Dav Man'Sell
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Post by Dav Man'Sell on Apr 25, 2013 15:43:52 GMT -8
The top most level of the Great Temple is dominated by the Grand Audience Chamber, a vast and beautiful hall with tall slit windows looking out over the rainforest. One of the largest rooms in all the Massassi Temples, surpassed only by the main hangar at the Temple's base, the chamber could easily accommodate several hundred people at once. During the time of the Jedi Praxeum, it was often used as a meeting room, a ceremonial chamber, or a large teaching space, and was the location of numerous historic events, including the award ceremony following the Battle of Yavin where Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Chewbacca were honoured by the Rebel Alliance.
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Dav Man'Sell
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Post by Dav Man'Sell on May 1, 2013 2:21:17 GMT -8
It was a quiet afternoon that Dav found himself in the Grand Audience Chamber, stood by the window with his hands cupped behind his back, looking out over the forest. Jago and Tebana - and perhaps Zuli - were due to join him fairly soon, but for now, he stood alone in the phenomenally vast, high-roofed chamber, with it's tall slit windows reaching up into the proverbial rafters above his head. Or, rather, he stood without organic company.
Settled a few meters away on two stubby little wheeled legs was Dav's Astromech, R2-D30. Dirty, as the droid was generally known, had spent a lifetime hardwired into a Starfighter; though he had taken off to explore his new found freedom ten years earlier when he had finally been transferred into a full Astromech body, the habit of residing within a starfighter appeared to have stuck with the little droid, who returned to either Dav's X-Wing or his personal freighter to dock in to his assigned bays almost every time he had no task to complete. If Dirty needed to recharge, he was usually in the Jedi's X-Wing, or the cockpit astromech dock of the Bright Horizon, rather than hooking up to the standard Astromech charging ports in the hangar bay, or trundling around the Praxeum halls with no purpose. It was like the droid had a comfort zone connected to his master's personal craft, and liked to return to one of them where he knew he could always be found if needed.
It may have seemed odd for an astromech to develop such personality quirks - and it was true that the quirks required that the Astromech Droid go a significant length of time without the manufacturer recommended memory wipes to develop (Dirty, to Dav's knowledge, had never had a memory wipe in nearly ninety years of existence - he certainly never had since he'd been Dav's). But Dav found it comforting. More than that, he found it to be an important point of consistency in his life, the longest one he'd had save for the consistency of a Lightsaber on his belt. When Dav needed a friend, he could always rely on popping to the hangar where he'd left his ship, and Dirty would be right there, waiting for him.
The little droid, sitting perfectly still on the dusty stone floor atop the elevated podium of the Audience chamber, hadn't moved, or uttered the slightest twitter, for a while now. Dav often wondered what Dirty thought about when waiting. He often wondered if Dirty ever really thought anything when sitting inactive. He couldn't imagine what it was like to be a droid, with the structured, controlled thoughts that artificial intelligence encapsulated. Even the greatest of Jedi, with a lifetime of training, was prone to having their thoughts wander uncontrolled when the mind went unstimulated.
Dav's silent reverie was broken, however, by the droid's head suddenly turning toward the door. The Jedi arched an eyebrow, turning his head just slightly from the view out of the grand windows to look over his shoulder, sighting the droid in his peripheral vision. After a second or two of silence, the droid chattered in his binary toots and whistles, informing Dav that someone - someone other than the Jedi Masters he was expecting - was approaching the doors.
Dav closed his eyes, taking one long, calming inward breath, as he focused his mind, honed his control, and reached out in the Force to sense the new arrival - sure enough, just as the Droid had said, there was someone approaching the door, someone Dav didn't think he knew. Enthusiastic. Energised. Determined. Disciplined, and focused, the mark of a Jedi Knight, but with just enough of the wildness and recklessness of youth there for Dav to know that this person was, if no longer a Padawan and a qualified Jedi Knight at all, he was a new addition to the rank.
"Mmm, an unexpected visitor, Dirty. I don't think it's anything to worry about."
The droid chattered curiously, and Dav cracked a warm smile.
"No, you won't need to lock the door." More hoots and whistles from the little R2. "No, I don't need you to leave me in private either. You're alright here, if you want to stay."
There was a moment where the droid seemed to consider this, dome jerking to one side, before Dirty twittered in the affirmative and went back to sitting in contented quietness. Dav's smile grew a little wider, and he turned back to the window, spotting a whisper bird swooping out from within the canopy of the forest, lifting high into the air, before disappearing off around the Temple.
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Alpharius
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Post by Alpharius on May 1, 2013 16:36:13 GMT -8
The serenity of the hallway outside the chamber in which the Praxeum Council had gathered, was disturbed by the sound of boiled leather tapping against stone. The vibration echoed throughout corridor and seemed to take on a life of it's own, as the Warrior monk approached the venerable archway at passages end. His eyes were instantly drawn to the door, the ghostly echoes of power that seemed to illuminate it's surface with an incandescent light, had enwrapped the Youthful Knight's interest. It's ethereal scent was intoxicating and, caused his heart to skip a beat in excitement. Arcanus was about to walk into the very room where the former Grandmaster had held council in the days after the first Galactic Civil War. His earlier feeling of nervousness vanished, as a leaf would before the might of the wind. Only to be replaced by the iron handed discipline his training had regimented into his very core.
He waited for a moment, taking the time to straighten and smooth out his frost hued tunic. With the environmental systems of this temple being vastly divergent to Coruscant's, Arcanus' hair was a mess. Several stands rebelled against the naturally occurring grains and had declared themselves erect. Annoyed with the lack of uniformity, the warrior monk ran his sword hand through his slightly shaggy mane in a vain attempt to restore order. Had this been a social call and not a first impression, the warrior wouldn't have bothered. Although as he did not know whom or what awaited him on the other side of the Chamber's doors, he deemed it would be best if he looked like all portions of his body were in his control rather than the opposite.
When Arcanus had finally finished fussing about his appearance, he gathered his thoughts and inhaled deeply. The time had come, and without a moment spent standing idle, the Jedi Knight had keyed the terminal and waited. Mere seconds later the portal had slid open and admitted the boy. Taking yet another deep breath, he stepped through the door and entered the Grand Chamber proper.
Glancing about, he noticed how massive this place was. It suited it's name quite literally, as the place seemed more grand than the name had first implied. A vaulted ceiling hung overhead, whilst five slit windows revealed the peaceful jungle outside. The momentary elation Arcanus had felt outside - tripled as he had come to stand a few paces from the door. He was now within the same room Master Skywalker had held court in the time before time. His heart leapt within it's bounds as his ice hued eyes remained focused upon the man standing before the ingress in the temple's structure.
From first glance, he could tell this man had the gait of an experienced warrior. One whom had seen the horrors the galaxy and had lived to see another day. It was a commendable trait, though for some odd reason he seemed to have more than met the eye. He was a mystery shrouded in a riddle, only to be bound once more by an enigma. No names nor titles had sprung to mind when the Warrior monk had laid eyes upon him, nor had his outward manifestation caused the Jedi Knight to feel any sense of recognition. He was but another stranger to the young warrior, yet the one thing that he had known, was that the man before him was one of great import. Seeing no one else, save for an older generation R2 astromech, the Jedi had deduced that the man standing before the four portholes was a master of the Praxeum Council.
Bowing deeply, Arcanus seized the initiative and made his introductions.
"Venerable Master."
He paused, gathering his words and voicing them as they came to him.
"I am Arcanus Sunstrider. Former Padawan of Ciaphas Holt, Watchman of Pancath Reach, and currently enrolled within the Coruscant temple for further training." He lifted his head slightly, to better project his voice and attempt to catch any shift in expression made by the man by the window. "However, I have come to the fourth moon of Yavin in the hopes of transferring my academic courses to this honoured Praxeum. I feel the spirit of this system would foster my growth, better than that of the Cityworld. And thus have come to humbly request I am placed under the tutelage of this Praxeum's council of masters or those that would be willing to teach me more in the way of the Jedi arts."
Arcanus' head remained parallel to the floor, not wanting to rise before the Master had responded. It would've made a horrid first impression, and when a visitor in another man's house it was always best to place courtesy before anything else, including curiosity. Silently, he awaited the venerable Jedi's riposte and let whatever would come next follow the will of the force.
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Dav Man'Sell
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Post by Dav Man'Sell on May 2, 2013 7:24:25 GMT -8
As the doors eased closed, Dav turned gently to face the newcomer. This man was confident, but disciplined and respectful. Dav could see in the young Jedi Knight before him all the things he had sensed from afar - Enthusiasm. Energy. Determination. Focus. Youth, and the need to prove oneself, the unfettered ambition that came with it. All these things Dav could see, in the attentive and appreciative way he took in his surroundings before he descended the stairs into the chamber, the boldness of his stride, the strength in his posture and the tiniest little tensions in his facial musculature. The sweep of the arms as he presented himself to Dav and bowed before him. It was in his choice of clothes and the style of his hair. To someone like Dav, every part of a person's physicality and mannerisms told a story.
The Jedi, Arcanus Sunstrider, presented himself to Dav, explaining his presence here. Dav hadn't heard of the transfer request, but that was no surprise - if it was a new request, it was probably being handled by Zuli, or one of the other masters, and was sitting in his in-tray for him to glance over when he had the chance. Still, there was something about this young man... something almost... familiar. Like he reminded Dav of someone, but he couldn't think who.
No matter. It wasn't important.
Dav took to the stairs, descending from the elevated stage towards Arcanus. He smiled.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Arcanus. Welcome to Yavin IV."
He stopped before the young man, returning the bow with a delicate one of his own. As he righted, he stated;
"I'm Master Dav Man'Sell."
These days, for most Jedi, that was enough. Being on the High Council tended to afford you a certain level of fame, making you virtually universally known in Jedi circles, whether you sought it or not. Being on the High Council, and doing the other things Dav tended to galavant around the Galaxy doing, more so. Dav was still deciding if he found it disconcerting to find his reputation preceding him more often than not. Whatever stories Arcanus Sunstrider may or may not have heard of him, there was a pretty good chance, at least, that Arcanus knew his name. Dav supposed that he would find out any moment now.
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Alpharius
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Post by Alpharius on May 2, 2013 16:21:28 GMT -8
As his courteous bow had been returned in kind, Arcanus stood to his full height. Epicanthix were known for their considerable height and various other traits that had set them apart from their Human cousins, yet the Jedi Knight was considered to be the runt of the Sub-species. His muscles tensed slightly as his back straightened, and he felt a moment of elation surge through his system. The man before him welcomed him and introduced himself in return, and it was then that a gear had finally clicked into place. He now had a name and a face to piece together the man behind the legend. Ciaphas had told the youthful monk of Master Man'Sell's gallant actions throughout the universe, but seeing the man in person lifted but a portion of the enigma this man had been shrouded with.
Letting his gaze linger upon the Master for a moment, Arcanus curtly smiled.
"The pleasure is all mine, Master. For it is very rare for me to meet one of the Paragons of the Jedi Order, on what many would consider a backwater moon."
Slipping his fingers into a comforting cradle that was held out before his belt, the Knight continued.
"My mentor told me of your deeds, and truth be told.." I thought you would be taller. Catching himself before the words slipped through his lips, the Jedi took a moment to broaden his smile into a toothy grin. " No matter how many retell your tales, they don't do you justice."
Pausing for a moment to glance about the Audience chamber, the warrior monk began to feel an unscratchable itch in the depths of his palms. Could the praxeum only have a single council member, or were they elsewhere on adventure's of their own? Whatever the answer, the Jedi knight could not help himself. His curiosity needed to be sated, and the only way one could slake his thirst for knowledge, was to ask the question. Gathering a lung full of the temperate air, Arcanus' inquiry was given life.
"Forgive my curiosity, Master, but are their other members of the Praxeum Council or have you obtained the esteemed position of leading this band of brothers by yourself?"
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Dav Man'Sell
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Post by Dav Man'Sell on May 2, 2013 17:00:12 GMT -8
Dav gave a warm smile to young Arcanus. He had a rhythm to his speech, a language that was formal and very disciplined - that said something of his upbringing. Trained from an early age to follow this path - or some other formal form of training. He was tall, too, this man, though Dav had a feeling that he was not so tall for his kind - the Jedi Master was fairly sure that Arcanus was not Human, but in fact, Epicanthix, though it wasn't certain. There was a flicker of recognition, too, followed by the explanation that his reputation had, indeed, preceded him - there was a flicker of something else in there, a micro-second where Arcanus had meant to say something else, and changed his path mid-sentence. Dav wondered what that had been, but obviously, to Arcanus, it wasn't an important statement to make; or, perhaps, it had seemed a disrespectful one to the young man. Whatever the question had been, Arcanus covered it with a handsome, broad smile, and opted to take a different, and in all likelihood, more complementary, tact.
The grand question was whether or not Arcanus' master had told stories based in fact, or the exaggerated whispers that often travelled the space lanes.
Though I suppose, ultimately, it doesn't matter too much
The Jedi Master shook his head gently, chuckling.
"Well, justice or not, I hope they at least paint me in a good light. Not all the stories told of me are true, or even very friendly.
He missed a quieter lifestyle, sometimes. Often, truth be told, but he supposed being the source of stories served a purpose in itself.
"The answer to your question is, I suppose, neither. I share the honour of leading the activities of the Yavin Praxeum with others, though it's been a long time since we've operated anything as formal as a Praxeum council. Jago Pulastra, who you also, possibly, have heard of as one of the other High Council members, is also one of the leading Jedi here, plus a few others. We all serve the High Council, whether on it, or in deference to it, and the Praxeum itself is, these days, run under more of a... casual convocation of friends and colleagues. Jedi with a shared passion. They're due here soon, actually, most of those that I'd consider the Praxeum's leaders."
His smile grew a little wider, and all the more warmer, as he thought on the others. With a gesture, one given with all intent to say 'come, wait with me', he guided Arcanus back up the stairs and onto the raised section, towards the grand windows.
"As for backwater, I'm not so sure. Certainly, in a geographical sense, we're out of the way here, but Yavin four has always been a world with more too it than meets the eye. History is made here, history grander and more significant than what happens on Coruscant, if only because the moon is so much smaller in proportion to the mark it's made on history. I don't know why this world attracts such momentous events, but I know it's home to me. The only place that's ever really felt like it."
This time, the smile Dav gave the Epicanthix was small, almost apologetic.
"So, since we've a little time to burn, tell me about you."
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Alpharius
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Post by Alpharius on May 3, 2013 16:18:21 GMT -8
The narratives in which Ciaphas had imparted upon him, every heroic figure was painted in a favourable light. From the travels and tales of the former Grandmaster to the more 'minor' figures whom made nothing more than a footnote in the annals of history, no tale was left untold. The hermit was quite the storyteller, and Arcanus was thankful for that as It gave him something to strive for when all seemed lost. Granted not all the stories were true, and many were exaggerated for dramatic effect, but the feeling that stirred within his belly made the re-imagined version of the truth all the more worth it. There was nothing like his youthful mind drifting into the clouds, and living vicariously through the legends of another.
Stepping forward and closing the gap between the two men, Arcanus glided onto the dais and followed the Jedi master's lead. With his tunic catching itself upon the breeze of motion, it flapped gently within the bounds of the chamber. Though clad in the synthetic fibres, Arcanus felt oddly calm and cool, the nervous edge from before had faded in it's entirety. It was a relief that was brought about by standing so close to one fully immersed in the ebbing flow of the light side of the force. Secretly, Arcanus aspired to the idea that he could one day do the same as Master Man'Sell has done for him. The Jedi knight wished that he could say that his stories were not all true and that had hopefully painted him with high regard. Though as his eyes gazed out into the depths of the planets flora arrayed before him, he knew that would come in time and he would have to be patient.
As the Outer Rim did not fall in a single day during the Clone Wars, neither would his legend spring from a hole in the ground. He would have to work hard in every aspect of his life in order to garner the tales of glory and heroism. Falling back into the realm of reality, Arcanus' eyes tore themselves away from the majesty of Yavin's feral beauty and fell upon the Master standing beside him. The venerable Jedi had mentioned that the others were coming, and that one of the number was another High Councilor of the entire Jedi Order. There was something else there and Arcanus' mind leapt into action. After taking a heartbeat to analyze what had been said, the realization dawned upon him. Master Man'Sell was not only part of the casual convocation that ran this praxeum, but was also a High Councillor himself.
A part of him wanted to drop to his knees and kiss the ground he walked upon, but the other and much stronger voice of Ciaphas' manifestation rang within his ears. 'Don't, boy.' Nodding inwardly, Arcanus curled his lips back into a pleasant smile.
"This moon reminds me of my homeworld." He said absently as his gaze was once again drawn to the outside world. "It is as you say, this world teems with so much more beneath it's serene veneer. Like Panatha, this world has a soul of it's own. It yearns to be loved by those that inhabit it, and the cycle continues on despite whatever comes to interrupt it. Life from death, and so on and so forth."
Donning a more stoic facade, Arcanus decided to illuminate the Master upon his inquiry, hopefully passing the time and letting someone other than Ciaphas learn more about his history.
"I'm the second son in my clan, a fact I vaguely remember my older brother never let me forget. My time within the clan homestead had been pleasant, as everything I could remember of that place was a fond memory. When my sensitivity became apparent, around my fourth year in this wakeful state, the Hermit had come for me. I remember my Father's face quite clearly, full of pride that his son would become a Protector of the People. Yet, in his eyes there was great sorrow. I knew not why he had felt that way at the time, but in retrospect I think it was because he was afraid he would never see the man I grew to become."
Arcanus paused, breathing deeply.
"My mother, of course, could not stem her tears. I was the youngest of the boys she had given birth too, and I was the first to be taken by the Order. My sisters had joined my Mother's chorus and wailed as my Brother remained silent. I think he knew that my destiny seemed greater than his own. He was not like I was, he was not special, as my mother called it. I'm not sure how he felt about that, or what he has made of himself, but I can only hope that he had made a name for himself. One that he can be proud of."
Tearing his eyes away from the tree line and placing his gaze into the skies above, the Jedi Knight continued.
"After that, there isn't much to say. Ciaphas taught me of my connection to the force and trained me in the Jedi arts. He decided that I should chose my own path in the Jedi order and gave me the skills I needed in order to survive. I'm sure it is the same upon many planets, but the jungles of Panatha were dangerous beyond compare. I tested my martial skills almost daily against creatures whom didn't know any better. I never held a weapon by that point in time, so Ciaphas tailored my style to incorporate the fluid movements of hand to... paw." He said with a resonate chuckle. "I dueled with a myriad of creatures, many as I later found out, were mend melded with my tutor."
Crossing his arms one atop the other while his gaze still remained upon the distant and barely visible stars, Arcanus progressed the story.
"Several years later, my Mentor and I had relocated to Coruscant. The urban jungle, as he called it. Both of us were strangers to the city world, and both of us have fallen from sudden metallic precipice caused by faulty safety nets. Thankfully there is a lot of traffic wherever you go, else both of us would be puddles of blood and viscera at the core of the world. The life I had before upon Panatha had been but a prelude to my Knighthood, as I was being put on trial every day of my life. Coruscant was the apex of that, as I was Knighted after nine years of facing my various trials." The Jedi knight laughed at the prospect of what could've been, only to cut it short and turn towards the Master standing beside him. His eyes glanced over the man's expression, hoping that his origins had not grown stale. "However something happened and the world that I knew changed... One day, the Sith were all but extinct. Then the next, several of their dark order had called Coruscant their own. My world and that of my master had changed drastically."
Furrowing his brow as his eyes darted off to the side, the Warrior monk continued with his tale.
"There was a surge of criminal activity and I was called into action to assist the local law enforcement bureau in response. After I helped several detectives close their investigations and arrest several subjects, I came back to the temple to find that everyone I knew had changed. I guess you could say, that they saw me differently than I saw them. It was the same look that the Enforcers had when they viewed someone with suspicion of guilt. My master had changed just as drastically as the world around me, for he had aged years in what seemed to be a single night. He couldn't remember my name nor who I was." He paused. "That was when I filled for a transfer to this Praxeum, for there was nothing left upon Coruscant for me. My master no longer had anything to teach me, nor did he speak to me after my return from the Special crimes unit. I was a stranger within my adopted home, in a matter of speaking. I needed a new place to continue on with my studies, one free of suspicion and subterfuge."
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Dav Man'Sell
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Post by Dav Man'Sell on May 3, 2013 16:39:57 GMT -8
A frown broke gradually upon the Master's brow as Arcanus recounted the final part of his story. The change in Arcanus' relationship with his fellow Jedi in the Coruscant temple; it seemed strange to him. Dav held firmly in the belief that a Jedi's first duty was to protect the people, and Arcanus, in supporting the local police, had surely done that. To come back ostracised, that didn't make sense. Arcanus' way of speech, formalised, a little archaic, was eccentric, and it was a little difficult even for someone with Dav's long years of experience to distinguish metaphor from literal fact. Could it be that something unexplained had occurred - that the world had literally changed? That the other Jedi on Coruscant truly treated Arcanus with such unlikely suspicion?
"What do you mean by that? When you say they saw you differently. When you say your master, the world around you, all of that, had changed?"
It was a curious tale. The young man who stood beside him had piqued Dav's curiosity, and it wasn't often that the Master was presented with something for which he could find no feasible explanation.
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Alpharius
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Post by Alpharius on May 3, 2013 17:14:49 GMT -8
Taken slightly aback, Arcanus' furrowed brow rose in surprise. Looking away from Master Man'Sell, he pondered over what he had said and gathered the words he needed to say. It was difficult to explain how one day everything was bright, whilst the other became shrouded entirely in darkness.
"When I had left the temple to assist the enforcers, everything had been one way. Bright, cheery, full of life."
He sighed inwardly as he recalled the events that transpired.
"Then when I returned, everything changed. The bright and cheery faces became full of disgust and suspicion, and the man whom was my mentor for much of my life... acted like he didn't know whom I was. I was an enigma to the Masters there, lifting speculative brows when I had come to request the transfer." What he was about to say next seemed far too silly to him to be true, yet if he did not voice his thoughts then a resolution would not become apparent. "It feels like I had somehow entered an alternate reality where I truly was a stranger in someone else's house."
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Dav Man'Sell
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Post by Dav Man'Sell on May 4, 2013 7:43:53 GMT -8
Dav listened intently, still in body, though his mind moved furiously and quickly, trying to attain some level of understanding of this most curious state of affairs.
"And you have no understanding of why their feelings might have turned on you so suddenly? No indication at all?"
He could hazard a guess at Arcanus' answer.
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Alpharius
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Post by Alpharius on May 4, 2013 9:01:29 GMT -8
Turning his face to look directly into the eyes of the Jedi Master before him, Arcanus nodded. He had no idea what had occurred to cause such a change, and at first he had believed it was something wrong with himself that caused them to look upon him with disgust. Only to find out as time passed, it was the other way around. He had suddenly become the enigma that he had once shrouded the master beside him with. Unknown to the Jedi Knight, they viewed him with such disdain, due to the resurgent Sith taking the guise of Jedi padawans or Knights that had fallen in battle and attacking the Jedi temple within. Arcanus was once such name used by the Sith to sow the seeds of terror, within their hallowed home.
"I'm sorry Master, I have no understanding nor indication as to why they acted as they did."
His shoulders shrunk downwards ever so slightly, as he spoke. He was weary of living in the past, remembering all the faces that viewed him with such furious venom. If only he could clear his mind by bettering himself, then perhaps he could forget. Forget that his world had changed, forget that everything he knew had was gone. If only.
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Dav Man'Sell
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Post by Dav Man'Sell on May 6, 2013 16:39:05 GMT -8
Dav looked out into the rainforest once more. He frowned, his eyes distant, his mind submerged in the deepest thought. Eventually, with a shake of his head, he turned back to Arcanus.
"Well, I have no answers for you, Arcanus. Hopefully, in time, it will be something we can discover together. But until then, I'm sure we'll be able to find a place for you here."
There was the sound of the grand doors opening again. Dav glanced back at the doors; one of the other leaders were arriving.
"Time to introduce you."
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Jago
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Post by Jago on May 9, 2013 9:10:44 GMT -8
~ Stepping through the door was a short man, not imposing in the slightest. The unruly and wild mane of white hair atop his head only added to that fact, but it was when his eyes were actually taken in that one could look past their glacial sheen into a soul of the brightest fire. His garments were clearly not of any Jedi regulation: a simple T-Shirt of green and loose, black trousers resting over running shoes. The heat and humidity of Yavin IV was no place to adhere to strict dress codes, at least not to the Jedi Master known as Jago Pulastra.
Lithe in form, he looked nothing like the typical image of a Jedi. There was little if any muscle definition to him, no heroic beard, no tunic and robes, and yet the men and women who knew him well would have remarked that among The Order there was only a small number that matched his dedication to the ideals of what it meant to be Jedi. A strange sort of holster was strapped to his left thigh, a cylinder of darkened brass cradled within the leather. Even in such casual appearance, Jago would go nowhere without his blade. It was more than just a weapon: it was a symbol. A mark of the man who crafted it.
Strangest of his appearance were the bandages on his hands. They covered his palms entirely, and some even extended upwards past his wrists. Peeking out from the top of them, one could see faded lines branching out across his skin: scars, light in hue, that almost had the appearance of pine trees arcing across flesh, sprawling like lightning across a stormy sky. A recent addition, but also one that was quickly fleeing his body.
While smiling warmly as he approached Dav and the newcomer, one could tell by the way his hair was matted down in some sections, as well as the sweat on his brow, that Jago didn't particularly enjoy Yavin IV during its hot months. He was accustomed to the cool, regulated temperatures of a starship. This ... moistness in the air made him feel sticky and uncomfortable. Damnable star. Damnable jungle. He loved it like it was home, for it was home, but still: couldn't there have been just a little rain? That wasn't a full-on monsoon?
" Dav," he greeted his friend and brother with a small nod, before turning to look over the newest arrival to Yavin IV.
He felt like he ... Knew him. Almost. There was a familiarity to his presence, his form, but Jago also had the distinct feeling that this was the first time he was meeting the man. This man.
Another one taller than me, he sighed to himself. Was it too much to ask that maybe once, just once, he wouldn't be the shortest Jedi in the group? And Ksandra didn't count.
" Jago, of Yavin Four," he introduced himself, inclining his head down in the most customary of courtesies observed by The Order. He represented no title to himself, no authority. He was very much of the opinion that even Masters had much to learn, and the most neophyte Padawan could be a river of knowledge. Rank seemed ... Strange, to him, when it came to Jedi.
" You must be Arcanus, neh?"~
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Alpharius
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Post by Alpharius on May 9, 2013 16:14:08 GMT -8
Tearing his mind from the moment of contemplation, Arcanus' eyes fell upon the newest Warrior to join the gathering within the Audience Chamber. The first impression was always the most important when meeting someone new, as that fleeting glance before the first words are shared surmise the entirety of who that person might be. This man, obviously shorter than most, seemed ordinary save for the wild mane of winter touched hair flowing freely atop his scalp. He was not what Arcanus, nor his Master, would call a typical Jedi. However, after learning of the death of many Jedi heroes in the waning days of the Clone Wars, it was not surprising that those that had survived the genocidal Order 66 had adopted a more common appearance. Supposedly that tradition had carried into the New Order, and the man now standing before him further strengthened the rumours that the Warrior monk had oft heard his Master comment upon.
The common ground between them, was the sweat upon his brow and the matted down sections of his unkempt mane. Like him, Yavin seemed to test the constitution of those whom had called it's surface home. With time spent within the jungles, Arcanus prayed his youthful endurance would return to him. As his eyes were drawn back to the portholes behind him, his soul yearned to be one with the wildlife and trees. A warm smile cross his lips as his mind threw itself into the planet's steaming embrace. What secrets were reclaimed by the encroaching fauna, Arcanus wondered as the recent arrival had greeted the Jedi master whom stood before him. By the choice of words alone, the warrior monk had deduced a strong bond had formed between these two men. One not brought about by the relationship of master and student, but one that was forged through the fires of brotherhood. Just with one word, he could tell there was a deep connection between the two that would last until the last breath of air had been expelled from their lungs.
Secretly, Arcanus longed for such companionship with fellow members of the Knightly order.
While he had bowed deeply to the Master Man'sell, this man whom called himself Jago had refrained from revealing what rank and title he bore. Taken aback by the interesting turn of events, Arcanus returned the customary nod with perhaps a bit to much haste. His mind had eagerly filled in the blanks and the Warrior had thought this White haired wonder to be part of the earlier mentioned congregation of friends that guided those that sought to learn within the praxeum. Thus, this Jago had to be a master... of sorts. With master Man'Sell, the fact he was skilled with a blade was evident. The curvature of his muscles that weren't hidden beneath his clothing had betrayed the fact he was a Guardian. The man before him however, was more of a mystery than Master Man'Sell was. Placing the wild knight into a single category seemed ill-fitting for a man of his stature, as he seemed the type whom was an adept at all trades, yet a master at none. An admirable quality in an uncertain Galaxy.
Thus, his thoughts were drawn to a single point. Jago was a Sentinel of the Order. A path that had always intrigued the youthful warrior Knight, more so than the Guardian or Consular. Returning to the greeting at hand, Arcanus decided that the moment he had taken to cast his mind into the miasma of his own thoughts was long enough. Breaking the seconds of silence that had passed them all by, the Warrior monk had choose a small selection of words that would establish the White knight's impressive powers of perception.
"While I've been called many things, Arcanus is the name I bear."
He said with a light and hearty chuckle trailing his words.
Having spotted the bandages earlier, Arcanus paid it no mind whilst he was sizing the man up. A man's wounds were his own burden to bear and were not the business of anyone else. Yet, the burning fire of curiosity had engulfed his reasoning and Arcanus had to ask. The deep recesses of his mind had deemed this act justified, as it would better prepare himself to defend against whatever secrets this ancient place had to offer. Knowing, even at the cost of this new found acquaintance's scorn, was worth more than his acceptance. However that did not mean he had to go about it like a crazed Reek, matching his earlier pleasant tact the warrior monk politely stabbed in the dark, hoping for an answer.
"If I may inquire, what occurred to cause such a grievous injury to your arms?"
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Jago
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Post by Jago on May 10, 2013 6:07:40 GMT -8
~ " While I've been called many things, Arcanus is the name I bear."
Good, Jago mused to himself with a smile. Yet another one who put stock in who he was, and not what others perceived him as. It made the young Master wonder just what had Arcanus been called before? That thought was quickly banished by another: what did it matter? The man was here on Yavin IV to learn. They, the Jedi of this most ancient of jungle moons, would teach. Simple as that, no need for ridiculous formalities or ceremonies. Any excuse to not wear robes, really.
" S'agood name," Jago observed with a most solemn nod, adding a heavy amount of gravity to the moment for sheer light-hearted effect. The name kept wracking his brain, however, as he recalled an Arcanus he had met before. Or did he? Was such a given name common? He pushed the line of thought out of his head. Another time, he could focus on that.
It was then that the newcomer brought up a subject Jago knew would be broached at some point, but honestly wished that it could have been put off for as long as possible. Ah well, get it out of the way quickly. That seemed the best course of action. His fingers flexed instinctively, the white haired Jedi breathing in relief that the pain was all but nonexistent, but the flesh still needed a bit of time to let both the Force healing and touch of modern medicine work.
He recalled the sickeningly sweet scent of his skin burning in that small, dark room. How the world kept fading in and out. The fact that he didn't even realize how badly he had been injured until far later, when he was held down on a medical bed, his heart about ready to burst. It felt like dying. He had been dying. Were it not for the swift response of Lita, Dav, and Tebana, the resulting cardiac arrest from the jolt he received would have put him down for good.
It was a frightening sensation, to realize that he was utterly powerless to save himself. That despite every technique in The Force, every aspect of his being that had conquered fear and death over, and over, and over, that at his core ... He was still just a man. The only benefit of this was having those close by who cared for him enough to pull him out of situations he had no control over, but it was that loss of control that scared him. The thought that someday, what if no one was around? He had proved time and time again that he wasn't strong enough to save himself: he had always relied on others. But, wasn't that the strength of the Jedi? To know that for every time you stumbled, a hand was quickly there, reaching to pull you back up. The power of camaraderie. Of friendship. Bonds forged that fought death. And won.
He smiled tightly.
" A friend had an accident," he explained, rolling down the bandage over his right arm a bit to show Arcanus. The branches and leaves wrapped around his entire forearm, a grip of burned ivy vines that seemed to constrict into his skin.
" Electricity. Nasty stuff. Only thing I was concerned with and happy about was that her and I stopped a worse accident from happening."
Wasn't that the truth. He didn't even want to consider the consequences if he had not stepped into that room with Lita and made the rash decision to grab her hands rather than merely talk her out of her memory. Sometimes, he noted, a Jedi had to react without entirely thinking. It was a strange skill, and not one that could be taught, but Jago had found that it often made all the difference in the outcome.
" It happens," he shrugged it off with nonchalance, as if this was quite routine.
Being a Starfighter Pilot and Jedi? The sad part was that it was the daily norm.~
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Zuli Madoon
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Finally got a post done! Yay for me! LOL
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Post by Zuli Madoon on May 13, 2013 11:03:19 GMT -8
*A warm presence seemed to swell up, easily felt by anyone sensitive to the ebb and flow of The Force. It seemed to expand and intensify in a pleasant, and not overwhelming manner as if the origin of such a presence drew closer. Which of course, it was..
One of the giant doors to the GAC opened slightly, as a massive set of fingers slipped in a grasped it. The door swung open in a swift, but controlled fashion as the arm gently pushed through. Standing in the doorway stood the immense form of Zuli Madoon. His head was dipped, eyes staring intently at a Datapad as his free left hand tapped away to input information to the handheld device. The Jedi Master walked towards the gathered Jedi, head still dipped as if he was too lost in thought. The Jedi Titan stopped when he was around 10 feet away and finally looked up with his usual broad, warm smile on his face. He had clearly been lost in thought when he entered. It was almost as if he had been trying to recollect his consciousness, like he'd been in limbo for months and not engaged his conscious mind for a moment. His mind lost in The Force perhaps? Too long spent in meditation and not enough on the physical world, that's for sure..
Zuli stepped forward, standing beside Jago, he acknowledged the white haired Jedi with a gentle pat on the shoulder and shot a smirk and nod to Dav. The Huge Jedi Master looked at the young man that stood with them..*
"Greetings to you, young one.." Zuli said with a polite bow.. "Welcome to Yavin IV...."
*His words trailed off somewhat as he introduced himself to the young man. There was something so familiar about him, but Zuli couldn't quite put his finger on it. Perhaps he had known the young man's father, or grandfather? Perhaps he'd seen him in a dream or through The Force. Everybeing knew The Force worked in mysterious ways, so Zuli didn't spend another moment's thought on the matter. Either way, Zuli always welcomed new Jedi to the Yavin Praxeum, all Jedi were welcome to learn, train and study the ways of The Force regardless of age or familiar face. Out the corner of his eye, Zuli noticed Jago bore some burn wounds. The Jedi Titan huffed a laugh of sorts after looking down at Jago's hands..*
"I have something for that, ya know?" Zuli said, patting his pockets as if looking for something. His interest in Botany, medicine and other such things had brought Zuli to develop a plant based compound similar to Bacta many years ago, albeit cheaper and more readily available on Yavin due to it's ingredients being found all over the jungle moon..*
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Jago
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Post by Jago on May 14, 2013 8:58:39 GMT -8
~ And as if to put the final nail in the coffin of Jago's dreams at ever being considered tall, in walked Zuli Madoon, quite possibly the greatest Jedi Master of flora there ever was. It may have seemed like a small thing, an insignificant thing to some other members of The Order, but the study of nature couldn't be closer to the ideal of a Jedi. It was the understanding of life, of the idea that even the tiniest speck could prove to be the most important of all.
Shame, then, that Jago had little in the way of comprehending Nature, despite all the times Ksandra had tried to instruct him on the finer points of communicating with and befriending animals. It required a part of his mind that just wasn't as sharply developed as his compatriots', and was a bit of a sore spot for him: The Jedi Master that couldn't keep someone from browsing around in his head. Then again, everyone had their strengths and their weaknesses in The Force: Jago's just happened to be in the physical pursuits, and not the mental.
He could only chuckle as Zuli took note of the unique burns covering his forearms, shaking his head at the offer for treatment.
" If I wanted them gone, bacta would have done fine," he noted, a bit too cheerfully for talking about something that had nearly ended his life.
" They're a reminder. Plus, if I don't sound a bit brash in saying this, they kinda look neat," Jago laughed.
A reminder of what he went through to help someone dear to him, and a reminder to her of just how far she'd come. She had been truthful, he knew, when she told him that the incident would have taken his life. Not could have, but would have: a guaranteed fate. She had not, however. She'd come far, he noted to himself, very far since the first time they had met on Iridonia, years ago. While he knew she still worried about her perceived lack of control, the fact that he was still alive was a testament to her own capabilities of restraint. If he had to be bandaged up a bit to show her that?
Well, Zabraks dug scars. Or so he had been lead to believe.~
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Alpharius
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Post by Alpharius on May 16, 2013 16:08:53 GMT -8
Arcanus bristled with pride as the man before him, Jago, had made mention that his name was good. However there was a moment of uncertainy that the warrior monk had managed to catch afterwards. Though light hearted in intent, he could not help but feel there was something more behind Jago's words. It was as if he had heard the name before, one that belonged to someone he knew in the days of yore. Letting his cheeks pull back his lips into a tight smile, Arcanus pushed the thought from his mind. It would be a subject he would broach later when he had been officially brought into the Praxeum as a student. Whatever it was that caused almost everyone he met to stare off into the darkness or meet his gaze with an uncommon familiarity , the youthful Knight would root out the answer. Remaining silent as the white haired wonder began retelling his short but sweet tale of what occurred to cause his forearms to be heavily bandaged, Arcanus wondered who his friend was and if he had met her in passing. Though unlikely, he could not help himself from fleshing out the details. Was she a humanoid like the rest of the men in the room, or was she considered a xenos by the terms of her appearance. For some odd reason he felt his mind pressing to fill in the details, like it deserved to know.
Inhaling a spurt of fresh air through his nostrils, Arcanus cleared the thought from his mind. It was improper to think such a way, where his mind demanded for the answers someone would not give. He would learn in time, however as of the present moment he would have to be patient. The force had a funny way of revealing the answers one desired, for they only had to wait until the currents of life pointed you in the right direction. So after having reason shine through, Arcanus retained his smile and nodded. He understood what Jago had done, for it was the Jedi way to be selfless when others were in danger. If anything could be pulled from the White knight's story, it was that Jago was a man to look up to. Though plain upon the outside, his heart was in the right place and shining bright. He was but a single paragon of the Jedi, and hopefully one day Arcanus would be able to follow in his footsteps.
Until then however, the warrior monk had still more to learn.
With the doors parting once more and a warm tingling feeling encompassing the room, Arcanus' eyes were drawn to the man making his way into the chamber. He was a titan amongst men, for even from afar he towered like a giant. He was a rippling mass of muscle, seemingly held together by the threads of his clothing. The warrior monk's eyes opened wide, as he had never seen such a being before. Those of the Epicanthix were tall but none were thickly corded with muscle, and Coruscanti lacked the height and mass of the titan before him. A rumour he had heard in passing suddenly came to the forefront of his mind, about how big they grew them here in the outer rim. With the man before him stopping several feet away from the raised dais, Arcanus knew that such a rumour was not just idle gossip.
As the titan politely bowed, Arcanus responded in kind and returned the curt act. One that the warrior monk was all to keen to give as, the tone of familiarity he laced his words with whilst talking to Jago informed the young knight of his position. This god among men was also a Jedi master. Never before in his trek across the galaxy, had Arcanus been surrounded by so many Jedi masters on an informal footing. They were nothing like the masters back upon Coruscant, whom sought to do everything from the comfort of his comfy chairs. These Jedi were more suited to the informality brought about by brotherhood, one that foretold of the actions they had gone through together. Knowing that in time, he too might be able to feel that way, Arcanus quelled the urge to speak. The two masters clearly had to catch up regarding the situation Jago had put himself through, and it would be severely impolite of Arcanus to interject himself into a conversation that did not involve him in any regard.
However as time began to pass, Arcanus felt he was intruding upon a meeting that Dav might have mentioned earlier. It was something that he sought not to do, as remaining silent for such lengthy periods of time wasn't apart of who he was. Ever since he was a child, he had something to say in response to anything and everything. He lacked the know how as to when to keep silent, and when to speak. Something he could learn to do in the days to come, giving peace to his restless tongue.
Keeping true to his character, Arcanus spoke up;
"I'm sorry if I sound impatient or impolite Masters, but if my presence here is keeping you from discussing important and sensitive matters, then I shall take my leave. I would not want to intrude upon talks that do not require my input."
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Dav Man'Sell
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Post by Dav Man'Sell on May 17, 2013 15:01:29 GMT -8
Dav smiled warmly at the young man. He was respectful, well spoken, incredibly proper. His desire not to cause offense nor to intrude unwarranted was a refreshing, if slightly amusing, trait.
"Not at all, Arcanus. There's nothing we need to discuss that can't wait until we have tended to your needs."
This young man, this Arcanus, with his politeness, thoughtfulness, and his precisely chosen words, had the air of a diplomat about him. There was an inherent sophistication and a grace about how the Epicanthix had conducted himself in the past few minutes. It reminded him of someone - someone whose presence he could now sense approaching the doors at the far end of the chamber, which slid open to admit her.
=Tebana Sor=
"I'm not late, am I?"
Their attention was drawn to the soft, melodious voice of Jedi Master Tebana Sor, whose powerful Force presence had a soothing effect as she swept elegantly into the room. Her long, lightweight robes, in rich emerald green, were almost sheer, floating on the breeze like an elegant gown, a stark contrast to the notably heavier weight robes other Jedi usually wore, but still very much in a traditional cut. Though she, like all of them, carried a Lightsaber at her belt, it had been over a year since she had wielded it in anything other than training exercises. She was the peacemaker, the diplomat, the healer. It was, Dav often thought, why they fit so well together, why they had fallen for each other - each was completed by the other. They were two parts of a whole. He sought the shadowy places, for his foes were there, and he was the eternal warrior, more comfortable with Lightsabers in his hands than a lot of people were in their own skin. She walked ever in the light, drawing people to her, for her healing touch and her soothing counsel. He fought the fight, so that others wouldn't have to. She healed the wounds that no-one else could.
Dav smiled warmly at her as she approached.
"I don't think so. Tebana, this is Arcanus Sunstrider. He's a Jedi Knight, transferring from the Coruscant temple to base himself here. Arcanus, Jedi Master Tebana Sor."
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Alpharius
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Post by Alpharius on May 24, 2013 16:24:27 GMT -8
The Audience chamber seemed to fill with a peaceful serenity that Arcanus had not felt since his time within the jungles of Panatha. Inhaling a deep lungful of fresh temperate air, the warrior monk let his mind join with the energies of the world about him. He could feel the warmth of the forest moon, the vitality of it's sentient creatures. However as he closed his eyes for a fleeting moment, he felt a bright surge of light erupt from the direction of the Chamber's entrance. It deadened the world around him and, called to him like the sirens of Coruscant's mythic origins. Shapeless and pure, he watched as the torrent of light and serenity washed over his corporeal form. Opening his eyes and letting his gaze fall upon the woman whom had entered the hall, Arcanus had finally saw the source of this peaceful inferno of positive energies.
She glided upon the stone wrought floor with an ethereal grace, her billowing garment flowing about her is as the cloth were malleable and solidified water. Beauty personified. However, as he looked back to Dav's persona, he knew that she was his and he was hers. The look in his eyes gave it away. While he was a warrior of great renown, she, this Tebana Sor, was a warrior of the soul. Opposite forces that have attracted and fallen for one another. Like Bogan and Ashla, Ying and Yang, they completed one another.
Giving a polite and deep bow to the newly arrived Jedi Master, Arcanus' eyes had finally met her gaze. A friendly smile creased his lips before he spoke.
"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Master Sor."
Letting his thoughts drift back to what the man named Dav had said a few moments before, Arcanus mused upon what he wanted or needed from these venerable masters. Guidance, was the first thing that came to his mind. He was a newly inducted to the rank of Jedi Knight, and yet his path was still unclear. The warrior monk had no idea which road was his to follow, yet such indecision would ill suit the situation he had found himself in. He could submerge himself into the realm beyond the physical one and see what strings of fate the Force had woven for him. Doing that however would require several days of meditation, or hours of vigorous training in the steaming jungles of his newly adopted surroundings.
Standing erect and silent, Arcanus contemplated the events of his past and related them to present events. His former master had excelled in training him to be a hunter of sorts within the wooden embrace of his homeworld's verdant forests. It was something he was good at, for he had studied the nature of the system that beat with a very life of it's own beneath his feet. He tracked the feral animals that shared the trees with the Epicanthix, learned how they fed their young and how they protected themselves from larger, and more cunning predators. It was a vicious cycle that gave the youthful boy an insight upon the galaxies darkest secrets. The balance was kept, by taking what you needed and nothing more. Leaving plenty to not only nourish others with food or the sight of the world's primal beauty, but plenty to recover from the momentary pain of loss that overcomes the shining energies bound by the crude matter perceived by all.
Rubbing his chin, Arcanus had finally spoken. His mind was made up, as he would shape his own destiny with his own hands. The Warrior monk would make a choice that no other could make for him. He would become the guardian to the weak, and consular to the strong. He would walk the path between the two extremes, and label himself as a Jedi Sentinel.
"If I may, Masters, I would like access to the Praxeum in order to further my understanding of the force and, to hone my talents in the arts of the blade. To become better than I am now, and follow the code towards a new centre of enlightenment. I wish to be a Sentinel of the Jedi Order, adept in all yet a master of nothing." He paused for a moment, chewing over his own words. "As I believe it will allow me to connect with the force upon higher levels than the physical realm can offer."
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