Light Even In Darkness

[Res'uul Tevin]

(As a side note, I figured setting this as "Looking for Faction" would make it easier for me to find the faction I'm looking for, rather than "Public". It is open to anyone, but I am looking for the Silver Jedi right now, so if your character can guide me to them, do participate. If I need to change the prefix, do let me know.)

Res'uul had wandered Kashyyyk for quite some time. In that time, he had been robbed and threatened on his first day. It seemed prejudice existed everywhere, not just among his own species. The Sith made his way through the streets, passing several Wookiees who only gave him passing roars and grunts, none of which he understood. It would take him a while to understand the native people. It would be a good idea, as he planned on making Kashyyyk his new home.

He had heard of an order of Jedi based here on Kashyyyk. Would they accept him? Most people believed Sith Purebloods only radiated darkness, a hatred for others, or a combination of the two, and were strictly meant to be of the Sith Empire or First Order or whatever evil organizations existed in the galaxy. But not him. He would show that they could be different. He didn't exactly have anyone to ask about where the Silver Jedi were located, as no one would speak to him, and the only ones that would were the ones he could not understand. He assumed every growl or roar meant a different thing, but he wasn't educated in their language. He decided to try his luck anyhow, see if they could use gestures or something. "Excuse me, I'm looking for a certain temple. Can you point me in the general direction?" He hoped the furry creature had an idea of what he was talking about, and gave it ample time to process. The creature shrugged, made a slight roar, and pointed in a direction. East, maybe, he couldn't tell right now. "Well, thank you for trying. That way it is, I suppose." He decided to joke with the Wookiee as he departed, trying his language out, hoping not to butcher it entirely, he had never spoken it before. "Wooo hwa hwa?" <<Nice weather, huh?>> He reached out with the Light, and hoped it would guide him. He had heard of a code the Jedi use, and repeated it to himself in his head. Perhaps it would make the Light stronger.

 

[GhostOfProtocol]

[member="Res'uul Tevin"] | [member="Asaraa Vaashe"]​

Kashykkk​

852 ABY​

​

He rolled slowly to his feet, bare skin hitting soft carpet beneath him. His quarters wasn't great but they were good enough, they did the job that they were designed to do. He preferred his quarters from The Jedi Order as he had customised that and made that his but he knew that he couldn't have that anymore. He ran his hand through his hair, he couldn't be bothered to sort it out but he needed to do something with it.

He was a year older.

Twenty eight years old. It was weird to him to think that he was older now, a year older. He didn't feel older but he knew that it was the toll of the war currently raging through the galaxy, tearing it apart. He was becoming more mature in his age, his wisdom increasing with his experience in the galaxy. It was weird, strange but somewhat useful. Knowledge that would help in the future was good.

Asaraa had almost become a friend to him. Since that night out in the Silver Watch they'd grown more close. Kei almost assumed that she would be trying to rattle something up for his birthday, that was her thing, She was small and hyper but she was feirce and honestly loyal to a fault. She was probably one of his most trusted allies, probably just below Ar'ekk and Jerit, his squad mates and his friends.

He closed his eyes, and opened out his mind with the force.

The force was useful. It allowed him to clear his mind, to think and feel. It allowed him to calm himself, breathe and focus on something else. The force was something present in every human, everything. It was calming to have that moment of focus and that moment of peace. It opened him up though, he'd been used to hiding his force powers for so long thanks to training from [member="Lady Kay"] and opening himself up with still something he wasn't used to.

Anyone could feel his presence.

 

[Asaraa Vaashe]

Well, that made things easier, too easy in fact. The young woman sighed, slipping her hands into the pockets of her robes a desolate expression on her face. When people did that they just made it too easy! What was the point of having to search, to stalk and hunt down someone if they lit themselves up as if they were some kind of space beacon? Keeping her skills up was hard enough at the moment without her friends making her life that much easier. Seriously, it was enough to make you cry.

The young woman let a dissatisfied grimace settle over her features as she closed her eyes, letting the force guide her towards the radiating beacon in her mind. Well, at least she could get some kind of practice in today, even if it was sensing things without seeing them. It didn't take the Togruta long to reach the temple, to climb up to where Kei was...meditating. "Seriously."

Blue eyes flicked open, a playful look of annoyance settling on the girl's features as she crossed her arms over her chest. "On this day of all day, you're actually going to sit here and meditate?" She reached out one slim finger, jabbing it lightly into her friend's shoulder, "You should be, I dunno, painting the town red, or blue I guess. Doing something more exciting, something to celebrate, and before you ask Ar'ekk spilt the beans so, well yeah you're not getting out of this. I mean at least get out of the temple today."

[member="Kei Raxis"] | [member="Res'uul Tevin"]

 

[Res'uul Tevin]

Res'uul made his way into the wilderness of Kashyyyk, reaching out with the Force and letting it guide him to where he needed to be. He had been walking for quite some time, but he felt another side of the Force reaching out in the opposite direction, in front of him. It radiated a calm that he had only known since he got to Kashyyyk, since he had first felt the Light that pulled him so far as to journey to the planet's surface. The Pureblood made his way through unknown wilderness and eventually reached a temple. "Well, this is where it led me, but is this their temple?.." He reached out again, trying to feel if the same connection he felt approaching the temple was there. Sure enough, he felt something, but whether or not it was the same, he had no idea. He hoped it was, he was defenseless. No weapon, no nothing. Only the Force. He hoped that was enough.

He walked up to the temple, still wearing that same robe he had been wearing when he got to Kashyyyk, the brown cloth up over his head and around his face, keeping him shielded from the elements for the most part. "Let's just hope I don't immediately get cut in half the second I get up there.." And with that, he began a slow ascent to the temple's grounds, channeling his Force energy outwards. It wouldn't be too hard for his energy to be detected, especially here.


[member="Asaraa Vaashe"] [member="Kei Raxis"]

 

[GhostOfProtocol]

[member="Res'uul Tevin"] | [member="Asaraa Vaashe"]​

Kashykkk​

852 ABY​

​

​

His eyes opened slowly.

He'd felt the presense of Asaraa before she'd even arrived at his door. He had almost willingly let her enter his room and find him, eyes closed. He had happily let her find him metitating on the force. He felt comfortable with her near, almost letting his guard down. He felt relaxed, she was so easy to be around and he was the polar opposite. It was almost as if she was north and he was south or she was The Galactic Alliance and he was The First Order.

He didn't expect her to know it was his birthday, he was honestly surprised that Ar'ekk knew the date of his birthday. He was even more surprised that he had remembered that it was his birthday. Normally birthday's were just a normal day, especially during his time in exile after the situations that had occured prior. He hardly remembered what it was like to celebrate, what it was like to go out and drink.

"Sometimes I think you forget that we're complete opposites. A birthday is just a normal day, we still need to study and learn from the force Asa"

He offered her a grin as he climbed to his feet. He used the force to pull his leather jacket towards him, sliding it over his tunic. He sat down on the edge of his bed, pulling his boots towards himself and sliding them on, covering the ankles of his trousers with ease. He fastened them, yawning. He run his hands through his hair again, gripping an elastic band from the side and using it to tie his hair back from his face, using it to keep his hair from his eyes.

"But once, I was the exact same as you. If I know you and I know what I was like back when I was your age, you probably have a range of activities lined up. Therefore, lead the way"

 

[Asaraa Vaashe]

The Togruta arched an eyebrow, giving Kei a long flat glance, “You know, I’m not entirely sure if it’s a good or a bad thing to be like a younger version of you,” she let her lips curl up into a playful smile. “Are you saying my path is already set out because I have to be absolutely honest, I don’t think I’d make it as a smuggler I have to be honest, not a tricky bone in my body,” she let the silence drag for a beat before winking at him, “Though that’s saying nothing about my skin, now that is tricksy.”

The Togruta hopped backwards a few steps, clasping her hands behind her back as she grinned at her friend. “As it just so happens that I do have a few plans for the day, it’s not good for you to spend all your time trapped up here thinking about the deeper mysteries of the force, I mean in the end life is there to be enjoyed right?” The young woman lifted one foot off the floor, pirouetting on one foot as she spun to face the door, “I figure a nice breakfast in town, there’s this great Wookie café, they do a mean steak and then we’ll see how you feel about base jumping from trees I mean have you seen some of the monsters they have here? Sure there might be a few creatures waiting for us at the bottom, but it’ll be worth it and we can handle it right?”

The last was spoken over her shoulder as she disappeared through the door. “Of course, if you’re scared you can always stay here…I promise not to tell too many people.” The lilt of her voice, the light in her eyes was challenging as she started towards the door, not waiting to see if Kei would follow her. She’d thrown out the challenge, so now it was upto him to see if he’d respond. She hoped he would, he spent entirely too much time worrying about things and not enough just enjoying himself.

At least that was her plan, right uptil the point she felt someone approaching, lit up with the force like a beacon. A sense of a person she didn’t know, someone getting closer and closer. She could feel her lightsaber at her hip, where it always was, Kei close behind her as she took a deep breath and pulled herself up on the stairs, dropping down the side of them as she caught the force, slowing her descent as she seemed to slow in the air, landing on the ground, in a crouch, the fingers of one hand just pressing against the floor as she absorbed her momentum before standing, staring at the entrance to the Silver’s Rest.

[member="Kei Raxis"] | [member="Res'uul Tevin"]

 

[JackMonroe]

Brium Tallistor always had a specific arrangement with the Academy, and the Jedi Order. He would help when needed, and wander in the meantime. It was here on Kashyyyk so close to the Order that Brium was enamored, taking in the dense flora and healthy air that a long-time presence of the Light side has helped create. The planet was once again populated with Wookies and local animal life in the absence of political turmoil. He stopped walking, viewing two robed Jedi in the distance. He had grown so accustomed to masking his force presence, he had forgotten the likely chance of spooking a possible patrol.

"Hello there." He called out. "Aren't the wroshyr trees beautiful this time of year?"

 

[Res'uul Tevin]

He continued walking, not bothering to mask his presence at all, as he had no need to, nor did he know how. He continued moving toward the temple, and it was clear he was unarmed, as his cloak blew with the wind. Unfortunately for him, it also revealed his Pureblood status as the hood dropped from his head. He was sure the Jedi did not discriminate based on the race of the ones who sought them out, but he was also slightly nervous that they would attack him on sight, or at least ask a million questions about who he was and why he was there, who he worked for, things like that. Most people don't seem to trust Sith. However, he was oblivious as he kept his eyes closed, feeling with his force connection for the moment.

Almost immediately he felt two other presences, both seemingly radiating with the light, just as he hoped he was. He didn't have much, if any of the dark side in him, but his short time on Korriban when he was born could have tainted his connection to the force somehow. That planet held only darkness, and he knew that as a child, when he was forced to leave.

[member="Asaraa Vaashe"] [member="Kei Raxis"]

 

[JackMonroe]

"A young Sith!" Brium said in relish, approaching the young man.

"Don't mind me. Just reaching out...so, Res'uul is it? I'm Brium Tallistor."

 

[Res'uul Tevin]

He looked to the man that had approached him, not feeling the man's Force presence, but it was clear he was a Jedi of some sort, the robe pointed that out. Not many people wore them, and those who did were either Jedi, Sith, or perhaps even politicians, but he'd never seen a politician in one. "Should I ask how you knew my name, or should it be obvious to me? I appreciate your introduction, but forgive me for being slightly suspicious. You show up, and already know my name, within days of me arriving here. I don't mean to offend you, but how exactly did you know who I was?" The Pureblood stood before him not with anger, but curiosity. Was there some way the Force let the user know someone's name, or other details? Was he unintentionally famous? Or was it just a strange coincidence that Brium knew his name? He was probably thinking too much into this.

@JackMonroe @Asaraa Vaashe [member="Kei Raxis"]

 

[JackMonroe]

Brium grinned.

"I've known many pureblood Sith in my time, lad. You're the least hotblooded one I've ever met. No wonder you were drawn to this place."

He let go of his force mask, attuning himself back to the connected universe. "I know just enough when I looked inside. I didn't linger, just poked around. I can feel a presence beyond the cordial words you speak. The flame to your wick." He chortled to himself.

"We exist past these mortal shackles. Beyond this matter is a different plane of being. The Force is all. And the only thing stopping one like yourself from accessing a deeper understanding is your own interpretation and boundaries. You can sense one's presence, yes? What about their state of conscious? Their emotions? Motivations? Guarded secrets...? It is this power many in history have possessed."

"Many have abused it. Used it to manipulate and coerce their own reign into existence. It is why I don't teach to any. But I have been gifted with a Sight, young Jedi. And it is telling me to put my trust in you. For once I was a Sith, and through a deeper knowledge of the force, I was redeemed."

He looked at the young pureblood.

"You don't have a lightsaber. In a matter of happenstance, I've carried this item with me since I've parted ways with it's previous owner." Brium pulled an additional somewhat rusted lightsaber hilt from underneath his billowing robes, tossing it to the young man.

"This was carried by a good friend of mine once. He tried to betray me, feeding from the dark side."

 

[GhostOfProtocol]

[member="Res'uul Tevin"] | [member="Asaraa Vaashe"] | [member="JackMonroe"]​

Kashykkk​

852 ABY​

​

​

Kei followed Asaraa from his quarters.

Of course he did. He was a Raxis, he enjoyed a challenge and Asaraa was offering him a great day full of challenges. It was going to be oddly enjoyable, a day when they could forget about the stress of the galaxy and focus on having fun instead of studying the force and attempting to learn more about how the galaxy worked and how the force could be used to impact the galaxy in one way or another.

"Why would it be a bad thing to be a young version of me? I was amazing"

He grinned as they walked through the temple. Kei was excited, he was more surprised that someone remembered his birthday than anything else. He was looking forward to the new experiences, getting to show the reckless streak that he was pretty sure was still buried in him somewhere, he just wasn't sure where it was. He knew that he could be reckless sometimes, he just wondered if he'd become too broody to know.

Then he saw the two figures at the door to The Silver Rest.

"Well. Okay then?"

 

[Res'uul Tevin]

Res'uul caught the hilt that had been given to him, and he examined it for a while. He flinched at the words that Brium had spoken about the Dark side, as that was one thing he did not want to be a part of. But.. Brium had also called him a young Jedi.. So maybe hope wasn't lost for him. He wasn't going to immediately turn to the Dark just by holding this thing. In fact, he wasn't even sure if it had a source of power. Either way, he wouldn't check right now. No use in spooking any Jedi that might be around. Speaking of.. "Do I need a lightsaber yet? A little bit rushed, don't you think? I barely know what the Force can do for me.. Much less how to wield one of these..Also, don't most Jedi make their own when they complete their trials, or have we moved past that system?"




[member="Kei Raxis"] @JackMonroe @Asaraa Vaashe

 

[Asaraa Vaashe]

"No, you're right," Asaraa stepped up to the entrance, a curious look on her face as she observed the unusual pair standing there. "Mostly you'll be given a training saber, or your master might give you one of their old sabers until you're ready to construct your own. Of course, you could always lose the saber and have to go out to try to make your own." A rueful smile touched the young woman's lips as a small laugh shook her frame. "In the end, I think it's all about the individual, all about your path and how ready you think you are." The Togruta glanced over her shoulder, at the man coming up behind her. "The trials...aren't so much about your lightsaber as you as a person. Not every Jedi goes through the trials, I think if you do or not depends a lot on your master and what he, or you know she, thinks. Everyone, each padawan, each master are different, so the way things go is always different."

[member="Res'uul Tevin"] | [member="Kei Raxis"] | [member="JackMonroe"]

 

[JackMonroe]

"Yeah." Brium added, smiling. "Can't hurt to learn at the earliest convenience. Never know when someone's gonna try and lop your head off."

"You have quite the conflict in yourself. Be sure, and more importantly, be. And you do build one of those laser swords yourself when you finish your trial. When that day comes, and I'm sure it will, you can chuck that thing for all I care. In the meantime, I'm in the barest terms apart of the Order, which means I come when needed. But I've been looking for a pupil, you could say. And above a deeper understanding of the force, or the bladesmanship of a Master, I teach being secure in oneself. The sharpest blade one can possess is their mind."

"Why don't you give that thing a go and get some practice in?" Brium approached Res'uul, tilting the hilt the opposite way. "Now we're facing the right direction. Button's right there, don't point it in your eye and make sure you don't hit any trees around here with it, unless you wanna be bantha fodder for angry wookies. All the weight's in the hilt. No pressure." He chortled.

He turned to Asaara and Kei, bowing deeply.

"I don't think we've met. It's an honor to an old man to see devoted young keepers of the Force."


[member="Res'uul Tevin"]

 

[Res'uul Tevin]

Res'uul decided to take Brium's advice and at least try out using it. It could prove useful in an emergency someday. He activated it, smart enough to point away from everyone else, not wanting to skewer anybody with the thing. He observed the blade's color and the general physics of the saber, taking a rather rudimentary stance and giving it a few light swings to test it out, moving a little further from everyone as he did so, not wanting to cause any damage to the wildlife especially. He deactivated it shortly after, walking back to the group. "Hm.. Well, it's not nearly as bad as I believed it to be. I expected things to go much worse within the first few seconds." He looked to Asaraa and nodded. "I am eager to begin, now that I have found the purpose I have been searching for most of my life. Who it is under doesn't matter to me much, so long as I remain true to who I am. I won't fight anyone unarmed, and I won't kill anyone innocent. Those are really the two rules I have for myself. I would presume that goes for the others as well." The familiar stroking of the chin tendrils accompanied him, as he thought for a moment.

@JackMonroe @Asaraa Vaashe [member="Kei Raxis"]

 

[JackMonroe]

"Heh, that's a good start. But I wouldn't underestimate unarmed foes. Any Master here could beat even a skilled saber wielder with both hands behind their back and the use of the Force." He put a hand on Res'uul's shoulder.

"Good to hear!" He looked at Asaara and Kei. "I'm gonna take this sleemo to my ship. I hope you like reading century-old texts. Shall we?" He began walking away from the Order's walls, levitating himself over patches of bramble and flora.

Brium reached his junker gunship, hitting a panel above the landing modulator to activate the ramp in. He climbed aboard, tossing a worn leather book in the man's direction.

"Path of Mind, written even before my time." He chuckled. "Meditation, Force Empath and Energy Suppression are all spelled out in there. Your first three tasks before our mission."

[member="Res'uul Tevin"]