Private Intersections of Faith

[Vendra Vane]

V'SHAR
- Naklian Wilds -

V'Shar, like many worlds in Wild Space, was both isolated from various galactic institutions and home to a unique species yet unassimilated by any major power; the Ka'hren. Their population numbered in the few million, rather than the billions, and if any lived off-world they would be a very rare sight indeed. Yet their culture was not entirely unknown to the rest of the galaxy, particularly because of their cultural relics--Rantok swords and ancient texts--which were highly sought after by private collectors.

Vendra Vane was here not to despoil but instead sought something far older than the Ka'hren. A conduit to the Force, a knot in the universe where the threads of existence past and future could be felt strongly. Such places were often found in caverns where strange crystals grow and stranger entities make their home, and their presence reached out to those who could feel it. The Dark Jedi was not among them, though she could wield the force she could not feel it. It did not call to her, it did not lead her, at least not in any way she could presently witness. Rumors and bought information are what brought her to this place, to the Wilds some trek from her landing spot, and she walked this path alone while her warship the Last Apologies hid in the radiation storm of a nearby Gas Giant.

She stood atop a hill and glanced down at the valley below, the rocky outcrops of the cavern system visible in the distance. Here it is said that prophets, scholars, and force sensitives came. Some to find thoughtful solitude, others to hide amidst prosecution or sulk in their moments of depression. For Vendra it was a shot at the answers, a way to confront the every elusive nature of the Force. To tear away at he shroud and finally witness what the Seer saw. To make sense of her own time in a cave not unlike this one, a memory that would not relinquish its hold on her throat so long as she remained blind to the Force that taunts her.

Of course like all days, this day was not to play out exactly as the Mirialan intended.

Amani Serys | Ran Serys

 

[Amani Serys]

V'Shar was not a planet Amani Serys-Organa had ever been to before. Nor was it one she felt particularly compelled to visit, until a mere few days ago.

In her deep contemplation and meditation following the dramatic events on Hapes, Amani found herself visited by passing dreams of this world unknown to her. The Force, it seemed, was trying to invite her. Amani visited the archives for further research, seeking the help of her cousin, Ran, in seeking out this location. When the destination became clear, the two mirialans made the journey together.

The lure grew stronger the closer they got to V'Shar. More than just a metaphysical whisper; The nexus resonated clearly with power even before they hit the surface. "I imagine whatever it is we're looking for will be somewhere within this nexus." Amani hypothesized as they touched down on the outskirts of the cavern, "Are you ready?"

Ran Serys - Vendra Vane​

 

[Ran Serys]

"I don't know." Ran answered Amani. "I mean- I am ready but I don't know if what we're looking for will be in the nexus." The Knight explained to her cousin. As Amani had eyes on the cavern, Ran had her eyes on the hilltops. She felt something in the pit of her stomach, and in the force. Her instincts hummed a word of warning at her, but that's all it was, imprecise feelings and impressions.

"Something is off in this valley. The nexus is too… encompassing. So much so that I can't seem to put my finger on what it might be." Ran sighed. "I suppose worrying about it won't get us anywhere though. Lead on, Cousin," The Knight removed her gaze from the hilltops and gave her fellow Jedi a reassuring glance. "I trust your instincts more than my own at the moment."

As Ran padded along the ground, she stopped and admired the cave mouth. "This cavern. I wonder why it is at the center of this nexus. I also wonder on what could be awaiting us inside."

Tags: Vendra Vane Amani Serys
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[Vendra Vane]

A ship... First, it was identified by the distant sound, a crack through the atmosphere, and then Vendra caught a glimpse of light as it reflected off the object. Her eyes scanned the horizon, trying to judge how big it was and thus determine how far away it landed. It seemed close enough that she wondered if possibly whoever was aboard had similar intentions.

"Unlikely," she muttered to herself. Still, it would have been one hell of a coincidence.

Vendra continued to move, slowly trekking along the hilltop until she found a convenient way to slide down. It was a steep drop and an uncomfortable distance, but with some precautions and a little help from the force, it wouldn't be hard to survive unharmed. At the bottom was the muddy valley between the rocky foothill and the caverns.

She continued, cutting the distance with some vigor as she worried whoever the ship brought might have--if only possibly--followed her. A long way for an enemy to hunt someone, but you grew to befriend 'unnecessary caution' when your job usually involves pissing someone off on behalf of another.

With the Apologies out of contact range and her shuttle more than a kilometer away, Ven had to rely on herself out here.

Amani Serys | Ran Serys

 

[Amani Serys]

"It's wise to stay vigilant. The nexus grants us strength but that strength can also cloud our judgment." Amani said, trying to disconnect herself from that which lured her here for but a moment.

"This cavern. I wonder why it is at the center of this nexus. I also wonder on what could be awaiting us inside."

"I'm not sure. But nexuses are sometimes tied to significant events or organisms with links of the Force. Kyber crystal caves, sites of costly battles, homes of powerful Force entities." Amani shrugged, "Or perhaps it is merely a place in which the Force has deeply rooted itself." The Jedi Master stepped inside, igniting her lightsaber pike as a light source, illuminating their immediate surroundings in a pale white light.

Ran Serys - Vendra Vane​

 

[Ran Serys]

"I suppose we'll have our answer soon enough." Ran said, igniting her lightsaber alongside Amani's pike. As the duo entered the darkness the royal blue and pale white glow of their blades mixed in areas to become a brilliant palette of soft light blues. It was as if the clear blue sky had come down into the cave with them in search of whatever compelled Amani to seek this nexus out.

Ran stepped away from her cousin and toward the cavern walls. She noticed small markings, scribblings. The farther they got the older the markings became. What began as close relatives of the Ka'h'ren alphabet became simpler in form, and then unrecognizable. Images and illustrations that evoked story and emotion followed a loss of text. "We knew this cave would be old considering the nexus, but it even predates text, Amani." Ran observed, pointing out the nearly faded cave paintings. "It is hard to read but these beings in the illustrations, they don't resemble the Ka'hren. This seems to promote the idea that the Ka'hren weren't the first beings on V'Shar." Ran continued. As the cavern floor became smooth under foot, ancient architecture began to replace rocky crevices.

Ran's eyes lit up. Even after years of searching for ancient lore and uncovering mysteries of the force in long forgotten temples, she still felt wonder in every new sight. Wonder was replaced by caution as a distant groan resounded from beyond. Machine, man, or was it the ruins that were created with time? The question remained in Ran's mind as she gave her cousin a dubious look, but still continued onward.

Tags: Vendra Vane Amani Serys
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[Vendra Vane]

Careful steps allowed Vendra to clear the muddy field without much difficulty, and now she stood face-to-face with an entrance. It was small, not the mouth proper, but a side entrance one could certainly crawl through. Likely natural or perhaps even dug out by an animal at one point. She squeezed her way inside, and soon tumbled about three feet onto the cold, wet cavern floor.

"Ugh," she moaned at the unexpected drop. It was dark, too dark, and so she withdrew a tube light used to explore such places. Reinforced glass and a red glow, enough to illuminate but one which--hopefully--did not disturb anything that calls this cavern home.

The path went in one meaningful direction, towards roughly the direction where the starship landed, and began her trek deeper inside. The width was about the same, but the vertical height slowly opened up. The walls looked smoothed, carved even. It was an unexpected sight, and very much unlike the cave from her youth. Yet she felt it. For a moment, like a finger tap that echoed inside her skull.

This was a cave of power, and she had to find its source. The Dark Jedi lacked any ability to shroud or minimize her presence in the Force, let alone sense the presence of other Force sensitives nearby. She was wholly unaware that others were already in the cave, and that those others were Jedi.

Amani Serys | Ran Serys

 

[Amani Serys]

"Really?" Amani raised an eyebrow incredulously. The idea that another species had once been here, but never reported till now, sounded like quite the shock. Perhaps it was an ancient progenitor species like the Rakatans.

Some sort of noise stirred deeper within the cavern, but it wasn't that which took Amani's attention next. She focused on something deeper within her senses. She looked at Ran, who was already glancing at her, "Do you feel that?" She waited a moment, then preempting a misinterpreted answer, continued, "Not the sound. The Force. There's someone else still here."

She didn't know who this other was, but they were a fellow Force User, either unable or uninterested in hiding their presence.

Ran Serys - Vendra Vane​