Secrets of Snow

[Dovan Grey]

The winter winds were refreshing as the brisk breeze soothed Silas' soul. He was sitting cross-legged, feeling the thick snow melting into his soaked robes. Hours had passed, the feeling in his fingers were gone long ago. He remained still, though his ability to remain serene was not as strong as the Keepers. While the leaders remained motionless, and would stay unmoved for most of the day, Silas could not stay meditating out in the elements any longer. Most of the youngest pupils had already retreated to the huts, so Silas took some solace in his growing skills. He was from a far more temperate setting, where Mother Jungle gave him warmth in his studies, rather than the icy insight into the truth he was finding here.

Silas had found the Keepers of the All-Flame a year ago, their stories had filled all of the small habitable places on Belsavis. Near the edges of the world, where the lands turned into relentless frozen tundras, the Keepers came to worship and understand all the elements of the universe. They would stretch the limits of their bodies, so that their minds might be expanded. Where they could reach through their pain to grasp the Force which intertwined with all things. When Silas ventured to find them, he was welcomed not as an outsider, but as one of them for they feel the powers of the Force and nature moving through him. He stayed there with them, where they allowed him to learn next to their pupils. His understanding of the Force had been shaped by the ithorians he was raised by, his guardian was their Nature Priestess, and the spirit of the Mother Jungle still guided him - yet he had ventured far across the galaxy and his mind had been opened to many different views upon the binding Force.

"The winds are blowin' harder this season." Kefja said. The bothan student came next to Silas, rubbing his hands together, though such an act was against customs.

"The nights are growing longer as well." Silas answered as they headed towards the dining hut.

"The Elders Feast will be here soon then." Kefja said, his smile revealing fangs. "You haven't seen nothin', 'till you've seen what the Elders can cook."

"If it's better than bantha meat, I'll be content." Silas said. "I'm not sure if I can eat much more of that." As the two entered into the dining hut, it was far more lively than Silas had expected. The Keepers were quiet often, but time after meditation was reverent. Instead, everyone was talking and moving about. Silas even saw one of the oldest students head out into the snow to get some of the Elders.

"What's goin' on?" Keja asked one of the teachers.

Something important was happening, but Silas wasn't sure what it was.

"Jedi."

[member="Cael Shepard"]

 

[Cael Shepard]

Belsavis​

​

The small shuttle jerked wildly to the left, threatening to cause Cael to lose his lunch. Though he was rather young for his species, Cael firmly believed that flying should be for droids and droids only. He himself was rubbish behind the stick of a fighter or much less anything else, and this thought process caused him great anxiety when flying anywhere. Even still, his anxiety was only a surface-level emotion, as his happiness was much more noticeable. When the diplomatic corps of the Jedi announced they would be going to Belsavis to have a small treatise with the Keepers of the All-Flame, Cael made sure to sign up immediately. Foreign worlds and different Force ideologies were his forte, and if the galaxy was not consumed in fire and death, he would most likely be a scholar of sorts in the subject. Cael could not pass up such an extraordinary adventure here, and so was placed on the shuttle with little trouble.

It had been nearly 6 months since the death of his Master, and the troubled wound still bled in Cael's heart. There was even talk among the council of suspending his training for the time being, as his grief seemed to overtake his studies. However, not wishing to disturb the memory of his dear Master by failing, Cael straightened up and jumped head-first into his studies. He meditated almost daily at this point, and always made sure to feel out the Force, not matter his grief or depression. Great conflict could be felt in Cael, but he hid it as best as possible from those that could not sense it. Perhaps Belsavis would have answers for him beyond what he could find at the temple.

The shuttle settled down in a small, green lit village not far from the Keepers themselves. The local townspeople pointed the way, and the small diplomatic mission set off to find the small village the Keepers called home. Cael had been briefed over and over again about the nature of this mission and the culture of the Keepers. He had read what he could on them, though there was not much. The Keepers had been here for decades, and perhaps longer, keeping out of the eye of the Sith, FO, or any other faction. Small enough and smart enough to stay off the radar, the Keepers had not grown like the Jedi or Iron Legion. This had saved them from persecution several times, and Cael could not wait to see their culture or how they bonded with the Force itself.

Wrapping himself in his padawan robes, Cael and the rest of the mission made their way to the village on bantha's. The trek to the Keeper's Village was arduous enough, as the cold wind blew hard across the frozen plains. The general environment seemed hostile enough to the Jedi, one could not understand why someone would live here willingly. Finally, after a small amount of traveling, the delegation arrived to much fanfare from the local villagers. The Elders had recently finished their meditations, much to Cael's chagrin. He was hoping to study their natural state, even if he was warned to not see them as variables for an experiment.

The Jedi delegation met with the Elders almost immediately, and they were quickly ushered into the local dining hut. A feast of epic proportions was apparently in effect, and Cael could not deny the slight rumble his stomach had. His robes clinging to him as he moved into the hut, he sat wherever he could. As fate would have it, he would be seated next to or at least near Silas' himself. Shy and generally not one to strike up the first conversation, Cael watched as the local villagers moved to and fro inside the rather large hut.

[member="Silas Lastorm"]

​

 

[Dovan Grey]

As the fires roared in the dining hall, Silas could feel warmth returning to his body. There was a livelihood there that Silas had not seen in the Keepers since his arrival. In the hours since he learned of the Jedi delegation, Silas had changed his soaked robes, finding a simple grey cloak that rested over his faded white tunic. When he came back into the dining hall, the feast was being set out and the kitchens had used supplies Silas didn’t even know they stored. The aromas of roasted meats, breads, cheese, and more encircled the air, tantalizing Silas’ rumbling stomach.

He made his way to a large wooden table on the side of the room, one where some of the older, but quieter students sat. Finally, Silas saw the Jedi enter. He had seen Jedi before, learned from some, but such and nobility still struck him as they filled in. The older Jedi, the masters Silas assumed, made their way towards the Elder table while the other scattered their way around the room. One sat a few seats from Silas, giving a polite smile as he sat.

The room hushed as the Grand Elder made his way towards the center of the chambers. He was an elderly man, one with great wisdom that Silas often sought, though he had lived his entire life in this harsh terrain and his eccentricities were obvious.

“May the fires bless you.” His voice was weak, but still carried through the entirety of the hall, Silas suspected through the Force. “The all encompassing force of the galaxies has intertwined our minds and hearts so that we may come here together as friends. We may seek truth together, finding our hearts cooled by the elements of the ice, so our minds will be clear to find our destiny.” Silas looked around the room, a few Jedi smiling and nodding as a few Keepers whispered softly to one another. “May the Keepers of the All-Fire spark a great flame upon your heart, so we may grow to understand. And may your spirits be renewed in feast, so we may break bread and fellowship. This shall be a time of celebration, of learning, and peace.” Silas noted the strange tone the Grand Elder took on at the end, giving the Jedi an odd glance. Something he did not understand. “May the Force be with you.”

As the chamber gave an applause, Silas smiled to himself, knowing that wasn’t normally how the expression was used, but the Grand Elder clearly had no idea and was meaning it simply as a welcome.

“For the spirit of the wilderness has given to us great power,” The Grand Elder continued. “So that we might fill the voids of these worlds with it.” Silas noticed a robes figure walking towards the Jedi, his arms outstretched holding something glowing. “In our search for unity, I present our guests with this treasure. The Spirit Stones found deep in the belly of the earth.” The robed man left the stone sitting in front of the Jedi Master and stir moved across the hall. The Keepers had a collection of these gems which they worshiped for their power, but Silas tried to make them understand that they were Firkrann lightsaber crystals. The Elders would not listen, though Silas grew to understand that rather horsing a collection of crystals for themselves, it served a greater purpose to have them be a symbol to the people and gift to those they welcomed. “May the All-Flame purge you of your iniquities, bless in your strife, and temper you in exaltation.”

With that, the ceremony ended and the feast began in full swing. Foods were taken to each table, drinks were poured for each guest, it was a heartier meal than Silas had eaten for months. While the feast commenced, Silas saw the Jedi near him. He was quiet, not unlike Silas, though seemed rapt with interested at all of the going ons of the festivities.

“The journey here can be quite taxing.” Silas said to the Jedi, since Kefja who sat across from the young man stuffed his face. “I hope it was bearable for your company.”

[member="Cael Shepard"]

 

[Cael Shepard]

Once the hut was closed, the frigid cold could finally be kept at bay. Cael, shaking off the snow and ice that had built up on his robes, listened intently to the Elders speech. The Keepers had a much more naturalistic view of the Force itself, and the Jedi Council had no qualms with such people. They did not use the Force for evil in anyway, and were more monks then even the Jedi at this point. The lightsaber crystals being brought out were a sight to see, and though the Keepers did not understand their true power, Cael was beaming nonetheless. This cultural and spiritual unity is what drove him to be a scholar, and Cael was excited to see it all happening right in front of him.

Once the feast began, Cael was happy to see the huge amount of food brought out before him. He had kept to fasting recently, but the trek to the village had taken much of his strength at the moment. Watching the people with great interest, Cael could only smile at the bothan student in front of him, who devoured his portion in minutes. Realizing someone was speaking to him, Cael turned to face Silas, trying to piece together what he had heard and what was actually said. Cael was not used to people speaking with him honestly, but he was happy about this nonetheless. However, once he got a good look at Silas, his interest increased even more. Most of the Keepers were from traditional families and lines, but this particular man was not.

"It was good. Trekking to the edge of a frozen world is more fun then you can imagine." replied Cael. His voice cracked a tiny amount, mostly due to wear and him not having said much on the journey here. Straightening himself on the seat, Cael tried to seem more formal at this point. This was official Jedi business, and he needed to show the galaxy that the Jedi Order was still alive and well beyond the chaos and war that engulfed it. Curiosity was building in the young Padawan however, and before he knew it, he was unable to cage it for much longer. "Are you from here? You do not look like a Keeper." The tone of his voice was more suited as a question, not a direct insult or demand. Cael was simply curious why any other outsiders would be here, feasting on the edge of the world.

[member="Silas Lastorm"]

 

[Dovan Grey]

Silas took a few bites of food, feeling better and warmer each passing second. He kept his eyes on the Jedi, studying in a social, sensible sense. There was a spirit resting in him that seemed to align with Silas, he could feel a similar soul. But when Silas opened his mouth to speak, he felt a furry arm come across his shoulders.

“Ain’t a single one of us that knows where this scrap came from.” Kefja said, elbowing his friend while his beer spilt on the floor. “Like a big box of mysteries. A navcomputer going nowhere.” The bothan said and accompanied with a belly laugh. Kefja had not been counting his drinks. Silas grimaced for a moment, trying to smile at his friend but take control of the conversation. The dining hall was growing louder as the festivities continued. The Elders and Jedi Masters still ate in mostly silence, almost reverential of events transpiring, but the rest of the crowd were filled with merriment. The fires alongside of the halls began to float in the air, lines of flames being moved by the Force and encircling the room festively.

“I traveled here to learn alongside the Keepers." Silas said, speaking quietly but still over the crowd. He took a moment to think before he spoke. "I came here to understand the All-Flame, or as you might call it The Force. I consider them all to be the same intertwining elements. A bond that connects the universe, which has many facets and sides. More than we can fully understand. The Mother Jungle is always a mystery.”

“Don’t he talk so sweetly?” Kefja interjected.

“Kefja, shut your furry mouth for once. Let them talk to the outsider.” This time it was another student. A dark-haired human with a sharp face. Damon was quite clear to Silas that he thought of him as an intruder and alien. Not all of the Keepers thought they should allow someone with no allegiance to their order to sit beside them and learn their secrets. A few verbal outbreaks had occurred, but no large altercations had come of it. Still, it weighed Silas with an uneasiness.

“I am not one of them. I have not sworn any oaths or taken any vows, I am only here to learn.” Silas turned back to the Jedi, letting a smile cover what he felt. It wasn't a wound, he had been an outsider his entire life. He supposed inconvenienced wasn't a strong enough word for what he felt and resentment was too much. “Not a servant or anything, just a student of the universe, I suppose. My name is Silas.”

“You must tell me of your times with the Jedi. Any Jedi must have stories to tell.” Silas said. “To be honest, I’m not even sure what the delegation is for. Glad to get a good meal though.”

[member="Cael Shepard"]

 

[Cael Shepard]

The flames that lit around the room danced with a spectacular array of light and show. Cael could not imagine the pure concentration one must use to project such a power, though the Keepers were obvious in that regard. Keep his interest to the table at hand, Cael listened intently as the students and Silas spoke. Kefja seemed like a rather fun fellow, which was unlike most of the Bothan's he had met in the past. Usually quite respectable and quiet, Kefja broke all cultural boundaries it would seem.

Silas' thoughts on the Force were not wrong. Many called it by a different word, ranging from the Force to the Call. It had many names, but no matter what it was actually called, it was an obvious ability that connected the many people of the galaxy. Jedi meditated with it daily, and learned how to use it to enrich the lives of those that were innocent and good. The Force was a wonderful ability, that could ultimately be used for wrong purposes. However, the Keepers did not seem like this at all. Their use of the Force, or the All-Flame as they put it, seemed to be more naturalistic and spiritual then anything else. The Jedi delegation were here to lend a hand, help with anything they needed, and even offer their students the possibility of being trained at the Jedi Temple.

The arrival of Damon caused a stir in Cael, who frowned. The Elders seemed cordial enough with the Jedi, but there would always be those wary of outsiders. Cael did not focus on Damon long however, instead listening to Silas' confirmation that he was indeed not one of them. Cael responded quickly after Silas introduced himself. "A student of the universe is nothing short of amazing in these times of chaos and war." Cael extended a hand to shake Silas', if he had no issue. "I am Cael." His smile was genuine, as he and Silas seemed like similar souls.

"This delegation is nothing more then an outstretched hand. The Jedi grow smaller and smaller every year, so we like to make sure to extend a proper greeting to those that are imbued with the Force just as we are." Catching himself rambling, Cael cleared his throat and took a swig of the light beer near him. He did not imbibe of course, but he figured it would be rude not to in front of the Keepers and their elders. Trying to think of a story Cael could effectively tell, he could only smile. "I've been with the Jedi since I was a child. Raised in the temple to be a guiding light for those lost in these dark times."

Taking another few bites, Cael asked a rather serious question. "You seem to understand the Force more then most. Why haven't you sought out the Jedi themselves?" The question again was more curiosity then a demand, as Cael was essentially wondering why Silas was not a Jedi at this point. Their numbers dwindled over time, as most either defect to the Silvers or go on to become rogues.

[member="Silas Lastorm"]

 

[Dovan Grey]

The idea of a major faction still sending aid through the galaxy, while being involved in countless wars seemed dubious to Silas. He had always expected an alterier motives, like perhaps they were looking for new soldiers. Silas supposed that might be cynical, had the cold tundras frozen pieces of him? Cael seemed genuine, a kind soul. Perhaps that truly was the heart of many Jedi, perhaps there were altruistic heroes in the universe. Silas himself tried to be good, though he often thought that others saw him as more wholesome and decent than he truly was.

“Maybe he’s just real deep undacover.” Kefja added, this time Damon tossed a roll at the bothan. The two gave each other a stink eye, before continuing conversations apart from Silas and Cael. Silas turned his attention back to his new acquaintance.

“I have taken a path with many roads. Some detours, some have been journeys of adventure. Always, they have been in pursuit of knowledge." It might have been dramatic and strange, but it's how Silas truly felt. Honesty had taken him much farther in life than lies. "To be frank, I don’t believe the Jedi to be the other way to understand the Force. I’d rather have my understanding expanded than narrowed.” He hoped the young Jedi wouldn't consider what he said an insult, rather the perception Silas had made of the Force. The hall roared in delight, one of the Priests had collected a crowd around him, each of them laughing loudly with their drinks.

“Perhaps my road will take be to follow the Jedi some day, but that is for the Force to determine." Silas continued. "I am but an instrument of the clock-winder’s will.”

The Priests had completed their trainings as students, now fit to undertake their path alone. They had decided they would not be outdone by the students who where using their skills in the Force to fill their plates, sending the meals all across the hall - sometimes for convenience but often for pranks. One of the Priest, Silas suspected it would be one that had been in the drink, had blasted open the window to the hall, letting a cold draft of wind into the building. The snow swirled in the hall, it was moving beneath the pressure of the Force. It formed itself into a dragon's head, soaring quickly across the room until disappearing into a mist of quickly melting snow. It was clear the Elders were not pleased, but rather than punish the Priest, one of the Elders came out into the hall. Harrick Stonesong, who would train the students in the ways of movement, of battle, and of meditation. He was collecting all students, and some of the rowdy Priests, so they could venture out. Silas supposed it was more of a distraction than actual symbol of unity, but now many of the younger Jedi and Keepers would venture out into the wilderness. They would go to The Path, where the Keepers trained and they might grow together in understanding of the Force and battle.

[member="Cael Shepard"]

 

[Cael Shepard]

Cael nervously laughed at Kafka's joke, which grew even more awkward after Damon threw a roll at him. Why Silas would remain in a place that considered him an outsider was hard to fathom, though Cael could not put it past him to stay due to the nature of his study. Taking another gulp from his beer as he listened to Silas, Cael nodded absent-mindedly with some fervor. Everything Silas had said Cael agreed with, as he too believed the pursuit of knowledge was important when it came to both the galaxy and the Force. Silas was definitely more learned then Cael, and he could not help but feel a tinge of jealousy. If not for the low membership the Jedi Order had, then Cael would not even be allowed out of the temple without a master watching his every move. With the recent problems however, Padawan's were given more leg room when it came to missions, etc.

Cael did not take what Silas had said badly. Many people distrusted the Jedi or at the very least, did not understand them or their teachings. Furthermore, Silas' seemed to struggle with the same ideas that Cael had when he first discovered the Force. Back then, it was difficult for the local Jedi trainers to keep Cael out of the library. He digested every ancient text he could get his hands on, and had he not been stopped, his pursuit of knowledge would of led him down a darker path. The Force was a powerful bond, and if one treads too deep, they can become lost in its power and glory. "The Jedi respect the Force. Understanding it is important to us, but we try to make sure the Force does not become a simple resource." Cael made sure to keep his tone helpful rather then condescending, as he was not trying to talk down to Silas.

Cael watched as the snow exploded into a show, and he could not help but smile. His masters however were less then amused, as the Force was not something to be used so childishly. Cael's smile waned as the procession seemed to move outside. Taking a deep breath, Cael called on the Force to keep him warm as they funneled outside. As he wrapped his robes around him, he could feel his lightsaber hanging on his belt. Placing his hand on it through his robe, Cael stiffened a tiny bit as they moved. The saber was supposed to be the arm of the Jedi, but Cael was still terrified of the weapon itself. Steeling himself against the elements and keeping close to Silas, Cael questioned the outsider. "Have they allowed you to train with them? Or are you only allowed to watch?"

[member="Silas Lastorm"]