Mara D'Lessio Merrill
The Lesser D'Lessio
Intent: A complex Force-based instrument which helps Lightsiders understand and apply the unique nature of any given Force nexus/vergence.
Development Thread:
- Of Crystals And Their Properties (22 posts, all relevant) - Mara and her student Mani undertake a broad review of Force crystals and their capabilities
- Blackout: Galactic Alliance Invasion of Coruscant (roughly 20 posts directly relevant) - Mara and a circle of Jedi, including Julius Sedaire and Meeristali Peradun, use the Ankarres Sapphire to begin cleansing the Coruscant nexus
- Adamant Like Corusca (13 posts, all relevant) - Mara and Darron Wraith use her armature prototype to finish cleansing the Coruscant nexus
- Sticks and Stones (posts 113-123 directly relevant) - Mara refines her armature while discussing it with Kaili Talith
- Recuperation (19 posts, ~10 posts directly relevant) - Mara shows her crystal armatures and related projects to her friends
- Total Relevant: ~76
Model: Vergence Lensforge
Affiliation: Extremely select persons
Modularity: No
Production: Semi-unique, only a handful
Material:
- Tythonian meditation crystals - strengthen the user’s Force connection and reduce fatigue
- Solari crystals - ensure the apparatus can only be used by Lightsiders
- Derivatives of the Ankarres Sapphire - clean out dark side energy
- Upari crystals - carved for clarity of understanding
- Kasha crystals - strengthen the user’s focus
- Socket for the Ankarres Sapphire - when the Sapphire is added, the armature gains the power to cleanse vergences more rapidly
- Ruusan crystals - improve Force focus
- Bronzium sockets, arms, hinges, base, etc.
- Adjustable socket for local crystals
- Socket for an object to be imbued
Strengths:
- The apparatus, through combinations of Force-crystals cut as lenses, allows the user to gain intuitive insight into the unique nature (if any) of any given nearby Force nexus/vergence. The apparatus can then distil that nature into a form suitable for Force imbuement.
- If properly used by one or more Masters, the apparatus can slowly, gently cleanse Dark Side contamination from any given Force nexus. This effect can be accelerated by including the Ankarres Sapphire in a special socket. Common-sense limits apply.
Weaknesses:
- This is not a Force amulet factory. The apparatus is a means of gaining understanding through sustained meditation. Days of study, thought, and concentration would produce only a single item of moderate strength. The Lensforge cannot be used to make anything with a production level greater than Semi-Unique.
- The apparatus can only be used by Lightsiders.
- The apparatus is large, fragile, and difficult to pack/unpack properly. It generally requires a ceiling mount or repulsor support.
- Long-entrenched and well-established sites (such as the Dagobah cave) will gradually return to their Dark Side nature even if fully cleansed.
Description:
"The Sith focus on collecting treasures and neglect the study of the Force. It's one more way in which they miss the big picture." - Mace Windu
The Vergence Lensforge is a large, complex array of bronzium arms and Force crystals. In most places and circumstances, it serves little function. When installed at the site of a Force nexus/vergence, however, the Lensforge can concentrate and reveal the site’s ambient energies so that a patient and tranquil user can gain understanding of the nexus’ unique nature, if any. A skilled Light Side-oriented crafter can apply these energies and patterns to create an object which reflects the nature of the nexus in a lesser degree. This property allows the apparatus to unlock a wide range of potential precedents and effects for Light Side crafting.
For example, the Reamurdta Shrine sustains a forest which is the only patch of life on the dead world of Egktraestra. The Vergence Lensforge apparatus would help a Jedi understand the connection between the Shrine and the forest, perhaps gaining glimpses of the Shrine’s ancient uses. An experienced Light Side crafter could use the apparatus to focus the Shrine’s unique energies. The result could be a Force-imbued object which helps plants to grow, even in desolate terrain.
Other examples come to mind. A certain oasis on Tatooine could yield an object which induces tranquility, as might the Meditative Canyon on Ambria. The Valley of the Jedi might yield an object with significance for the summoning of spirits.
In the event that a Dark-touched nexus/vergence is the apparatus’ subject, the taint of the Dark Side will be stripped away from the finished product. For example, if the apparatus were to be deployed at a certain cave on Dagobah, the result could be an alignment-neutral object which causes or aids Force visions. Likewise, if the apparatus were to be deployed on Vjun, the result could be an alignment-neutral object which carries a feeling of profound sorrow.
In cases where the nexus/vergence is not especially unique or differentiated, various results may occur, most of them unimpressive. In some cases, if the planet as a whole has some spiritual uniqueness or dramatic history, such qualities may filter through to the finished product.
An adjustable bracket holds the object to be imbued. This is generally a Force crystal, though other items may be used. Depending on the skill of the user, the effect may be applied selectively, or layered onto an already-imbued object as part of a compound project. A good deal of flexibility exists, so long as sufficient expertise is brought to bear.
The Vergence Lensforge has another function. If properly used by one or more Masters, the apparatus can slowly, gently cleanse Dark Side contamination from any given Force nexus. This effect can be accelerated by including the Ankarres Sapphire in a special socket. Common-sense limits apply. For example, entrenched planetary-scale Dark Side vergences (Dromund Kaas, Korriban, Sekalus, the concentrated evil of Lake Natth on Ambria) would take hundreds of years to cleanse. By comparison, a prototype of the apparatus permanently cleansed the Dark Side taint from the recently and inexpertly contaminated Coruscant nexus within a matter of days. Long-entrenched and well-established sites (such as the Dagobah cave) will gradually return to their Dark Side nature even if fully cleansed.
The apparatus has an optional, adjustable socket for crystals of local origin. In most cases, taking the time to research and uncover local Force crystals will improve all above functions by a significant fraction. For example, several kinds of crystal can be found on Dagobah: placing one in the bracket will improve the user’s ability to understand and apply the Dagobah nexus.
Primary Source: Not influenced by any Chaos submissions.
