciate our help as well."

R2-E6, Kyp Durron's Astromech Droid, trundled down the halls in search of his master's quarters.

"I understand... and I apologize for my ignorance in the matter I wish to address. I can see that the Jedi have diminished a bit since I left all those years ago. I mainly want to discuss the current course of action with the Council, so that I may fulfill my purpose here. I'll be in my quarters putting my stuff away... you may find me there later after the Council has assembled." Kyp bowed to the Jedi Master, and went to find his quarters.

((OOC: My Returm, and taking Xae as my Padawan...)) "Xae, I'll leave you to meet some of the Jedi here... I must have a word with the council on another matter." Kyp walked over to where Hou-Jo Poleb was standing, still wiping the crumbs from his meal off his hands. "Master Poleb... there's an urgent matter I must discuss with the Jedi Council. If the council will grant me audience on the matter, that is."

Kyp took a moment before answering... he could sense there was more to her question than she was letting on... "Yes... Shadow Magic the Dark Side... there's more to the Dark Side than that, but we have disussed this subject enough for now. Curiosity about such things are best left alone. You should be focusing on more important things, like studying the Jedi Code."

Kyp finished his Kaarnak stew and continued... "The Dark Side is the other half of a whole.... in a way it acts the same, indiscriminate of who or what race is able to use it. However... the Dark side is easier... quicker, and more alluring. It offers a false sense of power, taking an aweful toll on the person using it. It may not always be easy to stay on the path of the Light, but it is more than worth the effort in the long run. I know this from experience... the Dark Side is not to be trifled with."

Kyp looked up from his food with a knowing smile "And we come to the first lesson... The Force is in all things... All races have the potential to be Jedi." He gestured toward the variety of Jedi gathered in the cafeteria. "This is but a handful of of the species in the galaxy... and there used to be thousands upon thousands of Jedi. Now we are reduced to a few dozen or so."

Kyp looked down at Xae and laughed. "It's nothing I can't handle... Besides, I've already had to spend 5 years with you... Training you in the ways of the Force should be a walk in the park by comparison!" Kyp and Xae came to a large room with several tables and booths. On the far side of the room, there was a buffet-style Cafeteria, where there was a short line. They made their way to the line, where they waited to get some much-needed food.

Kyp bowed to the Wookie Jedi Master out of respect and gratitude. "Thank you, my friend... Now, if you'll excuse me, I must attend to my Padawan. With the current state of the Jedi Order, her formal training must begin at once." "Come, Xae. Lets grab something to eat and then we'll get started with your training." Kyp walked out of the room with a flourish, his Jedi Cloak flowing elegantly behind him as he went in search of the cafeteria.

As Kyp Durron stood before what was left of the Jedi Council, he felt a pang of guilt for his abandonment of the Jedi Order in the past few years... His retreat to Dathomir, and then the Unknown Regions, had only worsened the pain he felt deep within his being... The loss of a Student to the Dark Side can be very traumatic. The death of his daughter... the guilt had been too much to bear. As he stood here in quiet reflection, he realized that his place had been here all along, with the Jedi. All things happen for a reason... Master Luke had once said. The Jedi aren't exempt from tragedy, but it is how we deal with that tragedy that makes us Jedi. Remember Kyp, no matter what happens in life, you always have to go forward with it. There is no going back. As Kyp thought about that, he finally found the confidence to ask the Council the question he came to ask. "Masters of the Jedi Order, Council of the Force... I come before you to request the recognition from the Council that I take Xae-Lin Ardel as my Student in the Jedi ways. I have been teaching her basics such as meditation since I rescued her on Dathomir 5 years ago, but she wishes to learn more. I've been reluctant to teach anyone since... the tragedy with my former student. But I feel that I am ready once again to pass on the knowledge of the Force." Kyp stood patiently, awaiting the Council's Request

Kyp follows the Wookie Jedi Master into the council Chamber... at the door, he turns back to Xae and gestures to her to follow. "You can come along, Xae... I need to address some buisness with the council which concerns you anyway."

Kyp took the pan-sized paw that the wookie extended in greeting "It's good to see you again, my old friend!", said Kyp, as he drew the wookie close for a friendly hug. Kyp gestured to the young woman standing beside him. "This is Xae-Lin Ardel, my student."

Kyp piloted the Shuttle into an approach vector, and gently descended through the blue-gray cloud canopy. "Meditation practices are good for you...", said Kyp. "They help you keep that temper in check... you know anger leads to the Dark Side... yes, it will do you good to meet some more Jedi... I just hope there are enough of us left. The Redemption swooped in, low on the horizon... as the shuttle came to the Eternal Vigilance, it's wings folded up and the shuttle floated down on it's repulsors, landing in the larger craft's Shuttle bay. "Come now, let's go introduce ourselves to the Jedi in that common area over there" The landing ramp extended from the shuttle with a hiss of steam, and Kyp Durron strode forth, his long black and purple Jedi Cloak swishing elegantly behind him. He looked different now, with his bald head and reddish-brown beard. As he walked, the Jedi cloak parted a bit, showing the Lightsaber swaying back and forth gently from his belt with each stride. As he approached the small group of Jedi in the common area, he stopped short, quietly listening as to not interrupt their conversation.

*Comm Beep* ((OOC: Just in case it got overlooked... Scroll up for my initial post, it has the transmission...))

A steadily-beeping alarm woke Kyp Durron from sleep. The Redemption was approaching the pre-set Coordinates that Kyp had recieved from the Hypercomm Beacon. Kyp rose and donned his jedi tunic, pants, and boots, finally putting on his weapon belt. Grabbing his lightsaber from it's stand on the armoire by his bed, he rushed out of his quarters, clipping the lightsaber to his belt as he walked briskly to the cockpit. He paused for a moment as he sat down, admiring the ever-familiar blue-white swirl of hyperspace. I still remember seeing it for the first time after Han rescued me from Kessel... how it inspired me with awe. Now, it is still a comfortable sight to behold, even after all I've been through. I just hope I'm not too late... He reached for the Hyperdrive Actuator Lever, de-activating the Hyperdrive and simultaneously kicking in the sublight engines. The blue-white swirl of Hyperspace resolved itself into starlines, which then rendered into the millions of pinpricks of light as the starfield came into sharp focus. The watery planet of Manaan loomed in the distance, dwarfing the Lambda-class Shuttle. So this is the new home of the Jedi... He reached for the comm unit, opening a pre-set channel. "This is Jedi Knight Kyp Durron... I felt a great disturbance in the force, and have returned from my travels in the Unknown Regions to aid the Jedi... I request permission to land, and to speak with the head of the Jedi Order. I will remain here in orbit until you respond. Kyp Durron, out." Kyp ended the transmission, and left the comm channel set to passive scan. He sat back in the pilot's chair, his hands resting on his chest, fingers interlocked as if in deep thought. A slender figure caught his peripheral vision. Xae-Lin Ardel, the force-sensitive girl he had rescued from Dathomir, entered the cockpit gracefully and without a sound. "Dammit Xae! How many times have I told you not to sneak up on me when I'm deep in thought?" said Kyp She replied coldly, "You're the one who didn't wake me when we left Hyperspace, like I asked you to. Besides... it keeps you on your toes, and you're the one who's always telling me that a Jedi needs to remain aware of their surroundings at all times." Kyp sighed... "All right, fair enough." She eyed the comm and asked, "So, have the illustrious Jedi answered you yet? I still don't see why we have to go out of our way to this backwater planet. It's not like you owe them any favors." Shaking his head, Kyp responded, "A Jedi goes where he is needed, Xae... It's not a matter of favors being owed, it is a responsibility. But to answer your question, no. No response yet, so we wait..."