Renewal - Healing Takes Root

[Babster]

The call has gone out.

For those that survived it is now time to rebuild; rekindle, if you will, Tython and the Temple that was lost.

For Nula this is the perfect type of mission for her. Healing is one of her specialities and couple that with nurturing the flora and fauna of Tython? Well, she's just in her element.

Around a portion of the grounds, specifically the burnt out gardens of the Temple, there are signs that someone is working and working hard. Soil can be seen heaped into great piles, as well as various plants and saplings grouped together, and lastly (but not least) gardening tools of the very mundane variety.

As for the 'gardener', Nula is sitting crossed legged surrounded by those saplings of hers. Her eyes are closed and the woman appears almost unnaturally still. While nothing can overtly be seen with eyes and ears, the more mystical senses attuned by the Force might show a slow 'battle' being fought between light and dark.

From Nula waves of healing energy pours forth towards the grounds around her striving to push back the lingering cold touch of the Dark Side. The malevolent energy however resists the call to be at peace.

Instead the sticky tendrils strive to snuff out the light from the harmonious energy Nula puts forth. Slowly, however, Nula is winning as inch by inch the small patch of land around her is cleared of the terrible influence of angry energy.

@Painus

 

[Reem Va]

Tython.

The return was not an easy one. It had been some time since Reem traveled upon the surface of the planet that had been desecrated. Protectors, allies, Jedi. These were titles afforded to the traitors before their fall. They were comrades to Reem, Knights against whom the darkness clashed. Now? Now they were the enemy. Fallen Jedi, worse beings than those who initially called the darkness their master. They were those who once kept the hatred of the Sith at bay; now they are those who accept malice into their hearts, who strive to destroy all they had worked for. They abandoned their Jedi heritage, allowed themselves to be consumed in their own sin, and defected to the eons-old enemy of the Jedi: the Sith. The Sith, whom the Jedi are sworn to defend against, the very enemy that had caused many of the Fallen to join the Jedi in the first place. Their hearts were tainted with irredeemable evil. They would receive no mercy for their deeds.

However, battle was not why Reem had returned.

The call of the new Lord, a younger man than Lord Zo, who had disappeared when the Jedi needed him most, is why Reem found himself at the site of the Tython ruins. Reem heeded the summons, for it was his duty to obey the Light. If this new Lord had been chosen by the Light, then he would follow him into the depths of hell.

Reem stood but for a moment, gazing upon one of the many destroyed sections of the temple. Dark energies polluted this place, sickening the man. Vengeance upon the perpetrators would come in time. The feeorin was clad in his usual attire, though he chose not to wear his Praesidium Protectiva this day. Perhaps he was not expecting battle. His gilded lightsaber dangled loosely at his waist, attached to the leather belt of his cloak, affectionately named "Scapular Incorruptus." He paced along the grounds, his footsteps pounding gently on the dirt, which, after some time, began to appear in larger piles. Curiosity often evaded Reem, though this time he succumbed. He guided off the path, using the assorted gardening equipment, dirt mounds, and gathered flora as indicators of the one responsible. The energy of the area undulated around Reem, the mysterious nature of the Force shifting in alignment as he moved. Certain areas battled against the darkness, forcing the corrupt influence away.

It took but a minute of walking before Reem happened upon the individual responsible: a woman, many feet shorter and many pounds less than Reem, seated in deep meditation. He observed for some time, allowing the woman time to complete her task in silence. He focused inwards as well, witnessing the woman force out the dark energies in another sense. Her efforts were meticulous and calm, systematically overcoming the taint.

Reem reached out with his own energy, buttressing the unknown Jedi's offense. The darkness reeled back, suddenly assaulted on two fronts by benevolent energies. It would not take long for the duo to vanquish the pervasive evil, provided they maintained their efforts.

After his efforts were finished, Reem would look down upon the woman. Two dull, xanthous eyes set deep within their sockets would study her. He had never met the Jedi before, and he assumed she had never met him, though his appearance was relatively unforgettable. Perhaps she had heard of his exploits in the Jedi tournament before the temple's fall, he pondered. Several moments of uncomfortable silence would pass before the tower of a man spoke up, his thunderous voice shattering the silence with each word,

"You stand alone in a sea of darkness, all for a few plants,"

He canted his head slightly, clasping his hands behind his back before he continued.

"Why?"

The answer, to him, was obvious. To usher in the light and renew the temple. He simply wanted to hear her reasoning.
@Babster
​

 

[Babster]

While the other Jedi's presence is felt by Nula, that doesn't seem to stop her from cleansing the area before the two of them. In fact, there's a hint of surprise that might be felt when Reem joins the battle for this particular small plot of land.

Finally, when the dark enemy is extinguished and the land sings with clarity once more, does Nula open her dark eyes.

Turning her gaze to the rather tall sentient there's another flash of surprise from the much smaller Jedi. She senses he was big, but she wasn't quite prepared for how tall he truly is. Thankfully, that expression doesn't last long, as her features shift back to that typical placid and polite expression most Jedi's wear for the populace.

Much like Reem, Nula doesn't wear much in the way of armor, instead she wears clothing suitable for gardening. The only caveat she has for the possibility of violence is the fact that her lightsaber likewise hangs from the wide leather belt that wraps around her waist.

Words of thanks begin to form upon her lips, however, those words stall when the much larger Jedi speaks in his rather sonorous tones. His question brings forth a faint smile from the woman, even as her gaze automatically shifts from his form to the burnt grounds around them. A gesture will be given to the withered plants, as well as the new saplings as she speaks.

"All life is precious." Comes her calm words, even as she rises from her cross-legged sitting position. "From plant to sentient we are here to protect and nurture those in need. This garden was in need of that nurturing - a restoring of balance, if you will, and one person can make a different such as myself."

Her gaze will return to the tall Jedi Knight now, as she continues with, "Just as you can; as you did, with helping to flush the dark influences from the ground here. With the light restored these saplings will flourish and thrive, which will begin to alleviate the pain and darkness here at the Temple." Brushing her hands free of dirt, the dark-haired woman will add after a moment of thoughtfulness, "I don't believe I have the pleasure of knowing your name. I'm Nula Sygti." That thoughtfulness is due to the fact that she has an idea of who she's speaking with, an inkling, but instead of hazarding a guess she'll allow the man to confirm first.

@Painus

 

[Reem Va]

Her reaction was not unusual. Reem was used to the alarm upon sight of his imposing figure. He knew she meant no insult, though he found it moderately amusing how quickly she adjusted her expression. An attempt at maintaining a good first impression, he assumed. It wouldn't do well to gape at a fellow Jedi like a dehydrated bantha, though Reem figured certain members of his Order would find it humorous.

Reem studied the countenance of the woman as she spoke, never removing his gaze. His expression remained quite stoic, his mouth in the perpetual near-scowl that he found himself wearing so often. His brows furrowed further as he listened to the woman continue. She was older than most of the Jedi Reem found himself working alongside, though not by much. She was not clad for combat, similar to Reem. She wore her lightsaber as a symbol of authority rather than a weapon of vindication, the veritable weapon dangling from her belt in a fashion akin to many of the Jedi. His body kept still, almost statue-like, as the woman - Nula, her name was - finished her explanation. The answer was satisfactory to Reem, as displayed by a curt nod of the head and sharp exhalation of breath. Not once did he blink as she spoke, though now he afforded himself the luxury.

Hands clasped behind his back, the feeorin paced a few feet around the area, gazing upon the land. It was noticeably tainted, though now quickly fading with the efforts of the two complete. He stretched out with his mind, bending the invisible energies of the Force to his will as he surrounded a nearby gardening trowel, lifting it from the ground with ease, and guided it to his person, where he idly reached out and clutched the handle of the thing. He weighed it in his hand, turning back towards the woman.

He spoke, his voice remaining just as firm as before,

"I am Knight Reem Va."

The sentence, though explanatory, was terse. He did not find it prudent to speak more than what she had asked of him. Often, a name carries far more explanation of character than any one sentence of description. If she so desired, she would inquire further. If satisfied by this answer, then Reem felt certain she would not press on. However, like most Jedi, this woman appeared to be a curious and nurturing sort, so Reem steeled his mind for whatever questions she had for him.

Before she could speak, though, Reem went on,

"Do you not find it daunting to be the sole Jedi to take on this cause? You are but one, and the hate tainting these grounds is great."

Though his tone indicated otherwise, Reem was quite impressed by this Nula Sygti. To be the only one to attempt to renew the temple grounds was quite the endeavor; Reem found it admirable, even. Few Jedi in the Lord's Army were willing to do what was necessary to achieve their goals, whether that be the destruction of the Sith or the simple planting of some flora. Reem clutched the trowel still, sauntering back to his initial location, turning his eyes away from the woman to once more gaze upon the now-green landscape around them. Truly the Light was good, for the Darkness reeled back, cowardly as ever.

"Though I quite suspect you know that I know the answer."

@Babster

 

[Babster]

When he speaks his name there's some sort of recognition from Nula and possibly also from the heroics he has achieved as a Knight. For now, however, whatever she recognized of the man is kept to herself, especially as he continues to speak.

Her senses stay attuned to the energies around the two, though more towards the plants and the earth itself, versus peering into a person's inner self. While his movements are economic in nature, Nula is much more free with hers, as she moves over to one of the saplings.

The young tree has its roots bound up in a ball of damp dirt which is covered by a rough homespun looking cloth. One of her hands will reach out to touch the waxy leaf, as she keeps the majority of her attention focused upon Reem Va.

Only after all his terse words are said, does the woman finally speak, "It is good to meet you, Knight Reem Va.", and while her tone is quite serious, her expression lightens now as she offers him a welcoming smile. While she could answer his last question-statement first, she doesn't, instead responding to his statements in the order he spoke them. At the subject of this being daunting, the brown-haired woman's expression turns thoughtful for a moment, "Are not all tasks in the beginning daunting for the newness of them? Once the project becomes familiar the dismay lessens, as it should."

And while more could have easily been said, she leaves it at that, as she now addresses his last statement. Those words of his cause the woman's expression to change from seriousness to something akin to cheerfulness. A slight smile graces her lips upward, even as that amusement brightens her eyes and tone of voice, "Answers, yes, I believe we both have them, but let us continue with this, shall we not?"

Bringing forth that more poised expression once more, Nula will ask, "Am I so alone against this battle of hate?" And while her expression has turned quite composed, that twinkle of amusement can still be seen within her eyes, "Are you not here with me? Now we two shall battle against the animosity still held within the ground." Which is perhaps a not-so-subtle way to let Reem Va know he has been conscripted to help plant the saplings that reside here.

"Two to bring peace to our fellow brethren with this garden." That amusement which was in her eyes and her voice slowly fades, as the reality of the destruction reassert itself once more. To have lost friends and to have family turn against the light - those thoughts are enough to sober the woman's amusement and while she was prepared to wait for his reaction to her rhetorical questions, she instead allows a faint sigh to leave her lips. Quickly a question follows on the heels of that soft whoosh of breath.

"Would you care to help me plant?"

@Painus

 

[Reem Va]

Reem kept his composure as Nula spoke, offering not much more than a slight hmph every now and then. The trowel moved about his hands idly as she continued on. Around them, the wildlife of Tython remained unnaturally silent, scarred by the events that had transpired not too long ago. The wind gently rustled the foliage of the area, a gentle whisper of the tranquility that once was. Reem's eyes darted away from Nula, now rotating about in their sockets in a cursory inspection of the area.

The taint of the dark side lingered, though weakened now. Dirt was shoveled up and organized in neat piles, scattered about randomly. Saplings of various trees and plants sat, grouped together by type, in rows reminiscent of a platoon of soldiers, awaiting their duty of being placed. Their roots were wrapped in sacks with great care, the work of one who desired the flora to prosper. Alongside these piles of dirt and platoons of plants rested a myriad of gardening equipment, eager to continue their work.

Reem panned his gaze back to Nula as she responded to his questions, choosing to instead silently listen to her answers, rather than retorting with his own.

She seemed earnest. A quaint flaw.

At her final few sentences, Reem considered lifting one of his brows. He was not here to assist in gardening; he was here to seek out and destroy any taints of the Dark Side that resided within the area. This Jedi was under the impression that Reem was offering his assistance, which he clearly was not, yet, despite this, she volunteered him for the duty anyways.

"This area will not know peace in some time."

The words rumbled from his mouth, said almost in pain. The memories of the temple burning, his comrades dying to their own allies, caused vile thoughts to surface. The Sith would indeed pay for their crimes most harshly. Reem imagined Aibhne, now missing in action, and he, deep in the underground works of the Lothal temple preparing to form their brotherhood to banish the dark regardless of the cost. That was but a dream now and Reem, in all his might, stood alone in his crusade.

Yet, alone he was not. In this moment, this Nula Sygti, had requested Reem help her in the simple task of planting saplings.

He remained standing for a few moments as he pondered the query, his stoic expression unchanging despite the turmoil within. The wind whistled softly, carrying with it peace. Reem blinked and, looking down at Nula, spoke firmly,

"Though, it is wise to begin now, if it is peace we seek for this land."

He stood still, trowel in hand, as he looked about the area. He had farmed before, on Odryn, though on a much larger scale. Gardening was not his forte and he seemed quite out of his element. He was accustomed to locking blades with his foes, harnessing his power, not carefully lowering trees into holes with love. In his efforts to maintain his pride and not look misplaced, Reem quickly stretched out with the Force, wrapping an invisible gauntlet around a sapling, and brought the plant to his other free hand. Trowel in one hand and sapling cradled in the other, no doubt the imposing feeorin looked comical compared to his typical visage. He looked to Nula once more and gave a firm nod.

"I will afford you a few moments of my time, Knight Sygti."

It was time to become a gardener.

@Babster

 

[Babster]

"No matter if it takes one year or ten we must begin the process of rebirth for this land." States Nula simply, to Reem's own statement concerning the land and the likelihood of it finding peace soon.

After all, the seeds must be planted for it to be possible.

And while Nula can sense some of the turmoil held within Reem she doesn't speak of it.

Instead when he gathers a sapling close and assents to helping her, Nula can't help but offer another wisp of a smile to the Knight.

"Thank you." She says honestly, before she gestures towards the grounds. "We must make sure to leave enough space for each sapling to grow and expand. " And to show just what she means, the dark-haired woman will pick up one sapling and set it upon a patch of ground.

A second sapling will then be hefted upward and set down some distance away from the first. "Similar to this." She ends with and once her lesson has been completed, Nula will gather up a few of the tools for her own use.

Trowel and small shovel will be set next to the first sapling, as she intends to plant both just where she set them.

While he doesn't quite strike her as one who enjoys small talk, she'll still try to lure out some conversation with him.

"Were you here when the Temple fell?"

With those words the first shovel strike will hit the ground with a sharp sound, as Nula begins to dig a shallow hole.

@Painus

 

[Reem Va]

Her determination to revive the lands was admirable, to an extent. Reem kept his brows furrowed and his face frozen in stoic silence. The mighty feeorin cradled the plant, careful to not crush the contained roots and dirt, as Nula advised him to space the trees out. He responded with a simple half-nod, both at her thanks and because he was already aware of stunted growth if the trees were too close together.

He dropped the trowel, the small tool hitting the ground with a gentle thud, and paced a good-enough distance from the trees being planted by Nula. He set the sapling down, standing in stark contrast compared to the infant tree. He stretched his arm out and gathered a small pocket of invisible energy around a nearby shovel, drawing his arm in and lifting it telekinetically, guiding it to his hand.

He placed the shovel in the dirt, pressing down on it with his foot to drive it in with ease. Nula had asked him if he were at the temple the day of the attack, though he simply kept silent for a few minutes, the only sound he created being that of shovel removing dirt. After the hole was dug he paused, planting the shovel in the ground firmly.

"I was here, yes."

He spoke calmly and deliberately, the low rumble of his voice rending the veil of silence. Reem reached down, lifting and placing the sapling in the newly-dug hole with care. He pulled the shovel from the ground, leaving a small scar in the earth. In some ways this wound in the dirt represented the wound on the planet itself, Reem considered. As he began to fill the hole, shoveling the same dirt he removed back where it came, he spoke up.

"I did not assist in the conflict," he bitterly tittered. "It was my duty to ensure the evacuation of the younglings." He paused, his scowl deepening to something more genuine. "Had I been here to combat those corrupt, tainted abscesses; those wretched, irredeemable bearers of sin, the end might not have been the same."

He patted the dirt down with his foot, flattening the ground around the now-planted sapling. "I was not here, however. The temple was lost. Light faltered in its duty and paid the price for its arrogance. Our complacency blinded us." He planted the shovel in the ground once more, turning to Nula.

"They will find us an avalanche of vindication in time."
@Babster