In search of the next story

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel shrugged. “Not disappointed, maybe a little surprised that there is connection with other Jedi but not the Silvers. I wonder how other Jedi view us — and if I’ll be happy with their perceptions?”

“But that is for another day for sure,” she addd quickly and her mood seemed to lighten. “And anyway, I’m keen to learn all about these challenges. I think it’s a disappointment that we don’t do the trials as a rule any more. Not that they’re necessary, but I think they teach you a lot about yourself.”

[member="Orihime Ike"]

 

[Orihime Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

Orihime was looking at her and she wondered about it but there was something of a problem with that. She didn't really know what they might see when looked at from the outside. The Silvers were a lot more like the old jedi who abandoned the Republic after the Pius Dea when they went into isolation. Yes they did things but they also more of less tried to let the galaxy correct itself. orihime was looking at more of the island itself with a grin on her face here before they moved around with everything that they had goin on. Orihime could see more of the village and they were sitting around the area and Jarl turned around to look at the two of them. "You two are welcome, the children we have been working with and caring for are eager though they are training in the catacombs." She was looking at more of it here, Orihime was able to see the village and the mountain as there was a base. "What is up there?" She asked it and the red headed woman looked up. "That is the fallout shelter, for storms and in case of attack. It isn't great but it is sticked up and leads to a private cove we can escape to another island. The creatures that have been brought here over the years make sure no one goes to the northern side of the island."

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel was aware she’d never discussed politics with anyone, let alone the Silver Jedi Order’s. She was at home on Voss because of their philosophy with the Force and the Code and not because of any form of government they represented.

Did it really matter? Probably not, but she was both surprised and considered at the prospect that an isolated Jedi group simply chose to ignore the Silvers. It was something she resolved to discuss further when she returned to Voss. Orihime would be a good person to speak to. And her Master and probably anyone else she could find — but especially Thurion and Coci. Not that she planned to change anything, she just wanted to know their position.

But here and now they had the Children of the Jedi to talk to.

“Could I ask which creatures?” Sorel enquired, genuinely interested.

[member="Orihime Ike"]

 

[Orihime Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

Orihime was curious as well when they were going around and it gave her a few places or ideas she might be able to see. The island was a wonderful place and now sun seemed to be coming out overhead through the mist and fog that still surrounded them. The jedi master motioned for them a small place that they would be able to sit. "Well there is some of the most dangerous creatures from a time when we have not really gotten to learn about within the jedi order or here on the world. My grandmother named her binky." She said it as a joke but the idea of something dangerous named binky well it was a strange thing but might have been a coping mechanism.. if you had to live near something that could attack you and eat you.... you did want to at least not have to worry about it all of the time.

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel was unsure if she should laugh or not at the notion of a deadly predator named Binky. “I would be keen to know how you ensure the creatures don’t simply come into the areas you live in and run amok. Do you have some way of corralling them, either through technology or the Force?” If there was a way, then Sorel for one would be keen to find out.

Having asked her question, she sat where the woman indicated and reflected on the fact that the clouds were clearing and the sun and blue sky were starting to show through.

[member="Orihime Ike"]

 

[Orihime Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

Orihime was looking around and the jedi pointed to the large mountains that had mist and snow caps on them. "Natural barriers, while some fo the creatures get over and around, they are sheer in many places and going around the island there are cliffs that they do not go down. It is something natural for now but people have found the island before and tried to exploit it. The sith at one point tried to build a military base on the northern side of the island with the creatures and brought some fo their own that are now stuck there. Their base is all that remains." She said it and Orihime could see some places there where they might have everything and there was some parts. "And there are ways you know how to get through?" She was wondering. "Yes, there are some passages and tombs we have made to get through the mountain itself and we know how to keep it safe and secure."

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel looked at where the Jedi indicated. The island had a natural barrier in the ocean, and the mountains and cliffs were a perfectly sensible way of keeping the creatures at bay — although in her experience, if the predators wanted to get around here enough, they would find a way. Clearly they were relatively content where they were for now.

“I am guessing that you use the underground rooms and passages a lot, both to keep you safe from prying eyes and the elements.”

[member="Orihime Ike"]

 

[Orihime Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

Orihime was looking at her and all around. "Yes, we use them in case of storm or if anything big comes around or for medical needs. The rooms are the most sterile that we can get for it. We have some old generators to cleana nd protect the air inside but not much else. We grow our own food and have a supply of fresh water. There are some creatures around here that we raise for food and supplies the Va-La-Ta and a small trade Ca-Yo tribe on a small island. They produce materials we can weave into clothing. We can catch the Tova-Ra that are in the small ponds and pits... The small ones at least. The larger ones can be nasty but if prepared we are able to get here." Orihime could see they had freshwater along with all of the things here. She liked the look of it though and the scent of the food was there as they prepared some more of it. "We also have regular classes that are meant to teach the padawans farming and organization. Some get to use boats but the reefs and rocks around here in the water is very dangerous."

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel listened and — as was her way — wondered how she would have managed if she’d been born here instead of being taken by the Jedi to Coruscant at an early age. No space travel was the obvious difference and a much simpler way of life. But also a sheltered way of life.

Sorel was not a Jedi for being a Jedi’s sake. She did it to benefit the greater good. And she wondered what motivated the Jedi here to be Jedi given they had no enemies and no evil to fight and no weak to protect. But she kept her opinions to herself.

“It all sounds wonderful,” she said, honestly. “You have what you need and you make do with what you have. It all sounds very resourceful and peaceful. And I’m guessing you don’t have many visitors from off-planet?”

[member="Orihime Ike"]

 

[Orihime Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

"SOmetimes people come here, they arrive, they go to the islands. They visit the mainland. We don't get many of them thanks to all of the natural barriers and there are some creatures this far out that are a lot larger compared to the other islands. There are a number of other places where they can meet and trade with some fo the locals." THe woman was remaining there as some of the others came in and Orihime could see they had their own pets. The yellow and grey mice that were the size of a small canine in many cases. She also saw some parts of it for them both to look over at. "THis all looks most impressive though and you have survived whatever there was you needed to activate the beacon for?" She was curious but the woman gave a small quick nod of her head. "It was activated when a great plague came to the island. We needed help but if it was here it was likely elsewhere. Then suddenly it was over and we weren't hearing from many people."

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel smiled. It was good that the children on the island had access to outsiders and most likely to external news. Being totally isolated was not necessarily healthy for everyone.

And the longer they remained, the more Sorel understood their way of life better. It was not the remote existence she first suspected it would be but instead seemed a perfectly normal way of living.

And she thought she knew them well enough to ask a question — a searching one. “I hope you don’t mind me asking but as a Jedi, I believe that I exist to defend the weak and uphold the greater good. How do you manage that if you’re here on this island?”

[member="Orihime Ike"]

 

[Orihime Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

Hmm Sorel was looking at some fo the things, trying to figure out parts of them until the jedi master was speaking looking them over and at the rest of the equipment. "We don't protect many other people, we can try, we can offer our services and in some places the jedi are known but here within the island we do as much as we can as jedi to practice and study the force itself." ORihime herself was moving now as all of them started moving in her seat a little. She had a few ideas and thinking aout it well the jedi protected but when they didn't have that to do they usually meditated and tried to learn what they could. About the force, about themsleves and about life. Living on an island like this there could be a lot of interest.

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel nodded. If there was a possibility she might stand in judgement of them, the faint likelihood evaporated as the woman explained how they remained true to the Code and more importantly dedicated most of their life to studying the Force.

“In a way, it sounds like an idyllic life. For me, I could not devote my entire life to be somewhere like here — but for a period of time, say a year or five, it would be a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the Force and myself.”

[member="Orihime Ike"]

 

[Orihime Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

Orihime had to agree with Sorel on that, this wasn't something she could think of doing forever but as a small here and there they might be able to figure something out and if the Silver jedi could work with them. This could be something of a retreat... well okay she was thinking about it and looked at Sorel. "If we can work with them, this could be something for jedi. Think of it, all the war, all the chaos. Sending them to an island like this that you can learn and focus on the force but not have the constant threat of war." It was a small thing and compred to many others who she had met who would take the jedi path and prefer to go off on their own this was a way to keep in. Let a jedi refocus themselves before she had a couple more ideas tough seeing the other children.

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel nodded at Orihime’s logic. “If we knew a Jedi was in conflict, where better to encourage them to come and reflect on their emotions and thoughts? Maybe a Jedi that was at risk of turning might be saved. It makes an awful lot of sense.”

She turned to face her host. “Not that we were considering sending all our problems to you, but I suspect the environment here would be conducive to meditation and reflection without the distractions of the outside galaxy.”

[member="Orihime Ike"]

 

[Orihime Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

The red haired woman, Jarl looked at Sorel and she was built like a mountain of a women with skill and power in the force so it would go a long way but more then that as Orihime thought about it there was a lot here. "Well problem cases can be a thing but we are also surrounded with a lot of children some from force families that have likely disappeared from the galaxy. The Qel-Droma and Sunrider lines were some of the first and they continue to be part of this community. When the jedi were being purged many of them came here seeking refuge and to blend in took wives, husbands, had children and families. I wouldn't want to risk all of them though for jedi who are falling. We have remained hidden from the darkside this long but to center jedi there are crystal caves here that radiate the lightside and can help center a person."

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel nodded her understanding.

“It was no more than a thought and please don’t think we saw this as some refuge for dangerous Jedi. But the principle is sound, a retreat somewhere natural — an island such as this — where reflection and meditation would be more easy to embrace.”

“Although finding one that is built on top of crystal caves might be a tall ask. And on that subject, do you know what sort of crystals? They’re something of a pet subject of mine.”

[member="Orihime Ike"]

 

[Orihime Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

She was looking at her and one of the smaller padawans came up, the little girl holding on her shoulders one of the larger casks before Jarl was speaking with a small look on her face. "THe crystals that are here on the island are kyber crystals and we have discovered a number that resonate with life. The lifeform communicates for those who know how to listen and communicate but only a few show the talent. Ah padawan Vao, her family is one of the oldest here on the island and they create some of the finest infusions." Orihime was listening and sticking aorund here she was curious as the cask was put down and she didn't know about booze but she knew about construction and was looking at it there when she touched it. Shaped crystal and glass with a small look on her face. "This looks very nice and you can pracically sense the force within it. What does it do?" She looked at the blue skinned padawan as her lekku twitched. "It is for your health and filled with everything you need daily. This one has been set aside and gaining potency with the crystal casks. This is I believe four thousand years old."

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel was well aware of kyber crystals. Many Jedi and Sith used them for their sabers — although she had never taken an inclination to find them personally.

And then the conversation went into an entirely new direction that was partially confusing and in many ways exciting. Infusions? As in a drink? And something like tea or something alcoholic? And Force infused? The potential was immense and Sorel’s interest was definitely piqued.

“Four thousand year’s old? It’s power must be immense?”

[member="Orihime Ike"]

 

[Orihime Ike]

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

Orihime was looking at her and then at it as she had to agree... it had to be strong... or it might have turned by now... you could never be certain as she knew with a number of things they had. Though the host of this on the island was opening it or at least having it there with them for celebration. This seemed to be something that all of them would be able to really see as Orihime sat there with Sorel and she was not exactly certain about what they had to do. She was just looking at it and there were a number of them all around with them showing it off, showing them places they would be able to sit around at the table to eat some food and celebrate. She could see them getting at a pit where it had been and the sharp scent of meat that was cooking was right there. Pulling it up and a massive chunk of meat was all there ready for them. They were getting some drinks and food to celebrate. "After we eat and drink. I will show you around soem fo he other places here. We have some recovered texts and holocrons."