Blast from the Past: Dantooine Jedi enclave (OPEN)

[Kay]

((Open to ALL but NOTE FIRST before joining; this RP is set ten years in the past and on the planet Dantooine))

Eris, a then nubile Jedi knight, stretched languidly from her rest on the Enclave’s exterior wall; squinting as the glare of the sun struck her eyes. “Oops, overslept there a little,” she yawned, pushing herself up into a straddling position before glancing about herself in order to get a feel for her situation.

It appeared to be a bright sunny morning over the Enclave today and if Eris guesstimated correctly, it was almost time for the younglings and padawans to arrive. Or, at least, arrive to where Eris was right now.

In truth, the shuttle carrying all the Coruscant youth and Masters had landed yesterday, after which they were all too tired for training and so were subsequently ushered to their appropriate, gender-marked, bunk rooms within the Enclave. It was unfortunate as Eris, along with a few other knights and masters had been rather eager to start teaching. Still, it was a virtue amongst the Jedi to display patience… which Eris showed none of by appearing at the starting area before the sun could even peek over the horizon. She was a knight though so naturally, Eris almost felt it an obligation to bend a few rules.

Looking over to her left expectantly, Eris frowned to see nobody waiting underneath her by the Enclave doors. And it appeared the gate -- just ahead of her position on the wall -- was still shut. She’d mope if that wasn’t against some Jedi code… “Just like fun and being human,” she thought to herself wryly.

There were a good few minutes left however before the training actually began, so she supposed she could wait for just a bit longer. And so, looking to her right now, she contented herself with the breath-taking view of lush green fields and hilly terrain; courtesy of Dantooine.

[Mara]

Sunlight poured through the small crack that sufficed as a window in Xierra's bunkroom. Groaning, she turned over and pulled her think blanket over her eyes. It was definitely way too early to be getting up. Way too early. The room was still quiet; the others in the room still asleep. Gathering from the lack of noise, the young Falleen assumed it was perfectly all right to stay in bed just a few more minutes. Especially considering her long day and equally long night.

Groggy and wound up in her small cocoon, she remembered where she was and why it didn't sound or smell or feel like her room in the Jedi Temple. She was on Dantooine. Why she had finally signed up for this training mission at the age of 11, she would probably never realize. Perhaps she had been having an extremely tough day and wanted to get out of the Temple. Wanted to get away from her routine lessons and schedules. And maybe it was because she was in the top of most of her classes and wanted another challenge. Even though she knew she was expected to be superior, being a Falleen, she could always use a new challenge. She could always learn new lightsaber or combat techniques, strengthen her use of the Force. Whatever it was, Xierra was now stuck on Dantooine away from the familiarity of the Temple for the next... who knew how long they'd be there. She hoped no more than a few weeks.

She heard stirring beside her; another was awake. The Falleen wanted to stay in bed as long as possible, knowing that she deserved her sleep. But eventually it was too loud and Xierra was too awake to stay in her bed, so she slowly slide out of her cot to join the others. She quickly splashed some water over her face before going back to her sparse pile of belongings and pulling on her clothes. Her simple light brown kit was comfortable and easy to work in; the perfect example of traditional Jedi clothing except for the long brown robe, which she did not have as a youngling. After yanking on her roughed-up and worn boots, she quickly ran a hand through her hair. Hair that she had left long instead of shaving it and going for a topknot like most of her kind.

Ready, she grabbed her small plain practice lightsaber, hooked it on her belt and decided to look for wherever the cafeteria was, if there was even one in this dark enclave. Xierra was hungry, and if she didn't eat soon, she would be even more grumpy. Luckily she followed some of the other younglings, a few she recognized, to an area set up with some food and quickly ate.

Moments later, feeling refreshed with a full stomach, she glanced around herself not sure what happened next. It hadn't been fully explained to Xierra and the others what exactly they would be doing here. Their shuttle had gotten in after dark and they were sent right to their bunks, with promises of a busy morning ahead of them. The Falleen forced her skin to stay its normal hue of a greenish-gray as she trailed along slowly after the others, taking in some of the sparse sights on the way.

Whatever they would be doing, it was sure to be interesting.

[Jace]

Jace Beleren was not accustomed to this setting, he hadn't been for quite some time. It had almost been ten years since he last had any real contact with fellow Jedi. Ten long years, that is how long Jace had been a Shadow for the Order. He did not regret it, for he was doing what was necessary but it wore him down. No matter what techniques were available to the Jedi, he felt decades older than his age.

Jace had finally been recalled from his duties after dealing with a large crime syndicate, which was led by a Dark Jedi. He was taking a little stop at the Enclave as per the Council's orders. Many of the younglings and Masters had arrived just the day before, he was sure he would meet some people he knew.

It was very early, but sleep had sort of lost its meaning to Jace over the last ten years. Jace freshened up, and decided he might as well make his way over to the Enclave training areas where everyone would soon be arriving.

Jace made his way across the Enclave, and he noticed that the gate was closed. He didn't think much of it, and opened it himself, he didn't really think anyone would mind anyways. He continued forward, and sensed a somewhat familiar presence ahead of him.

Ahhh youth, what a wonderful thing it is he thought to himself

He continued to walk forward, wondering what this visit on Dantooine would end up like.

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

((huzzah for getting ready to go on the trials! *slips into comfy/familiar jedi style* aaaahhhhh))

Sihara wasn't typically one for waking early. No, she preferred to work in the evening, but today, something felt different. Maybe it was the jitters about being told she was going for her trials soon, maybe it was the way the sun had hit her eyes, maybe it was something else entirely. Either way, the 18 year old togruta was up and out of her quiet room as the sun was rising, leaving the other padawans to sleep until they were woken. As she meandered down the halls of the enclave, she found it slightly disturbing to be doing anything without Orion with her. Was she really so attached to the master?

Sighing as she turned a corner, she brought one of her white and black leeku over her shoulder and fiddled with it slightly. The vibrations from various jedi members echoed through her montral, which rested like some type of odd crown on her head. Smiling, she exited the building into the open training grounds. The sun was bright, the breeze that blew gently across the grounds was, to say the least, revitalizing....it was a good day to be alive. And she FELT alive.

Allowing her cloak to hang open, Sihara smiled as she used the force to pull her saber from her belt and slip into a crouch, the purple blade humming to life. Just because there was no one around yet, didn't mean she couldn't train anyway! Turning the blade's power down to a training setting, she went through the motions of the shii-cho form slowly, allowing her muscles to stretch in the warmth of the morning sun.

[shawn]

The week had started off bad from the beginning. Not only had the Jedi collection vessel, The Oracle, taken a beating from a Dark Jedi Cruiser off the border of the outter rim but it had cost the Captain precious time finding himself and collecting data for the Jedi in the Unknown Regions. Now it had been about 3 years since the vessel had been seen but heard from but with this attack came an emergency call to Dantoonie requesting medical attention for wounded during the fight.

Now it would take the vessel nearly 5 days to even get to Dantoonie, which happened to be the nearest Jedi Enclave, and tho his crew needed attention the Captain didn't like returning to the Jedi so soon in his search. Now this Captain was not only for this ship but himself a Jedi who had vowed to not return until he had found his inner peace from the Dark Side which was lurking around the corner when his Master was murdered before his eyes. With his word now being set back slightly he knew the Enclave was the only chance these men had of surviving since the ship was out-dated from that of its replacement the Hammerhead.

Entering finally into Dantoonie space with regrets the Captain would take a small Starseeker transport down to the surface. Now of course it wasn't just the Captain but 5 injuried and 2 others to help unload them. It would take them about a day to get things together and down to the surface and by that time it would be later on the 5th night that the transport would touch down with its injuried. After they were taken into medical this Unknown Captain and his crew were shown a room they could hae until they were able to take the injuried back to their ship for recovery time.

Now it would come to the Captain attention of the word about the younglings and masters who landed this same day and he would take the liberty to find out why in the morning. Letting himself slip from these thoughts of why they had come there the Captain would drift into a meditation state of rest near to the small window to get the cool breeze coming in for most of the night.

Now the next morning would come very quickly for the Captain as he would awake from a nightmare that would send a slight ripple through the force before it was gone just as quick as it came. A nightmare of his Master dying once more thie middle aged Jedi Captain would see and tho he looked nothing like a Jedi he would have to take on the old look while he amongst his brothers and sisters of the Order he once belonged too.

Up from his nightmare nearly 2 hours before the first dim rays of the sun he would give himself time to change. Pulling from a small pack he broght with himself an old pair of red and black unrobes he would slip from his Captains clothes to his old Custom Knights uniform before wrapping himself into a black cloak that had a red trim along its edges and two sleeves inside this cloak that served as holders when not wearing his combat belt. Dressed now he would pull from this bag last a small box which contained his old Lightsabers which hadn't been used for almost 3 years now. Letting them find their way into his belt holders he would finally be ready to leave his room and find out what was going on with the arrival of the younglings and masters.

With his cloaks hood up and hiding who he was this Middle aged Knight would venture forth into the corridors of the Enclave. Making his way for the main training halls with no particular reason but being drawn there he would find his mind somewhat relaxed and simpler as he drew nearer to the training room than it had been in about 3 long years. With each of his long steps carrying him closer he just became more and more relaxed being here amongst his kin again.

Now as he began to draw up to the closed doors he would notice slowly more and more Jedi gathering and tho he was sightly gone form the Order he quessed it was something of a training for all. Now he didn't care for it only seemed to him one person appeared ready and that was the one all the way at the top near the doors. He could sense a hype in this Arkanian that he once knew so long ago when he was a youngling tho he would never guess that this young Arkanian was actually a knight already.

"What is going here dear youngling?" This cloaked Jedi would ask Eris as he kept his hood hiding his face so not to be recongnized yet until he knew it was safe from being ridiculed for being gne so long with no word.

[Zarkan]

Aser was still scrubbing his eyes from sleep as he wandered through halls of the jedi temple with his master away he found himself having little to nothing to do each day and admittedly in a very un-jedi like more slept most of the time. Abnormally today however he was up bright and early heading for the courtyards before most of the rest of the enclave had even awoken. He hoped he could practice with his light wait practice sword while all the others sleep, but when he reached it he noticed several others around, but by the force he though as he hefted his sword and did a simple set of lunges and parries his master taught him to use while practicing the force. While twirling the sword in his hands he focused attempting to lift a small shell from the floor before finally giving up in frustration. The twelve year old let out a long sigh as he looked around to see if anyone had seen him fail before he set the blade on a bench and began a series of hand to hand combat routines.

[sparrow]

(( Hope you all don't mind if I join? My character in present-time is Dark Jedi, but was a youngling back in the day ))

It had been the decisions of the masters to transfer her to Dantooine, claiming that she was having a bit of trouble in her classes as well as getting along with some of the other younglings. A change in scenery with new instructors would do her good, they said. Zarene herself had hoped that moving out to the Outer Rim planet would allow her to get a little extra sleep in the mornings, but judging by the current position of the sun, just peeking above the horizon, that had just been false hope.

Everyone else in the room had already gotten up and were milling about, so not wanting to look too bad on her first day here, Zarene yawned and climbed out of bed, and changed into the standard youngling garb. After going through the standard morning routine of washing her face, scrubbing her teeth, and doing her hair, she followed the other younglings out to breakfast in the Enclave cafeteria.

From the pictures she had seen of the planet, she had very much wanted a chance to at least look around the surrounding area and do a little exploring before diving into instruction, but the masters had planned a tight schedule it seemed. Zarene wasn't too thrilled about the idea of starting class at the crack of dawn, especially on their first morning here. Back at the Temple, she had acquired the unenviable reputation of having a problem with tardiness, always slipping into the classroom at last possible second, face flushed and out of breath from running through the Temple hallways.

Being one of the last ones into the cafeteria, she tried to eat quickly but apparently she was not fast enough. With still several bites worth of food on the plate, Zarene begrudgingly bused her tray as she saw that most of the other younglings had finished and were already heading out. She didn't want to acquire the reputation of being the tardy one on not one but two planets just yet.

[Meira]

Meira hadn't slept much that night. It was all too new and exciting. The usually calm Kiffar girl was a small ball of barely contained energy. She smiled constantly, eager to know what this adventure would bring. As the night had passed, she slept in small amounts, constantly waking up and looking around to see if the sun had risen. Each time, her head fell back on the pillow, a little disappointed. After about the fifth time, Meira had resorted to entertaining herself. The sky outside was starting to shift into that dark gray pre-dawn aura, signaling that it would only be a couple of hours before they all found out why they were here.

In the mean time, Meira tried out her gift, psychometry, to see if any objects in their bunk room could give her a clue. The bed was the only thing that she could really see into. Her skills with her ability were fairly weak, but uncle Evos had promised to teach her how to hone her ability, to strengthen it. But try as she might, all she could see from the bed was when it was brought into the room, hardly something worth jumping about. With a sigh, Meira sat on top of her bed waiting.

There wasn't anything that would really distinguish Meira from a human at the time. At the age of 12, she was average height, a bit on the thin side, and dark skinned. Her hair, contrary to Kiffar norms, was kept not in dread lock style, but well brushed and back in a bun, leaving two thick strands hanging down on either side of her face. She liked the tidiness of it. And though she didn't know it yet, it was a style that would stick with her for years to come. She lacked the tattoos that set one of her race apart from the others. But this didn't bother Meira. Uncle Evos had told her, last time she saw him, that he would take her as his apprentice as soon as the Council agreed. He needed special permission, being her uncle and all, but he had assured her that he would convince them. And once she was his padawan, Uncle Evos would take her back to Kiffar, where she could receive the clan tattoos according to custom. And so Meira moved with a quiet confidence, in spite of her approaching 13th birthday.

Finally, the sky was growing brighter, and Meira had joined the others in preparing for the day to come. She washed up, dressed, and filed out of the bunk room with the others. She ate her breakfast quickly, as did the others, and soon, they were moving towards their training for the day... or whatever it was that awaited them. Catching up to the Falleen girl who had been in her bunk room, Meira greeted the girl. They knew each other only slightly. They had some of the same classes back on Coruscant. Not exactly friends... but Meira knew her name.

Hey Xierra. Any idea what they have in store for us?

[Kay]

((Just as a reminder; anyone is welcome as long as they have a Jedi character or can explain their characters reason for being here.))

Pulled from her reverie by an unfamiliar voice Eris reluctantly turned her attention away from the serene fields and instead glanced once again back down into the courtyard. Her features forming into a curious frown by now as she attempted to identify the culprit which had decided to wrest her from her “meditations”.

Brushing aside a lock of her short black hair, she allowed her milky-white gaze to fall on what appeared to be an older gentleman, attired in what seemed to be a large black cloak. A cloak, which Eris noted pointedly, that for some odd reason obscured his features. Perhaps however, she was simply being overly paranoid…

Swinging her leg over to the courtyard’s side of the wall, Eris allowed her feet to dangle as she gave the stranger the once over before curtly pointing out, while ignoring the man’s question, “You know, it’s against regulation to have your own stuff.” All while pondering bitterly, “And that’s Jedi Knight to you.”

She soon snapped out of her daze however only to realize what she’d just said. And while inwardly berating herself for her rude manner, she offered a quick apologetic smile before adding, “Sorry mister… what I meant to say is that we’re having a training session for the younglings and padawans today; under the supervision of a few knights and perhaps masters.”

And speaking of which, Eris was starting to see the courtyard finally fill with the aforementioned.

Already she could see padawans, younglings and knights training in the yard while others slowly shuffled in from the entrance hall of the Enclave. Really, it was enough to cause a large grin to take hold of her as she instinctively dusted off her bluish black Knight uniform before waving an arm in attempt to get some of their attention. “Okay, that’s enough stretching, training and/or dragging your feet kiddies, we have a long day ahead of us so let’s assemble,” the lively knight teasingly called, using a force technique to project her voice a tad. She wasn’t in charge of course, she’d just been handed the task of announcing the activities for the day.

Still, it was her moment to shine. For that brief moment, she was queen of the activity list! So, it goes without saying that she had to make a good impression, with which she accomplished by leaning back on her perch and propping herself up by her hands; all in an attempt to give the coolest, most laid back pose, possible. Not that she had to “try” to look cool. Eris figured -- as a Jedi Knight -- that just came naturally. For now though, she simply waited for everyone to gather under her thron~ position on the wall.

[Vreem Took]

“I can’t believe they made me share a room with you.” Vreem muttered with a slight annoyance as he moved through one of the corridors of the enclave. The Jedi Knight was busy placing his gloves on, he had awoken late.

“Oh come on Master,” came a young and bouncing voice from a grin so bright that seven suns would seem a dim spectacle, “you don’t have to pretend, I know you enjoyed me sparking up conversations whilst you tried to sleep.” Vreem was too tired to respond to Ren’s comment; instead he just shot his apprentice a small, subtle glance and in the process tried to suppress a yawn.

“One of these days I swear we’re going to be on time for something.” He was checking his belt now that his gloves were on, carefully making sure that his lightsaber was attached correctly. There were going to be a lot of younglings here and as a Jedi Knight, he’d be expected to make a good impression. Of course, he didn’t really know what they were actually doing here; he’d just signed them up for it thinking it would be a nice relaxing mission after the last ones they’d been had assigned turned out to be more… eventful than he really liked.

Ren was at his side now; all his gear was in place as usual; somehow he had managed to get ready a lot quicker than Vreem. Any onlooker would have guessed that the two Jedi were only a few years apart in age in truth they were separated by nine years. Vreem was 30 and Ren, his apprentice, was 21 and coming up on his trials, a fact that worried Vreem a little bit. At times Ren would still act like he did when the Knight first took him under his wing; there was still that childish attitude around him. But there were times when he could get serious, times when he really needed to. “Master, you do have a valid reason for being late this time. I mean, we were up helping heal those crewmembers pretty late into the night.” His oversized grin has shrunk slightly now and Ren’s tone had lost some of its immaturity, but whispers of it still remained.

“That still doesn’t change the fact we’re late, you heard the old man didn’t you? ‘As representatives of the Order you’ll be expected to impress the younglings, they need motivation after all’.” Vreem had put on his best impression of Master Valrok, when they’d been called to the Council he’d been the only one to meet them and talk to them expressly about this mission. Of course, Vreem had felt that the senile old Jedi was directing his words at the Knight and not to his apprentice. But then, Valrok and Vreem never had seen eye to eye with one another.

Ren couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at his Master, “For someone who’s nearly a Jedi Master you really aren’t that respectful you know that? Honestly Master, you’re not going to get very far in the Order if you don’t change that attitude of yours.” He paused for a moment before taking on a more inquisitive tone. “Which makes me wonder, what are you going to do once you become a Jedi Master. I mean, you’re still pretty young right? Imagine how much you could do in your lifetime Master, you could get on the Council, maybe even take on the role of Grandmaster I mean-“

“Please Ren” Vreem interrupted soberly, raising a hand as if to push the ideas away. “As if getting lectured by my own apprentice wasn’t enough,” he said with a coy smile, “now you’re trying to fill my head with delusions of grandeur. Not all Jedi have ambition like you Ren, some of us don’t wish to sit on the Council, we just want to do our part for the Order like everyone else. Not everybody wants to be unique, some of us just want to be regular Jedi.”

“Yes, but Master,” Ren began to stress impatiently, “you’re not a-“ Vreem raised his hand, an implication that Ren was to stop. His padawan understood and simmered into silence. The Knight was tired and he didn’t feel like having this conversation drain him even further, perhaps some other time, but not now.

They made the last part of their little walk in silence, finally coming upon the gathering group of Jedi Vreem cast a smile to his apprentice and with a happy “looks like we’re not late after all” made his way over to the group, Ren lagging behind and still sulking a little at his master’s desire not to talk about certain aspirations. That was one thing Ren didn’t really like about Master Took, his mentor didn’t really seem like he wanted to go very far in the Order instead he just turned his back on the idea and fled from it. He’d probably never amount to much more than a Jedi Master, but Ren would go as far as he could.

[Mara]

Slightly startled, the Falleen's greenish skin fluttered slightly to a shade halfway between her normal green and a pinkish red before settling back within moments. Xierra glanced to her side to find a human of a similar age to her own, another youngling. She looked slightly familiar but then again, to her, all humans did. The whole lot of them thought they were the most important species in the galaxy just because of their numbers. But Xierra wouldn't hold this against he girl.

She nodded in acknowledgment as she kept on walking. "No, I don't. But I am up for a challenge." Xierra kept her answer short and without any address of the girl. She couldn't recollect her name and just left it out so as not to embarrass herself or worry about social niceties such as that. Her name would come to the Falleen in due time.

Hearing the greeting of a young female Knight, Xierra moved along with the others to gather around, hoping to finally find out what they were doing here and why. Her greenish skin glistened slightly brighter with adrenaline and excitement that she was sure was to come. Waiting with the others, a soft breezed tousled her black hair relaxing the Falleen girl. After a quick glance at the others, she forced her gaze to the front to listen to what this Knight had to say.

[Jace]

Jace had now moved himself off to the side of the courtyard, he didn't want to be intrusive. Well at least thats what he told himself, sadly this wasn't exactly the type of crowd he had practiced blending into for the last 10 years. He guessed that he had felt somewhat out of place, not to mention he still was not sure what he was doing here.

Jace watched with a ghost of a smile on his face, as he saw all the younglings and some knights shuffling around. There was so much energy here, the anticipation, anxiety,focus was almost tangible. He hadn't felt this type of energy since he was a padawan back in the temple. All he had felt around him lately was hate, deceit, not very wholesome things overall.

Jace looked up us a he saw a young knight addressing the crowd, she seemed even more enthusiastic then most of the younglings. He pushed the hood of his cloak back, and walked closer to the center of the courtyard. He figured it wouldn't hurt if he stood with the rest, and this was the best place to start to get back into the mold.

As he approached the middle of the courtyard, he believed he saw a few familiar faces in some of the knights near his age. He wasn't exactly sure though, so he kept to himself for the moment, and waited to see what the day would hold.

[sparrow]

Feels good to be on-time for once, Zarene thought to herself as she joined the large crowd of younglings that had gathered in the courtyard. She looked around her, deciding the master probably were right when they said that a few weeks on Dantooine would do her good. The air was fresher, the sky was bluer, and there was actually grass on the ground. Compared to hustle and bustle of the Coruscant Temple, the Enclave simply felt so much more peaceful, more relaxing.

A young knight had started speaking, calling for everyone to gather round, and the younglings went from their socializing and stretching activities, or in Zarene's case, just entering the courtyard, to form a small crowd around the Knight. Rushing to join them, Zarene suddenly felt a sharp jerk near her foot, sending her stumbling forward, nearly knocking down another youngling before managing to regain her balance.

"Ow! Sorry!" she apologized hastily to the girl that she run into. Judging by the green skin, a Falleen, unless she was mistaken. She was always pretty bad at identifying other species.

Feeling her face turn red from embarrassment, she turned to see what had been the source of her most ungraceful stumble. An untied bootlace. Tsk, tsk. Way to go, Renie. Gotta be more careful next time! she berated herself as she knelt down to retie her boot.

[Jerek]

(Jerek is twenty-five in the main stream RP, but ten years ago he as fifteen, and I'm going to estimate this is before his master was killed on Geonosis.)

Jerek sat next to his Jedi Master and close friend, Lon, in the cockpit of a small transport on its way to Dantooine. Lon trusted Jerek enough to pilot. Jerek was actually a good pilot for his age. The chronometer was counting the seconds rapidly, warning Jerek they'd hit the end of the hyperspace tunnel soon. When it hit zero, he yanked the lever down. They exited hyperspace above a beautifully green and lush world.

Jerek took them down toward their designated spot. Lon had thought it would be a good experience for Jerek to meet other Younglings, Padawans, Knights, and even Masters. He decided that he'd take Jerek to the Jedi Enclave on Dantooine. Jerek had no objection. Maybe he could learn some different things while he was here. The landing was rather uneventful. They landed some time in the late night. They left the transport where it was and made their way to the enclave, using only their lightsabers for light.

The green and blue blades cast a large perimeter of light around the two Jedi. Jerek's black hair was ruffled by the night winds, his braid smacking his cheek, tickling it slightly. He and Lon arrived at the enclave after a few minutes of walking. He cast his blue eyes on the rooms they passed until they found theirs. They went inside to find a small, but comfortable looking area. It had two beds with thick blankets. Jerek set his cloak and outer Jedi robes on the foot of his bed along with his lightsaber and began to drift off to sleep.

The next morning when a stray glimmer of sunlight woke him up, Jerek was well rested and ready to begin some training. He gathered his robes and lightsaber. He follwoed Lon out of the room and toward the main courtyard of the enclave. They arrived as some of the others were jsut gathering. Lon walked off to the side with the masters and Jerek walked into the bustling hive of youth. He listened intently to the one talking, towering over most of the people.

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

As her body moved fluidly through the positions of shii-cho, Sihara focused all her energy into the form, blocking out nearly everything else around her and slipping into an almost trance-like state. It wasn't until a voice called out to everyone over the din that the togruta padawan bothered to end her personal practice, allowing her saber to flicker out like a flame in the wind. Turning honey and clover colored eyes toward the wall where the voice originated from, she hung back, allowing the crowd of younger, and shorter, padawans and younglings to fill the area in front of her.

With a soft thump, Sihara felt herself lurch forward slightly before she heard the younger girl's apology. Turning to look down at the younger girl and the Falleen she'd run into...who had thence run into her...Sihara smiled slightly and moved aside to allow them to join the rest of the younger/shorter padawans. The rust colored girl was by no means the tallest one around, but her montrals certainly didn't make it easy to see around her or over her.

Eying the side of the courtyard, she noticed the variety of masters that were there and let out a long huffing sigh. Why hadn't Orion come with her? This wasn't part of her trials, so technically he should have been here, right? Biting the inside of her lip, the 18 year old rubbed her upper arm, feeling a bit insecure. He'd been her safety net until now...something to fall back on and know it would be okay. Some part of her nature needed to know there was someone around...someone to fight beside, talk to, gain support from when it was needed...and now that relative safety was gone and it made the young woman uncomfortable and edgy.

Looking around, she didn't recognize anyone. What a mess this all was...the whole thing. Trying to shrug the feeling of pointed singularity off, the elegantly marked female returned her attention to the front once more.

[shawn]

Shawn, with the females response, was already irriatated considering he wasn't a Knight to be honest anymore. He had no dress regulations along with having no alligance to the Order but for his support if they needed it. With this young female thinking right off the bat of the dress code he couldn't help but just hate how assumptions took control of the younger generation rather than waiting for some reason to know why their fellow kinsmen were dressed so.

Now with her next statement he was eased a bit since she took a better tone but still wasn't impressed at how the younger generation of younglings/knights were coming up with a bit less knowledge it seemed of how to be respectful. Granted he was hiding his features and all but with her first comment it was already apparent thigns had changed. Finding his mind again from this he spoke out to her before she would turn to face the others form her perch on the wall. "Miss you should be more respectful and mindful to how your words may come out and whether you meant to say that or not its dishonorable. As for the other information I think I may join you now just for sakes to see how the Jedi now fair."

Now Shawn had been in control for about a month now since his last thought but due to the insolance he was shown by this younger female he had a quick thought of a force push but controled cause he was trying to get off that road. Turning his attention now from that thought and to the growing crowd in the courtyard, Shawn would take long strides into the tight group. Though he was no doubtly obvious due to his code break of uniform he didn't care as he walked by the youth.

Now with his black cloak trimmed in red, his own Jedi robes of black and red barely visible underneath, and the slight clink of his sabers at his side he was something else among the youth. He was much older, 33, and he was not of their same training styles anymore but that off a slightly older generation. He saw faces that couldn't barely even be 13 or so and onyl a few that might know him by the age in them. He guessed barely a handful were masters or knights and out of them few were experienced with the dangers that lay where he had come from. Now she he knew not many traveled out into the unknown regions or even to many warring planets but he had and he had seen the death of many a good people.

Taking his place in the midst of the crowd he would wait to see what was going to be happening with this training. Remembering his vows to still help was the only reason he was in this crowd due to he had much experience in fighting and knowing how to use the force. Sure some had experiences in other places but he came to one conclusion that seemed right to him, only a handful had a good understanding of the force and how to wield their lightsabers or even the dangers that may lay ahead.

With his place taken he would be standing besides a much larger figure, a giant of a man by his standards. (Jerek that being you big boy.) Shawn still hadn't removed his hood to reveal his facial features but he did look this giant up and down before thinking of a mando statue he had seen about a year before that had towered like such over all the passers by.

(I hope this post is fine else I'm just going to withdraw.)

[Mara]

Xierra was pulled from her thoughts and the young Knight's speech when something bumped into her almost throwing her into a young Togruta and almost some other younglings standing near her. Who had dared disturb her, a superior Falleen? She glanced over to see a young Epicanthrix kneeling and tying her bootlaces.

Feeling no further harm coming, the young Falleen turned her attention back to the front, awaiting explanations and instructions, not bothering to apologize to the Togruta who had hence moved on. The disturbance wasn't her fault, so there was no need for apology on Xierra's part.

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

Without even a mumbled 'sorry' the Falleen girl moved away and Sihara huffed slightly. Well, it wasn't her fault, but still, the Falleen could have at least apologized for bumping her. Right? Shaking her head, the young woman caught sight of a peculiarly dressed man standing beside a...well, in her opinion....a giant. Making her way through the crowd, the 18 year old padawan headed in the direction of the two. Well, while she was here, she might as well try to make some friends, or at least meet someone interesting.

Hi! Um...out of curiosity...why are you dressed so...oddly? I mean...I don't want to be rude...you must be a master or something, so you can wear pretty much whatever you want, but....well...

She scratched a leeku nervously and smiled a tad, her montrals practically thrumming with all the movement around her, making her feel particularly jittery.

...um...you look a tad....how do I put this....dark? With your hood up and all...you seem kind of....intimidating?

Sihara said to the man robed in black and red, with the hood over his face. What she truly wanted to say was that he reminded her of pictures of sith and dark jedi she had seen in her studies and on various missions, but she didn't dare say it out loud. I mean really....who ever heard of a darth anything just up and walking into a jedi enclave while it was full of jedi masters and their padawans?! It was ridiculous. Turning to the giant, she blinked and smiled as she looked up at him.

Uh...hi!

She chirped, beaming a grin to him. He was SOOOOO tall!

I'm Sihara by the way.

The togruta girl added, almost as an afterthought, to both of them. She wondered, mildly, if they were master and padawan. What an odd couple if they were...but then again, who was she to judge?! A togruta girl and a human male? What a silly pair they must have looked to be, her and Orion!

[shawn]

Understanding this wasn't the normal attire or a knight or master or even a council member Shawn was expecting alot of talk over it since in all reality he did look much like a Dark Jedi or even one of them ancient Sith in the histories. Even though he understood that he didn't like some of the staring though when a young female's voice he did over hear close to him and this giant Shawn couldn't help but smile with her studdering as though he were a Dark Jedi.

Slowly turning about to face this young female Torguta his cloak would flutter almost as he was going to strike but instead his hands and carms emerged slowly. Now under most of his ideals he wouldn't remove his hood but he was feeling comfortable here right now and with her comment about his hood and intimidationg he figured her right. Lets his hands grasp the very folds of the hoods material he slowly lowered it down and was smiling as his facial features came abroad.

"Hmmmm by no means young one think I am intimidating for I am just an old man on a stp from the unknown regions. I am not of the Order per-say anymore but I once was a man of a Knights rank. I try now adays to hide myself from those enemies of ours since not long ago he ran into a cruiser that injuried many of my crew who help with my search for minerals in those regions. All are devoted to the Order as am I but we all left some time ago to have names forgotten but for the force that can be sensed."

Shawn kinda rambled a bit with his words to her but they were all straight forward and explanation to his mystery. As far as his attre went fully he was rather fond of the Dark Jedi teachings and in attempt to fool some of them this rope he had taken to wearing normally, well hardly ever really, got him out of trouble but it always made him remember the Dark Knight who killed his Master and always made him remember what his journey was about.

"And I am sorry for not introducing myself before ym words...I am Captain Shawn O'connor of the Research and War Vessel the Oracle. Happened we were close to here as we were attacked and so we brought our injuried here for treatment before our journey rebegins."

[Meira]

Xierra answered Meira's question, confirming her suspicion that no one really knew what was going on. Well good, that put them all on a fairly even keel. Seeing as how the girl didn't seem to want to converse further, Meira left it alone, not bringing up the Falleen's obvious lapse of memory by not greeting her back. She brushed it off and moved on.

Meira didn't know Xierra very well to begin with, but she had caught onto that Falleen mentality. But her skin was thick, and Meira wasn't about to get bent out of shape over Xierra's naive beliefs. Xierra would have to face that lesson some day, but it wasn't Meira's place to teach it.

Speaking of lessons, a Jedi had called the gathering crowd to her and Meira followed as people moved. She had spoken with an air of authority, so she was likely to know what they were all here for. Meira took her place among those gathered beneath the woman, waiting to hear whatever it was they were meant to hear with a slight smile on her face. Meira was a sucker for suspense, and whoever this lady Knight was... she was doing a good job to keep Meira intrigued.