Gabriel Sionoma
Sheriff of Sulon
[Do you think, if they would have known what we knew, that they would have bothered? To sacrifice everything...for nothing?] - Jommaykkuakopi
Intent: To create a crafting material, in memory of those who stood strong against the One Sith. To celebrate the valiant effort of those who defended against the One Sith on this most fateful day.Development Thread:
- Standard Development: If necessary
- Thread for basis of material: Welcome to the Jungle [OS Invasion of Kashyyyk]
Model: Yugwaaargh wood, Flesh of the Wroshyr
Affiliation: Jedi of the Galactic Republic and/or those who once called such place Home.
Modularity: Anything wood can do this can do better.
Production: Limited to select PC's.
Material:
Strengths:
[+] Jal Shey Imbuement: Using the memories of the past as foundation, the treated wood provides the wielder with the capability to use Force Valor and passive Inspiration.
[+] Restorative: Due to the nature of the Ankarres Wood Varnish, the wood naturally provides mild restorative capabilities to the wielder and the wood.
[+/-] Size matters: While the imbuement has an upper limit typically dictated by supply, the strength of the enhancement improves as the amount of wood increases and is not readily available in smaller increments (pommel and ring size). However, the skill of the crafter can compensate for this with attention and training in Jal Shey imbuement. Even so, the process would be quite taxing for the crafter to complete. Anything smaller than a standard ring is incapable of holding the imbuement properly.
Weaknesses:
[-] Just wood: Beyond the strength of the varnish and the natural tenacity of the wood to resist damage, there is no additional vigor added through the treatment or imbuement.
[-] Restricted use: Despite the abundance of Wroshyr tree timber as a primary export from Kashyyyk, this specific branding is only available to current or former members of the Galactic Republic. In fact, by principle, the creator of this wood is incapable of using it. This is largely due to the power residing within the memories of the tree.
[-/+] Lightside restricted: Those fallen Jedi, once members of the Galactic Republic, will find no value in this wood. Due to the nature of the Ankarres and the imbuer, only those of lightside affinity can wield this wood in any meaningful way.
Description: The skies of Kashyyyk opened up, one calamitous day, to reveal the beast as it descended upon the land. The invasion of Kashyyyk, following the One Sith's victory of Manaan, would mark one of the last moves within this theater of war before the great disappearance that brought the war machine to a temporary, yet grinding, halt. As the deafening forces swelled within the horizon to claim the land below, above, Star Carriers waged war through the enlistment of squadrons and fleets. It was no secret, as it now, that the One Sith had never truly been competitive in the sky. Abandoning their forces in space against the superiority of the Galactic Republic fleet, the One Sith and their various commanders rushed upon the planet like water against cemented sand. Standing fortified, they could only resist the erosion for so long.
The forces of the invasion dispersed between two main goals. The first component dictated total destruction of a stronghold, formerly constructed for assistance in protection of the planet beneath the domain of the Galactic Republic. The second component involved either the destruction or capture of the coastal city, Kachirho.
For the longest time, Gabe saw the invasion through the eye of his captor and twin, [member="Reverance"]. The Hand of the Dark Lord, who would later claim the mantle of Wrath, enlisted the forces of the Legion Yun'Do (components of the Hrosha-Gul) to help overcome the defenses of the great stronghold. Additionally, assistance for the destruction of the stronghold was brought by [member="Vrag"], commanding a contingent of forces, [member="Darth Carnifex"], commanding his legendary Blackblades, and [member="Balaya Praelior"], commanding an impressive horde of her own. Those who didn't take to commanding forces assisted in their own ways. [member="Matsu Xiangu"] fought against the Wookiees and stronghold with her infamous Sith Sorcery, [member="Cryax Bane"] and [member="Xenia Nastassia"] went to work on dismantling the turreted defenses from within, [member="Keira Ticon"] defended them and fought to breach the stronghold, and [member="Darth Adekos"] participated in what some would later claim was the "Greatest Fight in the History of Ever." When it was all said and done, the Yuuzhan Vong decimated the interior of the stronghold through the use of fast moving mounts and well placed singularity mines, despite all the efforts made by the defending forces. This event was a pivoting point for the One Sith, allowing them to divert their attention to capturing the final objective, Kachirho. And this was the nature of the fight for Reverance, and thus Gabe, as the Hand waged personal combat against [member="Kana Truden"] and Flint Dexen. It was during this fight that Flint Dexen lost his life, an act that weighs heavily upon Gabes shoulders.
With the memories of this event buried within, Gabe pressed on through his story of redemption, attempting to make the best of his situation. This all seemed to unravel when he met Jommaykkuakopi, whom he and the rest of the homestead residents would later come to know as Opi. Prior to her taking over as nanny for [member="Avalore Eden"] 's adopted children, Gabe discovered the origin of Opi's misfortune. Her family had served at Yugwaaargh during the invasion and perished upon those broken limbs. Originally, Gabe's plan for redemption ended at bringing her back to the homestead to live and retake her life. But upon further thought and meditation, the memories of that invasion couldn't be erased or muffled. So he set out to return that place of war, one final time.
Deep in the shadowlands of Kashyyyk, the splinters, broken bark, and dried cork wood still rested in slow decay beneath the once great stronghold. Immediately upon touching those pieces of wood, he was immersed in the memories of that day through psychometry. But no longer were they the memories of his brother. They were the memories of [member="Sochi Ru"] and [member="Kian Karr"], their gallant acts of heroism and courage on full display. They were memories of [member="Dak Canton"], fighting the greatest fight of all time, and [member="Rain"], amassing the largest army of wookiees to ever emerge from the shadowlands. Memories that showed [member="Aaralyn Rekali"], in constant meditation to empower her allies, and [member="Seraphina Shel'tah"] and her endeavor to protect the northeastern bridge. He saw images of Book and his battle against the future hand of the One Sith and how Shule Windspeaker not only fought against Darth Carnifex upon the wide bridge, but managed to destroy it entirely. He watched as [member="Taheera Sollo"] combated the Sith, Randial, and [member="Meeristali Peradun"] defended the narrow eastern bridge. A simple beggar ([member="Seamus Valik"]) engaged the Vong armies with no thought towards his own well being. Gabe saw so much in such a small period of time, he felt overwhelmed. As quick as the memories came, so did they leave, only to replenish with every brief touch of the wood. More pronounced then even these visions was the impact and simple realization...
The Sith fought for themselves. The Jedi fought for everyone else.
The blood and sacrifice, of those fallen, saturated the forest floor. So he began collecting. He collected timber, he collected shreds of wood, and he collected the seed stock of the once great Wroshyr Trees. Because, as a certain Zelosian once told him, within the grains and fibers of every plant, memories are stored. With everything he needed to begin his project and keep it running, he headed back to the Katarn Homestead of Sulon. It was here where he worked to clear a portion of the woods, relatively close to the planted Ankarres Trees, and made a vegetation plot for uprooted seed stock. And while he waited for the seeds to take hold, to begin their mighty ascent, he worked with the salvaged material of the broken stronghold.
The treatment was relatively straightforward. Everything that would be needed to empower the wood rested deep within the grains. The memories of those who fought beyond their means to protect what they held dear. Taking that into mind, Gabe looked to coat this wood with Ankarres Wood Varnish, treated to mimic force valor. Drawing on the memories of those who sacrificed, as well as his own reckless tendency to push his body beyond its means, the imbuement was a relatively easy process with all things considered. A side effect of the process is that it also produced a slight impression of gusto, allowing the wielder of this material to inspire those around them in their time of need. Even the concern of past wood decomposition was set aside, due to the natural restorative properties of the Ankarres Wood Varnish. Of course, because of the limited supply of this wood, it can't typically be used to craft anything much larger than a stave. And while the wood can be used in small increments, a particular mastery of the imbuement process is absolutely required. And even so, the process is quite taxing, especially when one considers the limited return (in the case of rings, talismans, or pommels). It is for this reason that orders for smaller scale wood will be thoroughly vetted before imbuement.
Because this power is derived from the potency of the Ankarres Wood varnish, the imbuement cannot be modified except in the event of destroying the wood - which isn't difficult considering that it is simply wood. That being said, the wood is made available for all those who call or once called the Galactic Republic home. Shapes and/or purposes for the wood are requested prior to ordering as once the varnish sets, the shape can't be changed or modified without destroying the imbuement. The wood can be ordered directly from the Katarn Homestead or through Marrow and Illskins shops.
Possible Uses: Utility of this wood is quite evident. Below are just a few recomendations, though the options are endless with the proper mastery, effort, and resolve.
- A walking cane/stick/stave
- Pommel of a lightsaber or hilt of a melee weapon
- Components of an archaic bow
- Jewelry (such as a carved ring or bangle)
- A talisman or artifact
-Ankarres Wood Varnish
