Lilla Syrin
A great leap forward often requires first taking t
“To Ilum we must go.”
― Yoda
Lilla had researched the caves. She suspected most Padawans had done so at some point.
The Crystal Caves of Ilum were a legendary pilgrimage site for the Jedi from the time of their discovery. Located deep within the side of Ilum’s largest mountain range, the caves stretched untold kilometres into the planet and contained a wealth of precious crystals which were vital to the construction of lightsabers.
Once upon a time there was a Temple at the mouth of the cave but nowadays, the reason for travelling was for the crystals. And maybe the experience of findig one. Once upon a time, Ilum crystals were the most common lightsaber crystals used amongst the Jedi – right until up to the Great Jedi Purge. Since then, there have been an abundance of varieties of crystals found on so many planets, that a trip to Ilum became less common.
According to the records, they were similar in structure to the Adegan crystal variants of mephite and pontite, which allegedly produced the best lightsaber blades. However, while those crystals were rare, even in the Adega system, Ilum presented to the Jedi entire caves full of high-quality crystals.
And one of the pluses of seeking a crystal here were the caves themselves, or rather the Force imbued nature of the surroundings. For, to reach them, you had to pass through visions and voices. These typically represented a Jedi’s deepest fears. And they had to be faced for the Jedi to retrieve the crystal.
And despite the millennia of trips, located within Ilum’s largest mountain range, the Crystal Caves still represented tens of thousands of kilometres of a labyrinth of winging tunnels, bottomless shafts, and narrow corridors that wended their way through the heart of the mountains and deep below the surface of the planet.
And there was no map to follow to reach the crystals – and that was seen as part of the whole process the young Jedi would endure to reach their destination. Once past the entrance, there were innumerable dead-ends and crevasses, as well as a maze of confusing, winding passageways.
The largest natural entrance to the caves was still the site of the former Jedi Temple facility.
Lilla studied the read-out all of the Padawans had received, so as to familiarise them with their destination.
The interior of the caves were made of natural shiny black stone; a volcanic rock that swallowed light instead of reflecting it. As time progressed and the Jedi Order grew, the many Jedi that visited the cave recorded their histories on its walls. A variety of Adegan crystals grew unimpeded in the walls, floors, and ceilings of the tunnels, and could easily be removed by hand or with hand-held excavation equipment. In some areas the crystals were so common they littered the floor.
The caves themselves were a powerful nexus of Force energy, creating a vergence within the Force itself. Due to the potency of the Force within the close confines of the caves, the place had a disorienting effect that was high distressing to most who entered into the depths. Many who entered suffered from vivid hallucinations, and the occasional Jedi had been lost forever in the darkness.
Another effect that the caves often created in the minds of the young Jedi searching for their first lightsaber crystal masked the presence of most of the crystals. Padawans would journey through the tunnels following the Force to the crystal that called to them, and only that one was visible to their eyes.
As they exited hyperspace, Lilla sat in the back of the shuttle and finished the briefing. Ilum was a frozen world – in fact 90% of it was covered in ice. And and could typically be expected to have gown rare kyber, kathracite, mephite, and pontite crystals.
Historically, the Ilum were limited to blue and green in colour. But more recent reports suggest a wide range of hues were available, but in much fewer numbers.
Lilla closed the file and glanced around at the assembled Padawans. It was apparently once qwuite common for this type of mission to take place. It was known as ‘The Gathering’ and was typically supervised by at least one senior Jedi. On this occasion, Lilla’s own Master – a Cerean known as Mei – was accompanying them.
Less of a supervisor and more of a chaperone he’d insisted.
The shuttle skimmed low over a glacial lake dotted with icebergs.
“I will land on the edge of the lake,” the pilot informed them over the intercom. “From there you can hike up the mountain.”
“It’s not far, but it’s straight up,” he continued, as the craft came to a stop. “Just watch out for gorgodons. You don’t want to provoke them.”
“Gorgodons?” Lilla mouthed.
“Watch out for their tails,” Mei replied. “And their teeth. And their saliva. And their arms.”
[member="Ultimatum"] [member="Jubei"] [member="Minch"] [member="Varindar Asyt"] [member="Cassius Droma"] [member="Ciel Bridger"] [member="Tanaski Yumi"] [member="Stephanie Swail"] [member="Charlie"] [member="Asaraa Vaashe"]
― Yoda
Lilla had researched the caves. She suspected most Padawans had done so at some point.
The Crystal Caves of Ilum were a legendary pilgrimage site for the Jedi from the time of their discovery. Located deep within the side of Ilum’s largest mountain range, the caves stretched untold kilometres into the planet and contained a wealth of precious crystals which were vital to the construction of lightsabers.
Once upon a time there was a Temple at the mouth of the cave but nowadays, the reason for travelling was for the crystals. And maybe the experience of findig one. Once upon a time, Ilum crystals were the most common lightsaber crystals used amongst the Jedi – right until up to the Great Jedi Purge. Since then, there have been an abundance of varieties of crystals found on so many planets, that a trip to Ilum became less common.
According to the records, they were similar in structure to the Adegan crystal variants of mephite and pontite, which allegedly produced the best lightsaber blades. However, while those crystals were rare, even in the Adega system, Ilum presented to the Jedi entire caves full of high-quality crystals.
And one of the pluses of seeking a crystal here were the caves themselves, or rather the Force imbued nature of the surroundings. For, to reach them, you had to pass through visions and voices. These typically represented a Jedi’s deepest fears. And they had to be faced for the Jedi to retrieve the crystal.
And despite the millennia of trips, located within Ilum’s largest mountain range, the Crystal Caves still represented tens of thousands of kilometres of a labyrinth of winging tunnels, bottomless shafts, and narrow corridors that wended their way through the heart of the mountains and deep below the surface of the planet.
And there was no map to follow to reach the crystals – and that was seen as part of the whole process the young Jedi would endure to reach their destination. Once past the entrance, there were innumerable dead-ends and crevasses, as well as a maze of confusing, winding passageways.
The largest natural entrance to the caves was still the site of the former Jedi Temple facility.
Lilla studied the read-out all of the Padawans had received, so as to familiarise them with their destination.
The interior of the caves were made of natural shiny black stone; a volcanic rock that swallowed light instead of reflecting it. As time progressed and the Jedi Order grew, the many Jedi that visited the cave recorded their histories on its walls. A variety of Adegan crystals grew unimpeded in the walls, floors, and ceilings of the tunnels, and could easily be removed by hand or with hand-held excavation equipment. In some areas the crystals were so common they littered the floor.
The caves themselves were a powerful nexus of Force energy, creating a vergence within the Force itself. Due to the potency of the Force within the close confines of the caves, the place had a disorienting effect that was high distressing to most who entered into the depths. Many who entered suffered from vivid hallucinations, and the occasional Jedi had been lost forever in the darkness.
Another effect that the caves often created in the minds of the young Jedi searching for their first lightsaber crystal masked the presence of most of the crystals. Padawans would journey through the tunnels following the Force to the crystal that called to them, and only that one was visible to their eyes.
As they exited hyperspace, Lilla sat in the back of the shuttle and finished the briefing. Ilum was a frozen world – in fact 90% of it was covered in ice. And and could typically be expected to have gown rare kyber, kathracite, mephite, and pontite crystals.
Historically, the Ilum were limited to blue and green in colour. But more recent reports suggest a wide range of hues were available, but in much fewer numbers.
Lilla closed the file and glanced around at the assembled Padawans. It was apparently once qwuite common for this type of mission to take place. It was known as ‘The Gathering’ and was typically supervised by at least one senior Jedi. On this occasion, Lilla’s own Master – a Cerean known as Mei – was accompanying them.
Less of a supervisor and more of a chaperone he’d insisted.
The shuttle skimmed low over a glacial lake dotted with icebergs.
“I will land on the edge of the lake,” the pilot informed them over the intercom. “From there you can hike up the mountain.”
“It’s not far, but it’s straight up,” he continued, as the craft came to a stop. “Just watch out for gorgodons. You don’t want to provoke them.”
“Gorgodons?” Lilla mouthed.
“Watch out for their tails,” Mei replied. “And their teeth. And their saliva. And their arms.”
[member="Ultimatum"] [member="Jubei"] [member="Minch"] [member="Varindar Asyt"] [member="Cassius Droma"] [member="Ciel Bridger"] [member="Tanaski Yumi"] [member="Stephanie Swail"] [member="Charlie"] [member="Asaraa Vaashe"]
