Casual RP: A Chance Meeting

[Catt]

IC: Initiate Elliana
Location: Jedi Monastery, Mount Passvaal
(Open RP)

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On the river moon of Al'doleem, azure waters wound their way through the copper earth. This place stood as a testament to the beauty of time. The canyon walls and great spires had been weathered and worn away by wind and water. The elements had chiseled and formed the plateaus and peaks that reached towards the sky as rivers snaked around them and descended from their edges. Wisps of clouds drifted low around the tallest of these spires, lending a mystical quality to the planet and daring those intrepid enough to touch the skies above them.

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Mount Passvaal sat among the beauty of this landscape, a red plateau, speckled with greenery, that seemed to spiral upwards due to the winding pathway carved into the side of the rock. At the top stood the Al'doleem Jedi Monastery. It stood out against the chromatic reds, greens and blues that surrounded it with its walls of cold, gray stone.

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Elliana ascended the mountain, feeling the breeze pick up steadily the higher she went. The views from near the top of Mount Passvaal were stunning. The shuttle had dropped her off near the mountain just after dawn and she had spent much of the day walking up the path to the monestery. When she had done research on this place, there didn't seem to be too much information available. It was all but a mystery to her. She didn't mind the change of pace. It was peaceful here away from the durasteel doors and clattering speeders of the city. Elliana stopped for a moment once she reached the sprawling, flat top of the mountain. She found a small circle of a few trees and sat to get out of the sun, pulling out a Jogan fruit to snack on.

​

 

[Dalacard Rethwode]

"An impressive climb", said a stern voice coming from behind.

The Jedi Monastery located on the river moon of Al'doleem was no simple structure of the Jedi Order. It was ancient, a sacred place, destined to test the Jedi who went there. The higher you go, the more demanding the challenges become. Only a true Jedi Master would be able to reach the summit. A Padawan such as Dalaron could not hope to climb it any further than he already did, but he felt something unusual in Elliana. He was skilled in sensivity - he had felt her presence almost half an hour before their meeting. Whereas he had felt struggle, he felt complete relaxation.

"And without much apparent effort", he said, noticing that she didn't seem to be breaking a sweat. His forehead protector seemed to be wet, on the other hand. "You wear no braid, and you are young to be a Jedi Knight. Who are you?"

 

[Catt]

IC: Initiate Elliana
Location: Jedi Monastery, Mount Passvaal

The Jogan fruit fell from her fingers as Elliana's body jerked towards the voice that spoke to her. She briefly looked down at the Jogan, rolled in reddish grains of earth. She breathed a short sigh, then dusted off her hands. She hadn't felt any presence as she had climbed the mountain. She was slightly disappointed in herself for this.

Elliana moved towards the young man. "Oh..no. Not yet. I will. Soon," She said, a tad irritated that he had noticed so quickly. It had been difficult for the Sephi to gain a master as she was often told she was too impulsive.

"I'm Elliana.” The Sephora extended her hand to the young man. The monastery didn't seem like it got too many visitors, but she hadn’t yet seen inside. Maybe it was that it looked so different from the temple back home. The gray stone looked Almost as worn down as the rest of the landscape.

Elliana wondered why he had come. She noticed the sweat upon his brow. “It’s a bit cooler over here, in the shade. If you need a rest from the climb, that is.”

 

[Dalacard Rethwode]

"Why, rest?", said Dalaron, confused. "We have only just arrived at the first stop."

He clearly lied, not allowing her to see through the facade of his relaxation and confidence. He was incredibly tired, as she was supposed to be. She was, after all, not much more than an initiate. He had been chosen by a Master, as he had been notified by the Council, but not yet heard anything of her, or started his formal training as a Jedi. He approached her, coming below the shade. She had brown hair like his own, but lighter, he noticed. And she was not Human. He sat down and crossed his legs.

"I wonder what an Initiate is doing here - not many of your rank access the Archives. Were you also reading on the Barash vow?"

 

[Catt]

IC: Initiate Elliana
Location: Jedi Monastery, Mount Passvaal

Elliana raised an eyebrow. "I just thought you might be a bit tired, is all," She said simply, pulling another Jogan fruit from her bag. "Catch." She tossed the purple fruit to him. She had thought about using telekinesis, but knew that she shouldn't use her abilities to mess around.

"As far as the first stop, this is the top of the plateau as far as I can tell." She smirked and flipped her long ponytail back behind her. There was a moment of silence between them. She could tell that they both wanted to put their best face forward. It was an odd kind of stand off but not one she had never encountered before. Everyone at lower ranks of the Jedi had a desire to prove themselves. "What is your name?"

 

[Umaya Kyrie]

IC : Umaya
Location: Jedi Monastery, Mount Passvaal

A mountain...utterly sacred without question, she could feel it’s thrumming presence in the Force. It’s energy vibration was soft, but profound. A ceaseless beacon. Akin to the waves rolling upon the black shores of Lah’mu. The energy felt soothing, a calm signature within the Miraluka’s unique perceptions.

She thought the mountain would have been simple to scale...she’d thrived in her barren adopted world, encircled by a chain of dormant volcanoes that enriched the soil. She’d spent many years scaling mountains; hunting for rare flowers, plant roots and metals. Sometimes she hunted the occasional animal to be consumed for its meat; its hide or pelt converted into clothing or blankets and fats rendered into glue. It had been a simple life. A peaceful life.The life her adopted parents desired for her, one of the last known Miraluka within the galaxy.

Yet...as skilled as she was in scaling volcanic summits, Umaya found herself panting within the first 30 minutes of ascending. Was the gravity pull greater here? Her vision felt compromised in this new locale...her adopted parents had taught her techniques to keep her sight focused and all encompassing, but as she took her first steps on the path of a Jedi...she found such sorrow crushing upon her heart.

Her family never disclosed why they had abandoned the Order and dismantled their lightsabers, even when the black death robbed them from her, and she clutched their gangrenous fingers, and asked her final questions and said her final goodbyes...they did not answer. Their auras faded away, the energy of their life scattered into the cosmos.

Umaya pulled her thoughts back to the present moment and rested against the warm surface of a large boulder. She adjusted her crimson blindfold, chosen not for color as she couldn’t understand color, but for its smooth texture. She wove her fingers through her wind snarled blonde hair and tied it back with a length of vine, and clasped her mother’s kyber crystal, hung around her neck since the week she’d died.

“I am no Jedi” she recalled her mother speaking as she gifted her the crystal “...not anymore….but I am a believer, in the good that lies within each living spirit. That is what this crystal meant to me, the spirit of life itself. Now it’s time for you to have it, to carry the flame of hope...Umaya… trust in the Light.” Half delirious words she spoke within two days of her death.

Umaya pulled herself to stand. Attachments to her past...she would need to find a way to overcome them. Was that why she found this mountain so difficult to scale?

Her will renewed, she pulled herself upward; straining and panting as she climbed until at last she emerged atop a plateau. There she sensed the lively hum of the monastery, radiant within the Force. She saw the energy patterns of a circle of mighty trees, taller than any she sensed on Lah’mu.

And she could see the Force radiating off two humanoids. At this revelation, Umaya could only keep silent, her mouth opened in mild surprise. She had not felt the presence of others as she ascended.

 

[Dalacard Rethwode]

IC: Padawan Dalaron Rethwode
Location: Jedi Monastery, Mount Passvaal

The Padawan grasped the fruit in mid-air, turning his lavender eyes to it for a moment, and, in resignation, approaching Elliana and sitting beside her. He had the garments of a Jedi, and his braid would contrast with his white overtunics. A forehead protector suddenly reflected the sunlight upon the Initiate.

"I am Dalaron Rethwode", he said, with a passive voice, very clearly albeit lightly. "I have come to learn about the Barash Vow. I am yet to start formal training under my Master, despite already having been chosen. A Jedi's training is eternal, as Master Vodo-Siosk Baas once theorized, so I might as well try and catch up."

Suddenly, he felt a presence and turned to see the Miraluka. Noticing her, he turned to Elliana, suspecting if she knew who the other individual was.

 

[Catt]

(IC: Elliana
Location: Jedi Monastery, Mount Passvaal)

Elliana scooted over a bit to allow the padawan room under that shade of the tree. She began tracing lines into the dirt in front of her. They were no specific patterns, just a doodle to keep her idle hands busy. The cool earth felt nice under her fingers. She finally felt somewhat rested from the climb.

She looked up. "The Barash Vow?" She asked curiously. "I thought that was something taken only by Jedi who had violated the code...or is it that you simply feel you don't have purpose?" It seemed an odd thing for a padawan to be looking into considering he had a master already but had not yet begun his actual training. Elliana felt a twinge of relief at the knowledge that Dalaron was not yet so far ahead of her.

The sound of the Miraluka reaching the top of the mountain made Elliana's pointed ears twitch slightly. She looked over. For a place that didn't seem to get much traffic most of the time, it was interesting that the three of them had come to the temple at the same time. Three so new to the Order. Maybe it was the will of the Force.

The Miraluka simply stood there. So Elliana called out for her to come join them, ensuring that her voice was welcoming. She had no more Jogan fruit so when the girl approached, she would offer hers instead. "Hello." She said. "I'm Elliana and this is Dalaron." She motioned to the padawan next to her.

 

[Dalacard Rethwode]

IC: Padawan Dalaron Rethwode
Location: Jedi Monastery, Mount Passvaal

He would have answered, had she not continued and greeted the Miraluka immediately. No, the Barash Vow was a willing commitment to oneself's progress as a Jedi-- it was not imposed by any other than by self. A true Jedi would have known both hypotetical situations: not only their fall from grace as a light side user would have been evident to the doctrined and renowned Jedi, but also their loss of purpose would also ooze in the Force within and around. The Barash Vow was no instrument of doctrination and no sanction. It was an educational measure, indeed, but appliable only by one's will. The will to correct ourselves, Dalaron concluded, was one that required much inner strength. Perhaps more than he had, at least as a Padawan.

Dalaron said nothing to the Miraluka, as Elliana had done him the courtesy of introduction. There were many types of Jedi, the Padawan would think; serious Jedi, such as many legendary Masters of the past, and others more inclined to enjoying the endorphine liberations the exposure of happiness would grant them, and, therefore, a greater connection to the Force. Perhaps Dalaron felt that Elliana was the latter, or perhaps he simply noticed by her speech and tone. Often these two types would complement each other, but even more often, they would be at unspeakably irreversible odds.

 

[Umaya Kyrie]

IC : Umaya
Location: Jedi Monastery, Mount Passvaal

Umaya wanted to shrink back from the gathering of strangers; she was ill adapted to socializing. Used to the desolation of Lah’mu, where she largely only interacted with her adopted parents and the small immigrated populous. She’d learned in time that each resident of Lah’mu was either born there from refugees or refuges themselves from war and conflict. Her parents were exiled from the Jedi Order; but by choice or punishment she never learned. As a result she was distrustful of each new person she encountered; lacking the close knit socialization she heard was typical of her race.

The humanoid woman introduced herself as Eliana and the male as Dalaron. She could sense from their vibrations they were both humanoids; and both young. Like herself, the Force was still a raw, untested talent within their spirits.

“I am Umaya…” she said in response; pulling on a calm center within herself to speak those simplest of words. Her heartbeat began to race in spite of her bravery; she could only assume those with dark intentions wouldn’t make it far on this mountain, but there was so much she didn’t understand about the Force. She didn’t know anything about these strangers; if they held maliciousness in their hearts. The more she stepped out into the galaxy; the more panicked she began to feel. Jumping at each shadowy aura and assuming it was something of the Sith come to destroy her.

She took a deep breath to try to assuage herself; “I haven’t met any fellow students….can I ask how you each came to this path? To the way of the Jedi?” she questioned, hoping it sounded like a common enough question.

 

[corinthia]

IC: Master Isosi
Mount Passvaal, Al'doleem
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"I'll answer your question, Initiate Umaya," a gentle voice said from outside the circle of trees where the three young Jedi were sitting. "Though I am no longer a Padawan learner, I remain a constant student of the Force."

Master Isosi Kast, a Iridonian Zabrak woman with dark gold hair and discerning hazel eyes stepped forth, the end of her walking cane tapping lightly against the stone of the mountaintop. She placed a hand against the trunk of one of the gnarled trees, stopping a moment to study those before her. "I was older than your average padawan when I found my path with the Jedi Order," she said, approaching the three young learners-- her own padawan seated among them, whom she gave a knowing wink. He was not yet aware of his apprenticeship to Master Isosi; he knew only that he now had a master.

Instead of sitting with them in the dirt, Isosi took up leaning against the tree whose shade they were enjoying. "I had led a civilian life on a Sith-occupied world before I became a soldier-- a soldier for the Galactic Alliance. I wanted to defend the galaxy, protect its citizens, and give them the peace and safety they deserved. I knew nothing of the Jedi. But," she paused, looking thoughtfully at the cane in her hands, "Fate has a funny way of rearranging your life when you least expect it. When my career in the infantry ended, an opportunity opened up for me to learn the ways of the Jedi. To heal my mind, soul, and body. It was a second chance at life." She smiled. "I put my faith and trust in the Force, and now I am here."

"Allow me to introduce myself," she continued. "I am Isosi Kast."

 

[Dalacard Rethwode]

IC: Dalaron Rethwode
Mount Passvaal, Al'doleem ​

That was... the Master that had chosen him. He had only been informed by the Council, in a hopeless moment, that one Master had seen him perform and had appreciated his abilities. However, she had not directly spoken to him so far; at least until that very moment. And even so, she seemed not to acknowledge him directly. He questioned himself whether it was the Jedi way to approach her. She had chosen him. Nothing further was needed to confirm that. Perhaps approaching her would show an eagerness that the Jedi do not favor. He stood unwavered, stationary, and waited for her to approach him. It was so ruled by tradition that a Master should approach the Padawan they would find and favor. And Dalaron had found in Master Kast an interesting exercise of patience.

"Perhaps, Master Kast", he said, looking down, "Fate is never rearranged. It's just foremade in ways we find hard to deduce."