Faction [NJO] The Quarren Games- Enhance Attribute training

[Shan]

Tag: Zaiya Ceti
Objective: Support his Padawan!

Silence. Shan stood and watched as Zaiya went out to perform the task. He believed she'd be able to do it. The main question was did Zaiya believe in herself? That was one of the most important things when it came to the Force in Shan's eyes. You had to believe you could do it. Let the Force flow through you and help to enhance your beliefs. If you had faith in yourself, then the Force would aid you. It would reward you.

And so he watched and waited to see what the result would be. He could see how Aris had performed, clear as day. Though Shan wasn't far surprised by it. It was one of the young man's strengths after all. Of course, that didn't stop the smile that appeared on Shan's face. Whilst he loved to see any Padawan succeed, there was always a special spot in his mind for the Noble Padawans.

With that in mind, Shan turned his attention back over towards Zaiya and watched. The smile breaking out into a small grin as he could see the pillar rising. It was slow, but sure. A confirmation to Shan that Zaiya had faith in herself and in a way, it helped Shan find more confidence in himself. He hadn't been doing much to teach her recently but...it was still satisfying to see your student grow. He made sure to take a mental to tell Iris next time he saw her.

"Of course you managed to do it Zaiya. I didn't doubt in you for a moment. Just remember though, this is one step out of five. They won't all be as hard as this, but they also won't all be as easy."

It was good to be confident and take pride in what you've done, but it was always good to take things step by step. Life was not a sprint, it was a marathon that threw various hurdles in your way...Either way, Shan couldn't help but reach down to ruffle Zaiya's hair.

"You did fantastic though. I'm proud of you."

 

[Reina Daival]

Location: New Cov Jedi Enclave
Tags: Open
Lightsaber - Pequod
Leg - Anchor

She was doing this task alone. The way she had always done things. Stepping over towards the obsidian mirror and taking a moment to look at the reflection that stared back at her. It was the exact same as the one she saw in the mirror everytime she woke up. The one she'd see in the windows of the Jedi Temple as she walked past late at night. Even so, Reina couldn't help but break out into a slight smirk as she looked at the mirror.

"Huh. You look different today. Did I do something different with my hair?"

Jokes. It was her new way of dealing with it. She'd make jokes about herself. About the darkness inside of her. Even as it started to speak within her head...alongside whispering in her ear from the effects of the mirror. Reina kept her breathing steady as she reminded herself that it wasn't anything new. Nothing she hadn't heard before...

You're the one who looks different. More like me.
"Slowly but surely you are becoming the monster you are trying to avoid."
You think you're getting better?
"That you won't succumb to the waves in the end?"
You'll be swallowed whole by them. Brought below the dark.

She kept herself steady. Any other time, Reina might have crumbled. Fell beneath the waves of doubt that were battering against her heart but she knew she had people behind her. That wouldn't let her down. They wouldn't let her succumb. They made her feel like she could face her worst fears. The worst parts of herself. And so she stared them down. Stared directly into the eyes of the mirror, unflinching.

"You'll lose them eventually. They won't always be by your side"
In the Dark everything fades away.
"You'll fade away too. That pathetic flame you call your Light will go out."
You'll be just like me.

Reina stayed quiet. Stayed staring down her reflection until the time was up. At which she let herself let out a long exhale of breath. She could feel herself wanting to shake. She wanted to clench her fist and scream at the reflection that she'll never be like it. But she didn't. Instead Reina's gaze softened as she took a step back.

"Maybe I will end up like you. But if I do? I know I can be brought back."

With that, she spun around on the heel of her foot and prepared to head off to another task as she took in another deep breath. For now, Reina could hold her head up higher.​

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x | Companion: Domxite
Interacting with: Shan

Zaiya's eyes flicked upward, catching Shan's soft grin just before his hand ruffled her hair. She let out a breathless laugh, skin still tingling with the afterglow of her effort and now, his praise. Her rosy golden tone deepened, stripes shimmering briefly in a warm golden glow with subtle pride, the lumicence blooming like firelight under her skin.

His words stuck with her, not in that heavy, burdened kind of way, but in the way that made her want to try harder. To keep stepping forward.

"Thank you Shan," the Lovalla Padawan said, grinning up at him. "I really wanted to show you I'd been working on it. I've been doing drills with Iris and Domxite every morning!"

Who, speaking of which, the tiny droid joined the pair, Domxite coming up to bound up until they were sat upon Zaiya's right shoulder, then they gave a hum of approval and happiness at her success. She wiped her palms on the sides of her leggings, still warm from exertion, and turned her gaze out across the rest of the training yard. The other Trials stood in wait like puzzle pieces of her own future: speed, precision, focus, and finally power. Each with their own twist.

She tilted her head slightly, thoughtful. "So… which one do you think I should try next?"

There was an open curiosity in her voice now, bright and genuine. Zaiya wasn't just asking to pass the time. She trusted him, and not just because he was one of her Masters, but because trusted him.

Then, more softly, she added, "Also, how are you? I mean, really. I know things have been nonstop lately with all the missions, emergencies, injured needing care all the time... It feels like we haven't gotten to talk much, not like really talk. So… what's new with you?"

The colors along her shoulders shifted into gentle turquoise and amber in a blend of comfort and focused curiosity as she looked at him with a soft smile.

 

[Rath Nihro]

R E F L E C T

Equipment: Outfit
Tag: Drystan Creed | Open

The dark one observed as both students, and those who were clearly not, partake in the trials one by one. Most seemed to have finished the trials that were best suited for them. As such they were relatively swift in completing said trials. Rath wanted to speak on it, but he simply pursed his lips under the hand that covered his nose. If they were to truly grow as a person, they had to get used to being uncomfortable. If it was easy, much like breathing air or lifting a feather, then they were doing it wrong.

Granted he was certainly in no position whatsoever to criticize anyone with how they chose to train. For his training was similar yet different. In the past, his trainer was actively trying to kill him at any moment of a slip up. Whether it was by saber, or the dark powers that were pulled from ancient knowledge from the abyssal corners within the universe. Any other form of training was either forged in the heat of battle or even underwent trials where he was left stranded at planets within the wilds for thirty standard days. Where he would only have his shroudsaber, his armor, and the Force.

Now he stood with no such saber or the armor that he personally crafted in the service of the Eternal Empire. A set of armor that remained with him for years after its fall. Yet the last time he had been away from his saber or armor was during the time Rath had encountered her for the first time. A ghost of a smile toyed on his lips at the memory. For it was certainly one that was filled with misunderstanding, and how she promptly threw him to the floor. Yet it was a memory that Rath would visit again from time to time.

’Seems like it is a trend when someone beats me, that the Force tries to pull me from the dark.’ Rath mulled it over as glanced at a familiar face, Corazona von Ascania . Last time the Force had nearly won him over, but in the past Rath had only considered it for love. But now? Now that the opportunity to redeem himself once more was within his grasp, yet was there even a soul to redeem anymore?

That's when his citrine duets flickered over to the obsidian mirror. It was most certainly a trial in an attempt to expose the fears and the doubts to spike their emotions. However, he was curious as to whether it would grant him some level of insight? For the Force was certainly not giving him an answer, and he knew better than to wrestle it for one. No, instead the Force was giving him free reign of what to do now. No longer following a specific script like some puppet being strung along by an unseen hand.

After a brief moment of debate with himself, he decided to approach the lot as his boots lightly padded on the polished floor. For he briefly approached Drystan Creed , the one in charge of overseeing the training course, and Rath made sure not to cover his nose despite the scents growing stronger the closer he got. The man seemed to be conversing with another already, and remained patient until either the conversation ended or he was given acknowledgement to speak. Perhaps it was the formality that had been ingrained into the former soldier that never left his mind.

”Excuse me, do you mind if I take that trial over there?” His words flowed like the gentle and graceful current of a river. Full of purpose as he requested permission with a point of his finger to the obsidian mirror. Assuming that he was given permission, the dark haired man would nod his head with a brief hum of acknowledgment.

As Rath turned to approach the mirror, there was a certain whisper in the back of his mind. Barely audible over the chorus of murmurs and lasers going off, yet Rath recognized the voice to be that of the Force. The words were incomprehensible initially, but as he walked closer to the mirror. The whispers became louder and crystal clear within the depths of his mind. The reflection was the same as him, except it was more like a shadow than anything else. Garbed in an overhead hood with a mask of druetium. Segments of plates that protected the chest, shoulders, and partially onto the arms and legs. Shadowsilk kept blending with the mirror, and the cloak of dark ultrachrome cascaded behind the form.

Though it was impossible to tell exactly where the shadow was looking, Rath knew better than anyone that the reflection was looking for any imperfections to the scrutinizing detail, a weakness to exploit in the event a fight was to break out. Yet what came out of the shadow was a voice that was both monotone and disembodied.

”All of that power at your fingertips, and yet you still had to bury your men.” It was a whisper, yet full of truth as Rath's eyes slightly narrowed at the figure with a tilt of his head. The shadow mirrored his movement as well. It was only curiosity that led Rath to this mirror in hopes that it would shed some light to a mystery.

”Your silence means nothing. It doesn't change the fact that you live, and they do not. Or did you forget what happened in Qina?” The shadow's whisper cut deeper than any blade as Rath knew immediately as to what the reflection was referring to. It had been cemented as a nightmare, and as Rath's biggest inspiration to seek power. His own emotions began to crackle like spits of ember, stoking old flames that he had thought long to have been burnt out years ago.

”Do the rakghouls have to remind you of what happened? Or perhaps your fallen comrades that you personally killed when they became infected?” It was then that Rath was indeed reminded of what had transpired. For he never had thought about it beforehand given how traumatic it was. But the tragedy that had fallen onto his unit during the evacuation allowed Rath to remember. To remember his reason for fighting.

”She died in vain.” These were all things that Rath had never told anyone, least of all about her in particular. Yet in that moment, Rath could feel like something had flipped a switch in his head. It was the familiar switch when he lashed out, and he knew that it wouldn't change a thing. His emotions surely spiked that spoke of sorrow that fed into retaliation of frustration. As befitting a man who had lost everything, and the only one he could blame was himself.

With a pursed lip and his hand curled into a fist, Rath looked down and let out a sigh through his nostrils. On the surface, he might appear to be disappointed, but underneath the mask it was anything except calm. It wasn't a matter of passing the trial, not to Rath, but as the sweltering anger ebbed away. His mind processed what was said, and acknowledged what he… Had been running away from this whole time. Perhaps now it was time to face it.

Rath would of course take a step back from the mirror with a turn on his heel. He wasn’t sure if anyone could have heard the whispers or not, but frankly at the moment he didn't care as he looked up at Drystan Creed . Where he mustered a polite smile with a slight bow.

”Thank you. I… need to reflect on this.” Contrary to what had just taken place, Rath was not taking his anger out on anyone. Nor was it laced with his words either. With that Rath would have begun to retreat off to the side once more.

 

[Shan]

Tag: Zaiya Ceti
Objective: Support his Padawan!

"I'm glad to see Iris has been such a great teacher then."

Shan couldn't help but grin away. He wasn't fully familiar with Domxite, but he made sure to nod at the droid. He wasn't entirely great with droids himself. It wasn't so much that he disliked them, but they reminded him too much of his parents so he didn't want to focus on that too much. Instead he turned his attention over towards Zaiya's question, folding his arms behind his back in thought as he looked over them all.

"It depends. Do you want a challenge or something more simple? I'd argue that the trial of Focus might be hardest for you. Your emotions might spike more easily than others. I have faith that you'd be able to do it, but it'd still be a struggle. I'd most definitely struggle with it myself. There's plenty of...doubts I still have.in myself."

That was a small answer to Zaiya's question about how Shan was doing. That was a difficult question for him to answer if he was honest to himself. He didn't want to dump too much stuff on Zaiya. It would distract her from her training if he told her everything he had been up to. What was the best thing for him to talk about in that case...

"I've been studying still. Trying to find out about more cultures in the Galaxy. If I want to be a Jedi Consular, I need to focus on the Galaxy as a whole. Learn more about the people in the Universe as a whole and get a better understanding of the Force. I want to be able to be a good teacher, but that means I have to learn myself...But apart from that? Nothing new. How about yourself?"

 

[Aris Noble]

Speed was next.

Aris idly stretched, staring down the path ahead of him. It wasn't complex. Move fast from one end to the other without getting hit. Thinking about, a straight line was probably where he could be the fastest. Without having to turn or worry about shifts in his momentum, he should be able to just bolt straight through, right?

He steadied his stance. Was this another thing that made him drastically different? Jedi could control their momentum he'd learned from Aadihr Lidos , and the young man had started to use other means to help him control and change direction. If it was part of this skill though, could he learn how to change even midair where his direction would be?

No real time to think on it though. He tensed, took a breath, then ended up on the other side of the path as the blasters went off behind him. He straightened up then, glancing to where the tripwires were finishing before nodding once.

He'd gotten much faster. Good.

 

[Katherine Holt]

Location: New Cov, Stone Temple Courtyard
Tags: Gem-in-Trash | Azurine Varek
​

“Definitely, you’ve been doing a lot of good helping and volunteering when the opportunity arises.” The redhead replied, a smile on her face. “You can call me Katherine. Katherine Holt.”

She listened intently as Gem spoke, explaining her thought process about what Trial to pick first. It surprised her a little that someone so young already had such a solid head on their shoulders. To already be thinking critically of how best to tackle a challenge, to change one's mindset to focus on other aspects of training.

“Balance and discipline is good, but it doesn’t hurt to be mindful of your current limits. You don’t want to overextend yourself early on, before tackling something that’s more familiar to you.”

It was why Katherine personally wanted to tackle the Trial of Strength first, over say Speed that she knew would provide some issues and challenges she’d need to tackle.

Before the Valkyrie could even blink, Gem had darted off towards the Trial in question. Katherine shook her head, seeing first hand the sheer speed behind the Cathar’s excitement. With a small leap and flap of her wings, the redhead glided over to the entrance. Just in time to see Gem let out a surprised hiss towards a familiar BB unit.

And then in a second her focus had shifted, as the young Cathar found an empty chamber to use. Katherine watched, daring not to even blink and risk missing Gem’s attempt. Sure enough, she aced the Trial of Speed with breaking a sweat.

Gem’s choice of words elicited a laugh from the Valkyrie. “Fast as fluff indeed.” She wanted to say more, but it was impossible to miss Gem’s fidgeting. It was clear the Padawan wanted to tackle the next Trial. But before Katherine could answer, she felt a familiar presence through the Force.

Azzie…

It had hurt Katherine deeply, to not have been able to be there to rescue her friend. But she’d be damned if she wasn’t going to be there for her now.

“Hold that thought Gem, there’s someone I need to go speak to real quick.” She looked down at the Cathar. “You can tag along, if you’d like.” With that said, Katherine made a beeline for where Azzie was, just leaving the Trial of Strength.

Instinctively, the redhead almost went in for a hug, but something stopped her before she could. A feeling within the Force, that it wouldn’t be the right course of action at that moment.

“Azzie?” She called, voice gentle as she looked at the Zabrak. The towering Valkyrie's arms held open, a silent request whether her friend wanted a hug.

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

"Break a nail over there, Caretaker?"

Cora tsked as she held up her flesh hand to display five neatly trimmed and polished nails.

"Perfectly intact, thank you."

She knew Drystan the shadow, but Drystan the teacher was something new to her. Attention to detail had gone into preparing the trials, and he seemed to be faring admirably with both the younger students and knights alike.

Her attention quickly narrowed on the hooded form of Azurine Varek , spying little horns as they poked through darker hair. Fortunately, she was being approached by a friendly - and concerned face - in Katherine Holt .

An odd dribble of binary drew Cora's focus to BB-610 . The astromech was not out of place among the Jedi, at least not to her. He'd been a fixture in her life from her early Padawan days.

Before she knew it, Cora's feet were carrying her after the roly-poly droid as he zipped toward the Trial of Speed.

"It's been a while, Bee," she mused once within appropriate earshot. "How’ve you been faring?"

 

[BB-610]

​

| LOCATION: New Cov Jedi Temple, New Cov |
| INTERACTING WITH: Corazona von Ascania |

He stood before the trial ground, now a bundle of nerves. BB-610’s earlier determination had wavered as the road of victory lay there tauntingly; he felt like a black sheep, like he simply just didn’t belong.

Light footsteps crept up behind him. His head sluggishly swerved, anticipating the disapproving scowl of a man eager to drag him from the premises after some harsh reprimanding.

BB-610 wasn’t alive, per se — but the joy that glistened in his optic upon seeing Cora was palpable.

The astromech squealed, weaving between slender legs, brushing up along the Jedi’s side with an orchestra of tweets and synthgiggles that announced unbridled happiness. The flat of his face nuzzled into her, chassis incapable of holding still as he wobbled from relief and excitement alike.

Pulling away, he nodded. BB-610’s whistling reply had a distinctly bittersweet tone. She was told of how much he’d missed her, and inquired about her progress so far. His binary was giddy, only to dip into melancholy once focus shifted to the trials in question.

Optic narrowing, he continued, a somber coo speaking of his nerves, of his want to be as good as everyone else; he wanted to feel important to the galaxy, like Valery. Like her, he added, head canted back to Cora for emphasis.

 

[Azurine Varek]

The Galaxy Spins On

Outfit: Clothing/Armor | Glove | Right Arm | Talisman
Weapons: Lightsaber 1 | Lightsaber 2 | Hook Swords

It took longer than Azzie wanted to catch her breath. Far longer. She leaned against the coarse surface of a tree, her hands braced on her knees, the cool material beneath her fingers a small relief from the heat flushing through her body. Every breath burned, her lungs tight and wheezing, and it took effort not to let the trembling in her legs buckle her to the ground. She swallowed it back, but the bitterness clung to her throat.

Her muscles—hell, they just weren't working right. Basic tasks, things that had once been second nature to her, now required a conscious effort. A lift. A step. A block. Everything seemed to happen just a fraction slower than she needed. She could feel the lag between thought and action. The doctors had warned her about it, had said this was normal, expected even, given the amount of atrophy she'd suffered under malnutrition. There was only so much that bacta and even Force healing could do before it was up to biology to do the rest.

"Your body had to start eating its own muscle to survive", they had explained gently, as if the words wouldn't land like a blade. They told her it would heal. Eventually. Especially with physical therapy and rest. Each flare of agony, each moment of nothingness, was a spike driven into her already fragile mental state. Every setback chipped away at what little confidence she'd managed to salvage.

Across the field, others were thriving. Azzie watched as Aris Noble leapt through the air, his movements fluid and powerful. The Force in his aura coiled like a spring of energy. She wanted to be proud of them—she was deeply, genuinely proud. They had worked for this, trained, and pushed to reach these heights. Another part of her, smaller but louder, couldn't help but tighten in on itself involuntarily.

They were getting better. She, however, was worse off than she'd been even before she'd been put in carbonite all those centuries ago. As she looked at the remaining trials—speed, a task that was usually her greatest asset—she couldn't help but wonder if there was even a point in attempting it right now.

"Azzie?"

Her mind had wanted her to flip around, take a few steps backward on instinct. Had she not recognized the presence as they approached, she even might have. However, she couldn't stop the involuntary twitch of her hand. A soft smile eventually crossed her face, even if it didn't quite meet her amethyst eyes. "The one and only." She said quickly, praying to anyone that could hear her that her voice hadn't sounded as beaten to others as it did to herself. "Hey, KitKat."

Rather than make a big deal of it, she just cleared her throat and chuckled dryly while immediately realizing she didn't have any more words to say, leaving a stark silence unusual to her usually boisterous attitude.

Katherine Holt​

 

[Drystan Creed]

NEW COV

"Beginner class?" Drystan raised an eyebrow at Tel's admission. Not out of judgment—he didn't look down on the young Jedi's skill—but out of genuine surprise. It was rare to find someone with no familiarity at all. Still, he figured it might've just been a miscommunication. These courses were built with the assumption that participants already had some grounding in the fundamentals.

But teaching required flexibility. If Drystan wanted to grow in that role, he'd have to practice what he preached.

"How about we start now?" he said, pointing past Tel toward the edge of the temple's exit. There, resting quietly against the wall, sat two storage containers—positioned well away from the ongoing trials. "See those crates? Bring them here, unopened. I've got a feeling what's inside will help give you a better understanding of the technique."

He opted not to mention the weight. The task wasn't impossible, but it would take some effort—probably more than Tel was expecting.

Drystan then turned to Rath, puzzled by the question he'd asked. The trials were open to all Jedi. He didn't recognize the Jedi standing before him—though, to be fair, that was true of many of the other participants. Still, he had no intention of refusing the request, even if he found it a bit odd that it was made at all.

"You're more than welcome to participate in any of the trials, though I ask you save the final trial for last." he replied, scratching the back of his head. Though something about Rath's tone suggested the question wasn't really about permission.

After Rath emerged from the Mirror Trial, Drystan flagged him down with a wave, curious about how he did. That trial was different for everyone, but it was always harder for those carrying more weight than they let on.

"So..." Drystan asked casually, watching him closely. "Did you pass?"

Rath Nihro Tel Ahren

 

[Gem-in-Trash]

“Hold that thought Gem, there’s someone I need to go speak to real quick. You can tag along, if you’d like. Azzie?”

Gem followed her, in part because she was in an area without a whole lot of structure, in part because Knight Holt had caught Gem's attention, and in part because anyone who was a friend of the Valkyrie was sure to be interesting. Gem remained behind her, not wanting to get between the friends. Besides, this was next to one of the challenges. It was the one that was most daunting to her; Gem wasn't particularly strong, physically, for her age, and she knew it. Tackling the test of Strength was going to be tough, and she wondered if she was avoiding it.

Was she afraid?

Gem looked up at the Zabrak Jedi that Katherine was greeting. She'd seen her, but didn't know her; she was older than Gem, and more active in missions, but she didn't recall her being a merely older Youngling. Gem decided that she must have been raised at a different temple. She wanted to meet her, Gem was always excited to meet new people, but from the Zabrak's body language and the way she spoke with Katherine, she decided to give them a little space to catch up.

"I'm gonna go tackle this test next, and give you some time to catch up with your friend," Gem said, and she walked up to the nearest free Test of Strength. All she had to do was lift the pillar above the green line. The only differences between strength and speed were in her mind. Gem closed her eyes, grabbed the pillar from the bottom, and focused the Force through her body.

"I am one with the Force, the Force is with me," she chanted, and she lifted. With an audible 'Hoof!', Gem lifted the pillar clean off the ground and past the green line without any trouble. Gem let out a yelp of surprise at her own success, and did a little dance before dashing out of the test, back towards Katherine, forgetting that Gem had just vowed to leave her to converse with her friend.

"KATDIDYOUSEETHATILIFTEDTHEPILLARITWASSUPEREASYIGOTITONTHEFIRSTTRY!"

She flattened her ears in a sudden burst of shame, realizing she'd just interrupted, "Sorry...I was really worried about that one. Hi, I'm Gem-in-Trash."

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

To the astromech's exuberance, Cora laughed softly. She knelt, stroking an affectionate hand along his chassis.

"I've been well, Bee. Busy, too, but the good sort. Thank you for asking."

She tilted her head to peer a bit closer at the sleek black plating beneath her fingers. Edged with turquoise, it created a nice contrast. "Love the new paint-job. It's rather fetching."

When Bee's beeps and whistles shifted into something more somber, Cora frowned. It harkened her back to the conversation they'd had long ago at the Noble family homestead regarding their hopes and anxieties.

"Is that why you've come here today?"

Lifting her head, she looked over to Drystan. Then, to Valery. This trial hadn't been set up with astromechs in mind - most things in the Order rarely were, to be frank - but that didn't preclude Bee from testing his mettle with the rest of them.

If anyone tried to stop him, they'd have the academy's head to contend with.

Cora brought her focus back to Bee. "In that case, would you like some company?"

BB-610

 

[Ezorea Zethussaln]

She lingered for a while after, arms wrapped around her middle, letting the sounds of the training yard wash over her—the sounds from the other group, the steady rhythm of controlled breathing, a few quiet grunts of effort. The stone still sat unmoved at the center of the field, indifferent to her earlier attempt.

Ezorea's thoughts circled, slow but persistent. She wasn't built for this kind of trial—not yet. There were others. Trials that relied more on instinct, on clarity, on reading the moment rather than overpowering it. She could feel them ahead, waiting.

But walking away without trying to understand this one—it didn't sit right.

Her eyes tracked Drystan. He wasn't loud or flashy, but he had made the enhancement look… simple. Not effortless, but deliberate. Controlled. She hesitated, then moved toward him, feet quiet on the training floor.

"Drystan," she said, voice low but steady.

"I barely got the stone to budge," she admitted. "I've trained in other things, but this… it's new to me. You seemed to get it. Mind sharing how you focus it? What you're reaching for, exactly?"

She didn't flinch or downplay the ask. Ezorea was new to the ability, not afraid of it. Just trying to learn where to place her next step.

Drystan Creed

 

[BB-610]

​

| LOCATION: New Cov Jedi Temple, New Cov |
| INTERACTING WITH: Corazona von Ascania |

He chuckled at her approval, a lighthearted, warbling little sound. Far be it for the droid to pick favorites, but he’d always had a soft spot for Cora. The courage she’d displayed from Padawan to Knight had been nothing short of inspiring.

BB-610 clung to that inspiration, thirsting for a life in which his journey earned the same praise given to that of a Jedi.

To say that he was punching well beyond his pay grade would be a gross understatement.

Never once had he taken the second chance given by Valery for granted — only now, having grown confident enough with himself after all these years, had he begun to stand against the segregation his kind received.

There was no rush to answer; reluctant, he nodded, head sinking lower to the ground as he averted a shameful gaze . . .‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ only to immediately perk up at Cora’s offer, swerving back around to face her with all the astonishment of a pup who’d been asked for walkies.

Chirping a jovial tune, her praises were sung — a cacophony of thank yous tripping over one another with bweeps and bwoops aplenty. Few words could do his gratitude justice.

The trial stretched far before them. With a renewed spirit, BB-610 inched closer to the corridor, a playful clicking of binary to insist on ladies first.

 

[Rath Nihro]

R E F L E C T

Objective: Trial of Speed
Equipment: Outfit
Tag: Drystan Creed | Open

Fortunately the man in charge of overseeing the training course didn’t even question it as to whether Rath could partake in the trials or not. He had been kept on a very short leash as his activities were closely monitored for any sign of misdemeanor or signs of reverting back to his ways. Being a former amongst the Eternal Empire and then he was an Elite within the Dark Empire didn’t paint a stellar picture of him. Hence why Rath didn’t think of coming here where both students and teachers were present. He could only assume that it was either another demonstration of his good behavior to the higher ups, or perhaps there was something more at play.

Still, Rath nodded his thanks to the Jedi before he had ventured into the Trial of Focus. Where the dark whispers had coaxed a spike of hate mixed with grief out of him. Causing him to fail. Rath could take insults being thrown at his face, but nothing cut deeper than the very thing that took away the one good thing in his life. The only person who saw more to him than a puppet in the dark. And he blamed no one but himself for her death.

Instead of letting it go however, the Jedi inquired whether or not he had passed. The dark haired one simply shook his head. It had never occurred to him that he was considered as one of their own. His corrupted duets briefly glanced over at Tel Ahren before dipping his head in their direction in acknowledgement.

”Afraid not, but that's acceptable.” Rath didn’t really intend to pass the trial anyways. For he had a different objective. Rather than the sounds of defeat as one would expect, instead Rath had understood what he must do. Or more specifically to learn how to accept the pain, yet not churn it into the Dark. He would prefer to refrain from tainting his memory of her as it had done with the rest of his memories. Naturally, it was easier said than done. Or perhaps Rath took his failure in stride.

Some of the other students, Ezorea Zethussaln included, had approached the teacher that was filled to the brim with questions. Rath decided to take this opportunity to overlook the Trial of Speed as the next obstacle. The red corridor was certainly different from the trial Rath had taken years ago when he was only but an Initiate. Or basically he was the equivalent of a Padawan at the time.

Except back then the trial consisted of live blasterfire from trained soldiers and it was essentially a narrow chokehold filled with a blanket of explosive mines. It was notably brutal, and so the trial before him was relatively tame in comparison. Even so it truly hit home as Rath not only had to be quick, but he had to be just as quick to adapt through instinct and quick thinking. It was how he had survived for so long when young men and women tended to die from.

Then the memory of his defeat had appeared in the forefront of his thoughts. How the Force didn’t necessarily abandon him, but instead something had shifted in the flow that left Rath in such a disorienting state. It was how he was taken by the Jedi, but he knew that they didn’t have a hand with how the Force moved. His hand subconsciously reached around from the small of his back to hover just above his chest. Where his fingers lightly traced over the fabric as the memory of a locket that had been taken from him lingered. It was perhaps the first in a long time that Rath honestly wished he could seek out her counsel. Even in death, she still appeared from time to time in an effort to convince Rath to change course. Or perhaps that was simply his own schizophrenia acting up.

”I suppose a refresher couldn’t hurt.” Rath muttered more so to himself as he approached the entrance of the selected trial. The dark haired man simply allowed the Force to flow through him, much like allowing an ocean to weave through the land in the form of rivers, except even when he opted to keep it at a moderate state. He could feel that there were some fluctuations within the Force, and so the man reached out to stabilize the current in an effort to refine and focus into the task of freeing his body of its natural limits.

Once he heard the indication for the trial to begin, Rath’s body was like a blur of motion to the naked eye as he zipped through the red corridor. The wind pressure briefly kicked up as the dark haired human ducked and weaved around the lasers. Utilizing the walls themselves as another platform as Rath defied the laws of gravity as he maneuvered around the bolts that soared over his location. The turrets had adjusted their aim along with the projected trajectory as Rath leapt off the wall with a sudden deceleration as he flipped over the lasers. With a deft roll forward onto his feet, Rath blitz through the rest of the corridor with relative ease.

He took a deep breath as Rath immediately slowed to a stop once he had passed the trial. Of course, it wasn’t necessarily out of the question as he often utilized the abilities on countless occasions. However, it was more of a test for himself to see whether the Force had either forsaken him, or simply placed him in a vulnerable position to change his fate.

 

[Katherine Holt]

Location: New Cov, Stone Temple Courtyard
Tags: Gem-in-Trash | Azurine Varek
​

While outwardly her expression was neutral, internally Katherine was nothing but concern. As she looked at Azurine, all the redhead could see was a mirror of herself, after her own return from being tortured. Sure, there were one or two notable differences, like the Zabrak still having use of her legs.

But how Azzie reacted, how she felt through the Force. The look in her eyes, and how her voice sounded?

All of those were very, very familiar to the Valkyrie.

Katherine crouched down and gently wrapped her arms around Azurine. It was impossible to not notice the physical differences. Again, another thing the redhead was all too familiar with. She too had returned having lost so much muscle, weight and strength.

“If you need anything…anything, just let me know.” Katherine whispered quietly, giving Azzie a gentle, but reassuring squeeze, before letting the Zabrak go.

Just in time too, as Gem came barreling into view, her sentence flew out at a rate that seemed to even outpace the young Cathar’s actual speed. Though the moment immediately became sober, as Gem seemed to realize the situation.

Almost instinctively, Katherine reached over and ruffled Gem’s hair a little, hoping to reassure the Padawan. “It’s alright Gem.”

Though the redhead did blink a bit at the ‘in-Trash’ part.

 

[Tel Ahren]

Well, it was good to see that the one teaching the class was as surprised he was there as he was surprised he'd missed the point of it entirely.

He followed Drystan's gesture, spying the crates almost instantly. Something inside that might help him, good. Not getting to see inside...perhaps not good. A box that you couldn't look inside didn't ever seem to be a good thing. As long as he didn't open it up and find heads in there or anything else insane, though, it should be mostly fine. After all, a head in a box, in a Jedi temple? That would be ridiculous.

That sort of thing never happened.

On the other side, though, it was chores in return for learning. Not mindlessly so—he'd known enough masters as he was getting shuffled around during the war that he knew that it was never just about doing menial work and then getting taught, there was always some sort of trick to it—but he didn't know what the trick would be, and he still had to bring the boxes over. "On it, then."

As he walked off, his eyes drifted over one of the loners that walked up just as he was leaving, catching Drystan saying something to the man before he sauntered off into one of the trial spires. Something about him seemed...off, just a bit, but he wasn't sure what. Something had seemed off about the Zabrak girl that had been rescued on Zeffo, too, although he hadn't really noticed that until she hid behind him for a moment. For...some reason.

He shrugged and kept walking towards the crates. After all, there was no point in wasting time thinking about other random things when he could get on with the business at hand. He just had to get them brought to the center where Drystan was waiting, after all. He put his hands on the first, grabbing onto the handles on either side, pulling against it to lift—

Pulled harder—

The crate barely got off the ground, and after barely swinging it away from the wall Tel lost his balance and it came crashing back down to earth, almost with him on top of it. "Oh, come on."

 

[Drystan Creed]

NEW COV

With Rath Nihro 's response confirming his unsuccessful attempt, Drystan gave a solemn nod and let out a quiet sigh.

"It happens. Took me a few tries to get past it myself back when I was a Padawan. I'm sure you'll nail it after a few more runs. My advice? Try to block out whatever noise it throws at you—keep your eyes forward and focus on a single spot on the mirror."

He watched Rath move off to try another trial before shifting his attention toward an approaching figure.

Drystan caught sight of Ezorea Zethussaln making her way toward him, another unfamiliar face. Her question drew a lazy smile as he hopped down from the stage to meet her, tilting his head just slightly to match her gaze.

"There's a reason I've taken a liking to this ability," he began. "Your connection to your body is just as important as your connection to the Force."

He gave her a slight nod. "First, get a feel for what muscles are activating when you try to lift the pillar. Where's the tension? Channel the Force through those muscles."

To demonstrate, he performed a simple motion: a squat followed by a rise, arms lifted above his head as if hoisting a heavy object.

"It's all about technique. That'll carry you further than raw strength ever could. Let the strength flow through your technique, and you've got a formidable combination."

As he finished his demonstration, the sharp sound of crates crashing drew his attention to Tel Ahren , who had toppled the one he was trying to carry.

"Hey, kid! Use your back!" Drystan called out. "Keep the crate close to your center—less swing, less wasted energy."

He turned back to Ezorea and nodded toward the fallen crates

"Why don't you give him a hand? Might be a good time to put what I said into practice."

Rath Nihro Ezorea Zethussaln Tel Ahren

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x | Companion: Domxite
Interacting with: Shan

Zaiya gave a sheepish grin, her cheeks blooming a pale coral pink but unable to help how her mottled stripes flickered in teal amusement. "Yeah… you're not wrong. Trial of Focus might be my worst nightmare," she said with a laugh. "I basically wear my emotions on my skin."

Her tone softened as her skin shifted to a more settled rosy golden hue, before settling into a contemplative burnished amber tone,"But Iris has been helping me with it. Like teaching me how to control my colorshifting and how to shield better. I'm not accidentally resonating to people anymore, at least… not often."" A slight blush couldn't be helped at the thought of Aris, but Zaiya did her best to push it aside and continue, "And lately, I've been seeing how the Force looks around others, like little colors and light. It's new, but it's helping. Especially with healing."

She glanced toward the Trials and nodded. "I think I should do the hardest one first. Avoiding it never helps. And I've got you and Iris, so... I'm ready."

Turning back to Shan, her opal blue eyes lit up with avid but comforting amused curiosity, "You studying cultures feels so you, Shan. You have to tell me if you've found any good food! And maybe next time… you'll let me tag along?"