Ask [Myrkr] Hawk Eyes and Fox Ears

Haldir Eressëa

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Knight

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Forsythe Crowholde
Joined
Jul 26, 2021
Messages
107
Reaction score
82
images

The Kogitsunemaru dropped out of hyperspace, and the forest planet of Myrkr soon loomed into view. Pale blue eyes gazed at the planet below wistfully, a fond gleam in his pale blue eyes at the memories of his own days as a Padawan flashed in his mind's eye. Rudra had only taken the Arkanian to Myrkr thrice during their time as Master and Padawan, but the planet had become rather memorable in more way than one – both the good, the bad, and the embarrassing.

It was also a planet rife with history. Knowing Elidan's curiosity and preferences with anything historical, Haldir thought that Myrkr would be a good place to start with regards to the half-Sephi's training. The Knight, however, didn't outline their agenda for today – much like he did with Willa – to try and keep Elidan on his toes. What was the harm in keeping a few surprises? And besides, it was as if he would willingly endanger either of his Padawans regardless of how far ahead they were in the training they received prior to being his students.

Unmasked in the privacy of his own ship, and with only one of his Padawans who already knew his face, Haldir directed the light courier planetside. He tore his gaze off the planet's view before him and focused on the ship's nav system instead, locking in on the nearest human settlement with a spaceport. The ship soon landed on an open hangar, and after powering it down the Knight rose from his seat and plucked one of the many fox masks hanging from the wall. He then grabbed a small pack on the co-pilot chair. His lightsaber was clipped on the belt of his custom Jedi clothing. The color would no doubt make the already stealthy Arkanian Knight blend perfectly into the forest.

"Elidan," he gently called the half-Sephi as he stepped out the hall to meet the young man. "We're going out to buy some supplies for the days ahead."

Placing the mask in place, the Knight would then survey the Padawan with a thoughful gaze. Part of Elidan's training (something Haldir also hadn't told the young man yet) was to see how the Padawan would fare on his own without his Master's guidance and presence, so he had to ask if the half-Sephi had any other resources aside from the things he packed.

"Do you have credits?"

The question must have felt that it came out of nowhere, and Haldir asked it in that very same manner. If Elidan had some, that was good news. If he had not, though, the Padawan need not worry – the Arkanian currently had enough to last them for quite a while.

@LouJoVi
 

Elidan

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Knight

Character Profile
Link
OOC
LouJoVi
Joined
Oct 16, 2021
Messages
406
Reaction score
275
The ship dropped out from hyperspace, revealing the forested planet of Myrkr, which looked like an emerald floating in the emptiness of space. During the entire trip there, Elidan reflected about everything that happened in these last hours. Yesterday he met a masked Jedi Knight called Haldir Eressëa at the Library. Soon he discovered that the man also had selective mutism and after a long conversation, the half-Sephi asked to be his Padawan. To his surprise, Haldir accepted.

Now, they were going to Myrkr to start Elidan’s first training session outside of Yavin IV. He couldn’t wait for them to land! Since he built his lightsaber, the Padawan always dreamed about this moment, when he would have a Master that would train him. The half-Sephi needed to admit that until yesterday, he was already losing his hope that it would happen. However, here he was with Haldir, his Master.

While the ship prepared to land in a spaceport of the planet, Elidan noticed that his Master was starting to put on a mask. During the entire trip Haldir didn’t wear it, showing that he trusted his Padawan with this secret. After their conversation yesterday, the half-Sephi learned how it was important, promising that he would never reveal it to anyone else.

When he heard his Master’s voice, his true voice, the Padawan turned to look at him. It was another of Haldir’s secrets that Elidan promised to keep. After the man said what they were going to do, the boy nodded in agreement. Since the Arkanian never said how much time they were going to stay there, buying supplies was important.

I have some, but it isn’t much.” he signed to the Jedi. Being an orphan, Elidan didn’t have the same monetary resources that the other Padawans that had families had. There wasn’t any family member that would send money to him occasionally. “I think that I can buy some supplies with it.

@Forsythe Crowholde
 

Haldir Eressëa

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Knight

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Forsythe Crowholde
Joined
Jul 26, 2021
Messages
107
Reaction score
82
A sense of excitement hung in the air, and who was Haldir to blame his Padawan for it? Judging from their conversation back in Yavin IV, the half-Sephi had been longing to find someone who would take him under their wing to teach and train. If truth be told the Knight shared Elidan's enthusiasm. Here was someone who understood the Arkanian Offshoot's predicament when it came to verbal speech, and the Knight was on that same level of understanding. Perhaps it was the will of the Force that guided his and Elidan's paths to cross yesterday, and Haldir wasn't complaining – not one bit.

He smiled beneath the cover of his mask at the Padawan's signed response. Credits weren't really the issue for the first part of his training – it was how Elidan would spend it. Haldir didn't make a clear-cut timeline for how long Master and Padawan would be staying in Myrkr since it would be dependent on how long Elidan would master what the Knight was about to teach him. Aside from that, the two Jedi weren't really going to stay in the community they found themselves in. Their business was within the forests of Myrkr, after all.

"Alright then," was all he told the half-Sephi before briefly but gently giving Elidan one pat on the shoulder and leading him out of the ship.

There were a few ships docked in the open hangar, probably owned by spacers who were making a brief stop or even smugglers, outlaws, or fugitives laying low in the forest planet. They were the reasons why the Arkanian avoided Hyllyard City in the first place. The instincts honed from years of training and his stint as a Sector Rangers whispered at him keep tabs on them, and after Elidan had exited the Kogitsunemaru with him Haldir configured the ship's lock and alarm systems from the wrist controller he wore.

The two Jedi found themselves in a farming community, interspersed with the presence of industrialization but he could tell that agriculture seemed to be dominant with both community and economy. A cobblestone path led directly to the town ahead, the town square alive with the din and activity of a marketplace set up in the square itself. To the left of the open hangar/spaceport was a field tended to by humans and sower droids. The town itself lay at the foot of a mountain, the forests surprisingly untouched by deforestation for the purposes of converting the land for agriculture.

Haldir didn't stop to admire the view, however. He led Elidan towards the town square, either ignoring the curious looks the pair received from the locals – though most eyes often gravitated to the masked Knight. The hood of his robe was down, his white hair swaying softly in the light breeze. Stopping at a stall, the Knight offered the Gran manning it a polite nod. Before surveying the merchant's wares, Haldir turned to his Padawan.

The voice and speech mannerisms of the Morellian Jedi Knight Rudra Severino slipped past the Arkanian's lips, Haldir's body language even following the exuberance his former Master displayed. "Hey, buddy, why don't you go and check out those stalls across the square? Grab us some dried fruit and dried meat, hm? While you're busy over there, I'll go get us a bedding each. Maybe even a tent – or two tents!"

While the Gran seemed to be a friendly sort, the human stall owner across the square wore a sour expression and looked like the type who sold overpriced products. The man even looked as if he would bite if offended.

@LouJoVi
 

Elidan

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Knight

Character Profile
Link
OOC
LouJoVi
Joined
Oct 16, 2021
Messages
406
Reaction score
275
Elidan followed his Master out of the ship. Even with the settlement that Haldir had chosen for them to stop before entering the forests being small, the half-Sephi noticed how there were some ships spread around the hangar. He had expected that they would be the only two outsiders there, since most of the trade and business of Myrkr happens at Hyllyard City.

He remembered the reasons why Haldir didn’t want to stop at the capital. Hyllyard City used to be a place full of the scum of the Galaxy, being common for criminals to use this place for hiding. Not only the settlements were used by them, but also the forests. Elidan agreed with his Master, two Jedi in a place full of criminals could only mean trouble.

After Haldir locked the ship, the two Jedi walked inside the settlement. The place was a farming community, with several farms around it. Occasionally, a transport carrying livestock would cross their path. While there was the presence of agriculture, Elidan would notice how the mountain behind the town still had a forest. He had read in an article how the deforestation in Myrkr had increased in the last fifty years, endangering the fauna and flora of the planet. He was happy to see that things weren’t so bad in this place.

While Elidan wanted to stop a little bit to admire the sight of the forest-covered mountain, he knew that it would not be possible at the moment. His Master continued walking toward the town square. The half-Sephi followed him, not wanting to stay behind. They stopped in front of a stall, where a Gran merchant was selling several different products.

Then, Haldir started to talk using the voice of another person. He even changed his body language. "Yes, Master." he signed, while nodding in agreement. Then, the Padawan went to buy what the Arkanian had asked. While he walked, Elidan thought about how impressive this ability of his Master was. It was amazing! He wondered if some day he would be capable of doing it.

The human at the stall across the square wasn’t one of the most nice individuals around there. Beyond the prices of the food being nearly absurd, the guy also didn’t have much patience with Elidan needing to use his Datapad to communicate with him.

After some effort, Elidan finally was able to convince the human to sell him the food for a good price. The Padawan walked back to where Haldir was, happily carrying it like some type of war spoil. He passed near a group of four Tandroshans that were talking about going into the forest, but he didn’t pay attention to them. He only wanted to find his Master, so they could start the training.

@Forsythe Crowholde
 

Haldir Eressëa

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Knight

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Forsythe Crowholde
Joined
Jul 26, 2021
Messages
107
Reaction score
82
He followed Elidan with his gaze as the Padawan moved to do what he was told. Haldir glanced at the frowning stall owner across the square, and even as he turned his attention back to the Gran the Knight still kept tabs with his Padawan through the Force. His brows creased at the flashes of emotion he allowed himself to perceive both from the half-Sephi and the unpleasant merchant, and as the Arkanian paid the Gran for his purchases Haldir fought the urge to stride towards Elidan.

Instead Haldir moved to the next stall just beside the Gran's, purchasing a pair of bedding. He and his Padawan would spend most of their time in the forest, so Elidan would have to get used sleeping outdoors. The younger Jedi would at least be spared from sleeping on the forest floor itself, thought the Knight as he arranged a pack they each would be carrying containing their bedding and their share of the food. But since it was their first day on the planet he decided to skip over spending the night outdoors in favor of having them return to the ship at the end of the day so they could carry the rest of the necessities they each packed for themselves before leaving Yavin IV. He would appreciate the change of clothes after a long day of training, and he wouldn't have his Padawan sleeping and training wearing the same clothes for the duration of their stay in the mountain.

Haldir was strapping the tent to his pack when he noticed that Elidan had returned. He smiled at the hints of pride the Padawan felt upon completing the first task he had been given. Pale blue eyes followed Elidan's movements as he passed by a group of Trandoshans, prompting the Knight to gather their belongings and meet the half-Sephi halfway.

“Well done, my guy,” he merrily told the Padawan before handing the latter his own pack. “Alright, so here's your bag and your bedding. We'll return to the ship before nightfall, so we aren't really going to be using these. At least not yet.” Haldir shot Elidan a grin beneath the cover of his mask. “Time to go on a hike, young Padawan!”

Rudra's jolly personality would have exhausted Haldir already but the Arkanian was not the same stoic Jedi Padawan any longer. With a light and friendly pat on Elidan's shoulder, the Knight began to lead the former away from the square and further into the town. They passed by rows of houses and a local cantina, earning even more curious stares from the residents. The two Jedi eventually saw a sign written in Aurebesh that led to a path towards the mountain.

‘Hunting prohibited,’ it said. Haldir walked past the sign with Elidan in tow, the sounds from the town behind them decreasing as they entered and moved further within the forest. Soon their walk turned into a hike as they began ascending the mountain. Birdsong broke through the silence of the forest, the place teeming with life through the Force. It was a miracle that the town below managed to keep the mountain from falling victim to deforestation. Perhaps it was an effort to preserve the local flora and fauna that proliferated the mountain itself. If it was the reason then the townspeople deserved praise for their environmental awareness.

The current path the two Jedi were taking was turning rather steep, with rocks and roots jutting from the ground that almost acted as footholds. Having been trained by his former Master in even more dangerous terrain, Haldir had no problem ascending the incline, gloved hands and feet easily finding purchase on the nearest rock, root, or low hanging tree branch. He looked over his shoulder to check how Elidan was doing, ready to help the Padawan if he was struggling. With both their hands full from gripping anything that could help them ascend, the Knight thought it better to communicate with the half-Sephi telepathically.

Elidan would feel Haldir's mind gently brush against his own, followed by the Arkanian's voice.

How are you doing, Elidan? Don't hesitate to tell me if you're having trouble. I'm here to help, alright?

Besides, it was the main reason why he didn't tell his Padawan the path they were about to take and the kind of training they would be doing up in the mountain in the first place. Rudra's first lesson for Haldir was that there was nothing wrong with seeking for help, nor would it degrade someone's pride for doing so.

The Knight soon reached the top of the incline, one hand finding even ground. Haldir hefted himself upwards and rose to his feet, surveying the trees ahead. Sure, he could have simply used the Force to reach the top of the slope but that would be lazy. Just because it was Elidan who needed training didn't mean that Haldir would not go through the same difficulties his Padawan would be experiencing. After making sure that there was nothing hostile in their immediate surroundings, the Knight looked over the slope in search of Elidan to check if the Padawan was close to the top or not.

“Just a little more push, Elidan,” he encouraged the younger Jedi. “I know you can do this.”

He wouldn't be surprised if the Padawan received cuts and bruises from the climb. It was a good thing Haldir was an adept healer.

@LouJoVi
 

Elidan

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Knight

Character Profile
Link
OOC
LouJoVi
Joined
Oct 16, 2021
Messages
406
Reaction score
275
In the end, Elidan didn’t need to find Haldir. While he was walking away from the stall where he bought the supplies, the half-Sephi saw his Master walking toward him. He was carrying some packs, probably containing the other things that they would need during these days of training.

The Padawan smiled before picking the pack that Haldir offered to him. Elidan still thought how curious it was to see his Master acting this way, when it had nothing to do with his true personality. The Arkanian acted as someone jolly, but in reality he was stern. If he hadn't met the masked man before, the boy was certain that he would be fooled by this.

Then, they started to walk toward the forest. While they passed through the village, Elidan noticed how some individuals would stare at them. He knew that the Order wasn’t appreciated by everyone, but the people didn’t need to stare at them like they were some type of abomination. Perhaps some of them were criminals hiding there that were afraid of the Jedi presence. If it was the case, the Padawan hoped that they would not be attacked. They were there to train, not to crack down on criminals.

After some time, they reached the outskirts of the village, where a path to the mountain started. Like Haldir, Elidan also noticed the sign. It was comforting to know that the people of this place cared for the local fauna. He had read recently how Myrkr suffered from cases of poaching. This sign showed that the government was trying to correct it. It was more than what some planets used to do.

Following his Master, Elidan soon found himself inside the forest. With his hearing, the Padawan was able to perfectly hear the sound of the creatures. He felt surrounded by the Force, making him want to find a place to read a holobook while the birds sang around him. The auburn-haired boy always loved nature, with the garden and the forest being some of his favourite places on Yavin IV. He felt so well being there.

However, he soon changed his mind about being there. The path that he and Haldir were following soon became more inclined, to the point of being necessary for them to climb it. While the Padawan did complain about it, after all this could be part of his training, it was obvious that he was struggling to follow his Master.

Elidan never climbed a path so inclined like this one before. He was trying to mimic what Haldir was doing, carefully moving his hands to hold rocks or anything else that would not allow him to fall. At one moment his right foot slid from a rock, making his knee hit and graze the ground. The Padawan felt pain coming from there, but ignored it. As a Jed, he would have worse wounds than it.

"I'm fine." Elidan said telepathically to his Master. While he was grateful that Haldir would help him if he asked, the Padawan still wanted to do it alone. What type of Jedi would he be if he couldn’t climb this incline alone? It wasn’t even that much tall, with the masked man already close to the top.

Haldir would already be on the top for some minutes when Elidan finally reached it. The encouragement of his Master helped him do it, but he still made some errors. His feet slid several times after the first one and both his knees probably had some cuts now.

Now that he was at the top, the Padawan looked at his Master. "It wasn’t so bad after all." Indeed, he could have fallen and hit his head. Elidan wondered if Yavin IV had places like this one, he really could practice some climbing. Then he felt the pain coming from his knees. It wasn’t terrible, but was a bit annoying. "Master, can you help me heal my knees? I hit them on the rocks some times." he could try to do it alone, but he didn’t want to risk passing out.

@Forsythe Crowholde
 

Haldir Eressëa

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Knight

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Forsythe Crowholde
Joined
Jul 26, 2021
Messages
107
Reaction score
82
Elidan's struggles with climbing up the path the two Jedi found themselves in were obvious, but what struck Haldir was his Padawan's reply to the Knight's offer of help. It was not borne out of arrogance nor frustration, but a simple determination to probe to his Master that he could do it. Even as the half-Sephi fumbled and hurt himself along the way he pushed on.

It brought a smile to the Arkanian's face, pale blue eyes shining with pride and approval. And when Elidan slipped and caught himself as he climbed, Haldir stayed his hand and continued to encourage the Padawan instead. It was clear that the younger Jedi wanted to prove himself so Haldir would let him – though he was always ever alert should his student stumble along the way. But in the end Elidan had managed to prove himself, prompting an amused chuckle from his Master when he signed that the climb wasn't that bad.

Still smiling, Haldir knelt beside Elidan, gloved hands hovering above the Padawan's hurt knees. Channeling the healing energies of the Force almost always came as second nature to him, and as a soft light emanated from his hands Elidan would feel the pain on his knees receding and the bruises fading before they could even form. Any scratch the Padawan got from the climb – the grazes on his knees, the cuts on his hands – would begin to close, the skin knitting itself back to wholeness.

"You did good, Elidan. I'm proud," said the Knight, his tone distinctly fraternal. Haldir couldn't help but see hints of his younger brother Hasebe on his Padawan. He was sure the younger Erennor would love to meet his Padawans sometime.

Pushing thoughts of family in the back of his mind, Haldir rose to his feet and gestured for Elidan to follow. They haven't reached their destination yet, after all. Looking up at the towering trees around them, the Knight scanned for any sturdy branches that could hold his weight. The Force wrapped around him, Light pulsating from him like a heartbeat – warm, kind, supportive. Directing the Force's energies to his legs Haldir took one step forward before leaping up the branch of the closest tree. With the Force cushioning his landing, he gazed down at Elidan.

"As Jedi, we have all been taught that the Force is what gives us our power; an energy field created by all living things – surrounding us, penetrating us. That it binds the galaxy together," he called out to his Padawan. "It is also said that the Force was created by life. And like life, the Force has two sides. Light and Dark."

Extending his influence to the branch he was standing on, Haldir walked away fron the tree's trunk, the branch creaking beneath his boots but it held.

"My Master once told me that Darkness cannot exist without Light, and Light cannot exist without Darkness. Remove one and the Balance is disrupted – destroyed. As Jedi, we are often seen as the paragon of the Light, and the Sith the Dark. I ask you this, Elidan: Have you ever felt the influence of the Dark Side before? Have you been tempted to answer it?"

@LouJoVi
 

Elidan

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Knight

Character Profile
Link
OOC
LouJoVi
Joined
Oct 16, 2021
Messages
406
Reaction score
275
Elidan watched his Master kneeling beside him to heal his knees. Even knowing that Haldir had offered to heal him, the Padawan felt uncomfortable. It was as if he wasn’t capable of doing something so simple. As soon as they returned to the Temple, he would ask the masked Jedi to teach him how to do it correctly.

The effect of the healing was good. Elidan could feel the Force flowing from nature toward his Master and then to the Padawan’s wounds. Soon, all the cuts closed and his knees looked as if they had never collided against several rocks while they climbed. He moved his legs, confirming that all the pain had disappeared.

The Padawan blushed when Haldir said that he did good and was proud of him. It was still strange for him to receive praises, even more after he did nothing important. The boy only continued climbing by himself. And it happened with great difficulty. For him, it wasn’t something special. He was only being hardworking, which was something that he thought that all Jedi should be.

He followed his Master through the forest. There were so many taller trees there, it reminded him of Yavin IV and it gave him a feeling of being at home. Then he felt Haldir reunite the Force around himself and use it to enhance his jump. Once the Knight landed on a branch, he started to explain to the Padawan the nature of the Force.

While he could easily hear what his Master was saying from where he was on the ground, Elidan decided to join Haldir on the trees. Like how the masked Jedi had done early, the Padawan chose one of the sturdy branches in the tree opposite the one where the man was. Then, he gathered the Force around himself and used it to jump. He landed on the branch, but it wasn’t so softly like the landing of his Master.

He already did this in Yavin IV, reading perched on a tree was one of favorite moments. However, he still needed to make the landings correctly, without the risk of falling face first on the floor.

As soon as he was steady on the branch, Elidan turned to look at Haldir in the other tree. He agreed with his Master vision of the Force, but he wondered if the Sith couldn’t really be destroyed once and for all. They caused so much destruction across the Galaxy. The thought that even if the Jedi destroy them, the Darksiders would return gave the boy a feeling of hopelessness.

Ignoring these feelings for now, the Padawan decided to answer his Master’s questions. Using the Force to stand on the branch, Elidan used sign language. “I felt the Dark side during the attack on Ajan Kloss. I felt its presence coming from the Sit. It was full of anger and I felt so afraid.” he was a bit ashamed about it. He always thought that the Jedi should be fearless. “But I never felt it calling for me.

@Forsythe Crowholde
 

Haldir Eressëa

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Knight

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Forsythe Crowholde
Joined
Jul 26, 2021
Messages
107
Reaction score
82
There were many things that he could read from his Padawan without the latter telling him, either through telepathy or sign language. Having been groomed and trained to originally be a spy or an undercover agent for the Sector Rangers, Haldir utilized what his companion's body language told him, and even using the Force here and there sparingly to gauge if the body language synchronized with what was being felt.

Elidan's characteristics remained the same with Haldir's first impression of the Padawan. Either they would improve or deteriorate under the Knight's guidance – but was the former the reason why Jedi teachers were encouraged to take on apprentices? To help them reach their best potential?

The Arkanian paid attention to the half-Sephi's explanation in response to Haldir's question. From across his perch he could feel a flurry of emotion from his Padawan, the touch of helplessness a familiar tune to the Knight. There was also a flash of shame, a sad, discordant hum through the Force. There was no hint of doublespeak or lie in Elidan's response, and when Haldir spoke next his tone was compassionate and a little sad.

“The attack on Ajan Kloss was what claimed the life of my former Master's daughter,” the Knight revealed. “Many fell on that fateful day, and while I had to remove myself from the Jedi Order and thus unable to help defend your home, there is one thing I am grateful for – that you never felt the Darkside call for you. I... pray that It never does.”

Haldir dipped his head respectfully towards Elidan then faced northeast. Without another word nor warning for his Padawan he leaped from his perch towards the next tree, the Force thrumming around and within him with each jump from tree to tree. After having gained quite a distance from the half-Sephi due to the unannounced headstart, Haldir dropped back down to the ground, the Force cushioning his fall, before he dashed ahead. The current aim was to make it look as if he had just left his Padawan on his own, but the half-Sephi would soon hear his Master's voice in his head, communicating with him.

Masters and apprentices share a bond through the Force. Let's see if there is a growing bond between us, my Padawan. Think of my presence in the Force as a beacon, and follow it.

With the headstart Haldir created an even greater distance between him and Elidan as he turned eastwards, running towards the mountain's peak. He didn't actively hide his presence in the Force, rather he made it faint, almost like a flickering flame in a snowstorm. Elidan would have to open himself further through the Force, to broaden his reach so he might hone in on the Knight's faint presence through their bond in the Force. Haldir himself would pause from straying further from his Padawan, only resuming to flee whenever he felt Elidan catching up to him.

Roll a d20 in the Discord channel to check how strong the growing bond is between Elidan and Haldir through the Force, then roll 3d100 to check how close he manages to catch up to Haldir before the Knight flees again. Thanks! 😄

@LouJoVi
 

Elidan

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Knight

Character Profile
Link
OOC
LouJoVi
Joined
Oct 16, 2021
Messages
406
Reaction score
275
Elidan was surprised with what Haldir had said about his Master. Like the half-Sephi, the man had also lost someone important to him during Ajan Kloss. The boy felt so much sorrow when most of his friends, who were like his siblings, died by the hand of the Sith. However, he wondered if the pain of losing a child was worse. It was someone that was your own blood.

Indeed, this must be terrible. Elidan felt sympathy for Haldir and the man that trained him. ”Can you present me to him one day?” he signed to his Master. “My therapist always said that those who lost someone during the attack should try to support each other.” it was something difficult to do. Most individuals only wanted to forget what happened.

After Haldir finished talking, Elidan watched him dip his head and move away from him. The half-Sephi stared in confusion at his Master, while he jumped through the branches. Was he going to leave him behind? Perhaps his first training was to survive in the jungle alone. This could be a problem, he never camped alone before.

Then his Master talked telepathically to him. So it was really part of the training. He would need to use their Master-Padawan bond to locate Haldir. Since they practically met yesterday, the half-Sephi was unsure that it would work.

However, he was going to try anyway. Closing his eyes, Elidan would open himself to the Force. The forest was full of life, making him struggle to isolate his Master’s presence and their bond from everything else. The bond was there, but it was so weak that following it would be useless.

Due to that, the boy decided to search Haldir by his presence in the Force and using his hearing. The masked Jedi’s presence was really faint, with Elidan needing to make more effort to locate him. He started to move through the tree branches, going first toward the east and close to the mountain peak. His master was going toward this direction.

However, as soon as he felt that he was getting close to Haldir, Elidan would notice that his Master was distancing from him again. It would repeat another time and then the Padawan would lose his presence completely. Stopping running around the forest, the half-Sephi would look at the trees. At some point during the chase, the boy had jumped down from the branches. Now he wondered if his Master could be hiding there.

@Forsythe Crowholde
 

Haldir Eressëa

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Knight

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Forsythe Crowholde
Joined
Jul 26, 2021
Messages
107
Reaction score
82
Elidan's inquiry about meeting Rudra Severino would go unanswered unless he managed to catch up and find Haldir. The Arkanian Knight made sure to keep track of the half-Sephi's presence through the Force, focusing on the gentle heartbeat thay was his Padawan. Ever since his cousin Chie introduced him to music as a child, Haldir had always seen – or hear, rather – through the Force. Every person was a different melody each, and the more he focused on Elidan's presence the heartbeat changed into a tranquil, flowing river.

It was a good, calming sound, and he thought that it suited his new apprentice.

The half-Sephi was quick to follow his command. Elidan managed to cross the distance between them, actually getting close to where Haldir was, twice, hiding before the Knight slipped away again. He knew that the teeming life within the mountain was acting as some sort of a buffer that threatened to overwhelm the younger Jedi and further conceal the Arkanian's presence in the Force.

Keeping track of Elidan's presence, Haldir sensed that his student had come to an abrupt stop as the Padawan had been unable to locate nor get close to where the Knight was hiding. With a great deal of distance between them, Haldir stepped out from behind a tree and stealthily crossed the distance between them. Catching sight of the half-Sephi whose back was turned to him, the Arkanian carefully shed his robe and let it drop on the ground. With Elidan's hearing, he would hear the faint sound of cloth hitting the ground, dried leaves crunching beneath it. Should the Padawan turn around, however, he would find no one there. Inspecting the source of the sound, he would find Haldir's robe but no sign of his Master. Beside the robe was a set of fresh tracks on the ground, unmistakably the Knight's bootprints. If Elidan would follow the faint tracks they would lead him northeast again.

Haldir, for his part, left more subtle tracks for his Padawan to follow. A depression on the grass here, another set of bootprints there, and fallen twigs from a low-lying branch. Each track would ultimately lead the half-Sephi on a clearing on top of the mountain. There he would find the Knight's pack hanging from one tree, Haldir's mask on the ground, and the Arkanian himself sitting idly on the edge of the cliff, admiring the beauty of the valley and the farming town below.

"I'm sure Rudra would love to meet you, Elidan. I'll see what I can do about the two of you meeting. My old Master, he's... become even more of a wandering soul since he returned to the Order," he answered Elidan's question by way of greeting the Padawan ans congratulating him for reaching their destination.

Looking over his shoulder, the now maskless Knight offered the Padawan a knowing gaze, lips curling into a smile, as he asked (though knowing the answer already), "How did you find me?"

@LouJoVi
 

Elidan

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Knight

Character Profile
Link
OOC
LouJoVi
Joined
Oct 16, 2021
Messages
406
Reaction score
275
Elidan had no idea where Haldir could have gone. He had tried once again to open himself to the Force, but his Master’s presence was still so weak that it ended disappearing in the middle of the others that he felt. This forest was so full of life that it was starting to confuse him. It was like when someone was inside a room with a loud sound, while trying to hear what someone was whispering at their side.

Once again he tried to find their Master-Padawan bond, but it was weaker than Haldir’s presence. Elidan wasn’t surprised with this result. They only met yesterday, there wasn’t enough time for the two to forge a strong connection. To strengthen it, they would need more time.

Then, Elidan heard something falling over some dry leaves behind him. He moved fast toward it. Myrkr was a dangerous place, full of predators. As far as he knew, there could be a pack of Vornskrs using this forest as their hunting grounds. He couldn’t get distracted and get his guard down.

For his relief, there was only a piece of cloth there. When he picked it, Elidan recognized it as the robe that Haldir was wearing. Looking around, the Padawan didn’t find his Master. Perhaps he was trying to leave clues so the half-Sephi would be able to find him if he followed them.

Looking around, Elidan saw some tracks near where he had found the robe. There were marks of boot prints going in one direction. While he carried his Master robe, the Padawan started to follow it. Soon, he noticed that he was going back toward the northeast. While he walked, the half-Sephi would find other tracks: marks on the grass, more boot prints and sometimes broken twigs.

Even with him being able to see these tracks, his Master didn’t have left it in easy places. He would need to pay close attention to his surroundings to find them. Sometimes with him even needing to return to where he saw the last tracks because he missed one. While he followed it, the Padawan noticed that he was starting to climb the mountain.

After following these tracks for some time, Elidan finally found his Master. He was sitting on the edge of the cliff, while his mask was on the floor. The Padawan walked toward Haldir and sat next to him. “I followed the tracks that you left behind.” he signed, before turning his gaze to the view in front of them. He could see the valley and the town. It was beautiful. “We need to work on our bond. It wasn’t very useful.

@Forsythe Crowholde
 

Haldir Eressëa

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Knight

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Forsythe Crowholde
Joined
Jul 26, 2021
Messages
107
Reaction score
82
As expected of the Padawan's determination and tenacity, he was quick to locate his Master in record time. Not that Haldir was keeping track of time, but merely trying, failing, then trying again to pinpoint Elidan's presence while the latter tracked the Arkanian through the forest. The Knight offered the young Jedi a deferential bow as the latter took a seat beside him on the cliff.

At Elidan's non-verbal words, Haldir let out a light, slightly embarrased laugh. It seemed that his Padawan was not only determined, but straighforward as well. The half-human commented on their bond without needing to sugarcoat his words, and it amused the Knight greatly. Not only that, but Haldir was given a glimpse that Elidan might have actually wanted to learn from him as much as the Knight wanted to teach the quiet Padawan.

The thought – the realization – comforted him greatly.

"You're right," he replied to the half-human's latter comment after a beat. Haldir shifted on his seat so he was facing Elidan, one leg dangling on the cliff, the other folding until his knee touched his chest. The Arkanian rested a hand on his knee then rested his chin atop it, pale blue gaze locked thoughtfully on his Padawan.

The Knight's bond with Willa began to form on Dxun, when she, Haldir, and Crix were faced with the dangers of the Demon Moon. It grew further when they talked about themselves, forgoing the superficial for the intimate and substantial. They were Master and Padawan, but there was no barrier between them caused by their differing rank. Perhaps the same could work with his and Elidan's bond?

Good things were always worth trying.

"Call me Haldir from now on," he told the Padawan with an empathic smile. "Not 'Master' or anything. Just Haldir."

The Knight breathed deeply once, opening himself up to the Force yet again. The life in the forest and the mountain surrounded him, not overwhelming but acting in harmony as Haldir's presence in the Force sang gently to the life all around them. Should Elidan do the same he would hear a chord, a symphony, loud and clear – yet gentle and soothing – through the Force, with Haldir as the source.

An orchestra.

Haldir had always perceived the Force as sounds – melodies and songs, discordant noise and death rattles of a dying creature – since he was young.

"I don't hate the Sith. They annoy me... but above all, I pity them."

After a moment of silence, he asked, "What about you?"

@LouJoVi
 
Last edited:

Elidan

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Knight

Character Profile
Link
OOC
LouJoVi
Joined
Oct 16, 2021
Messages
406
Reaction score
275
Elidan remained watching the sight. The town in the distance seemed to be so peaceful. The Padawan wondered if they were totally aware of what was happening across the Galaxy. Do they know that there was a war happening? Perhaps they thought that it was happening too far away for them to care. At this moment, the boy saw a ship leaving the town and disappearing in the sky.

When his Master started to talk, Elidan turned to look at him. While calling Haldir by his name would help them develop a bond, the half-Sephi didn’t know if it was correct. After all, using the word master showed his respect for the Arkanian. Then he remembered Asadra and how he didn’t call her as Knight anymore.

This happened because they established a friendship. Perhaps he could do the same with the white-haired man. “Ok, Mast…” he stopped signing when he noticed what he was doing. “I mean, ok, Haldir.” Elidan smiled at his Master. It was going to take some time, but he believed that they would not only be Master and Padawan, but also friends.

Then Haldir said his opinion about the Sith. The Padawan wondered why he felt pity for them. It was obvious that they loved what they did. All of them were soulless monsters. When his Master asked what Elidan thought about the Dark siders, he bit his lips. The half-Afynn was uncertain of what he should say. In the end, he decided that the truth was the best.

I think that I hate the Sith because of what they did on Ajan Kloss. They killed so many people that I knew.” he signed to Haldir. Elidan never discussed it with someone before. “They are assassins and monsters, incapable of doing anything good. They must be stopped.

After he finished, the Padawan turned to look at the town again. He waited for what his Master was going to say, knowing that Haldir would probably dislike his answer. While he waited, the half-Annfyn could hear some howls in the distance.

@Forsythe Crowholde
 

Haldir Eressëa

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Knight

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Forsythe Crowholde
Joined
Jul 26, 2021
Messages
107
Reaction score
82
Hate.

It was too strong an emotion to carry, a burden no gentle soul should carry. Even a Darksider, their powers fueled by such a negative feeling, might still struggle with carrying something comparable to an insatiable, raging beast.

Elidan hated the Sith, and the way he held himself and the way Haldir heard him through the Force gave the Knight a glimpse to memories the half-Anfynn hadn't discussed with anyone before. The Knight had no idea that he might be the first person Elidan was opening up to about his feelings towards the Jedi Order's counterpart, but the Padawan's body language gave Haldir an inkling. He appreciated his Padawan's honesty, and other than that?

He respected Elidan's feelings, and nothing about this admission would make Haldir drift away from him. The Arkanian was raised to become a spy and was expected to weave lies to get the job done and to protect his clan. And while honesty was not actually a rarity in his life, it was an act – emotion, expression – that he appreciated the most.

In between the silence that fell between them, Haldir heard faint, distant howls. He knew what vornskr sounded like. Still mired in the Force the Knight heard a shift in the harmony of the mountain's melodies. A grinding of steel, still very faint to notice if he wasn't carefully listening, but he took note of it nonetheless. The new sound might spell danger, and he would not willingly put Elidan in its way.

Haldir brought himself back to the present.

"I respect your thoughts and feelings toward the Sith, Elidan," he kindly assured the young Jedi. "And I will not try to change your mind and heart about them. Only you have the power to change your perspective, if you so wish."

At least the Padawan was now calling the Knight by his name. Haldir showed his appreciation by placing a hand on Elidan's shoulder and giving it a gentle, reassuring squeeze.

"I brought you here on Myrkr because I want to teach you tracking," he finally revealed one part of the lesson he had planned. But since their bond in the Force was still growing, Haldir knew then and there that he had to improvise the plan he'd made. "Both with the use of the Force and the one without – things you've already done earlier. Like you said earlier we still need to work on our bond, and I see now that this lesson is a great opportunity to improve on that."

The Knight heaved himself back up on his feet and beckoned Elidan to follow him. Haldir stood in the middle of the clearing, his vulpine mask at his feet but he made no move to pick it up. Taking a deep, meditative breath, he motioned for his Padawan to stand across him, letting the mask be their boundary. The Arkanian then raised his gloved right hand at chest level, palm facing the half-Annfyn.

"The life teeming all around us serve too good a distraction and a cover for the both of us. Feeling them through the Force is even more overwhelming, as I'm sure you've felt earlier. For us to find each other, to hold on to a bond we are working on, we need to know what we look or sound like through the Force," he began to explain how to work through their bond. "I have always heard, not felt, the Force ever since I was a child. To me, It is music – a song, a melody. It is also a sound. When I reached out to you earlier, I didn't feel you. I heard you. Elidan, you started off as a gentle heartbeat, but the more I focused on your presence through the Force you began to reveal yourself."

Haldir closed his eyes and smiled as he reached out to his Padawan through the Force.

"I hear you through the Force, Elidan. You're a peaceful, flowing river."

Pale blue met blue green when the Knight reopened his eyes. He lowered his hand and offered the Padawan a thoughtful look. "What is the Force like to you, Elidan? When you reach out to it, how does it manifest itself to you?"

Haldir had heard one of the Padawans talking about seeing the Force through colors, while there were others who felt it similarly to their memories. While he himself heard the Force, he wondered how it worked with Elidan. But whatever the answer would be, the Knight already knew that it was going to be interesting even if the half-Annfyn might think or feel otherwise.

@LouJoVi
 

Elidan

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Knight

Character Profile
Link
OOC
LouJoVi
Joined
Oct 16, 2021
Messages
406
Reaction score
275
While he continued staring at town, waiting for his Master’s answer, Elidan continued hearing the howls in the distance. It could only mean that there were vornskrs on this mountain. He had never seen these Force sensitive animals before, but had read about how they were formidable predators that used the Force to detect their prey in the darkness of the night.

Elidan frowned when the howls stopped and were replaced by a metallic sound. It was faint, but his half-Annfyn hearing allowed him to hear it. I didn’t sound natural and the Padawan wondered what could be causing it. Perhaps he and his Master could go investigate it later.

His thoughts about this mysterious sound were interrupted by Haldir’s voice. Elidan turned to the Knight, paying close attention to what he was saying. He felt relieved that his Master wasn’t mad with what he said about the Sith. The half-Annfyn nodded at him, but he doubted that someday he would change his mind about the Dark Siders. They would always be monsters and assassins.

When Haldir revealed what the training was going to be about, Elidan finally understood why he needed to find him through the forest. This place was perfect for someone to learn how to track, both by following traces left behind and by the use of the Force. So far he really needed to practice more with both. If his Master didn’t leave some clues for him to follow, the half-Annfyn was certain that he would still be lost in the forest.

The Padawan got up from where he was seated and followed his Master, stopping in front of Haldir when he asked him to do it. The half-Annfyn paid close attention to what the Arkanian was saying. He never talked with someone else about how he saw other living beings through the Force. He had heard how each individual had their own way of doing it, but no one ever told him how it worked for them.

I see the Force as light, like stars shining in the darkness of space. Like how the stars also had different colors, it also happens when I see the Force.” he signed, before closing his eyes and focusing on his Master. There were several luminous forms around him, showing how the forest was full of life. He focused on the Arkanian in front of him. Haldir light was pale blue, that for some reason reminded Elidan from the winter on temperate planets. The Knight shines more brightly than any Padawan that he had met before.

I see you as a bright pale blue light. It reminds me of winter, but the comforting part of it. Like how some people during this season would come around a warm fireplace to talk with each other, feeling closer.” he signed, while opening his eyes to look at his Master. Elidan had no idea if his explanation made sense. He wasn’t good with this type of metaphors.

@Forsythe Crowholde
 

Haldir Eressëa

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Knight

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Forsythe Crowholde
Joined
Jul 26, 2021
Messages
107
Reaction score
82
He could hear his Padawan morr clearly while the latter focused on the Knight through the Force. Not once did he avert his gaze from Elidan, and when the half-Annfyn revealed how he saw the Force Haldir felt a mixture of awe and humility that his Padawan saw the Arkanian as something comforting – a reminder of winter, but far from the cold and loneliness it often exuded.

The Arkanian had always been regarded as an asocial by his peers, partly due to his appearance (or a lack, thereof) and mostly because he tended to keep to himself and his fickle desire to speak. He and Elidan have just very recently met, and for the Force to depict him the way the half-Annfyn described the Knight gave Haldir pause to think about what the Padawan had just revealed.

Perhaps it spoke of his genuine desire to build a connection with others, aside from his brothers and one cousin? Perhaps it showed him that he was more than ready to trust his fellow Jedi – given how he had readily shown and told his Padawans his face, more so his origins?

Not for the first time, Haldir grasped that desire, tight, and planned to never let it go. He was taught that outside of the clan, he was a lonely island.

Not anymore.

He smiled at Elidan, a grateful, humble smile.

"Very good. Very good, indeed," he told the half-Annfyn. "Now, focus on that pale blue light. Imagine it as a beacon, guiding you to your destination. Try to keep your gaze on it, and not to lose it. I will, likewise, listen to you. Keep my ears open to the sound of the river."

To Elidan he was a pale blue light, and to him his Padawan was a tranquil, flowing river. It was an interesting combination, and Haldir issued a challenge to his Padawan. The same challenge the half-Annfyn faced earlier in his attempt and eventual success in locating the Knight. With a flick of a wrist the vulpine mask floated before the two Jedi, suspended in the air as it slowly turned to face Elidan.

"When the mask drops, that's your cue to start tracking," Haldir reminded Elidan as he prepared to spirit himself away into the forest once again, gathering the Force around him. "On three, then. One..."

He didn't finish the count, instead conjuring a bright light through the Force that would distract the Padawan. Haldir sped into the forest before the light faded, switching from travelling on foot and up onto the trees, headed southwest. Once a considerable distance was between him and Elidan he terminated his grip on the mask through the Force, the facial covering dropping on the grass soundlessly. The Knight then sped further away until he could barely hear Elidan through the beginnings of their bond through the Force.

The Knight kept to the trees, hiding amongst the canopies while he kept his presence faint through the Force. He left no visible tracks for Elidan to follow – the half-Annfyn would have to trust in the Force, let it guide him to where the Arkanian was. Pale blue eyes watched his surroundings keenly for signs of his Padawan's approach, and ears open to the sound of the river through the Force.

@LouJoVi
 

Elidan

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Knight

Character Profile
Link
OOC
LouJoVi
Joined
Oct 16, 2021
Messages
406
Reaction score
275
When he heard his Master give him praises, Elidan felt confused. He didn’t know why Haldir was saying it. He didn’t do anything new or special. Every Jedi had their own way of seeing the Force, it was normal. However, he decided to accept it without questioning. The Arkanian must have his reason for saying that what the Padawan did was something very good.

Nodding, Elidan focused on Haldir’s presence through the Force. He could feel the pale blue light that represented his Master in front of him, the same feeling of warmth that he described early was coming from the Arkanian. The half-Annfyn noticed how he could feel it with more intensity now that he was focusing.

Even while he did it, the Padawan was hearing the instructions that his Master was saying. He would need to use Haldir’s presence in the Force to track him again. Perhaps now that he had properly identified the Arkanian’s light in the middle of all the others that represent the life of this forest, Elidan would be more successful in tracking.

During all the time that Haldir was explaining, Elidan had remained with his eyes closed. He didn’t want to lose his focus on his Master’s presence. Any distraction and his light could disappear among these coming from the nature around them. When he heard the man counting, the half-Sephi prepared to go tracking him as soon as he heard the sound of the mask falling on the ground.

However, the mask didn’t fall when the counting was finished. Elidan should have expected that it was going to happen, otherwise it would be too easy. At least he now could identify his Master’s presence and, if he didn’t lose it, this would make things easier for him to track Haldir.

Then, he was overwhelmed by a powerful light in the Force that overshadowed all others. While it happened, he could hear Haldir walking away. Since he didn’t hear the mask falling on the floor, Elidan didn’t move. When the light disappeared, the half-Annfyn noticed that he had lost his focus on his Master’s presence. He opened his eyes in time to see the mask hitting the ground.

Taking a deep breath, Elidan closed his eyes and tried to search for his Master. Once again he found himself surrounded by the lights of the forest, but this time he knew what he needed to search. He found the pale blue light that emanated warmth. It was far away, but he could feel it. Opening his eyes, the half-Annfyn smiled and walked toward the southwest.

@Forsythe Crowholde
 

Haldir Eressëa

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Knight

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Forsythe Crowholde
Joined
Jul 26, 2021
Messages
107
Reaction score
82
There was one note that stood out to him in the Force, one chord that made Haldir Eressëa smile and mentally applaud the half-Annfyn who was currently looking for the Arkanian Offshoot. Despite the distance between them the Knight made short work in familiarizing himself with Elidan's presence through the Force, and while they were still working on their bond the fact that both Jedi have already established what the other sounded or appeared in the metaphysical plane of the Force, he could tell that the Padawan was headed in the right direction.

The corners of his lips turned upwards as he settled into a seating position on the branch he stood upon. Resting his back on the tree's trunk, Haldir closed his eyes and fell into a meditative stance. Elidan's path towards the Knight was devoid of physical tracks, and the Padawan was covering the path Haldir had taken. The Arkanian was not going to make it easy for the half-Annfyn, however. So as Elidan pushed forward towards Haldir's direction, the Knight would actively steer the Padawan towards the wrong path.

A test to see if he trusted himself and the Force.

The moment Elidan was a hundred yards from Haldir's hiding spot, the Padawan would see the Knight's figure stepping out from behind one of the trees. The figure of Haldir Eressëa would then turn left and run, away from the half-Annfyn and the tree where the real Arkanian Offshoot was still currently perched on meters off of the ground.

Should Elidan believe that the figure that ran away was the real Haldir, another would appear a few feet behind the half-Annfyn and would move to duck underneath the cover of the bushes. A third figure would then make itself known atop another tree branch, approximately 20 feet from the real Haldir's tree.

Force Illusion was one of the abilities the Arkanian Offshoot favored, and it was up to Elidan to discern that none of the three figures who appeared from their hiding spots was the real Haldir.

@LouJoVi
 

Elidan

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Knight

Character Profile
Link
OOC
LouJoVi
Joined
Oct 16, 2021
Messages
406
Reaction score
275
Now that he had identified his Master’s Force presence, it became easier for Elidan to find him in the middle of the forest. He would occasionally stop walking and close his eyes to see if the pale blue light that was Haldir was still at the same place.While so far he didn’t move, the half-Annfyn still expected that the Knight would do it at some point.

When the Padawan felt that he was very close to where his Master was, he saw Haldir coming from behind a tree and then running away. Elidan thought that it was strange, he had closed his eyes some minutes ago and had seen that the pale blue light was still on the same place. He wondered if the Knight had moved in this brief period of time.

The boy was already prepared to run after the Knight when he saw another figure appear from behind a tree. When he saw who it was, Elidan stared wide eyed. It was another Haldir! Now there were two of them!

Well, at least he thought that there were only two. Soon he saw some movement on the branches of a nearby tree. Looking up, the Padawan saw that his Master was also there. The two had become three, leaving the half-Annfyn very confused. How could this be possible? What was his Master doing?

Then he remembered that someone could create illusions by using the Force. He never saw it before, but he had read about the existence of this ability. He wondered if Haldir could teach it to him later. This was really cool. The appearance of the triple Arkanians could only be part of the training. His Master wanted him to find who was the real one.

At first, he was unsure about how he could discover who was the real one. Then, he remembered that they were illusions. They would not have the same presence in the Force like the real Haldir. With this thought in mind, the Padawan closed his eyes and focused on the three Arkanians.

As he had thought, the two that ran away appeared only as forms of identical white light. There was no sight of the pale blue that was characteristic for his Master. The warm feeling that he felt coming from Haldir was also absent from them. On the other hand, he could see and feel all of that coming from the one that was in the tree branch. He had found the real one.

With a triumphant smile, Elidan opened his eyes and looked toward the Knight perched on the branch. “I found you.” he signed to Haldir, before using the Force to jump to a branch in the same tree. “Can you teach me how you made these illusions?

@Forsythe Crowholde
 
Top