Post by lion on May 10, 2016 0:41:50 GMT -5
Name: Raek Orad'al
Race: Bothan
Age:72
Birthplace: Coronet City, Corellia.
Allegiance: Jedi Order, Galactic Republic.
Status: Jedi Master
Rank: Ilum Temple Caretaker, Former Youngling Clan Leader, "Retired" from active assignments.
Height/Weight:
5'0, 132 lbs
Appearance:
A wizened Bothan of advanced age, Raek Orad'al shows his seventy-two years of living quite blatantly upon his sleeve; his silvery-grey body fur, modest beard and lengthy whiskers giving the Bothan a fragile yet endearing appearance. His hazel-hued eyes still carry the alert spark of intellect, however, casting aside any doubts of potential senility or dementia in his senior years, and whilst he seems fragile, the Bothan is surprisingly fit for a man his age when he needs to be. Far from physically imposing, however, Raek instead appears almost grandfatherly and deliberate-of-pace; he is almost innately approachable by those younger than him, be it to seek advice or offer assistance in one way or another.
Like all Jedi, Raek wears the standard fare Jedi robes and over-cloak, favouring the tan and brown tones as per the norm, though a little thicker of cloth to deal with the colder climate Ilum presents. Boots, trousers and a belt complete the carefully groomed attire, and despite his wispy fur, not a single hair of it has clung to the cloth. Whilst not always necessary, Raek does carry a lacquered, wooden walking cane; Ilum's cold and the ravages of time often do wear into the Bothan's joints, requiring the support to help him easily get around. Age and cold do take their toll, after all, and Raek has led an extremely physical life.
Unlike many Jedi, however, Raek also possesses a personal piece of jewellery; a metallic band worn upon his left hand. It isn't glaringly obvious at first glance, as the fur on his fingers tend to disguise it, but it wouldn't take a trained eye to pick it out. It's a small object that goes a long way in describing just who he is, however, in his quiet defiance of the established rule of the Jedi regarding attachment, but nevertheless still understated enough in its appearance that it doesn't appear gaudy or ostentatious.
Personality:
Raek is a principled Jedi to whom age has somewhat mellowed; the glowing embers of what once were a great fire. The old Bothan still retains a sense of quiet humour, even at his own expense, willing to exchange in jest and generally keeping himself in at least a sedentary state of pleasantness. It's extremely difficult to rattle Raek, for example; he is fully aware of his assignment to Ilum being more of a restriction than a task, but the knowledge has not hindered him.
Ever the philosophical and inquisitive man, he has come to some odds with the status quo of the Jedi, particularly in relation to their views on attachment. To Raek, where the Jedi would shun emotional attachment for the risk of clouding judgement, the Bothan instead contends that is fear that clouds judgement, not the attachment itself, which can indeed be beneficial for a Jedi to experience. In their own way, Raek conjectures, the Jedi are already beings of attachment, and indeed these connections are actively fostered in their training; to each other, to their lightsabers, to their way of life, and yet suffer little ill in these. Going further, the Bothan states that it's in this nature of dismissal that the Jedi expose themselves to the Dark Side, failing to develop the correct responses to emotional conflicts when they arise due to their inexperience in such matters.
Were it not for this habitual 'going his own way' versus the established methods of the Order, Raek Orad'al would likely be upon a seat among the Jedi High Council; a point that both several Jedi have contended and one that the Bothan himself is quite keenly aware.
Whilst he has indeed calmed, the Bothan is still steadfast in his beliefs; he won't belittle others for following their own ways, but convincing him otherwise of his own may be a difficult task. That isn't to say, however, that Raek will brook no argument; he actively encourages it. An early interest in philosophy and the nature of life, encouraged further by his own Master, has given Raek an open mind and a solid appreciation for good-natured debate and intellectual argument; he will gladly exchange ideas with any willing to approach him, feeling it to be a great method of mutual advancement and education.
In conversation, the elderly Bothan is measured and a man of few words; he will listen and cede ground in each conversation before offering his own input in carefully applied statements. In both debate and in trying to educate, Raek often prefers to bring thought to the other person, to make them consider their contention or question in hopes they reach the conclusion themselves, rather than have it laid out for them. Instruction from Raek is less about him teaching you, and more you finding the answers; he merely guides the development. This method has lead him to the successful education of a pair of Padawans of his own, before going on to take leadership of the Hawkbat Youngling Clan; many of his students now full-fledged Jedi in their own right.
As a younger man, however, Raek was a fiery one; an intellectual trailblazer always on the lookout for a challenge against which to pit himself. 'A sound mind in a sound body' was certainly a phrase to suit the younger Bothan, who could just as soon as postulate and ponder upon the nature of life and the Force as courageously leap into action with lightsabers blazing.
As such, many parallels were drawn in his knighthood to that of Exar Kun by other members of the Order, both as a positive and a negative; Raek possessed a great drive and desire for knowledge and understanding of things around him, paired with a strong mastery of the Force, talent with the lightsaber, and a dedication to be a noteworthy Jedi. However, much like the infamous Kun, Raek also carried with him a willingness to buck tradition and bend the rules in order to achieve his aims, and his sense of dedication in the pursuit of knowledge bordered on nigh-fixation; appearing to his superiors to always be a few short missteps away from utter disaster.
A veteran Jedi, Raek Orad'al is no stranger to the rigours of battle, and like many Jedi entering the fray in the defence of the Republic, knew that there was little recourse but what was done. Whilst Raek has indeed killed, the Bothan never revelled in bloodshed and, whilst unfettered by remorse per se, neither was he overly proud in his victories. Killing, after all, was not an action worthy of a good man; whilst the Bothan knew his duty to the Republic indeed covered these actions, philosophically it posed certain questions of morality that Raek couldn't help but find vexing in his pursuit to answer them.
He's not without his vices or habits, however; Raek can often be found idling with a freshly-brewed mug of tea, simply letting the world go by, and he's not above enjoying a good meal either. More than once the elderly Jedi has been found to doze off wherever he sits during the more quiet days, but whilst some would find it embarrassing, the Bothan simply finds amusement in it. He also tends to the Temple's interior gardens, rather than leaving the work to caretaker droids, finding the hobby to be a pleasing way to pass the time.
Nor is Raek without his own personal issues to work through. Unlike most Jedi, the Bothan has married and has fathered a son; grounds that would have had him expelled from the Order under perhaps any other circumstance and, even in his case, almost did. There are few days that go by that Raek doesn't think about either his distant former wife on Talus or his estranged son under the care of the Jedi. Whilst the Bothan has the ability to reach or contact neither of them, not one of those days has brought regret or a desire to change what has been done, even knowing it has lead to his practical excision from the Jedi Order. In his view, all is as it was meant to be, and in that, the old man finds some comfort.
Ships/Vehicles:
None.
Equipment:
Lightsaber: Raek's single phase, blue bladed lightsaber is a firm statement in lightsaber combat, and that statement is 'less is more.'. Free of any features of contemporary weapons, it is as simple as a lightsaber can get, going so far as even foregoing a belt loop for a humble cloth wrap below the emitter shroud. Yet it, in the right hand of its maker was at one point, along with its 'lost' sister blade, considered almost iconic in its multiple decades of service as a force to be reckoned with among the Order.
The weapon is precisely tuned both in weight and to its focusing crystal, with its balance point adjusted to the rear of the hilt so as to give greater control for single handed, wrist-manipulative motions rather than full-arm swings. Using an Adegan gemstone as the focus for much of his Jedi career, Raek has instead opted for a Pontite gem found during his tenure on Ilum, found deep in the crystal caves after a curious bit of exploration led to its unearthing. Its cool aura, it's said, calms both the body and the mind; an effect the Bothan has come to find to be quite accurate a description.
Scentwood walking cane.
Commlink.
Stats: (Feeble, Below Average, Average, Above Average, Superior, Legendary)
Strength - Feeble
Agility -Below Average
Intelligence -Above Average
Charisma -Above Average
Force Stats: (Unskilled, Novice, Apprentice, Adept, Expert, Master)
Telekinetic- Adept.
Telepathic- Adept.
Body-Expert.
Sense- Expert.
Protection- Adept.
Healing:– Apprentice.
Destruction– Unskilled.
Combat Training: (Unskilled, Novice, Apprentice, Adept, Expert, Master)
None
Force Training: (Unskilled, Novice, Apprentice, Adept, Expert, Master)
Force Weapon: Apprentice
Other Training: (Unskilled, Novice, Apprentice, Adept, Expert, Master)
Gardening: Adept.
Mathematics: Adept.
Education: Master.
Lightsaber Training: (Untrained, Novice, Apprentice, Adept, Expert, Master, Specialist)
Shii-Cho- Master
Makashi- Adept
Niman- Specialist
>>Sub-form Jar-kai- Master
Considered one of the premier duellists of his time and often mentioned in the same sentence as great figures such as the recently-named Battlemaster Vyshaan and others, Raek Orad'al stood out from an early age, claiming victory in the Apprenticeship Tournament at the age of twelve. Taking to the sixth form of lightsaber combat, Niman, early on in his Jedi career, Raek took the 'diplomat's form' and ran with it, mastering the root form in his apprenticeship before adapting the root form to the twin-lightsaber Jar'kai method.
Pairing this with the simple blade-work focused elements of Shii-Cho developed in his learning years, the Bothan's twin-bladed Niman/Jar'kai stylings were very potent and difficult to face, especially for those mastering other contemporary forms with little else to fall back on. "Too few answers to questions." Raek put it, citing Niman's variability as its key strength against more specialized, single minded adversaries, but stressed that the 'relaxed bladework' typical of the sixth form should not become lethargic, as was in his opinion endemic among many users seeing its simplicity as merely the easiest path to skill. 'Diplomat's form', indeed.
Favouring superior weapon control as a key combat against this weakness, Raek Orad'al stands as one of the few Jedi to complete the entire canon of Faalo's Cadences, and one of only a rare few if not the only to do so back-to-back. Furthering this, the Bothan has written and recorded several exercises and curricula regarding Niman and how to best approach the form, storing these into holocrons readily available for the next generations of Jedi. Perhaps his most known regards the transition from Niman to Jar'Kai as well as a compendium of exercises, velocities and manoeuvres designed to become familiar with, and take advantage of, two blades and the benefits they bring; particularly focusing in on the unique ability to engage in or defend against multiple avenues of action at once.
In his elder years, the Bothan has simplified his style, abandoning the flamboyant and acrobatic twin bladework in favour of a grounded form, trading motion for precision with a single blade, with Makashi serving as a supplementary form. In his years on Ilum, still studying Niman above all, Raek has nevertheless refined his craft; his decades of experience with the Sixth Form transcending competency to the level of art. Whilst the old man is still quite fit for his age, time has caught up with him, and as such, he relies upon the Force to strengthen himself in more intensive training bouts. Raek also often brings his scentwood cane into training sessions with him, albeit to take the strain off of his legs, but occasionally resorting to using the length of wood as an offhand 'blade' to playfully surprise any new training partners who might under-estimate him and leave themselves open to a jest tap.
Biography:
Prologue (Birth)
Raek Orad'al, son of Kai Orad'al and Shayl Arist'ges, was born under no particular oracles or auspices. No special circumstances bar perhaps the arranged marriage of his parents precipitated the boy's birth, not the offspring of a long line of Jedi Knights or great figures of the Galaxy. Business arrangements between the migrant Ual and Iges clans, both settled within the Corellian system, brought together the two as a show of unity and strength between the two groups of family-structures.
After all, a merger of two family-owned freight concerns meant nothing if the resulting enterprise themselves were operated under two clan names. Thus, as part of the merger, a series of no fewer than eight marriages were proposed among the younger 'of-age' generation of both Iges and Ual clans, tying the two together from that point on in the bonds of familial blood. After all, whilst backstabbing and duplicity was practically inherent to Bothan culture and societal norms, even among those who had left Bothawui in search of wealth and prosperity, family and clan carried enough weight to bring pause to such thoughts.
As with most arranged marriages, tensions were at first high, and whilst three of the eight marriages would end in bitter tension, the remaining five were able to consummate their unions as intended in time. No less than nine children would be birthed across the five families, and among them, would be Raek Orad'al.
For the earliest years of his life, the young Bothan child would have be doted upon in practically every regard; at no point would there ever a moment of going without, owing directly to the combined support of both clans. Shelter, comfort, security and company; all were practical givens that the young Raek would have grown around.
However, it was a future that the Bothan child would never know; blood tests upon the boy's birth to determine his health returned positive for a future connection to the Force. Despite some initial hesitancy on the part of his parents, and indeed some pressures among the clans for the sake of their own desires, ultimately the request that would come from the Jedi was met positively. Thus would begin Raek's path, not paved with the comforts of the wealthy but instead the rigors faced by few; that of self-sacrifice, moderation, humility and austerity.
That of a Jedi.
Youngling (3-12)
Spending his infancy among the Jedi on Coruscant was a daunting prospect for many of the newcoming Jedi potentials, and for Raek Orad'al, he was no exception. Far from a courageous child, the Bothan was as scared as they came; not only anxious to be separated from who he'd imprinted upon as his family, but to then be subjected to all manner of new and alien things. Space-travel, from Corellia to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, the Jedi Temple itself, the bustle of various species of Jedi Knights and others all moving to and from their tasks.
It was all so dizzying and overwhelming when it all came time to be brought into the Temple that, on his own two feet, the young Bothan broke down and bawled; utterly terrified by the sheer scale of unknowns placed before him. Desperate, the young Raek turned to the only being he remotely knew, the Jedi that had brought him into all of this, and clung to their trouser leg for dear life in a feeble attempt to hide from everything and anything.
Not the most seamless or dignified of introductions into the Jedi Order, it took quite a bit of coaxing to bring the young boy back to a calmer state of mind, both from the human Jedi recruiter, and as luck would have it, some of the Knights and Apprentices within eyeshot of the commotion.
Assigned to the Hawkbat Clan during his tenure as a youngling, Raek would prove to be something of a nervous child during his developmental years; he didn't integrate quite so easily into the fold in the early stages as others. Nervousness and anxiety in the early years hindered the boy's education, and whilst others would show signs of progress rather firmly after time, Raek seemed to simply languish.
Not all was lost, however, as whilst the Bothan drifted behind the standards of his clan, he still remained within acceptable tolerances. All that was required was just that little bit extra attention during his lessons to help bring the boy out of his shell; somewhat of a test of patience for his clan leader but one that was fortunately not too tall an order to fill. Raek wasn't the first youngling, after all, to fall behind expectations nor would he be the last; with hard work and just that little extra guidance, the boy would soon begin to cover the ground he had lost.
To that end, extra-curricular activity was practically mandated; for every assignment of homework and self-study that the Hawkbats were assigned, Raek received half-again as much; the expected skills and further study of the basics that he had so languished with. Seemingly unfair at first, the Bothan offered no complaint; he hadn't developed the social strength to stand up to his teachers or dare defy them. On the few occasions that Raek failed in his extra assignments, punishments were simple; more work would simply pile up.
The lesson was a simple one, and one even the young boy quickly took to heart; shirking duty now meant more work later. Between this and the habitual routine of study and meditation, Raek would often nudge aside the more social opportunities put toward him in favor of his academic pursuits; Raek was a child often found in the Jedi Library or among the training drones, rather than running about the halls with his fellow youths in free-time.
It would take years, but as the boy developed from child to early teenager, Raek Orad'al transitioned from a nervous bundle of fear and doubt into a silent achiever; a child of few words or friends, but constantly focused. Not only would the young Bothan soon meet expectations, but nearing the end of his initiate years, exceed them; developing a fundamental command of the Force and the Lightsaber, Raek's knowledge and skills snowballed. From uncoordinated and poor did the Bothan's skills climb to talented, rising from the back of the pack to become one of the foremost students among the Hawkbats.
Stand-out (12)
The first true opportunity for an Initiate to demonstrate their skills to an audience larger than merely their educators, and the first true milestone in the twilight years of the first stage of Jedi Instruction, was the Apprentice Tournament. The rules were simple; each clan would host a series of single-elimination duels until only one of each clan remained, considered the victors.
Whilst no 'prizes' other than simple validation were conferred upon these lucky few, the Apprentice Tournament was not known for rewards as it was for opportunity, for few to no initiates who had ever won such an event had gone on into obscurity; almost all not only gained the attention of a Master to continue their education, would would often return as Knights themselves, seeking to train the next generation.
For the young Bothan, it was opportunity that simply could not go without being capitalised upon. A true test of skill, to put an exclamation mark on his progress within the Order and show that he was more than simply the washout he had so narrowly avoided becoming. The competition, however, was fierce; every Initiate was aware of the potential rewards of success, likewise the overall prospects that failure brought on; failing to draw the attention of a Master before the cutoff age was a practical death-sentence to the dreams of becoming a Jedi Knight.
There was nervousness, sure; as the first rounds were announced among the Hawkbat clan, Raek felt himself shake like a leaf in the breeze, but no sooner did the boy set foot upon the fencing piste did he find himself met with an eerie sense of calm. Everything just seemed to slow; the faces of every single person watching around the chamber disappearing into what seemed to be shadow. Focus narrowed the large hall down further and further, until it was merely a narrow strip of cloth-covered padding, and two children; no sounds, no sights, just the two younglings.
For the first time in his short life, the reddish-furred little Raek Orad'al felt himself connect with the Force in a way he'd never felt before; true and deep-rooted joining of the physical mind and the ethereal. It was breathtaking to comprehend, even if the young boy didn't fully understand the magnitude of what was going on, but suddenly the challenge laid before him seemed perhaps as simple as the soft exhale that left his nose.
And with it, all stress simply left.
The bout was intensely fought, but brief; the span of no less than fifteen seconds of furious swordplay from the two initiates resulting in the young Bothan scoring the requisite touches. His adversary, a Bith youngling, flew in with gusto; seeking to capitalise on the height and reach advantage he enjoyed over his opponent. It was a scary display that had the young Bothan backpedaling to try to keep distance, but as the green blade of the Bith slapped against the Raek's blue, there was a sense of confidence; he could stop the attacks, they wouldn't find their mark so long as Raek was strong enough to defend them.
The lunging offensive quickly met the metaphorical brick wall, and bereft of momentum, the Bith was swiftly given a dose of his own medicine as Raek responded in kind; falling from his defensive and passive guard into a flourish of offensive swipes. The extra practice with the lightsaber had come in handy; Raek's aim was erratic but far from poorly controlled, as the shorter Bothan roughly snatched initiative from his adversary. A thrust for the legs sent the Bith's guard low, only to suddenly find the sky-blue glow hurtling up toward his chest; forcing the taller alien's blade to hurriedly rush back and forth between the offended points.
Not fast enough.
A feinted thrust toward the knees brought the Bith's blade back down; the pattern beginning to ingrain into the youngling's mind, forcing his hand into action before his eyes could relay the necessary information. Bouncing his blade from Raek's down, the Bith rose his green blade to defend his chest, only to find the Bothan hadn't launched an offensive there, instead delivering a two-handed horizontal sweep just above the waistline that met its target; delivering the humiliation and pain of a lightsaber burn, a loss, and elimination from the tournament.
Fifteen seconds of wild swordplay ending in a flash, all rushed back to Raek like rain falling from the sky; realisation dawning upon the boy mere moments after the officiating Jedi signalled the end of the match. He'd won, and it had been far, far less terrifying than he had ever imagined. Congratulations were given, commiserations in kind to the defeated Bith, but no hard feelings exchanged. No injuries, no embarrassments, nothing; there was absolutely nothing to fear, and in his handy victory over a larger opponent, Raek found the confidence that had so eluded him.
The tournament progressed through the days, and in each bout, the young Raek Orad'al progressed along with it; claiming victory after victory from his colleagues and fellow younglings. From intra-clan bouts to the actual inter-clan Tournament itself, Raek Orad'al remained undefeated; scoring several impressive wins through not only successful touches, but even disarmament, all the way to the competition's zenith.
There, facing off against a young togruta dragon-clan initiate named Kuto, Raek Orad'al stamped his name into the annals of Jedi history; scoring a grueling touch-victory after a seven minute, back and forth war. The fight was hardly a work of art, but for two twelve year olds, the level of lightsaber skill put into play was near enough to gain great praise for the both of them; at no point was neither boy safe from their opponent, with the match hanging upon the point of a needle at various stages. Every cut, thrust, sweep and pivot employed both carried meaning and was met with the appropriate response; every guard just barely meeting the offensive action in time to ward it off, but room for spectacle had not gone unnoticed.
Perhaps the most exciting point in the match, to the point of even gaining reaction from a hall of stoic Jedi, had been an exchange of thrusts that had, with a careful rolling catch-and-flick guard from Raek, ripped the lightsaber from Kuto's hand and sent the Togruta's lightsaber soaring up into the air. Rather than panic and surrender, however, Kuto surprisingly charged, using the distraction of his flying weapon to launch a solid two-footed jumping dropkick squarely into Raek's chest, sending the Bothan not only tumbling to the mat, but temporarily tumbling from the winner's circle; the disarmed lightsaber returned to the hand of its owner as if magnetically attracted to it, rendering the disarm ineffective.
In the end, however, it was Raek that scored the victory, managing to outwork his opponent's blade before scoring a successful weapon-wrist touch; just barely catching Kuto's hand out during a poorly applied guard, just a few degrees further exposed than necessary. The victory at first seemed at first an illusion, but as reality dawned, excitement took the boy. The words 'Apprentice Tournament Champion' were too good to be true, and after receiving the hand-raise to signify the win, both Kuto and Raek were given the fairly earned kudos from their audience in commendation of their skilful display.
And it was there, under the kind words and cheers from the Jedi Knights and Masters in attendance, that not only was history about to be made, not only two illustrious Jedi careers about to be embarked upon, but a firm friendship formed.
Apprenticeship (12-22)
Whilst focus was placed upon Raek for his victory by those above him, it was actually his efforts in academia that would garner the Bothan his apprenticeship. Among the accolades and considerations as an up-and-comer Jedi, it was the Kibnon Jedi Master, Xendri, that first approached young Raek with the prospect of becoming her apprentice. As an older Jedi, Xendri had educated above her share of younger Jedi; no less than six successful Knights had emerged from her teaching, with Raek catching her compound-eyes as a potential seventh.
The offer, however, wasn't as forthcoming or as overt as many Jedi would tell of their training, as the mantid Master began her assessment through a curious interrogation; questioning the boy on his experiences with the Jedi thus far. When the topic moved to how Raek felt about the Jedi, and how he viewed those around him such as Kuto, the conversation moved from question-and-answer responses to something closer to a verbal sparring match.
However, much as a novice swordsman finds themselves outclassed by their educator, so too did Raek find himself tangled in a logical web by the insect-featured Xendri. Somewhat controversially, the Jedi Code was offered as a bait for Raek to pounce upon in defence, only for Xendri to counter-question the boy's hard-line stance, as he had been so taught to carry. What was compassion, if there were no emotion for the Jedi? Did the lack of ignorance among the Order mean the Jedi knew all that there was to know? And wouldn't such a fervour for knowledge be deemed passionate?
Naturally, the concepts were beyond the youngling Bothan, but rather than back away from them, Raek instead pushed further, but not before humbly admitting he didn't quite understand what the elder Jedi meant. Rather than defend his position stubbornly, the youngling could only find himself more curious to what Xendri had to say on the matter; going so far to have the courage to ask the chitinous Jedi to explain in simpler terms. Of course, there was always a level of doubt about just what the Kibnon Jedi had in mind for him, but Raek kept his concerns quiet and well-suppressed; the nervousness wasn't for his well-being so much as it was simply curiosity and anticipation.
What came instead was a question that practically floored the young boy; if he would be prepared to take the time to learn under Xendri's guidance, as her apprentice. Flattered, with his concerns and fears suddenly washed away, the young Bothan could only accept the offer, but curiosity demanded he ask just why the insectoid Jedi wanted to train him.
Raek could remember the gentle chittering of mandibles as Xendri 'laughed', and a phrase that would swiftly become a cornerstone of his personal philosophy; "You've proven capable to learn, to recognise fault within yourself, and through recognition of it and effort, correct it. Many Jedi today now don't see their faults, but their successes, and become deluded by them."
It was a controversial thought to consider, and said only when her colleagues were far enough from earshot not to be heard, but Raek didn't need to be told twice not to go repeating such things; even with the expressionless features of Xendri's face, her buzzed tone carried the severity. Whether or not it was true, however, the Bothan child didn't know, but once again, the chittering of mandibles brought his attention back to the real world.
"But that's just my opinion, young one; you'll come to form your own in time. It may also change in time; nothing in life is set in stone, and it's a wise Jedi that can admit when they don't know."
Xendri, Raek would come to learn, had not earned her reputation as a skilled educator for nothing, for within the span of as small a passage of time as weeks, the young Bothan began to see improvements begin to take shape. The Kibnon was analytical and critical of all aspects of his form not only as a Jedi, but as a person in general; from as broad as over-swinging his lightsaber to as small as the most minute of distractions in meditation, even as simple as unkempt body fur or frayed robe fibres.
But through all, never was the analytical eye unwarranted; it was not harshness for its own sake, but rather akin to a sculptor's mallet and chisel, with precise strikes and actions to clear the imperfections and give shape to the creature under her care. It was the closest thing to parental care Raek would know, and whilst initially uncertain of his Master's firm direction, the Bothan would come to think of her in later years as perhaps as close to a mother as he would ever have.
Moderation (12-22):
As with many Padawans, Raek would take great influence from his Master, seeking to follow in her footsteps and learn through her example how to behave as a Jedi. But in no area was this most evident, and perhaps at the same time most divergent, than the lightsaber; where Xendri stressed a view toward the weapon as merely a tool, Raek gravitated toward it with all the fervour of the typical Jedi Guardian.
Indeed, no sooner than two months gone by under her apprenticeship that Raek had expressed a curiosity toward the multitude of forms offered; availing himself fully to the options outside of Shii-Cho's basics.
Xendri herself was no master fencer, certainly not to the level that Raek would eventually rise to, but the elder Jedi knew enough to give a reasonable accounting of each of the six forms, when the time came that her apprentice sought her advice. Whilst a Niman practitioner herself, Xendri didn't push or nudge her student toward her choice so much as simply explain her view, that each form viewed in order offered a view of lightsaber combat history. Shii-cho's simplicity and similarity to the sword was countered by the precision moves of Makashi, which itself found three counter-forms; Soresu for defence, Ataru for mobility, Shien/Djem So for power and initiative.
Niman, Xendri continued, was the form for the moderate; carrying with it influences of all forms behind it to create a new form itself. Rather than extol its virtues as a student herself, Xendri instead allowed her apprentice to decide for himself; allowing the boy a modest amount of time to weigh up his options.
Studying heavily at the time, at Xendri's advice, the 'middle-path' philosophies offered by Ithorian philosopher Shaali, Raek would opt for Niman. Finding its approach to its prior forms as the approach of a wise man, Raek found the decision made sense to him not only as a combatant, but adherent to the Jedi ideal of knowledge; learning from one's past to create something anew from it.
What Raek found didn't disappoint him; Niman was a challenge from the word go, but one that seemed rather steadily overcome. Balancing the use of the lightsaber with application of the Force was another aspect, Raek found, that was both well-rounded but incredibly difficult to master early on. The idea of changing concentration and remaining within the 'centred' place to hear the Force, whilst deep in combat, was almost jarringly alien to him; gone was the simplistic aggression of Shii-Cho, instead calling for a much, much more calm approach.
Where many Jedi would find themselves torn between the myriad aspects of their education in a desire to specialise, the young Raek would find himself emboldened by the challenges set before him. Every waking moment was spent, aside from the infrequent off-world assignment, devoted to the development of the self; the work ethic fostered in the young Bothan from both his own views and the desire to impress those around him demanded nothing less.
Not so Moderate (18):
Constantly driven forward, Raek Orad'al's powers grew at an exponential rate, feverishly pushed by his studies not only outward but inward; the Force burned within him perhaps as bright as the blade of his training lightsaber. Transitioning from childhood to adulthood seemed to serve as a transition from humble learner to a true potential Jedi; attention upon him seemed far more common now not just from the ever aloof Xendri, but from other Jedi as well.
And it wasn't all positive.
Concerns were raised, names mentioned in hushed tones as if to serve as warnings to the youth; compelling him to heed the perils that had befell so many potential greats before him. Had it not been the same drive for knowledge that had driven Exar Kun to fall not so long ago? Was it not perhaps too unlike a Jedi to focus on the lightsaber so? Surely a Jedi with such a passion for knowledge might find comfort in knowing their limits, rather than seeking fervently to extend them?
Where there was external doubts, however, Raek himself took little of it to heart; his concentration unfettered by neither praise nor worry. To the Bothan, each had their place; pride in his achievements and acknowledgement of them was welcome, but likewise there would always be the voice of caution to back it up. Neither were meant to be heard too often, and rather than allow his ego to be inflated or deflated by them, the boy instead carried on.
After all, Xendri had yet to tell him to stop directly, why would he? His Master's ever watchful eyes had yet to detect a failing; she would always offer in her way some acceptance to his dedication and learning. Be it successful missions or simply a stronger understanding of the world around him, the insectoid Jedi was always happy to push her apprentice onward.
Roleplay Sample: .
Race: Bothan
Age:72
Birthplace: Coronet City, Corellia.
Allegiance: Jedi Order, Galactic Republic.
Status: Jedi Master
Rank: Ilum Temple Caretaker, Former Youngling Clan Leader, "Retired" from active assignments.
Height/Weight:
5'0, 132 lbs
Appearance:
A wizened Bothan of advanced age, Raek Orad'al shows his seventy-two years of living quite blatantly upon his sleeve; his silvery-grey body fur, modest beard and lengthy whiskers giving the Bothan a fragile yet endearing appearance. His hazel-hued eyes still carry the alert spark of intellect, however, casting aside any doubts of potential senility or dementia in his senior years, and whilst he seems fragile, the Bothan is surprisingly fit for a man his age when he needs to be. Far from physically imposing, however, Raek instead appears almost grandfatherly and deliberate-of-pace; he is almost innately approachable by those younger than him, be it to seek advice or offer assistance in one way or another.
Like all Jedi, Raek wears the standard fare Jedi robes and over-cloak, favouring the tan and brown tones as per the norm, though a little thicker of cloth to deal with the colder climate Ilum presents. Boots, trousers and a belt complete the carefully groomed attire, and despite his wispy fur, not a single hair of it has clung to the cloth. Whilst not always necessary, Raek does carry a lacquered, wooden walking cane; Ilum's cold and the ravages of time often do wear into the Bothan's joints, requiring the support to help him easily get around. Age and cold do take their toll, after all, and Raek has led an extremely physical life.
Unlike many Jedi, however, Raek also possesses a personal piece of jewellery; a metallic band worn upon his left hand. It isn't glaringly obvious at first glance, as the fur on his fingers tend to disguise it, but it wouldn't take a trained eye to pick it out. It's a small object that goes a long way in describing just who he is, however, in his quiet defiance of the established rule of the Jedi regarding attachment, but nevertheless still understated enough in its appearance that it doesn't appear gaudy or ostentatious.
Personality:
Raek is a principled Jedi to whom age has somewhat mellowed; the glowing embers of what once were a great fire. The old Bothan still retains a sense of quiet humour, even at his own expense, willing to exchange in jest and generally keeping himself in at least a sedentary state of pleasantness. It's extremely difficult to rattle Raek, for example; he is fully aware of his assignment to Ilum being more of a restriction than a task, but the knowledge has not hindered him.
Ever the philosophical and inquisitive man, he has come to some odds with the status quo of the Jedi, particularly in relation to their views on attachment. To Raek, where the Jedi would shun emotional attachment for the risk of clouding judgement, the Bothan instead contends that is fear that clouds judgement, not the attachment itself, which can indeed be beneficial for a Jedi to experience. In their own way, Raek conjectures, the Jedi are already beings of attachment, and indeed these connections are actively fostered in their training; to each other, to their lightsabers, to their way of life, and yet suffer little ill in these. Going further, the Bothan states that it's in this nature of dismissal that the Jedi expose themselves to the Dark Side, failing to develop the correct responses to emotional conflicts when they arise due to their inexperience in such matters.
Were it not for this habitual 'going his own way' versus the established methods of the Order, Raek Orad'al would likely be upon a seat among the Jedi High Council; a point that both several Jedi have contended and one that the Bothan himself is quite keenly aware.
Whilst he has indeed calmed, the Bothan is still steadfast in his beliefs; he won't belittle others for following their own ways, but convincing him otherwise of his own may be a difficult task. That isn't to say, however, that Raek will brook no argument; he actively encourages it. An early interest in philosophy and the nature of life, encouraged further by his own Master, has given Raek an open mind and a solid appreciation for good-natured debate and intellectual argument; he will gladly exchange ideas with any willing to approach him, feeling it to be a great method of mutual advancement and education.
In conversation, the elderly Bothan is measured and a man of few words; he will listen and cede ground in each conversation before offering his own input in carefully applied statements. In both debate and in trying to educate, Raek often prefers to bring thought to the other person, to make them consider their contention or question in hopes they reach the conclusion themselves, rather than have it laid out for them. Instruction from Raek is less about him teaching you, and more you finding the answers; he merely guides the development. This method has lead him to the successful education of a pair of Padawans of his own, before going on to take leadership of the Hawkbat Youngling Clan; many of his students now full-fledged Jedi in their own right.
As a younger man, however, Raek was a fiery one; an intellectual trailblazer always on the lookout for a challenge against which to pit himself. 'A sound mind in a sound body' was certainly a phrase to suit the younger Bothan, who could just as soon as postulate and ponder upon the nature of life and the Force as courageously leap into action with lightsabers blazing.
As such, many parallels were drawn in his knighthood to that of Exar Kun by other members of the Order, both as a positive and a negative; Raek possessed a great drive and desire for knowledge and understanding of things around him, paired with a strong mastery of the Force, talent with the lightsaber, and a dedication to be a noteworthy Jedi. However, much like the infamous Kun, Raek also carried with him a willingness to buck tradition and bend the rules in order to achieve his aims, and his sense of dedication in the pursuit of knowledge bordered on nigh-fixation; appearing to his superiors to always be a few short missteps away from utter disaster.
A veteran Jedi, Raek Orad'al is no stranger to the rigours of battle, and like many Jedi entering the fray in the defence of the Republic, knew that there was little recourse but what was done. Whilst Raek has indeed killed, the Bothan never revelled in bloodshed and, whilst unfettered by remorse per se, neither was he overly proud in his victories. Killing, after all, was not an action worthy of a good man; whilst the Bothan knew his duty to the Republic indeed covered these actions, philosophically it posed certain questions of morality that Raek couldn't help but find vexing in his pursuit to answer them.
He's not without his vices or habits, however; Raek can often be found idling with a freshly-brewed mug of tea, simply letting the world go by, and he's not above enjoying a good meal either. More than once the elderly Jedi has been found to doze off wherever he sits during the more quiet days, but whilst some would find it embarrassing, the Bothan simply finds amusement in it. He also tends to the Temple's interior gardens, rather than leaving the work to caretaker droids, finding the hobby to be a pleasing way to pass the time.
Nor is Raek without his own personal issues to work through. Unlike most Jedi, the Bothan has married and has fathered a son; grounds that would have had him expelled from the Order under perhaps any other circumstance and, even in his case, almost did. There are few days that go by that Raek doesn't think about either his distant former wife on Talus or his estranged son under the care of the Jedi. Whilst the Bothan has the ability to reach or contact neither of them, not one of those days has brought regret or a desire to change what has been done, even knowing it has lead to his practical excision from the Jedi Order. In his view, all is as it was meant to be, and in that, the old man finds some comfort.
Ships/Vehicles:
None.
Equipment:
Lightsaber: Raek's single phase, blue bladed lightsaber is a firm statement in lightsaber combat, and that statement is 'less is more.'. Free of any features of contemporary weapons, it is as simple as a lightsaber can get, going so far as even foregoing a belt loop for a humble cloth wrap below the emitter shroud. Yet it, in the right hand of its maker was at one point, along with its 'lost' sister blade, considered almost iconic in its multiple decades of service as a force to be reckoned with among the Order.
The weapon is precisely tuned both in weight and to its focusing crystal, with its balance point adjusted to the rear of the hilt so as to give greater control for single handed, wrist-manipulative motions rather than full-arm swings. Using an Adegan gemstone as the focus for much of his Jedi career, Raek has instead opted for a Pontite gem found during his tenure on Ilum, found deep in the crystal caves after a curious bit of exploration led to its unearthing. Its cool aura, it's said, calms both the body and the mind; an effect the Bothan has come to find to be quite accurate a description.
Scentwood walking cane.
Commlink.
Stats: (Feeble, Below Average, Average, Above Average, Superior, Legendary)
Strength - Feeble
Agility -Below Average
Intelligence -Above Average
Charisma -Above Average
Force Stats: (Unskilled, Novice, Apprentice, Adept, Expert, Master)
Telekinetic- Adept.
Telepathic- Adept.
Body-Expert.
Sense- Expert.
Protection- Adept.
Healing:– Apprentice.
Destruction– Unskilled.
Combat Training: (Unskilled, Novice, Apprentice, Adept, Expert, Master)
None
Force Training: (Unskilled, Novice, Apprentice, Adept, Expert, Master)
Force Weapon: Apprentice
Other Training: (Unskilled, Novice, Apprentice, Adept, Expert, Master)
Gardening: Adept.
Mathematics: Adept.
Education: Master.
Lightsaber Training: (Untrained, Novice, Apprentice, Adept, Expert, Master, Specialist)
Shii-Cho- Master
Makashi- Adept
Niman- Specialist
>>Sub-form Jar-kai- Master
Considered one of the premier duellists of his time and often mentioned in the same sentence as great figures such as the recently-named Battlemaster Vyshaan and others, Raek Orad'al stood out from an early age, claiming victory in the Apprenticeship Tournament at the age of twelve. Taking to the sixth form of lightsaber combat, Niman, early on in his Jedi career, Raek took the 'diplomat's form' and ran with it, mastering the root form in his apprenticeship before adapting the root form to the twin-lightsaber Jar'kai method.
Pairing this with the simple blade-work focused elements of Shii-Cho developed in his learning years, the Bothan's twin-bladed Niman/Jar'kai stylings were very potent and difficult to face, especially for those mastering other contemporary forms with little else to fall back on. "Too few answers to questions." Raek put it, citing Niman's variability as its key strength against more specialized, single minded adversaries, but stressed that the 'relaxed bladework' typical of the sixth form should not become lethargic, as was in his opinion endemic among many users seeing its simplicity as merely the easiest path to skill. 'Diplomat's form', indeed.
Favouring superior weapon control as a key combat against this weakness, Raek Orad'al stands as one of the few Jedi to complete the entire canon of Faalo's Cadences, and one of only a rare few if not the only to do so back-to-back. Furthering this, the Bothan has written and recorded several exercises and curricula regarding Niman and how to best approach the form, storing these into holocrons readily available for the next generations of Jedi. Perhaps his most known regards the transition from Niman to Jar'Kai as well as a compendium of exercises, velocities and manoeuvres designed to become familiar with, and take advantage of, two blades and the benefits they bring; particularly focusing in on the unique ability to engage in or defend against multiple avenues of action at once.
In his elder years, the Bothan has simplified his style, abandoning the flamboyant and acrobatic twin bladework in favour of a grounded form, trading motion for precision with a single blade, with Makashi serving as a supplementary form. In his years on Ilum, still studying Niman above all, Raek has nevertheless refined his craft; his decades of experience with the Sixth Form transcending competency to the level of art. Whilst the old man is still quite fit for his age, time has caught up with him, and as such, he relies upon the Force to strengthen himself in more intensive training bouts. Raek also often brings his scentwood cane into training sessions with him, albeit to take the strain off of his legs, but occasionally resorting to using the length of wood as an offhand 'blade' to playfully surprise any new training partners who might under-estimate him and leave themselves open to a jest tap.
Biography:
Prologue (Birth)
Raek Orad'al, son of Kai Orad'al and Shayl Arist'ges, was born under no particular oracles or auspices. No special circumstances bar perhaps the arranged marriage of his parents precipitated the boy's birth, not the offspring of a long line of Jedi Knights or great figures of the Galaxy. Business arrangements between the migrant Ual and Iges clans, both settled within the Corellian system, brought together the two as a show of unity and strength between the two groups of family-structures.
After all, a merger of two family-owned freight concerns meant nothing if the resulting enterprise themselves were operated under two clan names. Thus, as part of the merger, a series of no fewer than eight marriages were proposed among the younger 'of-age' generation of both Iges and Ual clans, tying the two together from that point on in the bonds of familial blood. After all, whilst backstabbing and duplicity was practically inherent to Bothan culture and societal norms, even among those who had left Bothawui in search of wealth and prosperity, family and clan carried enough weight to bring pause to such thoughts.
As with most arranged marriages, tensions were at first high, and whilst three of the eight marriages would end in bitter tension, the remaining five were able to consummate their unions as intended in time. No less than nine children would be birthed across the five families, and among them, would be Raek Orad'al.
For the earliest years of his life, the young Bothan child would have be doted upon in practically every regard; at no point would there ever a moment of going without, owing directly to the combined support of both clans. Shelter, comfort, security and company; all were practical givens that the young Raek would have grown around.
However, it was a future that the Bothan child would never know; blood tests upon the boy's birth to determine his health returned positive for a future connection to the Force. Despite some initial hesitancy on the part of his parents, and indeed some pressures among the clans for the sake of their own desires, ultimately the request that would come from the Jedi was met positively. Thus would begin Raek's path, not paved with the comforts of the wealthy but instead the rigors faced by few; that of self-sacrifice, moderation, humility and austerity.
That of a Jedi.
Youngling (3-12)
Spending his infancy among the Jedi on Coruscant was a daunting prospect for many of the newcoming Jedi potentials, and for Raek Orad'al, he was no exception. Far from a courageous child, the Bothan was as scared as they came; not only anxious to be separated from who he'd imprinted upon as his family, but to then be subjected to all manner of new and alien things. Space-travel, from Corellia to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, the Jedi Temple itself, the bustle of various species of Jedi Knights and others all moving to and from their tasks.
It was all so dizzying and overwhelming when it all came time to be brought into the Temple that, on his own two feet, the young Bothan broke down and bawled; utterly terrified by the sheer scale of unknowns placed before him. Desperate, the young Raek turned to the only being he remotely knew, the Jedi that had brought him into all of this, and clung to their trouser leg for dear life in a feeble attempt to hide from everything and anything.
Not the most seamless or dignified of introductions into the Jedi Order, it took quite a bit of coaxing to bring the young boy back to a calmer state of mind, both from the human Jedi recruiter, and as luck would have it, some of the Knights and Apprentices within eyeshot of the commotion.
Assigned to the Hawkbat Clan during his tenure as a youngling, Raek would prove to be something of a nervous child during his developmental years; he didn't integrate quite so easily into the fold in the early stages as others. Nervousness and anxiety in the early years hindered the boy's education, and whilst others would show signs of progress rather firmly after time, Raek seemed to simply languish.
Not all was lost, however, as whilst the Bothan drifted behind the standards of his clan, he still remained within acceptable tolerances. All that was required was just that little bit extra attention during his lessons to help bring the boy out of his shell; somewhat of a test of patience for his clan leader but one that was fortunately not too tall an order to fill. Raek wasn't the first youngling, after all, to fall behind expectations nor would he be the last; with hard work and just that little extra guidance, the boy would soon begin to cover the ground he had lost.
To that end, extra-curricular activity was practically mandated; for every assignment of homework and self-study that the Hawkbats were assigned, Raek received half-again as much; the expected skills and further study of the basics that he had so languished with. Seemingly unfair at first, the Bothan offered no complaint; he hadn't developed the social strength to stand up to his teachers or dare defy them. On the few occasions that Raek failed in his extra assignments, punishments were simple; more work would simply pile up.
The lesson was a simple one, and one even the young boy quickly took to heart; shirking duty now meant more work later. Between this and the habitual routine of study and meditation, Raek would often nudge aside the more social opportunities put toward him in favor of his academic pursuits; Raek was a child often found in the Jedi Library or among the training drones, rather than running about the halls with his fellow youths in free-time.
It would take years, but as the boy developed from child to early teenager, Raek Orad'al transitioned from a nervous bundle of fear and doubt into a silent achiever; a child of few words or friends, but constantly focused. Not only would the young Bothan soon meet expectations, but nearing the end of his initiate years, exceed them; developing a fundamental command of the Force and the Lightsaber, Raek's knowledge and skills snowballed. From uncoordinated and poor did the Bothan's skills climb to talented, rising from the back of the pack to become one of the foremost students among the Hawkbats.
Stand-out (12)
The first true opportunity for an Initiate to demonstrate their skills to an audience larger than merely their educators, and the first true milestone in the twilight years of the first stage of Jedi Instruction, was the Apprentice Tournament. The rules were simple; each clan would host a series of single-elimination duels until only one of each clan remained, considered the victors.
Whilst no 'prizes' other than simple validation were conferred upon these lucky few, the Apprentice Tournament was not known for rewards as it was for opportunity, for few to no initiates who had ever won such an event had gone on into obscurity; almost all not only gained the attention of a Master to continue their education, would would often return as Knights themselves, seeking to train the next generation.
For the young Bothan, it was opportunity that simply could not go without being capitalised upon. A true test of skill, to put an exclamation mark on his progress within the Order and show that he was more than simply the washout he had so narrowly avoided becoming. The competition, however, was fierce; every Initiate was aware of the potential rewards of success, likewise the overall prospects that failure brought on; failing to draw the attention of a Master before the cutoff age was a practical death-sentence to the dreams of becoming a Jedi Knight.
There was nervousness, sure; as the first rounds were announced among the Hawkbat clan, Raek felt himself shake like a leaf in the breeze, but no sooner did the boy set foot upon the fencing piste did he find himself met with an eerie sense of calm. Everything just seemed to slow; the faces of every single person watching around the chamber disappearing into what seemed to be shadow. Focus narrowed the large hall down further and further, until it was merely a narrow strip of cloth-covered padding, and two children; no sounds, no sights, just the two younglings.
For the first time in his short life, the reddish-furred little Raek Orad'al felt himself connect with the Force in a way he'd never felt before; true and deep-rooted joining of the physical mind and the ethereal. It was breathtaking to comprehend, even if the young boy didn't fully understand the magnitude of what was going on, but suddenly the challenge laid before him seemed perhaps as simple as the soft exhale that left his nose.
And with it, all stress simply left.
The bout was intensely fought, but brief; the span of no less than fifteen seconds of furious swordplay from the two initiates resulting in the young Bothan scoring the requisite touches. His adversary, a Bith youngling, flew in with gusto; seeking to capitalise on the height and reach advantage he enjoyed over his opponent. It was a scary display that had the young Bothan backpedaling to try to keep distance, but as the green blade of the Bith slapped against the Raek's blue, there was a sense of confidence; he could stop the attacks, they wouldn't find their mark so long as Raek was strong enough to defend them.
The lunging offensive quickly met the metaphorical brick wall, and bereft of momentum, the Bith was swiftly given a dose of his own medicine as Raek responded in kind; falling from his defensive and passive guard into a flourish of offensive swipes. The extra practice with the lightsaber had come in handy; Raek's aim was erratic but far from poorly controlled, as the shorter Bothan roughly snatched initiative from his adversary. A thrust for the legs sent the Bith's guard low, only to suddenly find the sky-blue glow hurtling up toward his chest; forcing the taller alien's blade to hurriedly rush back and forth between the offended points.
Not fast enough.
A feinted thrust toward the knees brought the Bith's blade back down; the pattern beginning to ingrain into the youngling's mind, forcing his hand into action before his eyes could relay the necessary information. Bouncing his blade from Raek's down, the Bith rose his green blade to defend his chest, only to find the Bothan hadn't launched an offensive there, instead delivering a two-handed horizontal sweep just above the waistline that met its target; delivering the humiliation and pain of a lightsaber burn, a loss, and elimination from the tournament.
Fifteen seconds of wild swordplay ending in a flash, all rushed back to Raek like rain falling from the sky; realisation dawning upon the boy mere moments after the officiating Jedi signalled the end of the match. He'd won, and it had been far, far less terrifying than he had ever imagined. Congratulations were given, commiserations in kind to the defeated Bith, but no hard feelings exchanged. No injuries, no embarrassments, nothing; there was absolutely nothing to fear, and in his handy victory over a larger opponent, Raek found the confidence that had so eluded him.
The tournament progressed through the days, and in each bout, the young Raek Orad'al progressed along with it; claiming victory after victory from his colleagues and fellow younglings. From intra-clan bouts to the actual inter-clan Tournament itself, Raek Orad'al remained undefeated; scoring several impressive wins through not only successful touches, but even disarmament, all the way to the competition's zenith.
There, facing off against a young togruta dragon-clan initiate named Kuto, Raek Orad'al stamped his name into the annals of Jedi history; scoring a grueling touch-victory after a seven minute, back and forth war. The fight was hardly a work of art, but for two twelve year olds, the level of lightsaber skill put into play was near enough to gain great praise for the both of them; at no point was neither boy safe from their opponent, with the match hanging upon the point of a needle at various stages. Every cut, thrust, sweep and pivot employed both carried meaning and was met with the appropriate response; every guard just barely meeting the offensive action in time to ward it off, but room for spectacle had not gone unnoticed.
Perhaps the most exciting point in the match, to the point of even gaining reaction from a hall of stoic Jedi, had been an exchange of thrusts that had, with a careful rolling catch-and-flick guard from Raek, ripped the lightsaber from Kuto's hand and sent the Togruta's lightsaber soaring up into the air. Rather than panic and surrender, however, Kuto surprisingly charged, using the distraction of his flying weapon to launch a solid two-footed jumping dropkick squarely into Raek's chest, sending the Bothan not only tumbling to the mat, but temporarily tumbling from the winner's circle; the disarmed lightsaber returned to the hand of its owner as if magnetically attracted to it, rendering the disarm ineffective.
In the end, however, it was Raek that scored the victory, managing to outwork his opponent's blade before scoring a successful weapon-wrist touch; just barely catching Kuto's hand out during a poorly applied guard, just a few degrees further exposed than necessary. The victory at first seemed at first an illusion, but as reality dawned, excitement took the boy. The words 'Apprentice Tournament Champion' were too good to be true, and after receiving the hand-raise to signify the win, both Kuto and Raek were given the fairly earned kudos from their audience in commendation of their skilful display.
And it was there, under the kind words and cheers from the Jedi Knights and Masters in attendance, that not only was history about to be made, not only two illustrious Jedi careers about to be embarked upon, but a firm friendship formed.
Apprenticeship (12-22)
Whilst focus was placed upon Raek for his victory by those above him, it was actually his efforts in academia that would garner the Bothan his apprenticeship. Among the accolades and considerations as an up-and-comer Jedi, it was the Kibnon Jedi Master, Xendri, that first approached young Raek with the prospect of becoming her apprentice. As an older Jedi, Xendri had educated above her share of younger Jedi; no less than six successful Knights had emerged from her teaching, with Raek catching her compound-eyes as a potential seventh.
The offer, however, wasn't as forthcoming or as overt as many Jedi would tell of their training, as the mantid Master began her assessment through a curious interrogation; questioning the boy on his experiences with the Jedi thus far. When the topic moved to how Raek felt about the Jedi, and how he viewed those around him such as Kuto, the conversation moved from question-and-answer responses to something closer to a verbal sparring match.
However, much as a novice swordsman finds themselves outclassed by their educator, so too did Raek find himself tangled in a logical web by the insect-featured Xendri. Somewhat controversially, the Jedi Code was offered as a bait for Raek to pounce upon in defence, only for Xendri to counter-question the boy's hard-line stance, as he had been so taught to carry. What was compassion, if there were no emotion for the Jedi? Did the lack of ignorance among the Order mean the Jedi knew all that there was to know? And wouldn't such a fervour for knowledge be deemed passionate?
Naturally, the concepts were beyond the youngling Bothan, but rather than back away from them, Raek instead pushed further, but not before humbly admitting he didn't quite understand what the elder Jedi meant. Rather than defend his position stubbornly, the youngling could only find himself more curious to what Xendri had to say on the matter; going so far to have the courage to ask the chitinous Jedi to explain in simpler terms. Of course, there was always a level of doubt about just what the Kibnon Jedi had in mind for him, but Raek kept his concerns quiet and well-suppressed; the nervousness wasn't for his well-being so much as it was simply curiosity and anticipation.
What came instead was a question that practically floored the young boy; if he would be prepared to take the time to learn under Xendri's guidance, as her apprentice. Flattered, with his concerns and fears suddenly washed away, the young Bothan could only accept the offer, but curiosity demanded he ask just why the insectoid Jedi wanted to train him.
Raek could remember the gentle chittering of mandibles as Xendri 'laughed', and a phrase that would swiftly become a cornerstone of his personal philosophy; "You've proven capable to learn, to recognise fault within yourself, and through recognition of it and effort, correct it. Many Jedi today now don't see their faults, but their successes, and become deluded by them."
It was a controversial thought to consider, and said only when her colleagues were far enough from earshot not to be heard, but Raek didn't need to be told twice not to go repeating such things; even with the expressionless features of Xendri's face, her buzzed tone carried the severity. Whether or not it was true, however, the Bothan child didn't know, but once again, the chittering of mandibles brought his attention back to the real world.
"But that's just my opinion, young one; you'll come to form your own in time. It may also change in time; nothing in life is set in stone, and it's a wise Jedi that can admit when they don't know."
Xendri, Raek would come to learn, had not earned her reputation as a skilled educator for nothing, for within the span of as small a passage of time as weeks, the young Bothan began to see improvements begin to take shape. The Kibnon was analytical and critical of all aspects of his form not only as a Jedi, but as a person in general; from as broad as over-swinging his lightsaber to as small as the most minute of distractions in meditation, even as simple as unkempt body fur or frayed robe fibres.
But through all, never was the analytical eye unwarranted; it was not harshness for its own sake, but rather akin to a sculptor's mallet and chisel, with precise strikes and actions to clear the imperfections and give shape to the creature under her care. It was the closest thing to parental care Raek would know, and whilst initially uncertain of his Master's firm direction, the Bothan would come to think of her in later years as perhaps as close to a mother as he would ever have.
Moderation (12-22):
As with many Padawans, Raek would take great influence from his Master, seeking to follow in her footsteps and learn through her example how to behave as a Jedi. But in no area was this most evident, and perhaps at the same time most divergent, than the lightsaber; where Xendri stressed a view toward the weapon as merely a tool, Raek gravitated toward it with all the fervour of the typical Jedi Guardian.
Indeed, no sooner than two months gone by under her apprenticeship that Raek had expressed a curiosity toward the multitude of forms offered; availing himself fully to the options outside of Shii-Cho's basics.
Xendri herself was no master fencer, certainly not to the level that Raek would eventually rise to, but the elder Jedi knew enough to give a reasonable accounting of each of the six forms, when the time came that her apprentice sought her advice. Whilst a Niman practitioner herself, Xendri didn't push or nudge her student toward her choice so much as simply explain her view, that each form viewed in order offered a view of lightsaber combat history. Shii-cho's simplicity and similarity to the sword was countered by the precision moves of Makashi, which itself found three counter-forms; Soresu for defence, Ataru for mobility, Shien/Djem So for power and initiative.
Niman, Xendri continued, was the form for the moderate; carrying with it influences of all forms behind it to create a new form itself. Rather than extol its virtues as a student herself, Xendri instead allowed her apprentice to decide for himself; allowing the boy a modest amount of time to weigh up his options.
Studying heavily at the time, at Xendri's advice, the 'middle-path' philosophies offered by Ithorian philosopher Shaali, Raek would opt for Niman. Finding its approach to its prior forms as the approach of a wise man, Raek found the decision made sense to him not only as a combatant, but adherent to the Jedi ideal of knowledge; learning from one's past to create something anew from it.
What Raek found didn't disappoint him; Niman was a challenge from the word go, but one that seemed rather steadily overcome. Balancing the use of the lightsaber with application of the Force was another aspect, Raek found, that was both well-rounded but incredibly difficult to master early on. The idea of changing concentration and remaining within the 'centred' place to hear the Force, whilst deep in combat, was almost jarringly alien to him; gone was the simplistic aggression of Shii-Cho, instead calling for a much, much more calm approach.
Where many Jedi would find themselves torn between the myriad aspects of their education in a desire to specialise, the young Raek would find himself emboldened by the challenges set before him. Every waking moment was spent, aside from the infrequent off-world assignment, devoted to the development of the self; the work ethic fostered in the young Bothan from both his own views and the desire to impress those around him demanded nothing less.
Not so Moderate (18):
Constantly driven forward, Raek Orad'al's powers grew at an exponential rate, feverishly pushed by his studies not only outward but inward; the Force burned within him perhaps as bright as the blade of his training lightsaber. Transitioning from childhood to adulthood seemed to serve as a transition from humble learner to a true potential Jedi; attention upon him seemed far more common now not just from the ever aloof Xendri, but from other Jedi as well.
And it wasn't all positive.
Concerns were raised, names mentioned in hushed tones as if to serve as warnings to the youth; compelling him to heed the perils that had befell so many potential greats before him. Had it not been the same drive for knowledge that had driven Exar Kun to fall not so long ago? Was it not perhaps too unlike a Jedi to focus on the lightsaber so? Surely a Jedi with such a passion for knowledge might find comfort in knowing their limits, rather than seeking fervently to extend them?
Where there was external doubts, however, Raek himself took little of it to heart; his concentration unfettered by neither praise nor worry. To the Bothan, each had their place; pride in his achievements and acknowledgement of them was welcome, but likewise there would always be the voice of caution to back it up. Neither were meant to be heard too often, and rather than allow his ego to be inflated or deflated by them, the boy instead carried on.
After all, Xendri had yet to tell him to stop directly, why would he? His Master's ever watchful eyes had yet to detect a failing; she would always offer in her way some acceptance to his dedication and learning. Be it successful missions or simply a stronger understanding of the world around him, the insectoid Jedi was always happy to push her apprentice onward.
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