Dev Shadows of Atrisia

[Junko Ike]

Then they were coming through below the cloud cover that was within. Mist all around them and massive trees were towering above them.... Junko took it in when their path went from rock to shadowed and misted forest. Junko was looking upon it and she was looking up as the sounds of the forest came to her. "Everything is so beautiful to see here and..." She trailed off as they came to some of the larger trees and looking up at the mountains themselves.. the clouds seemed to stay within it. "It is a cloud forest, I have seen these in some jungles but this is beautiful if this is where your empress was sending us here... the sight of it alone is beautiful."

Kirano was standing there and she looked at it. "The Agora here is told about in stories, said to be the hand of a god buried deep in the planet who has tried to reach out. It was something that we had discovered in ours as there is more to the mountains. going deeper into the earth, a face and an area of Chitei where even we have not fully explored but we have been able to mine a little of it. The crystals are strong in what you call the force... we call it gi, a life stream of the galaxy." Kirano was standing now but she walked as the others came in and the temperature changed getting a little warmer then in the mountains pass but it was more humid and muggy.

 

[Junko Ike]

Junko was looking at it all now... here the forests were beautiful, they were hot now where exposed to the air but the temperature regulating outfits that they had were keeping them comfortable. Junko looked at it as the sun filtered down into the lower areas casting everything in shadows, she was seeing crystals that reflected the light around them in refracted patterns of different colors on the shadows. She was standing there and the forest of crystal was beautiful as she stood there with warmth. "I can feel the force here like a geyser." She was looking at it and Kirano stood there next to her as she pointed up and lifted Junko to pluck a fruit from one of the low hanging branches of the tree.

She touched the plum when she took it down and the surface was icy... not crystalline almost but it yielded under her touch. She broke a piece off of it and tasted it. The crystal was like pure sugar and force energy that invigorated her to want to jump up and down several times and almost be hyper. "Oh my goodness this is... if the fruits we have found along the way were just the cast offs then this is the source." She said it and bit into the plum taking a juicy bite that tingled the back of her mind and she was on the ground near Kirano who was holding her up as she could feel the force around herself with a nod of her head while some of the leaves on the ground swirled and shifted around her.

 

[Junko Ike]

"Princess I believe you are riding a high from the fruits." She was looking at her and holding Junko as the jedi princess felt her head spinning and was euphoric with the others coming around her. They helped carry her through the forest and came towards the center of the valley and the massive white tree that towered up several kilometers into the sky. Massive roots and branches that were around them... the sounds of monkeys and birds that flew overhead and Junko even in her addled state could feel the power here. The waters were crystal clear with the power of the force itself. They were able to move and above them she could see platforms where something had been built around the tree.

Kirano was carrying her up the pathway and they were in what seemed like a treehouse at the bottom of a larger structure. The small drones were bringing them holographic images of the valley itself so they would be able to search around and find everything that they wanted to. Where she was looking now and where Junko was able to stand up once they were out of the crystal trees and forest with its fruit... she was looking at the forest below them and the waters flowed in every direction while nature had grown all around. Smaller creatures could be seen looking up at them. The group continued upwards into the trees walking along the path and it was old but build solid.

 

[Junko Ike]

Junko was checking it now that her head was starting to become more clear... it had been like a force enhanced sugar rush when she bit into the fruit but there was so much more to it. She was observing things now... she was able to still giggle but she had come here and going up the stairs that wrapped around brought them to the remains of a massive temple... beautiful and built into the trees and into the branches. With it interconnecting in areas like a lattice word of wood that had stone and metal between them but it looked much much more organic and built into the temple itself. She could feel the lightside of the force here being focused through the roots of the tree.

She could see much more here though as well.. the massive temple was run down.. the older wood rotten in areas and some of the vines had creeped back in but Junko knew it had good bones... it had potential for something she might be able to see and then there was something on the edge of her hearing. "Contacts." Min said it and blades were in hands while Junkos hands came up and she was ready to fight if needed but she was going to talk and try to calm the situation down first. The sight of something human standing next to her as her tiger and loyal hound stood near her side and watched carefully showing their massive teeth.

 

[Junko Ike]

Junko motioned for them to hold and stand down for the moment. her eyes tracking and observing before she took in the sight of lightsabers in their hands and jedi robes. One of them came forward and she recognized her from Jar'kai of all places. "Fan.... is that you?" She said it and stood there going forward and standing as tall as she could to look at the woman who marched forward and looked down at her. The taller atrisian was in her jedi robes... black hair with small beads in them a gift from Junko when she had been appointed as a master within the jedi order here on Atrisia before it had been destroyed... or so she had thought.

"Most did, we fled into the mountains when Jar'kai fell and found this valley." She said that but Junko was looking at it and they hadn't built all of this... someone older had long ago but surviving here.... thriving here from the looks of it. "We didn't know, the aftermath had us searching but we were trying to find a way to conceal the darkside nexus that was there." Junko said it and walked forward as she relaxed and Fan did much the same embracing her and looking at the others as they came out of the shadows. "Are these the younglings we couldn't find in the destruction?" She said it and they all looked like teenagers fresh faced and skilled.

 

[Junko Ike]

"They were... but most of the younglings have grown up... we had heard small rumors and seen ships but didn't know if they were friend or foe... the destruction of Jar'kai scattered us. We only managed to get here after several weeks." Junko looked at her and she understood... the destruction had scattered much and the nexus that was there had permeated the planet making it hard to detect survivors but they had managed to make the wall to contain it and by then it had still been years... now they were working to restore and that had led her to here and to them as Junko spoke looking at each of them.

"Well I can't say we looked for you, or promise everythign will be better. The destruction cause a massive darkside nexus on the planet... it tore much apart and we have slowly worked to contain it and rebuild. That was the first priority as no one could sense people across the planet with that acting like a beacon of the force and darkside it resonated and distracted. Now though... now we have been working to try and recover with the efforts and have rebuilt the temple as well as others. The jedi aren't just living on atrisia it was made a place for them to thrive as dislike of the sith runs strong currently thanks to all of the lives lost and destruction."

 

[Junko Ike]

Junko was looking at her and she brought the jedi into an embrace before she was checking her and the others. "Well Fan.. if you will let us stay here we will say what has happened and you can decide what you want to do. I had hoped to well explore here and if there was a temple or something that could be built and restored for future use but if you and your people want to be here or remain then I am not going to force it. There is an entire planet for us to go and explore." She said it and Fan was older but seemed happy enough while she continued to embrace the jedi princess. "I wouldn't dream of it princess, I know how much you support the jedi and I know if you had known you would have searched for us."

That got a smile from Junko when she went and found a place to sith down the padawans now.. they had been trained by someone came out and were looking at her. The jedi master in her was glad to see it and the little amount they had managed to repair here was wonderful, their food was brought out and she shared what they had as well making it a feast as she spoke to Fan about what had happened, the changes on Atrisia since the attack and how they were reforming and fixing a few things... namely working with the jedi to have better and more protected areas of the planet. The anshin overhead would serve as a shield but other places would have planetary shields installed on them as well.

 

[Junko Ike]

Fan listened to everything... all of the plans that were going into their future hopefully... all of the things that had been done and what they had been working on. The jedi masters were able to drink some tea as Junko had the hardlight being set up to cover the areas that were exposed still. Where they were working on fixing some things and what supplies they had managed to take with themselves. The high grade ration packs were well just that and filled with enough they had been able to survive easily on a fourth of what they had taken even after several years. Junko was impressed but they had brought quite a lot as well as some of the modular components for recycling and reconstructing raw matter like here.

"That all sounds impressive princess and I am glad... I see no reason for us not to returnt ot h jedi order itself and with the ones here on Atrisia." She said it with a smile on her face and relaxed a little... letting herself recline in the seat and was drinking some of the tea. Most of the Atrisians had started this and many more were coming around to the way it lasted as the jedi master sat next to her and looked up at the ceiling of the building that they were in. The others with her were making the food to go with their rations and had brought someof the other ration packs as well as their other supplies. Sake was poured and Junko got to meet each of the padawans themselves.

 

[Junko Ike]

Junko was checking out more of it.. listening to them and allowing herself to memorize each of them.. from faces to names and where they had been so she could get a better idea of what had happened to them since them. She was seeing more of the temple and its remains as they explained about the fruits down below. It was like being in a room that was overly oxygenated and would make you dizzy and lightheaded when you ate one. They had been experimenting with some of it to try and lessen the effects but there was a whole lot more of it down there that grew plus some other fruits. Junko told them that it was called the agora where they were located.

She was also getting told about and shown the pathways they had found that led to some of the more dangerous tombs in the valley. Each finger of the mountain was like a hand and each held a tomb on them. They hadn't been able to see much of it but they were able to translate a few of them where the murals hadn't been faded. Stories from Atrisias past and some were epics, some were violent, some were beautiful and tragic.. it was less in some ways. She would have to try and see them or at least one of them in the morning.. if the walk to them was that long and would take that much time then they would be having to work on a lot of it... she would have her hands full but an airship was coming in.

 

[Junko Ike]

The talk of airships surprised them as the newer ideas.. Fan had rather enjoyed the idea and spending the long night talking with Junko served best for her... she would have been able to really really discuss things. THe small private chamber had been fixed up and Junko laid there with one of the cups of tea while she checked Fan on the other end of the bench. The carved stone was smooth but she spoke. "I feared the worse for you, I wasn't able to feel you pass but the nagging feeling had me fearful you were somewhere in a darksiders prison... even searching for ou from the eye didn't tell me anything." She dropped her head looking at the tea.

Fan came closer to her and her braided hair dropped down while she wrapped her arms around Junko. "Don't think like that... there was no way anyone could know." She said it and while there was a sort of bitterness in her voice Junko couldn't tell if it was because she was trying to placate her or because she might have realized she had isolated them here this far away from any other signs of civilization. Fan kept her arm wrapped around her and pulled her in close... "No don't say that at all... you weren't ewven here. you were off helping us get more people and making sure the Jar'kai temple wasn't just rinky dink and abandoned we had archives and better equipment."

 

[Junko Ike]

Junko was listening to her and nodded her head. Fan Ming held her there as they looked at the wall and then she laid back with her. Still being held like when they had been younger. The thick braid of her hair was there and resting on her shoulder. She looked up as Fan Ming held a hand out and ignirted a candle that cast specks of light and shadow around them. The small rotating piece was.. she wasn't certain but the faintest sound of music was there... her old music box that had been in the temple and was one of he few things the atrisian master had bought from her clan perhaps? She would have to investigate if she got the chance but just liked laying there.

The night went on and eventually the music faded... the flame went out and silence of the valley came. The sun rising up brought a whole lot more as Junko stretched and looked around where they were. She was hungry againa nd thirsty as she moved from theside of the woman and went inot the inner chamber where they all were. The warmth from the braziers was nice as she stood there. Stetching her toes out and welcoming the scent of the morning as thedew steamed around them. She could see it rising up into the bright morning sun as those first rays of light were filtering through the trees where she could look around.

 

[Junko Ike]

"It is a beautiful view yes?" She could hear her and she turned to look at Fan Ming who was there and raised an eyebrow as she stayed there for a moment looking over her shoulder. "Oh.. the valley and forest or who is standing in front of it?" She said it with a smile on her face though while Fan came to stand next to her and spoke. "Yes." Junkos eyes narrowed for a moment and she spoke. "To which...." Both" She said it quickly and the two of them shared a laugh... a small giggle before they were going through the main chamber with the others who were waking up and the padawans had formed a sort of circle so they could all observe and protect each other.

Junko welcomed each of them again and waking up they started to make some food while the padawans went to do their chores and she sent out her handmaidens now to help them where they could. If it was for getting the pure and chilled water or starting the fire so that they would be able to heat the water and make some tea or re-hydrate the rations. They set a table outside and in the cool morning air the mist that was rising up present for them a much more enjoyable so they could all eat. A smile appeared on her face as the jedi master held her hands out and they got to eat as a group while talking about some plans. Fan had ideas for rebuilding if they could get the materials brought here now.

 

[Junko Ike]

The airship arrived later... fitting and thankfully with the skies unobstructed to prevent well damage from ion engines and radiations that could prove harmful or dangerous... it meant they had clear skies to move around in the quiet and grand airships. A smile on her face when some of the other jedi arrived and were reunited with the padawans and Fan Ming... a few survivors had heard and been the first to come but also to see the temple as the jedi were welcomed back into the fold and news about the old inquisitors tower was being brought to them. They had begun reconstruction efforts to convert it and some of the surrounding palaces.

They were looking at more plans as holograms and hardlight designs were coming up. The drones that were moving out and scouting the location within the valley reported back to give them the dimensions and information about anything that might have proven hostile or curious enough towards them and the padawans along with Fan Ming were filling in what information they had about the valley itself. She was interested in what other information sources they mght be able to find as Kirano was giving her information.. pracice with the modern atrisian language was most helpful in teaching her how o convert many of the words to talk with the others.

 

[Junko Ike]

Junko was checking out more of it now... the valley itself was massive and the trees themselves were large.. intertwined at the roots with ruins on them that were being worked on and would be explored. From what looked like ancient chambers to ones that had been built into the trees and made it sort of like towers in the under levels above the forest of kyberite crystals. That was what interested her as it had fruit trees that grew there and water which she had seen down there... she had also seen some of the monkey like species and they were beautiful as one of the padawans pointed towards crystal fox like creatures and Junko spoke. "Why do those seem familiar?"

"They are from crait... we found a couple other things as well... someone who had been here was importing different creatures... likely for beauty but this Valley is much different from several areas of Atrisia. Just based on our initial exploration there are trees from the wookiees, force sensitive trees like the ones that were in the jedi temple and one or two creatures that preserve the area but do not overrun it just yet. They must roam outside the valley to keep the population under control otherwise they could have likely eaten." Fan Ming was explaining it and Junko was thinking about it... likely som of the early ships and builders had done just that.. taken from other worlds to try and copy unique properties.

 

[Junko Ike]

Junko was nodding her head at that work... she was not entirely certain but she could agree with Fan Ming on this... whoever had cultivated the grove and tried to make it like this before in more ancient times. She would have to try and investigate that while checking out the holograms and survey reports from the air. They had some of the largest trees she had seen on Atrisia... the massive mountains and the talks from Kirano about the underground mine and structure that connected to the hands only made her more interested in what might have been here once upon a time... or what had happened here with different beings.

She could see the remains of a city down below them and it wasn't in the forest... just outside of it compared to where they had been. "Have you had a chance to explore this area here." Junko pointed to it and one of the padawan spoke. "Ahhh we explored i... there is a massive horned cat down there and he is very vicious." Junko looked at them and if there was a predator then it could be a sign of more but a horned cat some something she couldn't think about. The hologram was showing some other parts like a crashed ship that was scattered through the canopy and Junko pointed towards this and sent more drones. "Hmmm it gives something to investigate at least."

 

[Junko Ike]

She had something to do and was looking at Fan Ming and one of the padawans who had informed them about the rined city below. There was a look on the face of the one girl and she was adorable... her cheekbones and nose more angular... her features on the thinner side but she was also happy to help. She looked welcoming to the idea of acquiring morepeople for her entourage when she told a few of them to secure the area and path that they were using. A massive party would bring a lot of attention but spread out they could cover each other and a much much larger area for discovery. "So tell me what is your name padawan?"

The padawan was looking at her and gave a nodof her head. "I am Qi Ling master Ike." She bowed and stood up... she was taller then some and skinn but with food perhaps she would like the others not be underfed. Junko would have to see while she was moving and motioned for her to follow and join her. Fan Ming was there and looking with the others as she embraced the two of them and was heading down through the winding pathways that led down to lifts and the forest floor. The kyberite forests below were beautiful now tht she was seeing them and Qi spoke with a smile on her face. "We have explored much of the kyberite forests here... there are vulp creatures from crait."

 

[Junko Ike]

Hmmm Junko had a look on her face as she was listening to that well revelation and it fit into what she was forming in her mind about this place being a sort of garden someone worked on and tried to import different things. She would maybe have to consult he archives of the Murasaki clan at the imperial tower... It would likely if there was anything have it there about what they could get. She tapped her chin as they came to the forest floor with a soft clanking sound. Where she was looking as the silvery foxes came out of the kyberite trees and small holes to walk around them. She knew from some experience that they were peaceful and only ran from danger which they didn't present.

Junko was looking at more of the creatures as they came along and there were smaller babies that nuzzled her hands. The geothermal vents of the forest had other vegetation growing around it that they could feed on and she imagined that they were using it to stay warm depending on the time of the year as it was comfortable down here and she was petting some of the babies with a smile on her face. Where they could go and spread out with the drones that had been working to map it. "There we go, you know there is nothing to fear from us don' you." A smile on her face when she moved around to pick one up and held it close.

 

[Junko Ike]

The small fox was adorable and like a mini heater before she was walking and its mother with the little pups came to her feet and moved around her feet. The padawan with her was holding one for herself and then slid her onto the ground as she was leading the way towards the deeper parts of the forest with a smile on her face. Where they had searched and Junko could see the area they are come to test themselves. The kyberite trees that were around them looked very different now. "We gathered crystals for ourselves and for what would become our lightsabers." Now she understood and they hadn't destroyed the trees more there were small branches.

There were also more of the smaller trees around them. A smile on her face as she recalled having eaten one and gathering it she set it into a small contained that the droid could look over and analyze to give them all of the information they could get about it. Plums were a commodity after allin some places and she knew plum wine to be a rare vintage on Atrisia where rice was plentiful and only the highest quality was chosen for selling offworld. Junko knew trade and several atrisian wines went over well as well as rice and artwork now. Junko felt the tension in the air as some of the foxes stopped when they came to the edge of the forest and the ruins of the town were there.

 

[Junko Ike]

The ruins of the town were something different... it didn't seem really like a town or a city... maybe a village that had been here under the shade of the trees when they were smaller and younger but overtime the overgrowing of the trees really. She could see someof te buildings were designed with older stone workings and statues that had been overgrown by a number of he roots and branches that were lower hanging. The sun barely filtering down here but the kyberite forest casting it in a scintillating array of different colors as the light refracted through it. Junko smiled though looking around and her senses spread outwards to search the grounds for anything that might be a threat.

"The air here is different, a predator is here but not near us for the moment." Kirano said it as she stood there with Min next to her and the three of them moved forward with the padawan in tow. Careful as some of the small crystal foxes followed them and stayed close to them but Junko was looking around and she felt something near her. She looked up and there was on one of he branches in the distance a massive tiger like creature. it reminded her of Xifang who was near her growling and Junko held a hand out for him to stop. The tiger was thickly muscled with fine hair and a cracked horn on its head... she knew a hroshi tiger when she saw one.

 

[Junko Ike]

She was looking at the large tiger and set the small fox down to return to its mother in the forest. She touched xifang and spoke soothingly for him with a smile on her face but she never let her eyes fall away from the tiger who was watching them. "We are in its territory and at least I can understand what might have been on that ship we found from the holo images. If it was transporting animals for selling illegally then it could make sense what brought them here and why he has never had to roam looking for food. The foxes can reproduce and he can eat at his leisure." There were some nods and the padawan Ling was there next to her while they were going through carefully.

Xifang growled a little with a a look at the other tiger and she spoke. "Easy boy, he is just nervous about us all being here... likely hasn't had many good experiences with people." She knew the danger and in truth some of the tigers were man eaters... kind of. They were predators of the weaker and went after the prey that couldn't get away so... that was the trick to it... the other was well they weren't sportsmen who hunted just to hunt but to defend themselves... technically if they didn't pose a threat it should leave them alone as there was easier food around and Xifang was not coming out here to attack him or her.