Post by Cassy on Aug 15, 2013 3:10:00 GMT -5
Name: Cassandra Novos
Race: Human Age: 25
Birthplace: Tatooine
Allegiance(s): Clan Ordo, Sith Order, Ex-Knight of the Jedi Order
Status: Bounty Hunter, Sith Apprentice, Ex-Jedi
Rank: Sith Initiate
Height/Weight: 5'8 inches, 145 lbs
Appearance:
Personality: The words: Cunning, Flirtatious, Charming, Confident, and Thoughtful, Tomboy, all come to mind when thinking of Cassandra. She is a wizard (or witch) when it comes to the social side of life, often being able to change the atmosphere of even the most smuggler infested hole in the galaxy with just her wits alone. She tends to go overboard sometimes when it comes to using her charms but she always does her best to keep it in check. As a Bounty Hunter, she oft uses hit Wit and Charms to corner her target(s); and strike before they even know what hit them. Many of her targets have no idea that she's a Bounty Hunter until it's far too late. The love of her life was always machines and droids as a child so she has a soft spot for them and will sometimes go above and beyond to understand new inventions or things she hasn't seen or tinkered with herself. Cassandra will always respect those with a high rank or authority; but will almost immediately turn on or dislike them if they are abusing said position of authority over her, or anyone else for that matter. She has a fierce belief that the Force is supposed to be used to help people similar to how it helps all things exist.
She has a penchant for being outdoors; quite the woodsman herself she loves for some reason to be beyond the confines of walls or buildings for too long. She can't go a full day without taking a walk if she's in the big city; being cooped up all day isn't for her. Perhaps her nature like side is testament to her Tatooine origins; although devoid of a thick ecosystem itself, it nonetheless is a maelstrom of nature in it's own right.
She does have one glaring, dark weakness in her personality, and that's family. She will for some odd reason, go above and beyond to make sure that family bonds are kept tight; a mother reunited with her son, or a daughter led astray brought home; are all things she'd be capable of doing and seeing through too the end, no matter the cost. This weakness of hers; family, if exploited could lead her into dark situations and thoughts. It seems to be covering some form of lingering darkness within; a twisting nether waiting to be filled. Though she shadows it well; she knows it when she feels it. Emptiness.
Cassy is also prone to extreme fits of emotional hysteria due to her fiery half blooded Mandalorian nature and in tapping into the Dark Side. She sometimes can cry unabated for hours on end; inconsolable. Or she can become a complete cold blooded individual; which clashes heavily with who she normally is. Whenever she goes to far within any Vice; she undergoes a massive (and uncontrollable) emotional change. When things strike her on a personal level; she may just emotionally (a woman scorned); press that "Detonate" button, when normally she'd disassemble the detonator without a second thought. If she can help it, Cassandra should be kept away from delving too deeply into all sorts of partying, drinking, drugs, or outright crime. She can get easily addicted to the thrill of such actions due to not having tasted much of them beforehand. In short, once she starts; she has a problem stopping, and if it's too much fun, she might not.
Ships/Vehicles: The Century Eagle
Equipment:
Weather Tech Goggles (Adjust to the Climate)
Black Travel Hood and Cloak
Holonet Call Device
Galactic Time Device
Stats:
Strength - Below Average
Agility - Superior
Intelligence - Above Average
Charisma - Above Average
Force Stats:
Telekinetic - Adept
Telepathic - Expert
Body - Adept
Sense - Novice
Protection - Novice
Healing – Apprentice
Destruction – Adept
Combat Training:
Hand to Hand Ataru Focus - Expert
Wrestling - Adept
Blaster (Pistol) - Novice
Force Training:
Battle Meditation - Adept
Force Fear - Adept
Other Training:
Twi'Lek Language - Fluent
Droid Language Binary - Expert
Wookie Language - Somewhat Understood
Huttese Language - Fluent
Speeder Piloting - Expert
Freighter and Fighter Piloting - Master
Droid Systems, Motherboard and Wiring - Adept
Lightsaber Training: Single Blade - Single Phase (Light Blue)
Shii-Cho - Master
Ataru - Expert
Shien/Djem So - Adept
>> Sub Form Backhanded Shien - Apprentice
Biography:
~Chapter. I: The Force Awakens~
Cassandra was born to the Novos family, a long line of moisture farmers on the planet Tatooine in the Arkanis sector of the Outer Rim. She grew up with her two older brothers, Mother and Father. Unbeknownst to her, her Mother was a Mandalorian woman from Clan Ordo who had fallen in love with a man from the Republic. The two had run away together, so the story goes. Being the only girl in the family she enjoyed a lot of simple things that her brothers seemed to "miss out" on as they so often put it. Since they were older than her, they had been around to see their mother and father struggling with bandits and thieves giving them a hard time keeping food on the table. Both of them claimed their little sister had no idea how hard it used to be for "Dad to blast off Sand people", but Cassandra didn't care and loved them both as any little sister would. Toran and Joran were their names, twins at that with Toran being the eldest of the two. There her parents had grown into some of the (if not the) wealthiest moisture farmers on Tatooine and before long the family of five was living as good as you possibly could on Tatooine.
Toran enjoyed spending his share of everything gambling with every smuggler to enter the Outer Rim, Joran loved anything to do with spacecraft so he worked in Beggar's Canyon where he participated in several Skyhopper races and was making quite the name for himself. Cassandra's parents seemed content to stare into each others eyes all day and look out across Tatooine mostly in their spare time, her father did a lot of the work while her mother mostly kept their house in tip top shape as best she could, as beautiful as she was (Cassandra is almost the spitting image of her), she never gave up her hard work and dedication towards keeping their family together.
Cassandra herself was content to grow up as the princess of the family, who was born into her father's hard earned profits. She was not however the spoiled princess her brother's expected her to grow into. Once she got old enough to understand things here and there, she fell in love with one thing and one thing only. Droids. She loved them, all shapes and sizes. The first time a Droid spoke to her she almost climbed into her father's shirt but eventually she wouldn't leave the poor protocol droid alone. She grew more and more interested in machines, and even took an interest in building things herself, she actually was quite gifted in spatial tasks and knew how to position things well, doing things with her construction toys and building blocks that a normal child wouldn't do. Eventually, the young girl could know how to assemble things without so much as an instruction manual, off of either instinct or reflex. Her father especially grew more concerned and eventually got into contact with the Jedi Order to test her for force sensitivity since they had no other explanation of how their beautiful 4 year old girl was already attempting to understand protocol and R2 droids internal mechanisms. Though the request was sent, no response came from the Order. After all they were on Tatooine and the planet was filled with smugglers, bandits, or worse. Her father thought perhaps that the order would not come, and as more days rolled onwards Cassandra's father stood over her sleepless some nights as he for some reason grew more and more concerned about his baby girl.
One fateful day, the family was confronted near dinner time with all out blaster fire through the house. It had been the first time in years that the family had encountered anything like this, the last raid on their home had been years ago when the twin boys were just babies themselves before Cassandra was even born. Their territory was more than decent, and far enough away from any sand people tribes to avoid any potential attack, they also had the best they could find in security measures around the house...or so they had thought as the faulty equipment failed them horribly that night.
Glass shattered, screams filled the house, clay exploded, lasers ricocheted off of just about everything in the house as Cassandra burst into a maddened cry, covering her ears and eyes as her father and brother all ran outside, strapped to the teeth with firepower, her mother yanked her up in a tornado of commotion, everything in the house was now wrecked completely. Cassandra herself blacked out and had no idea what to do but sleep as the worst continued to happen on that afternoon in Tatooine, moisture farming equipment could be heard being destroyed and the howl...the howl of those Sand people seemed to be the last thing that Cassandra herself could remember of that night. She awoke later that evening to a vast argument to screaming and yelling, her brother Toran was saying something something about leaving and never coming back now that Father was gone. "Father was gone?". Cassandra remained upstairs in bed and began to sob slightly as her other brother joined in the argument and more tables and things seemed to break downstairs. She then heard her mother call for both of them to stop and then heard a mention of her name. It was silent for a little while but then all three of them came upstairs together.
Her eldest brother scooped her up out of bed, telling her he knew she wasn't sleeping and simply rocked her back and forth in his arms still sobbing slightly himself. Life continued onwards for the next month or so pretty normally except Lallane herself had no idea that their father had been killed that night by the Sand People. Her older brother Toran had taken over his father's moisture farming business and Joran had given up Skyhopper racing to help with the family business. Their mother...on the other hand was not doing well at all. She continued to watch the young Lallane do things that no four year old should do, she figured out that she had great reflexes and could do some nice tumbles or make herself feel better just by sitting still and not moving around too much. She didn't know how or why she could feel or do these things, but to her it was only natural. This however, only furthered her mother's angst and depression, since she knew without a father there she would have little to no chance at dealing with this mentally each night.
On another day that her brothers had been outside working, the sound of another voice came from outside. Her mother who usually was staring off into nothingness blankly after their father's death, seemed to become more aware then she had been since he had died in a long time. Lallane watched her mother stare out the window and grew curious as to who it was outside, she ran over to the window and pulled herself up to see. It was a man in a long brown robe (wasn't he hot?) with short curly hair, standing next to a Twi'Lek female wearing the same kind of brown robe. There was no idea in Lallane's mind what was happening, but her father's messages had finally reached the Jedi Order. Her brother's outside invited the two inside and called to their mother and baby sister upstairs. When they came down, the two Jedi Knights immediately locked eyes with Lallane and then looked at each other. The rest of the family including the (sweat covered) twin brothers looked dumbfounded for a moment but then introductions were made. The Twi'Lek female extended her hand to Lallane with a charming smile and Lallane for some reason smiled back at the woman and took her hand. The alien female then hoisted her up into her arms as the other man in the brown coat continued to talk to her mother, and brothers.
It was then that her mother understood that her husband had been right, their child was sensitive to the force and had a very strong connection to it. The jedi knight told her he felt it from the moment he got close to the house and that Lallane was at the perfect age now to begin her training to control her gifts. Her brother's protested with their mother about this for awhile, but she simply ignored them and agreed with the Jedi. The jedi talked for what seemed like forever with her brother's while Lallane curiously poked and prodded at the Twi'Lek jedi's tendrils and body parts with giggles and laughs abound on the other side of the room, innocent to what was happening in her destiny at this very moment. Eventually the brothers agreed to accept that they would have to let their baby sister grow up somewhere else. With a bow to them all, the other Jedi turned to the Twi'Lek jedi and motioned her over. Again, the alien woman scooped up Lallane, this time with a tighter more secure grip on her. For some reason she passed Lallane around to her family, her brothers both looking hurt and her mother on the verge of what seemed like insanity in her eyes. All of them group hugged, just the four of them one last time before her mother for some reason passed her back to the alien woman. Lallane began to struggle a little and then began to cry and reach out for her brothers or mother but none of them would listen. She then began wriggling around in the womans arms, but one touch of a blue finger on her forehead and one whisper and Lallane began to feel safer, sleepy and wasn't really thinking of her family anymore at all. When she had fallen completely asleep, the two jedi put their hoods up and bid the family farewell, promising Lallane would return one day to see them all. They carried the sleeping baby girl to their craft and took off into the stars.
~Chapter. II: The Jedi Order~
After arriving on Coruscant, Lallane was introduced to so many new people there that it made her head spin. In class with the other younglings, Lallane always seemed to be the one who got the most attention from her teachers and fellow students, largely because she was always talking too much. Her lightsaber skills were only so-so at this point and she only showed real skill when using the blade with her body motion, but she could use the force in a defensive manner, very well even during these young years, her instructors also discovered that she was a powerful Telepath for her age. She explored the temple a lot in these young years, always asking older masters questions when her class of younglings had the opportunity too. Lallane made friends with several other younglings, the boys especially began to think she was "cool" towards the end of their tenure as younglings, though she never got to understand what they meant by it because it was during this phase she was taken on by a master.
~Chapter III: The Force is With You, But Not a Jedi Yet~
She was eventually taken on as a Padawan by a familiar face. It was the Twi'Lek jedi knight who had come to her families home all those years ago to bring her here to the Jedi temple. Her name was Nayla Shara, though she didn't remember asking it definitely was a name she remembered or had heard before. At the young age of 12 she had plenty of questions for her new master, and though Nayla didn't reject any of the questions Lallane asked she reminded her young Padawan that she was not the only source of information available to her anymore, telling and showing her of the libraries and archives the jedi had at their disposal. The two ladies often meditated together for hours on end, attempting to use the force to move objects around one another without hurting or harming the other. Nayla also insisted that Lallane be as in tune with the Force as possible, sometimes having her meditate and in place for hours on end near a peaceful locations like the room of one thousand fountains or gardens simply to feel the force move calmly within everything around her.
Other exercises that Nayla was insistent upon Lallane performing over and over...and over again, was work with the Force Run and Force Jump abilities. For hours on end sometimes, after traveling to a remote or secure planet with her Padawan, Nayla would have Lallane Force Jump over whatever she saw fit. She would also have her Force Run alongside her to see how well she could keep up, though Nayla was considerably faster and could outrun her if she wanted. The end results that by the ages of sixteen and seventeen, Lallane was exceptional at both of the abilities. In lightsaber training, Nayla insisted upon her mastering the basic Shii-Cho form before she would teach her any of her own Ataru form. Lallane was enthralled by her masters ability to peform mid air flips and cuts, or a spinning slash through an incoming object at blazing speeds so the young Novos worked hard day and night until she felt like her lightsaber was as much a part of her as an arm, leg or ear. Finally, Nayla agreed to teach Lallane Ataru. She wasn't let down as her Padawan provided for an excellent sparring partner once she had learned and perfected some of the strikes, flipping motions, and defensive techniques. At times the sparring sessions between the two of them would seem like a blur of action; if a spectator was not in tune with the force, this is exactly what it would be. Though Nayla continually bested her at Ataru, Lallane did win a few rounds against her master from time to time, though since her master was a Makashi expert as well, Lallane stood little chance if Nayla ever wanted to end a sparring session early.
It was during this young time in her life; around the age of 12 or 13 that Lallane first picked up a bow. Fascinated with the weapon from the moment she held it in her hand; she almost begged and pleaded her Master inform her of what it was and how to use it before she could even move her feet from the spot she held it. She got more than she bargained for; her master was ruthless. When it came to learning the bow; she got what she asked for, hours upon hours of study with the bow. Sometimes; her master would wake her from her sleep and have her perform archery exercises in the middle of the night. It payed off; at the joy she felt when she truly began hitting her marks.
More years churned onwards and Lallane's skill grew under Nayla, as the two often talked more and more about what being a Jedi meant. Lallane felt often like being a Jedi meant you could help anyone do anything, and as she and her master went on various missions for the Order with a near perfect success rate, was a feeling that grew upon her as she turned 18. On one particular mission they were sent out to the Outer Rim to help with an investigation on Mustafar, a lush green world that once held many Jedi Enclaves in the past, and even to this day; one still stood. They were to search for any remnant of anything to do with the past Jedi there, any connection to anything their ancestors. Nayla and Lallane arrived to the thickly vegetated and green planet only to be informed by the native Mustafarians, and Jedi at the resident Enclave; that the planet was also being subverted and scoured for anything to do with the Force by the Dark Jedi as well, as many recent clashes had happened upon the planet between them. Unable to risk the mission objective falling into the hands of the Dark Jedi, Nayla and Lallane embarked through the jungles of the planet on a journey that tested not only their skill with the force but their teamwork. To assist in quelling the threat of the Dark Jedi on Mustafar, Cassandra and her Master were dispatched in order to assist the Jedi already present on Mustafar. Lallane showed great skill and promise when it came to clearing obstacles in her way while traversing the lush Mustafar, easily at times remembering her training when it came to movement in the Force. There were three of them, and they attacked without hesitation or respect. One of them immediately was thrown to their doom off of a cliff into a canyon below by Nayla, and then two lightsaber duels commenced, one with Lallane holding her own against the Dark Jedi but having to exert much skill and mental focus to keep up with him. For awhile she thought she would perish, but saw that she could compensate for skill and experience by using patience and more focus against such an aggressive opponent. Eventually, after timely blocking and dodging many strikes with her Ataru training, she saw an opening and defeated her first Dark Jedi, thankfully landing a fatal slash. Nayla bested the remaining Dark Jedi with her expert Makashi easily just as Lallane's opponent fell. The two looked at one another and smiled, as they both switched off their lightsabers. Lallane took this opportunity as she always did to practice her Force healing ability, focusing the force around them in the air and in their bodies to reduce fatigue and resharpen them mentally. Eventually they left the green Mustafar, with a great find for the Jedi Archives.
With many hours of work and dedication, and a natural touch with mechanics through her tinkering on Tatooine as a child, she crafted her own lightsaber with hours and hours of Nayla giving her advice at every turn...much to the distress of her Padawan. Eventually she rose to her feet from her work pile of wires and clicked on her weapon as it's turquoise blade sizzled to life in the air with a soft hum. Nayla couldn't help but to think back to the report of the little girl who was too good at tinkering as she watched her Padawan cast aside her training lightsaber for her very own, waving it through the air and getting a feel for it with several quick slashes that made music when swung.
It was after this step in her Padawanship that Nayla decided to begin training her in the arts of Shien and Djem So to make her lightsaber dueling more skilled than it already was after what she witnessed from her Padawan on Mustafar. Nayla had quite the eccentric friends, Lallane supposed it was because her master was a Twi'Lek and an attractive one that she was able to gather so many different kinds of friends, a trait that Lallane herself picked up from her master "One must be able to use their abilities outside of the force in order to truly use the force to it's full potential." is what her master used to say of both social skills and hand to hand combat training.
So after days and weeks of her master's friends firing blaster shots set to stun on her. At first, she was terrible but eventually Lallane became pretty good at sending the blaster bolts back at the shooter, though she couldn't quite hit them yet. Master Shara thought, that rather than using simple Bolt Droids in the temple; it would be better for Lallane to learn how to deflect bolts from a standing, moving, live opponent. So that her mind familiarized herself with what a person about to shoot at you looked and felt like through the Force. Her Djem So training, was difficult and it lasted until she was 21 years old as her master insisted she be able to defeat her opponents using only counter attacks to overpower her opponent making sure to teach her to respond with strikes that were powerful and strong with her lightsaber.
Her "perfect jedi life" however would be stricken with tragedy that very year as she would lose her master to the hands of the Dark Jedi in an ambush on Kashyyyk while the two of them were there on a surveillance mission to inspect the Wookies and see if smugglers had been recruiting them for the slave labor or trade. While scouting on a cliff, the two women were ambushed by a swarm of red lightsabers and force lightning. While she and her master quickly desposed of several of the Dark Jedi, they seemed to be on a mission and quickly put the Jedi and Padawan on the defensive. Engaging in a lightsaber duel to the death, though outnumbered they moved through the forests of Kashyyyk with numerous Dark Jedi on their heels. Eventually Nayla forced Lallane to continue onwards back to the Wookie's without her when she realized that they couldn't outrun all of the Dark Jedi's. Lallane initially refused but Nayla insisted that they split up so both of them would have a chance to escape. In agreement, they did so. As Lallane skipped through the trees she didn't encounter anymore Dark Jedi, and made it to the Wookie's without conflict. Though as soon as she went to tell the chief of the Dark Jedi's ambush she felt her connection with her master completely shut off in her heart. Sadness replaced the connection in her heart and mind she had shared with her since she was a young girl. Everything she knew, everything she had learned...the person who did this for her was taken away in an instant. In a fit she leaped back into the forest at the protesting howls of the Wookies, who then called the Jedi Order as Lallane searched the forests furiously for her master. Eventually she found nothing but her masters robes, as her lightsaber had probably been taken by the Dark Jedi's to be put into a trophy room or to toss off of a cliff somewhere. Sadly, she put her hood up on the spot and knelt down over her masters robes, her body had gone into the force. She ruffled them with her fingers once before collapsing into a fit of complete sadness and loss. It wasn't more than a few minutes of sobbing until she knew her master was gone for good. She knew she would have to accept this, and though on the inside she felt terrible, she knew this too would have to pass. She also reminded herself that the Dark Jedi could still be nearby as she wiped her wet face from the tears, and knew that she had to leave the area quickly and did so though she slowed down the further and further she got away from where her master had perished.
Eventually Lallane walked solemnly out of the forests of Kashyyyk without so much as a whisper to herself. She arrived back in Kerritamba Village and was greeted by several of her own Jedi Order members who had been called there immediately. Though they tried, they could not console her. She was more distraught over the thought of having a new master for three more years until knighthood was available to her than the death of her master. Eventually, she left Kashyyyk in a Jedi Starship headed straight for Coruscant. She silently mourned and grieved but was glad to be headed back to the temple for the most part in her heart. Her master would want her to do her best for her new master, and upon remembering this it was as if each drop of sadness turned into a river of motivation for Lallane to not only do good under her new master once she met them, but to do better than she did under Nayla. Lallane arrived back at the Jedi Temple to await the selection of her new master that very next day.
~Chapter. IV: They Call Them The Trials, They Called me a Knight~
Upon her return to the Jedi Temple from Kashyyyk, she was immediately drawn into training with various Padawans at the temple too draw her attention away from the grief, and sadness that seemed to be welling up within her. She needed something, some kind of conviction within her, to steady herself. She seemed to retreat into her own mind, a shell almost. Her usual chipper self became seemingly a beacon of silence and thought. Truthfully, she was meditating, day and night. Questioning, asking herself why she should allow these negative thoughts to harbor within herself, as the days drove on. She found it hard to push out, the feelings of missing her Masters voice, of regret, of feeling like she could've done something more. But she also found no reason for them to remain within her; Master Shara would not have wanted that. She needed conviction...a reason to move forward. It came when the Council deemed her ready for the trials, and selection of a path. Overjoyed, she realized that this was her chance this was how she could avenge her dead Master. The Sith had to be wiped clean, and now she'd be able to help. For the first time in months, she smiled a smile that no one around the Temple had seen her smile since her return from Kashyyyk.
She chose the path of a Force-Sensitive Child Recruiter. She'd never forgotten that day on Tatooine, when the Jedi Order came for her. She couldn't remember all of the days back there at home, but she could remember that day. If she could make that day special, or any less painful for any family in the Galaxy; then she would. It also gave her purpose, and conviction. As a Knight she would be allowed to travel anyway, however this gave her even more reason to do so. Who knew who, or what, she'd find out there? What Force Sensitive child was waiting to be pulled towards the Light or the Darkness?
With her Trial of Flesh (the death of her master before her eyes), Spirit (the deep meditation she used when back on Coruscant as necessary too cleanse and drive away thoughts of the Dark Side after her masters death, coming full circle with acceptance and understanding, effectively letting go), and Courage (facing down the Sith during her escape and surviving without surrendering, converting, or giving in) complete as deemed by the Jedi Council, she had but one Trial remaining; the Trial of Skill.
She was too take her first steps out into the Galaxy as a Jedi; as she finally approached the docking bay, helmet in tow in full flight gear being checked down by various deck Chiefs and hands before motioned towards the ladder leading up to her her small Jedi starship; she couldn't help but to think of her brothers back on Tatooine, and how they would've loved to see her now.
Her first few missions were a startling success; her social maneuvers with and without the Force led her around many a situation throughout the Galaxy as she scoured the Inner Rim worlds for Force Sensitive children. Many families felt increasingly secure as she and a various entourages of Jedi would approach them. She had a way with children, whether it be maternal instinct or genuine care for them as not only children, but Force Sensitives; kicking in. It would seem that she could potentially be one of the better Recruiters of the Jedi Order; until curiosity got the best of her during her scheduled visit too the Kolto Capital of the Galaxy; Manaan.
She was to scour the world, per usual. Drifting about unnoticed if she could due to the planets neutral alignment and laws, looking for any children that exhibited signs of Force sensitivity while of course abiding by her other duties as a Jedi. For hours, she scoured the watery world, with not so much as a blip registering; when suddenly she felt a definite point, a source of Force energy in Ahto City. She followed it's trail, and came into contact with a Twi'lek Swoop Racer. Stunned that an adult was the source, Cassy's curiosity indeed did begin to get the better of her. She found out through her own 'designs' that this Twi'lek whom she would eventually learn was named "Dia" was indeed trained in the ways of the Force, and seemed to be living the life of a Grey Jedi.
She did what she was trained too do, and attempted to best chronicle this Twi'lek as possible; however she felt she had wronged the Twi'lek during their initial meeting and decided too go against protocol and not report the location, age, training or any other data on the Grey Jedi after eventually gaining a second chance and 'somewhat befriending' her, and that was putting it lightly. Eventually, she left Manaan with a new understanding that not everything the Force touched was meant too be as she was; and that each persons definition of happiness was indeed different.
Cassy took this time too head back to Kashyyyk, the source of much pain and grief in her mind. It took up too much of her thoughts. Her clothes would be considered that of a bounty hunters; she even brought a bow along; a weapon she once loved. She didn't need much food, she only needed the force. She went into deep meditation there on Kashyyyk, wandering the thick woodlands for days on end. She practiced her Healing Trance there; in place of eating at times, and also...in place of thinking. She used it's woodland scape of trees too practice her movement, taking herself above and beyond fatigue as she hopped about through it's grand trees; Kinetics attached to herself in a way she never thought possible as she stood atop a high branch with perfect balance on a star lit night. She continued her training on Kashyyyk, for days on end. Her blue lightsaber could be seen whirling in the heights of the wilderness if one was too somehow find her within the depths of the forests. Her grief and aggression towards the subject of her Master's death seemed to vanish with each rise and fall of a day; Kashyyyk was still here, her Master's spirit still rested in these lands. So long as she held her memory, and Kashyyyk still stood, she never truly would be gone. Kashyyyk, and all it's wildlife were a product of the Force, and somewhere here...Master Shara had found peace. It was here at this moment of clarity and acceptance that she first discovered the light within herself. The Force Flash ability emitted a faint light from her for hours on end as she learned too call upon it at will.
Several months later, Cassy had just wrapped up a successful mission to Naboo. A child of a noble family had exhibited strange habits...he could tell a stranger how they were feeling with startling accuracy; and had reflexes that rivaled adult atheletes at a very young age. The child was recruited after several tests, and took a liking to both Cassy; and her Jedi companions. The parents; after seeing this unanimously decided that he would go. After saying their goodbyes, Cassy told her entourage of Jedi too head back without her for now; as she wanted some long needed and awaited meditation her on Naboo. A chance that was fleeting. The beautiful green fields here seemed to call to her; ever the nature nut. The country girl caught a lift to the grasslands; and eventually found herself a nice brook to settle in; complete with a small waterfall.
She had no idea what fate would send her way next. An unnamed Sith Master; fell upon her position like a passing breeze. Like a bad dream in the middle of a beautiful day on Naboo. Eventually after the Sith's somewhat sexual advances towards her and after words failed; the line was drawn. A crucial lightsaber duel flared through the shallow river and brook as her sky blue saber clashed and sparkled against his viridian green. He was much older than her, and had more experience with the ways of the Force; nearly killing her several times during the duel, although at the beginning she'd seemed to have the advantage. However, this Sith seemingly could not resist the temptation of her, and seemingly loved to manipulate. This would allow the lightsaber duel to come to a close, and providing Cassy with a brief window of opportunity too escape back to Theed from the grasslands.
Upon returning to Coruscant; she informed the Jedi Council of her success in Theed, and her encounter with the Sith Master there on Naboo. This culminated into a climax with her being promoted into full Knighthood, her Trial of Skill complete after several successful missions as a recruiter and her survival of the one on one encounter with the elder Sith. Her triumph however, would be short lived in her mind.
The Sith's main forces have revealed themselves, and launched an attack; Open War. Not days after she was knighted did the Siege of Bak'mral ignite the flames of war throughout the Galaxy. Cassy would don her new, ebony night black Jedi Knight robes; without the weight of the grief she'd overcome to be where she was now and too call herself a Jedi Knight.
~Chapter. V: Leaving Behind All You Know~
The Battle of Thila raged like a wildifre; as more life as extinguished on one day than Cassandra had ever seen around herself; or felt within herself. As the battle raged around her, Cassy's sky blue lightsaber buzzed and ripped through more lives than she cared to remember. However one thing she did feel, as she tore through the battlefield as a supposed beacon of justice; was emptiness. She did not feel the "oneness" with the Force that most Jedi would've claimed to have felt when performing at such levels on the Battlefield. She felt completely empty, and somewhat sad inside for that to have been the apex of her life.
She would never forget that singular feeling of emptiness, even after a duel with a Sith Lord; and escaping with her life after a lost Bak'mral finally fell. For that to be the pinnacle of her own one true self, to be simply a counter force to another on the battlefield. It wasn't enough for her. She would not be reduced to a tool of war, merely meant to clash with another in all it's intensity.
The Force was meant to be used for more; and so she began seeking more. Whilst still a member of the Jedi Order; Cassandra performed many actions which if done in the light; would've gotten her immediately expelled from the Order or worse: Aided a Terrorist in freeing several thousand slaves from a compound in Coruscant; only to have the compound be crashed down upon several hundred slave traders, had lightsaber duels with two Sith Lords; goading them both into conflict rather than retreating; one such duel resulting in the death of the Senator she'd been assigned to protect; and most recently, retrieved and salvaged a Hunter Killer droid.
Whilst still a Knight of the Jedi Order; she encountered a certain Sith Knight upon the planet Nar'Shadaa. Whilst out breaking the entire Jedi Code, drinking, dancing, embeleshing. She watched a young boy be killed helplessly that night; by the Sith Knight; powerless to help him she watched on. This drove her into a state of conviction. She returned to the Jedi Temple, gathering all of her belongings. She also broke into the Grand Archives at night; many times as she'd done as a Padawan, to download the remainder of the advanced Ataru forms, opting to finish her training elsewhere.
Boarding onto her personal Jedi craft; she would lift off from the Hangar Bay one final time as a member of the Jedi Order; looking back on her home of twenty four years. Memories flooded into her mind, smiles, laughs, frustration; lonliness. All of it would no longer mean a thing to her; the Jedi sat delving endlessly into theirs studies, while the Sith were out amongst the Galaxy, affecting very real change. Albeit in some of the most horrible ways. The Jedi sat endlessly on their heels; that the Sith literally had brought the fight right to their front door at Bak'mral. She realized that she was going to have to take more drastic actions; that operated way outside of the Jedi's line of thinking in order to affect any real change in the galaxy.
Along with her HK Droid "Lucky", Cassy began life as a full blown Bounty Hunter throughout the Galaxy quickly. Everything from busting Hutt Cartel shipments, to tracking down Sith encampments; she became involved with. Everyday, she's either finishing up a job; or attempting to find a new one. She tends to only take the type of jobs that will have lasting effect once completed; since she wants her actions to bring about 'Good' in the Galaxy if possible (by any means necessary). She has a fancy for busting up the slave trade as well, never losing her soft spot for children as an ex-Force Sensitive child recruiter for the Jedi. She still couldn't bare to see children whipped; tortured, or sold into slavery. Now that she was beginning to be more "well traveled", she saw things that she would've likely never encountered on general "missions" from the Jedi, meeting all sorts of Races and Species across the Galaxy that she'd only seen on Holosheets and Datapads. She'd seen the bottoms of the deep dark world of the drug trade; witnessed murders over bets gone sour by Bookies, and busted up more than a few Slaver operations, personally. She had also taken jobs from Sith Empire employers; something never in zillions off years. Yet; if the Bounty's the Sith give her are for murderers, rapits, or worse; then she'll gladly take the Target out and the money from the Sith's pockets. The underworld could be a nasty place. All the while; Cassy continued to do whatever she felt necesarry to achieve her goals. Touching the Dark Side once in a rage when unable to stop a Slaver from executing a set of child slaves he would no longer have been able to sell thanks to Cassandra and her crew. Losing control; she unleashed her pent up Sorrow and Rage. It manifested itself as the Dark Side ability Force Lightning; ripping the man to shreds before he knew what had hit him. It took several bursts of the Force Lightning, but Cassy kept on slinging it at him in her fit of Sorrow and Rage; eventually reducing the man to a burning pile of flesh and bones. Staring at the leftovers of the smoking husk and clothes; Cassandra could merely stare at her hands; and feel the resonance of the Dark Power course through her being, chilling her spine as she tasted this unknown power. She began to harness her emotions; using them to fuel her training with Ataru forward; and also her understanding of the mind, and soul. Refusing to let it consume her; she adopted the Philosophy that "Darkness could only be as useful as the Light that spawned it"; making sure to keep a firm grip on her morals as best she could in the midst of this tumultuous time spiritually for her.
The motly Trio of Cassy, Esmerelda, and HK-51 "Lucky" make up the crew of the "Century Eagle", Cassy's starship that she won (with the assistance of Lucky) off with two drunk Bounty Hunters who'd just scored big; and were too wasted and rich with Credits to care that they'd just lost their old ship; handing it over to Cassandra and Esmerelda willingly. The bet was, that if they could down more than 3 Glasses of Juri Juice each; Cassandra and Esmerelda would each spend the night with one of them, if they couldn't, they would hand over the Century Eagle. Lucky predicted (accurately) that they were already too drunk to refuse the impossible wager, and also currently inebriated past the ability to refuse a chance at sexual activity with two women of Cassandra and Esmerelda's calibur.
The "Century Eagle" now cruises the Galaxy; Cassandra seeks true understanding of the Force, and can be found hunting artifacts and accepting Jobs from various Bounty Hunting Cartels from time to time. As a part time Bounty Hunter; Rogue Jedi, and wielder of both the Light and Dark Side of the Force; Cassandra has many enemies, and even fewer allies. You're as likely to find her on a Jungle World as you are on a populated one; it merely depends on in which circles you may run. Cassandra continues to seek Power; in order to fill the void of Emptiness that she began to feel as a Jedi before leaving the order. However she seeks to use this Power for Good at this point; Good that can operate outside of any law or Code she'd grown up on (and still had memorized, even after full year as a Rogue Jedi); she'd never dreamed that
when she joined the Jedi, she'd one day use all they'd taught her to become
something else entirely.
A Vigilante of the Force.
~Chapter. VI: Credits and Karma~
Over the next two years, Cassandra began to contemplate her choices throughout the galaxy at large since leaving the order. She'd killed more than once, and become even more addicted to the Dark Side of the force. Like an option that she couldn't refuse, a sauce on her food that she'd never experienced until now--and couldn't get enough of.
More and more her dealings began to become "shady" often her decisions even raising suspicion from her best friend Esmerelda, the Red Twi'lek wasn't exactly known for her discretion either. So the fact that SHE was raising her eyebrows at times was cause for Cassandra to take a step back. She decided that she needed to hone her original body and mind to the edge. Traveling all around the galaxy, to Hoth and back she saught the harshest of conditions in order to hone her mind. Eventually, she learned to tune out everything---except for the Force. Seeking balance in her ways, she had been taught her whole life to ignore the Dark Side. But now, during a particular meditation on Taris; where she'd come to settle and train deep in the jungles she had discovered that in order to reach true understanding, she should not shy away from such things. Over the last two years, she'd been having trouble controlling her Force Lightning. An ability than randomly seemed to manifest itself when she got extremely angry. Since leaving the order, she selfishly had decided that no patience was needed in her own mind; and let her lightning roast more than one client to ash upon payment negotiations going sour. Deciding to take it all for herself most times.
This selfish fall towards the Dark Side was only halted when Cassy nearly put a childs life in danger. Afterward, she'd tried to stay calm so as to not awaken the power of the Dark Side within her. But now she understood that all she needed was to direct this power, to use her anger. Hone it. Direct it. And so she set about training in the ruins of the Endar Spire, using it's metal pieces and shattered hull pieces scattered throughout Taris' jungles as conductors to train and hone her control over Force Lightning. She found it was a great way to let out frustrations, and desires to rip others to shreds or destroy. These urges she was always taught, should be surpressed; but no. Not when they could be honed in this manner, and tuned to the Force.
After her training on Taris, and becoming more in touch wit the Dark Side of the Force. Cassandra's telepathic abilities seemed to skyrocket; as she now understood emotions of anger, lust, rage, and greed that had been blocked out. Shut off. The last two years had shown her the ugly truth about the galaxy that the Jedi had sheltered her from. Able now to sensitively sense negative emotions she found she could easily influence them through the force. As well as tune others towards a singular task. Over the next year she tuned this ability more and more, until she realized she could affect entire crowds with this ability if she so chose. Although she mostly used it for escape during the first entire year. She eventually found that this ability was useful when working with other Bounty Hunters. To keep everyone focused on a single task, their mind unwavering.
Due to the nature of her work, her skill with Ataru--making quick getaways and retreats or to protect or move a target in intense situations; and Djem So--having to deliver critical execution strikes and powerful overhand lightsaber swings augmented with the Force in order to down larger species on Bounty Jobs that got out of control, grew exponentially. Her Saber Form and Jedi Teachings from Master Teer Ka, Roq, and Jace Beleren still strong within her from childhood, yet unleashed and without any dam on the raging waterfall that was the Force within her now. With true passion behind her movements, she would find that she had been suited to both styles in ways she never imagined. Since childhood, she had been a powerful Telepath; which coupled well with her Ataru. Able to move at precisely the right moment, or leap out of the way when an opponents mind grew especially angry like a sixth sense of sorts. Another skill she'd always seemed rather advanced in was Body; now as her mastery of Djem So grew, she learned just how much rage and power once could put behind their strikes with the Dark Side of the force helping.
Her HK-Droid, "Lucky" seemed to rather enjoy her new dardevilish attitude. Since he used to be owned by gamblers. She, Lucky, and Esmerelda passed the time by the two others shooting at Cassy while she practiced her backhand Shien. It was a game that sometimes ended up painful for Cassy; as going up against a Notorious Smuggler and Pistol wizard and a friggin' Hunter Killer droid for deflection practice was NOT an easy task. However, she knew her companions were two of the best; and she knew she was bound to run into MORE of the best out in the galaxy. So call her crazy, but she took, and takes every opportunity to have others shoot at her. She knows deflection blaster bolts will become increasingly useful in her new line of work.
Another year passes, as Cassandra hears about the Mandalorian Conflicts growing out of control. Heading off to investigate and see if there is money to be made for a Force User, she immediately befriends several Mandalorians who try to kill her at first; but upon noticing how skilled of a warrior she is, opt to talk instead. In a very tense conversation; Cassandra for once begins to understand the Mandalorians point of view in the conflict at large. Eventually one man steps forward, as the resemblance between her and this man is simply uncanny. For a moment she thought that her Father had risen from the dead through some miracle in the Force. But it was her Mother's brother. As he confirmed this with merely a few sentences, and words. Everyone in the room was shocked that one of clan Ordo's family members was an Ex-Jedi, and for a moment the situation only grew more tense. Until nothing but a welcoming party erupted around her. She spent the next few months, learning and understanding her Mandolorian roots. Although her mother had been shamed for leaving them years ago before Cassandra was born, they were very adamant that she learn her history.
Before making a few friends and deciding in her own heart and mind that Mandalore the Reclaimer had the right of things; and that the Mandalorians had a right not only to their homeland; but to prosper as an interplanetary nation like any other. She made a promise to her Uncle, that she would never waste her talents on something so silly as the Jedi Order ever again. That her Father would be proud of her no matter what path she chose. Her also revealed that the Mandalorians would possibly begin working with the Sith openly. Telling her to her face that there was more fight in her that the Jedi Order would ever allow her to give, due to her Mandalorian blood and heritage. He also noticed her attire, and realized weeks ago that she had already left the Jedi Order. Malcom Ordo extended his hand to his niece that day, as she left Mandalorian space with a new outlook, and a few new alliances that morning. Her HK Droid simply loved the Mandalorians, as she had to literally pry Lucky away from their weapons armory at dawn.
~Chapter VII: Show Me the Dark Side~
Deciding that she needs to understand the Dark Side of the Force more if she hopes to have some impact in what she feels is a huge Hyperspace War coming if the situation continued, she eventually attempts to locate the Sith themselves, for the first time not as an enemy. Rumours have led her all across the galaxy, as she feels if she continues down this Dark Path with no guidance, she will surely destroy herself. The credits continue to rain in on her successful career as a bounty hunter, but she feels an emptiness that only true knowledge of the Dark Side would fulfill. As much as she knew of the Jedi Founders and Masters of yore' she saught the same understanding of the Sith Lords of the past, and hoped the Sith Lords of the present could teach her to become more than just a butcher. She suspected there was far more to the Dark Side of the Force than that. She felt if she could understand light, then she could also understand Darkness. Perhaps wars and grand battles in the past as a Jedi Knight of the Order had changed her, perhaps it was the fact that Master Teer Ka had left her just as her previous master had. But she was different now, and saught to control her anger or perhaps unleash it. For now, she seemed content to act as if making money, and having a good time were enough. But her current lifestyle as a notorious bounty hunter was just a front for the thirst of the deeper knowledge over the Force the Dark Side could bring her. Eventually she did find her way to Korriban, seeking to reunite with the few Sith she'd met and dueled with along her path as a Padawan and Jedi, hoping for greater instruction in the Dark Side of the Force. Immediately apprehended, and completely overwhelmed by the amount of Dark Side energies around her; it took her some time to get acclamated to her new surroundings as a powerful Telepath this was extremely maddening. Repeated interrogations from her supposed fellow Sith, with no real authority some weaker than herself drove her to exercise patience and seclusion around other Dark Side users. Traits that most Sith would never show.
However she found that she was allowed to train, speak, and think to different heights now. And as a free person, let alone Sith. The Dark Side had many ways that she was still only turning the page too; besides unleashing her power through it--it had it's mundane uses as well. Being able to live freely was something she was not used too. No longer were her ways considered edgy to her peers or fellow "Jedi"--it was normal. However, she remained to herself. Patiently mastering the Dark Side and exploring the caverns of Korriban sometimes for days on end. Her ship the Century Eagle was eventually returned to her and her HK droid companion as well. Together, they explored the planet eventually after just about giving up hope Lucky accidentally kicked something forward ahead of them in the dunes, bouncing off of a neaby boulder it rolled down and twinkled in the light. A holocron.
Since the name "Vega" reminded her of the word Vengeance, she took that name for herself---as she would have revenge upon anyone who would tread on freedom. Whether it be through the Force, or through their own means. Those who stood in the way of her or the Sith would be destroyed without a second thought.
"Peace is a lie, there is only passion.
Through passion, I gain strength.
Through strength, I gain power.
Through power, I gain victory.
Through victory, my chains are broken.
The Force shall free me."
Roleplay Sample: Cassy was wide awake, and couldn't sleep at all.
She paced the chambers of a waiting room within the Jedi Temple in Coruscant on the morning after one of the worst days of her life, not knowing what her fate would be after the events on Kashyyyk.
Master Shara kept saying I was so close to being able to pass the trials and becoming a knight...will my new master think the same thing? Will it be another woman? Or will it be....a man...ugh. Lallane didn't relish the thought of her master being attracted to her in any way. 'Though if he's handsome.....' Lallane immediately chuckled to herself at her own random thoughts as she paced waiting for someone to come and retrieve her, to inform her of whom her new master would be. She remembered her masters teachings about men, passion, and love. She even heard her voice echoing in her mind saying--"Men are simple, they're beautiful to look at sometimes, like the most beautiful flower you can find in any garden Lane...but don't ever pick any of those flowers...lest you leave yourself open to the poison of love." with a smile and a that short trip down memory lane, she focused the force on her mind and body to relax. Immediately she found a seat in the waiting room and plopped down crossing her legs and resting her hands on them with a deep inhale and exhale, feeling the calming sensations of the force take her over. Eventually she was completely relaxed.
"Soon enough I suppose I'll be learning some new tricks." was the only thing she could think to say to herself aloud. Who knew what kind of teacher her next master would be, or what he or she would look like, what teachings of the force they would believe in. Lallane looked out the massive windows of the room onto the endless bustle that was Coruscant. Passenger cars whizzed by the window in endless rows above and below, and it relaxed her further as usual with the occasional buzz of a high speed car whizzing by. She thought of home, of Tatooine and the endless seas of desert. She thought of the two suns, Tatoo I and Tatoo II, and of her twin brothers and mother there moisture farming as usual. She was lost in thought to the point where she almost didn't feel the presence of several Jedi enter the room.
"Young Novos, if you would." one of them said. All of them were human, like herself and stood there in their brown robes with their hoods all down. Most of them were young, though the one who spoke to her was older. She hadn't ever met any of them but they seemed to know more about her than any stranger or good friend could hope too. "We grieve for the loss of Master Shara, she was a good friend to us all...but we cannot imagine how you feel nor would we attempt too." the same Jedi spoke in a calm manner.
"Master Shara......" she paused "Would want me to do the best that I could do Master." she gave a small bow, knowing this to be true in her heart. Her emerald eyes gazed upon them all expectantly.
"Such focus...will be easy to teach." the Jedi smiled a bright white smile that cheered Lallane up and almost made her giggle a little at the middle aged bald man before her. The other Jedi noticed this and also each seemed to grin or smile a little themselves. "It however is always a shame when a Master is lost and has a Padawan so close to the trials in both age and skill. Sometimes it is difficult to find another master, but that's only circumstantial....and in these circumstances...I think finding another master willing to teach you will be the least of your worries." he finished with a more serious expression. "Finding the right one will be the greatest task."
Lallane remained silent, looking to the floor for a moment and then looking to the group in front of her once more.
"You will be on Coruscant and not be able to leave the Temple grounds until a master chooses you or until the Council appoints one for you, is that clear Young Novos?" he asked with an almost unmovable authority. Lallane bowed to him and nodded once, though on the inside she really did love to be out and about helping someone do something instead of sitting around doing nothing.
"Yes Master....but what am I to do around the Temple until then?" she asked almost knowing what the answer would be, but still was kind of unhappy to be restricted in such a way until a certain time though she knew it was for the best.
"You will be restricted to research and lightsaber sparring with any other willing Padawan, Knight or Master until your own Master has been assigned. You may train in the force in your own residence of course but nothing extreme or too deep without the supervision of a Master." he said almost exactly what she had expected him too. She was basically to do nothing until she had a master again.
"As you wish---" she bowed to each of them in succession before raising her hood up over her bright blue eyes and dark locks. "Thank you, all of you...for your time and condolences" she said honestly as she gave them a sincere smile. "I apologize if I seem eager to do otherwise...it's just that--
"We are well aware that you like to help anyone and anything you can Young Novos but....sometimes the best thing you can do is to help yourself in here...and here." he pointed to both his heart and head. Lallane nodded to him, this time with a real earnest smile.
"May the force be with you Young Novos." he said as all of them bowed to her.
"And may the force be with you Master." she recited back to him, watching them leave in what seemed like perfect unison to her as their brown cloaks disappeared out of the doors that slid open and closed in what seemed like an instant. She walked to the edge of the window and stared out against Coruscant once more.
"Well....I guess it's like they said...either a Master will find me or one will be appointed to me by the council." Lallane sighed to herself with a small grin, placing her hands on her hips as she looked out against the unending city, the whizzing and whirring of cars speeding by filling the chamber with soft noise. In minutes she turned silently, hood still up and left the room in the swoop of her own brown cloaks.
