Post by Postman on Feb 3, 2014 14:02:56 GMT -5
Name: Kaalsa Wann
Race: Iktotchi/ male
Age: 23
Height: 6'1"
Weight:180 lbs
Appearance: The most prominent feature about Kaalsa is his single horn which protrudes from the side of his hairless head. It is large and tapers down until it reaches a little past his shoulder and makes his appearance intimidating due to its size. He has only one eye which is sunken in and black within yellow. It exudes a sense of reserved strength and dignity that is in contrast with his face. Sharp facial features such as cheek bones and chin make his face seem more aggressive than it actually is, and the skin on his body is tough and leathery with a tan hue to it. Three scars run from his eyebrow to his throat, making his face even more intimidating. His nose is thin and hawk-like. Due to his race being thick creatures, his torso is wide and his legs strong and muscular. Constant training also adds to his lean bulk. He wears the traditional Jedi cloak with a dark green shirt underneath it, along with white wool pants tucked into brown boots. His utility belt and lightsaber are his only possessions. His voice is deep but calm.
Personality: Kaalsa Wann is known as a mediator between opposing ideals. Confrontation is something he avoids with vigor and will try every alternative before outright fighting. He believes in constant meditation and holds true to the Jedi ways with reserved passion and commitment. The Order is the only thing in his life and he is dedicated to it. Diplomacy is a strong suit of his and is something he strives to excel at, along with daily regiments of saber training. A quiet yet noble strength resides within him, and though he may speak softly, it cannot be mistaken for timidity.
Birth place: Iktotch
Faction: Jedi
Rank: Knight
Lightsaber: Standard metal shaft with grip.
Color: Green
Practiced Lightsaber forms:
Shii-Cho 5
Makashi 1
Soresu 3
Ataru N/A
Shien / Djem So N/A
>>Sub-form Backhanded
Niman N/A
>>Sub-form Jar-kai, or Dual Wield
Juyo N/A
Double Bladed Combat
Force-Sensitive Abilities or practices:
Telekinetic:5
Telepathic: 3
Body: 2
Sense: 5
Protection: 3
Healing:1
Destruction:0
Specialized Skills:
-precognition
Attributes:
Physical Strength: 6
Intelligence: 7
Speed: 5
Leadership: 5
Unarmed: 5
Melee Weapons: 2
Ranged Weapons:1
Bio: Kaalsa Wann does not know where he was born because he was found in an alley on Coruscant by a Jedi on his way to the senate. A chance meeting that would alter the course of his life forever. The Jedi knight that found him was a human by the name of Kaldor Qin. As he walked by the alley he noticed a flicker in the force and chose to investigate it. The further he went down the alley he could hear something crying; it sounded like a child. Reaching out in the Force he found a small Iktotchi baby in a canister; it was a boy, and he was abandoned. Compassion overcame Kaldor and he took the child with him sensing it to be the will of the Force. He picked the small boy up and he stopped crying. Kaldor then went on his way, heading to the temple.
Years as a Youngling: 3-12
The child stayed in the nursery until he was of the right age to be accepted as a youngling. Monitored as he grew, his metichlorian count was high enough for him to be deemed force sensitive. Once accepted, he then began the rigors of training.
Day after day he trained with his clan, learning from the masters all that he could. He took a special interest in politics and diplomacy, for combat was more of a meditative practice than a means for resolving issues. He had witnessed many youngling a grow competitive and had seen fights that only ended in bruises and burns; not to mention scolding a from the masters. Diplomacy seemed the better alternative and so he spend many hours researching this particular area.
As he grew, so did his race's physical features and his horns began to grow in length and size. Once they had been stubs only slightly protruding from his head, but now they were rapidly growing. Many of the other younglings began to make jests, and he became reclusive and self-conscious due to his horns. At the age of 7 they had grown out and down. The mockery continued, subtly, for the masters did not approve of it; none the less, it happened. After years of being exiled and hardly spoken to unless by a master, Kaalsa cut off one of his horns. The pain was excruciating, but he thought that if he could remove his horns then he might be able to find recognition amongst his peers. Only able to cut off one before a master found him, he was devastated and ashamed of his actions. Concerned, the Jedi master who instructed the younglings in negotiations spoke with him and asked why he had mutilated himself. Kaalsa responded by explaining his situation through tears he could hardly restrain. After he had finished the master looked on him with pity and understanding. He proceeded to tell the youngling that he should not seek approval from others, he should find it from inside and make peace with himself; for if he continued down this path the resentment he would begin to feel would lead him down a path to darkness. This would ultimately lead to his destruction.
Kaalsa used the words that the master had given him to push aside the shame and hurt that he held within himself and from that moment dedicated himself to peacemaking and the protection of others.
Practicing the different saber forms was required of every youngling, and some took to it faster than others. Kaalsa was not exceptional at fighting, but he found the use of body and mind to be meditative and practiced vigorously. Sorasu peaked his interest early on due to its wonderful application for defense; so, as much as possible, in between lessons, he practiced it with intent. As the years went by his skills grew. He became adept in the skill of diplomacy and peacemaking, while maintaining a balance with his swordsmanship, becoming quite proficient in the process.
He did not focus on making friendships due to his early encounters, but he did manage to find one friend; a twi'lek girl. Around the age of ten Kaalsa was studying in the library on different species and customs in order to obtain a better understanding of their customs, when a young girls voice asked what he was doing. Utterly surprised, he didn't reply for a length of time. She asked again assuming that he had not heard, and this time he replied slowly that he was studying different species. Interested, she sat down and began to converse with him about the topic, explaining her race and home world. She then told him that her name was Numa-Ann (sister moon). The only friend he had ever had, appeared before him suddenly and without warning. They continued their friendship and became close friends throughout the rest of their training.
Padawan Apprenticeship: 12-22
At the age of twelve, Kaalsa had grown into a competent and skilled young boy, though still a little unsure of himself. It was time to be chosen as a padawan and a competition between the younglings was occurring soon. It was his time to show his abilities and all that he had worked for. He and Numa-Ann, his long time friend, spared for a while in order to test themselves and once done began to talk about weaknesses and strengths.
The next day the competition began. Selected younglings were pitted against each other in a mock battle while Knights and Master looked on, assessing them. Kaalsa was waiting to be called on to begin his assessment when Numa-Ann walked up to him where he was sitting on a bench outside the chamber. She took a seat beside him and an awkward silence hung in the air for a few moments until she finally told him that they would be up against each other. Kaalsa looked at her with astonishment and then pain. He knew that this would be a defining moment in their friendship, and that it would also determine whether or not they would be chosen as padawans. Looking at the floor he told her that she had been his only friend and that he didn't know if he could go through with it. Numa took a moment to look at his sad expression, then spoke firmly but softly and told him that he need not fear the outcome of the match, that she would do her best and so should he. Either way she would remain his friend. Comforted, but still sad, he nodded in agreement, at that moment they were called in for the match. She smiled one last time and then they entered the chamber.
They were told that they would be assessed by current Jedi as they fought; these were the only instructions. Each took their place in the center of the room and drew their sabers slowly. They had done this countless times before, but a weight now hung in the air as they both knew the severity of the situation. For a moment there was only the sound of humming lightsabers, then both younglings rushed forward. Numa-Ann was lithe and agile, twisting and moving her body like a twi'lek dancer which her race was known for; she was elegant, but fierce. Kaalsa was a wall of defense, strong and observant; always looking for the next attack and looking for an opening. He parried with ease and subtle movements, conserving his energy and letting Numa expend energy. The battle raged for quite some time, both proving their proficiency in handling their sabers. After a long flurry of blows Numa lost balance and in that moment by sheer muscle reflex, Kaalsa landed a blow. Numa feel to the ground, stunned, but not as stunned as Kaalsa. He stood perfectly still, wondering what happened now and feeling remorse as he looked at the defeated face of his friend.
Another moment passed before the Jedi that had led them in bade Numa to exit the chamber. She turned and left without looking at Kaalsa, hurting him in the process. Another Jedi entered the room and stood in front of Kaalsa, he had a short dark beard flecked with grey and Green eyes. He looked Kaalsa in the eye for a long while and then spoke only a few words- I will take you as my padawan- and then turned and left. Kaalsa didn't know what to do. He had lost a friend but gained a master. His emotions conflicted with one another, joy with sadness.
After that he went to his bunk and gathered all of his things together in preparation. As he left his room, there stood Numa. She held up her hand to stop him from speaking and told him that she was happy for his accomplishment and that even though she would be held back a little longer, she held no ill will towards him. She was still his friend. As a last farewell she hugged him and said, "May the Force be with you Kaalsa Wann." And with that she left without another word.
Four years had passed since becoming a padawan and it was not at all what Kaalsa thought it would be. He had been chosen by Jedi Master Kaldor Qin, and while he was not unkind he was strict. They had been on a few diplomatic missions to mid rim worlds, and though this fascinated him, Kaalsa was also concerned that his master was not pleased with him. Kaldor constantly asked questions about other species and worlds, politics and the agendas that were hidden beneath them testing his padawan's knowledge. In more ways than one, his tutelage under Kaldor was more arduous than anything else he had encountered; not to mention saber training at a moments notice.
They were riding in a commercial freighter on a mission to Cerea to negotiate a technology treaty between certain factions on the planet. His master was sitting cross legged on the metal floor meditating, his saber in his lap while Kaalsa mirrored him. Kaldor, without moving, told Kaalsa that he sensed something was bothering him. Kaalsa opened his eyes and looked uneasily at his master. He thought about denying it but knew that Kaldor could tell if he was lying, so he decided to speak his mind. Kaalsa told his master that he felt he was a disappointment and that he was unsure of his abilities. Kaldor sat still a few moments more without moving, and then looked into his padawan's face for even longer. At length he spoke quietly to him explaining how he had watched him grow in his ability to use and commune with the Force. His skills with a lightsaber were honed and solid. Kaldor reassured Kaalsa that his abilities were growing, but he must have patience to understand why he taught him this way. These reassuring words were enough for Kaalsa and he went back to meditating.
As they approached the Cerea, Kaldor asked if Kaalsa sensed anything wrong with the force, and he agreed that something felt odd. As workers were unloading goods from the ship, the master and his padawan walked around the platform. A sudden explosion knocked them both back, luckily Kaldor had thrown up a Force shield an instant before the explosion, sensing an attack. Kaalsa was stunned, his ears ringing and brain swimming. He asked himself why there was an explosion and looked around for a culprit. A figure in strange armor was stealthily moving through crates trying to stay hidden. He shouted to his master and pointed, but as he looked around he found him pinned to the ground by a cargo container, his left arm and leg completely crushed. A pool of blood was seeping from under the large container. Kaalsa couldn't think properly, he didn't know what to do. Going to him, he cradled his head and begged him not to die. Kaldor opened his eyes slowly, there was still life in him! He instructed Kaalsa to help him lift the container off of his body, but Kaalsa hesitated, not knowing if he was capable of it. Kaldor sensed this and told him that with the Force as his ally, he would be capable. Bolstered by his masters words he began to concentrate, sensing the force moving through him, his master, and the container. It slowly raised up just enough to free Kaldor and together they pushed it away.
But there was no time for celebration, the explosion had set the ship ablaze and the flames were close to the fuel tanks of the ship. Kaalsa knew he had to move his master quickly, so with aid again from the force, he heaved his master up and moved him to the gate. He opened the large round doors, and moved inside. As the door just shut, the blast shook everything around them throwing containers against the door. They had made it.
Two months after the incident, his master had received prosthetic limbs to replace the ones he had lost. He was still recovering and would be in rehab for an undetermined amount of time, for their technology was not up to par with Coruscant's. Until they could return, he would be stuck with what he had.
For all of that they still had a mission to complete. While his master was in recovery, a political leader had spoken with Kaalsa about the ever increasing rebel attacks; purists who thought more technology would only bring doom. They had been attacking every shipment that had been coming in and they had hoped that the Jedi would be able to assist. A low level member was captured and interrogated but nothing had worked.
Once Kaldor had healed fairly well and regained some of his strength, Kaalsa went to him and asked him what he should do. His master, as always, took a space of time to think about the question and then eventually answered by saying that he still needed more time to heal, yet they needed to deal with this quickly. So he told his padawan that he would have to interrogate the rebel in his place. Shocked that his master would ask him to participate so heavily, he agreed to the task obediently.
Kaalsa was led to the barracks where the Rebel was being held. Once there he saw the man in a steel room with only a bench to sit on. He looked to be in his early twenties, not much older than Kaalsa himself, and his face did not portray someone who would commit terrible crimes. Kaalsa searched the Force for anything in the Cerean that would help him to better understand the situation. He sensed calmness and certainty in him; this was unexpected. Not knowing what else to do he entered the room.
An hour later he reported back to his master. He had been able to influence the Rebel with subtle use of the Force as he asked questions to gain information about the rebel hide out. It appeared to be quite close to the city on the outskirts. His master never took his eyes of Kaalsa, absorbing the information while his expression was that of someone trying answer a question. After all the details had been given, Kaalsa waited patiently for his master's reply; he knew it would take a while for him to digest the situation. Surprisingly Kaldor only took a brief moment before he told Kaalsa that he must go and gather information about them. Self-doubt once again began to creep into Kaalsa's mind like a shadow, but he pushed it away, knowing it to be false. He had begun to understand it now and its hold on him was weakening. Kaldor told him to meditate for a while before he went to prepare; Kaalsa felt it would be good for him as well to clear his mind.
As he meditated he began to dream, but it was not sleep; he was awake and seeing events and people. The dream was showing a group of Cerean's talking in hushed tones. They were talking in their native tongue which made understanding them impossible, but he knew it was important. All of a sudden they all turned and saw him, shouting and pointing; the vision went black and he stirred from his meditation. Kaalsa decided that he need not tell his master of the vision.
As night fell Kaalsa approached the door of a warehouse used for medical supplies on the edge of the city. The door was guarded by a Cerean pretending to be a beggar; Kaalsa had sensed alertness in him as he approached. The building beside it rose to half the height of the warehouse and seemed like a decent place to get up on the roof. Keeping to the dimly lit areas, Kaalsa made it to the side of the building and looked up- it seemed a decent place to access the roof. Concentrating, he jumped and used the Force to push him upwards. Landing softly on the roof he walked to to edge of the building and prepared to jump again, but before he could the sound of a door opening stopped him and he crouched down quickly. The beggar had gone inside and another one took his place. Kaalsa thought to himself that it was a little obvious to have shifts, but it wasn't his operation. He focused on jumping again and leaped, but he had judged the distance wrong and slipped on the edge having to catch the ledge. Pulling himself up quickly he looked around for a moment looking for any entrances. A vent poked out of the roof and seemed to go down into the building; he figured that it was the only way to get in and climbed into it.
After a good portion of time was spent pushing his way through vent shafts he found an opening and went through it. It dropped him in what looked to be an office; unsure if anyone was around, he searched the force for other presences and found there were many. Kaalsa took a moment to calm himself and assess what would be the best course of action; he wondered what his master would do. Slow and methodical, that's the way he worked. Stepping through the door to the main warehouse there were rows of containers stacked two high. He was on a balcony and could see all of the guards walking the area; unfortunately, there were a lot of them. He noticed a concentration of guards near a door at the back. Looking around the large room, he figured out a path that would give just enough cover to make it to the door; he would have to be stealthy, but he could make it. Adrenaline was pumping through him as he quietly slid onto the first container. If he crawled across the containers all the way to the door the guards wouldn't notice him.
After what seemed hours of crawling he was able to reach the door where two guards stood at attention, the only problem was that he had no way of getting in besides a fight, and he didn't have a true saber. The only way he would be able to gain access would be through distraction. Using the Force he persuaded the man on the left to believe that a noise had sounded behind the container on his right; the concentration it took surprised Kaalsa, but he was glad it worked. Even better, they both went to check out the noise leaving the door unmanned. Without delay he jumped down and squeezed through the door quietly. It opened into a decently sized room. Kaalsa could hear voices in the room and moved as silently as possible towards them; it all seemed familiar somehow. As he moved closer he could see figures at a table, they seemed to be discussing something important. Taking his recorder out of his belt, he taped the conversation. Without warning the door behind him opened and a guard stood there, surprised. With that pause Kaalsa Force pushed the guard backwards through the door and ran through it. He knew that in a few moments all of the guards would be alerted if they hadn't already. He jumped up onto the containers and began running across them, leaping form one to the other. He recalled the general direction of the exit and headed there. The guards were now discharging blaster bolts at him; using the Force he tried to doge as many as he could but there were just too many and one caught him in the shoulder.
He tumbled down to the ground none too gently and stayed there for a moment to catch his breath. The pain began to burn in his right shoulder were the bolt had hit him, but he had to get up; luckily the guards had lost him for a moment. Searching the Force he found the exit and ran for it. Once again blaster fire rained down and it was by sheer luck, or the will of the Force, that he saw the exit in front of him; with a final push he Force pushed the doors open and ran into the night heading towards the med center and his master.
With the information Kaalsa had obtained the Cerean government was able to infiltrate the rebels and disband them. His master had healed fully and they were on there way back to Coruscant to be debriefed. Kaalsa was siting in a chair meditating when he felt his master's presence. Kaldor strode over to Kaalsa with the faintest hint of a limp and sat beside him. He congratulated his padawan on the completion of the mission and without looking at him told him that he was ready. At first Kaalsa was confused but after a gentle smile from his master, he understood- he would begin the construction of his lightsaber.
-Building his Lightsaber-
Kaalsa was eighteen and was not the naive padawan he once was. The diplomatic mission he had gone on with his master had revealed what a dark place the galaxy was, but he learned to accept it and combat it with his own desire for peace. Today was his birthday and his master had not said a word. He usually didn't say much, but he always acknowledged it. Kaalsa wondered if he had forgotten or if there was another meaning behind it. Just as he finished his thought Kaldor walked into the meditation chamber. Greeting his padawan, he sat in front of him cross-legged and looked him in the eyes. He proceeded to tell Kaalsa of his race and certain abilities they possessed- one of these being precognition. Kaalsa listened to all that his master had to say and at the end grew to understand why he had visions that ended up coming true. His master explained the reason for telling him this is that in order to craft his saber he would have to meditate heavily on a crystal in order to imbue it with his own essence; but, during the meditation you are susceptible to losing yourself in visions and could be driven mad. A fear rose in Kaalsa as his master explained the process to him. He quenched the fear, knowing this was a large step for him and meaning behind it: his master thought him ready. His master told him that the process of building his saber would be arduous and take quite a long time to prepare, but Kaalsa already knew this. Kaldor explained that they would be going to Ilum to find his crystal and Kaalsa's excitement grew; they would take a private ship and stay for as long as it took.
After a few days they arrived in orbit of Ilum and as they approached the planet Kaaldor told Kaalsa that he needed to put on winter gear for it was a planet made completely of ice. Landing at they temple that had been erected long ago, they stepped onto the platform and a blisteringly cold wind bit their faces. As they went inside, they were addressed by a service droid which asked their business. Kaldor informed the droid that they were here for his padawan's lightsaber construction. Checking that this was approved, the droid led them through the temple to the crystal caves. As they reached the beginning of the caves his master abruptly stopped and turned to face him and pulled something out of his robes; it was a lightsaber! It was his masters lightsaber! Kaalsa didn't understand, why would his master give him his lightsaber. Knowing what his padawan was thinking he told him that he had removed the crystals from it and that he would have to find his own; he had already constructed a new one. Kaalsa fought back strong emotions as he held the steel shaft in his hands, and felt honored by his master's gift. Kaldor then told Kaalsa he wouldn't be able to leave until he had made his saber, however long that might be. Knowing that his master was serious, he began to walk into the caves. Activating his light, Kaalsa walked through the entrance; the walls were black and dimmed the light. Kaalsa thought to himself that this would take some time.
Days went by as Kaalsa searched the caves and they were vast. Strange animals that lived the cave would show themselves periodically, but no more than a few seconds and they were not hostile. The searched lasted almost two weeks before Kaalsa found any crystals and he had only found one. He was weary from his search and hadn't eaten much, but he had found one. It was green. It seemed to be similar to the ones his master had informed him of. Taking it back to his master they sat and discussed it. His master inspected the green crystal saying it was mephite and that it was a good find. Now came the time for meditation, and it made Kaalsa uneasy as he prepared.
Sitting cross-legged at the entrance to the exit tunnel and facing his master, he lifted the crystal with the Force to chest height and began to imbue his very essence into the crystal. Kaalsa began to loose all sense of reality, and only the crystal mattered. He poured himself into it, imagining it to be a great container being filled with liquid. The process went on for quite some time. Visions passed before him; people, faces, and events flashing in and out, but he couldn't make sense of them.
He could hear distant shouting as if an echo of a forgotten time. It grew louder and louder until it seemed right next to him. Suddenly he opened his eyes and gasped. The rocky ceiling was above him with his master partially blocking his view. Weakly he asked how long he had been meditating; his master replied that it had been four days. Kaldor then told him that he had been monitoring him though the Force and felt him beginning to slip away; it had taken another few hours to rouse him. His master handed him the crystal as Kaalsa sat up. He looked at it and knew it was ready. Disassembling his master's old lightsaber with the Force he inserted the crystal and then gently put it back together. Activating it, it shone with a vibrant green hue; Kaalsa had never been so happy. He tested it and it felt solid. He had finally constructed his lightsaber.
Trials of Losing a Friend:
Four more years had passed since the construction of his lightsaber. He and his master continued their missions diligently and over time Kaalsa developed his skills with his new saber. Everywhere they went he took training droids with him for practice or sparred with Kaldor. The movements and forms were a way for Kaalsa to focus his energy constructively while finding peace in the physicality of it. More than once it had saved his life.
He and his master had been sent to the undercity of Coruscant to investigate a gang that had been selling drugs which had spread like wildfire and had begun killing many who overdosed on it; the gang had also been linked to Jedi disappearances. They had narrowed their hideout down to a specific location in the entertainment district where the drug was being produced, and after interrogating some of the thugs they had found, it turned out to be much more.
Kaldor and Kaalsa walked along the vibrantly lit streets of the entertainment district heading for a little bar known for its traffic of gangs and thugs. After walking for some time they saw the sign that told them they had arrived. Kaldor told his apprentice to be aware as something felt odd in the Force; Kaldor nodded and they entered the bar. Everyone in the place stared at them as they entered, even the bartender. Taking a seat at the bar Kaldor motioned for the bartender to give him a drink. Surprised, Kaalsa looked at his master questioningly. His master gave a sly grin and told him that life need not be so serious all the time. Looking around there were a pair of particularly shady looking humans in a booth in the corner. Kaalsa thought to himself that it seemed a bit too obvious and mentioned it to his master. Kaldor nodded, finished his drink quickly and then strode over to them. He asked if he might buy them a drink, but before he could finish they pulled out blasters. With a wave of his hand Kaldor persuaded them via Force manipulation that violence was not necessary and that he only wanted information. They put away their blasters obediently and Kaldor questioned them about the drug operation. Weak minded as they were, they divulged that a secret door behind the bar led to the production facility. Kaalsa noticed that all of the customers had their hands on their holsters and felt uneasy and he kept his hand on his lightsaber. Satisfied with learning the location of the door, Kaldor told the men to leave and motioned for Kaalsa to follow him. Heading behind the bar, the bartender quickly pulled out a large blaster. Without hesitating Kaldor used the Force to disarm him and bade him leave quickly. Obviously shaken, the bartender hurriedly ran out. Turning to the back wall Kaldor touched a panel on the wall and the hidden door hissed open.
After walking down the hall for quite some time it eventually led to another door. It opened to a room containing many different species and they all looked up in surprise. No more than a second had passed before blaster fire came at the two Jedi. Lightsabers activated with master and pupil fighting beside each other trying to get to cover, and an alarm began ringing which meant that more would be coming. Scanning the area Kaalsa noticed another door at the other end of the room and motioned to it. Kaldor nodded and together they threw crates at the assailants and ran to it, deflecting bolts as they went. Dashing through the doorway Kaldor shut the door and stabbed the controls with his saber. It opened into another room with multiple doors and Kaalsa asked what they were to do now. Kaldor told him that they needed to split up to find the leader in order to end the operation permanently and so they took different directions. Kaalsa ran through the first available door which lead into a long hallway. Reaching the end of it he entered another room, much larger than the first, which contained ten or so armed guards and a female twi'lek shouting orders. A strange sensation pulsed through the Force as he locked eyes with her; it was Numa-Ann.
Everyone stopped and looked at Kaalsa in astonishment, but Numa-Ann immediately recognized him and shouted at the guards to fire. Without hesitation they began firing and he darted behind a large stack of crates. Kaalsa was completely thrown off guard and didn't know what was happening. Questions blazed through his mind as the bolts hit all around him. He pushed the thoughts aside and calmed himself, he needed to deal with the situation at hand. Concentrating heavily he blasted the crates with a tremendous Force push into the guards crushing three of them leaving seven. Dashing towards the rest he dismembered another two quickly consciously avoiding killing them. Blaster fire came at him, which he deflected with relative ease, and he began efficiently incapacitating the rest of the guards. Once he had finished he looked for Numa-Ann but couldn't find her. Using the Force he searched for her and found her presence not to far away in another room. He quickly headed in that direction.
Kaalsa ran into the next room and halted suddenly. Numa-Ann was standing the in the middle of the room, lightsaber drawn and it was gleaming red. Kaalsa's feelings were in turmoil as he walked towards her activating his own saber. He asked how she had come to this end and she laughed coldly. Slowly, she explained that everything had fallen apart after the tournament. Resentment had built towards him for she had not been chosen after he had left. Hatred towards the order and all it stood for grew within her and sensing her feelings, the council had put her in the Corps. Unable to deal with their ruling, she ran from the order. Swearing revenge, Numa had fed off of her anger to propel her through the challenges of survival. She looked at Kaalsa with hatred in her eyes, and he sensed it coursing through the Force. After years of wandering through the galaxy she had returned to Coruscant and working her way up, she eventually became the leader of the gang and in the last few years had used the resources to combat the Order any way she could; hiring mercenaries to slay Jedi Knights. She motioned to her lightsaber and told him it was a token of her success.
Kaalsa was stunned beyond words. How had it come to this? She began to move towards him, and the only sound that could be heard was the humming of their lightsabers. With lightning-like speed she lunged forward and began a hate filled assault on Kaalsa. He parried every blow and tried to analyze her fighting style. It was unorthodox, but fast and accurate. Her style had completely altered from all those years ago, tainted with anger and hurt. Feigning a slash at his legs she quickly used the Force to send him flying backwards. Caught unawares, Kaalsa slammed hard against a crate. Without missing a beat Numa rushed forward with amazing speed and a fire was in her eyes. Rolling out of the way, Numa's blade barely missed him and sliced the crate in half. Kaalsa jumped up onto the balcony above him to gain a moment of composure. She laughed once more and it struck him as being tinted with madness. Pity and shame filled him as he looked upon her; how could it have come to this?
Numa ran and jumped onto the balcony, slowly moving toward him twirling her blade as she approached. Kaalsa stood motionless, waiting. Blades crashed once more and the fight began in full. Stroke after stroke, parry after parry, the fight raged and all the while Kaalsa felt her rage growing. Her attacks became more disorganized as time drug on and with a powerful stroke she gave an opening; stepping swiftly around the stroke Kaalsa swung at her leg. Numa deftly avoided the attack with a back flip and kicked him hard in the side. His defense broken she slashed at his face. The tip of the blade sliced down his eye as he narrowly dodged the killing blow. Excruciating pain flared from his face and his right eye went dark. Flinging himself over the railing he landed roughly on the ground, his saber clattering away from him in the process. Numa jumped and landed on gracefully on the ground and began slowly walking towards him and began gloating, exclaiming that for all the training he had received he was still nothing more than a freak. As she closed in for the victory, Kaalsa pleaded with her to return to reason; hatred filled her eyes and she screamed that she needed no help from a lap dog of the Order which had rejected her. Pain filled Kaalsa, but it was not from his wound. Looking upon the only friend that had helped him in his time of need he felt as though he had in some way failed her and driven her to this madness. Without warning she rushed and swung her blade for the final blow, but quickly Kaalsa kicked her leg from underneath her and called his blade to him and with that brief moment of unbalance he thrust his blade through her.
Surprise filled her face and she dropped her saber to the ground. Kaalsa quickly withdrew his blade and caught her as she fell. He gently set her on the ground and watched as the life left her eyes. He wept for his friend for a long while. After some time had passed he heard the his of doors opening. A firm hand grasped his shoulder and he knew it was his master. Kaldor spoke in a kind but firm voice telling Kaalsa that she had fallen too far and that she had gone beyond hope of saving. The words were harsh but Kaalsa knew they were true; nonetheless they still stung.
Kaalsa meditated on those events for days on end. The debriefing had been painful and he knew that this would haunt him for the rest of his days. His eye was mending, but he refused any repairs beyond natural healing, feeling the need to keep it as a token of remembrance. As Kaalsa was once again meditating, Kaldor entered the chamber and sat beside him, waiting for him. Once Kaalsa had finished, Kaldor informed him that he had spoken with the council and they agreed that the events that had transpired were sufficient enough for him to be Knighted. Calmly, Kaalsa thanked his master, but returned to his meditation knowing that this milestone had come at a high cost.
RP Sample:
Kaalsa Wann walked through the cold, rainy streets of Coruscant. It had been raining for three days, but he didn't mind, the rain always felt refreshing to him. He was on his way to meet with a senator to discuss trade negotiations with their neighboring planet. Hopefully negotiations will go smoothly, he thought, they are volatile at this point and a war between the two would not bode well.
Continuing down the street he passed an alleyway and glanced down it, and to his surprise a man was getting mugged. Immediately Kaalsa walked towards them. As he approached the men took notice of him and called out in a gruff voice, "Listen here, Jedi. This ain't none of your concern. We're just havin a little chat with our friend here. No need for you to get involved." And he pulled a blaster pistol out of his long jacket.
Kaalsa assessed the man quickly and gathered that he and his associate were common thugs. No gang markings or clothing, he thought, definitely not in a gang. He took another step forward and replied calmly, "There's no need for violence. I'm sure we can resolve this in a civil manner." Using the Force he used a mind trick on the mugger, "Both of you are going to go home now and reevaluate your lives. You will stop committing crimes and better yourselves." Both of them repeated his words, turned and left.
Kaalsa went over to the man who had been mugged and saw that he had been beaten up pretty bad. He thought to himself that maybe he should have turned them in, but decided it had turned out alright. At least no one was shot, he thought. "Are you able to stand?" He asked the man. Feebly nodding, the man slowly pushed himself up. Kaalsa assisted him threw his arm over his shoulder to support him. Kaalsa knew the man needed medical attention and thought, I suppose the meeting will have to wait. As they shuffled down the street trying to get a cab, Kaalsa asked, "Might I ask who you are and what exactly happened?"
The man chuckled and coughed robustly from the effort. After he had finished coughing he replied sarcastically, "I suppose you deserve it after saving my ass and all. Gam Tavor's my name, though right now I'd rather not be attached to it. Lemme ask you a question, you Jedi have bad luck like the rest of us folks? That's all it was really, bad luck, or stupidity one. Got a little carried away at the bar. Walked outside and there they were."
Kaalsa hummed in understanding and commented, "Perhaps it's a mixture of the two?" And he chuckled as the man gave him an odd look. "We Jedi are not without humor friend. Here's a cab. Let me get you to a med center."
They were both sopping wet and chilled to the bone as they got in the cab. The man looked strangely at Kaalsa as he threw back his hood. Understanding his look he explained, "I guess you're Wondering about the scars?" The man nodded. "Do you know what a Wampa is?" Kaalsa asked. "Read about 'em. Nasty things if I remember right."
Nodding Kaalsa replied, "Nasty indeed. Large and very tough. Being a Jedi is not quite what the public imagines it to be. Contrary to popular belief we can be harmed."
Gam looked at Kaalsa with a smile on his face and shook his head and coughing once again. Kaalsa asked why. "If you ain't the damnedest thing I've ever come across. You talk about taking on monsters as if it's a normal day, calm as a whistle. Here I am beat up by a bunch of thugs, sorry sight I'd imagine too."
Kaalsa drew his hands into his sleeves and placed them in his lap contemplating what Gam said. After a moment he turned so that he could see him clearly in his good eye and said, "We Jedi are are trained from near infancy to be the way we are. It is a way of life, one that we follow strictly. It takes a life time of dedication and training. But that training is ultimately for the use of peacemaking throughout the galaxy. We are here for the people as guardians. I will defend that belief until death."
The cab slowed down as they arrived at the med center. Kaalsa helped Gam out of the speeder and into the lobby. Before the attendants took him Kaalsa looked at game and said, "Gam, do try and stay out of shady areas from now on."
Gam laughed, "a couple bruises won't keep me from having a good drink. If you're ever around this part of Coruscant again give me shout, I owe you a drink." And he handed him his info. Kaalsa was somewhat embarrassed and didn't know what to say, so he nodded in agreement.
The attendants took Gam for treatment and Kaalsa Wann headed for the door. He checked the time and he was now extremely late for his meeting. Shaking his head he thought to himself, Gam, you might owe me more than a drink, and he set off.
Race: Iktotchi/ male
Age: 23
Height: 6'1"
Weight:180 lbs
Appearance: The most prominent feature about Kaalsa is his single horn which protrudes from the side of his hairless head. It is large and tapers down until it reaches a little past his shoulder and makes his appearance intimidating due to its size. He has only one eye which is sunken in and black within yellow. It exudes a sense of reserved strength and dignity that is in contrast with his face. Sharp facial features such as cheek bones and chin make his face seem more aggressive than it actually is, and the skin on his body is tough and leathery with a tan hue to it. Three scars run from his eyebrow to his throat, making his face even more intimidating. His nose is thin and hawk-like. Due to his race being thick creatures, his torso is wide and his legs strong and muscular. Constant training also adds to his lean bulk. He wears the traditional Jedi cloak with a dark green shirt underneath it, along with white wool pants tucked into brown boots. His utility belt and lightsaber are his only possessions. His voice is deep but calm.
Personality: Kaalsa Wann is known as a mediator between opposing ideals. Confrontation is something he avoids with vigor and will try every alternative before outright fighting. He believes in constant meditation and holds true to the Jedi ways with reserved passion and commitment. The Order is the only thing in his life and he is dedicated to it. Diplomacy is a strong suit of his and is something he strives to excel at, along with daily regiments of saber training. A quiet yet noble strength resides within him, and though he may speak softly, it cannot be mistaken for timidity.
Birth place: Iktotch
Faction: Jedi
Rank: Knight
Lightsaber: Standard metal shaft with grip.
Color: Green
Practiced Lightsaber forms:
Shii-Cho 5
Makashi 1
Soresu 3
Ataru N/A
Shien / Djem So N/A
>>Sub-form Backhanded
Niman N/A
>>Sub-form Jar-kai, or Dual Wield
Juyo N/A
Double Bladed Combat
Force-Sensitive Abilities or practices:
Telekinetic:5
Telepathic: 3
Body: 2
Sense: 5
Protection: 3
Healing:1
Destruction:0
Specialized Skills:
-precognition
Attributes:
Physical Strength: 6
Intelligence: 7
Speed: 5
Leadership: 5
Unarmed: 5
Melee Weapons: 2
Ranged Weapons:1
Bio: Kaalsa Wann does not know where he was born because he was found in an alley on Coruscant by a Jedi on his way to the senate. A chance meeting that would alter the course of his life forever. The Jedi knight that found him was a human by the name of Kaldor Qin. As he walked by the alley he noticed a flicker in the force and chose to investigate it. The further he went down the alley he could hear something crying; it sounded like a child. Reaching out in the Force he found a small Iktotchi baby in a canister; it was a boy, and he was abandoned. Compassion overcame Kaldor and he took the child with him sensing it to be the will of the Force. He picked the small boy up and he stopped crying. Kaldor then went on his way, heading to the temple.
Years as a Youngling: 3-12
The child stayed in the nursery until he was of the right age to be accepted as a youngling. Monitored as he grew, his metichlorian count was high enough for him to be deemed force sensitive. Once accepted, he then began the rigors of training.
Day after day he trained with his clan, learning from the masters all that he could. He took a special interest in politics and diplomacy, for combat was more of a meditative practice than a means for resolving issues. He had witnessed many youngling a grow competitive and had seen fights that only ended in bruises and burns; not to mention scolding a from the masters. Diplomacy seemed the better alternative and so he spend many hours researching this particular area.
As he grew, so did his race's physical features and his horns began to grow in length and size. Once they had been stubs only slightly protruding from his head, but now they were rapidly growing. Many of the other younglings began to make jests, and he became reclusive and self-conscious due to his horns. At the age of 7 they had grown out and down. The mockery continued, subtly, for the masters did not approve of it; none the less, it happened. After years of being exiled and hardly spoken to unless by a master, Kaalsa cut off one of his horns. The pain was excruciating, but he thought that if he could remove his horns then he might be able to find recognition amongst his peers. Only able to cut off one before a master found him, he was devastated and ashamed of his actions. Concerned, the Jedi master who instructed the younglings in negotiations spoke with him and asked why he had mutilated himself. Kaalsa responded by explaining his situation through tears he could hardly restrain. After he had finished the master looked on him with pity and understanding. He proceeded to tell the youngling that he should not seek approval from others, he should find it from inside and make peace with himself; for if he continued down this path the resentment he would begin to feel would lead him down a path to darkness. This would ultimately lead to his destruction.
Kaalsa used the words that the master had given him to push aside the shame and hurt that he held within himself and from that moment dedicated himself to peacemaking and the protection of others.
Practicing the different saber forms was required of every youngling, and some took to it faster than others. Kaalsa was not exceptional at fighting, but he found the use of body and mind to be meditative and practiced vigorously. Sorasu peaked his interest early on due to its wonderful application for defense; so, as much as possible, in between lessons, he practiced it with intent. As the years went by his skills grew. He became adept in the skill of diplomacy and peacemaking, while maintaining a balance with his swordsmanship, becoming quite proficient in the process.
He did not focus on making friendships due to his early encounters, but he did manage to find one friend; a twi'lek girl. Around the age of ten Kaalsa was studying in the library on different species and customs in order to obtain a better understanding of their customs, when a young girls voice asked what he was doing. Utterly surprised, he didn't reply for a length of time. She asked again assuming that he had not heard, and this time he replied slowly that he was studying different species. Interested, she sat down and began to converse with him about the topic, explaining her race and home world. She then told him that her name was Numa-Ann (sister moon). The only friend he had ever had, appeared before him suddenly and without warning. They continued their friendship and became close friends throughout the rest of their training.
Padawan Apprenticeship: 12-22
At the age of twelve, Kaalsa had grown into a competent and skilled young boy, though still a little unsure of himself. It was time to be chosen as a padawan and a competition between the younglings was occurring soon. It was his time to show his abilities and all that he had worked for. He and Numa-Ann, his long time friend, spared for a while in order to test themselves and once done began to talk about weaknesses and strengths.
The next day the competition began. Selected younglings were pitted against each other in a mock battle while Knights and Master looked on, assessing them. Kaalsa was waiting to be called on to begin his assessment when Numa-Ann walked up to him where he was sitting on a bench outside the chamber. She took a seat beside him and an awkward silence hung in the air for a few moments until she finally told him that they would be up against each other. Kaalsa looked at her with astonishment and then pain. He knew that this would be a defining moment in their friendship, and that it would also determine whether or not they would be chosen as padawans. Looking at the floor he told her that she had been his only friend and that he didn't know if he could go through with it. Numa took a moment to look at his sad expression, then spoke firmly but softly and told him that he need not fear the outcome of the match, that she would do her best and so should he. Either way she would remain his friend. Comforted, but still sad, he nodded in agreement, at that moment they were called in for the match. She smiled one last time and then they entered the chamber.
They were told that they would be assessed by current Jedi as they fought; these were the only instructions. Each took their place in the center of the room and drew their sabers slowly. They had done this countless times before, but a weight now hung in the air as they both knew the severity of the situation. For a moment there was only the sound of humming lightsabers, then both younglings rushed forward. Numa-Ann was lithe and agile, twisting and moving her body like a twi'lek dancer which her race was known for; she was elegant, but fierce. Kaalsa was a wall of defense, strong and observant; always looking for the next attack and looking for an opening. He parried with ease and subtle movements, conserving his energy and letting Numa expend energy. The battle raged for quite some time, both proving their proficiency in handling their sabers. After a long flurry of blows Numa lost balance and in that moment by sheer muscle reflex, Kaalsa landed a blow. Numa feel to the ground, stunned, but not as stunned as Kaalsa. He stood perfectly still, wondering what happened now and feeling remorse as he looked at the defeated face of his friend.
Another moment passed before the Jedi that had led them in bade Numa to exit the chamber. She turned and left without looking at Kaalsa, hurting him in the process. Another Jedi entered the room and stood in front of Kaalsa, he had a short dark beard flecked with grey and Green eyes. He looked Kaalsa in the eye for a long while and then spoke only a few words- I will take you as my padawan- and then turned and left. Kaalsa didn't know what to do. He had lost a friend but gained a master. His emotions conflicted with one another, joy with sadness.
After that he went to his bunk and gathered all of his things together in preparation. As he left his room, there stood Numa. She held up her hand to stop him from speaking and told him that she was happy for his accomplishment and that even though she would be held back a little longer, she held no ill will towards him. She was still his friend. As a last farewell she hugged him and said, "May the Force be with you Kaalsa Wann." And with that she left without another word.
Four years had passed since becoming a padawan and it was not at all what Kaalsa thought it would be. He had been chosen by Jedi Master Kaldor Qin, and while he was not unkind he was strict. They had been on a few diplomatic missions to mid rim worlds, and though this fascinated him, Kaalsa was also concerned that his master was not pleased with him. Kaldor constantly asked questions about other species and worlds, politics and the agendas that were hidden beneath them testing his padawan's knowledge. In more ways than one, his tutelage under Kaldor was more arduous than anything else he had encountered; not to mention saber training at a moments notice.
They were riding in a commercial freighter on a mission to Cerea to negotiate a technology treaty between certain factions on the planet. His master was sitting cross legged on the metal floor meditating, his saber in his lap while Kaalsa mirrored him. Kaldor, without moving, told Kaalsa that he sensed something was bothering him. Kaalsa opened his eyes and looked uneasily at his master. He thought about denying it but knew that Kaldor could tell if he was lying, so he decided to speak his mind. Kaalsa told his master that he felt he was a disappointment and that he was unsure of his abilities. Kaldor sat still a few moments more without moving, and then looked into his padawan's face for even longer. At length he spoke quietly to him explaining how he had watched him grow in his ability to use and commune with the Force. His skills with a lightsaber were honed and solid. Kaldor reassured Kaalsa that his abilities were growing, but he must have patience to understand why he taught him this way. These reassuring words were enough for Kaalsa and he went back to meditating.
As they approached the Cerea, Kaldor asked if Kaalsa sensed anything wrong with the force, and he agreed that something felt odd. As workers were unloading goods from the ship, the master and his padawan walked around the platform. A sudden explosion knocked them both back, luckily Kaldor had thrown up a Force shield an instant before the explosion, sensing an attack. Kaalsa was stunned, his ears ringing and brain swimming. He asked himself why there was an explosion and looked around for a culprit. A figure in strange armor was stealthily moving through crates trying to stay hidden. He shouted to his master and pointed, but as he looked around he found him pinned to the ground by a cargo container, his left arm and leg completely crushed. A pool of blood was seeping from under the large container. Kaalsa couldn't think properly, he didn't know what to do. Going to him, he cradled his head and begged him not to die. Kaldor opened his eyes slowly, there was still life in him! He instructed Kaalsa to help him lift the container off of his body, but Kaalsa hesitated, not knowing if he was capable of it. Kaldor sensed this and told him that with the Force as his ally, he would be capable. Bolstered by his masters words he began to concentrate, sensing the force moving through him, his master, and the container. It slowly raised up just enough to free Kaldor and together they pushed it away.
But there was no time for celebration, the explosion had set the ship ablaze and the flames were close to the fuel tanks of the ship. Kaalsa knew he had to move his master quickly, so with aid again from the force, he heaved his master up and moved him to the gate. He opened the large round doors, and moved inside. As the door just shut, the blast shook everything around them throwing containers against the door. They had made it.
Two months after the incident, his master had received prosthetic limbs to replace the ones he had lost. He was still recovering and would be in rehab for an undetermined amount of time, for their technology was not up to par with Coruscant's. Until they could return, he would be stuck with what he had.
For all of that they still had a mission to complete. While his master was in recovery, a political leader had spoken with Kaalsa about the ever increasing rebel attacks; purists who thought more technology would only bring doom. They had been attacking every shipment that had been coming in and they had hoped that the Jedi would be able to assist. A low level member was captured and interrogated but nothing had worked.
Once Kaldor had healed fairly well and regained some of his strength, Kaalsa went to him and asked him what he should do. His master, as always, took a space of time to think about the question and then eventually answered by saying that he still needed more time to heal, yet they needed to deal with this quickly. So he told his padawan that he would have to interrogate the rebel in his place. Shocked that his master would ask him to participate so heavily, he agreed to the task obediently.
Kaalsa was led to the barracks where the Rebel was being held. Once there he saw the man in a steel room with only a bench to sit on. He looked to be in his early twenties, not much older than Kaalsa himself, and his face did not portray someone who would commit terrible crimes. Kaalsa searched the Force for anything in the Cerean that would help him to better understand the situation. He sensed calmness and certainty in him; this was unexpected. Not knowing what else to do he entered the room.
An hour later he reported back to his master. He had been able to influence the Rebel with subtle use of the Force as he asked questions to gain information about the rebel hide out. It appeared to be quite close to the city on the outskirts. His master never took his eyes of Kaalsa, absorbing the information while his expression was that of someone trying answer a question. After all the details had been given, Kaalsa waited patiently for his master's reply; he knew it would take a while for him to digest the situation. Surprisingly Kaldor only took a brief moment before he told Kaalsa that he must go and gather information about them. Self-doubt once again began to creep into Kaalsa's mind like a shadow, but he pushed it away, knowing it to be false. He had begun to understand it now and its hold on him was weakening. Kaldor told him to meditate for a while before he went to prepare; Kaalsa felt it would be good for him as well to clear his mind.
As he meditated he began to dream, but it was not sleep; he was awake and seeing events and people. The dream was showing a group of Cerean's talking in hushed tones. They were talking in their native tongue which made understanding them impossible, but he knew it was important. All of a sudden they all turned and saw him, shouting and pointing; the vision went black and he stirred from his meditation. Kaalsa decided that he need not tell his master of the vision.
As night fell Kaalsa approached the door of a warehouse used for medical supplies on the edge of the city. The door was guarded by a Cerean pretending to be a beggar; Kaalsa had sensed alertness in him as he approached. The building beside it rose to half the height of the warehouse and seemed like a decent place to get up on the roof. Keeping to the dimly lit areas, Kaalsa made it to the side of the building and looked up- it seemed a decent place to access the roof. Concentrating, he jumped and used the Force to push him upwards. Landing softly on the roof he walked to to edge of the building and prepared to jump again, but before he could the sound of a door opening stopped him and he crouched down quickly. The beggar had gone inside and another one took his place. Kaalsa thought to himself that it was a little obvious to have shifts, but it wasn't his operation. He focused on jumping again and leaped, but he had judged the distance wrong and slipped on the edge having to catch the ledge. Pulling himself up quickly he looked around for a moment looking for any entrances. A vent poked out of the roof and seemed to go down into the building; he figured that it was the only way to get in and climbed into it.
After a good portion of time was spent pushing his way through vent shafts he found an opening and went through it. It dropped him in what looked to be an office; unsure if anyone was around, he searched the force for other presences and found there were many. Kaalsa took a moment to calm himself and assess what would be the best course of action; he wondered what his master would do. Slow and methodical, that's the way he worked. Stepping through the door to the main warehouse there were rows of containers stacked two high. He was on a balcony and could see all of the guards walking the area; unfortunately, there were a lot of them. He noticed a concentration of guards near a door at the back. Looking around the large room, he figured out a path that would give just enough cover to make it to the door; he would have to be stealthy, but he could make it. Adrenaline was pumping through him as he quietly slid onto the first container. If he crawled across the containers all the way to the door the guards wouldn't notice him.
After what seemed hours of crawling he was able to reach the door where two guards stood at attention, the only problem was that he had no way of getting in besides a fight, and he didn't have a true saber. The only way he would be able to gain access would be through distraction. Using the Force he persuaded the man on the left to believe that a noise had sounded behind the container on his right; the concentration it took surprised Kaalsa, but he was glad it worked. Even better, they both went to check out the noise leaving the door unmanned. Without delay he jumped down and squeezed through the door quietly. It opened into a decently sized room. Kaalsa could hear voices in the room and moved as silently as possible towards them; it all seemed familiar somehow. As he moved closer he could see figures at a table, they seemed to be discussing something important. Taking his recorder out of his belt, he taped the conversation. Without warning the door behind him opened and a guard stood there, surprised. With that pause Kaalsa Force pushed the guard backwards through the door and ran through it. He knew that in a few moments all of the guards would be alerted if they hadn't already. He jumped up onto the containers and began running across them, leaping form one to the other. He recalled the general direction of the exit and headed there. The guards were now discharging blaster bolts at him; using the Force he tried to doge as many as he could but there were just too many and one caught him in the shoulder.
He tumbled down to the ground none too gently and stayed there for a moment to catch his breath. The pain began to burn in his right shoulder were the bolt had hit him, but he had to get up; luckily the guards had lost him for a moment. Searching the Force he found the exit and ran for it. Once again blaster fire rained down and it was by sheer luck, or the will of the Force, that he saw the exit in front of him; with a final push he Force pushed the doors open and ran into the night heading towards the med center and his master.
With the information Kaalsa had obtained the Cerean government was able to infiltrate the rebels and disband them. His master had healed fully and they were on there way back to Coruscant to be debriefed. Kaalsa was siting in a chair meditating when he felt his master's presence. Kaldor strode over to Kaalsa with the faintest hint of a limp and sat beside him. He congratulated his padawan on the completion of the mission and without looking at him told him that he was ready. At first Kaalsa was confused but after a gentle smile from his master, he understood- he would begin the construction of his lightsaber.
-Building his Lightsaber-
Kaalsa was eighteen and was not the naive padawan he once was. The diplomatic mission he had gone on with his master had revealed what a dark place the galaxy was, but he learned to accept it and combat it with his own desire for peace. Today was his birthday and his master had not said a word. He usually didn't say much, but he always acknowledged it. Kaalsa wondered if he had forgotten or if there was another meaning behind it. Just as he finished his thought Kaldor walked into the meditation chamber. Greeting his padawan, he sat in front of him cross-legged and looked him in the eyes. He proceeded to tell Kaalsa of his race and certain abilities they possessed- one of these being precognition. Kaalsa listened to all that his master had to say and at the end grew to understand why he had visions that ended up coming true. His master explained the reason for telling him this is that in order to craft his saber he would have to meditate heavily on a crystal in order to imbue it with his own essence; but, during the meditation you are susceptible to losing yourself in visions and could be driven mad. A fear rose in Kaalsa as his master explained the process to him. He quenched the fear, knowing this was a large step for him and meaning behind it: his master thought him ready. His master told him that the process of building his saber would be arduous and take quite a long time to prepare, but Kaalsa already knew this. Kaldor explained that they would be going to Ilum to find his crystal and Kaalsa's excitement grew; they would take a private ship and stay for as long as it took.
After a few days they arrived in orbit of Ilum and as they approached the planet Kaaldor told Kaalsa that he needed to put on winter gear for it was a planet made completely of ice. Landing at they temple that had been erected long ago, they stepped onto the platform and a blisteringly cold wind bit their faces. As they went inside, they were addressed by a service droid which asked their business. Kaldor informed the droid that they were here for his padawan's lightsaber construction. Checking that this was approved, the droid led them through the temple to the crystal caves. As they reached the beginning of the caves his master abruptly stopped and turned to face him and pulled something out of his robes; it was a lightsaber! It was his masters lightsaber! Kaalsa didn't understand, why would his master give him his lightsaber. Knowing what his padawan was thinking he told him that he had removed the crystals from it and that he would have to find his own; he had already constructed a new one. Kaalsa fought back strong emotions as he held the steel shaft in his hands, and felt honored by his master's gift. Kaldor then told Kaalsa he wouldn't be able to leave until he had made his saber, however long that might be. Knowing that his master was serious, he began to walk into the caves. Activating his light, Kaalsa walked through the entrance; the walls were black and dimmed the light. Kaalsa thought to himself that this would take some time.
Days went by as Kaalsa searched the caves and they were vast. Strange animals that lived the cave would show themselves periodically, but no more than a few seconds and they were not hostile. The searched lasted almost two weeks before Kaalsa found any crystals and he had only found one. He was weary from his search and hadn't eaten much, but he had found one. It was green. It seemed to be similar to the ones his master had informed him of. Taking it back to his master they sat and discussed it. His master inspected the green crystal saying it was mephite and that it was a good find. Now came the time for meditation, and it made Kaalsa uneasy as he prepared.
Sitting cross-legged at the entrance to the exit tunnel and facing his master, he lifted the crystal with the Force to chest height and began to imbue his very essence into the crystal. Kaalsa began to loose all sense of reality, and only the crystal mattered. He poured himself into it, imagining it to be a great container being filled with liquid. The process went on for quite some time. Visions passed before him; people, faces, and events flashing in and out, but he couldn't make sense of them.
He could hear distant shouting as if an echo of a forgotten time. It grew louder and louder until it seemed right next to him. Suddenly he opened his eyes and gasped. The rocky ceiling was above him with his master partially blocking his view. Weakly he asked how long he had been meditating; his master replied that it had been four days. Kaldor then told him that he had been monitoring him though the Force and felt him beginning to slip away; it had taken another few hours to rouse him. His master handed him the crystal as Kaalsa sat up. He looked at it and knew it was ready. Disassembling his master's old lightsaber with the Force he inserted the crystal and then gently put it back together. Activating it, it shone with a vibrant green hue; Kaalsa had never been so happy. He tested it and it felt solid. He had finally constructed his lightsaber.
Trials of Losing a Friend:
Four more years had passed since the construction of his lightsaber. He and his master continued their missions diligently and over time Kaalsa developed his skills with his new saber. Everywhere they went he took training droids with him for practice or sparred with Kaldor. The movements and forms were a way for Kaalsa to focus his energy constructively while finding peace in the physicality of it. More than once it had saved his life.
He and his master had been sent to the undercity of Coruscant to investigate a gang that had been selling drugs which had spread like wildfire and had begun killing many who overdosed on it; the gang had also been linked to Jedi disappearances. They had narrowed their hideout down to a specific location in the entertainment district where the drug was being produced, and after interrogating some of the thugs they had found, it turned out to be much more.
Kaldor and Kaalsa walked along the vibrantly lit streets of the entertainment district heading for a little bar known for its traffic of gangs and thugs. After walking for some time they saw the sign that told them they had arrived. Kaldor told his apprentice to be aware as something felt odd in the Force; Kaldor nodded and they entered the bar. Everyone in the place stared at them as they entered, even the bartender. Taking a seat at the bar Kaldor motioned for the bartender to give him a drink. Surprised, Kaalsa looked at his master questioningly. His master gave a sly grin and told him that life need not be so serious all the time. Looking around there were a pair of particularly shady looking humans in a booth in the corner. Kaalsa thought to himself that it seemed a bit too obvious and mentioned it to his master. Kaldor nodded, finished his drink quickly and then strode over to them. He asked if he might buy them a drink, but before he could finish they pulled out blasters. With a wave of his hand Kaldor persuaded them via Force manipulation that violence was not necessary and that he only wanted information. They put away their blasters obediently and Kaldor questioned them about the drug operation. Weak minded as they were, they divulged that a secret door behind the bar led to the production facility. Kaalsa noticed that all of the customers had their hands on their holsters and felt uneasy and he kept his hand on his lightsaber. Satisfied with learning the location of the door, Kaldor told the men to leave and motioned for Kaalsa to follow him. Heading behind the bar, the bartender quickly pulled out a large blaster. Without hesitating Kaldor used the Force to disarm him and bade him leave quickly. Obviously shaken, the bartender hurriedly ran out. Turning to the back wall Kaldor touched a panel on the wall and the hidden door hissed open.
After walking down the hall for quite some time it eventually led to another door. It opened to a room containing many different species and they all looked up in surprise. No more than a second had passed before blaster fire came at the two Jedi. Lightsabers activated with master and pupil fighting beside each other trying to get to cover, and an alarm began ringing which meant that more would be coming. Scanning the area Kaalsa noticed another door at the other end of the room and motioned to it. Kaldor nodded and together they threw crates at the assailants and ran to it, deflecting bolts as they went. Dashing through the doorway Kaldor shut the door and stabbed the controls with his saber. It opened into another room with multiple doors and Kaalsa asked what they were to do now. Kaldor told him that they needed to split up to find the leader in order to end the operation permanently and so they took different directions. Kaalsa ran through the first available door which lead into a long hallway. Reaching the end of it he entered another room, much larger than the first, which contained ten or so armed guards and a female twi'lek shouting orders. A strange sensation pulsed through the Force as he locked eyes with her; it was Numa-Ann.
Everyone stopped and looked at Kaalsa in astonishment, but Numa-Ann immediately recognized him and shouted at the guards to fire. Without hesitation they began firing and he darted behind a large stack of crates. Kaalsa was completely thrown off guard and didn't know what was happening. Questions blazed through his mind as the bolts hit all around him. He pushed the thoughts aside and calmed himself, he needed to deal with the situation at hand. Concentrating heavily he blasted the crates with a tremendous Force push into the guards crushing three of them leaving seven. Dashing towards the rest he dismembered another two quickly consciously avoiding killing them. Blaster fire came at him, which he deflected with relative ease, and he began efficiently incapacitating the rest of the guards. Once he had finished he looked for Numa-Ann but couldn't find her. Using the Force he searched for her and found her presence not to far away in another room. He quickly headed in that direction.
Kaalsa ran into the next room and halted suddenly. Numa-Ann was standing the in the middle of the room, lightsaber drawn and it was gleaming red. Kaalsa's feelings were in turmoil as he walked towards her activating his own saber. He asked how she had come to this end and she laughed coldly. Slowly, she explained that everything had fallen apart after the tournament. Resentment had built towards him for she had not been chosen after he had left. Hatred towards the order and all it stood for grew within her and sensing her feelings, the council had put her in the Corps. Unable to deal with their ruling, she ran from the order. Swearing revenge, Numa had fed off of her anger to propel her through the challenges of survival. She looked at Kaalsa with hatred in her eyes, and he sensed it coursing through the Force. After years of wandering through the galaxy she had returned to Coruscant and working her way up, she eventually became the leader of the gang and in the last few years had used the resources to combat the Order any way she could; hiring mercenaries to slay Jedi Knights. She motioned to her lightsaber and told him it was a token of her success.
Kaalsa was stunned beyond words. How had it come to this? She began to move towards him, and the only sound that could be heard was the humming of their lightsabers. With lightning-like speed she lunged forward and began a hate filled assault on Kaalsa. He parried every blow and tried to analyze her fighting style. It was unorthodox, but fast and accurate. Her style had completely altered from all those years ago, tainted with anger and hurt. Feigning a slash at his legs she quickly used the Force to send him flying backwards. Caught unawares, Kaalsa slammed hard against a crate. Without missing a beat Numa rushed forward with amazing speed and a fire was in her eyes. Rolling out of the way, Numa's blade barely missed him and sliced the crate in half. Kaalsa jumped up onto the balcony above him to gain a moment of composure. She laughed once more and it struck him as being tinted with madness. Pity and shame filled him as he looked upon her; how could it have come to this?
Numa ran and jumped onto the balcony, slowly moving toward him twirling her blade as she approached. Kaalsa stood motionless, waiting. Blades crashed once more and the fight began in full. Stroke after stroke, parry after parry, the fight raged and all the while Kaalsa felt her rage growing. Her attacks became more disorganized as time drug on and with a powerful stroke she gave an opening; stepping swiftly around the stroke Kaalsa swung at her leg. Numa deftly avoided the attack with a back flip and kicked him hard in the side. His defense broken she slashed at his face. The tip of the blade sliced down his eye as he narrowly dodged the killing blow. Excruciating pain flared from his face and his right eye went dark. Flinging himself over the railing he landed roughly on the ground, his saber clattering away from him in the process. Numa jumped and landed on gracefully on the ground and began slowly walking towards him and began gloating, exclaiming that for all the training he had received he was still nothing more than a freak. As she closed in for the victory, Kaalsa pleaded with her to return to reason; hatred filled her eyes and she screamed that she needed no help from a lap dog of the Order which had rejected her. Pain filled Kaalsa, but it was not from his wound. Looking upon the only friend that had helped him in his time of need he felt as though he had in some way failed her and driven her to this madness. Without warning she rushed and swung her blade for the final blow, but quickly Kaalsa kicked her leg from underneath her and called his blade to him and with that brief moment of unbalance he thrust his blade through her.
Surprise filled her face and she dropped her saber to the ground. Kaalsa quickly withdrew his blade and caught her as she fell. He gently set her on the ground and watched as the life left her eyes. He wept for his friend for a long while. After some time had passed he heard the his of doors opening. A firm hand grasped his shoulder and he knew it was his master. Kaldor spoke in a kind but firm voice telling Kaalsa that she had fallen too far and that she had gone beyond hope of saving. The words were harsh but Kaalsa knew they were true; nonetheless they still stung.
Kaalsa meditated on those events for days on end. The debriefing had been painful and he knew that this would haunt him for the rest of his days. His eye was mending, but he refused any repairs beyond natural healing, feeling the need to keep it as a token of remembrance. As Kaalsa was once again meditating, Kaldor entered the chamber and sat beside him, waiting for him. Once Kaalsa had finished, Kaldor informed him that he had spoken with the council and they agreed that the events that had transpired were sufficient enough for him to be Knighted. Calmly, Kaalsa thanked his master, but returned to his meditation knowing that this milestone had come at a high cost.
RP Sample:
Kaalsa Wann walked through the cold, rainy streets of Coruscant. It had been raining for three days, but he didn't mind, the rain always felt refreshing to him. He was on his way to meet with a senator to discuss trade negotiations with their neighboring planet. Hopefully negotiations will go smoothly, he thought, they are volatile at this point and a war between the two would not bode well.
Continuing down the street he passed an alleyway and glanced down it, and to his surprise a man was getting mugged. Immediately Kaalsa walked towards them. As he approached the men took notice of him and called out in a gruff voice, "Listen here, Jedi. This ain't none of your concern. We're just havin a little chat with our friend here. No need for you to get involved." And he pulled a blaster pistol out of his long jacket.
Kaalsa assessed the man quickly and gathered that he and his associate were common thugs. No gang markings or clothing, he thought, definitely not in a gang. He took another step forward and replied calmly, "There's no need for violence. I'm sure we can resolve this in a civil manner." Using the Force he used a mind trick on the mugger, "Both of you are going to go home now and reevaluate your lives. You will stop committing crimes and better yourselves." Both of them repeated his words, turned and left.
Kaalsa went over to the man who had been mugged and saw that he had been beaten up pretty bad. He thought to himself that maybe he should have turned them in, but decided it had turned out alright. At least no one was shot, he thought. "Are you able to stand?" He asked the man. Feebly nodding, the man slowly pushed himself up. Kaalsa assisted him threw his arm over his shoulder to support him. Kaalsa knew the man needed medical attention and thought, I suppose the meeting will have to wait. As they shuffled down the street trying to get a cab, Kaalsa asked, "Might I ask who you are and what exactly happened?"
The man chuckled and coughed robustly from the effort. After he had finished coughing he replied sarcastically, "I suppose you deserve it after saving my ass and all. Gam Tavor's my name, though right now I'd rather not be attached to it. Lemme ask you a question, you Jedi have bad luck like the rest of us folks? That's all it was really, bad luck, or stupidity one. Got a little carried away at the bar. Walked outside and there they were."
Kaalsa hummed in understanding and commented, "Perhaps it's a mixture of the two?" And he chuckled as the man gave him an odd look. "We Jedi are not without humor friend. Here's a cab. Let me get you to a med center."
They were both sopping wet and chilled to the bone as they got in the cab. The man looked strangely at Kaalsa as he threw back his hood. Understanding his look he explained, "I guess you're Wondering about the scars?" The man nodded. "Do you know what a Wampa is?" Kaalsa asked. "Read about 'em. Nasty things if I remember right."
Nodding Kaalsa replied, "Nasty indeed. Large and very tough. Being a Jedi is not quite what the public imagines it to be. Contrary to popular belief we can be harmed."
Gam looked at Kaalsa with a smile on his face and shook his head and coughing once again. Kaalsa asked why. "If you ain't the damnedest thing I've ever come across. You talk about taking on monsters as if it's a normal day, calm as a whistle. Here I am beat up by a bunch of thugs, sorry sight I'd imagine too."
Kaalsa drew his hands into his sleeves and placed them in his lap contemplating what Gam said. After a moment he turned so that he could see him clearly in his good eye and said, "We Jedi are are trained from near infancy to be the way we are. It is a way of life, one that we follow strictly. It takes a life time of dedication and training. But that training is ultimately for the use of peacemaking throughout the galaxy. We are here for the people as guardians. I will defend that belief until death."
The cab slowed down as they arrived at the med center. Kaalsa helped Gam out of the speeder and into the lobby. Before the attendants took him Kaalsa looked at game and said, "Gam, do try and stay out of shady areas from now on."
Gam laughed, "a couple bruises won't keep me from having a good drink. If you're ever around this part of Coruscant again give me shout, I owe you a drink." And he handed him his info. Kaalsa was somewhat embarrassed and didn't know what to say, so he nodded in agreement.
The attendants took Gam for treatment and Kaalsa Wann headed for the door. He checked the time and he was now extremely late for his meeting. Shaking his head he thought to himself, Gam, you might owe me more than a drink, and he set off.
