Gwynbleidd

Star Wars: Forged By Fire (KOTOR)

Voila! Phew. My fingers need a rest.

Star Wars: Forged By Fire (KOTOR)

Kale Jerikko
Dantooine

After all this time, there he was. Markus Bionte. Back from the dead. He didn’t know what to say when he first saw him, but he forced the words out anyway. Kale was miffed, irritated by Markus’s seemingly nonchalant behavior amidst all this. The man was dead, or thought dead as well as his master. Gone. Never came back. Not for nineteen years, and yet here he is. There was an infinite amount of questions, none of them tasted kind on his tongue. So, Kale went to the other side of the springs; letting the water flush the anger from his body. Drain the stress and the powers of the dark side away. This was a place of peace and it would not do well to lift the restraints and barrage Markus. Despite his own anger, Kale was a jedi knight himself. Years of training, not yet a master although some of the friends he shared with Markus were.

“Nineteen years is a long time.” Kale broke the silence. He slowly waded through the water to return nearby Markus. “I have a million questions for you. What happened? Why did you leave? Why did you not come back until now? How are you? What the hell is wrong with you? I almost want to punch you in the face. But, there is no emotion there is pace.” Kale cracked a smile. “I’m just glad you’re alive. It’s a shock. A surprise. But… a good one.” He sighed. “I won’t force you to tell me anything, I figure you had your reasons. Perhaps in time you’ll share what some of those reasons were to me. Adventure stories we might share over a drink, I won’t tell the masters. But, all in good time.” Kale stared off, thinking about something.

“Did you ever contact Lonna?” Lonna Vash, a dark haired woman with a pleasant gaze. She grew up with both Markus and Kale within the order, and shared a rather powerful bond with Markus. “She’s a master now. More than that, she serves on the High Council on Coruscant. You can bet she’s going to hear you’re back, and I’ll tell you what Markus. I don’t envy you when that happens.”

Star Wars: Forged By Fire (KOTOR)

My next post coming is coming at you, stay patient Jedi!

Star Wars: Forged By Fire (KOTOR)

Zhar Lestin
Dantooine

Zhar clapped his hands together, looking forward to what might be accomplished with this saber exam. Once they were at the combat training room, he cleared out any apprentices crowding the area. The lights flashed on, beaming bright against the soft orange matting that was common for the training grounds. Though, with a flip of a switch the matting could be covered by hard durasteel to test an apprentice’s endurance. One could knock someone to the ground, but a true test of one’s mind was to be knocked down frequently and still get up for another round. “Do what you need to prepare. Meditate, equip the practice lightsaber shielding, or practice. Take the time you need. I sense the padawans shall be here soon.”

The Twi’lek took his place at the head of the room and sat down, cross-legged to begin his meditations. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, feeling the force around him. As the chief master of lightsaber training on Dantooine, this room was close to a home within a home. “I hope for Aria to learn that the lightsaber is sacred, every bit a part of her as anything else. She wants to deny herself this, despite her intense affinity for it. When she has her mind set within the duel, it’s a beautiful work of art though rough around the edges and not mastered. Your master tells me when you duel it is quite an impressive sight. Today I have the pleasure of seeing three different styles. There is nothing quite like the duel, Ken. The way the force can become one with you and guide your movements, like a soft flowing stream…” Zhar paused. “You’re going to be a great master, one day. So long as you keep upon your path. But perhaps we don’t ask enough, where is it you want to end up?”

Aria Blair and Alek Garrus
Dantooine

As his footsteps echoed down the hall, Alek casted a long shadow with his imposing height. Several students looked up at him in awe. Rarely did anyone see anyone stand so tall, and his build was that of a Jedi Guardian prone to heavy exercise habits. Strong, powerful. He walked with a confidence bordering on cocky as he flashed a smile to the other padawans. Two blue-gray striped tattoos adorned his bald head. His jaw was strong, every bit of Alek represented pure physical prowess. And already the padawans whispered about more than the incredibly tall Jedi, but also the stories about Alek Garrus and his adventures during training. The rumors went that he had single-handedly dispatched a group of mercenaries himself. He discovered their base of operations on Tatooine and promptly eliminated them. A small group of farmers who were disturbed by them gave him his thanks. It was there his fame in the Order began, as well as his high level dueling skills. His offensive style was one many predicted would become oft talked about.

Alek himself, he was sent by his master to come here. Coruscant did not have the necessary teachers and padawans to raise himself to an even higher level. Eventually he made his way to the combat room where Ken and Zhar were waiting. Already, he could feel himself becoming eager. What were the contents of this saber exam? Judging by what he sensed from Ken, if he were an opponent, then things were already looking up. Alek also heard the name of Aria Blair reach his ears on numerous occasions. A favorite of the masters and a padawan like him. Here was his chance, a chance to prove his strength to the council and step forward to becoming a jedi knight. Alek gave a quick bow to them both.

“Where is Aria?” Alek wondered.

“Late, it seems. This is, unexpected.” Zhar commented.

Aria burst up from the flowerbed. She had fallen asleep right there, and she had spilled her caffa all over the place! Not to mention that, the young girl noticed drool on her hand. “Gross!” Aria wiped her hand and shook her head, feeling that her hair was absolutely unkempt. The bags under her eyes from a long night without sleep were only partially helped by her unexpected slumber. “I’m a mess… What am I going to do with you, Aria?” She talked to herself before suddenly she leapt up from where she sat. “I’m late!” Without wasting any more time, Aria snatched her data pad and went sprinting down the hallways. She nearly knocked over several people on her way until she came to a skidding stop where everyone was already waiting for her.

“You’re never late, Aria. Is something wrong?”

“No, not at all master. I just…” Aria sighed. “This was my fault, master. I sincerely apologize.” She bowed her head. Though, her eyes scanned the room from Ken to Alek. Aria had heard of Ken and everything seemed to be true. The flow of his connection to the force emanated from him, like him and the force were old friends never to be broken up. To her left, was Alek; someone she did not recognize. He towered over her, and his massive form spoke of power. His energy reflected that, radiated a raw forceful rage. Ken’s energy seemed much more calm in nature than that of Alek’s.

Alek’s didn’t find Aria’s height or stature to be what he expected. Her presence was something else entirely. She captured his attention, and that of Zhar’s. He could feel her coming a few moments before she even came into the room, and now that he saw her… Words didn’t do justice to the whirling energy of force that rushed forth from her. A dam that had been broken, and the force swelled out in an endless tide; surging. It wasn’t one thing, or another: simply, overwhelming.

“Very well.” Zhar spoke. “Aria, this is Alek Garrus and Ken Grant. Ken, and Alek, this is Aria Blair; my student.”

Star Wars: Forged By Fire (KOTOR)

Will get more posts up in a little while!

Star Wars: Forged By Fire (KOTOR)

Mastar Kasari and Arren Kae
Coruscant

“There is only ever one thing that blocks one’s path. Some call it anger, some call it sorrow, everyone has a certain name for what it is but in truth it is but one thing. You. You are the block on your path.”

Kasari remained silent in the corner, not speaking or moving so she wouldn’t disturb the silver-haired Jedi from giving a lesson to Xeviiy. Where Kasari hadn’t been able to break through, Arren Kae had performed impressive feats of wisdom in which many padawans were left with the imprints of her questions upon them. The Council did not always approve of her methods, but Kasari couldn’t help but be in awe of someone like Arren. The woman seemingly had infinite wisdom to give, and behind that piercing gaze was a wealth of knowledge. An unreadable force who asked the questions that needed to be asked. Hard questions, never easy. Kasari gave up a long time ago trying to understand Arren’s ways, but she understood the uses. Right now, it was her place to wait and watch. Even she could learn something from the experienced master.

At the table, Arren Kae never moved her gaze from Xeviiy. “Ahh… So she sits. Yet, I wonder if the storm will be too much. The tower either stands, or it crumbles.” Arren looked out to the library. “I am Arren Kae. Kasari has told me much about you, Xeviiy. You’re resistant to using the lightsaber because you do not like to fight. I’ve known an apprentice like you. Strong in the force, very strong. You are too naïve to understand that your resistance is not an act of lightside mastery, but of ignorance.” Arren’s stare returned to Xeviiy. “The lightsaber is an extension of yourself. A part of your core being often truer than the lessons you receive. If you refuse to master your blade, who will you protect? That is what you want, isn’t it? To protect others. Ah yes, you understand the ways of healing and are on the path of mastering it. But, who do you heal if those you want to heal are dead? And, they’re dead because you couldn’t save them in time.”

Arren closed her eyes. “Close your eyes, breathe. I want you to see.” With her connection to the force, Arren let her own energy stream forth and connect with Xeviiy. The stream between the two became linked, merging the storm clouds with the padawan. “Can you see it?” Within the darkness, a vision appeared. A field on farmland, and a home. At the home, a mercenary held a man at blaster point. His wife and child stood nearby in terror, not daring to move. A second mercenary had his blaster rifle pointed at them, standing over the corpse of a young girl.

The voice of the mercenary became real, talking as if directly to Xeviiy. “Nothing funny, Jedi. You pull something, they end up like her.”

“What do you do? The choice is yours.” Arren asked.

Anna Sparvic
Coruscant

It took a lot of work for Anna to reach her position, but she took no shortcuts and never looked for an easier path. She did everything by the letter of the law, strictly upholding the tenants of law and justice the Republic provided for her to follow. Her hard work was noticed and after the Great Sith War, she found herself under the command of Leon Arthos: a well-known name in Republic circles for his heroism during the war. Anna never told him, but he was one of the reasons she joined the Republic. Reading about his brave exploits and others, she wanted to contribute in her own way. A duty to upkeep peace and prosperity.

What she didn’t expect was the way Leon cut corners sometimes. It seemed soldier work and officer paperwork style of work clashed with each other. The man was always restless and driving the superiors insane with the everlasting procrastination on paperwork. During those times it seemed Anna’s red hair was more than just red, but perhaps fire fueling her to kick Leon into gear. Normally even keel, she could lose her patience and the entire force seemed rather entertained when the lieutenant was directing Leon about to his work. Many mistook her as a completely strict robot for the Republic, but Anna surprised many with the fact she could make a wise cracking remark. Ninety-nine percent of them were directed to Leon.

Again, the lieutenant found herself in the position of watching Leon take one of his infamous breaks. Sometimes he didn’t come back for hours. Sometimes, he didn’t come back until the next day of work! Anna was not going to allow him to simply shirk his duties and leave her with the leftovers. Standing in the elevator with him, Anna had to ask.

“Where do you even go when you leave? Honestly, sir, I’ve never seen anyone more dedicated to not doing their job. Sir.”

Star Wars: Forged By Fire (KOTOR)

@Tsar Gatto And there we go, accepted!

Star Wars: Forged By Fire (KOTOR)

A hot spring is granted!

Star Wars: Forged By Fire (KOTOR)

Have PTSD dreams?

Okay okay, kidding.
... maybe.

Wander the halls a bit I suppose if he wakes up. Find a peaceful place to meditate. Interact with an NPC that I could take control of when I wake up tomorrow.

Star Wars: Forged By Fire (KOTOR)

Enjoy the reading! Morning for you, wayyyy late for me.