Faction A Test of Wit and Valor [RNR]

[Briana Sal-Soren]

​

MESSAGE INCOMING . . .

"Good morning, Padawans.

If you are receiving this message that means that you have been selected for a particularly special lesson. Today, we will be challenging your endurance, your ability to engage as a team, your ingenuity, and your physical prowess in battle.

For this assignment, you and a select few have each been chosen and split into groups of three, and your objective is to navigate the training course that my fellow Jedi and I have carefully prepared for you.

Along the way, you will face various obstacles. Some will arise naturally from the terrain itself, but others have been added to test you further, including pit traps, spider droids, and other hazards. Your journey will begin in the woods near the front of the Sanctuary and follow a path leading you through a cave system. Eventually, this will culminate by the riverside. There, your team will face a final challenge: a duel against either our Battle Master, Jedi Knight Lossa Aureus , or the leader of the Shirayan Vanguard, Jedi Knight Lorn Reingard .

To succeed, all members of your team must make it through to the end—unless a serious injury or handicap prevents it. However, I trust you will do everything possible to ensure that no one gets left behind. As a precaution, myself and other Jedi Knights will be waiting in the wings and ready to provide any medical attention, should it be necessary.

Remember, this is a test of not only your individual skill but your ability to support and protect one another. Now, gather your teams, center your minds, and let the Force guide you for the trial ahead. I have every faith in you. Good luck."

RULES OF THE GAME:​

Spoiler

Objective
Teams of Padawans will navigate through a series of obstacles in the woods, caves, and along the riverside to locate and capture flags guarded by Jedi Knights Lorn and Lossa.

Team Structure
Teams will consist of 3 Padawans each.
Team 1: Cerys, Lysander, and Zaiya
Team 2: Aiden, Joro, Lily

Game Area
The course includes:
Woods: Start and various obstacles.
Cave: Transition point with challenges.
Riverside: Finish line where flags are located.

Obstacles
Trapping Pit: Padawans will roll to see if they fall in. (Roll results will be determined on your first post. Evens you fall in, Odds you are safe.)
Spider Droids: Contact with these droids will result in 'stun' effects (temporary incapacitation, requiring teammates to assist in recovery).
Landmines Zappers: Areas that deliver mild shocks when activated; affected Padawans must be helped out by their teammates.
Rugged terrain: Natural areas that will be difficult to cross or maneuver around.

Flag Retrieval
Lorn and Lossa will guard one flag each.
To win, a team must successfully take a flag from one of the Knights and return it to their own designated endpoint.

Accountability and Conduct
Team Dynamics:
All team members must finish together; if one team member is incapacitated, the team must assist them to the finish.
Purposeful injury to a teammate will result in immediate disqualification.

Inter-Team Interaction:
Attacking other teams is allowed using provided training sabers and bo staffs.
Padawans must use their best judgment to avoid serious harm to opponents.

Medical Assistance:
Medics can provide aid to affected team members.
Serious injuries (determined by instructors) will result in sidelining that Padawan for the remainder of the game.

Gameplay Flow:
Teams roll to determine entry into trapping pits; remaining teams advance.
Navigate through obstacles collaboratively.
Reach the caves to continue towards the river.
Engage with Lorn or Lossa to retrieve the flag.
Team returns with the flag to their base to finish the game.

Winning the Game:
The first team to successfully retrieve their flag and return to the designated endpoint wins.
All members must finish to claim victory.

Additional Notes
Ensure to follow the Spirit of Jedi Training – emphasizing teamwork, respect, and fair play throughout the game.
Enjoy the training exercise and embrace the challenge of becoming stronger Padawans! May the Force be with you! ​

​

 

[Aiden Porte]

Team 2
Lily Decoria Joro Kal'nath

The message sent and received in the early hours and a time and place sent for the three padawan's to gather. Frankly Aiden hadn't worked with Joro or Lily before, but that was an incredibly good thing. It would definitely put their union and teamwork to the test. If they came out of these trials on top, it would prove much about them. Aiden's talks and such with those closest to him and done much good to aid his mind and keep his anxieties at bay. Training with Lorn Reingard as well as his communication with the others.

He wasn't there yet by far, but he was starting the process, of letting go.

Aiden was dressed in his Jedi jumpsuit, the only thing on his belt was a training saber. This was a training exercise with his peers, not a war. He would do what he did best and that was to be open-minded to the thoughts and the critiques of his fellow Jedi.

The woods were before them, he glanced over to Lily and Joro. "Well, my friends. Shall we get started?"


Briana Sal-Soren Lossa Aureus

 

[Cerys Dyn]

Random my left lekku.

How in all the world did Cerys get paired with blondie-squabblepants and his dearly despised colour-shift-crazyface? It had already put her in a decidedly foul mood, but when she arrived and saw that Joro was on the other team her demeanour changed almost immediately. She glanced at Lysander and Zaiya with a smile of newfound appreciation. "Well! Looks like the Force gave me the right team! We are going to do great guys," she said with a swift slap on Lysander's back, and a soft jab at Zaiya's shoulder.

She was sincerely worried how about the near legendary squabbling of her two teammates would affect their chances. As she felt a little more comfortable addressing this matter with one that was Padawan to the same master, Cerys leaned towards Lysander and whispered, "Don't mess this up for me, Lysie...play nice...alright?"

This was the first thing approaching a physical challenge that she had been granted save for a brief excursion with slappy-face and a spar with the not-so-bad Lorn.

As the message from the better Sal-Soren played out, Cerys tried to process all the details. Certain rules felt specifically targeted at her team. Not her per se. But she did flick the other two a quick glance at certain points. It was clear that she was going to have to carry this team.

Cerys stooped during the countdown, refastening her boots. She stood up and patted down the basic brown robe that covered her minimalist attire underneath. Despite the practical pants, sleeveless tee and the nice chunky belt, she still wanted to preserve her modesty, hence the cloak.

As the countdown hit go, Cerys took off in a measured job. There was no need to outrun the other team. They had to outthink and out perform. The desperate sprinting could come at the very end if needed.

The path ahead took them into the nearby woods, and down into a valley, within a rather short distance, the path itself was already becoming pretty vague and Cerys found herself looking for some signs that might guide them in the right direction.

---

Team Notties - Lysander von Ascania Zaiya Ceti
Team Hotties - Lily Decoria Aiden Porte Joro Kal'nath
Instructors - Lossa Aureus Lorn Reingard Briana Sal-Soren

Spoiler: Roll

 

[Joro Kal'nath]

ATTIRE: Jedi Robes
The Hotties: Aiden Porte | Lily Decoria
The Notties: Lysander von Ascania | Cerys Dyn | Zaiya Ceti
The Bosses: Briana Sal-Soren | Lorn Reingard | Lossa Aureus

Well, that wasn't what he'd expected waking up after the Life Day fest.

"This... might not go well," he said to himself before making his way to the front of the temple to meet up with his team.

That whole deal with Cerys had left a mark. Not a physical one, but a mental one. He'd probably pushed too hard that time. No doubt she'd never speak to him again after that and frankly, he deserved that treatment. But that was life. Sometimes you do things with good intentions and they go completely sideways in an instant. He wanted to help her. Wanted to, but apparently didn't know the right way to get to the heart of the problem and it was causing grief. Perhaps it would be best if he stopped.

When he arrived, Aiden was already there. He'd seen him before, when they were at the training grounds, and he was passing out cookies to everyone. Seemed nice enough. Joro had no idea on his skills, though. Which, was probably also true of Aiden for him. He'd never actually worked with anyone in the Padawan group except for Cerys. She was very capable, which meant she was trouble.

"Win together or lose together. Only option here, yeah?" he said to his teammates.

Lily seemed like she could keep up, so when they were told to go, he took off at a run as well. No way he was letting Cerys get that far ahead.

I rolled a 6. Editing makes the roll disappear.

 

[Lily Decoria]

Team: 2 (aka Hotties)
Outfit: Jedi Attire
Equipment: Training saber and bo staff
Tag: Aiden Porte | Joro Kal'nath | Cerys Dyn | Zaiya Ceti | Lysander von Ascania | Briana Sal-Soren | Lossa Aureus | Lorn Reingard

Breathing in deeply, another obstacle course, this one had been set by her Master and she was working in a team of three and not with a partner like she had with Roman Vossari but this was going to be interesting. It was a competition, first to get the flag and take the win. There was itch in Lily's brain being scratched at the idea of winning in a competition. She needed to win this right? It was a feat of athleticism and Lily was known for being a Padawan all about strength, athleticism and fighting. On top of that, the head of the Order was her Master. If she couldn't lead her team to victory it was going to reflect really poorly on all her training and even make Briana look bad as a mentor.

No, she needed to win this. She needed to let out that competitive edge out and if she had to drag her team over the finish line then she was going to do that.

Looking at the pair of guys, she hadn't really interacted with either of them much. Joro was someone she briefly saw before and clearly did not get along with Cerys. Which was a good thing that Cerys was on the other team, gave him motivation to win as well. Something to keep in her mind, spite was a powerful tool to wield carefully. Aiden, she knew even less about. She just hoped that they would be able to keep up with her.

At the starting line, Lily bounced a bit on the spot, focusing on what she needed to do. "Remember, rules don't state that we can't use the Force to overcome things. So we could use the Force to speed up our natural running abilities, and if anyone has a talent for battle meditation, could use that to demoralise the other team as well." Lily whispered to the boys as she tied her hair into a ponytail.

Her steel eyes were fiery with a passion to win. Usually Lily was all about fighting honourably and fairly. However, this was a competition and it was winner takes all. They needed to use every advantage they had. And if that meant using the Force to force the other team to fall far behind then she would use it.

When the start of the race was signalled, Lily raced forward. She didn't want to leave her team behind so she didn't tap into the Force yet, but she was keeping an eye on them so that when they all felt safe, then they would race ahead if given the chance.

Spoiler

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x
Interacting with: Cerys Dyn Lysander von Ascania

Zaiya was a pensive swirl and slurry of kaleidoscopic hues after she learned who her team partners were going to be: Lysander von Ascania and Cerys Dyn .

This had to be the Force's baffling sense of humor at work. Either that, or the universe had decreed this as her Trial of Spirit: surviving Lysander von Ascania without snapping and resorting to stuffing his mouth with soap or hanging him from the nearest tree with his own belt.

It was probably both.

Zaiya adjusted the leather greaves on her forearms, making sure her bracelets and bangles were securely fastened on top. The new setup prevented them from jingling and gave her easy access to the hidden tech woven into each piece. She'd chosen her training outfit carefully -- sleeveless for maximum comfort in the warm Naboo climate, paired with sturdy, tanned boots that reached midcalf. Her bedazzled Jedi belt, adorned with pearls that doubled as Stun and EMP devices, rested snugly on her hips. Her colorful hair was securely tied into a high bun so it wouldn't distract her during the obstacle course.

This test wasn't just about her abilities, though. It was about teamwork, respect, and fair play, all the things Master Iris Arani had been drilling into her lately. That meant no Domxite by her side this time. Her droid companion was with Iris, watching as Zaiya tackled the course alongside her assigned team.

And Lysander.

She exhaled slowly, trying to steady her mind. This wasn't just a trial of her physical skills; it was a challenge to her patience and focus. Iris's teachings echoed in her mind, reminding her to keep her emotions in check, to control her colorshifting, and to think of the bigger picture. She could do this.

In theory, she should have the advantage. As a Lovalla, her natural instincts leaned toward peaceful solutions, respectful dialogue, and harmonious teamwork.

In practice? Lysander von Ascania in their last two interactions had somehow perfected the art of slipping through her defenses, finding the tiny cracks in her proverbial armor, and jabbing just hard enough to make her react. His comments weren't outright malicious, but they were sharp as a vibro knife, crafted to provoke her without tact and in a deliberate attempt to provoke.

She flexed her fingers, resisting the urge to purse her lips as she spotted him ahead along with Cerys. The Force, she reminded herself, was testing her for a reason.

Okay, let it test me.

"Keep it together, Zaiya," she muttered under her breath, squaring her shoulders. She was determined to rise to the challenge, not just of the obstacle course, but of working alongside him without losing her cool.

Because if she could survive this? She could survive anything.

"Well! Looks like the Force gave me the right team! We are going to do great guys,"

The oddly cheerful voice of the Togruta Padawan broke through Zaiya's pensive thoughts. Her skin shifted instinctively, amber tones melting into streaks of dove gray, light blue, and citrine-flecked hues, a kaleidoscope of confused interest tinged with caution. Despite her thought shields firmly in place, Cerys's oddly jovial tone, especially after the awkwardness of their last conversation at the festival, made Zaiya's face flush slightly with embarrassment. It also stirred a flicker of concern, considering how the Togruta had left in a huff as a result of what Joro told her.

"Hello, Cerys," Zaiya replied, her voice tentative but warm, a ghost of a smile hovering at the edges of her lips. She honestly didn't want to end up fighting with anyone again. That had been an utter embarrassment and certainly made the Lovalla feel as if she had been someone else entirely: the rise of annoyance, anger, and simmering resentment.

She hated feeling like that.

As a Jedi, she knew she was supposed to face her emotions, to understand and master them, but the truth was...she'd rather not think about them at all. Unfortunately, the conversations she'd had with Iris afterward had made it clear that wasn't an option.

Her eyes flicked toward the third member of their team. Zaiya took a steadying breath and spoke with an effort at calmness...and yes, even an olive branch of an attempt at friendliness.

"Hello, Lysander."

"Let's all do our best here," she added, finishing the adjustment on her leather greaves. "We don't know what we might face, so it's probably a good idea to stay cautious. Maybe even talk things out before moving forward -- "

A sharp tone rang out, signaling the countdown. Zaiya's voice trailed off as her gaze flicked toward the wooded trail ahead. The time for discussion had run out. It was now or nothing.

The path led them into the woods and dipped quickly into a valley, shadows stretching long over the terrain. Within moments, the trail began to blur into the underbrush, the way forward becoming less obvious with every step.

Zaiya fell in behind Cerys, her senses reaching instinctively into the Force as she moved. Her focus sharpened, stretching outward in search of anything that might lie ahead -- danger, obstacles, or the faintest ripple of intention in the currents of the Force.

This was something she'd been working on ever since Iridonia. Stretching herself like this wasn't second nature yet, but she was getting better. The flickering hues on her skin began to settle into a soft, steady glow of muted, determined cobalt flecked amber.

Whatever awaited them, she'd be ready. Or at least, she hoped she would be.

 

[Iris Arani]

Void

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

"Talk to me about what?"

After receiving permission from Briana Sal-Soren , Cora had joined the exercise to help keep watch over the Padawans participating. It seemed as though she wasn't the only Coruscanti Jedi who'd elected to stay on Naboo for a few more days.

The blonde appeared beside Iris Arani with a polite smile and a curious expression. Her attention turned from the course to Domxite as she tilted her head to the droid in greeting.

 

[Iris Arani]

Void

 

[Lysander von Ascania]

Team Lysander

Seriously?

Lysander arms were crossed across his chest as the announcement poured forth. His eyes rolling to the back of the head was one of many indications from the disbelief he was currently experiencing. "Special lesson? Yeah, ok," he muttered under his breath.

The Padawan couldn’t shake the irony; here he was, paired with the idiot Lovalla– the same girl who had magically turned everyone against him just days ago. He hadn’t forgotten some of their words, either. It was going to take more than meditation to get over some of the comments that reached his ears.

"Yeah, this is totally not suspicious," he mused out loud.

The Padawan wore a lightweight tunic with earthy hues that blended in with their surroundings. The sleeves were rolled up to his forearms. Trousers of the same nature were loose fitting, allowing comfort and the agility needed. His brown boots were a bit out of place; he didn’t have any that looked worn.

The eye rolling escalated. The boy found it absurd they would be thrown together in some kind of trial created to “test” their ability to work as a team. It sounded more like there was a hidden agenda at play here.

He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, only to be disrupted by a slap that was far from enthusiastic. His head turned slightly after the whispered words and shook slightly. Despite their differences, the boy couldn’t deny that he usually enjoyed her sense of..optimism. The togruta definitely had a way of ‘brightening’ just about any situation.

“Look Cerys,” he said sharply, gesturing with a finger pointed directly at the other girl. “I’m not the one you need to worry about here. She has a way of causing trouble wherever she goes.”

He remained silent as Zaiya spoke next; his jaw was already tightening. The Padawan did not flicker his gaze to acknowledge her presence; instead, his eyes were fixated ahead. “Right. Focus on yourself.” Hopefully, the words were like a heavy rock. “Try to get your head out of the clouds for once, and try not to trip on your own feet out there.”

Then..a lightbulb went off in his mind just as the countdown initiated.

As the trial commenced, Lysander turned on his heel and casually walked off with a soft smile. None of this seemed worth the effort.

His perfect blonde hair tousled in the wind.

-Intro + exit-

 

[Lossa Aureus]

Naboo - River-side
Jumpsuit and Robes
Bracelet, Echo Stone
Lightsaber
Zaiya Ceti | Cerys Dyn | Lysander von Ascania​

"Shame." Lossa whistled as she watched Lysander turn on his heel at the start of the course.

Her spot in the tree limb hidden from plain sight as she enabled the comm system on the little Droid well above the groups head. The hovering Droid dropping low enough to be heard clearly as she spoke into the datapad.

<Zaiya Ceti, Cerys Dyn, and Lysander Von Ascania. Please return to the temple. Your team has forfeit the challenge.> Shutting the datapad off as her form appeared beneath the tree. She was looking forward to some fun after the good news from Brandon.

She hadn't felt this lively in a long while, letting her smile change to a frown. Grabbing the flag from its spot in the riverbank.