Campaign Under the Red Looking Glass : Ord Providence

[Braze]

// Invite only- Serious plot
Tags: Lord Kalrath Azurine Varek
Ord Providence

Today was an ideal day for a group of Padawans to expand their knowledge on a cultural studies field trip. Today, Ord Providence would serve as their subject for the field trip, as it offered a unique glimpse into a deeply structured theocratic society thriving within its domed cities. The small group stepped through the reinforced airlock into the vast interior of Provinia's dome, the city's gleaming skyline curving gently upward around them. Above, the transparent lattice of duraglass framed the harsh green haze of Ord Providence's atmosphere shielding them from the hostile environment outside.

"Welcome to Provinia," Evelyn said, her voice as measured as ever. She gestured toward the towering replica of the New House of the Goddess at the city's center. "This is the heart of the planet, both spiritually and politically."


"Looks like a fortress," Havoc said, squinting at the massive structure. "Bet it's guarded to the teeth."


"It would be," Dravek said, his tone cold. The Thyrisian's eyes swept over the street-level security checkpoints and the silent drones hovering above. "You don't build something that big without expecting to defend it."

Kovu darted ahead, his padded steps making no sound on the polished stone streets. "Guarded or not, I could find a way in," he said with a mischievous grin. "Bet I'd be halfway to the top before anyone noticed."

"And halfway into a detention cell before you realized you were caught," Evelyn said without looking at him.

Kovu opened his mouth for a retort but closed it when Dahlia placed a gentle hand on his arm. "Let's not start any trouble," she said, her golden eyes soft. "The people here have enough to deal with." Her gaze lingered on a group of Low Ones sweeping the plaza, their worn uniforms contrasting with the gilded garments of a passing High One.

"Yeah, like being stuck in a caste system," Havoc muttered.

Evelyn gave him a sharp look. "We're here to observe, not judge."

The group moved deeper into the city, past market stalls filled with imported textiles and locally processed Clouzon-36, its eerie green glow was that of of the planet's lifeblood. Dravek lingered near a display of antique weaponry, his expression unreadable as he examined a ceremonial blade.

"What's wrong, Dravek?" Dahlia asked, her tone gentle.

"Nothing," he said curtly, moving on.

"Sure looks like something," Havoc said, smirking.

"Drop it," Dravek snapped, his shoulders tensing.

Evelyn stepped between them before the exchange could escalate. "Focus," she said, her voice firm. "We're headed to the New House of the Goddess. Let's at least try to look like we belong here."

The group fell into an uneasy silence as they approached the grand temple, its golden spires piercing the dome's artificial sky. The faint hum of security drones grew louder.

Braze had joined the group of Padawans on their field trip, trailing behind as he watched and listened carefully. His sharp gaze moved from one Padawan to the next, quietly observing their interactions and picking up on the subtle dynamics at play. Some of them were vaguely familiar—faces he'd seen in passing during other lessons—but none stood out as someone he knew as well as his own friends.

They seemed like a tight-knit group, their camaraderie evident in the way they spoke and laughed together, as though they shared more than just training sessions. It made him feel like an outsider, but only slightly.

As they moved through the bustling market streets of Provinia, Braze offered a glance to Azurine Varek , a faint smirk playing at his lips. Leaning in slightly, he murmured, "Did Padawans talk this much during lessons when youare from?"

 

[Azurine Varek]

Cultural Lessons

Outfit: Clothing/Armor | Glove | Right Arm | Talisman
Weapons: Lightsaber 1 | Lightsaber 2 | Hook Swords

Azurine had come along on this field trip mostly to keep the younger Padawans out of trouble, but, admittedly, her curiosity about the culture of Ord Providence and its deeply stratified society had piqued her interest. She was a sucker for the knowledge of culture and history. It felt like a puzzle to her. She glanced at the towering structures around them, the sleek buildings that rose like giants to the heavens. The New House of the Goddess gleamed in the distance, an imposing monument to a society she still didn’t fully understand. That wasn’t going to stop her from asking questions, though.

Braze’s voice cut through her thoughts, and she glanced over at him, raising an eyebrow. "During the rebellion, there wasn't much of a formal Jedi order, so I really wouldn't know." She started with a dry chuckle. "It was extremely dangerous just to be force sensitive, then. I only knew there was something different about me for most of my childhood, and frankly, I think being ignorant of the specifics is the only thing that kept me off the inquisitor's radar for so long."

Azzie turned her attention back to the city for a moment. The problem was, it wasn’t just the Padawans who were unsettled. Her mind raced with too many questions, too many observations. Her heart burned with a desire to understand a culture that was so deeply embedded in hierarchy and devotion. Was it all a façade, or was there something more? And why did the place feel... wrong? Maybe it was the layers of secrecy and control hanging in the air like a thick mist, or maybe it was the people themselves, walking around with eyes that seemed so distant despite their proximity.

"You know," Azzie said to him, her voice softer this time, "I can’t decide whether this place is fascinating or... unnerving." She paused, letting the words settle, and turned her amethyst gaze back to Braze. "I guess it’s both, really. The echoes that are attached to it are practically overwhelming." She gave him a small, almost apologetic shrug. "Anyway, I’m mainly here to help keep the younger ones from unintentionally getting themselves into any bad situations."

A brief smirk flashed across her face. "And hopefully I keep myself from getting into any too. I don't know how long that will hold up, though."

Braze​

 

[Jasper Kai'el]

Ord Providence
Tags: Braze , Azurine Varek

Lightsaber
​

"You know," Azzie said to him, her voice softer this time, "I can’t decide whether this place is fascinating or... unnerving."

"I think there's a term for that," Jasper noted, chiming into the conversation, "but I've never been a linguist. I'm sure some historian could spin a waxing of words that poetically implied something along those lines."

Jasper wasn't sure if he was fond of Ord Providence. He had been many times. The domes were an impressive feat of engineering that he couldn't help but admire, so visits were never dull. Yet, even so, the engineer in him couldn't look past the unconventional cultural practices of the planet. A cast system seemed... wrong, to him. Perhaps that's because he had been created, grown to fulfill a purpose by another. There were certainly little shadows that itched at his brain, telling him something about this was off.

They were at peace, at least. Not many had stable planets after the Maw. Still, at what cost...

"They have public space in their temple for gatherings," the Master stated as they approached the New Temple of the Goddess. "It supposedly recreates a structure they used for worship on Godo, which still stands as far as I'm aware. I believe last time I was here they were hosting a charity gala of sorts. A bit too high-society for my taste, but it sent money to folks after the war..."

No doubt part of their senatorial standing. Ord Providence was the seat of power of a planetary culture and the representative of a star system in the senate. They were no strangers to public events.

"We shouldn't have too much trouble with the littler ones..." Jasper assured. "As long as we all got an eye on them..."

Hopefully more them than him. He had a splitting headache, one that he couldn't quite shake. Over the counter medication hadn't helped in any way. It felt more internalized, as though his very brain was swelling up against all sides of his skull. All he could really do was hope that it wasn't going to be a very eventful day...

Were it so easy.

---

The garden was pulsating now, the dark place just below the New Temple of the Goddess warm with evil energy. It was a welcome, greeting the originator of it's cold and malicious design. It was from he who it inherited its hunger, a man more shadow than organic matter. Individuals stepped through the dark grey grass of the Nexus, ushering a tall, ghastly Twi'lek, assisted by a simple cane and lumbering legs composed of strange material, both organic and metal.

Below his mask, Kalrath was grinning ear to ear, his disgusting, rotting face hidden by the muzzle he wore to suppress his voice. This was the most potent it had ever been. Lokgnash called to him, her song ringing in the echoes of the Nexus' power. No doubt, his blade had left this behind.

"It was here long ago, my liege," one cultist stated, dipping his head in reverence. "The item forged from your holy presence. It has blessed our garden with untold power. Truly, it is an essance that can manifest miracles into our world. How humbled we are to finally walk alongside the exhaulted one whos very lingering energy birthed our sanctuary.

"The darkside is a beautiful thing..." Kalrath muttered, his voice muffled by the mask. "For seven thousand years has it sustained me. The source of infinite power lies in its depths, amidst the screams of those lost it its murky underbelly. Their screams resonate with us... embolden us. Upon the font of their suffering, those who seek true power ascend. Beyond death, chosen to crush the weak. In commiting yourselves to a higher entity, you align yourself with glorious purpose."

"Salvation."

Blood began to spill out of a fountain in the center of the garden, Sith runes forming in the stream as it oozed out and filled the circular chamber.

"Providence will become a throne!" he exclaimed, his voice booming with potent dark energy. A declaration. Authority. "Let the moment be now! Sieze this world in my name! Slaughter those who oppose it! By nightfall, my supreme word will be law!"

He just had a few ants to crush. Kai'el... Dillon was alive.

And his presence was here.

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Jasper Kai'el Azurine Varek Aadihr Lidos

Braze tilted his head, giving Azzie a strange look, as if caught between curiosity and uncertainty. Was she even a Jedi then? He wasn't sure. She felt out of place in a way he couldn't quite articulate—like a time traveler, someone uprooted from another era and dropped into his world. Maybe she never had a creche phase, or maybe she was newer to the Jedi Order than he realized. He didn't know, and the thought of asking felt… uncouth.

"I'm sorry," he muttered, his voice quieter than usual. He supposed he didn't really know how to relate to someone whose upbringing had likely been so different from his own. Not in polite short conversation.

The words hung awkwardly in the air as Braze's shoulders sagged slightly, a pang of guilt tugging at him. Why did he keep tripping over his words when he tried to connect with people? No matter how nice he tried to be, it always felt like he was saying the wrong thing. A familiar, unwelcome thought crept in—maybe he just wasn't cut out for this kind of connection. Maybe he should stop trying altogether.

He exhaled sharply, as if the sigh alone could banish the spiral of self-doubt and frustration building inside him. It didn't, but it gave him something to focus on.

"Echoes?" Braze asked, his brows furrowing as he glanced at Azzie, then around their surroundings. He shifted his gaze back to the small group of younger Padawans they were meant to watch over and gave a slight shrug. "I don't know... maybe. You're hearing something I'm not."

He hesitated, then added with a small, self-deprecating smile, "Honestly, I'm here for the same reason you are—keeping the kids out of trouble. Though, if I'm being real, I used to be the one causing it. The moment no one was watching, I'd run off whenever we visited someplace new. Always got an earful when I came back."

The irony of the reversal wasn't lost on him, and his smirk lingered for a moment before his expression softened. "I think they had a rain festival here once," he murmured, as if dredging up some faint memory. "Pretty sure Loomi came from a place like this."

Braze's gaze flickered back to Azzie, a question forming but left unspoken. He didn't want to overstep again.


The group wandered deeper into the market, their footsteps echoing faintly against the polished stone streets. Kovu lingered by a stall selling delicate wind chimes made from carved crystals, his ears twitching slightly as he listened to the soft tinkling sound.

"They're pretty," Dahlia remarked, stepping beside him.

"Yeah," Kovu admitted, his tail swaying lazily. "Bet they'd look good in the training dorm."

"Master Zark San Tekka would probably say they're a distraction," Dahlia smiled.

"Everything's a distraction to Master Zark San Tekka ," Kovu snorted.

Further ahead, Havoc trailed his hand along a railing overlooking a plaza. "You ever notice how these places all feel the same?" he muttered to no one in particular.

Evelyn caught his tone and tilted her head. "What do you mean?"

Havoc shrugged, his golden skin glinting faintly in the artificial light. "Big temples, big cities, big people telling the little people what to do. Just feels... old. Tired."

Evelyn paused, considering his words. "Maybe that's why we're here—to see what happens when systems like this survive."

"Or what happens when they don't," Havoc replied, his tone sharper.

Near the temple steps, Evelyn noticed Dravek lingering behind, his arms crossed as he stared at a mural etched into the stone wall.

"Something on your mind?" she asked gently.

Dravek glanced at her, his expression hard to read. "Just thinking."

"About what?"

He hesitated. "About what people give up... when they think they have no choice."

Evelyn studied him for a moment but decided not to press further.


Braze padded up along side Jasper Kai'el and smiled. " You doing okay?" He asked seemingly seeing a lingering tiredness on him.

​

 

[Azurine Varek]

Cultural Lessons

Outfit: Clothing/Armor | Glove | Right Arm | Talisman
Weapons: Lightsaber 1 | Lightsaber 2 | Hook Swords

Azurine had been lost in thought, her attention drifting between the conversation and the strange hum of the world around her. The market buzzed, people milling about, but there was a strange pattern to things here—an undercurrent of something unsettling that tugged at her vision, but she couldn’t quite pinpoint it. At least not from here.

Braze’s quiet apology caught her off guard, though, pulling her focus back to the present. There were clear spikes in his aura that showed a mix of uncomfortable feelings; that much was obvious. "Why? I mean, sure, it was a rough time then, but we all have our stories, right? If I didn't want to answer, I wouldn't have." She said, playfully shoving his arm. "Besides, it's kind of nice to get to be part of things I never had the opportunity to before when it was just me and my former master. Makes me feel less... out of place? Yeah." A fond smile crossed her face.

"I think there's a term for that,"

"Frisson, I think? Means a thrill that's unsettling and intriguing. That's the best I've got, though." Azzie said after a pause for a moment of thought and a laugh at the end.

For a moment, Azzie was once again confused by Braze's comment about hearing, but it didn't take her very long for the realization that not everyone saw the world the way she did to kick in. "Oh, yeah, I see auras and force echoes—which are basically like auras, but they don't shift or change the way living auras do. I guess I forgot to mention that." She stated it like it was no big deal. It wasn’t exactly something she could turn on and off; it was just there and had been there.

When he mentioned his troublemaking days, Azzie let out a short chuckle while flashing a sly grin. “Sounds like we’d have gotten along back then,” She laughed. “Or gotten into a lot of trouble. Hell, I still do on occasion.”

Aadihr Lidos | Braze | Jasper Kai'el​

 

[Aadihr Lidos]

Outfit: Casual Attire
Weapons: Walking stick / Lightsaber Pike

Aadihr followed just behind the group, keeping tally on the group of Padawans' force signatures, assisting Master Kai'el with the outing.

Once again he ran a quick mental attendance: Azurine, Braze, Dahlia, Dravek, Evelyn, Havoc, Kovu, Loomi - same as before.

Aadihr typically wasn't this on edge. There was something in the force. It surely wasn't whatever Azurine had against him lately, it was something that permeated the entire area. Something was off, like a slight filter over the hues of all the force-lights around - but searching for a cause would bring his attention away from his duties here, keeping an eye on the class.

Havoc shrugged, his golden skin glinting faintly in the artificial light. "Big temples, big cities, big people telling the little people what to do. Just feels... old. Tired."

Havoc, the other Zabrak, perhaps seemed to pick up on the same thing. Or maybe something different. Braze even seemed to recognize a tiredness in the Master. Even as Azzie discussed her past and force perception. It wasn't very long ago she and Aadihr were discussing practice lessons to develop her Sight - but something happened between them, and Aadihr still wasn't sure what, but his presence tinged her aura with pain, so he kept his distance.

For now Aadihr kept quiet, eavesdropping on the younger padawans' conversations as they walked through the sprawl of Provinia towards the New House of the Goddess.

"New House of the Goddess?" Aadihr mumbled to herself. "I wonder what happened to the Old House of the Goddess - or is it a house of a new goddess?" He asked to no one in particular. He admittedly knew little of Ord Providence, or the Godoan faith.

Braze | Azurine Varek | Jasper Kai'el​

 

[Jasper Kai'el]

Ord Providence
Tags: Braze , Azurine Varek , Aadihr Lidos

Lightsaber
​

" You doing okay?"

"Yeah, don't worry about me," Jasper stated, his tone indicating more confidence than was really there. "Just a bit of a headache. Nothing out of the ordinary for me."

Not that such things weren't true. He got headaches all the time, plenty no doubt caused simply by stress. He wasn't trying to be too concerned about the sensation that had suddenly come to him, yet even still... Jasper couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Perhaps it was the artificial air. Lack of a natural breeze was making everything seem stiff and lifeless. That was probably doing it.

"I wonder what happened to the Old House of the Goddess - or is it an house of with a new goddess?"

"It's on their home planet, Godo," Jasper explained. "Though I guess it doesn't have 'Old' in the name. I think their clergy-types take a pilgrimage back to Godo every few years. That's what their senator told me, anyways."

It wasn't really his area of expertise. He really only knew what he did in passing, having found himself on Ord Providence a handfull of times for various reasons. As they made their way up to the front door of the New Temple of the Goddess, the party would be met by a pair of guards. Their armor was elaborate, though their stature was notably less impressive. They were 5'5" from a base glance, which Jasper had a few inches over. The Godoans were not a tall species. Light-foil-like blades hung at their sides, plasma based weapons far weaker than lightsabers.

"Greetings, Jedi," one guard began, giving a polite dip of his head. "Our Senator has been anticipating your arrival. We have a chamber prepared in the Tower of the Mighty to serve as a classroom during your stay. Let us escort you there with haste. I don't wish to exhaust your valuable time."

The man was well spoken, with a certain aristocratic air about him. In fact, everyone on Ord Providence was composed in a very proper manner. It was, in a way, perhaps a little robotic to those who may be on the outside looking in. Regardless of such things, the large front door was opened, alowing entry into the temple...

 

[Braze]

TAGS: Aadihr Lidos Azurine Varek Jasper Kai'el

Braze listened to the polite words of the Godoan guard, but the phrasing struck him oddly—"Haste" and "exhaust your valuable time" felt deliberate, perhaps overly so. He frowned slightly, his senses sharpening as he stepped in line with the others. Something about the atmosphere of this place felt off, though he couldn't pinpoint what. The artificial air seemed to cling too closely, the hum of distant machinery almost too precise, too uniform.


He caught sight of Evelyn's as she subtly studied the temple's intricate architecture, her eyes scanning for patterns or inconsistencies. Nearby, Dahlia offered a small, reassuring smile to a Low One who had stumbled with a stack of supplies, her empathy seemingly drawn to the laborer's muted aura. Kovu, on the other hand, fidgeted impatiently, his tail flicking as his eyes darted toward shadowed hallways and alcoves, clearly itching to explore.

Dravek stood slightly apart, his stance rigidly stiff and his expression unreadable as he kept his attention on the guards. Havoc, meanwhile, rolled his shoulders and muttered something under his breath.

Braze turned his attention to Azurine, who had been lost in thought until his earlier comment had drawn her back. He smiled faintly at her casual tone, though her words lingered with him. Auras and echoes... He filed that information away, another piece of the puzzle that was Azurine. He wondered if thatw as her way of reading ro seeing some one's force signature.

When she shoved his arm playfully, Braze let out a low chuckle. "You'd probably have been the bad influence," he quipped, though his voice carried a lightness that hadn't been there moments before. "Not that I was much of a saint. Would've been worth it, though."

He glanced over his shoulder, his gaze settling briefly on Aadihr, who seemed deep in his own thoughts, his murmured questions about the temple barely audible over the ambient noise. Braze caught the tail end of Jasper's explanation and nodded slightly.

"Senator, huh?" Braze said quietly, addressing no one in particular but making his curiosity known. "I've got a few questions for them myself."

Still, his attention shifted back to the group. He knew his own tendency to get distracted and didn't want to let his guard down. Kovu, in particular, was one lapse away from wandering into trouble, and Havoc looked ready to pick a fight with the next overly polite Godoan they encountered.

As they followed the guards into the temple, Braze couldn't shake the feeling that something about this place—the perfect air, the unyielding formality—was watching them just as much as they were observing it.

​

 

[Azurine Varek]

Cultural Lessons

Outfit: Clothing/Armor | Glove | Right Arm | Talisman
Weapons: Lightsaber 1 | Lightsaber 2 | Hook Swords

"You'd probably have been the bad influence,"

"I believe I have the right to keep myself from self-incrimination," Azurine shot back at Braze, the playful grin and fire in her eyes unmistakable. "And for the record, I’m a wonderful influence… depending on your definition of the term."

Her mind drifted briefly to Aadihr, who lingered a few paces behind. She could feel the sharp edges of his aura, the tension radiating from him as though he too were sensing something that wasn’t right. She couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt in her chest, made worse by the understanding that she could feel him without being in direct contact like she'd need to be with others. It had been weeks since their last true conversation, and the distance between them felt like a canyon. She had hoped to try to keep a professional level, but clearly, that had been harder in practice than in concept.

Azzie’s eyes soon darted from one face to the next, the tension in the air palpable as they followed the Godoan guards into the temple. Every step they took seemed to echo unnervingly in the sterile corridors. There was something wrong about the place, but even as her instincts screamed at her, she couldn’t put her finger on it. Not yet, anyway.

Kovu, on the other hand, was practically vibrating with energy, his tail flicking like a whip as he peered into every shadowed alcove. "Rule number one about ancient cultural sites: Those who screw around will end up cursed." She teased the rambunctious young teen, though it was also a clear warning that he should keep his hands to himself and not wander off.

Azzie glanced ahead at Jasper, catching his strained expression as he tried to shrug off his headache. The poor guy looked like he was seconds away from collapsing, but of course, he had to put on the bravado. “Maybe you should’ve brought a respirator, Master Kai'el,” she whispered to him lightly, her voice laced with sarcasm. “This place feels like it’s trying to suffocate us with politeness.”

Though she was mostly joking, her words definitely held some truth to them. The politeness felt almost artificial. Braze’s wariness mirrored her own, and it was oddly comforting to know someone else was on edge. She gave him a small nod of acknowledgment, her way of saying, I see you. We can handle this.

Braze | Jasper Kai'el | Aadihr Lidos​

 

[Aadihr Lidos]

Outfit: Casual Attire, Sigil Bead Earring
Weapons: Walking stick / Lightsaber Pike

"It's on their home planet, Godo," Jasper explained. "Though I guess it doesn't have 'Old' in the name. I think their clergy-types take a pilgrimage back to Godo every few years. That's what their senator told me, anyways."

"That checks out. Their goddess doesn't seem to be some allegory for the Force, Judging by the architecture. At least not so obvious as the Ashla worship back on Alpheridies."

Aadihr shrugged, content in knowing simply that he wasn't the only one out of the loop.

Azurine's aura was jagged once more as she looked at him through the corner of her eye. Somehow, his presence must be irking her. Even though he was unsure what he had done, he could at least see when he was bothering someone and make himself scarce - usually. Field trips like this would be an inappropriate time to do so. Aadihr uttered a silent apology for the hurt his presence was causing.

More important that his personal issues, almost everyone's aura was on edge... Except the Godoans.

Aadihr steadied himself with a breath. Frayed nerves served nobody. Aadihr projected outward calm with his posture, though he began to use his staff as a walking cane, a subconscious defence mechanism to make him seem more like a common blind man, to appear unassuming and less of a threat.

"You spoke to their senator? What are they like?" Aadihr asked Jasper, mirroring Braze's comment.

Jasper Kai'el | Azurine Varek | Braze​