Jago
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Post by Jago on May 26, 2013 8:02:36 GMT -8
~ " A Sentinel, you say?"
Jago's brows raised slightly as he looked over Arcanus, nodding slowly in agreement. Yes, he'd do perfectly. He could already feel it: the balance. The melding of the body and The Force into something greater.
The Jedi Sentinel. A curious role, and one that Jago often felt was misunderstood. It was the path he, too, walked: the ideology that dedicating yourself towards one task, and solely one task, harmed your development. Guardians were masters of combat and the wielding of the ancient weapon of The Jedi, but what did most of them know about the inner workings of the mind, the heart? Could they calm a raging storm with a soft word? Were their souls just as strong as their muscles, that they might move the heavens themselves with but a thought? The Consulars, dissimilar to their more warrior-attuned counterparts, mastered The Force in every aspect of its being. They saw the beating of the hummingbird's wing, and heard the turn of The Galaxy. What did they know of facing The Dark head on, then? When their inner fire failed them, would their legs be swift enough, their hands powerful on their own and without the aid of their mystical energy?
The Sentinel acknowledged he would never be great. He would be good, but he would not be the best. And he did it without The Force, where applicable. They studied things not many other Jedi would, like the finer points of starfighter maintenance or how to slice into a closed circuit computer system. The realized their bodies were merely tools to accomplish what they set themselves towards: not the righteous sword of The Guardian, not the reflective shield of The Consular, nothing so glorious as that. No, they were the simple spanner: they kept the bolts in place, the gears moving, making them just as important in the great cog of The Order as any other role. Without the Jedi Sentinels, The Order would be lacking a wide, collective sum of knowledge and skill.
Skill, after all, was their forte. Jago did not let The Force become his crutch: it supplemented his own talents and abilities, not the other way around. A Sentinel could be stripped of every last vestige of The Force and yet his mind, his wits, and his instincts made him the most dangerous agent of The Jedi Order, power to wield the energy or not. Many of them trained without attaching themselves deep within the roots of Ashla whatsoever, honing the talents that drew them to this, the most versatile of knightly orders, on their own prowess alone.
It was a dangerous and deadly path to walk, though. Many times had Jago been outclassed in direct combat, for he did not dedicate himself to the way of the sword like Dav would. He had felt the unwelcome touch of others in his mind, for his mastery of The Force was a shallow puddle compared to the overwhelming tides Tebana commanded. And yet, often was the day when his aptitudes were called on as he navigated criminal elements with the ease of a highway, danced with death among the stars inside a fighter, brought peace with words instead of blades, and explored new possibilities by the week with what The Force could achieve when it became the grindstone for what was already a sharp talent.
" I can teach you," Jago volunteered, folding his hands behind his back in an open, friendly stance.
" I'm the resident instructor for Sentinels here on Yavin IV. I'd be delighted to impart what I know."
A ... Student, of sorts. Arcanus already knew much, that was clear. He was no Padawan, but a Knight seeking to further develop himself. Good. Constant study and practice was an admired trait in the Jedi Order, and reflected well on the Strider of Suns in Jago's eyes.
" Nothing so formal as an apprenticeship. You're beyond that, now," the young Master observed aloud, smiling warmly, " But I can show you how a Sentinel walks in this Galaxy."~
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Dav Man'Sell
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Post by Dav Man'Sell on Aug 8, 2013 18:02:29 GMT -8
 The Mandalorians have brought war to the Galaxy once more. Under the leadership of Mand'alor ASHRAH INTALBO, and his General CORR VHETT, they have begun a campaign against the Galaxy's Force Users. The Jedi World of Yavin IV was the first hit, a strike at one of the greatest Jedi strongholds. The Mandalorians took YAVIN STATION, the mighty orbital defence platform, thanks to a brilliant infiltration strategy by DUKE AUSTRALIS, and under the order of Jedi Master DAV MAN'SELL, the Jedi forces retreated from orbit. With the Jedi fleets scattered, the Mandalorians took their attack to the surface.
However, the Jedi defences were not so easily overcome. With starfighter cover lead by Jedi Master JAGO PULASTRA, and ground defences overseen by Jedi Knight ADI MATANGO and Falleen strategist TZA'UAX, the Jedi were able to force the Mandalorians to withdraw to orbit. However, the defence is not without sacrifice - redeemed former Dark Sider DACE CONCORDIA, at the beginning of his path to reclaim the mantle of Jedi, was slain by the Mand'alor in bloody, vicious combat.
Now the Mandalorians are settling in for a long siege on the Praxeum, blockading the planet and seeking constantly to take out the shield generator and ion cannons that form the backbone of the Praxeum's defence. Dav, Jago, and the other resident Jedi of Yavin lead the hard fought and desperate defence, whilst Adi, working with Master WILL SON'TIR and Jedi Knight DIAMONTE TUHLUTE, and the Jedi Watchmen, seeks to prepare the Jedi, and the worlds of the Republic, for the inevitable assault to come.... THE SIEGE
Day One The Jedi Praxeum had seen its share of combat. Ever since the Great Temple had been built, five millennia earlier, it had been the site of many a battle: the culmination of the Exar Kun war, which scarred the planet for centuries to come; the infamous Battle of Yavin, when the Death Star met its end; and after the Praxeum's founding, so many more, from the battle against the spirit of Exar Kun, and the campaign by Natasi Daala, and the attack launched by Desaan, to the Shadow Academy, and the Yuuzhan Vong war, and the forces of the Dread Lord Havok, and the Corruption.
The Jedi Praxeum was no stranger to conflict and war. Nonetheless, the Mandalorian assault had tested the Jedi defenders greatly, and, no doubt, greater challenges still faced the besieged Academy. The Great Temple - twice devastated, twice rebuilt - was already carrying wounds of the Mandalorian aggression, with at least one hole blown in its walls and pock-and-burn marks throughout the Praxeum.
The Grand Audience Chamber, aside from a little shattering of the transparisteel in the windows, survived the fighting unscathed, whether by luck or the will of the Force. For now, it has remained relatively empty, an open space for possible use if and when the need arises. Until such a point, it is what it has long been - a place for quiet meditation, for large gatherings, for important convocations, and a reminder of what can be achieved by the heroic few in the face of great and terrible adversary.... |
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Dav Man'Sell
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Post by Dav Man'Sell on Aug 8, 2013 18:36:37 GMT -8
As the first day of the siege came to a close, Dav found himself stepping into the vast, strikingly beautiful space that was the Grand Audience Chamber. Outside, the sun was drifting to a set on the horizon, the Gas Giant hanging dramatically overhead and to one side, a vast, ever-watching presence like the god the Massassi of old presumed it to be. Clouds and thick humidity still hung in the air from the earlier storms. The Force tingled with energy, echoing the pains of the wounded, the silence of the fallen, and the worry of everyone else.
He was not alone. The room already had a throng of people within it. He had sent the summons an hour earlier - anyone not needed for immediate defence, repairs, or medical care, were to come to the Grand Audience Chamber. He would give them the updates, all the information he could spare. And, he hoped, he would give them something to hold on to. Some hope in their dark, and desperate, situation.
He wondered if he would find the words? So far, he didn't know what he would say when he got up there. He had heard the questions they all had - muttered among the soldiers and Jedi, and the handful of civilians they now sheltered in their walls. Echoed in his own mind, his own thoughts, his own feelings. The pressure upon him to find answers for them - it was almost unbearable.
A small, tight, and mirthless smile crossed his face as a thought entered his mind. Perhaps there, some answers lay?
Slowly, he made his way through the crowds. A turbolift to the side of the room opened, and a few more filed into the hall, taking up their places in the loose groupings of people.
Groupings of friends. of family.
He turned, looking up at the great ceiling, meters and meters and meters above him. Examining the long windows that swept down the hewn stone walls towards them. He became vaguely aware that a few people around him had noticed his presence, that they had responded with anticipation; with quiet impatience, and slight anxiety. He had called them all here, after all, and none of them knew what he had called them here to say. It could be good news - though, he knew many of them thought that unlikely. It could be more bad news, which to a majority, seemed like a probable reason.
He didn't let their energy, their nervousness, distract him. He knew that, for a great many of them, he needed to retain the appearance of being unflappable. Of being in control. His focus, his apparent calm, the quiet and purposeful consideration with which he took action - they all sent a message. They all gave an impression. They stirred their confidence and gave faith to them; faith that they could survive this. That they could persevere. And he, in turn, would take faith from their reaction to that appearance. He, in turn, would take strength from their strength. It was a self-sustaining circle. A circle of friends.
Of family.
But what was the truth? Since the moment Joshua had called, the truth was he had felt worry. He felt his mind pulled in a dozen different directions at once - his focus split between a dozen different necessities for their survival. His calm was just barely retained, and he knew it would need to take a step back in favour of excitation, of exertion, when the big fights came. He would need to make choices on a moment's notice, with nothing but instinct and experience and the will of the Force to guide him. This was a war, and in a war, No-one never felt an over-abundance of control, not even a Jedi.
The truth was, he was, just slightly, just ever so slightly, flapped.
He turned his eyes again on the raised dais. He thought, for just a moment, and not for the first time that day, of the Battle of Yavin. Of the Rebel Alliance, desperately clawing at victory, grasping the last possible chance for success. Of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Chewbacca climbing those stairs to receive their honours, the recognition of their heroics, at what was just the start of their journey.
They could prevail. Just as the Rebel Alliance did, they could prevail.
He wove through the crowds, finding one, hard to miss form, the shock of white hair that stood just at the base of the steps. Slipping gently between groups of off-duty soldiers and wearied Jedi Knights, he came to stand beside Jago Pulastra, and looked out on the mass of people.
"Looks like more or less everybody's here. I suppose it's time."
He looked to Jago, and offered a small smile.
"Any words of advice?"
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Jago
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Post by Jago on Aug 8, 2013 19:17:33 GMT -8
~ He was pacing.
Not so much as weaving back and forth on his boots, but the more the restlessness of a caged sand panther. He shifted uncomfortably, stretched out his gloved fingers, bouncing a little on his toes. 26 Hours. 26 hours, he had been conducting flight operations, only stopping when he was out of fuel or ammunition. Dav had caught him at one such moment when he had to be grounded, almost crash landing in the Hangar Bay itself as his X-Wing refused to support itself any longer.
The right side of Jago Pulastra's cheek was covered in dried blood, a laceration opened just under his eye from a bolt that had pranged his fighter just a little too hard. He hadn't even taken the time to make himself presentable for Dav's summoning: there was simply no time, to him. He needed to be back in the air, back in the fight, where he belonged. The frustration of waiting for the crew chiefs to inspect his 9D and clear it for flight again was unbearable, utterly and simply. But ... Jago supposed it was good to take somewhat of a break. He needed to remain sharp and alert, and it would have been impossible to do so with eyes bleary and body stressed from scanning metal amongst the clouds and being pummeled by G-Forces.
The Audience Chamber was ... a hive, of sorts. He felt the emotions wavering and coursing throughout the hallowed hall. Fear. Desperation. Resolve. Anger. The defenders of Yavin IV were giving as good as they got, but it seemed in countless engagements within the Jungle that their best simply wasn't good enough. Sure, they had repelled attacks on the Temple, and yes, the shield generators were still safe. It did nothing to make up for how many had already died, and the drowning sensation that this was just the beginning. Jago caught the eyes of several of the Praxeum's vigilant guards and saw them weary and beaten already. They were the "lucky" ones, who had survived the Opening Day of hostilities and were now counting down the seconds until the next bomb wasn't so far away like the last time.
Friends had died. Family members had died. Even his own thoughts turned to Lita Trykk, wondering where she was if not here. Probably off doing what she did best: fighting. She was ... safe, he assumed. He knew he'd have felt it if she had passed. In his own way, he breathed a silent prayer for her safe return to the Temple, hoping that his dearest friend's talent and strength would carry her through.
She'll be alright. I know she will.
And then there were the others, the aforementioned deceased. Good pilots, good pilots Jago had seen die. Honorable men and women who gave their lives not just for the Jedi, but for what the Jedi stood for. Freedom. Peace.
Hope.
Hope, then, was what was going to win the day, Jago mused to himself. There was so few of them left ... Most had evacuated, thankfully, but what remained was slowly being whittled down under Mandalorian guns. The sight of so many starcraft resting inside the Hangar Bay, without the Knights of The Stars who flew them, was a shocking and depressing visage. Less and less were returning after sortie, and stories were already going around of the doom-riddled Antilles Squadron: only one third of them still alive. Jago had been flying with Captain Jaimse just this very morning.
That was the sort of raw determination and courage that was going to carry them through. To face despair, to see the unthinkable unfold, and dare to fight it. To resist it. To do the impossible and toss logic and rationale to the winds. It was what the warriors who called the Jungle Moon home were known for.
Dav approached Jago and asked him for advice, a way to inspire the troops, to keep them emboldened and ready to commit to unremitting battle. To ask more of them than anyone had any right to. He sighed, willing the stress away from his tense form, and returned the smile as best he could manage at the time.
" Remember the Seed, mate?" he asked softly, bringing up one of the greater threats the tiny astral body had ever faced.
" That blue ball speeding through space ... Kriff, I remember thinking, 'This is it. This is the end.' And it never came. And Havok? All those ships. Blotted out the stars themselves. And the Vong before him. And the Remanant before them. And the Death Star at the beginning of it all. This little, inconsequential, tiny rock ... It lived through all of it. I've started believing it's invincible, Dav. Yavin Four. Invincible, against anything that ever stood against it."
He grinned. A challenging one, if ever a Mando saw it. Jago gave Dav an encouraging pat on his shoulder (an impressive thing to do for a man of such small stature), nodding to the podium for him to take his place.
" We fought Empires and Gods together, friend. Empires and Gods. Remind them of that." ~
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Dav Man'Sell
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Post by Dav Man'Sell on Aug 8, 2013 20:20:50 GMT -8
He offered a small smile to his friend, and clasped him on the shoulder in return. Jago was right, something that he was growing increasingly proficient at - this world, and the tradition they had inherited by making it their home, resisted. Resisted and prevailed when all the odds stood against it. And they had faced foes greater than the Mandalorians, and more evil, and would do so again.
"Empires and Gods." He nodded, thoughtfully. "Yes. Yes we have."
After a moment, he turned, and climbed the steps, the long tails of his Greatcoat flowing behind him.
At the pinnacle, he took a moment, just a moment, to look upon the rainforest, upon the setting sun, and the gas giant, and everything he could see through the tall windows before him, before he turned to the crowd. Almost all at once, the murmur of conversation died down, and they turned to face him. Their expectant faces, some painted with fear, some locked in resolution and determination, some awash with pain, looked up at him. His eyes fell upon Dirty, his astromech droid, who stood diligently and ready in case needed at the side of the elevated area. He was thankful that the little droid was there. They had seen a lot together. Survived a lot together.
He turned, about to begin, but his eye caught one other, giving him pause for a moment. Tebana stood, right at the back, near the main doors, slightly elevated above the rest of the crowd by her position upon the steps opposite him. So far away, she should have been hard to spot, but he knew he could pick her out of any crowd, as she could him. She gave a small nod, and he brought his eyes from hers and back to the crowd.
"The past day has not been easy. A little over twenty five hours ago, the Mandalorians arrived with the purpose of crushing us beneath their boots. Of destroying everything we stand for. Since then – we have all been fighting, in our own way. We all stand here, wearied, from a day of many challenges."
He'd started now. Started as he meant to go on - with truth. Nothing but truth.
"I will not lie to you. The situation, as it stands, is this. The Mandalorians have managed to establish a full blockade of this planet and the system. Preliminary scans suggest that the blockade is extensive, and will require substantial force to break. In addition to this, there are vast numbers of Mandalorians on the surface of Yavin four, situated, for the most part, beyond the perimeter of our defensive shield. We are out-numbered, out gunned, and with the blockade in orbit, there is little chance of help arriving in any great quantity any time soon. Simply put, we are, for the time being at least, on our own."
A frank assessment of the situation. He could feel the uneasiness mounting within the crowd before him. When he considered the implication of what he had just said, he felt it himself.
"Some of you may have witnessed, or heard of, the desecration of one of our fallen Jedi by the Mand'alor this morning. You may well have heard of some of their actions in orbit, of the horrors they have already committed against us. They are seeking to intimidate us, to compel us into believing that resistance is futile, and they have certainly shown that they are prepared to take any measures. We can see the originality of malice, the ingenuity of aggression, which our enemy displays, and we must certainly prepare ourselves for every kind of novel stratagem and every kind of brutal and treacherous manoeuvre."
His thoughts went, briefly, to Dace Concordia, laying in state, so speak, in one of the training rooms a few levels down, earlier hurled malignantly into the dirt outside the Temple's walls, brutalised violently by Ashrah Intalbo. His jaw worked, and there was the slightest dip of his head, his eyes dropping, losing focus to stare into the ether. All the others lost now came to him. Those he'd seen die, those he'd read about, all those they had lost. The pilots, the soldiers, the Jedi. Shuttles carrying civilians, sent plummeting to the ground, or vaporized in a flash of turbolaser fire. The Brilliant Guardian, disintegrating in a great expulsion of bright white light, it's Captain, Mokam Haskit'ia sacrificing himself and his ship to allow the rest a fighting chance at survival and escape. All the covered shapes within the training room beside Dace. All the mortally wounded, slowly slipping away in the medical centre and the freshly established sub-hangar emergency ward.
He remembered the words the Mand'alor had spoken. The threat embodied in his only words to them.
'We will wipe you from the face of the Galaxy until even the legendary Jedi Purge seems like nothing more than a hunting trip. We are coming for you.'
His eyes lifted once more to the crowd.
"I ask of you only one thing. One thing in the face of such evil; Stand resolute. We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long days and nights of struggle and suffering. We shall prevail. I have full confidence that if everyone gives their best, if we remain vigilant, determined, resourceful – we shall prove able to weather this storm, to persevere in the face of tyranny. This is Yavin four, and we shall persevere, as we ever have."
He moved, now, from the spot he had stood. He walked along the front of the dias, looking down into the faces, making eye contact with each of the front row as he spoke.
"If the Mandalorians are to succeed in their goal, to succeed in their campaign against all Jedi, against all to whom the Force calls, then they will have to break us. They know that, or, if they don't, they will realise it soon enough. And though we are surrounded on every side, and though the Mandalorian war machine will, without a doubt, very soon grasp other worlds in a beskar grip, we shall not flag or fail. We shall not break. We shall go on to the end."
He came to a stop again, dead centre. His eyes moved across the crowd, holding each of them in his stare, which grew more determined with each passing word. His jaw became set. His face, now resolute.
"We shall defend our beliefs, our Praxeum, and what is right, against whatever they may mobilise against us. We shall fight them in the stars, we shall fight hem in the air, we shall fight on the ground; we shall fight in the trees, and in the ruins, and in our home."
His eyes dipped for a moment, just a moment, before lifting once more to the heart of the crowd, accompanied with the subtlest lift of the chin, an expression of absolute resolve.
"We shall never surrender."
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Caoimhin Shan
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Post by Caoimhin Shan on Aug 24, 2013 19:23:29 GMT -8
Dav's speech marked the end of the first day of the Siege on this isolated bastion of the Jedi Order. And what an eventful day it had been. From the very beginning of the invasion, Cao had been out on the front lines, helping to defend the Gardens against the Mandalorian assault. He had received his fair share of nicks, cuts, and bruises during that fight, and that was just the initial attack. He had scored more than a few kills already, though he wasn't really keeping count; he was just focused on continuing forward.
In this past day, though, things had been less violent for him, but still taxing: one of his unfortunate duties had been the arrest of his dark half's former lover, a woman named Kirith. He smiled for a brief moment as the thought crossed his mind that he was thankful he hadn't had to frisk her for any hidden weapons; she had remained relatively cooperative throughout the whole ordeal. There was still the matter of her having lost all memory of him, but that was another thing he was going to have to put aside for now.
But Dav's words rung true, and though Cao was starting to feel the ache from lack of sleep, he forced himself to don a face of confidence and cheerfulness. Hopefully, that would be reflected inside himself. The Jedi Master on the stage hadn't needed a mic to have his words reach all their ears, and he hadn't needed the Force to show them his intent. The fallen Jedi started a soft clap at the conclusion of Dav's speech.
"Not now, not ever," he said, perhaps a bit more loudly than intended, a sheepish grin gracing his features as he realized his slight mistake.
At some point, he was going to have to take the time to rest..
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2014 22:26:27 GMT -8
= The time in between =
'… This is becoming too much for me…'
It was nearly little bite of morning that found me in the grand audience chamber in the Yavin praxeum. Throughout my "week of rest" I was faced with a consistent nightmare that forced me to become near addicted to a sleep substitute drug that had last used in Carida.
The dream is always focused on one of three figures, it was either my youthful companion Puck, the master I'd failed Adi, or it had been the fiancée I was ashamed to return to. The dream changed based on who the focus was that night, but always called back to the fact that I was at fault for their hurt… The guilt was something I needed to let go of, but I could never fully forgive myself for what had happened.
So, as the morning beams peeked over the high ledges and into the audience chamber, they landed upon my form, which is started and nights in the lotus position for meditation… But it ended up in more of a fetal position.
When I was sure that I was awake, I moved as quickly as I could nearest refresher to take a quick shower so despite any anxiety or complete ton load of work that kept me busy, I maintained the appearance of cleanliness. Upon returning, I would find the Temple guards that I had requested Master Rawkill bring back from his time on Coruscant. I presented the nine guards with the replica Sabres of denying fallen masters of the Yavin. This was a final goodbye to them as much as it was a knighting from his Karidian.
As the plan was discussed, and the guards "rehearsed" the ceremony, I realized that what I was planning on might be a little too theatrical for proper knighting.
When the Ewok Jedi Master gave me a tiny thumbs up regarding the plan, I began to invite the Masters. Of course, considering that master Jade was the one that formally reinstated Yavin as an Academy, hers was the first invite that I send out. I attempted to locate the other members of the high Council, however it seemed that particularly every other member was absent or at other pressing matters keeping them from Yavin. Finally, I soon open invitation to Jedi of master rank, specifically focusing on Masters Son'tir and other masters that had been influential in Alexis's development as as padawan.
When the messages were away, i dismissed the guards, asking for them to remain prepared for the signal to begin the ceremony by escorting Alexis to the Grand audience chamber. this left myself alone with Master Rawkill to have the chat that he had been wanting since returning from Coruscant
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2014 19:22:57 GMT -8
Master Rawkill had escorted the Guards to the Grand Audience Chamber from the Hangar after Master Tuhlute had requested they meet there, before taking a back seat to most of the preparation that Monte subjected the Honor Guards to, whilst being impressed by the replica blades that Monte had managed to put together to represent the lost members of the Yavin Praxeum. It was a nice homage to the Yavin Temple and Alexis' past, and definitely fitting considering the situation. It was during this time that Rawkill recieved a message through from Coruscant, confirming the passing of the new Treaty between the Jedi and the Republic, causing the Ewok Jedi Master to wonder just what game the Republic was playing at, in which they attempted to publicly try the Jedi for Ryloth's demise, and then pass a new treaty in a matter of days. But then, consistency was not something the Republic was renown for, nor was it his concern anymore. Rawkill then made his way down to Monte once the Guards had been dismissed and put on standby, with Admiral Ju'unthor quickly joining the two Jedi Masters
=Jedi Master Rawkill=
Everything is prepared and looking good. Which is why I do apologise for wanting to take up some of your time, but there is much that needs be said, and it is all far too important for just a written note. The first of which, is that I am formally submitting my resignation as Deputy Headmaster of the Yavin Praxeum. With the repairs completed to them Temple and the new Archives system finally implemented, it is time that I turned my attention to my other duties as a member of the Council of First Knowledge, such as visiting the other temples and seeking out artifacts that need storing in a secure facility. The second thing, is that I am leaving the Fleet of Ascendant Knowledge behind with you, to aid in Yavin IV's defence, due in part to the final thing that I must mention...
Rawkill paused a moment, allowing Master Tuhlute to process Rawkill's resignation and the handing over of control of the fleet, before Rawkill moved on to the final matter, which was his recent visit to Coruscant
=Jedi Master Rawkill=
As I am sure you well remember, I left for Coruscant a little over a week ago, to act as the High Council's eyes and ears at a Senate Meeting, which you undoubtedly saw on the HNN. In short... it was a debacle. As such, a lot has changed, especially now that the new Treaty has been passed this morning, essentially seperating the Republic and Jedi chains of command. So if you intend to keep Yavin IV protected, I would suggest you started looking into alternatives, since there is no guarantee how long the Republic troops and fleet will remain here for, even with a representative for Yavin IV in the Senate... In light of this, I did not manage to find any answers regarding the Republic's bounty on Palo, but be sure, that I will continue to look into it...
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2014 17:37:51 GMT -8
I was floored, the mere mention my deputy headmaster wish to resign his post was something I did not expect at any point in the near future. And to be fair to myself I didn't have a way of responding immediately to his resignation. In an effort to warm my way around I began by addressing the issues of the senatorial matter.
"Yes, I was aware of the results of the Senate hearing… Of how certain senators now seem to mirror the appearance of warlords… Remember it was my pendant that drafted the treaty that was passed only a few days ago."
I briefly pivoted so that's my back was now to the Ewok master. This is partially due to my own shame, and partially due to the angle of light streaming in through the windows at this time of morning.
"I'm afraid that I cannot accept your resignation… Or rather those are the words that I would say it my personal beliefs held any weight the decision I have to make. However, despite my personal objections on the readiness of Yavin to continue after your departure, professionally I have no choice in the matter. I have a few words say though, before I do my duty in this matter."
I turned around and faced the Ewok crouching down so that I may be on eye level with him.
"When we took this temple back from GALSAF, I requested the role of headmaster because I believe fervently that your time is better spent doing the job you had previous in the Council of First Knowledge. In the month of the past since, I've realized that my skills as a Jedi are not equivalent to that of someone in an administrative role. I'm far more fit to be a teacher them to the headmaster, high counselor, or any of the position in which my decision affects the life of another Jedi. There's only a shame, but I found out too late. Now, it is my duty as headmaster of the praxeum of Yavin IV, I accept your resignation."
Standing up, I stretched my limbs which had not received as much exercise as they should had have in the last couple days. As a result, I felt rather stiff.
"By the way, Aliit'alor Beviin contacted me a few days ago projects BIG MAN & GO have been completed, make sure you take up your suit before departing. I will send ahead to Honoghr the plans, calibrations, & all necessary software for the neural implant that will allow you synchronicity with the power suit."
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2014 23:32:42 GMT -8
Rawkill had heard that Diamonte had played a part in writing the new treaty, but he was not one to assume something was true just because he saw mention of a name in a report. But that was besides the point, especially as Monte spoke of realizing that he was ill fitted for the job anymore, and that project Bigman was complete, with specs for the implants being sent to RDMC
=Jedi Master Rawkill=
Do not so quickly sell yourself short my friend. You have kept Yavin IV running for this long, so you are not entirely without hope. And thank you for letting me know about project Bigman, I'll be sure to collect before I leave. Now, we best get this knighting underway, I think Alexis has waited long enough...
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Ael Jade
The Jedi Order - Corellian Jedi Academy
Posts: 1,544 
Affiliation: Corellian Jedi Order
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Post by Ael Jade on Nov 25, 2014 17:40:30 GMT -8
One of the Coruscant Temple's shuttles deposited the current High Councilor Jade in the hangar of Yavin IV's Praxeum. From there, she consulted a holomap and headed deeper into the interior of the complex. A few minutes' walk later she arrived outside the Grand Audience Chamber and looked around for a moment to take in the surroundings. This was the first time she'd ever been planetside on Yavin IV, though she had at one point known Tebana Sor and many of the other Yavinites. That was during the days of the Corruption though, before Tebana had been taken ill and when the Jedi were residing on Osarian. In fact, she'd gone to Osarian shortly after Mandalorian Fleet Admiral Z'har Or'dinii had asked her to marry him. She'd been searching for the old connection to the Jedi that she had once felt, as after many years alone on Galantos she had been seriously considering the idea of joining in alliance with a Mandalorian. Politics are always muddy waters, but some things stayed the same.
She could feel the hushed emptiness that pressed in on her via the Force, as if the Praxeum itself was peopled by ghosts. She shook herself gently, took a deep breath, and forced that into the background as a slightly unsettling, but at the same time necessary, sixth sense.
The doors slid open, easily dwarfing the petite Jedi woman who stood just over five feet in height, when she wasn't wearing heels. Not attempting to be quiet she strode down the hall accompanied by the sound of her well worn, though polished, black boots, green-eyed gaze taking in Masters Rawkill and Tuhlute already present at the far end. She approached them and nodded in greeting, before speaking in a voice with a lilted accent on various consonants, "Greetings from the High Council on Coruscant, as well as the Corellian Academy. You've done some fine work here, Monte, Rawkill," she smiled and took in the rest of the room's scenery.
She eyed Diamonte shrewdly, guessing at the tenor of his prior conversation with Rawkill about his own role here on Yavin IV. The two of them had had several similar conversations in the past, most recently when she'd talked him out of simply returning to Bakura to meditate on his own as a hermit.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Nov 27, 2014 19:40:17 GMT -8
I nodded as Master Rawkill mentioned that he believed that it was time for Alexis’ ceremony to begin. there were but a few more people to arrive before I would believe it was time, but I did agree that it was time for formation. So, bringing my wrist comp near mouth using my one good hand, I issued the go ahead to the Honor guard
:: Honor guard, this is Headmaster Tuhlute, proceed to active standby. Keep strategic eyes and formation, but do not collect Ms Karidian until go ahead is given::
upon hearing the command 6 of the 9 members of honor guard broke formation and stood guard along the marked path to the Grand audience chamber standing as Life Guards in pairs. the remaining 3 mingled upon the population trying to find Padawan Karidian while still remaining incognito.
By the time Master Jade arrived in the Chamber, several other jedi of status had also gathered. after Master Jade’s salutation, I returned the favor with a rigidly formal title due for a member of the High council.
“Thank you for your visit, your grace. I would ask that after the knighting is complete that we have a moment to discuss matters of the order”
figuring the time appropriate to bring Padawan Karidian forward I signaled for the natural light to be dimmed and for all of the gathered observers to form the traditional circle. The procession would be unorthodox, but much like in the days of the clone wars there was not much that could be done. Many of the trials that Alexis had faced had been in the field during the height of the Mandalorian holy war. As the masters took their places I realized that due to my lost arm, I really could not be the one to cut the braid. That honor would fall rather to Master Jade or Master Rawkill.
Bringing my wrist comp in my left hand up to my mouth I made two calls to begin the ceremony.
::Honor guard this is Headmaster Tuhlute, you are go to collect the candidate::
::Padawan, this is Master Tuhlute. Your presence is required in the Grand Audience Chamber.::
What happened next was purely up to Alexis and either means was prepared for
If Alexis came willingly: the three guards who were seeking her, would follow behind he and the remaining six would follow behind never loosing cadence with the candidate. upon her entry as the guard crossed the threshold of the Chamber they would break off into two lines forming an arc on the outside of the Circle of Jedi assembled representing the fallen Yavin Masters.
If Alexis Dawdled: the three guardsmen would intercept her and request she follow them, when she did, the trooper would march toward the chamber in a triangle formation around her, with the other guards joining in step 1 pair in front and the other two behind. upon crossing the threshold of the Chamber they would break off into two lines forming an arc on the outside of the Circle of Jedi assembled representing the fallen Yavin Masters.
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Post by Alexis Karidian on Jan 2, 2015 17:20:45 GMT -8
Alexis had been attempting to clear her mind for meditation, but slipped into reminiscing instead. The result was a night with very little sleep as she laid on her narrow bed with her fingers laced behind her head staring unblinkingly up at the ceiling. She knew it was almost time.
Eventually she got up and dressed in a meticulously careful fashion for someone whose outfit was well-worn and functional with very little in the way of frills or extraneous decoration. Each piece of her uniform was familiar. Slipping her arms into the sleeves of a sandy brown tunic reminded her of her first Jedi outfit: the one that had formerly belonged to Alora Malreaux decades earlier when she was a padawan herself. She slipped the tabards over her shoulders and smiled as she struggled momentarily to align them properly underneath the obi before fastening her heavy leather belt over top and clipping her lightsaber in place. ~I wish Nathan and Alora could see me now.~ she thought to herself wistfully.
The petite Jedi was in the middle of brushing her hair when Master Tuhlute's comm call echoed through her comlink. She let out her breath in a gust as silence filled her room once more, only realizing then that she'd been holding it in the first place. She faced herself in the mirror and looked at the woman who was looking back at her out of dark brown eyes that seemed much older than her actual physical age. ~I wish Dav was here~ she wove her thick hair into a loose knot at the nape of her neck and slid her fingers down her neat padawan braid. Green thread marked it at three intervals, the first for when Nathan had disappeared, the second for when Dav had died, and the third just below the second for when Josh had vanished. She blinked back hot tears. ~and Josh...and Will...~ "and Mike," she spoke aloud, shattering the silence, "damn him! He'd better be in a million pieces before I find him---" Otherwise he'd have abandoned her without so much as a goodbye.
Anyway, she'd been summoned. And she wouldn't put it past Masters Tuhlute and Rawkill to come and fetch her in this instance if she delayed.
In fact, there they were now. Or their representatives rather. She could feel them standing outside her door, so she keyed it open just as one of them reached for the doorchime.
An honor guard.
Her eyes narrowed, but she took a deep breath and straightened her spine before heading off to the grand Audience Chamber. She felt a bit hollow. She'd seen it of course, but she'd never actually seen it used for anything.
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Ael Jade
The Jedi Order - Corellian Jedi Academy
Posts: 1,544
Affiliation: Corellian Jedi Order
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Post by Ael Jade on Jan 2, 2015 17:33:10 GMT -8
"Of course," Jade replied calmly, though visibly wincing upon being addressed as 'your grace.' While it was occasionally used in addressing members of the High Council, she had never been, and would never be, comfortable with it, instead preferring "Master" or "Councilor," perhaps even "High Councilor"...but 'your grace' felt much too political to her. It was a reminder of a governmental system that had tried to kill her after years of service. Anyway, she did not speak of this to Master Tuhlute, as to have done so would cause him greater embarrassment than necessary.
Green eyes glittered as she removed her hood, letting it fall behind her back even as she opened her voluminous outer robe to let it hang free, revealing her lightsabers, one on each hip. She'd been meaning to speak to Yavin IV's interim Headmaster on several issues, but wider events seemed to keep pulling them in two different directions and make it difficult to do so.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2015 21:57:46 GMT -8
A small part of me wanted the formation of the honor guard to indicate Alexis coming of her own free will. The part of me quickly bristled with pride as Alexis was the first Jedi to enter the chamber in the procession. keeping emotions steeled behind a solemn face that displayed no emotion he watched as Alexis made her way to the center of the arc of assembled masters. Taking a deep breath in, I stepped forward to speak for just a moment.
“Brothers and Sisters in the force, today is a day that is long overdue… and for that I apologize. I believe that the master of Yavin deserved a proper tribute as they have been Missing in Action for over a year now. And as such the Honor guard that stands behind me has precise recreations of signature weapons of each of the masters of Yavin.
As much as today is a tribute to those that have passed on, it is also a Day of celebration for today we celebrate the elevation of Alexis Karidian to the rank of Jedi knight. Alexis was not subject to the usual controlled trials that a Jedi would undergo in proving themselves ready to become a knight. Instead her test of courage took place on the planet of Dressel as she sought the missing Jedi Joshua Kierra-Solo…” I continued to outline the Trials that Alexis faced that were outside the usual monitored parameters of a sequence of Jedi Trials “… And so my Brothers and sisters in the Force i would ask you to join me in saluting the newest knight in the order. Miss Karidian, if you could please step forward.”
as i finished speaking, i stepped back into position and activated my heirloom saber with the royal purple blade. the sound was a symphony in my ear as each observer ignited their saber followed by the members of the Honor guard in one synchronized motion.
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Kel'Al Raganella
The Jedi Order - Corellian Jedi Academy
Posts: 530
Affiliation: Corellian Jedi Academy
Traffic Light: Orange
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Post by Kel'Al Raganella on Jan 11, 2015 20:00:51 GMT -8
Standing quietly and inconspicuously among the other assembled Jedi, Master Kel'Al Raganella scanned the room with his piercing blue eyes. As a petite young Jedi entered, followed by an honor guard, the Corellian cracked a brief grin, but then his lips flattened out again in somber remembrance as Master Tuhlute references the lost Jedi of Yavin. He had never really heard the full story of their disappearance and presumed deaths, but whatever had happened, it was a loss for the Jedi Order. He glanced at the floor for a moment as he refocused himself. There was no point in worrying about the past, instead, they should celebrate the present and the future.
Turning his attention to Padawan Karidian as the story of her trials was told, he studied her reaction closely, watching for any signs of unwarranted pride or embarrassment. He couldn't help noticing that the girl was almost exactly the same age that his younger sister had been upon her knighthood, and the memory brought a new smile to his lips as he listened. The unorthodox nature of Karidian's trials did not bother the green-robed Jedi. The academy on Corellia had recommended several padawans for knighthood in recent years under similar situations. There was an ideal process, and there were standards to be upheld, but real life circumstances often broke the process. So long as the underlying principles were kept, a Jedi ought to be confident in the Force. In this case, the assessment of the candidate's trials was well grounded in those Jedi principles.
As Master Tulhute concluded his summary, Kel'Al's right hand dropped to his belt, taking a preemptive grip on his own saber hilt.
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Ael Jade
The Jedi Order - Corellian Jedi Academy
Posts: 1,544
Affiliation: Corellian Jedi Order
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Post by Ael Jade on Jan 13, 2015 13:43:06 GMT -8
Jade smiled faintly, not an ostentatious smile, but enough to indicate to those who knew her well enough that she was pleased. Green eyes glittered as Alexis entered the room. She watched the padawan's face as Diamonte spoke, and within the depths of those brown eyes she realized that the slim girl had seen much more of life than one would imagine upon first glance. She had in fact known pain of a deep and lasting nature. And she was still standing, standing alone, without a Master at her side to present her in the traditionally accepted fashion.
There have been numerous occasions since I arrived at the Corellian Academy and Serrin left, when I have contemplated simply vanishing into the night and leaving the Jedi Order behind. But, time and again, on a much deeper subconscious level, I've always known I had to stay. The time is not right to leave. And now, with the Knighting of Alexis Karidian, I know why I stay. It is because of them, the ones who are the hope of the future Jedi Order.
Jade caught Kel'al Raganella's eye from across the assembled group of Jedi and nodded in recognition. She glanced at Diamonte as he stepped back, and she took one precise step forward.
Looking over the group of people to see if she had their attention, she spoke, "For those of you who do not know, Alexis Karidian has stayed true to the path of the Jedi in the face of losing two Masters and multiple friends, and I think even family: firstly Nathan Malreaux and his wife Alora, and secondly Dav Man'sell. The latter in the midst of escaping Dressel with both Joshua Kierra-Solo and Will Sontir," she paused for breath and glanced at Kel'al wondering if he'd known of that, since Will was part of the Corellian Council. "The sudden snapping of a close Master/Padawan bond is a horrific experience, as Master Tuhlute has already pointed out, but the fact that she rallied and returned to the Jedi Order is another of the reasons it is fitting for her to be Knighted."
"Alexis Karidian, step forward," she spoke in a voice that commanded calmly with the expectation of obedience, as she manipulated the Force and her lightsaber slipped firmly into her right hand. As the guards ignited the lightsaber that Diamonte had personally made after many hours of research, meditation, and work, she flipped the switch on her own, smiling as the emerald green blade ignited with asnap-hiss and shimmered in the air.
As we were standing so close together, I suddenly noticed the green threads woven into her padawan braid at different intervals, the first one about two inches down from the top of the braid. Some padawans liked beads and such, but a glance into Alexis' eyes told me this was something else.
With the precision born of long practice in the Force, Jade deftly severed Alexis' braid just above the first green tie. Her free hand dropped to Alexis' shoulder in a comforting grip before she stepped back.
"We welcome you to a more full life of dedication and service among us, Alexis Karidian, Jedi Knight."
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Post by Alexis Karidian on Jan 21, 2015 14:29:52 GMT -8
I stopped just inside the Audience Chamber as the assembled people pressed in upon my awareness. Jedi Master Rawkill, the Ewokian member of the Council of First Knowledge. Jedi Master Diamonte Tuhlute, Acting Headmaster of the Praxeum of Yavin IV. The Master in green, Kel'al Raganella, Corellian Councilor. And a female shorter than myself even: Jedi High Councilor Jade, of both Corellia and Coruscant, though belonging to neither. She has the green eyes of a hawk, and in spite of her stature, I am impressed by her age, as well as the latent magnetic energy surrounding her aura. I have never seen her before, though I am aware of the holonet broadcasts.
Perhaps even more weighty are those who are unseen, ghosts flickering just at the edges of perception. Jedi Master Nathan Malreaux, still wandering the galaxy. Alora Malreaux, formerly of Dragon Squadron. Tebana Sor, a legend that I never personally met. Jago Pulastra, also of Dragon Squadron. Ksandra Mallan, my friend, and founder of Dragon Squadron. Steffo Rancis. Ander Tagira. I winced, then relaxed as his shadow disappeared the instant I looked closer. Joshua Kierra-Solo, smiling at me over Master Jade's shoulder. Dav Man'sell...fierce blue eyes gazing over Master Raganella's left shoulder. My heart twists as he suddenly smiles, laugh lines appearing at the corners of his eyes. I blink rapidly, gazing straight ahead as I put one foot in front of the other, refusing to look anymore at anything other than the end of the room where the others are waiting for me.
Realistically speaking, Alexis only hesitated a couple seconds. Wavy dark hair shrouded her face, making her appear even paler than normal, but there was a fire in her deep brown eyes. She bowed with an instinctive precision, and then grasped her left wrist with her right hand behind her back, listening as first Master Tuhlute and then Councilor Jade declaimed her Trials to the rest of the assembled Jedi. She blinked once, hearing as if from a distance Will's shout of her name as she collapsed when her Force Bond with Dav had snapped. The older Jedi had been worried nearly sick. Before that, when she had gone to Osarian...
~I went to get something for Dav, and now he'll never know.~ I blinked and swallowed with difficulty. I am not going to break down during my own Knighting of all things! I never thought about that before though. I was going to hand Dav my past, and then maybe he would understand what I'd been fighting when he found a small padawan crumpled into a ball in a corner of Yavin Station.
Alexis purposely focused on nothing. Hence she caught her breath with an indrawn hiss as Jade stepped forward, ignited her lightsaber, and cut through her braid. She felt like part of her being had vanished with it. Then, looking around, she realized the honor guard had closely copied versions of the lightsabers carried by the Yavinites. Obviously Master Tuhlute's work. She flashed a weak smile in his direction.
~Many probably would flinch if a lightsaber cut towards their head, but I knew what was happening on an elemental level. It was right.~ Dav's flickery, incorporeal self nodded. I glanced down where the Dragon patch would have been on my flight suit, looked back up at him, and somehow managed to smile back.
A salty tear burned at the corner of Alexis' eye and traced a shining path down the side of her face. She wiped it away with her sleeve as Jade pronounced her a Knight, and surreptitiously manipulated the Force to pull her cut off padawan braid to her hand before tucking it away inside her sleeve. She didn't know if others kept their braids. The Order probably frowned upon evidence of a Jedi's tie to their past self, but that did not bother her right now.
The Order's newest Knight turned around and faced the assembled Jedi with a calm smile, a smile that barely touched the depths of her eyes as her contentment was just that, content, not overwhelmingly giddy happiness. Though she was pleased.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2015 17:37:51 GMT -8
Master Rawkill had remained silent and out of the way once Alexis had arrived to the Chambers alongside the honour guard, taking up his on position in the circle of Masters, igniting his dual sabers alongside his fellow masters, before extinguishing them promptly once Alexis had been officially raised to the rank of Jedi Knight. He had not known her all that long, nor all too well, but judging by some of the trials and loses that Alexis had experienced, this was indeed something that was a long time coming, and he was happy for her, for finally making it to this day, when soo many others had perished due to the Republic's arrogance in the Mandalorian crusades. But right now he pushed such sad thoughts to the side, for now, was a time to rejoice
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Post by Adria Doran on Jan 26, 2015 20:22:01 GMT -8
It had been a few months since Alexis had rescued her from her Siege-imposed prison. A few months since Jago Pulastra had seen her potential, offered her a place in his Squadron, and then been taken away. She remembered hearing about the losses that the Jedi Order had suffered during the Siege, remembered her heart breaking all over again. She had been in skirmishes before, but she had never been involved in an all-out war, and it had taken all she had not to hop in her XJ9 and leave this place behind, just to get away.
But that wasn't her way, not anymore. And she wasn't going to insult her comrades' memories by leaving them like that.
So she had stuck around, unknowingly distancing herself from everyone through frequent flying and solo training. Her only constant companion was her R4 unit, Seer, who was with her even now at the far side of the chamber.
There she stood, her hand on her astromech, watching the younger girl go through her Knighting ceremony. She didn't know what it was like to be in her shoes; she had never been Knighted herself, never actually been formally trained by any Master, only taught her skills through CorSec and experience. She did not wear the robes of a Jedi, opting for a dull orange flightsuit instead. Adria allowed a tiny smile to cross her face, though, as the newly-Knighted Jedi's ceremony reached its conclusion.
Good on you, kid.
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