Braving the cold of Rhen Var [The Republic]

[Tugoro Taidarious]

Tugoro's arms would lower, as he watched the threat being dispatched. The last of the spiders had either been killed, or had escaped up the walls by now. The slight illumination within the area would allow the youth to glance around, watching as [member="Corvus Raaf"] recovered. He had been...Completely ignored? That was a new one. The young Padawan was always used to having the spotlight on himself, for he was extremely confident in his smugness. The young Jedi's neck would crane slightly to the side, watching as [member="Kana Truden"] began to walk off. He had watched her defeat the spider, and understood her emotions. He had experienced many traumatizing things in the past, some similar to her own situation. Tugoro believed that Jedi only killed as a last resort, but found that he often forgot about this when he was enraged.

As such, he didn't really care about Kana's state. Giving one last look at the group, Tugoro would spin on his heel, beginning to jog forwards. He would aim to catch up with the female, coming to a walking pace as he passed her. The youth's eyes would shut, as he focused on his mind, allowing him to sense the entire cave they were within, and much, much more. His sensing capabilities had grown extraordinarily, for Tugoro could feel all of the force energy within the area, and where it resonated the most. It was powerful all around, it was obvious that there had been some sort of historic moment here. He felt as if someone had told him about it before. Lifting a single arm, the Padawan would wave towards Kana, before speaking, "Let's go," and walking away. Even if she did not follow, he would advance on his own, confident in his ability to seek out the powerful source of energy that radiated throughout the dark cave. Tugoro knew that she would be able to get a crystal, for her display earlier had proven how pure and inexperienced she was. Surely, everyone else would be able to get one as well. As time passed, the teen would get closer to the cave, eventually waiting at it's entrance.

 

[VlPER]

Viper just stood there for a few moments in bewilderment. Well, he supposed, at least the trooper was thanked properly. He knew being a Jedi wasn't about the fame or rewards. But he would have expected even a remark to either himself or Tugoro. Women, he thought with a sigh. Can't live with 'em. Can't shoot 'em. The old saying brought a small smirk to his face.

Looking around at the scene one last time, he walked on slowly after the group. Tugoro soon mentioned something about a certain cave he pointed to being a good direction. Viper however, wasn't really in a team spirit sort of mood. And with troopers nearby, he didn't feel his services would be required if anymore spiders showed up. As luck would have it, there was another path that led the opposite direction. This one didn't feel as gloomy as the first one as well.

Viper clipped his sabers back to his belt and marched on in, away from the group where he could be alone with his thoughts.

 

[Corvus Raaf]

When she’d found her crystal on Corellia, it was like a beacon in the dark – it’s Force signature seemed so perfectly attuned to her. Although all of the other crystals were imbued with the Force, this felt in some way special to her. Perhaps the ghost of Qel-Droma was right. Maybe the crystal did choose the Jedi?

As she stepped forward into the orange glow that was the crystal cave, she wondered if it would be the same again.

As she turned the final corner she was amazed to see so many crystals. The majority were orange but every colour of the rainbow was evident here. As she gazed into the cavern, with its many tunnels leading off it, she wondered how she could choose just one from what must be thousands stretching as far as the eye could see?

So she did what she’d failed to do enough on this journey. She used the Force.


Using Force Sight, the cave was actually brighter than to her naked eye. Perhaps they were all perfectly good crystals to use? No, that didn’t feel right. So she followed the Force and walked maybe a few hundred metres through the cavern and down a particular tunnel. At the end of the tunnel the rock narrowed and the crystals thinned. But the light was no less intense. One crystal stood out to her. Ulic was right. She opened her eyes. Oddly, the crystal looked the same as any other without the benefit of the Force, simply a light orange gem.

’This is an old crystal. Not more powerful mind you, but old. But before you decide, be wary. Old Solari crystals can only be used by a Jedi who is pure in spirit and an ardent follower of the Light side. You must stay pure of heart for it to function.’ The words of the Force ghost seemed to echo in her ears.

She was a little apprehensive as she wasn’t sure she was worthy of the crystal – but the Force had led her here – and she considered herself pure of heart.

[member="VlPER"] | [member="GM-1693"] | [member="Kana Truden"] | [member="Tugoro Taidarious"] | [member="Meeristali Peradun"] | [member="J.Reaper"] | [member="Johnny Diamonds"]

 

[VlPER]

Even though the main crystal cave was in front of them. Something was calling to Viper down this particular passage. His eyes darted back and forth around the tunnel as he went deeper and farther away from the group. After a few minutes which began to seem like hours, his body began to tense up. He could feel he was approaching something, but he couldn't tell what. Viper tried to reach out with his force sense, but it wasn't as attuned as the others. He could tell his search for a crystal would not be in vain, but there was something else. Just on the edge of his sight that wouldn't reveal itself.

Not knowing, frustrated Viper. But at the same point, stirred his blood as he wanted to know what was there. Rounding a corner, his small passageway soon opened up into another massive room!

​

​

​

​

Viper stared in awe at the sight before him. Although it was indeed a Solari crystal cave, this section lacked the primarily orange crystals the other one was flooded with. It also didn't possess nearly the abundance of large formations that the main cave held. But this suited him just fine. The blue glow of the lichen on the walls only enhanced the magnificence of this place.

Looking down, he finally noticed the room wasn't half as expansive as he originally thought. Much of the area was covered in a shallow pool that reflected perfectly the ceiling on its surface. Stepping out in the shallow water which proved to only be a few inches deep. He moved across to the formations on the other side.

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus knew about the elements to construct a lightsaber – and knew she had what many consider the most precious aspect – the focusing crystal. How could she forget? She was sent by her former Master to recover it from the caves in Corellia and when she returned, he was dead. But that was another story, for another day.

She also knew that construction would take time and patience. She always had the latter and here, with no distractions, she had the former. She’d also researched the use of adding a cell recogniser. It was a device used to modify a lightsaber so that it will not function for anyone except those allowed by the combination of small sensor array and recognition chip installed in the handle.

Corvus was prepared - but then nobody would be surprised at that fact.

 

[Kana Truden]

“Yeah,” Kana followed [member="Tugoro Taidarious"]. “Let’s go.”

She threw a quick glance back towards the others as they all approached. That was everyone except [member="VlPER"]. She stretched her neck and stood on her toes to see if she could see him and to her disappointment there was nothing there to see. Kana turned back towards the others to ask but they were already entering the cave.

With a shrug she too decided to proceed into the cave and found herself amazed. There were plenty of crystal formations. Formation after formation of force imbued rocks that would someday be part of a jedi’s signature weapon. The thought almost seemed a bit unreal, to think Kana was in a place where not only jedi of the past had been, but where jedi of the future would go.

Slowly treading around the cave she looked at the others as they began picking away at the formations. How did they know to pick the ones that they had picked? Corvus had said something about the crystals choosing you but how would Kana know which that was?

She grabbed one of the formations and gave it a quick pull. Nothing happened. Maybe it wasn’t quite as obvious as that and maybe she shouldn’t have expected it to be. Nothing was ever simple with Jedi, experiences had taught her that much.

With even slower footsteps she began spinning around as she tried to get a look at all the formations. Then it happened, one of the spires on the wall just caught her attention. She didn’t quite know how but it was like a magnet. Her eyes didn’t want to stop staring at it and her mind wouldn’t stop thinking about it.

Kana stepped up to the wall as she tried to reach out for the crystal. It was just about out of her reach. She looked around the area for anything to use but there was nothing. With a sigh she noticed the other crystal formations formed somewhat something of a step up. A seemingly unsafe one but it was her best shot.

She took a few moments to truly think about it. Was it worth it to risk injury for something as simple as this? The crystal called out once more and she took it as an obvious ‘Yes’. Kana placed her left foot on one of the crystal formations and used it as a stepping stone. In a sense it felt sacrilegious but force be damned she wanted that crystal.

Reaching out once more she found further disappointment as her fingers grazed at the crystal’s side. Maybe if she stood on her toes to gain further reach? She gave it a shot and before she knew it she held the crystal in her hand. A strange feeling came over her as it lie in the palm of her hands. It just felt right, so very right. She stepped down from the formation and took a look at the crystal.

It was a green little thing and not particularly big. Then again, lightsabers weren’t particularly big either. With a content smile she stuffed it in her pocket, now all she needed would be knowledge in how to build these things and she’d have her very own lightsaber. That was why [member="Kiskla Grayson"] had come along in the first place, right? Well, that and making sure nobody died.

 

[VlPER]

(ooc: sorry for posting again so soon. i wasn't able to finish my earlier post, as i got called to work)

Having crossed the shallow pool, Viper stepped foot onto the patch of crystals and rock formations that lay beyond. He smiled broadly as it didn't appeared there weren't many others....or any for that matter before him, that had come here. The lure of the main crystal chamber must have been too alluring. Or maybe it was just his circumstance that caused him to come this way that was different from everyone else. It couldn't have been the force that brought him this way....right? Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't. Viper shrugged away the thoughts and simply embraced the beauty that was this glorious chamber.

With a deep intake of air, he let out a satisfied sigh, and began to search for his crystal.

The rainbow of colors that lay before him was imply astounding. He knew before he entered the cave, he wanted a green crystal. But after listening to the ghost from earlier, he decided to let the force choose for him. Though he really hoped it would be green.

Beautiful yellow crystals as bright as the sun shown before him. He then turned and cast a glance at some blue ones, as clear and beautiful as a summer's day completely free of clouds. Truthfully it was like walking through a pirates treasure trove. Like something you would only ever read about as a child. Then there were a few large purple formations. The color of which reminded Viper of Corvus' own exotic eyes. He smiled weakly at the thought, but then moved on. There weren't many, but the couple green formations that were present did in fact catch his eye.

Viper lingered for a while on them, but wondered if it wasn't just his own biased attitude that had him enraptured by their alluring effect. Forcing himself to turn away he took a look at some orange ones and even some crystals that bore more of a reddish hue. A frown actually crossed his face, and he new these weren't the crystals for him.

His eyes were once again drawn to a small green cluster of crystals.

​

Were these perhaps really the ones the force was pushing him to pull from? He tried to look again at the others. But the result in the end was still the same. He kept looking back to that one formation. Finally with a satisfied grin, he harvested a few of the green crystals. Happy with his harvest, he turned to the others and decided to snag just a few more for some side projects. Considering, he was probably the first one in here, he wasn't to concerned about others coming after him. Though he did make sure to leave plenty if they did.

Looking enthusiastically at his stash of crystals, his happy thoughts were suddenly disturbed by the crash of sabers.

Viper's head shot up toward the sound. Deeper in the cave, away from where he had entered, he saw two figures engaged in a full blown lightsaber battle. He shook his head as the hair on the back of his neck sprang up from the chill that ran along it. Sure he wasn't seeing things, he cautiously walked toward them to get a closer look. Were both of them wearing green robes? Why would they be fighting each other, he thought. His mind raced as what he was witnessing was having a difficult time being processed in his mind.....

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus had read and re-read Obi-Wan Kenobi's journal over the past few months, which she knew was what Master Luke Skywalker used to construct his own saber. But she was no Master Skywalker and knew she may have to rely on Master [member="Kiskla Grayson"] to guide her through the process.

As she sat in the cave, she knew she had all of the elements she required to construct her saber. As she tried to find a comfortable spot amongst the snow and rock, she listed them in her head and checked them off from the components laid out in front of her. Her new Solari orange beam crystal, the focusing crystal in its pouch, a blade-emitter matrix, various dials, a blade length adjuster, a lens assembly, a hand grip, an activation stud, a power conduit, a belt ring, a safety switch, a recharge socket, casing, a sensor array, a recognition chip, a blade lock, a beckon call.

But first she had to imbue the crystals with the Force. Nervously she fumbled with the pouch she’d been carrying all of these years – having never opened it. For the first time ever, it was exposed to the light. Having grown under water in caves that had no natural light source, she was amazed that the crystal had grown to such a beautiful shade of persimmon.

She closed her eyes, held both crystals in her open hands and recited the code:

“The crystal is the heart of the blade
The heart is the crystal of the Jedi
The Jedi is the crystal of the Force
The Force is the blade of the heart
All are intertwined
The crystal, the blade, the Jedi
We are one”

She repeated this over and over. On occasions she was so at one with the Force that she lost track of time.

Opening her eyes once more she was shocked to see that both crystals had changed in colour from orange to violet – the very colour of her eyes. She’d heard of crystals changing colour before of course, but was surprised it happened to her.

Slowly, carefully and methodically she began to assemble the sabre. She closed her eyes and meditated. She used her Telekinetic powers to lift all of the components into the air. She detached one half of the hilt and attached the power conduit. Then she connected the recharge socket to the power conduit. Aware she was no longer breathing, she practiced Breath Control for a few moments before entering into a Moving Meditative state – allowing the Force to flow through her.

Once calmed and at one with the Force, she connected the emitter matrix to the power conduit and then attach an activation stud to the emitter matrix and slotted it under the casing. Next she added a blade length adjuster to the emitter matrix.

The schematics then called for her to place the lens assembly with both of the crystals in between the emitter matrix and power conduit before adding the safety switch and blade dial. Finally she added the sensor array, recognition chip (already set for her own DNA and midi-chlorian count) and the remaining parts. She then sealed the lightsaber and attached the belt ring.

Once more she spoke the code:

“The crystal is the heart of the blade
The heart is the crystal of the Jedi
The Jedi is the crystal of the Force
The Force is the blade of the heart
All are intertwined
The crystal, the blade, the Jedi
We are one”

 

[VlPER]

.....Viper continued to creep closer to the pair fighting away. It was then a memory was sparked. "Didn't Corvus say she was a green Jedi before coming to the order...?" At least some details were beginning to fall together, but certainly not all. That still didn't answer why two Jedi of the same order would be fighting each other. Or for that matter, it didn't even answer who they were. Moving up behind a larger formation, he peered over the top to keep watching the battle.

Instinctively Viper withdrew his blades, but didn't activate them. Better safe than sorry. About this time one of the hooded figured struck the other with a crippling blow. Viper winced as he realized the fight would soon be over. A few more strikes and the blade of the weakened opponent fell from his hand. With a relieved sigh, Viper watched as the man began to lift up his hands in surrender. "Well at least the man didn't have to d---"

His thoughts were cut off as the victor quickly thrust their blade into the defenseless opponents heart. A disgusted and shocked look had instantly flashed across Viper's face as he watched the man growl in pain and stiffen as his muscles seized. A couple seconds later, he fell to the floor, dead. "What sort of monster murders a surrendering defenseless opponent?" Impulsively as ever, Viper sprang from his hiding place. With a force jump he landed a few feet behind the murderers back, and activated his sabers. "You! Throw down your weapon and surrender. NOW!" Viper yelled angrily.

The person didn't hardly move at first, save for a tilting of the head to show he or she had heard him. Straightening up, the person pushed back the hood, but didn't deactivate the lightsabers she carried. As she turned around, what Viper saw quickly dashed the angry expression he had, and replaced it with another look of shock.

"...C...Corvus...?" What he was seeing didn't make sense. It was Corvus, but not the one he knew. She was in green robes, and had bright yellow eyes. Her cold stare sent chills down his spine. "Wha...what are you doing here? Why did you kill that man?"

His questions went unanswered. Instead she instantly struck out at Viper when he was done asking them. Viper nearly didn't manage to block the blow, having been caught off guard. "Whoa Corvus, what are you doing? I'm not the enemy...I'm your friend...remember?" Again she struck. A slash here, a thrust there. "Please, stop this! Just tell me whats going on! We can work this out...I'm sure there was a reason for what happened." Even as the words came out of his mouth, Viper was beginning to doubt them.

His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, almost as confused as the last time they sparred in his clearing on Ossus. A myriad of questions kept flooding through his mind. It was those questions though that were going to get him killed. The distraction caused him to miss a feint attack, and soon he could feel a burning sensation permeating through his shoulder. The strike forced him to back off from the engagement. Looking down to see his torn robe, and smell his own burning flesh which had been cauterized by her saber, he pushed the thoughts aside so he could focus. One lingering thought he could not push to the back of his mind remained though.

Could he really kill Corvus? The person he had grown to care so much for. And hadn't she said the same to him at one point? True, recent events seemed to cast a shadow on that, but he never thought things would come to this.

Without another word, he went on the offensive. Once again utilizing his preferred style against a person he had trained so much with. The fighting went back and forth, neither seeming to get the upper hand. "Please Corvus, I beg you. Don't make me do this!" She growled in anger at him and only pressed on, even harder than before. Now even utilizing some techniques Viper himself had shown her. Viper countered by switching to defensive techniques that she had shown him.

It was a sick and twisted dance of death. Finally, Viper moved in close. With his left saber, he smashed into her blade with all the strength he had, causing her saber to swing out toward her right. Viper charged in the last remaining inches. Instead of just tackling her head on though, only his left side hit her left to throw her off balance. He quickly pressed on, sliding his right arm around behind her, and took hold of her right arm so she couldn't bring it to strike again. As Viper slid behind her, he whispered sadly in her ear. "Please forgive me..." Without another word, his left saber was plunged through her heart and out her chest.

Viper closed his eyes and listened helplessly to her gasps for air, her growling in pain. Corvus' lightsaber soon fell to the floor as she too crumpled downward. Viper however, cradled her and held her in his arms. Her head fell back enough so that they began to stare into each others eyes. A tear fell from Viper's eye as he tried to maintain composure. It was a useless gesture. His heavy breathing, and deeply grieved expression gave away what he was really feeling easily enough. "I'm sorry...."

Soon, her breathing stopped. And her eyes went glassy and lifeless. Viper lowered his forehead to hers as he began to weep. Why did he continue to lose everyone he ever cared for? What was this fate that the force seemed bent on having him continue to endure?

A few moments later, a flash of light and everything was gone. Corvus, the other dead Jedi, everything. It was just him in an empty cavern. Viper blinked away the tears and soon realized what he had seen was a vision. For the moment though, he didn't know what to do. He simply sat there on the floor, trying to process what had just happened.

[member="Corvus Raaf"] | [member="Kana Truden"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

At the moment her fingers flicked the switch to ignite her lightsaber for the first time; she had never felt as close to the Force – to the here and now. The tiredness was ignored. The cold was shrugged aside.

And suddenly, through the Force, she sensed great danger.

Her mind held images of her former Master. He was in danger. Except he was dead, wasn’t he? She’d seen his charred body. But the image was persistent. He was sitting, cross-legged in a meditative position in the hills near here. But not here. Corellia. He was watching for something. No, someone. Her. He was overseeing her trial all those years ago to retrieve the crystal. Yes, this was some sort of memory because here came the electrical storm. She wished she could recoil from the image. She knew what would happen. She was waiting for the energy strike that would end his life.

Yet before that happened another figure appeared. He wore the green cloak of a Corellian Jedi but his back was to Corvus. She couldn’t see his face – he had his hood up. Master Jareck stood and greeted him. They exchanged words – and then her Master drew his lightsaber. She wanted to scream out but couldn’t. There was only a moment of struggle before the anonymous Jedi called Force Lightning on her Master, ending his life. As his robes burned, she recognised the position his dead body took. It was just as she found him all of those years ago.

Her eyes snapped open and the hum of the lightsaber filled her senses. She snapped it off, no longer interested in it. Her visions filled her thoughts and despite the cold; sweat dripped down her face, the salt aggravating her dry and cracked lips.

[member="Kiskla Grayson"]

 

[Johnny Diamonds]

Johnny had kept himself quiet, trying to make himself as small as possible not only in anything's crosshairs, but within the Force itself. Johnny didn't like this one karkin' bit. It was colder than hoth, darker than a black hole, and not very welcoming. The ghost of Ulic Qel-Droma had suddenly appeared and basically told them all what-for. That was freaky enough as he'd never seen a Force Ghost before in his life. He was just a kid from Corellia, he was used to ducking CorSec, making sure he wasn't traced when he surfed the H-Net, filtering credits out of various accounts to keep his family from starving. He was used to bright lights, cities that never slept, and all the dreams and wonders of endless possibility within the neon jungles of Coronet City. Trudging through a cave on Rhen Var? Not something a kid like ol' JD did more than once in a lifetime.


Still, he kept on going, further down, deeper into those caves. He had come to face his fears. He knew damn well this was about lightsabers. Force how he hated the things. They scared him to his very core, and he couldn't even remember why. Why would he fear something that to a technopath represented purity? It was technology in the most elegant way, something that had changed very little in thousands upon thousands of years. Yet, even in the times of the Old Republic, in the times of the first Sith Empire, the times of the Galactic Empire, the Rebellion, the years of Darkness, even now as The One Sith kept coming like a juggernaut who would not be stopped, a lightsaber remained unchanged. It was something that while almost infinitely customizable, and never able to be mass produced, was wholly unique, and indescribably beautiful. Why fear it? Yet, he did.

Shaking his head a moment, he came up to a tunnel that was barely lit whatsoever. Reaching out in the Force, he could not fell anyone near him. Great. He was lost within these karking caves, alone with nothing to defend himself with. He stopped a moment, and just sighed. Way to go, Johnny. Way to karking go, you numbskull. Sometimes he just had no faith in himself. Yet, something compelled him to keep going. Something kept pushing him forward, like a wind you couldn't stand against. A powerful thing, not to be opposed. Yet, why him? Why this lonely little boy, who for all his brains felt so, so alone in this galaxy? Force, he missed Avalore right now. Half the time, he felt utterly useless without her. She was his rock, his best friend, the one person he knew he could count on no matter what. Yet, there he was, ankle deep in freezing cold water, and shivering like mad, making his way through a cave like some sort of pre-historic caveman.

It came to a point where he couldn't even see his nose in front of his face. Yet, he knew he had to keep going. It was just something he knew he had to do. He closed his eyes, and concentrated upon the Force, using it to see all that was around him. Things began to illuminate within his mind's eye, shades of pale blue, violet purple, and all colors in-between. His feet kept moving, one to another until he came to a cave where all he saw was the bright white light of crystals... dozens of structures, all around him, as if he'd hit the motherlode. Opening his eyes, he looked all around, and became wide-eyed, utterly speechless as he just did a 360. The cavern was massive, crystal structures taller than he was to ones so small they looked like tiny pearls shining in the darkness. He'd read up on his lore of crystals more times than he'd said his own name over the years. This was intense! What should he do? Even he could not possibly know. Yet, he remembered something that Kiskla had once said: Let the Force guide you, and you shall find the answer.

Johnny pulled his messenger's bag up and over his head, and set it down at his feet. He wasn't sure why, but he pulled his heavy coat off, and laid it down as well. And as the air hit his bare skin, he felt warmth! He smiled slightly as he sat down, cross-legged, and kept his eyes closed. He focused on the Force, letting it fill him, and in turn, letting himself get lost within it. He remembered the mantra of the crystal...

"the Crystal is the heart of the Blade.
the Heart is the crystal of the Jedi.
the Jedi is the crystal of the Force.
the Force is the blade of the Heart.
ALL are intertwined,
the Crystal, the Blade, the Jedi...
We are One."

And as he became lost within the currents of the Force, the crystals began to speak to him, showing him the path...


[member="Corvus Raaf"] | [member="Kiskla Grayson"] | [member="Kana Truden"]

 

[Kiskla Grayson-Matteo]

Mother fething Rhen Var.

Kiskla had meant to stay on the Praxeum, and only assist the building process when demanded. She had however, reasoned with herself that she should at least take a shuttle down with the Padawans should any emergencies demand more immediacy. Then she'd given her selfish head a shake and recalled that even masters of old travelled with their students to the caves of Hoth and Var--- and she was certainly no different. Despite her distaste for the cold.

So, with a few zips later-- Kiskla bundled herself up in a coat practical enough to weather the surface and keep the little Kiffar princess warm enough. Covered up to her nose in white fur, she slapped on some thermal goggles to seal the deal and cover any further exposed flesh. Before she stepped out into the snowy void, the white-eyes Grandmaster condemned the planet ;"I hate Rhen Var."

It was during her B-line walk to the known caverns that she felt the swells of The Force. The trials had officially begun, and each student would be facing their own messaging. Idly, Kiskla wondered how hers would have changed. Her fears were different now -- she was less the headstrong, stubborn and reckless Padawan of old. Those traits were still exhibited, but her core frets had deepened and broadened; she was responsible for more now. In fact, those very individuals facing their own fears.

It was a good thing Kiskla had her thoughts and The Force to keep her company, because this walk was beginning to look a lot like déjà vu to dragging [member="Michael Sardun"] back from mopeville Hoth. Finally, the veiled behemoth that hosted the crystals exposed itself from beneath the flurries. "About karking time." Kiskla muttered, her mood quite spoiled by the weather and the inevitable chill.

What a stupid process.




[member="Corvus Raaf"] | [member="Jerry Mars"] | [member="Kana Truden"] | [member="viper"] | [member="Johnny Diamonds"] | @Meeristali Paradun

 

[Kana Truden]

Kana gave the others a few curious looks. They were all meditating on something, ranting on about… Lightsabers, of course! She slowly approached [member="Corvus Raaf"]. The ranting ever present as her friend's lightsaber slowly but steadily assembled itself. The amazed little Kana continued staring at her friend as the lightsaber seemed to come together quite nicely. She put her pack on the floor and slowly retrieved the parts for inspection.

Good, they were still there. So that's a good start. Now all she needed would be the grandmas-

"About karking time."

A unfamiliar voice quietly echoed throughout the cave and Kana lift her head up to get a look at it.

"Speaking of the devil." Kana quietly whispered to herself as she slowly made her way over. "Evening, grandmaster."

Kana bowed. It was like being in the presence of royalty, again! It was THE grandmaster and she was right there in front of Kana.

"They all seem rather... Out of it don't you think?" Kana pointed at [member="Johnny Diamonds"].

 

[Tugoro Taidarious]

Tugoro had been leaning against one of the cavern's rock walls for the longest time, still unwavering as the group past him. Pushing off of it's hard surface, the young Padawan would turn from the cave's entrance, striding down the dark corridors on his own. His mind was open to the force, allowing him to feel all life that surged and flowed around him. Pulling his thick brown robe closer to his body, the young Jedi would continue through the crystal cave's depths, heading for the ceiling hole he had entered through. It was time to leave, for it seemed as if everyone was now constructing and making their own lightsabers. That was good for them, for he knew that many of the individuals did not even possess a weapon.

The cold, damp air would blow across his clothing, causing it to billow in his wake. His booted feet would increase their pace, causing him to walk much faster. It was a subconscious act, for he felt a strange urge to distance himself between the others. Closing his eyes for a brief moment while he traversed, Tugoro would think back to his first lesson in the force on Tython. He had been so pure and innocent back then, before the war had touched his mind. Of course the Padawan did not notice it, but in truth he was a completely different person now. The happy boy had been destroyed long ago, thanks to the Sith and many traumatizing events that Tugoro had experienced in his short time as a Padawan. A single tear streamed down the youth's face, as he realized why he had left so abruptly. Exhaling softly, the boy would watch as his breath formed into a momentary mist, that faded away into the darkness. The Solari crystals within the cave would have been useless to him, for they only responded to those of true light side alignment.

 

[Jsc]

"Hey. ...You awake yet?"

A Republic soldier's helm hovered over her. Ugh... And how her head ached.

"Yeah. I'm awake. ...What happened?"

The soldier stood up and let her get to her feet. He could only shrug.

"Don't know ma'am. You just keeled over. How you feeling? Woozy?"

Jerry frowned inside her helm. It felt like she had been hit over the head with a rock. Strange though. Her helm was fine despite the climate. Just the frost on the visor to dust off.

"No. I'm fine. Where did everyone else get off to?"

The soldier pointed off towards the caves. He didn't seem very shaken by anything in the least.

"Just that way. ...I'll uh. I'll stay here. You better go catch up. Duty calls and everything. Heh."

"Right... Hm. Okay."

Jerry nodded and leaned down to pick up her rifle. Brushing off the snow from the weapon and sighing. Better get back to it. She could figure out what knocked her out later. There were crystals to get back to.

 

[Meeristali Peradun]

<OOC: Apologies, dudes and dudettes, my posting in this thread has been abysmal, but... worry not! Midterms are finally over, and I've set myself the valiant goal of writing 50,000 words this month, as my own pseudo-NaNo, so you should see more of me!>

It appeared there was no shortage of wild beings to assail them on this venture, but all in necessity, some in seeming sacrifice of ideal and whatnot, managed to prevail and continue on. But he? For some reason he felt he should wait, a compulsion perhaps of the Force? No matter the cause, he was certain of the reason - there was that [member="Jerry Mars"], right? They hadn't yet seen her, so it served his continued position in the group - bringing up the rear, as it were - to wait for her, if she was on her way. There was the matter of the Grandmaster as well, [member="Kiskla Grayson"], but out of all of them, it was possible that she was more than capable of taking care of herself - not that he'd want to assume.

It had been understood that Mars'd been planetside, ahead of them already, so why... his brow knit, considering the possibilities, orange eyes as vibrant as the crystal that [member="Corvus Raaf"] had been lead to, further on (something he had no knowledge of, as of yet), scanning the dimness of this area of the caverns. Softly, he sung a little song he'd heard somewhere, some of the lyrics applicable to the current situation, and... to other circumstances of his life.

"And I will wait, I will wait for you... and I will..."

Trailing off into a modest hum, he shoved his hands into his pockets, and waited, watching for signs of movement.

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus sat there, trying to process the information. It had been an emotional few days and this was something to quite possibly tip her over the edge.

Slower to process information than usual – perhaps due to the cold and intense use of the Force – she cast her mind back to her time on the Baas-class training vessel.

The holocron of Tionne. A large-eyed woman, bard and historian more than warrior, began telling a story,a familiar one. She knew it (of course). It was about Grandmaster Luke Skywalker's training on Dagobah, how he was standing on his hands and levitating rocks with Yoda balanced on his foot when he experienced powerful Farsight. The story talked about how concentration on the immediate, nearby Force task had amplified his perception of the faraway. Tionne went on, quoting Yoda about seeing glimpses of present, past, and future, how the future was always in motion, how Force bonds were likely to guide visions.

So, was the vision Farseeing? Was it a warning or an explanation?

She stood quickly and heard a metallic clink as the ring fell out of her pocket again. Elara’s ring. Well not exactly her ring – but it was all she had of her for the moment. She located it wedged behind a transparent Solari crystal and had to remove the latter to get to the fomer.

Shoving the crystal roughly into her pocket, she put the ring carefully onto the middle finger of her right hand. A short while ago, her priorities would have been reversed.

And, all thoughts of tiredness pushed aside, she went in search of VlPER.

[member="VlPER"]

 

[VlPER]

Viper decided he needed some time to clear his thoughts. Looking around from his place on the floor, he was reminded of why he was even here in the first place. A slight sad smile appeared on his face. "Yes...that's a good idea. That will help me clear my thoughts." Reaching into his pack, he pulled out his green crystal and looked upon it happily. It really was just a pretty gem in its own right. And now it would be used to help defend the innocent. "What more lofty goal could one aspire too, than to protect the innocent and those one loves and cares for."

After giving it one last glance, he pulled out the other items in his pack necessary to make his first lightsaber. Laying them all out before him, Viper got to work.

"The Crystal is the heart of the Blade.
The Heart is the crystal of the Jedi.
The Jedi is the crystal of the Force.
The Force is the blade of the Heart.
All are intertwined,
The Crystal, the Blade, the Jedi.
They are One."

Piece by piece the saber slowly came together. He always enjoyed making things. It was somehow therapeutic to create something from nothing more than a bunch of seemingly random parts, gems, and other gizmos. When it was finally finished, he cast his gaze upon his finished saber with a smile. It wasn't nearly as stylized as he would have liked. But it was still finished, it was still his. Flipping the switch for the first time on his new saber, an emerald green blade came to life. The familiar hum signaling its presence.

It put a warm feeling into Viper. One that seemed to give him the strength once more to take on the galaxy, and whatever challenges it might throw at him. He dropped into his preferred fighting stance, and began to practice the basic maneuvers with his new lightsaber. The light reflecting off the crystals and the pure clear water, cast an almost ethereal glow throughout the cavern. Viper was at peace.

[member="Corvus Raaf"] | [member="Kana Truden"] | [member="Kiskla Grayson"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Walking past Kana who seemed to be in the advanced stages of making her own saber, Corvus sought out VlPER. He wasn't in the main cave, so she tried the nearby alternatives - all the time her pace quickening until she was quite literally stomping through the rocks, snow and ice. Finally she located him.

Corvus was oblivious to the splashing water as she closed the distance between herself and VlPER. It was an odd sight that greeted her eyes. There was so much surface water that it appeared VlPER was sparring with himself. An upright Jedi with a green saber and his opponent, upside down with an identical emerald weapon, mirroring his moves perfectly.

Corvus slowed her frenetic pace? Why was she in such a hurry? She didn't need to dawdle but there was no need to be quite so aggressive.

As she approached him she said nothing. She didn't want to spoil his moment. She hoped this time was as special for him as she expected hers to be. Except that had been denied her. So she waited for him to finish in his own time - the Force no doubt having already alerted him to her presence.

[member="VlPER"]

 

[VlPER]

Vipers moment of practice with his new blade had been fantastic. It wasn't really about practicing or learning a new technique. It was simply about him geting to know his new weapon. At least that is how he saw it. Getting to know the look, the feel, the weight, how it reacted to certain moves. Everything. His time alone in the cave was soon gone though as someone had decided to join him.

Before he could see who it was, he could feel who it was. Instantly, he grabbed his second saber and activated it. His whole body instantly tensed up as he began to drop into a defensive stance while turning to look to his ....friend? The expression on his face was not necessarily an angry one. But it wasn't exactly a welcoming one either. Viper quickly scanned the person that lay before him. It looked like the Corvus he knew. Even her eyes were still the eyes, he had peered into dozens of times before.

His eyes slowly lowered to her her saber. It wasn't the one, he had lent her. It....was the one from the vision. His body tensed a little more, if that was even possible. Viper gave a small and stiff bow. "Padawan Corvus.....eh.....can I help you with something?" There was an uncertainty in voice that was hard to miss. And it would be obvious to Corvus it wasn't his normal tone with her.

[member="Corvus Raaf"]