Tython - Force Sanctuary

[Lord Ar-Pharazon]

Tython

 

Astrographical Information

Region: Deep Core

Sector: N/A

System: Tython

Orbital Position: 5

Moons:Ashla, Bogan

Grid Coordinates: FF-23

 

Physical Information

Class: Terrestrial

Atmosphere: Type 1 Breathable

Primary Terrain: Forest, mountains, and oceans.

Points of Interest: Jedi Temple, The Rift, Kalikori Village, Ashla City

 

Societal Information

Indigenous Species: Flesh Raiders

Immigrated Species: Various

Primary Language(s): Basic

Faction Affiliation: Jedi Order

 

Defense Rating:

Hidden Status

 

JediRP Canon History:

 

Tython a planet covered in forest, plains, mountains, and oceans. Deep within the Core, Tython was home to the Jedi Order and one of the may claimed birth places of the Jedi along with one of the first Temples. After years had passed, Tython became a forgotten planet, only rediscovered by the once Jedi Grandmaster Kitt Fitt, who repurposed the planet as a place of refuge and respite to the Jedi Order, creating a temple within a blackout zone in the mountain terrain of Tython. Neighboring between two villages, Ashla and Kailkori, the planet is self sustaining seeing little to no trade from outsiders and completely forgotten except by those who now know of it's existence. Outside of the Jedi Order, visitors to the planet had not occurred in over five hundred years.

 

((Summary compiled by Wookiee Jedi. Thank you!))

[Roene Givrah]

++// Details of Sanctuary //++

a team of force users shaped an organic structure in the cliff face. A natural path woven through the brush led down to the cavern, which opened into a large opening made entirely of rock.

 

It was a big cavern, almost the size of a small stadium. The walls weren’t carved, but formed instead, through numerous hours of labor and intensive focus. It was faintly lit, but the light came from natural sources. It came from natural openings in the cliff face and luminescent fungi. The floor of the cavern was dry and comfortable to rest on. It looked like cold stone, but the entire sanctuary glowed with force energy and welcomed weary bodies to rest and take solace in the warmth of its embrace.

 

A hallway branched off from the main cavern and led downward into the heart of large neighboring hillock. Along the hallway there were small caves intermittently strewn about with cots to provide suitable lodging for those who wished to stay one night or longer in the Sanctuary. At the heart of the hillock, there rest a beacon of force energy. It was awash with ambient light and stood as a beautiful nexus for meditation and reflection. Memories were vivid lights here that danced in the stone. Thoughts, feelings, hopes, passions both benign and numerous wandered through the living stone with a playful eagerness that reflected a childlike whimsy.

 

Roene sat atop the cliff, atop the Sanctuary and sighed once more. He had a smile that stretched from ear to ear and his heart warmed at the thought of his dream coming true. Most of the Jedi that helped him with his task had wandered back to the Jedi Temple proper, but one or two still milled about, taking in the majesty of the structure and the energy that flowed through the stone.

 

_______________________________________

 

((Thank you kindly))

((As to you Soren, I am going to speed us up a little bit, not too much, but enough to get us past the Jedi temple.))

 

The moment Roene set foot on Tython things started to happen very quickly.

 

The ship managed a careful and meditated landing at the capital city and a missive was sent out to the nearby Jedi temple for the supplies that Roene asked for on his way. A few workers from the construction site received a transmission and a handful of Jedi from the temple did as well.

 

He received small messages back from all of them in response to his requests and everything was going according to plan. All except one thing, he wasn't there yet. That was an easy remedy, but it would take a great deal of time.

 

Roene looked back toward Soren and nodded with a smile. "Everything is going according to my specifications, but we'll need to make a small stop at the Jedi temple." He said it kind of over his shoulder, because the Cerean was already making his way there. It would be a long Journey and not one won by dilly dallying. Tyue happily rushed off in front and took an indirect route.

 

__________________________

 

They arrived at the temple around midday and there was a small caravan waiting outside. The Jedi and workers that Roene had requested were gathered together and a herd of pack animals loaded with supplies were waiting for them. Roene thanked each one in kind and tended to a few sore spots on his feet while sitting on the temple steps. He looked from one to the other and smiled ever more, imagining the adventure that they had before them.

 

When Roene was finished massaging his feet, he removed his shoes and stood so that the whole crowd could see him. He asked that Soren join the crowd, but ultimately didn't push him one way or the other.

 

"My friends, we are gathered here to take a journey across Tython, through the forests and across the great vibrant fields of green. There will be beasts on the road, but I ask that you all bear with me. I saw the place where we are headed about two or so years ago when I was fending for myself here. It is a beautiful place and one that will provide ample opportunity for this construction. Those of you who wish to stay behind, I understand for it is quite a long journey on foot, but I ask you to stay and enjoy it with us." Roene looked at all of the assembly with an expression of warmth. His hands were outstretched and he was standing atop a large stone railing that led into the temple's great hall.

 

A few workers looked at him expectantly and the Jedi didn't seem to flinch in their footing. They all looked back at Roene with an equal expression of respect and admission. He had been in communication with them for some time before and told them tales of the place where they were going and they all wanted to see it for themselves.

 

Roene brought his hands back in, stepped down from the stone and set off in a northward direction, with his robe swaying in the wind. "Then off we go!"

 

Tyue came up beside the Cerean, and without even an acknowledgment the dog ran off into the woods. Roene's excitement filled him to the brim and he took off into the underbrush followed by the caravan at his side.

 

____________________________________________

 

A day or so since they landed, left them around 10 miles away from the temple proper. They had set camp for the night and everyone was set about their duties or falling asleep. Roene kept to himself by the fireside with a big grin on his face and a rallying health that filled the camp with light.

 

He looked to his padawan and nodded respectfully. "While we make way, is there anything you wish to learn or practice?"

 

((Feel free to respond to each one as if you were there and what your reactions would be. I kind of wanted to speed us up past a certain point. From here on out either you or I will determine where we are in our progress. The journey is about 100 miles or so.))

Edited December 3, 2016 by Guest

[Guest]

As the ship exited space above the planet Soren was surrounded by a warm feeling he had never had before. Although he had no way of knowing this, Tython was the birthplace of the Jedi and perhaps the single most concentrated source of the Light Side in the galaxy. It was there the great Grandmaster Kitt had built a secret temple, one that was still hidden from the rest of the galaxy. Soren felt comforted and at peace as the Force flowed over him emanating from this place.

 

They landed in a city far off from the temple. It was a brisk journey through the forest to their destined place. The closer they came to the temple the stronger the positive feelings burned deep in Soren's soul. As they walked through the forest Soren reflected on the things he had been thought. He tried to reach out and feel the Force around him. It flowed through the living organisms of the forest and gave off a dim light when his eyes were closed.

 

When they finally exited the brush the grand temple stood before them. It was a sight to be seen, something the likes of which Soren had never experienced. Every brick had been poured over by the Jedi and a living stream flowing through the place imbued the Force throughout the structure.

 

His master had work to do and Soren followed along. It became clear that they would be building something far off in the distance. Soren had obviously never been to the place Roene had described but was eager to explore. He was also grateful to be amongst the company of a group.

 

As they all set off on their journey his master asked him if there was anything in particular he wished to learn.

 

"Well, I feel I have much to think about and reflect on. Are there any particular skills I should be learning as a hopeful Jedi?"

[Roene Givrah]

Soren's question showed some circular logic, but his speculation was well founded. Roene knew there were some requisite things to learn for Jedi and some beginner techniques that he needed to teach before Soren was ready to move on to deeper understandings or more advanced methods.

 

He took a moment to stoke the fire with a small stick he found nearby and watched as the flames lept an inch or two from their resting spots. "I think tomorrow morning when we set out again, I will start you on your first beginning techniques if that is okay with you. If we keep at our pace, we should make it to the spot I indicated in around ten days time, which will give us plenty of time to train. Then the construction itself will take a great deal longer."

 

Roene looked at his padawan through the dim firelight. It seemed that Soren was speculating deeply and that was good. He could feel that his padawan's connection to force had grown and that the training would not be lost on him. He only hoped that he was a good teacher.

 

____________________________________-

 

The next day Roene woke up bright and early. He grabbed a quick bite before helping the others set up camp and then took up a large satchel over his shoulders to assist the caravan. He augmented the strength of his joints enough to hold the wieght comfortably, but left his mind to wander as he approached his apprentice.

 

Then, without moving his hands or thinking about it, he raised a large rock from the forest floor and levitated it beside them as they walked. He looked toward his padawan with a small grin and inclined his head toward the rock.

 

"Here is your first challenge. I know that this exercise has been done many times, but here is how this is going to go. We are going to walk ten miles today. We will stop momentarily for meal times, but for the most part we are pushing through the day to make good time. I want you to take this rock and levitate it as long as you can. If you can't levitate it at all then I will give you a crutch for the first mile, but once the mile is up I will drop my hold on it and you will have to pick it up. If you drop the rock for any reason what so ever, you fail the challenge and must find another rock to start again. You are allowed up to three failures and then we stop the exercise for the day." Roene grinned mischeviously at his padawan, but laughed with a warm heart before continuing down the path. "If you need any more explanation about how to do it, or if you need me to tell you I will do what I can within the first twenty minutes or so, but then you are on your own. Keep in mind, we have nine to ten days on the road to reach our destination. If we stop today, that doesn't mean we won't do any training tomorrow."

 

Roene continued on ahead and helped a female Jedi regain her footing after losing control of a top heavy bag.

 

"Things may happen to us while we make our way through the forest and beasts may hound our footsteps. It is mine and your job to help keep track of them to keep them away from the caravan. If we have to interrupt our lesson because a wild beast threatens us, or wild weather conditions rip us away, then we must do what is necessary to keep the caravan safe. Mother nature is never predictable." Roene said half in Soren's mind and half out loud to him.

 

Then, without any more deliberation, Roene moved the rock slowly over toward Soren until it was floating steadily in front of his face, but matching pace with the prty so it didn't hit him.

 

"Shall we begin?"

[Guest]

The rock floated steadily in front of Soren's chest. "If you could, move the rock for a few moments so I can try to concentrate on it?" His master had told him that for the beginning of the task he would help him. Soren had a natural ability of thinking creatively and had also took to heart many of the lessons already taught him. Instead of rushing into things he would get to know the rock.

 

As they walked he focused on the spinning stone before him. He used the Force to peer deep down, past the inanimatecy of the object and into its connection with all things. The young apprentice wasn't exactly sure what he was seeing but could feel the rock apart from the environment. When he was ready he extended himself to take the rock from his master. As Roene inevitably felt the tug the rock released into Soren's control. It dipped for a moment but did not fall. Soren was giving all of himself to the task.

 

As they journeyed Soren kept his concentration on the rock. The air of the forest was clear and felt good in his lungs. The very essence of Ashla was rich in Tython and would strengthen anyone in connection with the Light Side. Perhaps that was why Soren had little difficulty performing what would normally be a difficult first lesson in the ability of telekinesis.

 

The party moved on mostly in silence. Off in the distance a loud bird made its call. The sound grew nearer until it was upon the group. Without warning the creature made a b-line for Soren's head. He ducked down avoiding being hit as the creature continued off in the distance. Soren watched the bird head off, slightly startled, and then remembered what he was supposed to be doing. The rock lay in front of him on the ground.

 

He left it there as the instruction was not to use the same one once it hit the ground. He sought out Roene and upon finding him asked a question, "Master, I found it surprisingly simple to do what you asked. But at the first serious distraction my focus was totally gone. How am I supposed to stay aware of my surroundings yet still hold concentration on lifting the rock?"

[Roene Givrah]

Roene wasn't surprised by this question. He was a little surprised that his padawan held out as long as he did without breaking sooner, considering his former difficulties with focus. His growth was definitely a point of interest and worth noting. Even so, after about an hour or so, Roene invited the bird to come down and fly at Soren to see what would happen. He did not wish any harm to befall his padawan, but the aspect of focus and patience is crucial to a Jedi.

 

He slowed slightly and let the caravan pass ahead, but did not stop walking. "You don't lose focus and you remain aware of your surroundings even while you are focused. You exist in the force as much as anything else does, right? If you are focusing on a rock with the force and manipulating it, then you already know that you and the rock are as much connected as you and the bird are connected. If you focus so much on the rock that you don't notice anything else, then you aren't truly opening your mind." Roene stopped for a moment and noticed that the 'platitudes' he was using would seem circular to someone who had not had that much experience in the force. He slowed his speech a little, but remained at a steady pace. He ducked below a low hanging branch, dodged past a group of flying leaves and hopped over a small puddle on the ground, but his gaze never left Soren.

 

"Alright, let me see if I can explain this a little bit differently Soren." Roene said. Then he held up his hand and formed it into a small 'o' shape. Then he placed that shape over his right eye, so it was clear that he could only see the points through that small 'o' shape. "If you know what a telescope is, you can picture that, but if you do not then this visual should help. If I hold my hand in this shape over my eyes, I limit my field of vision significantly, but I am able to focus on what is in front of me right?" Roene contined with his hand over his eye even as he climbed a rock and continued after the caravan. His gaze was still glued to Soren.

 

"Now, that single focus is all well and good, because it accomplishes my objective, but what if something did pop out of nowhere and interrupt me?" Roene put his hands over his eyes and stopped making the 'o' shape. "I get startled and I am forced to re-focus myself. I am blinded for a few moments while I try to recover my sight. Now, imagine that I have multiple telescopes or hands with 'o' shapes all around my head. I can still focus on that one thing from before, but because I can see more, I know if something is going to distract me. We may be limited by our minds and our eyes, but the force sees all and is all. It is always there. We can tap into the force and it shows us the world even while we are focusing on something as small as a rock."

 

Roene took a small rag from a satchel at his side and wrapped it around his eyes and continued walking. “If you see only with your eyes then your awareness stems only from what your eyes can see, but if you give yourself to the force and tap into it, every movement, every sound, every life and soul around you will become visible to you. It may be a little overwhelming and hard to focus in that chorus of sound and color, but if you can focus even while remaining aware of your surroundings then you will come one step closer to mastering this particular force technique no matter what context or circumstance exists.”

 

With the rag over his eyes, Roene’s movements didn’t change. He still looked at Soren and still managed to avoid the objects on the ground. What did change is that he no longer felt obligated to walk in a straight line, so he started walking backwards. Then, when he felt the message was sufficiently delivered, he removed the blindfold and grabbed another rock for Soren to continue the exercise with.

 

“If you have further questions, you may ask them when we get to the first break point in an hour or so from now.”

[Roene Givrah]

((I will be continuing this story. If I have to, I will just edit this post and continue on.))

 

The Cerean took Soren's silence as acceptance and turned from him with the rest of the expedition. The mists of the morning were just starting to blanket the forest floor and the pack beasts shuffled in the cool air. The twinkling of stars that still hung low in the morning sky were accented by other lights from the sky that led the group as it shuffled merrily on.

 

Soren was quiet in his duty, which was encouraging. Roene didn't want to pressure him or saddle Soren with a monotonous task without letting him know the purpose behind the exercise. Knowing the purpose often helped comfort people and prevented them from losing direction. Sometimes, having the experience of getting lost is valuable, but this wasn't one of those times. That would come later.

 

The caravan approached the rest stop and began to unpack camp when Roene turned to find Soren focusing hard on his task. Roene looked for a moment at him and then heard something rustling in bushes. He cocked his head to the side for a moment and tickled the air with his senses to draw out the noisy perpetrator. It wasn't paramount to bend his focus, but with a curious whim he wished to know what was approaching the campsite, even if it was a small mammal.

 

Roene sighed and the breathed deeply, letting the thickness of the morning air fill his lungs. He could feel the temperature in his body drop by steady increments, but reveled in each strain of the morning breeze against his cheeks. He looked over toward Soren once more, but didn't meet his eyes. Instead, Roene walked away from the camp site for a few paces and sat on the wet dewy ground beneath him. He let his hands touch the ground and groped for each blade of grass. The trees whipped in the breeze as it passed him and the subtle growls of stalking predators resonated from tens of feet away. The Pack beasts snored while they napped, people shuffled around while building shelters and eating their small trail snacks; the sounds of life continued to proceed without any hindrance.

 

Roene focused on just one sound at a time until he was encased in a small bubble of silence. Then the Cerean got to his legs and hardened his stance. He set up in a strong horse stance and carefully made a punching movement in the air. He solidified his mind, and pictured the ground beneath him. He made himself as inert as the earth and slowly pushed his arm out, picturing the earth mocking his movements and sure enough, it did. It wasn't crisp and there was only a small pillar of earth, but the sediment beneath him responded to each movement he made. When he clenched his fist even more, the dirt and rocks compounded themselves together and when Roene moved his arms back toward the ground rapidly, the rock smashed violently to the ground and exploded in brown powder.

 

That is coming along nicely, Roene thought to himself. When he was done moving, he used a piece of his robes to dab at the sweat on his forehead. I just have a little bit to go before I can teach the others. Then we can begin construction right when we get there.

 

Roene sighed again. He looked out toward the morning sky as the deep blue of night gave way and a blanket of soft light blue took its place.

[Guest]

((I have been invited here by Big Will, don't anyone freak out))

 

Cathryne ran quickly through the great jungle persued by a great cat from the high mountains. She had gotten lost from the trail from the great city. She had been lost for days now, pursued and haggard from the long chase. Her thin face was rent with scratches from the branches, her clothes torn from a blow from the great feral beast.

 

"Help! Help me please!"

[Roene Givrah]

Roene’s eyes of pale sapphire glittered under the fresh air of the morning light as it crested over the horizon. His heart sung with the majesty of symphonic beauty as the light caught on the trees around him one by one. The staccato rhythm of life around him continued to proceed regardless of the spectacle that surrounded them and the combination of the two was what made Roene a naturalist in the first place. No book or holojournal in the world could capture the colors in a natural sunrise or sunset. No word could effectively describe the beauty or awesomeness of witnessing one of nature’s greatest blessings.

 

Just when Roene was enjoying the first breath of the morning air however, a small cry for help bounded into his ear like a whisper on the breeze. It was high, shrill and although in tune with the natural harmony of the wind, was impossibly definitive to be the current’s natural flow. Roene crouched low to the ground and placed his right hand against the wet grass beneath him. He tested the bottoms of his feet down to all ten toes and tensed each muscle in his legs one by one. Then he disappeared.

 

He took off with rapid haste along the jungle floor, keeping his feet as an echo to the vibrations in the ground. The calloused skin met ground with little difficulty and Roene was like a blur of light in the hazy morning fog. He didn’t have time, he didn’t wish to wait. Help was something he would always provide to those who needed it and by the sound of the cry, it seemed to be desperate.

 

He was crossing the mile marker, giving mental cues to his Jedi counterparts at the campsite, when he came upon a large feline predator pursuing its prey. Normally Roene was keen to watch as this order of nature went on, because it wasn’t his business to bother with this feline’s survival, but the prey in this case was a small girl, not a small mammal.

 

Roene looked at the situation for a moment and paused. He spied the feline in a moment of weakness and analyzed its vulnerability. The specimen in question had a number of lacerations on its side and it was rabid, likely from lack of food. The protruding ribs alone would indicate that this was the case, but the predator’s mind was heavily affected by an intense psychosis fueled by starvation.

 

Roene watched as the girl passed and noted that she too had been without food for several days. She had cuts and bruises on her body as well, but the feline beast behind her was the most likely culprit for those.

 

After a minute of pursuit, the Cerean emerged quietly from the trees and stopped the feline in its tracks. He placed his right arm out and sent a pulse of energy to absorb the excess energy from the absence of momentum. Then he suspended the feline in midair and bound its limbs together. With the thumb and forefinger of his wooden left arm, the Cerean touched the beast’s mighty head and pushed into its mind. He sensed failure, famine, disease and sorrow. He saw images of continued pursuit, of a gaping belly and struggle. Then, when he was finished he spoke to the beast in a calm and reassuring manner.

 

Go mighty beast, I have left a small bag of meat for you not far from here, go and sate your hunger on that. This girl is not to eat…

 

When Roene was sure the feline understood, he let the beast down and turned to find the young woman. The beast recoiled and made to strike at Roene’s backside. The Cerean Jedi Knight shook his head solemnly, stepped to the side and ignited his light saber. A deep growl emitted from the hilt and Roene sunk into a low combative stance. The feline shifted its weight to match and they just looked at one another. The feline roared and gnashed its teeth at the small girl as she continued running, but Roene’s light saber roared back in return. Roene came forward with a thrust and made one final threat to the big cat, before cutting off its head and letting it plop to the ground.

 

A few small mammals that were too terrified to come out earlier, immediately started filtering out from the trees. They pranced about on the crisp green and began to enjoy the food left behind by the great cat and the meat that Roene left behind a few clicks away. He could hear them mill about independently and he knew that they would take care of the poor beast. Roene deactivated his light saber and clasped the hilt firmly to his waist before walking off toward the small girl who continued running even after Roene intervened.

 

He reached a friendly hand out to her and talked through the force, reassuring her that all was well.

 

My apology for the sudden intervention, but your pursuer is gone. If you need food we have some back at our camp if you would like to follow me.

[Guest]

Breath exhaled in a rush, as the young girl tripped over a low-hanging branch, she flung forwards and skidded across the soft Tythonian ground. Her wrists and palms skittering across the harsh undergrowth, embedding a drove of small thorns into the soft young palms. Cathryne gasped in pain and scrambled to her feet, seizing a large sharp branch to defend her self from the no doubt approaching feline. Yet she heard instead a snap-hiss and a large growl. There was a pop. then a screech of pain and desperation. She almost felt sorry for the animal as the large headed humanoid decapitated it.

 

She raised her makeshift blade in front of her. She knew these types, these rangers in the dark of the jungle, preying on the young.

 

Suddenly a voice thundered within her ears, she could not but understand it. But it was terrifying to behold. The stick dropped from her limp fingers, as her eyes rolled back into her head, and she collapsed into the undergrowth.

[Roene Givrah]

When the young woman collapsed and Roene felt his own booming voice echoing in his head, he couldn't help but think, I think I might have over done it a little bit.

 

The Cerean sighed a little. He shambled through the undergrowth to catch what he could of the little one before she fell completely to the ground. He saw that her eyes had rolled back and her body was limp. If he didn't know anything about human anatomy he might have assume that she was dead, but she still had a heartbeat; likely, the little one was in shock. The wounds on her hands with the thorns still threaded through the skin, tore deeply into the fleshy parts of her palms and crimson ran from multiple parts on her body. She was hungry, she was tired, and she was injured. This little girl was the epitome of vulnerability in a jungle of predators. The anathema to the jungle's prowess and strength; that something this frail could survive in so harsh a climate was nothing short of miraculous.

 

Roene did what he could to set the small woman against the side of a tree and ripped a large part of his robe off at the knee. He took her hands and carefully removed each thorn, sterilizing each wound with the force. Then, he cradled each small hand in his own callused ones and wrapped cloth from his robes around both of them to stop the bleeding. He cleaned the cloth in a nearby stream and sterilized it as well, to make sure he wasn't doing more harm than good to the girl in this vulnerable state. Her knees seemed a sad sort as well, so he did what he could with them. When everything was said and done, Roene gently lifted the small girl over his shoulder and carried her off toward the camp. He avoided the overhanging branches for fear that the young woman caught them on the way by and went slowly to avoid adding any injury to the pre-existing ones.

 

______

 

When they reached the camp, a small group of Jedi approached Roene with varying looks of curiosity. They inquired about the last hour and the activities that went on outside the campsite's border. When they asked about the young woman, Roene instructed them to follow him to the center of the site so he could give her a place to rest. They lifted a hand to one of the open tents and helped Roene set the small woman upon a cot that was roughly her size. It wasn't the most comfortable thing to rest on, but it was the only comfortable thing to rest on that they had.

 

Roene looked at her for a moment. When they entered the camp, her eyelids closed and she looked peaceful now as she rested. He placed a warm hand on her forehead and explained what happened to her in a whisper. From this distance, his voice would seem more like the breeze whispering to her on a peaceful summer morning. Then, he offered her a place to stay. Should she choose to do so, she was free to stay in the company of Roene's caravan until she saw fit to leave it.

 

Roene looked up at the jedi that surrounded the tent and instructed them to inform him when she awoke and to provide her with answers if she needed them. She was to be treated as another member of the caravan and if she wished to leave, then they must provide her the means to do so. After Roene felt they all understood their instruction, Roene went off to where he was earlier and continued practicing his elemental exercises.

[Guest]

As they journeyed Soren focused on his master's teaching. It made sense to him, the idea of having a particular focus but being aware of one's surroundings. If the Force really were all seeing, and a Jedi's abilities came from that Force, eventually he would be able to see clearly the things around him. Roene was able to use the Force to guide himself blindfolded. Soren thought of what it would take to be able to do that.

 

For now he needed to work on focusing. The group pressed on through the jungle and Soren slowly became better at keeping his concentration. He was able to keep the rock in front of him but opened his mind to what was around. He was able to hear distinct chirps of birds, the sounds of twigs snapping, and still maintain his task. The deeper connected to the Force he became the more his inner eye was able to make graphic pictures of what was happening. He even attempted his master's skill of using the Force to see. The young Jedi closed his eyes, but saw nothing. Within a moment though the shimmering of the rock shown before him. This was the only light in the darkness. Perhaps it had been that Soren had become closer to the rock than anything around him.

 

The troop reached their next campsite and stopped to rest. Soren used the Force to seek out Roene amongst the group. He felt out with his feelings and found his master on the outskirts of the camp. He saw him in deep concentration bending the very earth beneath him.

 

Still with the rock in front of him, something he hoped his master would notice, he asked, "Master, what is it you're doing?"

[Roene Givrah]

It was mid-morning of the third day of Roene's expedition. The other Jedi were starting to get used to the outside life that came with camping and a few of them even began to have their own little adventures off in the woods during the long breaks between travels.

 

Roene was still focused on his task when his padawan approached him. The Tythonian day was longer than most and even in mid-morning, you could still glimpse the two moons, Ashla and Bogan. Roene looked up at them from time to time during his isolation years ago and would contemplate their dual existence. He would remember words of ancient texts citing references to the ancient Jedi's meditation on these two moons. One was brighter than the other and spurred meditation over the dichotomy of paths in the force. Light side users were sent to Ashla to contemplate balance with the dark side and dark side users were sent to Bogan to contemplate Ashla; an interesting practice that seemed alien to those driven by light side extremists. Roene wondered how much of their history had been forgotten. How much had Jedi preserved and how much had they lost.

 

Soren's approach was quiet. Roene could feel the vibrations of his feet against the ground held firmly in his fingertips. He could also feel the energy of the rock that Soren held at his side. Like a pulsar beating quietly against the silence of space, the rock hesitated in the air. A string of Soren's design kept it firmly in the air and Roene had to admit it wasn't half bad.

 

Roene was kneeling on the ground with one knee touching the soil and another close to his chin. He bowed his head low and held his arms out wide to both sides. The Cerean's eyes were closed; tentative; watchful. His hands hovered feet above the ground, but he could still feel the soil beneath him. The grains of sediment slid beneath the pores of his skin and into his body. He could feel the energy of the molecules as they danced like glowing fireflies in the night. Then, with a small but firm shift, Roene's eyes opened and he moved forward onto both legs. He swung his arms out in a much larger motion and brought them together into a huge clapping gesture. A large storm of dirt and rock echoed the sound and shot from the mountain, spilling down the cliff side.

 

Roene smiled peacefully and stood at his full height to see what he had accomplished. He wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead and motioned Soren to follow him over to the brim of the cliff’s edge. Then he traced a fracture line down the side of the mountain with his finger so Soren could see it.

 

“I am learning to manipulate rock and soil. Like the rock you still hold, the soil and minerals that make up the planet’s surface are composed of organic matter. That matter, as per my theology on the subject, is made entirely of the force. Therefore, if the force makes up all organic matter and Jedi can manipulate and channel the force, then it is plausible to conclude that a Jedi can channel and manipulate the elements.” Roene said. He walked a little away from the edge of the cliff side and took Soren to a small sitting place over by a large overhanging tree nearby. “Take Sith Lightning for example. On a physical level, all we see is blue or purple electricity. But on a molecular level, the Sith are superheating the atmosphere and essentially manifesting the right conditions for lightning. They are creating and manipulating the forces of nature by bending them to their will. I am doing something similar, but I am working with the force and following the fracture lines that are already present in the planet’s crust.”

 

Roene sat cross legged. The dew that still clung to the early morning grass chilled Roene, but he didn’t pay much heed to the icy sensation. He looked at his padawan and took the rock from his control for a moment. He lifted his hand and guided it over to where he sat. Then, with the concentration he demonstrated before, he moved his hands around the rock in sharp, firm gestures. The Cerean’s brow furrowed, his eyes closed and for a few seconds nothing happened.

 

Roene reached out with the force as he worked and brought his padawan to a level of visual comprehension that it was easy to see Roene’s exertion through the force. Plumes of energy poured through the Cerean’s arms and through the Force it looked like Roene was on fire.

 

Through the force we see the individual parts of things. We see things as what they are, not just the surface, but anything and everything beneath it.

 

Roene let Soren go back to normal sight and continued his movements. It still took a second or two, but after he reiterated the same movement a fourth time, the rock began to shift. The stone moved and altered itself in the method that Roene was moving. Patterns began emerging in the stone similar to the motion and before long Soren’s rock changed into a perfect sphere of stone.

 

“With the force, anything is possible. We just have to put our minds to it.” Roene said, breathing heavily. “In the meantime, I think that is enough strain for now. Shall we return to camp?”

 

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Hyasura, a young, female, Cathar Jedi Knight sat valiant at Cathryne’s side. The little girl had been unconscious for some time and she was worried. Like a mother, she gazed down at the small girl. She could only imagine the horrors that she faced in the forest.

 

Jedi had been all over this planet in ages past, but Hyasura knew that darkness can still linger in the corners where light cannot reach.

 

She was a young adult Cathar with a lithe frost white figure. She had short hair, a long tail and claws that were cut. She had black spots on her body that clumped around the face and back, and a large black spot that covered her right eye. Her eyes were a deep sapphire blue and they studied the girl intensely. They had been for quite some time.

 

The Cathar was dressed in light brown robes customary of a Knight, but they were quite worn after three days. She didn’t really care, but some of the others commented on her attire when she wasn’t looking.

[Guest]

Soren followed his master towards the cliff after witnessing his actions on the mountain. It was something Soren sort of understood but knew was far beyond his current abilities. He let go control of the rock and watched as Roene slowly but surely changed it into something else. He could see the strain it took on him. It reminded the young Jedi of Roene's previous teaching about the Jedi being a conduit for the Force. If everything was organic, and everything was the Force, then yes, a Jedi should be able to manipulate it.

 

The idea of being able to harness the power of lightning intrigued Soren. He wondered why it was an ability reserved for those who practice the Dark Side. Perhaps it would be something he himself could someday conquer, something that would make him unique. The more Soren thought about all the things he could learn to do through the Force the more eager he became to quickly master these skills. He wondered how long they would be working with rocks, and when he'd start to harness the forces of nature.

 

Following his master's words he contemplated the individual parts of things. He had been able to connect to the rock, but hadn't though about peering deeper. Perhaps it wasn't the rock he had been carrying, but the pieces of the rock. If Roene had been able to manipulate in such a way than it seemed to Soren that a Jedi could see down to a molecular level, or deeper.

 

When Roene was done with the stone Soren held out his hand. The rock, about the size of his palm, fell into his open reach. He grasped it tightly, feeling the energy of the Light, and stuffed it into his pocket. It seemed this particular exercise was over, his first, and he wanted to remember it.

 

"Camp it is. Actually I am starting to get a bit hungry. Should we get some food?"

 

As they walked Soren thought again on Roene shifting the dirt and the rocks in the mountain. His thoughts raced over the uses of such a skill. He had been an artist in his old life, a sculptor, and thought fondly on the precise works of art he may be able to craft with the guidance of the Force. He thought too on the potential destruction of such a skill, picturing in his mind a small village at the base of a mountain, slowly being covered by an avalanche. A dark shadow of a man floated in the air above the former peak off in the distance.

[Roene Givrah]

((Apologies for the wait. I also apologize for the disjointedness of this post. I will work on my next one to make it sound a bit smoother.))

 

Roene could tell his demonstration intrigued Soren. The young padawan's mind was a whirling torrent of thoughts streaming through his head like millions of fireflies. He knew the feeling, because it was very similar to the one he had five or so years ago when Kitt was explaining the intricacies of the force to him. The Cerean walked slowly through the heavy underbrush and could see the camp in the distance. It was set under the cover of two large trees, whose canopies stood high enough to be daunting, but low enough to provide ample shade from the Star's rays as it rose into the sky. There was a great deal of activity and as Roene approached, an interesting thought poked into Soren's mind that Roene felt was valuable to discuss.

 

Roene stopped his walk and turned to face Soren. He smiled a little and asked his padawan to take a small walk with him around the perimeter outside of earshot of the others. He paused for a moment before he started talking, because he knew it would seem awfully rude that he was peaking into Soren's mind at all. He bowed his head a little and let out a breathy sigh. "First of all, I would liked to apologize for eavesdropping. Then, I would like to tell you what my mother always told me when I was growing up. 'Patience is a virtue in all things' and 'nothing good ever came without hard work.'" Roene said, trying to do an inaccurate impression of his mother's tone and inclination to brighten the mood a little. A small pang of grief flitted in his face, but it left as soon as it came. "These are cliche phrases carried by the elders of my race as they strive to keep old traditions alive. I was sympathetic to their cause because of my mother, but I later learned exactly how important these statements truly were. For instance..." Roene started and then stopped walking. He knelt toward the ground and picked up a rock. He took the rock into his mind and began floating it in the blink of an eye. Then, without meditation, he tried to manipulate it at the same time. The rock was under so much influence and pressure that it exploded.

 

"If I tried to give you a lot of information all at once, your mind might fair as well as that rock did. The brain doesn't do well with overwhelming information. At least the human brain doesn't. My race is better at accepting those consequences, but even we have trouble with too much information." Roene stood back up and looked once again at his padawan who was covered in rock dust. He apologized and tried to clean off some of it, but was relatively unsuccessful. After a minute or two of trying to clean up his mess, he gave up and continued walking. "Now, I can explain what I know about your curiosities and you can go from there, but I recommend caution. Most Jedi would turn you away from trying to manifest any form of lightning because lightning is purely destructive. I however believe lightning to be a force of nature and thus see nothing wrong with learning to create or manipulate it. Will I do it? Not really, because I have no need to. Does it take a great deal of energy and focus? Yes. According to texts it takes Sith several ranks before they can produce large and powerful arcs at will."

 

Roene continued orating and his feet walked at a slow, but measured pace. Twigs cracked silently under his bare feet, the camp was buzzing with life nearby and the aroma of a well cooked meal was wafting through the trees. Roene wanted to go get food, but he felt he should help nourish his padawan's curiosity before eating.

 

"Now, I know a great deal about the natural force of lightning and have read several books on the subject. I won't belabor you with the scientific facts and before I tell you what I know, you need to know that I have never made it myself, nor have I encountered a Sith who used it. However, my assessment of lightning and how it would be used, may in some way be accurate to their methods. I will try to explain it to you based on my own mythology and what I have learned about actual lightning in nature."

 

Roene cleared his throat a little and then continued talking as if there had been no interruption. "Lightning is the act of reacting with unbalanced forms of nature. I would assume, based on the evidence I have, that the Sith create an unbalanced energy in the atmosphere by twisting the force to their design. The charge that results, reacts with their target like a lightning rod. Unless of course, they aim at a Jedi skilled to counter the maneuver. Then the Jedi would either deflect the charge or neutralize it by bringing balance to the unbalanced energy." Roene's voice was analytic, much like the way a professor would speak when talking to a class full of students, but he often looked off into the trees as if searching for an answer.

 

"I have not tried to make lightning and I don't really recommend you try to do so until you learn a great deal more about the force. As for the earth shifting I did earlier, you will see much more of that as we go. I will be teaching that to the others as we get closer to our destination. You are more than welcome to join them and learn more about that if you wish." Roene looked once more at the camp and saw that they were bringing out a large pile of meat and berries. He looked back at his padawan and smiled. "Your next lesson, will come after we eat."

 

Just before Roene left Soren to walk toward the food, his stomach growled fiercely.

[Guest]

Soren was consistently impressed when the abilities of those greater than him were explained. Things that he hadn't thought possible were capable on the deepest level and he knew in his heart some day he would be there. He wanted to to take the quick path but was learning that patience and moderation would temper him.

 

"I would indeed like to learn that skill with the others, master." Soren referred to the art of shaping the ground. He had a feeling it would be central towards their mission.

 

He wandered back to the camp at an apparent meal time. After eating he went to the outskirts of the camp to clear his thoughts.

[Roene Givrah]

“Nahjira not ruin fur. She like to play with dirt.” A small white Cathar said to a larger Kheldor that sat opposite her. She was, only moments ago, exploring the outskirts of the campsite and enjoying the cool morning air. The fragile light of the morning star was growing and the warmth it brought was almost divine.

 

The Kheldor was plaintive though. He did not meander outside the camp and decided instead to stay in the boundaries set by the other Jedi. He was warming his hands by the fire and chose to remain away from the fresh mud so as to avoid ruining his robe. “Yes Nahjira.” The Kheldor said, sticking a finger in the air and wagging it back and forth, “but your robe looks filthy.”

 

Nahjira looked down at her robes and then back up at the Kheldor. Then she looked at her robes again and scratched her head. “I see nothing wrong with robe.” Nahjira said plainly. Her eyes were deep pools of sapphire blue and although her fur and robes were both covered in mud; her fur still had a brilliant sheen. “Nodjuub, you are silly… Look at Knight Roene.” She pointed off with one claw toward Roene as he entered the camp with his padawan in toe.

 

The Cerean stood tall and proud as he walked toward the food table licking his lips, but Nahjira could hear his stomach growling from feet away. His robes, although not covered in mud like hers, were weathered and beaten. They showed a fair amount of wear and tear from their expedition and although she knew Roene washed them when he could, she didn’t think the Cerean cared whether or not he was dirty. It was all part of who he was.

 

“Yes Nahjira,” Nodjuub said reluctantly. It was clear by his motion and his intent that he had given up his argument.

 

______________________________________________________________________

 

The food was amazing. The meat was filling and fresh. The various vegetables and berries were just like they were years ago when he was here alone. The differences between then and now were a little more than obvious, but the tastes, sights, smells and sounds were all around him. The camp was lively and many different Jedi chatted with each other back and forth. Roene noticed a Cathar or two looking at him as he walked by, but he didn’t generate much of a hubbub when he entered, which was what he wanted.

 

The company would be setting off soon, so now was the only time for contemplation. People were already starting to set up camp, but others were milling about on the edges and Roene helped out when he could, between bites.

 

When he was finished eating however, he was more concerned about his padawan who had wandered off toward the edge of camp by himself. He didn’t know whether or not something was wrong and that wasn’t what worried him. In fact, he wasn’t really worried. His feeling was more akin to curiosity than the mentor or parent-like concern for their pupil or child. Still, the fact remained that he was responsible for training him and any question Soren had, was Roene’s responsibility to answer.

 

Therefore, after Roene cleaned his face up and mopped up the remains of breakfast, he ventured off toward his Padawan as the rest of the Jedi in the camp continued packing up.

 

“Anything puzzling you Soren that you would like to know before we head out again?” Roene asked when he approached, being careful not to bump into Soren on accident.

[Guest]

Soren thought about the journey to this point. He was getting better at focusing himself, meditating, and some of the minor force powers he was learning. His next question wasn't really about being a Jedi but was certainly pertinent.

 

"Well, I am wondering, what are we doing out there? Why are we building something when there is a perfectly good temple a ways back." Soren thought for a moment, he couldn't be too sure of his statements. "Well, I don't know if it is perfectly good, but you know what I mean."

[Roene Givrah]

Roene listened to his Padawan's question and smiled a little. He listened to the trees speak to each other in the rustle of the leaves. He heard the wind whip across the low mountains in the north and he could smell the scent of fresh foliage around them as they walked carefully midst the Tythonian wildlife.

 

"To that I say, 'why don't we building something when there is a perfectly good temple a ways back?'" Roene said with a small, but visible smirk. "Plus, we aren't 'building it. We are carving it. The building crew are here to assist and monitor the work as well as provide technical advice if we need it. We don't have too many workers, if you noticed on your tour through the camp."

 

Roene walked a little ahead of Soren and sat down on a lumpy boulder that sat off to one side. He adjusted himself until he found a comfortable posture and then rested there while he continued to speak. "The Jedi and I, while we are alike in many beliefs, do not agree on several key issues. The Jedi seek to abolish or destroy the Sith. They may not openly admit it or say it in such a way, but that is what they wish. I do not wish that. The Sith are our opposites. If we push them, they will push back. If we rise up against them, all we do is fuel the fire. Yes Sith may just push until they get their way and rule the galaxy. However the same is true of the Jedi. The Jedi will rise again and push the Sith away as they always have and always will."

 

Roene looked away for a moment. His grin was replaced with an expression of remorse. "All the historical books in the world couldn't begin to describe the amount of terror and destruction wrought by these two forces when they clash together. I have read many of them and can tell you it doesn't meant anything good when the 'guardians of peace and justice' are just as responsible for the destruction in the universe as the supposed homicidal maniac Sith are. I agree that there is no death, but even the wisest sage cannot possibly ignore the trail of blood that has lead to today. Still, despite all that, there is a natural explanation to it. When you push a tree down to clear a path, you lose the chemical benefits that that tree provided; you also lose shade and many animals may lose their homes, which could in turn cause those animals to become desperate and bite or claw at people passing by. When you destroy a forest, you create smog and pollution or you deprive a whole slew of animals any sort of shelter, which could cause them to get angry as I said before. This may sound like pure conjecture, but I assure you that everything you do, down to the smallest action, has some form of reaction. Even if you can't see it, there will always be something there."

 

Roene took a long sigh that filled his entire body. He shook his head softly and looked at his padawan straight on. "No one can control nature. Even the most powerful naturalists couldn't tell you when it will rain or when it will snow or if an earthquake is coming. We may have hints in the way the land reacts or the animals feel, but we are not entities defying nature itself. We don't see everything in the force or even the galaxy, but we don't fight it either, or at least I don't. To fight nature or the balance of nature is only going to sow chaos, which is why I choose to be out here, building something, instead of hunting Sith. I am out here carving out a place where any force user that wishes to meditate will find peaceful solace and comfort in the force. They don't have to believe what I believe. As long as they don't wish any harm upon the structure or those inside it, they are welcome."

 

Roene looked up and his expression changed back to a semi-grin. "I have wanted to do this project for some time. I hope to make it a special place where memories can be stored and reviewed without need for a physical library. It is an experiment on a grand scale and I look forward to seeing it through. I don't know what the Jedi at the Temple will think, but I have like minded people with me on our expedition that know roughly what I am planning."

 

Roene hopped off the boulder now that he was done lecturing and noticed that the caravan had started moving. He looked around at the level grassland between his location and the exploration crew and looked back at Soren with an even bigger smile. "Time for your next lesson."

 

The Cerean knelt forward a little on his left leg and then placed his right leg behind him. After that, he raised his left arm to answer his left leg and let his right arm rest at a ninety degree angle by his side. It looked like he was about to take off running. "First, I want you to clear your mind, like you've been practicing; then, I want you to take a stance similar to mine. Second, I would like you to envision in your head a flat path from here to about a mile past the caravan; then I want you to picture yourself running all the way to the end of that path in about two minutes. Use what connection you have to the force to channel energy into your body, supercharging your muscles, your joints, your bones, and your tendons. Finally, when you've done all of that, I want you to run as fast as you can behind the caravan and around to the other side."

 

Roene's last word was cut off when he took off like a gunshot and reappeared on the other side of the caravan, waving at his padawan to proceed behind him.

[Guest]

Soren listened intently to his master's word. It didn't make complete sense to him. To Soren it seemed like there would always be turmoil, but that didn't mean you couldn't try to change things. He tried to see things from Roene's perspective, after all the man had taken his own time to train him, but he just felt like it was a hands off approach. He had never heard tales of tyrannical fascism coming from republic rule, but certainly of the Sith empires of old. In his eyes injustice needed to be stopped. It seemed almost selfish to do nothing about it. Soren kept this to himself though, thinking it best not argue this point with his teacher.

 

Clearing his mind had become increasingly easier, as was concentration. It wasn't too difficult for him to imagine himself running as Roene described, although he wasn't sure if simply picturing this scene in his head was what his master had wanted. Regardless he focused on what was happening in his vision. He was allowing himself to be a conductor for the Force. Not moving against it but allowing it to flow through him like a river. This unseen energy strengthened his muscles and pulled his body into harmony.

 

Without notice his master was gone, completing the task that had been assigned to Soren in certainly less than two minutes. Soren shook an astonished look off his face and began to concentrate harder on what he was about to do. With a deep breath he took off running.

 

At first it didn't seem any different than any other dash in his life. But soon he could feel something flowing through different than before. He welcomed it and invited it in. His speed rose and his breathing became easier. Unfortunately this wasn't continuous, coming on more like small bursts of turbo.

 

When he reached his master he stopped, out of breath, with his hands on his knees.

 

"How do you do that so fast?"

[Roene Givrah]

Roene's heart sang with the force of Tython all around him when he came to a stop. He could feel the warm breeze of the coming afternoon mingled with the departing chill of the morning. Fresh plants were beginning to bud, avian creatures flew about the trees with little care for what their deeds meant to the world and little animals scurried around without boundary. The Cerean took a deep breath and let the essence of the planet sink in to his skin and a deep fulfilling smile stretched across his youthful, but weather beaten face. His muscles contracted with ease, but the strain was obvious after a few seconds. It wasn't immense like it was the first time he did it, but it was still there and it always would be. Just because Jedi could channel the force to do amazing things, did not mean that pushing their bodies beyond their natural limit was without consequence. Nature and natural boundaries existed for a reason, but even nature pushed its own boundaries sometimes.

 

Soren wasn't too far behind Roene and when he caught up, Roene's smile widened. "Amazing job for your first time Soren. Well done. And, in answer to your question, it takes a lot of practice. I have always been focused more on using the force than using a light saber for most of the things that I do as a Jedi, so I have more of an aptitude with powers like these. I was also pushed into a situation where I had to survive in the wild for a year or two by myself. There were many large creatures out there that would have liked to get a piece of me if they got the chance. My job was to prevent them from having that chance." Roene said with a small laugh. "Anyway, the caravan has moved on, we'll need to jog a little bit to catch up, but it shouldn't take too long."

 

Roene lifted his arm over his head and beckoned his padawan into a small jog that took them back toward the group and off into the trees.

 

((Due to the fact that I am a slow poster (I will do what I can to be quicker in the future) I am going to fast forward this a few days to the next lesson. Feel free to post your activities during those days. ))

 

_____________________ 3 Days Pass (4 Days Left) _______________________

 

 

The next few days passed by in a blur. Roene and the other Jedi enjoyed some time around the campfire with Soren if he wished and they all had an interesting time trying to find the trail after a day of storms made the path forward obscure and vague. Roene decided to hold off on lessons for a day or two while they found their way back to the path and when they did it was night time already.

 

It was about midday of day six, with four days left in the journey. Roene had been away since day break. He took a few of the Knights with him, but a few of them remained at the camp to assist in day to day chores and activities. One of the Jedi in the camp approached Soren as he was walking around the camp and stopped abruptly in front of him. "Excuse me... Soren is it?" she asked with slight hesitation.

 

A small, blue Twi'lek Jedi was looking up at him with a smile on her face, but something about her posture made her seem a little curious or unsure. She looked to be about seventeen and was clearly a padawan to one of the Knights in Roene's company. "Knight Master Givrah is awaiting your presence off in the clearing. He said it had something to do with your next lesson."

 

A couple of architects walked by looking around. It didn't take very long, but the taller one of the two noticed a particularly large, male, Cathar Jedi Knight serving a large spread of vegetables and meat gathered from the surrounding wood. The men hungered greatly and almost bumped into Soren on their way by.

[Dashel Illioni]

Dashel felt the slight tug of Tython’s gravity as the lift rose from the depths of the Jedi Temple’s cloning chambers. He reflected on the events that landed him there and felt a momentary sadness at the loss of his Padawan and the disaster that the dance had become at Harumn Kal.

 

His return had been delayed by the nature of the disease released upon the attendees at the Governor’s Ball. The genetically altered organism somehow affected the cloning process in a way that needed to be studied further, something Dashel felt a pull towards, but his duties with the Jedi Temple precluded involvement in that research.

 

So he found himself rising towards the main temple floor, wondering at how the galaxy had fared since then.

[Guest]

Soren wondered what the Force would teach him, whether he would eventually master the use of a lightsaber, be more strong in the Force, or wield both. He hoped for the latter. He wanted to be well rounded like his master. He had always enjoyed art and creating things. How Roene had moved the earth around to shape something new was a skill Soren wanted to excel at. He couldn't see himself doing much creating with a lightsaber.

 

As the days passed he continued to exercise, the Force slowly but surely helping him to build stamina and muscle tone. He jogged three times a day, practicing his jumping skills. Each day he was able to go a little bit further, a little bit higher, an his concentration increased. At the same time it took less effort and less concentration. It was as if he was beginning to feel the Force around him instead of having to look for it.

 

He also tried to commune with the animals. A vicious beast wasn't something he wanted to take on, but he started small. He was able to reach out through the Force and call to the birds in the sky. They would come near him, closer than a bird usually would. In one instance one of them landed on his arm. He felt like they were able to understand him as he clearly meant no harm. But the thought didn't leave him that maybe they were just birds being birds, coming and going as they pleased.

 

It was during one of these light jogs around the camp that a young Jedi, a fellow padawan around his age, informed him that his master was waiting for him.

 

The others were heading for a meal. The food smelled wonderful but Soren was focused. He made his way to the other side of the camp where his master was waiting for him.

[Roene Givrah]

((I am a terrible person for making you wait this long. I will do better. ))

 

The clearing that Soren approached was decent in size, but it was surrounded by trees. The grass broke away a few feet away from the path he took and opened into a bare rocky surface that spread out in a circle. There were five Knights sitting in a series of different meditative stances and arranged in a pattern that seemed almost measured.

 

Roene was at the head of the group and he sat in the silence, breathing quietly to himself. He mentally acknowledged his apprentice’s presence and indicated a place for him to sit nearby if he wished. Nothing was said to anyone. His head didn’t even move, but the hairs on the top of his head swayed in the breeze and tickled the morning air that flew around him with delicate form.

 

Roene didn’t move, he didn’t hesitate and if someone looked at him long enough, it almost looked like he wasn’t breathing. However, deep in Soren’s head, Roene’s voice poured forth, clear as day.

 

Welcome Soren. I feel you have grown quite a lot in the last few days. I know it will take some time for you to realize your talent as a Knight, but I feel it is okay to show you something new.

 

Roene visualized a small rock shifting into multiple different forms and visualized his earthy metamorphosis idea for the temple he planned to build further on through the forest. Then he let those images fall into Soren’s mind seamlessly.

 

I would like your assistance on this project, and I feel you are ready to understand and practice this method of manipulation. It will be hard, but most good things often are…

 

With that Roene prompted Soren to sit in the depths of his padawan’s brain. Then the Cerean slowly spoke to him in a careful and practiced manner. If Soren looked around and listened through the force, he would notice that all of the other Knights were hearing the same mantra that was now finding its way into his mind like the low hum of a Gregorian chant.

 

 

Calm your mind…

 

• Steal away your senses…

 

• • Still your breath…

 

• • Listen to the world around you…

 

• Be the Earth beneath your feet…

 

• • • Feel the Earth in your arms and in your legs…

 

 

The meditative stanzas continued for another ten minutes. Then, in an almost ceremonial motion, Roene and the other Knights stood together. They didn’t move quickly and they didn’t move with abandon, but they moved simultaneously. The entire group looked almost like they were on strings. If Soren was paying attention, he would feel the same tug against his body as the others did.The other Jedi didn’t say anything, but now that they were standing, their eyes were open and they paid full attention to Roene. Their expressions didn’t reflect that of a Padawan to a Master, but that of a pupil willing to learn from the teachings of a peer. They respected him and were willing to listen regardless of their own beliefs, which is why they were silent. The only one that was still moving was Roene.

 

With the pace of a sloth, Roene moved his arms with rigid joint articulations. Each one was laborious. Each move was harsh and brittle, but stiff and strong. His legs answered his arms and he always remained rooted to the ground. The Jedi that stood around him expected to see his head creased with wrinkles that denoted the struggle of each movement. They expected him to sweat, but he did not. Roene was thoroughly in control of his body and moved with a rhythm that defied their thoughts.

 

Through the force, Roene’s body was liquid. He seemed to be merging with the force energy that surged through the earth at his feet and with one more upward, vertical movement of his long right arm; he brought the energy of the earth to his fist and raised a small pillar of stone from the ground. The pillar was one foot by one foot square and stood as tall as Roene did. When it flew up from the ground, it mocked Roene’s pace and lifted only as far as Roene, because Roene stopped it at the top. When he was finished, Roene let the pillar sink down a little as he relaxed his arm. Then he firmly clasped both of his hands together and spread them out quickly, but with a similar air to his movements from before. Immediately the pillar broke apart and split horizontally, deliberately missing the entire group and spraying the outlying area.

 

Roene nodded quietly once he was finished and then opened his arms out wide, indicating that it was now the group’s turn to give it a shot.

 

If you need help Soren, please let me know. I am here to assist in any way possible.

[Roene Givrah]

((Double post, but waaaaaaaaay too long after the last one.))

 

Days passed...

 

Infrequently, Roene made incursions to the main Jedi temple near Ashla. He would talk to the other Jedi, briefly train the younger members of the Order and tend to the garden whenever he found time. These trips occurred few and far between, but Roene would learn more about the Order as a whole when he made them.

 

________________

 

Soren left Roene to his own devices after a time. The Cerean wasn't overjoyed to see him go, but youth always went where they wished. There was very little holding them to their path. Roene knew more than most where youth could take you and that it wasn't always a boon.

 

The morning air clung to Roene's loose brown robes and he sighed pleasantly as he gazed at the structure that his contemporaries had erected in his absence. Using the natural rock and dirt beneath their feet, a team of force users shaped an organic structure in the cliff face. A natural path woven through the brush led down to the cavern, which opened into a large opening made entirely of rock.

 

It was a big cavern, almost the size of a small stadium. The walls weren’t carved, but formed instead, through numerous hours of labor and intensive focus. It was faintly lit, but the light came from natural sources. It came from natural openings in the cliff face and luminescent fungi. The floor of the cavern was dry and comfortable to rest on. It looked like cold stone, but the entire sanctuary glowed with force energy and welcomed weary bodies to rest and take solace in the warmth of its embrace.

 

A hallway branched off from the main cavern and led downward into the heart of large neighboring hillock. Along the hallway there were small caves intermittently strewn about with cots to provide suitable lodging for those who wished to stay one night or longer in the Sanctuary. At the heart of the hillock, there rest a beacon of force energy. It was awash with ambient light and stood as a beautiful nexus for meditation and reflection. Memories were vivid lights here that danced in the stone. Thoughts, feelings, hopes, passions both benign and numerous wandered through the living stone with a playful eagerness that reflected a childlike whimsy.

 

Roene sat atop the cliff, atop the Sanctuary and sighed once more. He had a smile that stretched from ear to ear and his heart warmed at the thought of his dream coming true. Most of the Jedi that helped him with his task had wandered back to the Jedi Temple proper, but one or two still milled about, taking in the majesty of the structure and the energy that flowed through the stone.

 

This planet - a planet that served as a spiritual boon to Roene’s exploration and meditation - had given him so much. He didn’t know what to give in return. He only hoped to teach others of its magnificence and help them achieve enlightenment and guidance through the force.

 

He sat atop the cold grass, feeling the ebb and flow of Tython’s energy beneath him and waited patiently, calling out to those who were lost, curious, or eager to learn.

Edited May 21, 2017 by Guest

[Kyrie Eleison]

.::This Temple holds hidden depths, great beacons of light concealing fountains of eternal darkness::.

 

Emerald eyes alight with silver fire, the apprentice Kyrie Eleison stepped through the stone entrance to caverns where she had not yet walked. The song of the Force hummed with power here, alive and dancing like the whispering wind that caused her black tunic to move as she walked. One scarred hand brushed along the jagged cavern walls, illuminated only by the silvery glow of her lightsaber. The Rosary of Il-Andon grew taut around her hand, drawing her eyes to ancient hieroglyphs well worn and faded.

 

Upon these ancient symbols she passed the song of The Force, allowing the fire within her to pass from her fingertips, alighting the hand-hewn symbols like oil touched by a torch. The entire cavern sprung to light, drawing out before her into the eternity of the past. The song called to her further in, beckoning her by name spoken upon the wind. Before her knelt three padawans in the ancient tunics of the First Order of Jedi, outlined in silver, their faces tear-stained and dirty. Before them lay the collapsed tunic and robe of a master, taken into the arms of The Song. Angry they shouted at her to pursue the one that had slain their master, to strike him down. Her heart began to pound in her chest, the ribs tightening, her breathing becoming ragged.

 

.::Not all demons need to be fought by you, my child… Keep your eyes upon what is before you, not what is beneath a thousand suns::.

 

Spurred forward by Il-Andon’s voice, Kyrie ran through the cavern towards the heart of the song, blackened boots pounding into the rough stone paths. Light and fresh air hit her like a hammer-blow, and before her lay a hillock adorned with long green grass, swaying and flowing with the gentle brush of the wind. She had found the heart from which The Song had flown. Upon the hillock sat a Cerean, not the Force Ghost she expected to have to send back into the realm of the spirits. Kyrie extinguished her silver blade, and bowed, jet black braids obscuring her vision. Her voice was quiet, and her nervous stutter plagued her words

 

“I-I did not mean to disturb your m-meditation m-master”

[Roene Givrah]

A troubled spirit walked alone in darkness. Her strength stood tantamount to the obstacles before her, but she was lost. Something lay in her mind, and her thoughts sought guidance. Roene let his mind wander and guided the force spirits to his grove. He guided her to his side and listened as she approached, her footfalls crunching the crisp morning grass underfoot.

 

Roene flexed his bare feet as they rest in a crisscrossed position. He flexed the muscles in his legs and let deep breaths in and out. He took air in through his nose and blew it gently from his mouth. His mind was transfixed on the force energy glowing around him and his eyes were closed. His hair played with the wind and his hands, one flesh and one wood, rest in front of him. They were relaxed, but significantly articulated.

 

You are not disturbing me. I have been expecting you, please. Come sit with me.

 

His voice was soft as it entered her mind. Like a warm breeze he introduced himself, brushing the insides of her consciousness and offering himself, like one would offer their hand for a handshake.

 

“I smell poison on you strange one. It is of the Blue-Drip fungia, is it not?” Roene said, breaking the silence. “Do not be alarmed. I have studied this planet’s fauna intently. It is a study that, in its mastery, would take a lifetime.”

 

The woman that approached was darker than she appeared. Something troubling rest at the core of her being. But a brilliant light pierced through it, cutting the darkness like it was butter and dropping it to the ground. It was a small thing. It lay on the floor of her mind, gasping for air. But even in its frailty, it still bit at her heels; begging to consume her; begging to snuff the light out.

 

Conveniently, that was the measure of all things. The eternal struggle between light and dark. One was vulnerable and open to the casualties of the world if they did not understand this. Even Roene, a Knight gifted in the natural arts, understood that spirituality had two sides. The force, was not inherently good. It simply was. It was how one used it, how one channeled and mastered it, that made it dark and all consuming. Darkness has a way about it though, which can break even the hardest hearts.

 

Something about this woman, this apprentice, felt odd.

 

“Why do you carry such a poison. What is it you seek, out here in the wilds of Tython?”

 

Roene didn’t turn to look, but his gaze fell on her all the same. His cool eyes fell to her as he spoke. His words of consolation and his words of counseling fell on her ears, giving comfort to her woes and shielding her mind from the world around her; from the dark whispers that filled even the strongest of minds.

[Kyrie Eleison]

Kyrie's face alight with a small smile, letting her natural defenses settle and dissolve within her mind. She could feel the Jedi before her within her mind, knocking on the door, Patient and kind. She allowed him entry freely, she had nothing to hide from a master, only the cleansing flame of power like an oil drenched pyre burned within, illuminating all within. If the master wished it, he would be able to witness the scars of her past, the slavery, the abuse, the defenses of Gala, her mighty victory over the barabel Sith Lockjaw, who she had chosen to purify instead of slay. She listened to the words of the Cerean as he spoke softly, observing by smell the poisons she had acquired on Gala

“Why do you carry such a poison. What is it you seek, out here in the wilds of Tython?”

 

Kyrie's hand fiddled with her Rosary as she settled on the grass beside the Jedi, allowing it's cool caresses to envelop her. The soil and grass was soft, the air hinting of pollen and the gentle chirp of insects. From her pouch she withdrew the Fungi and cradled it in her palm. Her voice was soft but coursing with power as it sprang into the Cereans mind. Within the Force her voice never trembled or stuttered

 

“I collected it as a weapon. One birthed of my primitive fears, a decision I came to when i was without the song…”

 

From her pale lips came a vibrating noise, to normal ears nothing more than a calm exhale, but within the Force a song of war sprang forth

.::Birthed in blood, bathed in war… I left the footprints of the flood to those to who would endure::.

 

The Fungi cradled in her palm began to glow, as the song formed about it, silver fire breaking apart atomic structure. The smell of ozone came harsh upon the wind. The Fungi sparkled silver into ash and disintegrated in the swirling winds. A burnt offering of primitive fear to the will of The Force

[Roene Givrah]

A song?

Like the stanzas of a song, she sees the living heartbeat of the force translate into music. No wonder she is so strange. She thinks of the force in ways I have never thought of before. If allowed, I must learn more.

 

“I see…” Roene said, after letting the young woman’s words rest for a moment. “You release it to the force to prove it has no power over you. That is an inspired act and I admire that. Very few people acknowledge their weaknesses, let alone seek to conquer or face them willingly.”

 

Roene flexed his wooden left hand and arm with some effort and passed it to Kyrie for inspection. He gently offered his hand to her with his palm up in an open gesture of kindness. Inside of his palm, was a delicate fusion of living and dead cells, fused together with metal and the force to create a living lightsaber hilt. Nature’s fury slept softly in the palm of Reone’s hand and only stirred for a moment when Roene revealed it to Kyrie.

 

“This,” indicated Roene as he turned the hilt a little more for her to see, “along with my wooden arm, are reminders of my past. They teach me that I am not bigger than a mountain. I can fall like any other tree. I am mortal. Even with access to all the power in the known universe, I can still fail.

 

I know my natural rhetoric might seem a bit stale, but I communicate through the world around me. If you grow bored of it, you can let me know and I will try to avoid nature based metaphors in the future.”

 

Roene chuckled a little and smiled, allowing the Tython horizon to sink into his pale blue eyes.

 

“Something puzzles me though. Your heart feels to me like that of a mighty oak. But something stirs in the middle; in the core of your bark that I can’t quite see.”

 

Roene smiled a little in reference to his earlier remark, but then his face scrunched. He looked hard at the horizon and then turned his head a little to look at the woman.

 

“But before I inquire more, I wish to introduce myself. And although we have already met, I would like to know your name as well. Mine is Kro’Roene’Givrah, and I am a Naturalist Knight of the Jedi Order.”

[Kyrie Eleison]

.::Jedi Naturalists have always been the healers, the peacekeepers. They stood en masse against the Exorcists in joining Revan after the revelation of the Cathar Genocide…Who were we to play as Gods and mete out death?::.

 

Kyrie’s scarred hand brushed along the rough bark of the Cerean’s arm, admiring the integration of flesh and wood. She met the Naturalist with a smile, holding up her own lightsaber for his inspection. It’s handle was abnormally long, deep ebony etched in silver, humming with the same hidden power that echoed in her emerald eyes. She preferred to communicate through the words of the Force, as the words formed far easier there then upon her pale lips

 

“Your metaphors are most welcome, master, they make you more approachable…”

 

The young exorcist turned towards the setting sun upon the horizon, tuning her mind to the approaching songs of twilight as a few stray clouds fought to obscure the beauty

 

“Something puzzles me though. Your heart feels to me like that of a mighty oak. But something stirs in the middle; in the core of your bark that I can’t quite see.”

 

A glittering ray of light reflected through the darkening clouds, causing the green in her eyes to turn a bitter, steel grey. Kyrie held out her hand once more, letting the Rosary of Il-Andon fall from her pale wrist, unwinding like a glittering onyx serpent. Silver flame curled from the exorcist’s fingertips, flowing across the dark beads like rain across granite. Within her mind the song of The Force extended into a crescendo of ancient voices and she let it flow through her connection to the Cerean Naturalist. Into that link, Kyrie poured out her history unfiltered

************************************

Pirates… Their soiling hands upon my flesh, a pure canvas upon which they strew through malice and lust… The taste of their commander’s blood, coppery within my mouth as the flesh of his neck is ripped out by my teeth… The cold and dirt of the fighting pits… Lying in filth awaiting another kill to make credits for unseen warlords…

 

The pounding of my heart, the painful sores opening on my feet as I run for freedom upon the rough-hewn stone. Another life I have to take for freedom, a young boy they had recruited from the villages to guard the slaves... His death-rattle as my shiv splits his heart, life pulsing out from half a dozen cuts to the beat of the song, his blue eyes fading to black…

 

**********************************

 

The voice of The Song mellowed into a gentle rhythm, echoing the chirping of the insects as they prepared for the long night.

 

“My escape to Gala was the will of The Song. It led me to Il-Andon, from whom I learned the secrets of the exorcists… A holy fire. Purifying flame to wash away the past. My name is Kyrie Eleison, Jedi Padawan. It’s a pleasure to meet you master Kro’Roene”