Ask Darkness on Yavin-4

[Dalaa Ta]

Darkness on Yavin-4

Dalaa Ta had been on Yavin-4 for some time now. He had found a nice little spot in the temple to do his daily meditations, stretches and workouts. To do his daily practice. It was a quiet and serene part which overlooked the lush green forests of the moon. Right now Dalaa was meditating in that very place. He had enjoyed his time on Yavin-4 so far but something didn't quite seem right. He had heard some other Jedi talking about it but there was a dark aura near the temple. Something which was quite off putting. It was hard to explain but it definitely posed a problem for Dalaa. Sometimes it would throw his meditation off and he would have to start all over again. This was one of those times. He opened his eyes and massaged his temples with a sigh. He brought himself up to his full height and stretched his arms and legs before leaving his serene part of the temple. He walked down the corridors, greeting his fellow Jedi as he walked past. There were some Jedi from Ajan Kloss. Maybe they had brought some darkness from the recent events there back with them? No, this had been happening before then. There was just a certain air on Yavin-4, a certain atmosphere. Some of the younger had even felt it, a youngling approached Dalaa and looked up at his towering Togrutan figure. He sensed much sadness in the youngling. He crouched down and placed his hand on her shoulder as she asked him about the atmosphere. "I'm not sure little sister." He replied with a smile before standing to his full height "But as a Knight, it is my duty to make sure you're safe and to get to the bottom of this matter". Dalaa recognised that the order had been very busy with recent events, a lot of the masters and knights were away helping the rangers and the temple of Yavin-4 wasn't the main temple anyways and thus not a particular priority. Dalaa continued his journey through the temple, he wanted to find another knight or two to assist him. Perhaps a small group of them could get to the bottom of this. Figure out why Yavin-4 had this air of darkness surrounding it in these current times.​

 

[Fiach Dubh]

Yavin-4. Fiach had been there many times before. The first time was to meet her Master after he returned from a long absence – about the time he was promoted to the Jedi Council.

She’d returned sporadically since then. The main reason was to test her flying skills.

It was fun to fly above the trees, the atmosphere pushing against her, the pull of gravity trying to refuse her.

Then she would break through the thin skin that protected the moon, and the Yavin gas giant would suddenly glow that much brighter against the darkness of space. All the push and pull of atmosphere and gravity would vanish, and she would stare up through the canopy and lose track of the stars and feel the freedom and the potential, that she could go anywhere, that she could do anything. That was when she knew that if she hadn’t been a Jedi, she would have loved to have been a pilot.

But today was not about developing her flying skills. But instead to join a fellow Jedi on a mission of sorts. The nature of the task she knew little about – she simply answered the call for assistance, and here she was. So, she approach the Togruta and paused for her customary bow.

“I do not believe we have formally met. I am Fiach and you must be Dalaa Ta. Now, how can I be of service?”

@Faust Rex

 

[Alexandria Voran]

Yavin-4 was hot. Sticky. Humid. Nearly everything Jedi Knight Alexandria Voran disliked. It was also home, of a sort. The Order was shifting. No, that wasn’t exactly the right word. Things were wrong in the galaxy. Darkness rising around every corner. They weren’t safe. The Force pulled Alex towards her fellow Jedi, she needed them as they needed her. So, she ended her wandering around the galaxy to return to one of the less populace Temples.

She needed time to center herself. Unfortunately, peace had been hard to find. The Darkness slowly creeping in bleed into her meditations. She felt horrors that shouldn’t be, pain that wasn’t right. There was no peace here. Alex wandered the Temple. When her mind was restless her legs tended to follow. If she couldn’t mediate, she would at least keep moving.

Her typical Jedi robes billowed out as she stalked through the hallways. Her brow was furrowed as her feet slammed into the floor. Everything was all wrong. The thundercloud masquerading as a Jedi nearly slammed into Fiach and Togruta she stood near. Alex supposed the Force should have warned her, but it was one of those days. She looked up just in time to skid to a halt. “Fiach?” She raised an eyebrow at the blonde Jedi. “Shouldn’t you be swashbuckling somewhere?” Her fellow Jedi Knight did not seem the type to remaining hovering in the Temple.

Alex’s eyes flicked over to the Togruta. “Alex.” She gestured at her general personage. “The two of you look serious, and I need to distract myself…” A small smile began to curve her lips. “So…what are we doing?” The Darkness continued to thud in the back of her mind. That couldn’t be right. She would be closer to the light.

@Corbeau @Faust Rex

 

[Dalaa Ta]

Dalaa Ta
As Dalaa was walking through the temple he was greeted by another Jedi knight who bowed before him. She had obviously heard of Dalaa before, perhaps she had been told to assist him. Not a moment sooner, before he could introduce himself another knight wandered over talking to the woman who had just greeted him. Fiach, was her name. Then the new knight introduced herself, short and to the point; Alex. Dalaa bowed before the two of them "Greetings, sisters." Dalaa regularly greeted his fellow Jedi as siblings. He raised himself back to his full height with a smile on his face. He held his two hands together behind his back as he cleared his throat. "If you would just take a second to feel around you, with the force sister Fiach you might be able to sense something. The aura here, the force. It isn't what its supposed to be. I have spent around a fortnight on this planet. Everyday I go to my spot to meditate and the same feeling overwhelms me. Something is afoot here, I'm not sure what, but it is our jobs as knights to figure it out. Especially when we consider current events and where most of the masters and other Jedi are." Dalaa had quite a deep and calming voice. He was a very spiritual man when it came to the force, he was always testing the feel of it on Yavin. It hadn't felt right for a while, he didn't know the reason behind it and was determined to find it. "I think we should patrol the grounds, see if we can find where this feeling is strongest. But, I have only been a knight for a short time. So please if you may impart some wisdom on to me. Your thoughts and guidance would be much appreciated."

@Corbeau @Marx Agar ​

 

[Fiach Dubh]

Before their conversation could start proper, Fiach was aware of someone familiar approaching. In fact they almost bumped into Fiach and her companion.

The question Alex asked resulted in a raised eyebrow from Fiach. She was aware of the term ‘swashbuckling’ but not how it might relate to her actions. Did Alex know something she didn’t? But before she could respond, she was swept up in the ensuing conversation.

As Dalaa spoke, she became more aware of his perspective. Once upon a time, Fiach found any contact with the Dark-side somewhat challenging. As if she were being coated in some oily substance – and she found the Force tainted by the same feeling. Sadly, she’d had so much exposure to the Dark-side that she’d found it easier to cut through the stain and connect with the Light-side unfettered.

But, being encouraged to sense her surroundings now, she had to agree – compared to her last visit, things had changed.

“This is relatively recent. Or at least since my last visit. Whether this is something growing, spreading, or something recently introduced I cannot say.”

She looked at Alex, for her thoughts on the subject.

@Marx Agar @Faust Rex

 

[Alexandria Voran]

Alex’s eyes flicked back and forth. So serious. “Strange…my own meditations have been disrupted recently.” She ran a hand through her hair, her face scrunching. “I had assumed it was my own restless mind.” Alex waved her hand above her head. “I don’t do well staying in one place.” One deep breath. She reached out in the Force, her mind surfing the waves of the Light. Yes…there was something there…something that didn’t exactly belong. She wasn’t exactly sure what she felt. Alex closed her eyes for a moment.

Focus.

Was this old? Maybe? New? Hard to say. It wasn’t right, she was certain of that. Her eyes snapped opened. “This isn’t right, but I can’t tell what is wrong.” Alex sighed. She had wanted a distraction. Foolish Alex…foolish. “I would suggest an alternative plan.” Master Zapan had encouraged her to share her knowledge with the Jedi. Push her comfort zone. “We are stronger together.” Alex reached into the Force again, brushing against the minds of her fellow Jedi. “We can do this together.” There greatest chance of locating the strange sensation was if they wadded into the Force together. “If we join our minds, we can find the source of the disturbance.” Alex plunged deeper into the Force, waiting for Fiach and Dalaa to join her.

@Corbeau @Faust Rex

 

[Dalaa Ta]

Dalaa Ta

Dalaa nodded in agreement with Fiach. This sensation may be a recent one. He hadn’t inquired about it with some of the Jedi who had been here longer. He listened to Alexandria bowed slightly at her insights. “Thank you sister, it is obvious that I have some more to learn as a Knight”. Dalaa closed his eyes, placing his hands together low in front of him. He reached out with the force. Sensing his surroundings, what lay around them. He felt the presence near, close to them. “It’s near...somewhere close to the palace grounds”. He furrowed his brow as he focussed harder. Reaching further with the force. He breathed deeply, centering and grounding himself in the force as he did. Feeling the emotions, the raw emotions. A focal point of the dark side of the force. He felt It’s presence under the temple possibly. “Such raw emotion. It is under the temple perhaps? I can not tell”. Dalaa was always an optimist, he hoped that whatever it was, it could be helped. He believed fully in the Light side of the force and it’s powers. A protector of people and vanquished of the dark side of the force.​

 

[Fiach Dubh]

Fiach listened to Alex. She clearly sensed something too – and also could not quite identify what and why. At the suggestion of a plan, Fiach nodded attentively – and moments later felt the Force, but in a different way. It was changed somehow although it was familiar and she realised it was Alex, using the Force to link with her. She dropped any guards she had in place and connected – sensing their joined capabilities were stronger than individually.

And she allowed the others to lead – as she was quite content to follow, and simply lend her support to the endeavour.

@Marx Agar @Faust Rex

 

[Alexandria Voran]

The Force hummed throughout Yavin, bursting with life. Alex road the waves of Light as Fiach and Dalaa joined their strength to hers. She came alive with the strength of her fellow Jedi. A small sigh escaped her lips. She had not felt this connected to the light in years. Perhaps her self-imposed isolation was a mistake. Alex could too easily forget the benefits of seeking the aid of her brothers and sisters. Her head shook as she refocused her mind. She flowed through the Force, Fiach and Dalaa in tow.

Yes...under the Temple. Pooling fetid darkness. Old…older than Alex cared to admit. Old enough to send a chill up her spine. A force not fully awakened but stirring from the commotion in the Temple. Something old that desired the rest of them. Dangerous. Alex snapped her mind from the Force as she felt the presence shift towards them. That was absolutely the last attention she wanted to draw. She slowly opened her eyes, refocusing to the world around them.

“Yes, beneath the Temple.” Another small sigh. “Whatever is down there is old, not new, but disturbed. It has slumbered for so long and we are annoying it.” Alex did not have a strong desire to go hunting dark evil ancient forces, but looking around, who else was there? “Shall we?” She motioned for her fellows to follow. Hopefully they could cook up a plan before they arrived at the base of the Temple.

@Corbeau @Faust Rex

 

[Dalaa Ta]

Dalaa Ta

Dalaa sensed it’s age too. Old and especially dangerous. Something which, if left unattended, could prove dangerous to the padawans and younglins at the temple. He opened his eyes, happy with what they had found. Well, as happy as you could be knowing that something dark and dangerous was lurking beneath your feet. Dalaa begun to walk with his fellow Jedi. They’d have to find an entrance to below the temple somehow.

“There must be a way down to below the temple. Some kind of hidden entrance perhaps. I do not know much about the history here. Of the temple that is. But, whoever built this must have had something underground which we have somehow missed”.

His hands were behind him as he walked, he held them together. His two silver and plain lightsabers bounced at either side of his waist. “I think it goes without saying that we must be careful. I for one don’t feel like getting eaten...or worse”. He gave a soft and deep laugh as he walked through the temple. Perhaps the entrance to below was outside. There were a few grates which led to force knows where. Or Maybe it was a cave system. He had seen some entrances whilst training out in the forests nearby but never entered them. “There’s a few grates connected to outside the temple which leads to...well, anywhere. There are also a few cave entrances in the nearby forests. I’m not particularly sure where they lead to either, but they lead to somewhere near the temple.”. Dalaa sighed as he reached outside and turned to look at his fellow Jedi, hoping they’d have some insightful input on where to look first.

@Marx Agar @Corbeau

​

 

[Fiach Dubh]

Fiach searched the database that was her memory - and could remember no direct reference to any secret chambers beneath the temple. Of course, that meant little in reality, as so many Jedi records were lost or destroyed (especially during the time of the Empire).

"I am not aware of anything beneath the Temple," she shared, "which is not anything concrete, but I'd expect to hear at least a rumour in at least one record. Which suggests the way to access the area is not from within the Temple, but outside. Which, logically, leads me to agree that an underground cave network or maybe sewers might be the best next step to explore. On the plus side, we have the Force to guide us, so it won't be a blind search."

So, she followed the others outside and awaited the Force to guide them.

@Faust Rex @Marx Agar

 

[Alexandria Voran]

Alex laughed. She nearly raised a hand in surprise. Dalaa had made her laugh. Oh yes, she had misjudged all of this. Wandering the galaxy alone…seeking comfort only in the Force. She had been so misguided. All she had accomplished isolating herself. “Yes…or worse.” A broad smile bloomed across her face. “You never do know how these things are going to go.” She continued to walk with her fellow Jedi. They were at a bit of a crossroads with no clear answer to their problems. She ventured a short guess.

“I have been coming to this Temple for sixty years and I’ve never heard of a secret entrance.” Was sixty years really right? By the Force she was getting old. “I’d put good credits on the caves…you always find ancient evil in caves.” That certainly felt true, like a bell ringing in the Force. Yes…certainly true. “If I’m wrong, we can always tromp through the sewers after.” Another rare smile. Alex quickly led them out of the Temple and into the surrounding jungles. It was a quick walk to the case systems sitting just outside the Temple ground.

She dove into the Force, riding the waves of the Light. Alex pushed the noise of the jungle aside. Focus Alex. Focus. Her hand reached out towards the cave. Disturbing. Her mind brushed against something. Oil on water. Wrongness. They were right this would be the start. Her saber hilt snapped into her hand. She kept the blade unlit but the Force remained swirling around her. “This is it. I am certain.” Alex tried very hard not to sound nervous. She had no idea what they were above to face.

@Faust Rex @Corbeau