Shadows of Bankor

Something was coming, not for him specifically but something was coming, and it was dark. The old farmer tried to feel it, but it was obscured, the Dark Side obscured things and this was no different still he was sure it would manifest, and it would be another test.

The old farmer waited at the cabin for the arrival of the students, Veras and himself had put together an obstacle course and although she wasn’t going to be training he knew his four new students would need to learn quickly what he had to teach.

Some would be more receptive than others but that was how students were.

OOC: You know who you are to be here.

Petrus had been up late the night before. Meditating. Thinking. Dwelling. The broken pieces of his lightsaber in his hands.

When I made this, I swore that it would be a light in the darkness. The lightsaber was the symbol of the Jedi Knights. Perhaps he was supposed to be a light in the darkness. Perhaps it was he that was broken, carefully disassembled so as to avoid notice.

Maybe they could both be put together again.

Slowly, his hands began to work...

...

Petrus was not smiling as he approached his new master with his new fellow Padawans, but it was clear from his bright eyes and the energy in his lanky form that his spirits were high.

"Master." He said, bowing. As was proper.

Sloan remained slightly behind Petrus as the greetings were made. He wasn't exactly sure what the protocol was or even what sort of training was to take place.

He waited observing how the others greeted the Jedi Farmer.

It finally feltas though things were getting real as they set off up the path to the old farmer's cabin. Xanna had spent much of the previous day working on some new clothing, something she could train in. She had a glow rod and a backpack, and three new friends. It felt like a new beginning.

As the group approached the cabin she thought back to the last time she had seen Jedi Knight Oraka Hin. Back when she used her real name. Their shared experiences. His great loss. She released her breath and let her thoughts find balance. With some seriousness she said:

"I am honoured to stand beside you again, with my new friends, as your student. Master Hin." She bowed. "Thank you." Lifting her head she smiled at Veras and gave an encouraging nod to the others.

Sloan was the third to bow to the Farmer jedi.

"...Master." He uttered the words a bit unsure of the title the man wished to be addressed by. Sloan was no Jedi, and he didn't want the man to believe he was a pretender.

"Present," Liua said unsure of what is expected of her.

The old farmer said, “To be a Jedi, to know the Light side of the Force is to understand it at peace so for those of you experienced with touching the Force your first task is to seek stillness and understanding within. Meditate on your purpose, on why you are here and what you can achieve.”

“For you,” he directed to Liua, “you get to wear the helmet, and this.” The old farmer produced a cylinder and handed it to her along with a blast helmet that obscured her sight.


Liua replied, “What’s the thing?”

“Training saber, get a feel for it and then you will don the helmet and then you will see without seeing,” he said calmly.

Liua looked skeptical and said, “This sounds like magic.”

He turned to the rest, “Head down the hill over the course blindfolded, and then when you reach the bottom meditate in the pool on your purpose.”

OOC: Make a Force check, spend a pip to gain awareness. If no Force is generated, increase the difficulty of the next step to Average. Then make an easy Athletics or Coordination check to get down the hill, if failed take 2 strain and then meditate with a Discipline check at Hard.

Sloan felt a familiar, comforting weight around him as he took off down the hill. His thoughts were clear, as he felt his physical vessel pushed along by The Force. He trusted its guiding light.

The pool at the bottom was refreshing, and nostalgic. Uncharacteristically; he daintily dipped into the water.

Meditate on your purpose

Sloan's clear head became clouded. He thought to a conversation he had with Sister Hulia earlier this month during a training session. He'd been furious with his mentor at the time. She warned him of getting too involved with this imperial conflict, said that a more cautious approach would behoove the Aznuri people.

He wondered if she was right. What was he even doing in this pool of water pretending to be a Jedi. This was a dangerous, childish fantasy, and here he was indulging while he could be at home aiding the Enclave in more tangible endeavors.

Sloan untied the blindfold, briskly rose to his feet, and trudged back up the hill. He faced Master Oraka in a silence that was surely interpreted in an all too correct manner.




Training- Force Check: 1eF 1 Light Side


Training- Athletics (enhance) (committing force die for +1 brawn): 1eP+4eA+1eD+1eS+1eF 4 successes, 1 advantage, 2 Dark Side


Training- Discipline: 3eA+3eD 2 failures, 3 advantage



Advantage used to give next person boost die

Petrus shot Liua a quick smirk, although not an unkind one. "Welcome to the Jays, kid." He said. He spared a quick glance at his other fellows, Xanna then Sloan, and then, as the blindfold went over his head, he saw no more.

Darkness.

D2EA, one with the Force: 1eF 2 Dark Side


How did one let go of fear? It was easier said than done. One could see (well, maybe) the hesitance with which Petrus took each step, afraid of falling. Ironically, that made it that much more likely that he would fall.

But he didn't.

D2EA, don't fall, hard for darkness: 3eA+2eD+1eF 3 successes, 1 threat, 2 Light Side


Despite his fear, there was still a core of goodness in Petrus, a desire to do right. It guided him where his senses could not.

D2EA, Meditation: 1eP+2eA+3eD 3 successes, 2 threat


He eased into the water gracefully, his breathing steady...

(whoops, missed the boost from Sloan. Maybe just have it cancel the threat I would have given Xanna?)

When Sloan removes the blindfold he is back in the Enclave but it is eerily quiet.

Petrus Karath wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 27, 2020 10:53 pm

D2EA, Meditation: 1eP+2eA+3eD 3 successes, 2 threat


He eased into the water gracefully, his breathing steady...

(whoops, missed the boost from Sloan. Maybe just have it cancel the threat I would have given Xanna?)

He hears the younglings of the temple as they were being brought to Yoda for training, just another day at the Temple.

It was not going to go the way that she thought...

Slipping the backpack off she gave the others an encouraging look as they stepped out of the cabin. Hopefully some of it would remain intact after Liua's first training exercises. Placing the blindfold carefully around her head she tied it and reached out with the Force...

...feeling only darkness respond. Use me... Insidious whispers filled her head but she pushed back against the weight of temptation. This was not about winning. It was not about impressing Oraka after all these years. She would not let the darkness in.

Cautiously she set off down the obstacle course using her own intuition and senses. It was slow, painful work. She had kept fit, but most of her efforts had simply kept her lithe and toned. Her endurance was not what it had been. She slipped. It was unpleasant. She let herself come to terms with that.

Eventually the obstacle course was complete and Xanna found herself at the water's edge. Stepping in to the cool water was invigorating and quickly helped her mind attain a meditative state. My purpose? Light in the darkness. Inspire hope where there is none. Justice... She floated on her back, hair lazily drifting, finally feeling at peace.

---

Day 2. EA Training. Force roll.: 1eF 1 Dark Side

No points

Day 2. EA Training. Athletics at Average.: 3eA+2eD 0 successes, 1 threat

Fail, 2 strain, 1 threat.

Day 2. EA Training. Discipline check at Hard: 1eP+2eA+3eD 2 successes, 4 threat

Success with 4 tasty threat.

There is darkness and then Xanna feels it.


"I know you?" the words came unbidden and a strange smile curled his lips.

"You... you survived?"

Sloan looked down at his claws and back up to a familiar cramped hallway. The usual fruit vendor on the stoop was nowhere to be seen, and the sounds of laughter, arguments or some combination of both, was non-existant.

He continued down the hall and took a left.

Meditate on your purpose

The words seemed to appear between the lines of reality.

"Don't play pretend." He spoke aloud as he turned the corner. "Don't play a fool."

Dapper Dog wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 27, 2020 10:57 pm

He hears the younglings of the temple as they were being brought to Yoda for training, just another day at the Temple.

Petrus smiled. Even as he'd gotten older, he'd always enjoyed training younglings. Sure, they liked to climb on him, and hit him with sticks, but so long as they were having fun and learning, that was fine with him.

He tried to follow the sounds of their voices. It should be easy, right? The temple was familiar ground. He'd walked through it thousands of times.

Dapper Dog wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 27, 2020 11:02 pm

There is darkness and then Xanna feels it.

"I know you?" the words came unbidden and a strange smile curled his lips.

"You... you survived?"

It was so vivid it almost felt real. "Malus?" But he was dead. So it had to be a vision. Surely?

"Malus... is that you? I... no. I saw you die. Why would the force give me a vision of you?"

Was this a lesson about heroic death? Or was it an echo of her earlier thoughts on Oraka's loss?

Brother Sloan wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 27, 2020 11:04 pm

Sloan looked down at his claws and back up to a familiar cramped hallway. The usual fruit vendor on the stoop was nowhere to be seen, and the sounds of laughter, arguments or some combination of both, was non-existant.

He continued down the hall and took a left.

Meditate on your purpose

The words seemed to appear between the lines of reality.

"Don't play pretend." He spoke aloud as he turned the corner. "Don't play a fool."

He finds sleeping Aznuri... or at least they are not moving. They are not breathing either.

Petrus Karath wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 27, 2020 11:14 pm

Petrus smiled. Even as he'd gotten older, he'd always enjoyed training younglings. Sure, they liked to climb on him, and hit him with sticks, but so long as they were having fun and learning, that was fine with him.

He tried to follow the sounds of their voices. It should be easy, right? The temple was familiar ground. He'd walked through it thousands of times.

Outside he sees fellow Jedi they smile and nod and then he sees Master Yoda who tapped his little staff and said, "Awake, I see. Not napping were you, hrrrm?"

Xanna Teevou wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 27, 2020 11:18 pm

It was so vivid it almost felt real. "Malus?" But he was dead. So it had to be a vision. Surely?

"Malus... is that you? I... no. I saw you die. Why would the force give me a vision of you?"

Was this a lesson about heroic death? Or was it an echo of her earlier thoughts on Oraka's loss?

"I... I don't know but this is... where are you?" the vision replied.

Dapper Dog wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 28, 2020 1:22 am

Outside he sees fellow Jedi they smile and nod and then he sees Master Yoda who tapped his little staff and said, "Awake, I see. Not napping were you, hrrrm?"

Petrus smiled and nodded back, greeting his fellows. So peaceful...

He bowed. "No, Master Yoda, I wasn't." He wasn't, was he? What was he doing? Meditating. "I was meditating, Master. Meditating on my purpose." He looked around, smiling again at his fellows. "It seems this is my purpose."

The chill of the water surrounded him, but it seemed distant, peaceful. Petrus' chest rose and fell, a steady rhythm, in and out, in and out...

Dapper Dog wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 28, 2020 1:22 am

"I... I don't know but this is... where are you?" the vision replied.

"I am on..." She stopped herself, although she wanted to tell him. It. The vision. "Well, I was floating in a pool. Peaceful, quiet, serene. Blissfully cool." She felt as though he was right there with her. "I am not sure where I am now. I suppose I must still be there, and when I looked inside myself, I found you. I think about you Malus Val. The happier times obviously, not your death. But you were a hero and maybe now I am thinking about what that means."

Petrus Karath wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 28, 2020 1:30 am

Petrus smiled and nodded back, greeting his fellows. So peaceful...

He bowed. "No, Master Yoda, I wasn't." He wasn't, was he? What was he doing? Meditating. "I was meditating, Master. Meditating on my purpose." He looked around, smiling again at his fellows. "It seems this is my purpose."

The chill of the water surrounded him, but it seemed distant, peaceful. Petrus' chest rose and fell, a steady rhythm, in and out, in and out...

Master Yoda mused, “A Jedi does not seem, a Jedi is. Walk with me you will, yes?”

He started walking and said, “I sense much fear in you, young padawan. Much fear, yes, yes.”

Xanna Teevou wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 28, 2020 1:35 am

"I am on..." She stopped herself, although she wanted to tell him. It. The vision. "Well, I was floating in a pool. Peaceful, quiet, serene. Blissfully cool." She felt as though he was right there with her. "I am not sure where I am now. I suppose I must still be there, and when I looked inside myself, I found you. I think about you Malus Val. The happier times obviously, not your death. But you were a hero and maybe now I am thinking about what that means."

“You thought I was a hero?” the vision replied.

“I don’t feel very heroic.”

Dapper Dog wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 28, 2020 1:59 am

“You thought I was a hero?” the vision replied.

“I don’t feel very heroic.”

"You died in the explosion of that shuttle. You saved many lives. That is, I think, the definition of being a hero. You put your life on the line for other beings. You were good at it Malus. But you died." She felt the odd sense of serenity that comes with being in a waking dream, but was no longer sure that was what it was. "What does it feel like? Being dead?"

Dapper Dog wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 28, 2020 1:59 am

Master Yoda mused, “A Jedi does not seem, a Jedi is. Walk with me you will, yes?”

He started walking and said, “I sense much fear in you, young padawan. Much fear, yes, yes.”

Somehow, that made Petrus smile. "You're right, of course. Then, this is my purpose."

He followed, matching his much longer stride to the aged master's. "Fear? Me?" Petrus smiled, but the smile faded quickly. He could feel it inside himself, like a cold core of darkness, numbing him. "You're right. I do fear."

For a few moments, Petrus considered this feeling. "I don't think I was always afraid. Cautious perhaps. Thoughtful. But fear... that's new, isn't it?"

Xanna Teevou wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 28, 2020 2:13 am

"You died in the explosion of that shuttle. You saved many lives. That is, I think, the definition of being a hero. You put your life on the line for other beings. You were good at it Malus. But you died." She felt the odd sense of serenity that comes with being in a waking dream, but was no longer sure that was what it was. "What does it feel like? Being dead?"

Malus gave a lengthy pause and said, “I don’t feel anything.”

“I just want to see my Master one last time, let him know that I… I am at peace. It is the only thing keeping me from being one with the Force. I think. I just wish I knew if he were alive… where he was… that he knows that I am sorry, and thankful for everything.”

OOC: She feels the warmth of Peace coming from him, use of Triumph.

Deception vs. Xanna: 3eP+2eA+1eC+2eD 2 successes, 1 Triumph

Petrus Karath wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 28, 2020 2:42 am

Somehow, that made Petrus smile. "You're right, of course. Then, this is my purpose."

He followed, matching his much longer stride to the aged master's. "Fear? Me?" Petrus smiled, but the smile faded quickly. He could feel it inside himself, like a cold core of darkness, numbing him. "You're right. I do fear."

For a few moments, Petrus considered this feeling. "I don't think I was always afraid. Cautious perhaps. Thoughtful. But fear... that's new, isn't it?"

“The Force calls to you, it does, yet deny its will you have,” Master Yoda replied his little staff tapping on the ground.

“Destroy the Jedi, the Empire cannot. The Order lives in you now, in your friends, in Oraka, even the young one. Brave you must be, padawan. Easy it is not, never easy.”

Dapper Dog wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 28, 2020 3:55 am

“The Force calls to you, it does, yet deny its will you have,” Master Yoda replied his little staff tapping on the ground.

“Destroy the Jedi, the Empire cannot. The Order lives in you now, in your friends, in Oraka, even the young one. Brave you must be, padawan. Easy it is not, never easy.”

"You mean... what I feel in the desert?" Petrus closed his eyes. "You're right, master. I will go tonight." Little did he know that an Imperial invasion would interrupt his plans.

They continued to walk slowly over the familiar ground. "They killed so many of you. Of us..." Petrus sighed, closing his eyes. That pain was tightly connected with the fear he felt. "But... yes, I see what you mean. They shine so brightly, Xanna and Sloan, and even Liua. Perhaps there is hope..."

Again, he closed his eyes a moment. "It isn't easy." He sighed. "Do you know what's coming, Master?"

Yoda looked down and sighed heavily before saying, “Failed I have in preparing you for what is to come, padawan. Trust in Oraka, in your friends, most importantly padawan trust in the Force.”

“Guide you the Code will, but walk the path you must. Be brave, even when you know Fear padawan, be brave.”

“Now wake up, and return to your training, a great Jedi you will not be if napping all you day you do.”

Yoda continued walking, the halls of the Temple giving way to swampy brambles and then his vision returned to the clear waters of the pool.