Faction The River's Gift [Force Imbue]

[Azurine Varek]

Letting Go And Moving Forward

Outfit: Clothing | Right Arm | Glove
Weapons: Lightsaber | Hook Swords

"So you do hear its call?"

Azurine's attention was called rather quickly to Aris's words and the sadness that spiked in his aura. Maybe others couldn't tell, but by now, it was a little difficult for her to ignore. She knew he said he didn't feel the Force, and for the longest time, she had trouble believing that, but if they were both standing at the source of a nexus yet he still couldn't feel any of it, then it really was true.

She certainly seemed to be his opposite, though. She felt the Force almost too much between the auras and the echoes, like it was woven straight into the fabric of her very being. It was the reason her Force bonds could become so strong and kill so mercilessly if left unchecked. It was the reason that standing here made her eyes react so physically. As much as she wanted to help him learn, the tugging at her soul told her that it wouldn't amount to anything other than more disappointment, and that was the last thing she wanted to do for him. "You're like my brother, Aris. If you expect me to just ignore it when you need a pick-me-up, you have another thing coming."

Instead, she took a deep breath to try to embrace her fear at the action she was about to take, lowered herself a little bit so her arms were in the water, and swiftly shifted to send some water flying at him. "I'm not going anywhere until I see your aura stop frowning unless you want to try to make me!" She said playfully, that sly grin coming back to her face.

There was an almost melodic approval that chimed in her mind, which steadied her thoughts. Sure, she was still nervous about water in general—which no doubt still showed in her expression a little bit—nor did she know how to swim, but maybe it wasn't so bad. She could see the joy in it now, at least.

Aris Noble​

 

[Aris Noble]

Eh?

"Eh?"

Aris tilted his head as he was splashed, for a moment too stunned to even properly respond. He just dripped with the resulting wave that had hit him before finally he just started to laugh. Really laugh, full belly sort of thing as he held his stomach and shook his head. "You don't even know how to swim yet! Yo shouldn't go splashing people like that, they'll splash you right back you know!"

Which, of course, he didn't. Her fear of the water, the last thing he'd do was trigger it further.

"I'm not going to make you go anywhere either! I- sheesh, why would I ever do that?"

Azurine Varek

 

[Katherine Holt]

Tags: Open
​

Katherine would admit that a small part of her had hoped just placing her legs in the water would’ve helped. But she wasn’t that naive, if there was a solution here it wasn’t going to be as simple as that. At least being out here, surrounded by nature in every direction, made for a perfect place to think and meditate. The only other sounds she could really hear were others who were elsewhere down the river.

She could almost swear a few were swimming within the water itself. The spot Katherine had settled in wasn’t deep enough for that, not that the Padawan would dare to try in her current state.

Although, the idea did remind the redhead of an amusing memory. Back during her earliest visits to Niv Hani, Katherine had opted to try swimming in the lake there. She couldn’t quite remember which Noble had suggested it, but back then the Padawan didn’t hesitate to dive in.

It was the same day she learned just what a royal pain in the arse it was to try and dry a pair of large feathery wings. Much more of a hassle than dealing with her long hair.

Katherine sighed, looking down at her legs submerged in the water. She shifted them around slightly, actually feeling the water around them. Even now it was still strange to feel the sensation returning to her legs. The numbness seemed to subside steadily while in the water, but the Padawan knew it wouldn’t last forever.

She reached into her pocket and pulled out the talisman she had been given.

“Well, I’m getting nowhere with my personal shit, might as well see if I can actually imbue this.”

 

[Eloise Dinn]

The village was a little better off than Eloise expected, though still nowhere near the galactic standard of living. She walked past buildings that were sound and sturdy, populated by dirty, raggedy peasants reliant on ancient plumbing and outdated technology. In light of such poor conditions, any medical aid they could offer seemed almost pointless. They would have to start at the source, dealing with the conditions that caused disease outbreaks and poor health rather than simply treating the symptoms. But Eloise doubted they would get that far in a single mission.

She arrived at the appointed meeting place on time, scanning the crowds for the Jedi Knight she was supposed to meet. He was easy enough to spot. If the robes weren't a giveaway, he didn't look like a native.

"Master Pavond—" She broke off, brow furrowing. Despite the matching green skin, this wasn't Shan Pavond . The message had said… Well, maybe Pavond was a common surname among his kind. "I'm Padawan Dinn," she hastily continued. If he was the person she was supposed to meet, then that was all the introduction he needed. Otherwise, she didn't want to risk revealing her reasons for being here to the wrong person.

The Mirialan was standing in front of a shop window. A dangling sign above them read Apothecary. The place was selling all manner of remedies, both legitimate medicines and poison masquerading as a cure-all. One such product advertised that it was made from the "purified urine of racyons". Oh, thank goodness it was purified…

Eloise supposed this was as good a place to start as any. She wasn't looking forward to seeing the wounded sewn up like garments with needle and thread, or living bodies eviscerated to see what was inside, or any of the other Outer Rim-style "medicine" which had haunted her nightmares since she became apprenticed to the Chief Healer.

Orion Pavond​

 

[Lysander von Ascania]

Tags: Roman Vossari

His face lit up with youthful mischief, the corners of his mouth curving back into a grin. It felt like more than an idea; it was an invitation. “You’re telling me you’d actually get a starship?” His voice was tinged with excitement, already picturing the adventure ahead in his mind’s eye. “It’d be like a secret rendezvous out of a Holodrama,” he added, unconcerned about hinting at his show preferences.

He gently nudged Roman with an elbow, laughter bubbling from his lips. “With me as your co-pilot, I would totally find a mystery girl for you too. I could even help out with the snacks, so you don’t have to meet her on an empty stomach.” He took a brief moment to consider the different possibilities. “And don’t worry, I’d never tell her. She doesn’t need to know everything,” he finished, his voice warm with affection that suggested camaraderie.

“Balancing duty and.. uh, aspirations isn’t always easy. I try my best to follow the lines of the Jedi Code, but..” he paused, glancing out at the flowing river. “I can't help but wonder if there’s more to discover outside of training sometimes. The Force guides my actions, but I want to see what it means to be more than just some type of guardian.”

Without hesitation, he followed Roman to the river shore, removing the chain from his neck while he listened closely. The Padawan glanced sideways at his sister. His expression made it obvious that he was trying to catch her attention. But then a random flicker of reassurance bloomed within. With another grin, he held up the talisman, letting it dangle between his fingers. “You don’t need to be concerned with her, Roman,” he said with a chuckle. There was still a cheeky glint in his emerald orbs. “You’re on my team now, anyways. Not Cora's.”

With a sense of purpose, the boy lowered himself onto a single knee, steadying his thoughts. Carefully, Lysander brought the talisman back into view before him. He leaned forward and began to dip it into the water. As the ritual unfolded, he glanced back at his companion. “Am I doing this right?”

 

[Roman Vossari]

Lightsaber: X | Talisman: X | Armor: X | Training: X | Casual: X
Tags: Lysander von Ascania

​

Roman chuckled at the image of Lysander, his youthful face alight with excitement, secretly watching Holodrama in the sterile confines of a Jedi Temple dormitory. "The starship is always the easy part…" he began, his voice dropping to a hushed tone as he leaned closer to Lysander, "It's the sneaking away that is the most complicated."

He allowed the younger Padawan's imagination to soar, to paint vivid pictures of clandestine rendezvous and daring escapes. Roman himself had indulged in similar flights of fancy during his own youthful days, some resulting in successful, or at least entertaining, escapades. It was a joy to see the spark of adventure in Lysander's eyes, the boundless possibilities swirling in his mind.

Roman's smile widened slightly as he gazed across the gently flowing river, a faraway look in his eyes. "I do appreciate the offer for help as a wing-man," he said, turning back to Lysander, "but I already have found my mystery girl." A small smile played on his lips. "Maybe one day I will introduce the two of you. I think you both would get along…"

The smile faded a touch, replaced by a hint of melancholy. "I haven't seen her in some time," he continued softly, "She's been training out in the far reaches of the galaxy."

A slight shake of his head helped him to dispel the lingering sense of longing. He refocused his attention on Lysander, a warmth returning to his expression. "There is more to discover outside of training, that is for certain," he said gently, "It will come as you get older, do not worry." It was natural, expected even, for a young Padawan like Lysander to feel a pull beyond the structured routine of Jedi life. "If you want more than just some type of guardian, what do you imagine your path to be?" Roman inquired, his voice laced with genuine curiosity.

He slowly lowered himself to his knees beside Lysander, watching as the younger Padawan meticulously performed the ritual with the talisman. Roman nodded in approval, a subtle gesture of encouragement. "Well, even if I'm 'Team Lysander'," he chuckled, "I still wouldn't want to be against 'Team Cora' anyways."

A lightheartedness filled his voice as he added, "You're doing great. Maybe when you're done, you can give this to your mystery girl?" A glimmer of amusement danced in Roman's eyes, as if hinting at the playful teasing that might follow Lysander's romantic endeavors. The camaraderie between them felt natural and was apparent in their shared smiles and the easy flow of conversation.

 

[Jack Wright]

Rock.

You are a rock.

Grey.

You are grey.

Like a rock.

Which you are.

Rock.

Perfectly weighted, held in a sturdy grip. Casually flipping the palm-sized piece in his right grip, Jack had sat back up, keenly into the cross-legged pose associated with his Order, smiling down to the held object. Should be the best demonstration of practicing tuning the Force through an inanimate object.

The question was, was it cheating when the Force already vibrated inside the material? Could it be considered a test once the Force thrived within a rock, and Jack was only adding to the sensation? Well, there're no rules, others appeared to be deploying whatever they found find in the natural environment.

So the answer may as well be a firm 'no.' At the very least, this makes it easier for the Knight, shifting himself a bit closer by the water's cool edge, preparing himself.

 

[Nulgath Zardai]

​

"You did it!" She told him, her voice a quiet melody in the wind, " I'm glad that helped."

She rose to her feet and carefully went to walk forward, watching the Sentinels to see if they would let her pass, or even remove the Force Shield they had placed over him. Zaiya caught the trinket in Nulgath's hand, and she gave an expression of intrigue. Even Domxite gave a hum of curiosity on her shoulder, the tiny colorful droid taking it in.

"Oh, are you also trying to imbue a trinket?"

When she spoke of the trinket, a flicker of something distant, perhaps regret or curiosity, crosses his features. His lips curl into a small, knowing smile, a trace of the Sith Lord that once was. "Imbuing? Yes," He chuckles softly, though the sound is strained, hollow, as if he's still trying to understand the lightness he now feels. " Though perhaps not in the way you think. It's not the trinket itself that I wish to imbue, but... something more subtle. A reminder, a tether."

He turns the trinket over in his hands, his fingers feeling the weight of it, though his thoughts are elsewhere. "I once sought to control the very essence of the Force, to twist it into my will. But now… now, I am just trying to simply feel it again. To somehow exist within it, not force it to obey. It is... difficult. It senses my presence. My wound in the force and it rejects me at times. "

His voice softens, almost betraying an emotion he isn't used to showing—vulnerability. He looks at her, the complex mix of emotions swirling within his gaze, but the resolve is clear in his eyes and most of all...gratitude for the assistance and kindness the girl had shown him. He was trying. Truly. Perhaps for the first time, he was trying to walk a path that isn't drenched in blood. "What I hold in my hand is a symbol of that attempt. A small token of my nature, but it is a step nonetheless. A step toward knowledge and understanding of...this all." he gave a faint smile paused briefly and looked around. I should thank her for her actions. He thought to himself.

His grip tightens slightly on the trinket, and for a moment, the shadows of his past seem to loom over him in his force aura, but he forces them back almost instantly this time. But something small still lingered. It was contempt, but for what or who?

The amulet. It mimicked the same struggle he fought had moments before. An item imbued with a wound of the living force. His task was complete. The Sentinels recanted their protective shield with a slight smile but still warranted some caution toward Zaiya Ceti and her company. As was their duty. The undead epicanthix shifted his gaze, settled his jade eyes on the dutiful jedi overseers with a slight disregard. An expression that shifted to all the other jedi across the river as well, especially toward Corazona von Ascania . It seemed that she was to be the epitome of the discord he was subtly preparing to now sow. For there was naught many a sith that could say they had held a blade to the neck of Nulgath and even less jedi. Save one...

He feigned a look of content compassion towards the jedi flock.

"Ive seen you eyeing me and Ive been spying you afar, Corazona." He said aloud from across the river bank. It was the first time he had used her name, a name he had only heard in passing before. It was a beautiful name. Though Nulgath thought it a delightful waste in this moment. " And your frankness, bearing, grace, and boundless compassion have beguiled me quite profoundly." he commented and again his lip twisted slightly into a smile. " Unfortunately I've observed the fact that you lead this flock toward one of the great lessons of galactic history, That nothing is often a good thing to do and a clever thing to say." His tone though plain had a venomous edge to it. His gaze lingered on her for a moment and then his feigned expression dissolved into a stoic yet piercing calm. A certainty. "It is a curious thing to see such contrast, to witness the weight of ones choices and the echoes they leave behind in the ocean of the force. It is not enough to merely be. One must do. And there are those who understand this lesson all too well. Ones like you...Zaiya." He remarked and raised his brows at the young padawan.

A remarkable individual that persists to astonish me. Even in this predicament.

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x
Interacting with: Nulgath Zardai Corazona von Ascania

A reminder, a tether.

Zaiya mused on how Nulgath explained how he was trying to exist within the Force, not force it to obey him. That made sense, especially if all one knew had been to try and force things to flow the way one wanted. Finding a balance through that would be difficult, but Lovalla could sense that Nulgath was genuinely trying.

However, his comment on being a 'wound in the Force' drew her attention. What did that mean exactly? Like an actual wound? The healer in her was as intrigued as much as concerned, wanting to assist if there was a way to help him.

Domxite seemed to see where Zaiya was going with it, and he encouraged her to try. Shan Pavond and Iris Arani taught her that she should do her best to help someone's wound if possible. The question was ... how?

In her hand, she glanced at the trinket that had been given to her. The silver loop would enhance the Light side of the Force when needed. If Domxite was right, and imbuing was the same as resonating with a Kyber crystal, maybe she could do the same with this trinket and... help Nulgath? That is what a healer did, right? Help wounds heal.

While Nulgath spoke to Cora, Zaiya focused inwardly on the trinket in her hand, determination painting dark orange stains with glowing cobalt glints off her rosy golden skin.

"Domxite, can you help me, please?" She asked the small droid, who immediately indicated their agreement.

All the while Nulgath was addressing Knight von Ascania, the Lovalla teen was doing her best to coax the Force around them to not only flow through her and Domxite, but also to assist her in trying to imbue a shared essence of herself on the trinket doing her best to focus on the extent of the healing powers she had been taught so far. The Force swirled and ebbed and flowed with such lighthearted, genuine shimmer around the Lovalla that she began to glow again, but softly, almost as if the bioluminescence over her skin was the Force breathing in and out in tune.

Once she was done, Zaiya opened her eyes and glanced down. Pleasure would dance over her features, and she could feel the resonance of the loop. Domxite hummed in colors and blanketed her with praise. Finally, the Padawan glanced up at Nulgath. He seemed to have a bit of an adult talk with Knight von Ascania, but the Lovalla was more focused on what she could do to help Nulgath and his wound in the Force.

"If...you are a wound in the Force...Maybe I can help with healing it?" Zaiya innocently but genuinely offered. "I don't know much yet, and I'm still learning, but..." She let her voice drift a bit bashfully but continued nonetheless.

"My former Master Shan taught me that focus is a great way to help me learn how to heal. One shouldn't depend on them, but just like I used a shard of the Healing Crystal of Fire to help me learn, this may also help until you can feel a bit more whole enough to do it on your own. Master Iris Arani has taught me even more since then so... I hope this helps."

The teenager stepped forward then, extending the trinket to offer it to Nulgath. The metal now shone with a similar pearly iridescence that danced across Zaiya's skin, mirroring each swirl and faint glowing effect connected to her. It was crude, certainly not perfect by any means, but the genuine intent to help Nulgath's 'wound' was there, even if it didn't quite work that way.

In it, if accepted, Nulgath would feel that radiating acceptance and encouragement that would enhance his ability just a tiny bit to sense the Force as the Lovalla did as well -- and maybe, just maybe, it will help him better in existing within the Force.

 

[Azurine Varek]

Letting Go And Moving Forward

Outfit: Clothing | Right Arm | Glove
Weapons: Lightsaber | Hook Swords

There it is!

A wide grin cemented itself onto Azurine's face, her glowing eyes softening a bit now that Aris was laughing. Sure, it was likely from the quick spike of confusion she saw in him, but a laugh was a laugh in her opinion. As Thurion Heavenshield had put it, laughter is the best medicine, after all. The former Grandmaster was certainly correct, and it was also contagious. Her own quick laughter rang alongside his, momentarily making her forget her nervousness at being waist deep in the water.

"I can't swim? Well, sheesh, why didn't anyone tell me that?!" She teased, her voice dripping with a clear playful sarcasm. "I guess it's a good thing you're such a gentleman."

Azzie turned her attention to the water for a moment, once again watching the movement blow the clear flow of the waters. "Here's something your mom told me; you don't need to break yourself to be something you're not. Instead, just work to be the best version of who you are." She glanced up to let her eyes meet his to convey her genuine hope and attempt at providing some kind of comfort or reassurance. "I happen to like you the way you are, and so does Zaiya."

She gave a little wink at the mention of the younger Lovalla, thinking that the little addition might make her words sink in better. She wasn't stupid, and being as intuitive as she was—as well as with the aid of having it pointed out by Braze—she'd put it together by now. What kind of makeshift older sister would she be if she didn't give him a little good-natured hell about it while also providing wingman assistance if he were to ask for it?

Aris Noble​

 

[Orion Pavond]

UKATIS - STONEGROVE - TOWN SQUARE
Eloise Dinn

As the bustling crowds moved about to purchase, sell, or otherwise haggle their wares, Orion's eyes kept searching through the crowd for the padawan. All he needed was one small detail. There. As the woman approached him, Orion's eyes immediately clocked the padawan braid through all her various braids. No matter the uniform or clothing, that was a key identifier.

Immediately, Orion raised an eyebrow as he stopped tapping his finger. Following a dismissive sigh, his arms no longer remained crossed as he set one hand into the pocket of his robe before waving off the formalities with his other hand. A small yet nonchalant smirk tugged at the edge of his lips. At least the girl had not shown up late.

"Orion. Orion Pavond. Or Knight Pavond, if you prefer," Orion introduced himself, "None of that master nonsense, please."

He was master of none nor did he feel comfortable with the title. It felt far more associated with Jedi Masters or those who sat on the council or, at the very least, if he had been training his own padawan. Anything less felt off. What also felt off was her expression towards first meeting him. Was there something off about him as a person to her? A question he kept to the back of his mind as he tracked the movement of her eyes.

Seems she's caught on.

Still leaning against the building, Orion tapped on the window a few times with his free hand before speaking further.

"We're going to talk to the employees inside and see if we can get any new information or a patient registry," Pavond explained the general idea of the plan moving forward, "If that fails, the two of us will check on the people whom the Order has already helped before and then assist anyone else we can find."

Picking up his medical backpack and slinging it over one shoulder, Orion turned his back on the woman for a moment before placing a hand on the handle. His attention then returned towards the Padawan.

"Oh, and we're going to be shutting down some of the more harmful medical practices around here," Orion smiled, showing off a few too many teeth to anything short of sly, "Any questions? Good. Because you'll be taking point on this."

The Mirialan hybrid opened the door before gently gesturing with a small wave for the lady of this particular pair to enter inside ahead of him. His smile never left although it became a little more pleasant than sly in his attempt to be polite and chivalrous in spite of placing a sudden responsibility on her shoulders, something he picked up here and there on Ukatis despite it being such a backwards planet.

"Lady first, Ms. Dinn."

 

[Aris Noble]

"It's not about being a gentleman, it's about not drowning my mother's Padawan. I don't think she'd forgive me if I did that again." He quipped in return, and for once? The poker face he naturally had was shinning in it's best use. Teasing. He'd keep that straight face all the way until Azurine really started to question whether or not he was serious.

Then, and only then, did his lips twitch into a faint smirk. Poker face or not, even Aris couldn't keep it forever.

The smirk didn't last too long though. It twitched, dipped as he looked back to the water he'd just been submerged in. "I'm- not really looking to change what or who I am. I just.. Hopped I might get some clue as to what it is exactly. I'm more than what my Father had intended to make. Having a soul, sentience, none of that was supposed to happen."

Kahlil had notes on what Aris was supposed to have been, but nothing on what caused him to become what he was now. His smile did return though, his gaze lowering to the reflection of himself in it.

".. Yeah I'm pretty sure she does too. .." His eyes shifted, looking back to the Zabrak as he watched her for a moment longer. "Thanks, for making me feel better. It's not going to get you out of swimming though. You wanna go see what's calling to you?"

Azurine Varek

 

[Eloise Dinn]

Eloise was used to being the troublemaker, the belligerent who started the disagreements and irritated the shit out of the people around her with her questions and accusations and constant confrontational attitude. She'd worked hard to rein in her impulses, gaining control over her emotional responses and learning when to hold her tongue, lest she get off on the wrong foot with everyone she met.

But Orion? All he had to do was smirk at her as she approached, and she knew she'd met her match.

"Orion. Orion Pavond. Or Knight Pavond, if you prefer. None of that master nonsense, please."

Eloise said nothing, staring straight ahead at the shop window like a good little soldier. He explained their plan of attack, for lack of a better term. They needed information, including checking up on previous patients, and then they were going to shut down the quacks. Easier said than done, especially the latter, but so far so good.

"Any questions? Good. Because you'll be taking point on this."

This was going to be a long day.

She remained silent, her expression blank. He opened the door to the apothecary, then stepped aside to let her through. Calling her a lady. She strode forward, pausing before the threshold for just a moment to look down at Orion before she entered the shop.

The man behind the counter froze, hands poised over a pill roller. He looked up at the newcomers and his face fell. "W-Welcome," he stammered out a greeting. "How can I help you?"

"Jedi Healer Eloise Dinn," she said, flashing her lightsaber hilt as proof. "I need a record of patients in the area." She glanced over the colorful bottles on the shelves. At least they were pretty to look at, provided they were kept too high for children to reach. She picked up the one with racyon piss listed proudly in the ingredients. "And I need you to stop selling this crap."

"I can't do that," the apothecary said, his tone dull and tired. Clearly he'd been over this many times before. Which made it all the more frustrating that he still hadn't changed. "It's one of our most in-demand products. We'd lose money if we stopped selling it."

No chit? "I don't care if it sells like hotcakes. This stuff is poisonous. You're only doing more harm by keeping it in stock."

"Please." The apothecary sighed. "It's not as bad as you think. Some people use it in religious rituals."

Eloise could only blink at that, eyebrows raised. She thought about asking what the hell they did with it during these rituals, before deciding she'd rather not know the answer. "There's other 'medicine' in here that's going to have to go. You know what I mean. The FDA-unapproved, locally concocted stuff. But first, get me that patient registry."

Orion Pavond​

 

[Katherine Holt]

Tags: Open​

The Padawan opened her eyes, letting out a frustrated sigh. She was getting nowhere in her thought process. “Why is this so difficult, why?”

Katherine knew the reason, she just didn’t want to openly admit it. Her mind right now was split between multiple directions, completely unfocused towards the task at hand. The constant reminder of her legs, the back and forth feeling of sensation drifting in and out like the water. No, that was the entire reason Katherine had submerged her legs to begin with. That reminder was a challenge, a hurdle she needed to overcome in order to focus.

“Think Katherine, think…” she muttered to herself. Her thoughts lingered towards Kahlil Noble . “Master, what would you do?”

She thought back to one of the lessons she had alongside Shan. Where Kahlil had taught them how to use the Barrier rune to better defend themselves against Mandalorians. The lesson was built atop a more fundamental teaching that all Jedi went through.

Focus and Intent.

Anyone with the Force; strong enough to use at least, could be dangerous. A rude bystander in a bar could find themselves unintendedly Force pushed into a wall. Using the Force required dedicated focus and intent.

“My intent is to imbue this talisman, by focusing on the properties of the river itself. But I also have the intent on finding a solution for my legs…” Katherine’s eyes lingered around at her surroundings, deep in thought.

Seconds later it finally clicked, and Katherine almost wanted to hit herself over missing something so obvious. The river had once been corrupted; seemingly irreparably so, by the Darkside of the Force. In a similar way, so was she. Down at a genetic level she was an experimental mess, an incomplete Sithspawn. It was only through Light purification that the river was able to recover.

It had taken time, but the results were evident before her. Sure, the river couldn’t heal her legs, but what if she could take something of the river with her? Become part of whatever solution she’d eventually find?

Katherine took a deep breath, closing her eyes. With resolve in her heart and mind, she dunked the talisman into the water.

 

[Lysander von Ascania]

Tags: Roman Vossari

Lysander pondered Roman's words about escaping. For himself, it felt as though the real challenge was staying put and following the many rules of the New Jedi Order.

As the red haired Padawan revealed that he already had his own mystery girl, the boy's face illuminated with a youthful glow, eager to unravel any secrets he could. There was a spark behind his eyes as they widened. But as he looked closer at Roman, beneath the surface, he couldn't help but notice the subtle change of features, as if able to detect hidden emotions.

Instead of inquiring further, he offered a warm smile. "Well, I bet she really misses you, because you're super cool to be around." The tone was sincere and carried hints of admiration.

Refocusing on his task, he noticed the river's surface begin to ripple from where the talisman touched, while emanating an ethereal glow. It intensified as more was absorbed in the water. For a moment, Lysander could hear sounds whispering in the air, which oddly resonated with his thoughts. The water around the talisman soon began shifting in color with different hues. Energy surged through the Padawan’s body, feeling his own connection strengthen with the Force. His sense of purpose heightened.

While trying to better understand everything currently happening, another thought crossed his mind, causing him to turn back to Roman. "Hey, how about you write her a poem or send a love letter through the HoloNet? That could make her feel closer!”

He was eager to help his friend in any way possible.

His expression became thoughtful as both eyes closed, trying to recall scenes from the countless Holodramas he'd watched. He remembered a particular one where the character, also far away from his mystery girl, had sent a holographic message with poetry and other gestures of love.

The corners of Lysander's mouth curled up. “Ohh I know. Tell her..that her smile is brighter than the twin suns on Tatooine! That would totally work. Trust me.”

Standing back up, the talisman was held in his palm while gazing down at it with a mix of curiosity and gratitude. A finger traced the edges. "Thank you for the help. Turns out it wasn't as hard as I thought." He chuckled. "And yeah, I think you're onto something. I will just give it to her as a gift." He still felt a tug to keep it, but couldn't deny there being something appealing about the older Padawan's idea.

"What else do you have lined up while you're on Ukatis?”

 

[Ryana mina]

Corazona von Ascania Mica Raha

Companion: pip

Pip purred as cora gave him a head pat as he stayed on coras shoulder and licked her face as happy as a clam as he was with one of his favorite people even with everything going on around them. Pip stuck with cora as ryanas tears dried she picked up Micas pendant and walked over to her she had noticed the situation with Nulgath Zardai but she was used to the dark. Being raised by slavers, mercs, and bounty hunters her whole life as far back as she could remember plus there was enough jedi around in a light side nexus that she figured she was safe.

Ryana handed mica her pendant back "this looks important best not to drop it" she offered as she looked at cora and pip scratching pip on his head she seemed a little happier than her normal demeanor. "Pip are you with cora huh yeah we like cora don't we" she said before Nulgath spoke to cora ryana grabbed pip incase cora wished to speak to him without being worried about the racyon pip looked up at ryana. As she booped the little racyon on the nose as pip began speaking up happily.

As he wiggled in her arms she booped him on the nose again which made the little furball stick his tongue out as he wiggled more she put him down and he began swimming again. He made his way towards Katherine Holt as ryana began to follow him as the little racyon made circles around Katherine the little racyon stopped and stared at Katherine within her field of view. Ryana walked up as she looked at Katherine then to pip and back to Katherine "I'm sorry if he's bothering you" she said as pip floated there effortlessly as ryana stood by to make sure pip didn't try anything to mischievous.

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

"What is that thing? She asked curiously. "Is it okay?"

Cora turned, following Mica's gaze across the river. Her gentle expression hardened again, but the skeletal specter, clad in all while, called out to her before she could supply an explanation.

"Ive seen you eyeing me and Ive been spying you afar, Corazona." He said aloud from across the river bank. It was the first time he had used her name, a name he had only heard in passing before. It was a beautiful name. Though Nulgath thought it a delightful waste in this moment. " And your frankness, bearing, grace, and boundless compassion have beguiled me quite profoundly." he commented and again his lip twisted slightly into a smile. " Unfortunately I've observed the fact that you lead this flock toward one of the great lessons of galactic history, That nothing is often a good thing to do and a clever thing to say." His tone though plain had a venomous edge to it. His gaze lingered on her for a moment and then his feigned expression dissolved into a stoic yet piercing calm. A certainty. "It is a curious thing to see such contrast, to witness the weight of ones choices and the echoes they leave behind in the ocean of the force. It is not enough to merely be. One must do. And there are those who understand this lesson all too well. Ones like you...Zaiya." He remarked and raised his brows at the young padawan.

Nulgath's words gripped her like a cold chill at the nape of her neck. He spoke like the ancient, gnarled rats that played vizier among the Ukatian courts. All clever, measured words that masked sinister intent; complements that were snide beneath the surface, designed to make the blow of his jab harsher, had her skin crawling.

As it happened, Ryana mina removed Pip from her person at that exact moment. Had she not been thoroughly focused on the man across the river, she might've smiled at the Twi'lek. The gentle sentiment of her gratitude drifted to her friend on the Force.

"Nulgath," she began in response to Mica's question, "is a former Sith. The Dark was cleansed from his body by a skilled Jedi."

She paused, taking a moment to recall the incredible raw power of Zaiya's Force Light aboard the orbital station. It had been luminous enough to burn a powerful Sith Lord's connection to the dark.

"Or at least, most of it."

She noted, with a measure of surprise, that the desiccated grass he stood on was now abloom. Then, she clocked Zaiya Ceti nearby.

Cora despised men who protected their power with cruelty, twisting the lives of others to suit their own purposes. That was what she had seen from Darth Immortuous on the orbital station. Even if Nulgath truly was making an effort to join the Light, not even his tenderness toward Zaiya endeared her to him.

Once, she had been Zaiya; bright, innocent, and naive. That brilliance had been snuffed out by men like Nulgath. The council may have allowed him to join the Order in this limited capacity, but she was not convinced of his good intentions, not even towards the Padawan.

Had she not been standing across the riverbank, she might've marched over and dragged Zaiya away from him by her sleeve.

Cora's demeanor softened, pinning a courtly smile and practiced calm to her face.

"I'm afraid that none of us will make it through this life unscathed. A lesson imparted by your teacher," she tilted her head subtly toward the Lovalla Padawan.

Her gaze narrowed, lidding at the mention of echoes in the Force. He didn't know what she'd…had he….?

Cora's eyes flicked down into the water, staring at the gentle ripples of her own reflection. Her greatest of sins had taken place on her homeworld, and the death of Horace still seemed to hang over her like a specter at times.

Her focus shifted back to Nulgath, the mask back in place.

"May Ashla's Light guide you…" her head tilted to the side, as if observing him from a different angle, "...initiate."

Nulgath Zardai | Mica Raha | Zaiya Ceti

 

[Roman Vossari]

Lightsaber: X | Talisman: X | Armor: X | Training: X | Casual: X
Tags: Lysander von Ascania

​

Roman smiled at Lysander, a genuine warmth in his eyes. "I appreciate the nice words, Lysander. I think you're super cool too."

He watched the river's surface shimmer and dance with the talisman's energy, the light slowly pulsating off of Lysander. A subtle smile touched his lips. The kid was a natural, a beacon of the Force. Roman felt certain Lysander would become a great Jedi, much like his sister.

An eyebrow arched playfully when Lysander suggested a poem or love letter, the "brighter than the twin suns" line eliciting a chuckle from Roman. It only cemented his suspicions about the types of holodramas the younger Padawan favored. "Quite the romantic you are… You might turn out to be a heartbreaker." Roman teased, a hint of amusement in his voice.

In truth, Roman had bombarded his mystery girl with messages, each one met with silence. He didn't know her exact whereabouts, only who she was with. He could easily track her down, but this was her journey, and she needed the space to find her own way.

As Lysander held up the talisman, a sense of accomplishment radiating from him, Roman gave him a firm pat on the back in approval.

Suddenly, the fishing line twitched, snapping Roman's attention. His eyes widened as he gestured for Lysander to take hold of the rod and reel in the catch. He moved quickly to stand beside the younger Padawan, ready to assist if needed. "Bring it in nice and easy." he instructed, before responding to Lysander's question. "I might find myself doing a lot more of this while I'm here, maybe exploring a bit more. I've grown quite fond of this planet, it's peaceful and I'm in need of some time away from training and classes. What about you? Back to Coruscant to train?"

 

[Jack Wright]

Jack spent minutes. Maybe an hour? Naw, minutes, that sounded about right. Just the simple passage of time, staring down this hunk of rock plucked from the Ukatis ground, and what did he have to show for his troubles thus far?

Nothing.

Oh he tried, even if the - bogus in his opinion - lesson of never trying, just doing could be applied here. Jack found his stare steadily morphing into a glare instead, biting down on his own frustrations, lest they manifest and worsen an already tedious situation.

Focus, Jack. Inhaling through grit, crooked teeth, the young man shifted once again, the position on the grass was fine, it was just trying to make the damn thing work that was the issue. Nevertheless, another attempt was made.

Being made, he closed his eyes, tuning out the forest and chatter around him, focused only on the moment, on the rock, rested in the palm of his hand. Him, the rock, and the Force. The Force was his ally, he felt its waves, coaxing him, and Jack responded with some idle guidance, centering to the piece of life, held within his palm.

The tide did shift, just a tad, a little push that brushed the edge of the rock's aura, reacting but not flinching away. Inhaling loudly, Jack gave a few more nudges, guiding the Living Force to breach the rock's body, aimed for its heart. To grant more life, empowering a passive part of nature, to aid in the coming conflict against an ever rising darkness-

CRACK

Hazel eyes shot apart, staring dumbfoundedly at the splinter formed around the edge of the rock, facing its teacher. Inhaling sharply, Jack was quick to deduce his era; he allowed his mind to wander, again, but this time in a darker place.

And the Force honed in on that one violent thought, the rest was history.

Now outright gnashing his teeth, Jack gently placed the rock back in its original place, marred with his own failure. At the point of clutching his knee, the breaths shook a little, having an urge to dunk his face through the water to clear off the stress.

But I'll probably taint it too, The Jedi thought wryly, dropping the last of the splintered pebbles to join their mother.

 

[Azurine Varek]

Letting Go And Moving Forward

Outfit: Clothing | Right Arm | Glove
Weapons: Lightsaber | Hook Swords

Azurine laughed a bit harder than she'd intended at first, being pretty certain he was joking. However, he just stood there deadpan.

He's got to be kidding... right?

The thought crossed her mind for just a moment, enough for her to search his aura for any spikes of emotional change that could signify his teasing. It was faint, but it was there. By then, however, he'd already had his fun with the statement, given he couldn't keep the grin off of his face any longer. Leaning over, she attempted to push him off balance a little bit for it, but all she really ended up doing was making her foot slip on one of the stones below her feet, "Oh chit!" She had to grab his arm to steady herself and not end up under the water.

The attempt made her fear jump a little, but not enough to regret the action, given that she had a lifeline to keep herself steady. This was probably the best way for her to handle this fear, slowly while also making some fun out of it.

"I don't know if it helps you at all, but your aura has a similar kind of look to some of the objects around here. Like it was imbued somehow. And the soul is what guides the aura when it's a living being, normally at least. So, maybe, in the process somewhere, the Force created a soul out of that imbuement?" She made the comments of her thoughts out loud and gave a quick shrug. She really had no idea, but she was observant and tended to see patterns in life, so maybe those patterns were important somehow. She hoped that maybe she could help with his need for understanding, thinking about her observations from before. She understood that desperate desire for answers. She'd been in that position more times than she'd care to admit. Either way, if he wanted more answers, she wouldn't mind helping him find them.

"It's not going to get you out of swimming though. You wanna go see what's calling to you?"

"Can't blame a girl for trying." She joked, seeing as how he caught onto her—partly subconscious—stalling. "It feels like... this melody in the back of my mind that's saying to go to the center, where its presence is strongest. It's why I came up here in the first place. It's just, uh... deep."

Aris Noble​