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Post by Aurora Valhalla [RETIRED] on Dec 19, 2021 16:52:28 GMT -8
The City of Emberford is positioned upon the River Ember and was granted protectorship to Aurora Valhalla upon her ascension to Countess when she arrived to Ossus. With the future of Serenno secured, Aurora ventured forth with loyal citizens of Dunbar and settled here upon the new home world of the Jedi Lords. The Ember River runs east to west through the city with a large cliff occupying the northern edges of the City where the Palace is located. Housing, industry, and several training academies are located upon both banks, while several bridges connect each half of the city to one another
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Yisex Ge
Member
Posts: 24 
Affiliation: Jedi Lords
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Post by Yisex Ge on Dec 22, 2021 16:40:06 GMT -8
A male Mon Calamari entered into the spacious reception room of the Palace, like the majority of the Palace it was laced with gold and blue; in the ceramic, figures and tapestries. YYisx cast a grey mottled webbed hand down to his hem and examined briefly the small bands of gold and blue that he himself had recently sewn into the sleeve and hem of his otherwise grey tunic. It was a simple subtle nod but it now marked him as a banneret of Aurora Valhalla; blue and gold being the banners and noble colours of the house.
Yisex cast his bulbous eyes toward a statue set atop a fountain, the figure was appropriately gender neutral, in one hand the figure held aloft a blazing saber a d the other, behind them was held out to various forms of life behind them; leading the sentient denizens out of darkness, toward a greater purpose, toward safety. Like all art it was open to interpretation but the message to Yisex was clear and made the statement about Jedi leading but still serving.
He was glad of his service, fortunate, following the attacks on his Homeworld some ten years ago he had witnessed great destruction and terror, but what followed was quite a testimony to his people. A fund was begun to do more than just remote, rebuild and resettle, but also to fight back by giving to serve so that through service to the Jedi Mon Cala could fight back. Yisex was one of fortunate, his home destroyed and family lost, yes, but a sponsor, through charitable trust ensured Yisex path to join the Jedi Lords.
Having recently risen from the position of squire he was now to humbly serve as banneret to Aurora and her house, to learn further the ways of the force, continue his own studies and hopefully begin to dip his toes into acquiring his own squire.
Hearing the nearing steps of another Yisex turned himself in the direction of an archway that led onto a corridor and waited to make his formal acquaintance.
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Post by Aurora Valhalla [RETIRED] on Dec 22, 2021 17:08:38 GMT -8
Unlike other Noble Ladies, Aurora was not particularly fond of wearing dresses. She had worn them on occasion when dictated by her Liege Lady, but she found her armour much less cumbersome and practical for day to day wear. It was a mindset she had held when she was a Baroness, and one she still held after her elevation to Countess. She was also a lot less formal than most of the other Jedi Lords, whom sat in court and had their guards lead visitors into grand meeting chambers.
Despite her increasing responsibilities, such traditions were not her way. She was much more used to her old form of command during the dark days on Serenno, where her days were spent amongst her people. It was what had drawn people to her back then, and she was not about to change that approach any time soon. Thus, it was her approaching footsteps that Yisex heard from the hallway. Behind her on her right hand side was Lord-Commander Mikal Hawke, while an armoured up Taung Warrior stood to her left. Aurora smiled at Yisex, her fist banneret
Welcome to Emberford, Yisex...
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Yisex Ge
Member
Posts: 24
Affiliation: Jedi Lords
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Post by Yisex Ge on Dec 23, 2021 16:51:11 GMT -8
Yisex inclined his domed head in a bow, his eyes then flicked from the personnel that accompanied her.
Yisex took in their appearance and the fact that they hung back and whisky both were clearly military and armed it was apparent they were here out of duty and the fact Aurora bad stepped so far forward Yisex would hazard a guess that she felt them unnecessary.
There was a warm radiance that washed outwardly from her that could be felt through the force akin to taking a dip in hot springs and that warmth was transmitted to her face for although her welcome was not grand it was genuine and Yisex in fact felt welcomed, more welcome than he had in other encounters he had experienced with other Jedi Lords.
"Countess Valhalla it is a pleasure and an honour and I hope I serve you with valour."
His deep throaty voice resonated in the large lofty space.
As he spoke he cast his hands wide in a "I am at your service" gesture.
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Post by Aurora Valhalla [RETIRED] on Dec 23, 2021 21:13:31 GMT -8
It was still weird to be addressed as Countess. It was the title she most associated with Abigail, a woman she cared a great deal about. In truth, she wasn't sure she was even deserving of this promotion that High Lord Malvern had bestowed upon her. Their relationship was fraught to say the least, given their competing interests where Abigail was concerned. She supposed that with time she would become more used to being addressed as such.
She gave a bow of her head in return to his greeting. So far she had not heard anything disparaging from Yisex's academy instructors, which indicated he was unlikely to prove troublesome
Likewise Yisex. I hope I can live up to being your Liege Lady, as my own did for me... Come this way sir...
She motioned for him to follow then, leading the way from the reception chamber into the main hall. Unlike her contemporaries, the Main Hall of Emberford was almost permanently filled with feasting tables. At the front of the Hall was a separate table she had conceded to having at the behest of Mikal. Guards on their meal breaks filled the outer benches, alongside a group of students from one of the schools in the city. She came to a stop and turned around, seating herself upon the table as she faced Yisex again
Come, take a seat and tell me a bit about yourself. So far I've only had your instructors reports to go off of. But I'd like to hear what you're passionate about.
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Yisex Ge
Member
Posts: 24
Affiliation: Jedi Lords
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Post by Yisex Ge on Dec 24, 2021 15:20:52 GMT -8
He nodded and then fell into step next to her but just a a slight half pace behind, he readjusted his satchel on his right hip so that it say comfortably as he followed.
The small satchel contained a few manuscripts that z
Yisex was working on currently, he hadn'tmanaged to translate all of the ancient elder tongue but he believed the manuscripts would guide him to hidden relics of intriguing potential and historical significance.
He looked around as they entered what could only be described as a glorified dining hall and the Mon Calamari observed how close knit those gathered seemed to be, from soldier, guard, to student and even a few working folk were all interspersed and politely enjoying each others company and the whole room had a very relaxed feeling.
He sat across from her on the opposite bench.
He noted the interesting choice of word "passion" something perhaps at one point a Jedi never would have asked or dared speak of, but having something one was deeply interested in was not only tolerated but encouraged, after all self control was an absolute.
"I have a very keen interest in history and archeology my Lady, currently I am studying some rather interesting manuscripts which I am in the process of translating."
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Post by Aurora Valhalla [RETIRED] on Dec 24, 2021 22:22:23 GMT -8
She sat on the table and studied Yisex. Historians and Archaeologists were not prone to danger overly often. His knowledge would also prove useful as an advisor where future conflicts were concerned. She gave the table a pat
I might not be able to help, but would you mind showing me at least? Knowing where we came from and what our ancestors did is important for preserving their memory. It's also good to learn from our past, so as not to repeat the same mistakes again...
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Yisex Ge
Member
Posts: 24
Affiliation: Jedi Lords
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Post by Yisex Ge on Dec 26, 2021 15:45:35 GMT -8
He nodded and smiled, the delight would evident as it spread across his face and his eyes bulged more than normal. His left hand reached across to his right hip and was lost out of sight, covered by the table, when it returned it held a long plexiglass tube which Yisex delicately placed upon the table, then his right webbed hand produced a white cloth which to most would appear nothing more than an overly large dusting cloth, he rose and spread this cloth so it covered the width of the table.
Finally he produced two pairs of white gloves made from the same substance as the cloth, they were very nearly transparent. He pulled the first pair on which were clearly designed for flippered hands before he popped open the seal on the plexiglass tube and ever so delicately retrieved the tan ancient looking paper from the tube.
Yisex then with practiced grand rolled out the parchment upon the cloth, here and there one would observe the strange rune like lettering and the splotches of darker parchment where the manuscript had aged over time.
"I can only allow you to observe it for a maximum of five minutes m'lady, however back in laboratory conditions it can be viewed at your leasure if it interests you."
He turned to look at her and smiled warmly.
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Post by Aurora Valhalla [RETIRED] on Dec 26, 2021 16:41:58 GMT -8
She sat and kept her hands out of the way as Yisex cleared some space and set the cloth down. She knew what he was doing: making sure the document did not come under undue damage or contact with elements that would deteriorate it further. Co continued to observe as he finally rolled out the document, her gaze passing over the runes etched upon the page. Not wanting to risk it, she merely observed the page and would let Yisex handle it. Better that way than her accidentally damaging it by mishandling the ancient document
Understandable... So what parts have you deciphered so far?
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Yisex Ge
Member
Posts: 24
Affiliation: Jedi Lords
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Post by Yisex Ge on Dec 27, 2021 16:39:50 GMT -8
He took a sideways glance at her and his lips tightened into a thin line.
"The.. language is ancient. There is only the odd word here and there thar I believe I have managed to translate, of course there could be variables in the dialect and therefore pronunciation into the spoken word."
He was nervous, few knew of this document, and fewer knew still that the runic language upon the page was ur-Kittât, even now there would ve but a handful of brings who could decipher and read the runic written language and the majority of them and the kniw how belonged to the Sith, so he was trepidatious indeed.
"So far I have gathered that it speaks of a location and an artefact wroyskv nashâqynak yuv drâkkaragmavuth; or amulet of protection; the one born to the overlord."
He tailed off and eyed her to view her expression, he was not niave enough to believe the Countess would not at least gather that the term Overlord did not scream Jedi.
The text was written essentially in ancient Sith, the script spoke of some powerful artifact, most likely ancient Sith, someone could easily make the mistake that Yisex was expiring ancient Sith texts and had an ulterior motive, but it was nothing further from the truth.
Yisex saw this as a piece of ancient history but he was well aware of the objects potential power and corruption capabilities, further to his reason why he firmly believed it belonged under the protection of the Jedi. However it wasn't the artifact that truly piqued Yisex, but the location. Once he had managed to decipher it he believed he was uncovering lost history and therefore lost architecture and who knew what and this was but a portion of the text.
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Post by Aurora Valhalla [RETIRED] on Dec 28, 2021 6:21:32 GMT -8
She listened intently as Yisex spoke. Her realm was the battlefield, blades and men. Ancient documents were things she had some peripheral knowledge of, but she left such matters to minds much more attuned to them. But she was not so uneducated as not to be able to understand and relate to some of the things he spoke of. Even modern languages had difficulties with translation from one language to another. It could only be exacerbated by having to read a language that was likely no longer spoken
I see... Not an overly easy task that you have ahead of you then Yisex...
As he looked to her, Yisex would find her expression unchanged. She had not been raised in a Jedi Temple, her knowledge of the Sith was thus quite... limited. But she did pick up upon the phrasing he used for the translated text. But unlike others, Aurora did not immediately jump to conclusions or suspicions
I suppose a trip to the Great Library is in order then. I suspect the largest known repository of knowledge in the Galaxy will have something to help with translating this text. Wouldn't you agree?
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Yisex Ge
Member
Posts: 24
Affiliation: Jedi Lords
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Post by Yisex Ge on Jan 8, 2022 16:07:11 GMT -8
He regarded her for a moment and inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. On several occasions his Jedi peers had [frowned at hiw work some had even declared it a heresy. He was glad to neither feel nor receive anything other than interest.
As some matter of fact he was doubtful the archives would contain anything this archaic and surely anything relating to ur-Kittât would not only be limited but also unobtainable but to the most senior ranking representatives, but perhaps she knew something he did not, and the archive was somewhere he thoroughly enjoyed to visit so he could see no harm.
He nodded and then carefully gathered up the script and returned it to his satchel and removed the gloves. He then extended a flippered hand in an after you gesture.
"The Great library is truly vast, I must confess I have gotten lost there numerous times."
This wasn't strictly true at all as Yisex had a gabtastic photographic memory but it was a jestful attempt to make light conversation and hopefully get to know the Countess better.
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Post by Aurora Valhalla [RETIRED] on Jan 9, 2022 2:20:23 GMT -8
Aurora took the lead as Yisex finished packing the pages away. Lord-Commander Hawke gave a bow of his head, knowing he was to attend to the rest of her duties for the day, while a pair of the Taung Warriors fell in step behind Yisex once he started following Aurora
It is a home for inquisitive minds, but you seem to have found your way back out alright... I do not believe one can truly get lost in a place, only guided to where the Force calls us to. I trust the Force will do the same again today. Trust in the Force, Yisex. But do not jump to conclusions about that which it guides you to...
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Yisex Ge
Member
Posts: 24
Affiliation: Jedi Lords
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Post by Yisex Ge on Jan 9, 2022 13:44:08 GMT -8
Falling into an easy step by her side He took in the architecture as they walked.
Her words hit him and then began to sink in and he nodded
in kind. He couldn't stop himself from a furtive glance in her direction, did she know him well? It would seem she had already a pretty good measure. How many times before had his Master spoken to him about listening to the force and not his brain. He sucked in a long slow breath and held a blink shut a moment longer than would be normal. He settled himself in the radiance and warmth of the force and tuned into its thrombin heart beat.
"Thank you Countess." He said after opening his eyes. "Too consumed and lost in my thoughts is a character flaw I find hard to shrug off. I think I can know all the answers and to what I don't know, well that must be acquired. However I could spend a lifetime, nay, a thousand million lifetimes and still not discover everything I feel I wish to know. My finite time alive is what is so special... it is finite. Yet to reveal itself my true purpose or path is, the force will guide me, want not, rush not."
He smiled at his conclusion and feeling of calmer inner peace.
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Post by Aurora Valhalla [RETIRED] on Jan 9, 2022 22:09:03 GMT -8
The city of Emberford itself was much older and pre-dated the arrival of the Jedi Lords to Ossus by some time. But the Palace itself was much newer, constructed to Aurora's specifications. The passage ways were wide and very simply decorated, with most of the art pulled from artists within Emberford itself. The Palace was meant to be open and welcoming, with the residents able to see that their culture and views were not just being tossed aside in place of the Jedi Lords. But its large corridors were also meant to provide ease of access and house people in the event the City was attacked. There were also practical considerations given that many governmental functions had now also been moved into the Palace as well.
Aurora lead the way through the Palace to the shuttle hangar bays which rose up through a entry in the roof and out onto the plateau overlooking the city. She gave a wave to the occasional passer-by while still paying attention to Yisex
There is certainly too much knowledge in this world for any single person to be able to know everything. That is why it's important to know a variety of people of various talents and knowledge. Together you can know more than you can individually. But it's also important to note that it's one thing to know something, but another entirely to understand something... A short coming all too often common amongst Jedi and Sith of the past. The Jensaarai are a good example of why critical thinking is important in your profession. Always keep in mind the context of any work you read, for they are products of their time and author. Otherwise we can all too easily fall into the trap of accepting something as a source of truth that was manufactured, by accident or on purpose...
Aurora got into one of the LAAT transports, motioning for Yisex to do the same. The Taung Warriors quickly hopped into the back of the troop bay
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Yisex Ge
Member
Posts: 24
Affiliation: Jedi Lords
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Post by Yisex Ge on Jan 11, 2022 14:14:12 GMT -8
As he followed toward and on board the transport awaiting them he, for the first time took actual note of her appearance, not that he was an expert on human species, but she did not appear to him old, yet she was very wise, not to mention more well versed in other religions and organisations then he first thought.
Yisex himself had studied the Jen'sarai. They were an interesting mix of Jedi and Sith philosophies, but she voukdnt have chosen a more apt organisation to make her point. It was a point of irony that Jen'saarai translated to hidden followers of the truth and yer what they adhered to originally as the truth was not strictly the truth.
"In my experience, truth is less solid than we like to believe and always is delivered and or held from a certain perspective, much like history truth tends to be written by victor. One must never blindly accept."
He had learned early that scriptures and tomes only pointed to ideas, the only facts were locations and to some degree whom or what was present, as for any events, well that all depended upon the source of the information, the author and the original purpose of the document.
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Post by Aurora Valhalla [RETIRED] on Jun 1, 2022 17:08:41 GMT -8
Life within Emberford continued on as it usually did. Students making their ways to the various academies across the city, cadets starting their first days of training. Makers of all sorts practiced their craft: painting artworks, forging armour and weapons, cooking up feasts. The city was alive and well. Guard patrols helped ward off a great number of criminal activity, while social and welfare programs helped lift people out of situations where crime was their only option to get by. Despite being a Countess, Aurora held very little personal wealth. Most of it was funnelled back into the city to help pay for the programs she started for the good of the people
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