AMA: Defense Against the Dark Arts (interested Jedi)

[Ashin Varanin]

@[member="Spencer Jacobs"]

The Council made its own deliberations, and Ashin wasn't party to them. If the Council had any serious intention of trying to arrest her, she hadn't heard of it. If it came, well, so be it. In the meantime, she and her wife had come to a conclusion.

According to word of mouth two recently returned Jedi with dubious records -- one claiming to have served the better part of a decade undercover -- would be in one of the Coruscant Jedi Temple's outdoor gardens at a certain time, ready and willing to answer questions from anyone curious about the best ways to oppose the Dark Side. Now, sitting on a stone bench beneath a tree, wearing Jedi robes, Ashin and Spencer watched as a handful of Jedi Knights came into the small garden for this particular session.

"Afternoon," said Ashin. "The two of us used to rule the Sith Empire. We know the Sith, their power players, their methods, the best counters to their techniques, the holes in their philosophies, better than anyone. And I believe truth should be shared freely.

"Ask me anything."

 

[Allyson Locke]

Spencer was always the type to offer knowledge and receive it as well. She couldn't train at the moment, but it was alright because there was nothing against having a moment allowing students to ask questions. She sat next to her wife and smiled at the sun that shined upon them in the garden. It was one of her favorite parts of the temple, the beauty that the gardens offered - a true testament to life and its cycles. Ashin spoke first to the gathering and Spencer quickly finished knowing that leaving that much open would allow the askers to ask somethings that were meant to be private. Her face blushed softly as she opened her mouth and spoke quickly. "Anything with in reason about the Force and the Sith". Sighing in relief she relaxed a little and awaited the questions.

 

[Darth Vazela]

| @[member="Ashin Varanin"] |

Vilox Pazela, having just sat and met with the Jedi High Council in regards to the woman center to the attention in gardens, a certain Ashin Varanin, couldn't help but show his face in the gathering made to talk with her. Perhaps it was being in the center of the Jedi Order and thus the effect of the light side that was affecting the Dark Master, but he couldn't help but feel different here than it was to be on the Obscurity.

"Yes, I have a question. Can I borrow a moment of your time to talk about our lord and savior, Empress Decimus?" he quirked, emerging from the hallway with his head leaned to the side. "No? But in all seriousness, hello Ashin. It's been a while."

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen was among the first to arrive. Sure he often walked the line of light and dark, but that didn't mean he didn't wantthe sith gone. They were a plague and such enemies of the republic needed to be stopped. Upon hearing that two former leaders had joined the jedi to help teach them anti-sith tactics, the opportunity was amazing and almost too good to be true. As @Ashin Veranin asked for questions, the shadow was among the first to speak up. "The many sith I have faced, beleived slavery was better than freedom as freedom encouraged mistakes that would weaken the populace. What is the best way to convince them that order should not come at the cost of freedom?" True, Vulpesen believed in destroying the sith, but there were multiple ways of doing that. He personally preferred lowering the numbers by making deserters.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

@[member="Vilox Pazela"] got a nod, and the kind of smile you gave an old acquaintance you didn't expect to see. "That it has, Vazela. I'm more than a little surprised to see you here. Perhaps you'll stick around, though I'd imagine you have places to be."

With a glance at @[member="Spencer Jacobs"], she turned from the unexpected Dark Master -- presumably they'd be escorting him off the premises very soon -- to the Jedi Knight. "@[member="Vulpesen"], right? Your question's a good one, and it deserves a thorough answer. See, not all Sith do believe in order over freedom. Some are the very opposite. Order is a common Sith belief, certainly, but it's not the core Sith belief. The fundamental principle of the Sith Code is that you overcome everything -- absolutely everything -- that stands between you and whatever it is you most want. It can be the ultimate expression of selfishness, which can lead to control issues or radical individualism. Some Sith are anarchists, not so much concerned with being in control as ensuring that nobody else is in control. That's one reason you can never assume you know what your enemy believes. Most Sith think differently -- plenty of variation.

"But let me answer your question directly. Say you are facing the kind of Sith who believes in order above all. Say they believe it because they do believe freedom brings mistakes, crimes, inefficiencies that make the group as a whole weaker. The corollary is usually that they, or their masters, know what's best for everyone. So the foundation of the opinion you're trying to overcome is the notion that a Sith, or, really, any Force-user, can tap into secret insight or innate wisdom, and know what's best for non-Force users. I've even had Jedi tell me to my face that non-Forcers were lesser beings with lesser potential, to be guided for their own good. Apparently because people can't be trusted with freedom.

"I once believed in law and order above all; that's how I ran the Sith Empire. I once believed in freedom above all; that's how started uniting the Unknown Regions. Neither path was the complete truth. The danger, Vulpesen, is the urge to go to extremes. Radical, daring, fix-everything solutions are, I believe, a path to the Dark Side. Order cannot come at the cost of freedom, and freedom cannot come at the cost of order. Balance is all-important. And when the person you're debating -- if they're sincere -- realizes that you're willing to meet in the middle between what they believe and what they expect you to believe...oh, they might sneer or think they've won or somehow corrupted you by 'convincing' you that law and order have a valuable part to play, but deep down they'll recognize that you're willing to take them seriously. Not through fear, but through reason. Compassion, not condescension or a desire to prove them wrong. And when they see you bend like that, then they start to listen to what you have to say. At which point you tell them to stretch out and feel, really feel, the complexity of the lives around them, the height and depth and uniqueness and worth of every soul. If they can feel that, they can start to understand that all people are, in a sense, equal. Whether or not they can touch the Force.

"If they fear the mistakes brought by freedom, remind them that balancing freedom with law and accountability trims the worst excesses of both, and tell them that no society founded purely on dogmatic orthodoxical order has ever truly succeeded in becoming more. In fact, it usually declines."

She kept watching Vulpesen, in case of a follow-up question, though others might speak too.

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen smiled and nodded. It was a good conversation and he kept it in mind. Balance. He could do that quite well. Leaving questions to th others, the jedi sat back down, although Vazela's entrance hadn't gone unnoticed. Turning his head to catch a glance, Vulpesen couldn't help but wonder why the council was allowing an a man who had attempted massacre into the the temple so freely. Still, Vulpesen's blade had left its mark and even without Tracyn to help him, he was strong on his own. Abilities in combat aside, he trusted the council to do what was right... even if it was odd.

 

[Talon Vosra]

@[member="Ashin Varanin"] @[member="Spencer Jacobs"] @[member="Vilox Pazela"] @[member="Vulpesen"]

The Gardens. How many times had he been here to savor the beauty, the peace and the tranquility. Many things had played a roll in his path out of darkness but he could credit the serenity of the gardens with a great deal. His short life had been spent thus far with trying to find his place and when he was here it was evident he had.

He had wasted several years as a Sith. His time there had opened his eyes too his many flaws and he had convinced himself time and again that the end had justified the means. The worlds they had taken the people they had fought all in the name of the empire. He had counted it as his duty to protect the imperial citizens. Those poor souls that seemed all bit ignored when cities were razed to the ground by both sides. He called it his duty to protect the weak and defensless from the Republic and Mandalorian war machines, but did his motives matter as much as his methods? He no longer believed so.

His emerald eyes fell on the two women and though he had never met them he was certain this was the group he sought. Vulpesen was there and someone else from Talon's past.

'Valzela?' He thought as a slight widening of the eyes revealed his surprise before he reigned in his control. Had he been another more impulsive and reckless Jedi he would have escorted the darksider to the containment rooms and locked him away until a trial could be arranged, but for now he would exercise control.

Talon approached, his brown and tan robes moving with him as he strode within hearing.

"Masters." Talon said with a kind smile and a nod. "May I ask both of your opinions on a sensitive matter?"

 

[Ashin Varanin]

@[member="Talon Vosra"] @[member="Spencer Jacobs"]

"Of course. I think Spencer should have first crack at it," said Ashin with a grin. "I've talked plenty for one turn. What can we help you with? It's Vosra, isn't it?"

 

[Allyson Locke]

Spencer smiled softly and adjusted herself on the bench. She waited happily for the question though she was curious about the sensitivity of it and what it would pertain to.

"I'm all ears."

@[member="Talon Vosra"] @[member="Ashin Varanin"]

 

[Talon Vosra]

@[member="Ashin Varanin"] @[member="Vulpesen"] @[member="Vilox Pazela"] @[member="Spencer Jacobs"]

"Yes Master Varanin." Talon said still holdong his friendly smile, "Talon Vosra."

He wanted to say more but in truth his storey was irrelevant. He had not long ago been involved with the invasion of O'reen. He had walked into the battle unarmed faced a Master briefly then sat in meditaion with the same Master rather than let light strike light. He did not see the point at the time and he still didn't. Although he hated the darkside and the temptation it was to him even now he could not fight Sargon with a clean conscience.

He turned slightly to smile at Spencer Jacobs and put his hands behind his back and rocked back on his heels a second innocently before speaking.

"How do you feel the Jedi as a whole should behave regarding the allowance of those who deliberately cling to the darkside and those who recklessly disregard the Jedi code to freely move about the Temple?" He said deliberatly avoiding looking at anyone but the blonde Master.

He was genuinly interested in the answer and though he had his opinion he knew it was colored by his experience. Was he also making a statement? Perhaps but time and the force would see to that.

 

[Allyson Locke]

The question was asked and it as something she should have expected from the Jedi in the Order, but she was still caught off guard. Spencer caught her breath as she glanced towards Vilox who had managed to get himself into the temple and avoid being arrested obviously over staying his welcome. Spencer was silent as she gathered her thoughts, she had just recently began he journey back to the light, but even then she fought the urges to use or to touch the dark side like she had before. Her hands in her lap she finally parted her lips and started her explanation to the young knight.

“I’ve touched the dark side of the Force, it’s tempting even for those that have never touched its power or who are trying to get away from it. The way it grips you and drags you deep into its influence is intoxicating. It’s powerful and utterly scary. When you walk in the light there is a sense of control, you work together with the Force as an ally. The Dark Side, it consumes you and swallows you whole. Its a fight and I'll forever fight it - I never want to fear myself again .” She knew she had gone off on a tangent and catching herself she returned to the question. “Those that walk the halls of the Order yet cling desperately to the Dark Side do not belong here. These walls are sacred, they hold the teachings of thousands upon thousands of years. The code tells us peace and harmony, those that cling to the dark side willingly and do not seek council to change should not be allowed sanctuary here.”

Spencer stood and reached into her pocket and pulled out several seeds, there was a couple that were differen’t from the others and she focused on the smaller seeds first. They sprouted and grew in her palm, they blossomed into beautiful flowers. Smiling seeing her work, she showed @[member="Talon Vosra"]. “The force is the energy that helped the plants grow, they were grown with good intentions and the beauty of that intention is seen in the flowers. Now by adding one that was grown with ill intention, with the dark side of the Force it becomes invasive drawing in the others and shutting them from the light. This is why we shouldn’t allow dark siders who are not willing to search for the light in the temple or to be around us. They are invasive and in the end snuff the light causing us to become sucked into the vortex of the Dark Side.” As she spoke, the larger black seeds sprouted, their stalks were thick and full of spines. They wrapped around the flowers crushing them with the thorns and eventually consuming the flowers leaving nothing.

“But for those that wish to find the light, they are always welcomed to learn and understand.” Lastly, she brought her other hand over the thorned vines, focusing the Force again, she watched as the vines continued to grow and the thorns falling off and the end of the vine sprouting flowers. “People can be saved, but they have to be willing to fight for their freedom, to find a balance with in themselves both understanding and being guided by the force as an ally – not a Master.”

 

[Talon Vosra]

@[member="Spencer Jacobs"] @[member="Ashin Varanin"] @[member="Vulpesen"] @[member="Vilox Pazela"]

Talon listened intently as the patient Woman began to speak. Talon focused on her eyes as she spoke. He could hear the conflict in her voice. He knew it all to well, and he lived it everyday. Power all consuming power was only feelings away. There just within your grasp with only the effort of closing your fist between you and darkness. How often he had turned to humor just to avoid reaching for what he had been.

Talon looked on as she removed the seeds form her pocket. She used the force to manipulate their natural germination process. The force fed the seeds and imitated the energy that would have taken weeks or months to produce a single sprout and yet in her hand she held not only sprouts but beautiful flowers. For a Zelosian the illustration she used affected him maybe a little more than it may have others. His emerald eyes studied the plants and then her face. He agreed with everything he heard of course. He had assumed he would before he asked the queation. He still had more concerns regarding the two masters affiliation with darksiders in the Fringe but he was resolved to follow the force's guidance on that matter. They were here and from Master Jacobs herself she had shown she agreed no Darksider should have freedom to do as they pleased. The corruption and twmptation would only grow and consume all of those around them and that was something Talon had come to far to watch happen.

He sincerely hoped that the darksiders and their compatriots took heed and let go of wjat they had been and toom steps toward the light. If they did, Talon would expend himself to help them in anyway he could even to the point of guiding them himself, but if they clung foolishly to the darkness he would have no choice but to remove them in anyway he had too.

If he had a litteral heart it would have no doubt ached for them to choose the light just as his figurative one did. However, he feared that some would not let go. He nodded finally as she finished and smiled though his smile was genuine his seriousness was plainly written in his eyes. Whether the council agreed or not the darkside could not be allowed to grow and fester in the Jedi or the Republic. If they allowed it then they were no better than the Sith they claimed to oppose. It was past time to make the choice clear to those that still held to the darkside. He himself if need be would put the choice before them coose light and life, or choose Darkness and the consequences it held, but he hoped they chose the light.

"Master Jacobs." Talon said finally, "it appears we have a great deal in common."

Talon turned to Vilox Pazela and smiled calmly.

"Master Pazela?" He said as he focused his thoughts, "may I have a word when the Masters are finished answering questions?"

 

[Carn Dista]

It had taken the master of the order far too long to hear about this - however he had done. He was most certainly disgruntled that the Council had neglected to inform him of not one, but two former Sith appearing to take up residence in the Jedi - even if one of them had been undercover, his was still a matter that not only required, but demanded the council's full attention.

And to top that off, apparently before they had even bothered to contact the council, they had begun to lecture the Jedi. While Carn was certain they had learned many things, he was also certaim that they had committed a great many atrocities to secure their respective positions within the now deceased Empire. As a result, until the entire council viewed them fit to teach, the Master of the Order would ensure they didn't, just in case they imparted some dread knowledge by mistake.

To this end, Carn moved from the council spirr to the area that the two ex-sith were teaching. To his surprise, several Jedi were there. And a certain Vilox Pazela. This darkened Carn's mood further, which, naurally, made him more inclined to be overly strict about the situation.

"No you may not, Knight Vosra." he said sternly, clealrly interrupting the Jedi and the Dark Jedi's potential conversation. "Instead you can escort Mister Pazela from the temple. He has done what he came here to do, and will now be leaving - which, if I am not mistaken, was what he should have been doing. I can only presume he accidentally got lost, as opposed to taking a willful detour." the tone in Carn's voice was heavy with unsaid implications - Vazela had had his meeting with the Council, or at least some of the Council. He would leave now of his own accord, or face being forcefully ejected from the temple - with or without his limbs. Carn had no time for darksiders and their schemes, and had no intention of being lenient with the known Darksider.

With this said, Carn turned his attentions to Ashin and Spencer. He eyed them both for a moment, and then rested his thumbs on his utility belt. "And now I come to the reason I am here." Carn was within his rights to immediately issue their detainment pending review and subsequent trial by the Council. The right to sole authority given to all Councillors when presented with a somewhat snap decision to make afforded him such things. However that wouldn't do either former Sith any good. Instead he opted to see if they would come willingly, and show that they were honest in their intentions to join (or in one case, rejoin) the Jedi.

"If you are not aware of who I am, allow me to inform you. My name is Carn Dista, the current Master of the Order. I am certain that at least one of you knows what that means. Much as I appreciate the gesture of offering knowledge to the Jedi, you will find that your lesson is now over." he paused for a moment, allowing that last part to sink in to the Jedi that had attended for the lecture.

"Before you ask why, remind yourselves that you have both come to the Jedi having spent a considerable amount of time within the grasp of the Dark Side. I understand that you had good intentions as far as helping the Order goes, however it matters not how pure your intent at the moment. Upon entering the Order you both should have presented yourselves to the Council, and awaited judgement on your ability to impart knowledge within the Order. As that has not happened as of yet, it will happen now - hence the expiry of your lecture. You are both to head to the council chambers immediately. I need not remind you that this isn't a request."

Unlike Vilox, Carn was blunt with the two aspiring Jedi. He didn't trust them. He had no reason to, and until the Council as a whole cleared them for active duty, he had absolutely no intention to allow them even the smallest iota of his trust. That is why he intended to walk with them, every step of the way to the council chambers, to ensure that should they try to act in a dishonorable way, he could be the first to react and ensure the safety of the Order from a potential darksided threat.

@[member="Talon Vosra"] @[member="Spencer Jacobs"] @[member="Ashin Varanin"] @[member="Vulpesen"] @[member="Vilox Pazela"]
[ooc:
Sorry about the thread crash. If people (mostly council peeps) had taken the time to inform me on some level much sooner, this could have been avoided, and we could have gotten you guys infront of the council much sooner. Again, apologies.]

 

[Talon Vosra]

@[member="Ashin Varanin"] @[member="Carn Dista"] @[member="Spencer Jacobs"] @[member="Vulpesen"]

Where Talon had been subtle and had gotten Spencer to make his point for him, Master "Da Beard" Dista was a battering ram. Talon held back a smile as his former superior, Vazela, was placed under his escort. It was almost to good to be true. Only Talon had intended to see him to a trial and not a ticket off world.

"As you wish Master." Talon said moving to @[member="Vilox Pazela"] 's side, "shall we?"

Talon waited for the response and hopefully they would exit together peacefully.

 

[Darth Vazela]

| @[member="Ashin Varanin"] | @[member="Carn Dista"] | @[member="Spencer Jacobs"] | @[member="Vulpesen"] |

Vilox Pazela had watched the conversation from his position with a somber, cold gaze beneath the dark veil of his robe's cowl. He had listened intently to Ashin and her explanation and Spencer's show with the flower. He took heart to their words and believed them. But he had not yet revealed why he had ventured forth to Ashin and Spencer nor why he had ventured to the Jedi Order in the first place.

When it came to Talon escorting the Dark Jedi, the former Lord of the Sith raised his slender hands to the cowl and lowered it from his head. He spoke as he gently lowered it onto his back. "The Force is a curious thing. For a few decades now, I have studied the dark side of the Force and I have learned much. It was with that knowledge I deceived the Sith Empire into believing the facade of Darth Vazela; and it was that knowledge I survived the day of the Thronebreaker. It was how I avoided the fires of Dromund Kaas, when the Mandalorian Empire burned it a month after I met Ashin here, in the Unknown Regions." He lowered his arms from the hood and gestured with his left hand first to Ashin, before allowing it to settle to his side.

Indeed, Pazela had foreseen the collapse of the Sith Empire on the same day Mikhail Shorn had dethroned Tyrin Ardik. He continued, "It was Ashin who convinced me to drop the persona of Darth Vazela and subsequently the deception I had pulled over the Sith, so that I would join her in the Unknown Regions as a member of the Fringe Confederate. If my next selected words and actions in the next few minutes do not convince you that Ashin Varanin, for all the deception and lies she has lived in these subsequent years has tried and done her very best to stop Sith Lords and their like reigning destruction on the galaxy, then I do not know what will."

"I understand that my presence in this Temple and on Coruscant, in conjuncture with Spencer and Ashin, troubles the three of you; and indeed the rest of the Jedi who live here. I confess, I joined the Lords of the Fringe under the understanding that it was there, in the Unknown Regions, that a true force that could replace the Sith would emerge to finally achieve the revenge that all those who follow the dark side have chased since the inception of the Star Wars. This would lead back to the deception and lies Ashin utilized to stop men such as I emerging from the confines of obscurity to wrap our hands around the Republics throat and begin our squeeze. It was only when I joined the Fringe Confederate and enter a period of isolation there, that I began to understand what was happening."

"It was through that understanding that led me to this Temple to meet with the Jedi High Council. It was the Battle of O'reen that pushed me here as well, because I witnessed Ashin survive a Force Light; and as a scholar of the dark side, I understand that no Dark Master can survive such an act unless they were a Jedi. So I met with your Jedi Councillors and I asked the question: 'Who is Ashin Varanin?' and in return, I supplied all of the intelligence and information I have all the Sith who survived the fall of the Sith Empire."

Vilox Pazela's lips creased into a small smile. It was here that the two women who knew him better than all those currently gathered in this elite group, as well as two certain Jedi Knights, one who had fought him and the other he had led, would see that the Dark Master's skin was not pale; and the yellow, predatory eyes that had gazed upon each of them, like he was staring into their soul, had dissipated to reveal a set of grey.

He turned his gaze to Ashin as he spoke his next words. "You changed me. But I came to understand your burden at the same time. You would like to change all men like myself, yet not have them follow you. Instead, you would like them to find their own way. I came to this building with the intention to discover more about you Ashin, the Jedi Master who I have thought upon for six months now. Now, I have discovered the real reason why I am here."

He continued to look at Ashin for a moment, before turning his gaze to Spencer. He then turned it to Vulpesen, Talon and then finally Carn. Cocking his head to the left, Vilox said, "I'm here to continue my redemption and to face trial for the crimes I committed during my time in the Empire." Lowering his hand to the utility belt that held his Lightsaber and other equipment, he held it out to Talon whilst facing the Master of the Order. "I could leave the Jedi Order, but I'd like to stay. So if needs be, I'll surrender to your custody Carn and continue the journey I began when I joined the Fringe Confederation."

 

[Carn Dista]

A strange turn of events. It seemed to be that it was that time of the year, where the leopard tried to change its spots. Carn was doubtful of all, yet his training as a Jedi forced his hand. Redemption was to be offered to all, regardless of their background. Occasionally it was something that would be abused by a few underhanded individuals, yet for the most paet many did try. Some were even successful, such as Marek.

"So be it. You will be assigned a quarter, and an escort. You will be permitted acess only to your quarters, the meditation garden, and the canteen until such time that the Council calls you forwards to talk of your redemption. We will contact the Republic authorities about your intent to stand trial as soon as we can. I imagine they will want to have lengthy words with you on the subject."

With this said, Carn looked at Talon, and instantly began to create a link to his mind through the Force, so that Carn could deliver orders to him in some privacy...

Keep ahold of his equipment. Present it to the Council when we call for you, and prepare all the information you have on Vilox. You will be his escort, but speak little to him.

Carn nodded towards the Jedi Knight, sugtesting to Talon that he had more than enough confidence that the he would be able to do this. It would be a suitable test, also, to make sure that he truly had overcome his past. Two banthas with one stone.

@[member="Vilox Pazela"] @[member="Talon Vosra"]

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen's shocked rippled through the force for a moment. The emotion was quickly clamped down and he watched with interest as events unfold. The attempted massacre of Togoria and the murders of who knows how many others, he simply couldn't believe his ears. ad This man, this sith who he had personally stopped from killing hundreds was now trying to to join them? In truth, Vulpesen had half a mind to leap up drag the man to a court right now, but that too was kept hidden under his mask. No, Vazela would serve his trial, even if he was given a home in the temple for the time being. Vulpesen felt sick about sharing a roof with such a man, but his experience had always suggested a chance at change. He would give that chance, but much like @[member="Carn Dista"], he would do it with caution. Strange how he was starting to agree with the master he had been at complete odds with only a few years before. They had never actually addressed that matter, but it seemed like the time was coming to admit his mistakes and recognize the master's wisdom. Now wasn't the tme for it, but the shadow was certain that Carn would be just as happy to see this sith on trial as he was. For now, the jedi relaxed in his seat and waited for events to finish. If Vazela wanted to join the light it would be a long and hard road, Vulpesen would watch carefully to see whether his former enemy fell.

@[member="Vilox Pazela"] @[member="Talon Vosra"] @[member="Ashin Varanin"] @[member="Spencer Jacobs"]

 

[Kiskla Grayson-Matteo]

Blame her insatiable appetite to know more, but Kiskla was making her way to the flourishing temple gardens. Through the grapevine, the councillor had received wind of the lesson.

At arriving, she caught the tail end of the conversation; a tight frown drawn against her lips at the sight of the dark Jedi that had hailed the council not long ago. She had been one of three to show. she also caught @[member="Carn Dista"]'s dismissal. Carn and curt-- there was a reason those two words were so similar in size and sound.

Swiftly, she entered, counting the heads in attendance. It appeared the two women had stirred up interest indeed. If the council would decide whether or not to trial these two women, this would be a most excellent Segway. Here they had the opportunity to corral enough knights to corrupt, but they boasted they'd not say more than anything beneficial. There was a reason these two had returned to The Order. Shrewd though she may be, she also had a nïeve benevolence to her that often gave others the benefit of the doubt.

Master Dista. The young woman projected, standing near the entrance still, but the blades of grass were soon padded down by her soles.

"If I may make a suggestion." Her tone was low, and she merely flashed a nod to @[member="Ashin Varanin"] and @[member="Spencer Jacobs"]-- both of who had shown up to evidence support for the Republic on Ahto. More than could be said for half the councillors. "They did approach me on Ahto City. It was my fault for not reaching out to the council. However, don't let a fault of mine deny those eager to learn an opportunity to do so.

Would not an environment when they're in control give more evidence to their intentions? Let them finish their lesson, and then report to the chambers. There's an encroaching threat on our borders that can't be denied, and knowing how to defend ourselves would be most helpful.

If something goes wrong, I'll take responsibility for it. I never notified anyone when on Ahto--- might as well keep the tab running."

 

[Ashin Varanin]

@[member="Carn Dista"] got a long, slow blink.

"Master Dista, our first action upon returning was to present ourselves to the leader of the Council of Reconciliation. We'd understood that a final decision was still in the offing; in fact, we'd been told the Council was discussing our case on several levels. We're operating in good faith here. We're not some people who walked in off the street and started teaching. If you weren't aware of our presence, that's an internal Council matter.

"It's been a long time since I've seen a Jedi attempt to silence someone because of who they are, regardless of what they say. On the other hand, it's the sort of thing I saw all the time in the Sith Empire. A Jedi listens, and then makes a judgment call. A Jedi Master especially. Certainly when we're answering questions, not sharing the big bad secrets of the Dark Side.

"Master Dista, I consider Ben Watts and Darron Wraith good friends. Je'gan Olra'en is my grandfather. @[member="Kiskla Grayson"] is the finest example of a Jedi I've ever known. The Order in general has my respect, but earning it as an individual, regardless of station-"

And then Kiskla, as it happened, entered the courtyard, and Ashin thought it best to be quiet. The leader of the Council of Reconciliation had spoken.

 

[Talon Vosra]

@[member="Vilox Pazela"] @[member="Carn Dista"] @[member="Vulpesen"] @[member="Kiskla Grayson"] @[member="Spencer Jacobs"]

Talon returned the nod to Master Dista and turned and offered an apologetic smile and nod to Master Jacobs before he removed his cloak. He had heard he explanation and answer to his question. He was not the greatest empath or even as observant as some but he saw something in the set of her eyes and heard a genuineness in her tone that told him all he needed to hear to allow for at the very least cordiality, if not respect.

He took his cloak and moved to Pazela. He wrapped the former Sith lord's gear in the plain brown cloak and held it at his side. His twin lightsabers were now visable as he gestured the, hopfully redemable, Vilox toward the garden exit.

He knew just where to take him. The empty quarters he had used before his trial. With enough work redemption was possible. Talon believed it and he would not deny Vilox the chance to do the same.