Of Crystals and their Properties [Mara]

[Vakarian]

Voss-Ka; Voss.​

//Sending Holo-Net Transmission
Re: Crystals
Sender: Padawan Máni
Location: Voss Temple

Lady [member=Mara D'Lessio Merrill]

I have heard that you are most knowledgeable on the topic of crystals and their properties. I request your presence on Voss at your earliest convenience. Your knowledge of Crystals would be of great use to me.

I am but a padawan of the Silver Sanctum Coalition, and therefore operate at your convenience. Please meet me at the entrance to the capital city of Voss-Ka. We will then proceed down to the Temple courtyard where we can talk in private and peace, should you wish to come.//

"Thank you, droid." the Valkyr stated gruffly before stepping away from the machine. To say that he wasn't a fan would be a lie, droids were one of the few outsider technologies that he trusted. He was from an isolated planet that had recently opened its doors to the galaxy belong its atmosphere. But, he wouldn't trade the experience that he had already had for anything. The galaxy was such a large place with innumerable opportunities to explore what lay among the stars. The twenty-eight year old Valkyr warrior equated it to being akin to the realm of his Gods; limitless in possibilities, but full of danger and opportunity. It was odd to think that so much of the galaxy existed beyond Midvinter's borders, that so many species were connected by a common cause, and brought together to serve that cause under the banner of the Silver Sanctum.

That was part of the reason that he wished to meet with the Lady Merrill. He wanted to serve the SSC and he could not adequately do so without a proper weapon; he didn't trust lightsabers or blasters. It wasn't a personal view, it was merely the fact that it was something beyond his own planet, beyond his people's weapons. He had seen the merits of the lightsaber on many occasions, each time proving to be no less astounding than the last. He may very well own his own fire-sword one day, but for now he was suited to the traditional swords of his own people.

The secondary reasoning being that he wanted to learn to forge his own weapons, to bring what knowledge he could, back to his own people. So, he had settled for the forging of his own sword, though he would still need the training to forge his own sword from the very beginning. But, to stand with the Jedi and their weapons he would need to call on the Force and imbue his weapon with it. He would need a crystal to infuse with the blade as he was forging it to channel the Force through and to give the blade the advantage that it needs to stand with sabers.

Lady Merrill was knowledgeable with the applications of crystals and their properties, so he had thought it prudent to call on her and gain her expertise in the matter of choosing one that best fit his purpose. He hoped the woman would respond to his message and find the time to travel to Voss to meet with him. But, she was likely a very busy woman, so he would remain patient and await a time that would be convenient for her. He chose to meet her at Voss-Ka because the mountain city fortress hosted the temple on its outskirts, and he was new to the sanctum, so he didn't know if there were landing pads at the temple itself.

He sat on the ground with his legs crossed and eyes closed, meditating in the silence that was afforded to him by being just outside the city gates.

 

[Mara D'Lessio Merrill]

[member="Máni"]

CASTLE MIRIAMELE
KILIA IV

"Styr? This is a Valkyri name, isn't it?"

Styr was one of her longstanding attendants, bodyguards, aides. He'd been with her since long before she moved to Kilia Four, and he was half-Valkyri himself. At her question, he frowned and came over to the training room's comm panel, ring mail jingling. He leaned over her shoulder. "That it is, milady. Good eye." He chewed his moustache in thought. "And the take-charge tone mixed with diffidence -- that right there is a Midvinter man, and a young one. Let him down easy, milady."

"No. No, I don't think I will. I've been cooped up here for too many months, Styr. Why not get out of the world for a spell?"

"If you say so." The massive Underground commando shrugged.

"Don't worry; I know you love bashing Kilian knights around. You'll be my steward here while I'm away."

His eyes widened fractionally. "If you say so," he said again. "Though I don't mind telling you, now I wish I was going along to translate for the boy."

"His Basic seems fine."

"There's translation and translation. Think of this as...first contact."

"Fair point."

***​

​

FROM: Underground Relay 2452 - Braxant Run
TO: Padawan Mani, Voss Temple, Silver Sanctum Coalition

Thank you for your invitation. I'd be more than happy to come to Voss. I've heard the temple there is something special; you'll have to give me a tour. I've attached scheduling information as to my travel plans and flight time, so you're not waiting by that gate for a couple of weeks.

Mara

***​

VOSS

At the appointed hour, Mara trudged up to the gates of the mountain city. Used to the higher elevations and sharper ranges of Kilia Four, she wasn't breathing hard nor especially cold. She did, however, wear her trenchcoat of beskarweave and black fur, more for comfort than for defense. The Coalition was friendly space, in theory and somewhat in practice. She'd studied briefly at the Levantine Astronautical Academy over Laekia as a girl. Her father had been one of the Levantine Sanctum's founders, and not so long ago he'd gifted the Coalition with the holocron of Boolon Murr. Still, it never hurt to be prepared, so while she'd left her scattergun on the Bullet Time, she used her spear as a walking stick and kept her sabre at her belt.

Her sense of scale adjusted oddly as she approached the meditating young man. 'Young' -- he was about her age, maybe a little younger. She'd been named a Master for her mind and her soul, not for the power that only experience provided. But all questions of age aside, he was pureblood Valkyri, just over eight feet, and Mara was not tall. Her eyes were just about level with the top of his head as he sat on the ground.

"Mani?" she said, hoping she'd pronounced it right. Styr had explained that the accent was more about syllable stress than about pronunciation, but still. She leaned on her spear, relaxing from the walk and the weight of her bulging backpack. "I'm Mara."

 

[Vakarian]

The Valkyri opened his eyes as the sound of his name and immediately spotted the spear and sabre. a hint of amusement passed through his icy gaze. He noted that she carried no other weapons and stood up to his full height. Her certainly was taller than her by a good bit, but he was careful to keep a kind and gentle smile on his face; he didn't want to give her any reason to use that spear. He cleared his throat with a deep rumble in his chest before he opened his mouth to speak.

"[Color=1EB4AA]Lady Merrill...[/COLOR]" his voice was rather soft and smooth in comparison to most other members of his race, likewise it still held the booming undertone that the males of his race were known for. "[Color=1EB4AA]...I am glad that you have come and hope that your Gods graced your voyage with swiftness and safety. [/COLOR]" the soft smile again taking place on his features.

He noticed that she carried a backpack that was bulging, with what; he had no idea. But, the trek up the mountain was just as rough as the one to the Temple itself. Fortunately, the temple itself was built into the side of the mountain and offered several key features that one could take rest at. Features that he, himself, had yet to see, but now would be as good a time as any to see the sights. The woman didn't look like much, but instincts and lessons from his past told him never to judge by what lay on the outside. She had traveled a long distance to meet him on Voss, the least he could do was ensure that she was comfortable and relaxed.

"[Color=1EB4AA]May I carry your pack for you? The journey to the temple is no less easy than the one up the mountain.[/COLOR]" he indicated the pack on her back with a soft nod of his head in its direction. He did not doubt that the woman could carry it for herself, but common manner demanded that he ask her anyway. It was as he glanced at her skin that he noticed the slight pinkish glint to it and remembered faintly seeing the same tone on one of the Knights of the Sanctum, and she was Zeltron. She must have had her own share of zeltron blood in her, but still maintained her human dominance. He wasn't entirely knowledgeable of the many species in the galaxy, but he could recognize a few them from his time among the Silver Sanctum.

He waited in kind for her answer, making it clearly visible that he had no weapons of his own. Hopefully, barring their differences of customs and mannerisms, the woman would realize that he meant her no harm. He had invited her as a guest to the Temple and he was honor-bound to see that she remained safe. Honor was highest in his regard, second to nothing save reverence for his God, Helm.

 

[Mara D'Lessio Merrill]

[member="Máni"]

When an eight-foot bodybuilder asks if he can carry your gear after you've climbed half a mountain, you agree. Mara leaned her spear against the city wall and shrugged off her pack. She set it down by her feet and took a moment to adjust the fit of her coat on her shoulders. Looping the strap around her palm, she lifted it one-handed and passed it to him, as if a show of strength could appease the feminism gods hat she was currently betraying. "There's some fragile material in there," she said, "and thanks."

She cracked her neck and picked up the spear again. It served as a decent walking stick, all things considered. Leaf-bladed, with a boar-spear crossguard, it exuded a calming and healing aura from its Ankarres-wood haft. The blade itself was Force-imbued, and when it had her attention it shone with a flicker of blue-white hyperspatial radiance. She'd used it for so long that it had become just a spear to her; it was easy to forget that the spear was a serious Force artifact in its own right, possibly because her aunt had done most of the work. Didn't make it any less of a good walking stick, though, and you could never go wrong carrying a spear in the mountains.

"Lead on," she said, gesturing at the gate. "Show me this city of yours -- and tell me what you think you need, far as crystals go. What's your project?" The Coalition crafters had done some strange things with crystals; he might need her advice on any kind of potential project, apprentice or not.

 

[Vakarian]

He smiled genuinely as he watched the woman give over her bag and inform him that there were fragile materials within. He also noted her slight reluctance to pass the bag to him, likely due to her outward appearance of a silent strength; already he found himself liking the woman, she was certainly the right choice to begin his quest for a sword of his own. His icy gaze flicked back to the Lady Merrill as she cracked her neck and reached for her spear again.

It was in this moment that he noticed a soothing aura permeating the area around the spear itself, and if he took the time to actually examine it with the force, he found that the weapon itself was the source of the aura - not the woman. He had yet to see a weapon that maintained its own aura through the Force up close, the woman's spear being the first. His gaze showed his surprise at the newly discovered trait that the weapon had and a slight desire to examine the weapon grew. It would be considered rude of him to ask, he witheld his request and turned to the question that she had asked. He chose to answer her question with a question of his own.

"Do you know much of the Valkyri people, Lady Merrill? he inquired of her as he turned towards the direction of the Temple and began walking with a surprisingly airy grace about his steps as he moved. He was careful to leave his shoulders fluid, so as to prevent much jostling of the pack as they navigated the mountain-path away from Voss-Ka to the outskirts where the Temple lay hidden. He wasn't sure if he was breaking some rule about having an outsider of the Order being in the Temple, but he would gladly accept the consequences for the knowledge she could offer him. "We are not entirely trusting of outsider technology, though we have come a long way from what we used to be." he finished his thought.

"I do not deny the merits of the Jedi weapon of choice, the fire-sword, but I cannot bring myself to wield one. I do not trust them, let alone know how to use them properly." he paused for an intake of breath as he spoke, "It is my intention to forge a sword of my own, imbued with the power of the Gods (his cultural equivalent of the Force) and strengthened to match the Jedi fire-sword in combat. I believe, from records in the Silver Jedi Temple, that a crystal is an integral a part of the crafting process as it is in the creation of the fire-sword. You are an expert on crystals and their properties, so I have called on you to glean your thoughts on the matter and to benefit from your knowledge."

He stopped walking and turned to face her, a naïve light filling his eyes, "Lady Merrill, I have no inkling of where to start in deciding which crystal would benefit me most. It is a secondary reason for asking you to join me. I require your knowledge where I am lacking on the topic of crystals." he ended his words as a request more so an explanation, making it clear that she was welcome to refuse him should she wish to do so.

[member="Mara D'Lessio Merrill"]

 

[Mara D'Lessio Merrill]

[member="Máni"]

"I know a little about the Valkyri way of life, yeah. My bodyguard and steward is half-Valkyri, and I live on a feudal pre- or post-technological world; the spear isn't some anachronistic affectation." She followed him up the mountain city's streets and stairs, calling on the Force to ease the lactic acid buildup in her thighs. Even so, when he paused and turned to face her -- look down at her, really -- she was glad for the rest.

"What you're describing sounds like a Force-imbued blade. That's an ancient art. So far as the Jedi community is concerned, it was only rediscovered fairly recently, too, maybe a decade ago. And you're right: making one takes a Force crystal of one kind or another." She searched his face, then shrugged and grinned. "Open the pack."

Inside he would find a flexible layer of nullification resin, and within that, a rustling jumble of crystals and gemstones, some of them worth as much as the city around them. Galactic financial institutions rated corporations according to six tiers, each exponentially larger than the last. Nine corporations in the entire galaxy held Tier Six status. Mara's mother, father, and aunt had built three of them from the ground up. That left Mara with a ridiculous fortune, not all of it acquired through wholesome means, so she'd turned to philanthropy. She also had, you know, a little bit of latitude when it came to securing rare crafting materials.

"I'm fairly sure we should be able to find something in there that'll fit the bill for whatever you're after. Got enough selection that you might be able to find one option that really speaks to you, as if you're hunting your own Ilum crystal in the ice caves. Oh, and seriously, call me Mara. You're basically my age, and I get enough Lady Merrill-ing in my castle."

Force, that sounded pretentious. Well, I did just show him enough gemstones to buy the Voss system...

 

[Vakarian]

As he was instructed to do, he opened the bag with a careful tenderness so as not to damage any of the contents within the bag. He did not have to look in the bag to know that the words she spoke were true, he could feel the variation in his senses when the crystals touched them. It was strong and each crystal that touched his mind exuded its own presence and strength. It brought a boyish grin to his face and his eyes lit up in wonder.

"Yes, I do believe that that is what the archives called the technique. " he reinforced her words with his own confirmation absently as his mind still explored the contents of the bag. Admittedly, he was new to the Sanctum, and had barely begun to comprehend the idea of the Force in relation to his own culture. From a young age, he had been brought to believe that his gifts were the Gods way of showing him favors and his induction into the Jedi on Voss contradicted that with their own teachings. It was one of the few things that caused him to set himself apart from the main body of the Order.

Of course, they had not tried to coerce or force him to believe in their ways, and for that he was grateful. But, his own beliefs created a mental barrier that wouldn't allow him to explore their beliefs. A fear had risen in his mind that if he attempted to learn their ways, or to understand their idea of "the Force", that his own culture would become obsolete, senseless. That would shatter everything that he was, everything that he believed in and he wasn't ready for that kind of change. Not yet.

After a few more moments of examining the crystals, he sealed the pack and gingerly placed it on his shoulders again. " Let us be off. The temple is not so far away now. " and he turned and continued towards the outskirts of the city. His icy gaze retaining its boyish light as the two of them continued down the path.

The path drew to a close not long after they had began their walk again. Instead of a clear path to walk, they now had to traverse a forest to reach the temple. But, the walk to the Temple was well worth the peace and isolation that it offered in the depths of the jungle. The temple itself had been built by the native peoples of Voss-Ka thousands of years ago, and had been discovered by the Antarian Rangers along with a few members of the Silver Jedi Order. With the time and effort to spare, they had created a new home for the Force Sensitives of the Sanctum, though most were welcome at any given time.

Máni being a newly arrived padawan did not know if he was breaking rules by bringing the Lady Merrill along with him to the hidden temple, but it was a fair trade for the knowledge she would impart unto him. The walk through the jungle was swift and much easier than that going up the mountain to Voss-Ka, so much so in fact that Máni barely showed any signs of strain. He paused at the entrance to the Temple, eyeing the high arches and Vine covered architecture; he liked it this way, it held a more natural beauty.

"Welcome to Voss Temple, Lady Merr-- I mean, Mara. " he smiled sheepishly as he motioned for her to enter first. It was only proper.

[member="Mara D'Lessio Merrill"]

 

[Mara D'Lessio Merrill]

[member="Máni"]

An old memory clicked into place. "This is the hidden temple," she said quietly, scanning the overgrown ruins. "The one the Silvers built and kept secret from the Republic’s Jedi. My dad’s been here, but I never have. I’m not SSC. Heck, I’m not even a Jedi.” She was, in point of fact, a Warden of the Sky, but traditional Wardens didn’t advertise or confirm their status as Wardens. All that, though, was a side issue. The main point, which she left tacit, was that she might not be welcome, and Mani might get in legitimate trouble for taking her inside, let alone showing her its location.

“Looks like there’s a set of garden paths or something down there around the base. Maybe let’s stick to some of those for now. I don’t want to step on any toes just yet. I’m sure there’s a stone bench or whatever where I can lay out some stones and we can get started.”

 

[Vakarian]

Máni could sense her realization of the trouble that he could get in for bringing her to the Hidden Temple. He knew it was a gamble to bring the Lady Merrill to the Temple, and he was certain that [member=Coci Heavenshield], knew about it already. He would accept whatever, if any, punishment lay ahead of him. He was that certain of the knowledge that [member="Mara D'Lessio Merrill"] could impart to him on the best crystal for him to use. He was Jedi first and foremost, they were knowledge seekers according to some; surely he would not receive too harsh a punishment in the pursuit of knowledge.

However, he had noted that the Silvers were an easy going group so there was a chance that no punishment would be rendered at all. He turned his icy gaze to the woman and nodded before heading for the indicated garden paths. He vaguely recalled the name of the garden, Maya's Garden or something of that nature. He remained silent for the greater part of the walk to the gardens and took a seat on the ground, opposite of a small garden pond and a few stone benches.

"This should be a suitable location for your crystals, Mara." he stated softly before turning his gaze back to her.

 

[Mara D'Lessio Merrill]

[member="Máni"]

"Looks good to me," she said with a grin. Her apprehension faded as she sat on one of those benches. She took back her pack and started laying out gemstones and crystals on the bench beside her; he was tall enough to see them, even seated. Some of them needed more care and delicacy than others, and were individually wrapped. She stripped off the wrappings and stowed them back in the pack.

"So," she said when she'd finished laying them out by hand. "You want a crystal that's suitable for a Force-imbued blade. Just about anything here can be used for one of those, with enough ingenuity, but you want something that..." Her head tilted. "Something that meshes well with a functional weapon, and something that speaks to where you've come from and where you're going. Let's start off with...ahh, here we go."

She plucked several crystals from the array and levitated them above her hand, then tossed them to Mani.

"Number one is a Sigil crystal from the Sigil system. Yellowish blade, if you're making a lightsabre. This is one of the best cutters there is, comparable to a Lignan or an Opila. Whether that transfers fully to a Force-imbued blade, I don't know, but it's worth a try.

"Number two is an Incineration crystal. Something to keep you warm on a cold Midvinter night. It's a variant of compressed energy crystal, so a technologically altered natural crystal. It does strange things to the blade's composition and containment field. Basically, what you hit gets more of an energy spray, and catches fire. That's if it's installed in a lightsabre, anyway. As with the Sigil crystal, it's debatable how much of that effect would transfer to a Force-imbued blade.

"Number three is a safer bet. This is a Kasha crystal from Cerea. It boosts focus and clears away distractions, and I know for a fact that the effect transfers to derivative artifacts like Force-imbued blades.

"Number four is also a safe bet. This is a Dantari crystal -- pretty rare since the Primeval did their thing on Dantooine and the old Jedi Enclave evacuated. Attune it to yourself as part of the smithing process, and this crystal will make it so that your Force techniques require less energy, reducing your fatigue.

"Number five is a pontite Adegan crystal -- very rare. The highest grade of Adegan crystal. You can feel it cooling your temper. Very useful.

"Any of these strike your fancy yet?"

 

[Vakarian]

[member="Mara D'Lessio Merrill"]

The Valkyri boy listened to her words intently and watched with a silent fascination as crystals were retrieved from the pack, some more potent than others as made evident by their individual wrappings. Each crystal he felt through his gods given senses, told him that each had its own personality and presence; a fact that startled him because each crystal also had an interesting effect on his own mind. He offered a kind smile to the Lady Merrill as she laid out a fair quantity of crystals and turned his attentions back to her in full as she began to speak about his intentions for the crystal that he would choose.

He watched as she used her own gods-given gifts to cause several crystal options to hover just above her hand before she tossed them towards him. He attuned himself to the signatures of the crystals in his senses and he 'caught' them with us mind, allowing them to float in a circular pattern around his head as if he were wearing a crystal crown. He opened his eyes once he was sure he had a steady hold on all of the crystals she tossed to him with his senses and he turned his gaze upwards to examine the crystals with his physical sensory abilities as well. His eyes fell on each crystal as she spoke of them, rotating around his head, in a mind influenced orbit.

He scoffed internally at the words "safer bet", taking care to put those crystals to the background of his mind. He was certain that those crystals would be harder to attune with when the time came to actually infuse the crystal with the blade, but that was a great deal of time away from now. He still had to learn to forge a blade and then learn to fuse the crystal with the blade, as well as imbue his own gifts into the weapon to make it stronger than your average blade; strong enough to stand with the favored weapons of the Jedi. The final step would be to test his blade, to connect with the creation and learn to wield it properly and then he would present the blade to the Lady Merrill and his forging and imbueing trainer, to inspect his work and to detect any flaws that they may find.

He turned his gaze back to Mara with a set look of somewhat decision in his eyes. "adegan Pontite, Kasha, and Dantari." the three crystals coming forward as if responding to his naming them, and hovering between the two. The final two crystals still rotating around his head in a gapped crown.

"I believe that these crystals would be most beneficial to me for their properties and the special additives that they offer. Adegan Pontite to soothe my battle-rage, Kasha to focus and clear my mind of distractions, and Dantari to expend less energy through the use of my given gifts." he turned his gaze towards her, hoping that she would have further insight to help him narrow his choices down further.

 

[Mara D'Lessio Merrill]

[member="Máni"]

"You're wary of getting caught up in a battle and slipping to the Dark Side, I think, and that's a good wariness to have. Kasha plus pontite will help you stay in control. The risk, though, is that it'll become a crutch. Now, a crutch has its uses, its times and its places. You're a Padawan now, and this is a good time to give yourself good mental habits; a kasha-pontite weapon will help. Think of it as a mental training tool. Just be aware that if you're separated from your weapon, you might be caught off-guard by some kind of stimulus to anger. Effectively, kasha and pontite can function as mind-altering substances, in a benign way. Benign or not, though, remove them and your state of mind won't have the same kind of support. So if you pick the kasha-pontite combo, I'd recommend undergoing a good chunk of your combat training without the sword around. Even some missions, if you can explain it away to the other Silvers. Force forbid you lose your weapon and your emotional control at the same time."

She shrugged. "You know yourself. At this stage in your life, maybe kasha-pontite would be a benefit, maybe it'd be a hindrance. All of the above are factors to consider.

"Now, your Force-imbued blade construction process can operate with one or two kinds of crystals, a lot like a basic sabre. More, and we get into some really tricky architecture, so let's avoid that. Get that stuff wrong, and your sword might not do what you're after. Two crystals maximum, then, but here's the thing. The benefits of the kasha, the Dantari, and the pontite don't require the crystals to be integrated into the weapon. You could easily put the Dantari and the pontite inside the weapon, integrating their fragments with the metal, and use the kasha as a pommel stone. You'd still be able to use it for improved focus. In fact, you'd be optimizing the kasha's power. Some interesting things have been done with kasha dust, but a good portion of a kasha stone's power depends on the patterns inscribed in it. The best kasha stones are discs the size of your head, with patterns all over the flat side. So that's my recommendation: incorporate the Dantari and the pontite into the metal, use the kasha as a pommel stone."

 

[Vakarian]

He hadn't thought of his desire to make use of Adegan Pontite crystal as a way to reinforce his mind against the workings of Velkar and his foul whisperings, but now that the Lady [member="Mara D'Lessio Merrill"] had brought it forward to his attention, he could see the subconscious desire to protect himself from that weakness. Most Valkyr held battle-rage in their hearts, a natural boon to aid in their fight against their enemies, but most had a firm control over it; a control that Máni did not wield. While he wasn't an overtly angry individual, he was well aware of his susceptibility to the primal force that fueled his rage in battle. His eyes flashed in discomfort as the weakness had been made evident to him by the woman across from him, though he harbored no ill will against her.

The woman across from him was far more knowledgeable than he had given her recognition for; her ability to see a weakness that he had not yet discovered himself affirming his latest realization. He watched her carefully, silently, watching to attempt to glean the extent of her knowledge; both in crystals and matters of the mind.

"You are far wiser than I had originally thought, Lady Merrill." his words, though kind, seeped with a discomfort that was evident. It may not have been clear to her why the discomfort had come about, but he was certain that she would be able to detect the unease about the revelation. He fell silent again as he listened to the second part of the woman's words, pertaining to the art of Imbueing the blade with the crystals. It was very likely that he would follow her recommendations for the blade and pommel stone, she had well proven her knowledge on the matter to him and he trusted her fully.

"I believe that I shall follow your suggestion and make use of the Pontite and Dantari in the blade itself and wield the Kasha in the pommel." he spoke after some length of silence when she finished her recommendations. It was no secret that the light that had been shed on his weakness had made him self aware. Even now, though his face was rather impassive, his mind battled with itself. How had he not seen the susceptibility of his mind to the influence of Velkar? Yet, the woman had seen it and had made evident its existence.

 

[Mara D'Lessio Merrill]

[member="Máni"]

OOC/ Sorry for the wait - been busy IRL.

IC/ "So we're back to 'Lady Merrill,' are we?" Various instincts, none apropos to the situation, suggested playfulness or flirtation. Side effect of working alongside someone your own age. "But I'll take the compliment on its merits."

As he made and named his choices, Mara nodded and began packing up the rest -- by hand, as before. There were times to show students the wonder of the Force, and times when it would just be showing off or laziness. Neither of the latter was a respectful way to touch the Force. Therefore, she opened her own doors and packed her own bags instead of using telekinesis. She did her best to plan with foresight rather than relying on the Force, though she wasn't shy about using it at need.

"Feels like a good combination for you," she said, as stone clinked into her bag. "As for the actual forging, I wish I could offer some assurances or advice, but like I said, Force-imbued blades aren't my specialty. I assume you've got a specialist lined up to help you with that?"

Naturally, the stones were no charge. Force alone knew she could buy this star system with her pocket change.

 

[Vakarian]

((No worries. Real life is always first.))

A sly smile crept on to his lips at her obvious amusement at the use of his 'Lady Merrill'. He believed that he detected undertones of playful flirting and it brought a brief blush to his cheeks, though it would not linger linger long. "So you should, Lady Mara." a delicate smile broadened on his lips and his eyes litnup slightly in amusement. It was clear that he was toying with the woman in a somewhat charming manner, or rather attempted charm.

As the woman began to put away the remaining crystals by hand, he allowed his connection to fade and the crystals softly fell to his hands. He took the two remaining crystals that he had not chosen and passed them to the woman with relative ease, only having to bend forward slightly to close the distance between the two with his arms reach. He relied as much on his natural skills as he did on those given to him by his Gods. He watched in relative silence as the woman returned the crystals that she had layed out to the pack and closed it. He considered her words for a moment before responding.

"I believe we have chosen well, yes. " he was certain that he wouldn't have been able to choose the correct crystals without her help. "I believe that there are some within the Order that can help me to forge the needed blade and subsequently imbue it, yes: Though I have not officially asked anyone to teach me to do so." he again responded in kind, turning his gaze to the woman in full.

He proceeded to stand and stretched with a grunt, rolling his shoulders and allowing his muscles to stretch and move as he did so. He had never been one to like sitting idly around, thusly he proceeded to move closer to the ponds in the garden. The garden itself was truly a beautiful one, and whoever had created it had a gift for plant life and healing. As he stared down at the reflection of himself in the serene waters, he turned his mind to the woman behind him, open his mouth in inquiry.

"Tell me of your castle and home, Lady Mara?"

[member="Mara D'Lessio Merrill"]

 

[Mara D'Lessio Merrill]

[member="Máni"]

Mara latched the pack and slung it over her shoulder, then stood. Once more, she was reminded that she came up to his sternum, barely. "My home is one thing. I was born and raised on a pre-technological world in Wild Space, and I guess that'll always be home to me. My house, though, my castle, is this old lakeside fortress on Kilia Four. I've put in things like water purifiers and basic plumbing, and a HoloNet transmitter. The rest of it is authentic down to the bones. Oh, and my aunt -- she was somewhat notorious as an alchemist. Before she died, she tweaked the place in any number of ways. Doors that open on their own, sometimes, or windows that look elsewhere, silverware that stays sharp -- I think she was trying to make up for lost time. We weren't close when I was young. Matter of fact, I thought she was dead."

It really was an excellent garden. Clearly, the Silvers had spared no expense. "It's near a forest, the kind that's dotted with little villages and sawmills and lone houses. A little farther, you get the mountain strongholds, the cliffside paths -- that's where I keep my ship. Most of the time I travel by pulka, these shaggy four-legged riding animals, a little like your vhaanir. The Kilians don't use them for food, though, except in deep winter when it's an emergency. The Kilian Rangers, the Force-sensitive chivalric order, they ride war-bred pulkas and fight with spears like this one. It's a sight to see, Kilian Rangers charging up a path cut in a mountainside. There's nowhere in the galaxy quite like Kilia Four."

 

[Vakarian]

"You speak honorably of your home. That is good." the Valkyr replied after a considerable silence as he thought on all that she had said and described. The woman painted a pretty picture of her home, and it made the Valkyri boy slightly homesick. He had left Midvinter to run away from his past - no parents, no purpose. He had devoted himself to Helm and his Justice and he had since sought to bring his justice wheresoever he went. All of what he had done had been for the Valkyri deity and in memory of his parents, but he had never really given much thought as to what he wanted.

A flash of genuine sympathy passed across the man's face when she spoke of the loss of her aunt, his own mind turning to his parents and all that he had lost himself. He could sympathize with her and offer her comforting words, but she did not seem the type that sought - or needed - sympathy from anyone. So, instead he chose to reply simply in the only way he knew how, "I am sure she died honorably and will complete the journey to the halls of her ancestors." It was the natural way for him to approach the topic of death, and it wouldn't equate that one did not rest in the halls of their ancestors after death -- what else was there?

The woman had painted her home to have the same cultural feel of his own, though he was certain they had their vast differences. The Kilian Rangers - she had called them - reminded him of the Valkyri Shield Maidens. It brought an odd measure of comfort to him to relate the two together, and subsequently a thoughtful smile would rest upon his face. He had the desire to see her home, to witness the pulka and their riders, to see the Kilian Rangers and to take in the view of the woman's castle. He had his own, but it had been given in service to another cause.

"You seem to have given rise to my desires. I wish to see Kilia IV and witness the pulka and their riders. These Kilian Rangers seemed a valuable sort, and I would very much like to learn of them in depth, if that is permitted." his voice carried softly, like velvet caressing the skin, and held a vibrant boom that was a trademark of his people. He had stated the last of his words as a question rather than a true statement. He wished to see more of Kilia IV, and of the Lady Mara - there was much he could learn from her. But, that was an issue and situation for another time.

 

[Mara D'Lessio Merrill]

[member="Máni"]

"I am sure she died honorably and will complete the journey to the halls of her ancestors."

Mara rubbed the back of her neck. "More honorably than she lived, by far. She was a witch, a Sith Lord, and a war criminal. In the last year or so of her life, she repented, tried to do good and keep a low profile. In the end, I think she came to believe that the only way she could atone for her crimes was to die saving as many people as she'd killed. So she did. There's a whole city on Dromund Kaas -- the community of Hythe Park, in the ruins of Kaas City -- that only exists still because she and her friends defended it, and that's where she died."

"You seem to have given rise to my desires. I wish to see Kilia IV and witness the pulka and their riders. These Kilian Rangers seemed a valuable sort, and I would very much like to learn of them in depth, if that is permitted."

She shot him a glance that almost felt...shy. Telling stories about Kilia Four was one thing, but showing someone your home? Reality always wound up being more and simultaneously less than anecdote. "I'm sure I could find room for you," she said. "My castle has plenty of warm beds to spare." She gestured up the garden's nearest vine-covered wall where it transitioned into the side of the Silvers' temple. "What would you need to arrange if you wanted to come with me? Do you have a formal Master you'd need to clear it with? I'm forgetting if you've mentioned one or not."

 

[Vakarian]

//OOC: Sorry for the long wait. I had some real life complications come up.



//IC:
"The crimes of the past are outweighed by the choices of the future. They can never be forgotten, but they may be redeemed." A soft smile was shared as he finished his words. It was held in his opinion that the crimes of ones past would never be forgotten, but their actions in the future could redeem them of their past. As he listened to her words and how her aunt died, he was only reaffirmed of his beliefs. She had certainly redeemed herself, even if he had known her in life. It took a courageous and valorous soul to give up ones life in defense of another; to him, that was the highest honor anyone could achieve in their life. It would certainly overshadow a tainted past and equally tainted actions. But, it was the not the past that one should focus on, but rather the future and what actions could be taken for the betterment of the whole. In the end, it seemed that that was what the Lady Mara's aunt achieved and that alone seemed to bring some measure of satisfaction to the Valkyr; satisfaction that was plainly seen by the rising smile on his lips.

"No, I have no formal master. I have, for the most part, been self taught or learned by watching others around me. Which was why I requested your presence in the first place, for your expertise with the crystals and your experience in general." He paused as he turned once more to focus his gaze on her before continuing, "It would be an honor to accompany you to your home and to witness the Rangers in their natural surroundings." He finished with a soft smile before gather his things and gently placing them in a bag that rested hidden beneath his clothing, no more than a small pocket to his large size. He was certain that he could further examine the crystals later on, perhaps on the trip to [member="Mara D'Lessio Merrill"] 's home.

 

[Mara D'Lessio Merrill]

[member="Máni"]

OOC/ Likewise, as it happens. Also, forgive short posts: on mobile for the immediate future.

IC/ In fairly short order, they made their way back down the mountain to the place where Mara had parked her ship. The Bullet Time was a microcorvette, fifty metres long and packed to the gills with escape gear and special weapons. Cramped didn't begin to describe it. Even Mara, who only came up to Mani's sternum, found some of it tricky to navigate. She got their course set, jumped to lightspeed, and pried herself out of the cockpit like a sardine from a can.

"We're going to be in close quarters for a couple weeks," she said, pausing in the corridor that separated their bunks. "This is an Underground raider ship. Not a lot of creature comforts, or privacy for that matter." She flopped down on her bunk, spear clattering on the floor, and pulled off her boots. "Fair warning: I snore."