Faction [NJO] Knighting Ceremony - Katherine Holt

[Shan Pavond]

Oh by the Force. Shan hadn't been expecting the bear hug out of nowhere. He wasn't sure if he should be worried about having the life squeezed out of him. Of course, there was no reason for him to actually be that worried. He trusted Katherine Holt with his life. Hell, he trusted most of the people around him right now with his life.

Instead, the Mirialan returned the hug. It felt strange. Being so short compared to Katherine. She had seemed tall when she was all the way in front of him but up close, Shan only realised how much of a small green bean he was compared to the woman. It wasn't something he was going to hold against her though. He had no clue what had actually happened, but it had made Katherine happy. So it was for the best.

"It's fine Kat. I kinda...already knew. It's not a huge surprise to me...I mean it is. But it's not like one I wasn't ready for."

 

[Eloise Dinn]

Braze was chill. He even said it was good to see her, a statement she never thought she'd hear him say let alone with sincerity.

Eloise felt Dio's hand very gently touch the small of her back. Unused to being caressed like that, it took her a moment to giddily remember oh yeah, I have a boyfriend now!

Her giddiness faded into a background buzz as the Miraluka introduced himself. Aadhir was his name, and he had indeed attended the ballistakinesis lesson. She smirked at his little joke about holding an illegal disruptor, but the conversation didn't linger on the subject. Probably for the best, given how that lesson had ended.

Apparently Diogo didn't have a master yet, something which seemed to really bother him. He half-seriously suggested she take him on as an apprentice, which Eloise snorted at. "I think that would be a conflict of interest."

"Idunno, dude. Just going with the flow right now. How does someone even decide?"

"Part of it is the Master choosing you, but your choice in master is an equal of not more important aspect. Maybe not with the Council, but for yourself - I passively let myself be assigned to the first master that Council suggested. That... didn't end well. But the Jedi here, these days, are a lot more thoughtful and forward thinking than when I was an initiate."​

"Oh, they still make some pretty boneheaded decisions when it comes to pairing masters with apprentices," Eloise said, in that casual matter-of-fact tone which almost always signaled she was about to say something bold, brutally honest, completely out of pocket - or all of the above. "For example, my master was involved in killing my mother. She's a fine Jedi and all, and apparently she asked to be made my master, but I wonder what the hell was going through their heads." She crossed her arms over her chest, studying Aadhir. "It sounds like you've got an interesting story. What was so bad about your apprenticeship?"

Braze Diogo Talon Aadihr Lidos​

 

[Aadihr Lidos]

Outfit: Clothes, Earring, Bangle
Weapons: Walking stick / Lightsaber Pike

"For example, my master was involved in killing my mother. She's a fine Jedi and all, and apparently she asked to be made my master, but I wonder what the hell was going through their heads."

That was troubling, but the matter of fact tone suggested they had processed or at least compartmentalized it enough to speak openly on it. Moreso - perhaps the master sought to make amends? Aadihr decided it was best not to speculate on stories he did not know.

"It sounds like you've got an interesting story. What was so bad about your apprenticeship?"

Aadihr paused for a moment, considering his words. He did not seek pity nor desire to treat past traumas as a competition.

Clean, clear-cut, and just the facts.

He spoke in a softer tone, not wishing to draw attention in an otherwise celebratory occasion.

"My master was physically abusive and emotionally manipulative. Such treatment of a padawan would not go unchecked in this day and age."

Nothing further. Not here, not now. Aadihr's jaw clenched as the only sign of the extent he downplayed the severity.
Details would sour the mood.

"All the more reason to ensure the master you choose is one that has your best interests at heart."

Eloise Dinn | Diogo Talon | Braze​

 

[Diogo Talon]

"We can talk about it in depth later if you'd like."

Diogo shrugged. "Sure, let's do that."

"I think that would be a conflict of interest."

"Oh, that's true. See? I have so much to learn from you. It could work..." he teased.

"For example, my master was involved in killing my mother. She's a fine Jedi and all, and apparently she asked to be made my master, but I wonder what the hell was going through their heads."

Fethin' hell, El. Just casually droppin' that? Despite her matter-of-fact tone, Dio itched to comfort her, but refrained. Aadhir seemed unfazed, though.

"My master was physically abusive and emotionally manipulative. Such treatment of a padawan would not go unchecked in this day and age."

"All the more reason to ensure the master you choose is one that has your best interests at heart."

Diogo hadn't prepared for swapping trauma stories at the knighting ceremony. He was caught off guard, unsure how to respond. "Sheesh. Maybe I'm better off without a master," he muttered.

Aadihr Lidos Braze Eloise Dinn

 

[Kaelos Vryn]

Location: New Cov
Tags: Katherine Holt | Vera Noble | Anavi Vandala
Equipment: None​

​

The young Jedi Initiate let a smile creep over his face.

Vera described the jungles of New Cov as the most dangerous jungles in all of the galaxy. It sounded like everything from the beasts to the plants on New Cov would either try and kill them or try and maim them in some way.

From the way she was talking, Kaelos assumed that his friend been out and explored it before. He wondered if it was something that her parents had taken her to do, although he kept that thought in his head. It did come in useful having parents in high places.

"Jungles of death?" he questioned with a smile even wider on his face. "Sign me up. If we protect each other, we'll be alright. And hey, we can claim it as a lesson in teamwork if we get caught. That's what the Jedi are meant to be about right, working together as a team?"

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Aadihr Lidos Eloise Dinn Diogo Talon

Braze was pensive as he listened to the three of them converse. He cast a silent, concerned glance at Aadhir but said nothing in the moment, letting the moment be acknowledged and pass.


"I think it's definitely something that warrants careful thought," he said after a pause. "It's important to consider what school—or schools—of study you wish to pursue, and to reflect on what you want for your future. Setting goals, even small ones, gives you direction, something to measure your progress against. The best approach is to establish realistic milestones—some short-term, some long-term—so you have a path to reference as you move forward... Finding some one who can help you reach those goals, or can help facilitate what you need for them is good. " He paused briefly before adding, "If... you do want to talk about how you feel, I'd be happy to discuss it with you in three days' time at the library before I must depart."


Braze offered the words to Diogo Talon , then dipped his head in a respectful bow toward Eolise and Aadhir. "Pardon me, I'm going to go give my respects and congratulations to Katherine Holt ," he said, excusing himself and allowing them to continue speaking as he made his way to pay his respects.

​

 

[Eloise Dinn]

"Oh, that's true. See? I have so much to learn from you. It could work..."

Eloise rolled her eyes at his teasing, but a smirk curled one corner of her mouth. That little smile disappeared once Aadhir revealed that his master had abused him.

Braze gave a short spiel about carefully choosing your school of thought or whatever, then left the conversation to go congratulate Katherine. Eloise figured he saw which way the wind was blowing with regards to the shift in topic and didn't want to be involved in a discussion about Padawan abuse during what was supposed to be a celebration. She wasn't going to fault him for it, though his robotic speech did come across as somewhat tone deaf.

"Such treatment of a padawan would not go unchecked in this day and age."

Eloise crossed her arms over her chest. Though she didn't know of any clear-cut cases of abuse by a Jedi Master within the Order, she was inclined to doubt his statement. Maybe because she had spent too much time living a pleasant lie while evil grew unchecked around her. But for once, she didn't speak her mind on the subject. Mostly because she'd been feeling a little paranoid as of late.

"Sheesh. Maybe I'm better off without a master."

"I have a feeling you'll find someone who will shape you into a great Jedi," she said. "I mean it, Dio. You have it in you. And even if you do somehow end up with a piece of shit for a master, just tell me and I'll kill 'em."

Diogo Talon Aadihr Lidos​

 

[Vera Noble]

​

Tag: Kaelos Vryn Anavi Vandala

​

Vera's smirk deepened, eyes gleaming with excitement as both Anavi and Kaelos agreed. That was all she needed. "Oh, this is happening." She clapped her hands together once, practically buzzing with energy, but her expression shifted just slightly — still playful, still mischievous, but carrying a hint of something else. Something confident.

"Alright, listen up," she said, fixing them both with a look that was almost Grandmasterly, if that was even a thing. "I've been out there plenty. Mom made sure all of us Nobles know how to survive the jungle — it's no joke. So if we're doing this, you stay close to me."

Her grin returned, sharp and full of thrill.

"I know the way."

And just like that, she pivoted on her heel, leading them away from the ceremony, their footsteps light as they weaved through the gathering of Jedi. Nobody had caught on yet, but that only meant they had to move fast.

Vera's pace picked up as she reached the edge of the temple grounds, where the well-maintained paths gave way to something wilder. A narrow trail — hidden, barely noticeable — snaked between thick foliage, disappearing into the dense shadows of the jungle beyond.

She turned back to them, her grin practically glowing in the dim light of the overhanging canopy.

"Hope you're ready," she teased, voice low, electric. Then she slipped into the trail, disappearing into the jungle with that unmistakable Noble confidence.

"Follow me."

​

 

[Kaelos Vryn]

Location: New Cov
Tags: Vera Noble | Anavi Vandala
Equipment: N/A​

​

Everything she did radiated confidence.

Kaelos remembered how Vera had so confidently flown the ship when they'd visited Kiffu, like she'd done it a thousand times. Now she was speaking with confidence, the leader of their group. She was, admittedly, the most experienced of the three and had experience out there in the New Cov jungles.

She sounded somewhat like what Kaelos imagined her mother to sound like and the thought of that caused the young boy to crack a smile. They always said a child took after one of their parents and with the confidence she was showing, Kaelos could only imagine Vera took after her mum.

Surprisingly, he had a lot of faith in her. He trusted that she'd keep him safe, him and their new companion in Anavi Vandala . He trusted her so much that when she stated she knew the way, he just followed with full belief that she did.

They moved quickly, attempting to avoid the gaze of the numerous Jedi Knights and Jedi Masters that had gathered to watch Katherine Holt be Knighted. He almost felt bad, because if they were caught he was worried they'd somehow manage to ruin the new Jedi Knight's Knighting Ceremony.

The thrill of the adventure overtook that slight feeling however, especially when they reached the trail that led them deep into the New Cov overgrowth. Vera asked if they were ready and Kaelos was glad she didn't really give them time to think before she trundled off into the woods.

He followed, of course. Excited to see what chaos they could cause.

 

[Anavi Vandala]

Anavi's heart sank as they trio made it out of the gathering without being noticed. She'd half hoped someone would see a group of kids sneaking away but no such luck. She followed as Vera confidently lead them onward towards a small path that was so slight you could barely notice it. As soon as they stepped onto the trail and started past the entrance the jungle seemed to deafen all sounds. It was almost like they had traveled through a portal and the temple no longer existed. Instead there were only sounds of wildlife fighting for survival. It was almost eerie but also beautiful.

She glanced up at the sky, wondering if she could see any birds. Bird watching had always been a hobby of hers. Her boots crunched along the soft jungle foliage and a few times she had to look down to pay attention to the path. It wasn't easy terrain that was sure.

"So... do they lead... training missions out here?" Surely if other Jedi came out here it wouldn't be that bad. Right?

Vera Noble Kaelos Vryn