Journey to Ilum

[Lahi Te'ala]

"Feel... the Force..." The white clad angel nodded, seeming fine with taking her partner's method of finding the stones, rather than a more direct and physical way. Her scarf was suddenly untied, and fell to the snow, at the same time when the large white furred jacket's hood was removed, exposing her glowing white features to everyone for the first time on this day. An unfurling of wings followed this movement, eyes shut as she lifted herself off the ground, just barely floating in air. A million thoughts raced in her mind as her eyes were shut, the focus she knew she needed to have refused to come as she imagined the wonders of these crystals, as she pictured herself with her own lightsaber, as she imagined how flying this whole world would be.

The intense wind batted her hair, sending it flowing along the path of the wind, the bright glow pulsating as the Diathim struggled to push the thoughts out of its mind, as it tried to quiet the wandering. There was so much wonder, so many things she wanted to see, but first she needed to focus on what had to be seen now, what she was supposed to see, what was asked of her to find. Her hands spread apart from her body, and she braced herself against the wind, facing directly into it, the windsheer making even her energy-form ache lightly.

It wasn't uncommon for Diathim to travel to Iego, even though it was known as the Demon's Planet. It was terrifying at times, but all of them did it. Most of them got hurt, most came back with injuries, with pains a Diathim would otherwise never experience. But all of them wished to experience it, it was a simple thing, not pleasurable at all, but it was real, it was something all being should feel - and it was for a reason, as the aches on the face of the angelic being showed - a bleeding out of all her other worries, as the aches began to be the only thought.

A crude technique, one that a trained Jedi would never need, she pushed the pain away now, eyes still shut tight as she found her focus with the the aid of the amateur technique. "It guide us." The words did not come from her lips, but a spoken word within her mind, directed towards her partner.Even with the wind, there was no color to her flesh, the pulsating light of her glow simply growing stronger as she flew, arms to her side, reaching, feeling... She didn't look to her partner, but she knew where he was, to her side, she was certain to not leave it, a perfect stillness to her 'flight'. A trust that he would not abandon her, as she found her center.

[member="Dune Rhur"]​

 

[Dune Rhur]

[member="Lahi Te'ala"] rose above the ground and the Bith felt a sense of wonder. Amazing, he thought as he looked to her, and he felt her project her sureness into his mind. She knew beyond any doubt the Force would lead them. He knew it too in that instant.

Reaching out, he felt for a resonance. So near to a sacred Jedi place, the stones would radiate with the Light Side. It didn't take long to feel and he looked to his partner.

"Do you feel that too?" He asked quietly.

 

[000]

Earlier....


Seem with his little incident altercation with one the other padawan down by the temple hangar docks. Having reach the ears of some the Jedi Masters he'd had been called to by a summon.Handed down to him by seem the same Jedi Knight as always but this time sort talk his way out. By say that he would come but only after his assignment at that time was done. Which at best slightly perplex the Knight as to who would assign such a task? But with his coy manner he talks his way to make it seem legit enough that the knight ask he keep where he was as he confirm things. To which he seem comply but as time passed and he sort got bored....that idea of what could be in store for him... would it be just another lengthy lecture or Instruction to head for the Archives where he figures they were most likely assign him. Some extra holocrom reading assignment about god know who or what boring Jedi Master or lore again this time. Hope perhaps in filling his mind with their teaching or ideals could help keep him out trouble. Perhaps instill some sort discipline again to the seem lost padawan who despite his current Master assigned to him. Had yet regain that same kind of commitment or bond he'd share with his former Master. As if anything else a few them still held hope...to make a decent Jedi out him yet. Knowing how promising he had been as a pupil before the dark times. Which ended his apprenticeship to his last Master in a slightly sad and negative note.....

But then being as spunky and bit distracted he was....lost and unsure if or nothing else that here was where his fate truly lies. That despite his better judgement Ronin sort disobeyed and instead. Seeing one of the transport with its hatch top partially open unaware it was being prep for launch sort gave him the idea.Seeing the same Jedi Knight that gave him the summon come his way.......so carefully he sort sneak around. Using skill once learn on life in the streets he sort slip the ground crew notice. Then make the climb he then was successful in silently slip into the exposed hatch and hide out there a bit. When out of the blue the hatch closed before he could get out....and the pressure in the cramp quarters he was stuck in drop. To a point he sort fell unconscious.....unaware where it was heading or even that just below him was the sound of excitement in the air.....as the ship took off with him in tow.

Present....

It was then no sooner had the ship landed that he slowly came thru and was awaken by a strange freezing air. That somehow had been seeping thru the cramp space he was in. And filtering down his very core as it was Ronin was not quite suited up for such environment. Dress only in his standard issue tunic top and pants. Unaware that he was far from the temple he'd been in and was now in the harsh frozen wasteland that was Illum. Stuck in a the ship vents that was by then filtering and pulling cold air from the outside into the engine interior to better cool them down. At which time feeling the deep sense of urgency of not wanting freeze in that cramp space he then began crawl around till he somehow found himself underneath a vent. Which once he tap a few times open and drop him smack dab inside the ship rooms.And face to face with the fact he was not in a place he was supposed be not even the same planet.

 

[Lahi Te'ala]

[member="Dune Rhur"] stirred the Diathim from her pain induced reverie, eyes opening wide, shining with a brightness formerly held back. She could feel something, it was similar to home, a warmth, one that did not fit with the cold, an echo of happiness, the feeling of an embrace, it was so many things at once. The Diathim suddenly fell to the ground, crouching in the snow as she pulled herself up, and righted her hood, seeming a little disoriented as she spoke, "Is Light, around us. So much." Her hand moved back to her Bith partner's, taking it again as she began to move, "Will follow. Find stones. Together." There was warmth all around her, she could feel the warmth in the Bith's hand, despite the layers keeping it separated.

On her own, Lahi would be lost, she would be distracted, but with her partner, she could feel the warmth that they would look for, in the stones. Perhaps not the most skilled, or the most refined of methods, but one she could use, one she had with her. The warmth of compassion, of the Lightside, would be their guides.

 

[Jsc]

First Tasks

As the others searched, Karen moved to the rune circle that stood before the Hidden Door. Out of her jacket she pulled a small object. Smiling at it. She placed it back in her pockets. Waiting patiently for the Apprentices to finish their first task.

In her mind it was easy to follow them. The planet watched them. Guided them. Her spirit urging them forward in their task. Indeed, the Force was strong here and it spoke to Karen as well. Teaching her where each student went and showing her mind their footsteps. Ah... It even noticed another. It did appear their was another Apprentice wandering about. Tsk tsk tsk. Just what was a stowaway doing on her ship hmm? Oh my.

She smiled at the thought and remained standing. White as a statue in the snow. Waiting patiently for the Padawans to return. Triumphant.

 

[Julius Sedaire]

[member="Karen Roberts"]

Always one for an entrance, the wandering Knight had been in the vicinity when Karens' little mission had touched down. Unsuccessfully, he had been seeking out the caves in this area himself for a crystal for himself. However, he had been failing pretty spectacularly until just recently when he sensed the various apprentices. It was funny really, and almost tragic. Possibly one of the better lightsaber duelist of his generation, definitely one of quite a bit of skill, and yet his connection to the Force in pretty much anything relating to that talent was shaky and weak at best. And so he had been struggling where some apprentices were not. His time in the drug dens and bottom of the bottle in the Outer Rim still lingered in ways that frustrated him. And the frustration fueled the block, which just set a vicious cycle in motion.

Never the less, he was now wandering directly towards the group in his GE-SL1 suit, which was mostly covered by a few layers of insulation, and the chill fought off by sparing and minimal use of Tapas. A hand was never too far from his lightsaber hilt, scanning though his eyes were. What talents he possessed were almost unparalleled in sensing danger and the like, and so he used those abilities now as he stopped a few inches from Karen, radiating suspicion and caution in easy to feel waves from his Force aura, and waved a hand, trying to be disarming in his voice since the easy smirk and smiling eyes were hidden under the face-wrap he wore.

"Ho there! How goes it?"

 

[Ben Corscifine]

[member="Quinncolson"]

Any frustration that had seized Ben's senses were immediately wiped away as Quinn grabbed his hand and pulled him into the snowy unknown. What replaced the frustration was a sense of sheer wonder. If this woman had picked up on whatever Force signal he had been trying with all of his focus to tap into, she had done it with so much ease and speed that Ben couldn't help but be too amazed for jealousy. It didn't help that she was beautiful, and Ben didn't feel threatened by pretty, powerful things. Only intrigued.

He whisked the thought away immediately, knowing full well that such desires were both dangerous and forbidden by the Code.

Quinn was strong, able to pull the otherwise sturdy young Jedi without much assistance on his part. She was right, too. Ben could feel it. As the pair moved farther into the snow, he could feel the planet calling to once more. Quinn, who had been sprinting, slowed. The Force guided the two as if they were one unit. The landscape, which had before seemed a stretch of indistinct white, came alive with personality. Every curve in the ice and snow was unique, every snowdrift individual. At last, there was clarity in the vastness of Ilum.

"Quinn. Do you feel it? It's right here. We're so close."

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

"Yes I feel it it is so strong we are on top of it." Quinn stops in her tracks she starts to look around intrigued by her and Ben's connection

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

[member="Ben Corscifine"]

 

[000]

[member="Karen Roberts"] [member="Julius Sedaire"]

It was then once he got his bearing back Ronin sort dusted himself as he quickly stood up in attention. Still a bit groggy from having been knocked out and stuck in the air vent for much of the duration of the trip. And only then when the sensation sort slowly return to his extremities that. Slight shot of pain course thru him and he in turn had do bit of stretching to try weed out the pain. Get some those blood circulating enough that he somehow. Pause look around the then empty shuttle that somehow he wasn't where he was before. As with the big temperature change hit him like a tone of brinks from one the slightly open door on the side. Where a lone astro droid of sort was station plug into one the wall outlet by the door. Its small dome sensor dish up high as it could as it tried to pan around make sure all the passenger had departed. And taking some sort reading.... temperature reading or what he wasn't sure. But then as he turn and tried sneak back out of the room. That the droid happen turn just in time catch him and with its nimble wheel legs ran towards him. Stopping briefly to pick up a spare winter jacket from the store room. Which with its small claw hand then hands to him then began to nudge him out the door. Perhaps assuming he was maybe part of the small class that was sent here with the intention to gather their own saber crystal.

It then after much prompting eventually got him out and onto the frozen field outside the field. Alone and feeling the biting cold upon his ill prepared form forced him. To pause and try wrapping the coat round him for warmth.....then looking around lost and unsure what the freezing hell of a wampas rear was he suppose to do? Was this part of his punishment? A nice new creative exercise the Masters had device to teach some new lesson he had no clue about. As in between the bite cold and his still somewhat oxygen deprived brain it was a bit hard to get any semblance of a clear thought thru strait. But then after moment standing there he began to take few tentative steps in the snow....figure maybe if he play along someone or something will happen. That would clue him in as to what or where was he anyway?

But then after walking aimlessly for a while he paused feeling so desperately alone. Take the moment to finally stop take a breather and noticing how his breath seem form into some strange mist. Given how cold it was had sort distracted him for moment as slight pang of sadness wash over him. With it old memories or was they simply another ghost phantom in his somewhat mess up head. But no matter as he stood there looking out at the cold expanse. Seeing the fleece white snow cover ground that in momentary pause sort reminded him of her. His old Master whom had been the closes thing to a Mother or a family he never had. Sit out there in the sand of some distant shore. She tried to help him learn to focus and quiet his mind by bring him to the shoreline once. As she began teach him he had to admit it was hard but in the end he did it. Reminded by the gentle look in her face and her words to him that day.

"....it's only when you silence your mind will you really learn to listen."

It was then he was slowly jolted back to reality with light breeze brush his cheeks and when he open his eyes. Felt a strange change come over him as for whatever reason. He didn't feel quite as cold as before seem as if the thought of that day in the sun. Had felt so real and gave him some sort solace and guidance. That seem his first Master could that it help quiet his mind to somehow hear.....a low hum of sort. Out in the distance towards what appear be some sort of human height indentation jolting out of the ivory snow covered ground. That something call to him to approach and he complied take the few tentative steps forward. As he slowly made his way over to the strange formation and place one his bare hands over it. Feeling a strange sensation wash over him that was coupled with a sort of soothing wave that strange as it would seem. He began rub his hand over its surface to oddly enough to anyone who happen to pass by. That he was a bit funny or crazy dusting the snow off that surface of the stone before him. In what seem be a vain attempt to keep warm when in fact that with every pass of his hand small layers of dirt began fall. Revealing some strange etch writing on the expose surface....

 

[Ben Corscifine]

[member="Quinncolson"]

Still in a sort of trance, the whole planet seeming to guide him, Ben reached out and felt a cold, solid object before him. With a swift and deliberate movement, he wiped a heap of snow off of the stone before which he and Quinn had found themselves. On the face of the great silver stone was an engraving of several stars, caked in ice and some dirt. This was indeed one of the twelve Standing Stones. Ben had found one of the Stones, and didn't even notice that he may have done so first.

That was a first.

As soon as the stone had been revealed, the peace in Ben's mind broke just long enough for him to realize that he and Quinn were still holding hands. It was just a twinge of a realization, but it grew quickly, malignantly, into self criticism. The second self-consciousness re-entered his mind, Ben dropped Quinn's hand, and with it, the connection to the planet which had grown to such a climax moments before dropped away as well. For a moment, Ben wondered if it had been Quinn and not himself that found the Standing Stone. Maybe he wasn't really learning anything for himself after all. She was strong, after all. Surprisingly strong with The Force.

In a moment, Ilum was a just streak of white again. Ice and snow and nothing else. And it was cold. Ben hadn't noticed until this moment, but the wind and snow had taken it's toll on any exposed skin. Roberts hadn't been kidding; even the parts of Ben's body that that were covered in layers of heavy fabric began to feel tight and raw. Ben moved his free hands in an attempt to get the blood circulating. He rubbed them together and licked his chapped lips. He took a deep breath, and let it out slowly. He looked into those piercing purple eyes, unsure if Quinn had felt the Force leave her as he had.

"Well. That's one." He grumbled. "Should we go back and see how the others are doing or keep looking around here."

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

"I think keep looking" Quinn says as she realizes that he dropped her hand

 

[Catherine Romanov]

[member="Karen Roberts"] | [member="Ayden Quell"]

Quinn was not used to the cold. When she had signed up to follow Knight Roberts mission to Illum to procure a lightsaber crystal of her own, she had not expected the planet to be this freezing cold. The redhead was not used to the cold at all. Growing up in the scorching heat of Tatooine with its two suns, she was perfectly used to heat.

The biting cold of Illum was another beast altogether. Despite wearing a winter cloak lined with Wampa fur, she could still feel the tendrils of the cold reaching out to her. Snowflakes floated down from the sky, their ethereal beauty not lost on the young padawan. If she were to look closer on each of the individual snowflakes, she would see the intricate designs on each and everyone of them. She was tempted to stick out her tongue and see what they tasted like, but decided against it at the last moment, what if her tongue froze? That would be bad, very bad indeed.

Quinn was at the tail of the group, too busy admiring the whitish-purple landscape to pay her fullest attention to the rest of the group. By the time she caught up, all the redhead heard was the tail-end of Knight Roberts's orders, instructing them to find the twelve sacred standing stones lodged in the snowy landscape.

These stones would reveal a constellation which would be part of a clue that would allow them entry into the hidden doorway The stones were as tall as a man and shouldn't be too difficult to find with some help. She had also advised them to calm their mind, and use the force as a compass for what they seek. The planet's spirit would not deny them help if they were patient and their intents sincere.

Seeing that the rest of the group had more or less already found their partners to work with, the redheaded padawan began to approached one of the members who remained alone. She saw him gazing towards a snowdrift, before kneeling down into the snowy ground searching for any signs of the sacred stones.

"Hey there. Would you like to search for the stones together?"

 

[Dajara Boshtet]

*looks at thread explode with notifications and goes cross eyed*
ooc: I have no idea where we are, going off karen's last post
@Everyonebecause2Lazy4tagfs

They were off and searching as she moved the little ghostling tip toeing through the snow and ice while she walked in the darker caves. The sensation of the crystals all around her while she felt the others gave her some attentions going deeper and deeper with her eyes flicking back and forth. She had most of her attention on the force and feeling the crystals in the caves while there was the sounds of the others exploring. She got into a darker section and glowed a little brighter to make it shine with veins under the ice while more force energy came out from the small force circlet protect her. Dajara wiping away some of the snow with a smile.

 

[Jacen Voidstalker]

Jacen slapped his gloves together as he approached [member="Karen Roberts"]. "Always forget just how bloody cold it is here!" he exclaimed through a cloud of steam. His gear was well worn, though it looked well cared for. The last time it had in fact been used was on a trip to this very world with Lilin to find a crystal. Though that time they had gone searching through wild caves rather than retreading this particular path.

He could sense a great deal of students spreading out around them. It would certainly get interesting when they started spreading through the depths of the caves.

Sensing a familiar presence, he gently reached out and brushed against the edge of [member="Quinn Byrne"] 's mind. He wasn't here to interfere with either the student's personal journeys or Roberts' instructions, but he let his Padawan know he was here if she had any questions. He'd mostly observe for anyone doing anything particularly stupid. Or just be available to handle the laundering on the way back. Apparently.

 

[Dune Rhur]

[member="Lahi Te'ala"]

"It's that way." The Bith pointed ahead and to the left.

The energy was indeed a focus of the serene power of the world. He nodded to her and they walked for several hundred metres through the snow before stopping near a snow drift. Dune looked to Lahi.

"A standing stone is somewhere beneath the snow here."

He reached out a gloved hand and said to his partner "Let's move the snow together."

He turned his focus back on to the pile and gathered his power....

 

[Ayden Quell]

[member=Quinn Byrne]

Once Ayden's gloved hands dug through the frosted layer of snow, he found only ice; pretty, but not what he was looking for. An inner monologue of frustration was on the cusp, but in the ice he saw a Jedi approach. He saw her before she called out, and so turned as her voice carried across the frigid air. A red-haired woman, Ayden noticed as he stood, shaking the snow that accumulated on his person. She was, he guessed, a few years his junior. Her physique was seemingly fit, though it was hard to tell for sure under her layers of Wampa fur. Her most striking features were her eyes, as bright as the sky on a warm-lit afternoon. They were similar to his own blue eyes, though where hers were exquisite and prominent, his were more subtle, gray, and sad.

A flurry of snowflakes drifted between them. "Yeah..." he paused, briefly stricken. "Yeah, sure. I'm Padawan Quell - Ayden if you prefer." Decorum or not, he left the choice up to her. "You got any ideas on where to search?" His voice was friendly and warm, or as warm as you could get in a place like this.

 

[Jsc]

Chaperons
w [member="Jacen Voidstalker"] & [member="Julius Sedaire"]

As the students continued their search for the 12 standing stones, two fine gentlemen appeared on the door's threshold. Julius, enmasked, and Jacen, open as always. Karen smiled at both newcomers. For on Ilum, all were welcome.

"Welcome Jedi Knights. I am Knight Roberts of The Jedi Order. Chaperon and Hostess of our little party here. Forgive my informal introductions, for I shall be brief. The students here are seeking the twelve holy Standing Stones, which, when found shall open the way forward. Forward that we might explore the caves below and seek new crystals. ...It's all rather routine. I assure you."

She gave a wave of her hand,

"You are free to help them and guide them as you like. And again. Welcome gentlemen. May you find Ilum homely."

___

Partners

Elsewhere the groups and individuals were doing excellent. In fact, [member="Dajara Boshtet"] seemed to be exploring the Crystal Caverns already. Clever girl. Good for her. She could rejoin the group at her leisure. The others had partnered up well.

1. Dune and Lahi.
2. Ayden and Quinn B.
3. Quinn C. and Ben.

Still some preferred to move alone in their task. The stowaway (Ronin), Korrin, and Elizabeth the cutest kitty. Which was fine. May they find success with the Force as their partner. All in good time. The planet could watch and keep them, all.

Again and with a frosty smile. Karen waited patiently near the doors entrance for all to complete their adventure and return. No hurry.

___

 

[Lahi Te'ala]

[member="Dune Rhur"]​

Lahi nodded as the Bith pointed the way towards where he felt the Stone, her eyes closing tight as she felt through the Force, rather than looking at the endless white expanse. The blackness of nothing and her partner to guide her, she continued to focus on the feeling of the Force - there were twelve, after all, and they would need to find more than one stone. One more, to the right of them, another beyond that. She could feel three, at least, and one mo- no, the moving ones must be the other padawans, of course. There was no need for sight, only for feeling.

And then they stopped moving, the first stone right infront of them. She could feel Dune centering himself as he pushed a hand out, and with one hand still holding his, she pushed her own hand out. She had only seen the use of telekinetic abilities once before, and she had no doubts that she could not do it as they did. But she did not need to do it alone, she matched breathing - a function she only had to do when speaking - with her partner, breathing in and out as he did.

----

It was a slow process, and took more than a few moments to begin, but the large snowdrift began to roll, one snowflake at a time, rolling down the hill, lowering the height of the drift. The alien pair did not manage to lift or throw the snow, they did not clear it in an instant, but as they worked, the process moved faster. First the tip of the stone revealed from under the snow, then the beginning of the etchings. It felt unreal to the DIathim, her eyes shut tight, and yet she could feel what she was moving, what she was pushing away from the stone. She could feel herself working in tandem with the Bith at her side, and their combined effort exposed the full stone to the open air, after only a couple minutes - though they may have been some of the most mentally exhausting minutes she had experienced in her lifetime.

"Yes!" She opened her eyes, happily pumping the hand that had been directing the snow into the air, seeming proud of herself, "We did one, Dune! We good-job! Thank you!" She hugged the Bith again, then suddenly released him completely, rushing towards the stone itself, to examine it, eyes wide open as she curiously looked over the entire thing.

 

[Jacen Voidstalker]

[member="Karen Roberts"]

"Yeah I love Ilum. The now remarkably small parts of me threatening to drop off find it particularly homely," Jacen replied. Unfortunately the cold was making him grumpy and he reverted to his more crude mannerisms without any of the padawans in earshot. His family had migrated from tatooine to Coruscant before he was born. He was not a fan of cold weather at all.