Ask Jedha Reverberations of the Whills

[Perun]

EPISODE 10
REVERBERATIONS OF THE WHILLS

Timeless entities resonating across temporal dimensions, their wisdom elusive as stardust. Jedi Knights PERUN and Arctus FRIERS undertake an exploration of ancient customs, delving into the Whills' venerable enigma. Their quest seeks to cast light upon these primeval doctrines.

Riding the iridescent skeins of hyperspace, Perun made his approach to the devastated remains of Jedha City. A sense of dread filled the empyrean as the blasted, cratered specter of the city emerged from the enveloping stardust, whispering tales of tyranny and destruction. Its scar, etched in the heart of the planet by the malevolent hand of the Empire's Death Star, was a monument to a haunting past that spanned over a century and a half.

His ship, an aging but sturdy Jedi Interceptor, sliced through the thin, ochre-colored atmosphere of the planet, straddling the line between control and chaos - a symbiotic embrace that mirrored the delicate balance between the Force and himself. The warmth of the control panel seeped into his cold hands, lending a tactile confirmation of his proximity to the world that was steeped in the history of the Force. His acute olfactory senses were awash with the unique, ionized scent of reentry, a bizarrely comforting reminder of his relentless travels.

Jedha had endured. From the ashen remains of its tragic past had risen a new capital city, sprawling outwards from the antipole of the epicenter of the catastrophic event like a rebirthed phoenix. Towering edifices bore witness to this transformation, their skeletal silhouettes a testament to both the resilience of life and the unwavering faith of the Church of the Force. In the spaces between the domes and spires were lattice-worked neighborhoods teeming with denizens who chose to forge their destiny amidst the ruins. The city pulsed with life, a stark contrast to the barren, outer rim landscapes that the rest of the planet held.

However, there was an undertone of tension that wafted through the dusty streets. Mistrust hung thick as the bazaars bustled with suspicious gazes darting towards him. As a Jedi Knight, he was an embodiment of the Force, but on Jedha, he was also a harbinger of the past's dreadful shadows. His presence was a reminder of a universe-wide struggle that had cost this city its heart.

Perun, unbowed by the simmering mistrust, was more focused on his rendezvous with his fellow Jedi. He found a spot to rest on the sprawling stone steps of a half-crumbling edifice, its cyclopean structure testament to the past grandeur of Jedha. His gaze, full of anticipation and patience, scanned the crowd, savoring the cacophonous symphony of bustling life, punctuated by distant chimes of the Church's bells. The sweet-bitter blend of exotic spices permeated the air around him as he awaited the next chapter of his mission on this timeless world.

The radiant orb of the sun painted long, dramatic shadows across the city as Perun awaited the arrival of his compatriot. He didn't mind the wait - time was merely another river to cross in their shared duty as defenders of balance. He knew, as did the ancient Whills, that all things came to pass in their own rhythm, reverberating through time itself.

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Arctus Friers]

It felt a little odd – somewhat lonely, even – travelling to a new world, to new discoveries, without the faithful company of an excitable but stalwart oversized canid and an overprotective but well-meaning imposing dragon. While Arctus was confident that they would behave under the care of one of his close friends, going on a mission without them still brought a sense that something seemed amiss. Maybe it was the close relationship between him and his animal companions - because he had to be honest, Nibs and Selene would probably be the closest thing he could have as children - but the Corellian had to remind himself that he could not always bring one or both with him always (especially Selene, since the dragon practically towered over him now).

The Knight found himself on the dusty streets of Jedha City, but a letter had found him first. Penned by Knight Perun, Arctus had no time to admire the letter’s composition because it spoke to him in more ways than one. Ever since his introduction with Faen Akatosh, the Corellian had been inspired to follow the half-Morellian’s footsteps into becoming a Seer. His last fated meeting with his former Master and friend, Indyana Sati, further bolstered this decision. As such, he was quick to send out a positive reply, believing that this endeavor would bring not only knowledge but more so enlightenment about the Light Side of the Force. It had been years since he became a Jedi and yet there was no shame in admitting that there were still so many things he did not know, so many things he had yet to discover.

Jedha was as storied as the Jedi both Old and New. It was a place he would have avoided in the past given its history but more so its terrain. The Arctus of the past would have placed a morbid fascination for the moon due to its near destruction by the hands of the old Empire. As a Jedi, however…

He did not know much about the Ancient Order of the Whills, only that it was some sort of a higher order of beings connected with the Force. The word “holy” was even associated with that Order, and while it would have earned a proper eye roll from the former smuggler, he had already bore witness to aspects both hallowed and corrupt when it came to beings touched by the Force. Perhaps- no, he was certain that there was a great deal to learn about this ancient Order today, because wasn’t that Knight Perun’s goal?

And wasn’t that why he was here on the Pilgrim Moon?

As per usual, Arctus wore clothing that did not outright label him as a Jedi and let him blend into the crowd more easily. The man was clad in a white shirt and one of his typical synth-leather jackets thrown over it, a pair of beige cargo pants, and sturdy combat boots. A green shemagh was wound haphazardly around his neck, a last minute addition when dust got into his eye when he disembarked from his light freighter. On his hip was one of his DL-18s, while his lightsaber was concealed in a pocket he had sewn within the folds of his jacket.

The man wandered around the city, weaving in and out of the crowds with purpose. He passed by stalls, politely waved off merchants, was nearly overcome and sneezed not once but twice by the sharp tang of exotic spices, and pickpocketed a pickpocket who pickpocketed him in the first place (it wasn’t technically stealing if you’re stealing your stuff in return, isn’t it?). His search finally bore fruit when his gaze finally alighted on the rendezvous point and subsequently upon his fellow Knight who sat on the stone steps of a half-crumbling edifice. With a smile and a friendly wave Arctus had single-handedly managed to earn the same suspicious gazes Perun was receiving. Approaching the other Jedi, the smile on the Corellian’s face did not diminish in the slightest when he noticed the kind of looks being thrown their way.

”Perun, right?” asked Arctus by way of greeting, one hand extending towards the Knight. ”I’m Arctus. Hope I’m not late or anything.”

@Aberforth

 

[Perun]

The arrival of the other Jedi was heralded not by the Force, as one might expect, but by a shift in the thrum of the crowd. A resonant chuckle slipped from Perun, his golden eyes reflecting the humored spirit that often dared to challenge the somber responsibilities of his station. His friendliness was like a sunbeam darting through the cobwebs of mistrust and suspicion. The radiant expression bloomed even brighter as Arctus neared, casually waving off the sidelong glances from the city's wary inhabitants.

"Arctus, indeed," the Ma'alkerrite greeted, his voice rich with a delight that echoed the energy within him. "The pleasure's mine, I assure you. And don't fret about the time, the galaxy has a way of aligning its own chronometers."

With a gesture of his paw-like hand, he indicated the sprawl of the city, the sensory potpourri of alien spices, the gritty texture of the dusty air, the raw vibrancy of life resurrected from the ashes. "I hope your journey to this hallowed moon was a serene one, despite the dust storms and overly zealous pickpockets."

The Ma'alkerrite Jedi allowed his gaze to slide over the cityscape again, his eyes narrowing slightly. "As for the local sentiment, it's hardly unique. Jedi and Force users alike find themselves on the sharp end of suspicion across the galaxy these days. But perhaps, with our actions, we can amend some of the mistrust that history has ingrained."

His statement, both a hope and a resolution, hung in the air between them for a moment. This mission was more than a pursuit of ancient knowledge; it was a chance to mend some of the tears in the fabric of public trust.

"The Whills," he murmured, his voice taking on a reverent tone, "their wisdom could shed light on the intricacies of the Force, help us better understand our place within its ebb and flow. Who knows? They might even hold keys to galactic peace we've yet to conceive."

He offered a wink, acknowledging the gravity of the task they'd undertaken while still infusing a note of levity. "Of course, the real quandary is how to unearth such precious wisdom. Two options come to mind: the Church of the Force, an institution steeped in their teachings, or the excavated site at the outskirts of the crater. Each offers a path to what we seek, but they may present different challenges."

Leaning back, Perun considered his fellow Jedi with a keen, yet friendly gaze. "I'm open to either choice, or perhaps you have an alternate idea? It seems fitting that our journey should be a joint endeavor, don't you agree, Arctus?"

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Arctus Friers]

"Ah, well," the Corellian floundered a little, unable to hide the amusement by Perun's response, smile now positively Duchenne. A bark of laughter slipped past his lips at his counterpart's further comments, one hand automatically finding his pocket to reveal a pink, heart-shaped quartz now nestled in his palm. Its many facets reflected the sunlight, sparkling prettily under the auburn sun rays. While others might see it as a lovely trinket, the object - given to him by Clove years ago - held an importance both sentimental and a reminder of his own self-worth.

The quartz soon found its new residence in the man's inner chest pocket. Arctus patted the small lump once. "Got a little careless there to be honest. At least I won't be dumb enough to keep valuables somewhere really accessible to thieves no more." A light frown crossed the Knight's face soon after. "I shouldn't be carrying something like this outside in the first place, hey."

Realizing that he had been talking more to himself than his fellow Jedi, the frown on Arctus' face was quickly replaced with yet another genuine smile upon detecting the aspiration in the Ma'alkerrite's voice as the latter now spoke about the Force-users' standing among the citizens of the Pilgrim Moon. The reverence that followed was enough to paint a picture as to what kind of person Perun was. Someone whose company would most likely be appreciated regardless of the situation, but for this specific endeavor Arctus was glad that he would be undertaking it with the other Jedi. And as he viewed Perun through the Force, the bright, living color of flames danced on the edges of the Corellian's vision. It suited the other male unsurprisingly.

Crossing his arms over his broad chest, Arctus adopted a look of serious consideration, though the playful glint in his yes belied the display. He returned Perun's gaze with a look just as jovial when the latter presented him with a choice. "I gotta be honest with you, friend: I don't really know much about the Whills. My presence here - let alone my response to your message - is indicative of my desire to learn. I'm sure both sites have much to offer. The Church must be full of stuff left behind by the followers of that order." He unfolded his arms and clapped once. "The choice is obvious, then. Let's go to where we would learn the most!"

A grin brightened the Corellian's gaze. "Wanna go explore the excavation site, then?"

@Aberforth

 

[Perun]

Perun's interest was piqued as he watched the quartz charm glimmer in Arctus' palm. The possession's undeniable sentimental significance was as apparent as a glistening dewdrop at dawn. This trinket, he mused, was no mere whimsical adornment; it pulsed with a tale of its own, a tale inseparably intertwined with that of its possessor.

"A tip for next time," he bantered, a broad grin sweeping across his fur-covered features. "Keep your valuables hidden in a secret pouch in your boot. Even the most skilled pickpocket wouldn't risk the kick."

A more somber note laced his voice as he addressed the Whills. "They were keepers of memory, stewards of the ancient rhythm of the Force. Yet ironically, the mighty Whills fell prey to the ravages of time. Their song has been lost, muffled in the relentless march of history. We're here to uncover that melody again."

Arctus' proposal was met with an approving laughter that bubbled up like a fresh mountain spring. "To the excavation site we go then! With that gusto of yours, I foresee we'll get along splendidly, Arctus. I can already imagine us wrestling banthas or engaging in saber-toothed wampa taming."

His jovial tone lingered, an embodiment of his personality – optimistic, unfazed by challenges. There was an innate thrill about heading into the unknown, especially in the pursuit of knowledge that could shape the fate of their order.

"But let's not dally. If we want to explore the excavation site and return before the twin suns dip their fiery heads, we best set off now," the Ma'alkerrite commented, standing from his stone perch. The scents of dust and city life were momentarily replaced by the faint aroma of the ancient soil as he brushed off his robe.

With a warm glance back at Arctus, he gestured towards a parked speeder nearby, its sleek lines suggesting a harmonious blend of speed and stability. "My trusty steed awaits, my friend. Shall we ride the winds of destiny, and venture towards echoes of the past?" he queried, the anticipatory thrum of the speeder's engines humming beneath his words.

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Arctus Friers]

Given his own history as a Padawan, Arctus did not even attempt to contain the delighted bark of laughter at Perun’s observation. To be honest he agreed, and was absolutely pleasantly surprised that the younger Jedi was quick to exchange banter with the Corellian. With others he had to somewhat watch how he behaved - a fault not aimed at others but more so himself. Here, however…

The man followed his colleague, brows rising at the sight of the speeder. Any other day he would have talked and talked about vehicles, machines, and whatnot - although he wasn’t a mechanic nor an overly zealous enthusiast - but the current mission demanded his focus. ”Hells yeah,” was his straightforward response, excited anticipation clear in his voice. The bright grin that remained on his face only bolstered the emotion, and without any further prodding the man hopped in on the speeder.

Letting the Ma’alkerrite take the wheel, Arctus delegated himself to observing the path they took, noting the physical geography of the land. Shielding his gaze from the sun’s rays the man haphazardly adjusted the shemagh he wore, trying to secure it so it wouldn’t be blown off by the wind as it whipped past them. As they traveled towards the excavation site, the Corellian remembered something one of his friends told him when he mentioned going to Jedha.

Voice loud enough to be heard past the hum of the speeder’s engine and the lashing winds, the man asked, ”Ever heard or read about this thing called Kyber Mirrors?” He then continued, ”A friend of mine said they could show you your future. A glimpse, more like. I dunno - it kinda sounds like Force Vision.”

The Mirrors were forever lost, though, ravaged not by time but by sentient hands. A part of Arctus wished to see not how they worked, but more so the promise of scrying what might possibly be in store for him. But then again-

”Nothing fun with knowing what the future holds though, eh?” he mused. ”I mean, if you know what’s gonna happen, then there’s no joy and surprise in looking forward to things… or at least that’s just me speakin’.”

”But looking into the past, well… that’s an entirely different thing. Stuff’s already done, there’s no changing ‘em. But that’s what the past is all about, I guess - they happened so we could learn from them. Things to improve on, things to prevent from ever happenin’ again. Huh.”

Aware that he had just rambled, Arctus cleared his throat and was quietly glad upon spotting the excavation site growing closer.

@Aberforth

 

[Perun]

"Kyber Mirrors?" Perun echoed, amusement palpable in his voice as he maneuvered the speeder over the dune-ridden landscape. "Can't say I've ever heard of them. Yet, the notion of peering into the weave of destiny is... unnerving. A storm of could-bes and might-happens. Unsettling, don't you think?" He glanced at Arctus, his own feelings on the matter clear - the future was an ocean of enigmatic depth, best navigated by the Force's guidance, not the prying eyes of curious Jedi.

"Visions of the past, though," Perun began, his golden eyes flickering with a touch of something inscrutable, "carry their own profound significance. Their echoes... they whisper tales of wisdom, caution, and sometimes, lament. A truth already etched in the fabric of time." The words hung in the air, subtly acknowledging his own gift of psychometry, a direct touch with the past embedded within the objects around him.

As the speeder gradually slowed, a panoramic spectacle unfolded before them. The excavation site was precariously perched on a vast cliff, its precipice marked by the cataclysmic deflagration radius from the Death Star's past destructive might - a chilling reminder of a terrible power and the world that once thrived.

The site was an archeological palimpsest, narratives of past expeditions overlaid with each other. Sand-softened remnants, eroded glyphs on half-buried stones, and spectral skeletons of abandoned tents told tales of discovery, progress, and perhaps, untimely departures. Crumbled walls and partially unearthed edifices hinted at the once vibrant civilization that flourished here.

Perun's keen gaze spotted a pair of skritons within the site, their asymmetric forms a quirk of evolutionary design. The lopsided creatures were nearly as inscrutable as the sands they called home, their massive pincers capable of delivering devastating attacks.

While watching them, his mind began to wander, imagining the potential secrets they might unearth within this site. Perhaps remnants of the ancient order of Whills, ancient scriptures, or lost relics infused with the Force, waiting to be awoken. The air felt heavy with the whispers of old stories, ready to be retold.

Turning to Arctus, a mischievous glint sparked in his golden eyes. "I've heard tales of your knack for charming creatures," he jested, a playful lilt in his voice as he motioned towards the skritons. "Does your allure extend to our crustaceous friends as well, by any chance?"

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Arctus Friers]

Unsettling… The word held more weight, more apropos, than what Arctus initially felt about the manner of looking into the future either for curiosity or selfishness' sake. Although he answered the question with a non-verbal shrug it would be obvious to Perun that the Corellian agreed, evident in the way his lips pursed into a thin line and his brows to dip in careful thought. The more the pair convereed the more Arctus realized that the Ma'alkerrite was quite easy to talk with regardless of their shared agreement about the past and the present.

Arriving at their destination, a look of reverent awe filled the man's entire being. He did not anticipate such emotion being evoked by the ruins. With barely subdued eagerness he disembarked from the speeder, his gaze utterly captivated by the remnants of an old civilization. If not for the chittering of the wandering local fauna, Arctus would have made the rookie mistake of overlooking the pair of skritons meandering along the sand. Instinct dictated that he jump back in surprise, but being in the company of Nibs and Selene taught the man that acting out of fear only served to summon trouble.

The Corellian paused, one foot in front of the other, as Perun alluded to Arctus' propensity to charm creatures. The man was unable to contain the amused snort that escaped him, the tips of his ears turning red in slight embarrassment. Really, who spread such rumors? Oh, right, Arctus himself, and indirectly at that – with him wandering around the temples not just with an Anooba pup and dragon egg in the past, but by also continuing the trend now that both Nibs and Selene have grown (but with the latter being limited to staying outdoors most of the time given the rapid pace of her growth – his bug-eyed lady was now as big as a small house).

A wisecrack regarding said allure extending to women was quickly shot down, feeling that it was neither the time nor place to deliver it. Still, he couldn't help but joke back as he glanced between Perun and the skritons, "Oh, man, I wish. No harm in trying, though."

The Corellian took a deep breath to steady himself before reaching out slowly but surely towards the skritons. Arctus focused at first on the one on the left, focusing on establishing a solid connection with one of the pair rather than both. The man was a calm presence in the Force, an oasis accepting of beings both great and small and offering respite from the harsh desert. Though widely classified as non-sentient creatures, there was a sense of respect not just towards the desert crabs but also their home.

We’re simply visitors here, looking for knowledge lost. Will you help us? You can decline, there’s no problem if you do.

Although the skriton would not understand the words, Arctus made sure that his intentions were clear both through the Force and his body language. Crouching ever so slowly, the Corellian carefully reached out an open hand towards the chittering creature as it skittered cautiously towards the man. It clacked its claws once, twice, in an attempt to intimidate the human, as if gauging what reaction its display might prompt. Arctus remained calm, however, until the desert crab discerned that the man was not a threat. Mollified by the Corellian’s pacific presence, the skriton allowed the man to run a gentle hand along its carapace before scuttling towards its companion.

Arctus watched as the creatures seemed to communicate while keeping his connection with the first desert crab. Extending his peaceable influence towards the second one, the man found it much easier to establish the same connection as the first. Soon the pair of skritons were scuttling merrily around the two Jedi, claws click-click-clacking at them.

”Hey, welcome to the club, you two,” he greeted the creatures with equal cheer, petting each skriton but not before earning their consent. Turning to Perun, a grin brightened the Corellian’s face. ”So… we’re gonna ask for these two’s help with digging things, I suppose?”

/Rolled an 18 for befriending the local fauna!

@Aberforth

 

[Perun]

In the unforgiving desert landscape, a remarkable tableau unfolded before Perun's eyes. A dance of trust and respect, orchestrated by Arctus and the skritons. His peer's unflappable tranquility during the interaction, the way his intent resonated through the Force, was as fascinating as it was admirable. It provoked a sliver of envy in the Ma'alkerrite, a pang for the deep kinship with creatures he could not so effortlessly achieve.

Nonetheless, the prospect of proximity to these formidable desert denizens rattled his nerves. His hand unconsciously tightened on the steering wheel, apprehensive. "Quite the rapport, Arctus," he quipped, the joviality in his voice belying the twinge of unease beneath. With a long, fortifying breath, he cautiously edged closer to the pair of skritons, their chitinous forms glistening in the sun, reminding him uncomfortably of monstrous scorpions. With a shaky laugh, he made a rapid retreat, his retreat a clear testimony to his discomfort.

"Considering the relentless sands of Jedha," he mused, breaking the awkwardness of his abrupt movement, "any artifact of import would be deeply ensconced beneath. A clandestine treasure, guarded by time and elements alike." His fingers danced in the air, tracing the intricate embroidery of the Force that wove around them.

He closed his eyes, his mental tendrils reaching into the Force, seeking the buried whispers of history. A metaphorical canvas stretched across his mind's eye, albeit with frustratingly dim illumination. Rolling an invisible die, his intangible fingers brushed against structures beneath the sand, feeling their shapes, their textures, and their faint resonance in the Force. Yet, the clarity eluded him, like trying to catch a rainbow. The result, he knew, was only marginally fruitful.

Reopening his eyes, the golden orbs locked onto Arctus's. "The deep layers of this site elude my senses, a tantalizing hint of structures beneath us, but the details are frustratingly obscure. However, there seems to be a concentration in that direction," he gestured towards the eastern part of the site, "I suspect our best chance of uncovering something would be there."

Their mission now had a clear direction, yet a significant obstacle remained – the very sands that held the promise of discovery. With no fancy excavation equipment at their disposal, they would need to rely on good old manual labor. A quick scan of their immediate surroundings revealed the wreckage of a former expedition's speeder, half-buried, and yet one piece seemed potentially useful.

"Ah, there you are," he muttered, pulling out a flat piece of durasteel, probably a panel from the speeder. It was worn by the sand, yet it held enough of its form to serve their needs. Perun hefted the makeshift shovel, testing its weight and balance. Not ideal, but it would serve.

Turning back to Arctus, he offered an encouraging grin. "We certainly can't expect our newfound invertebrate comrades to do all the work. After all," he winked, "we are the ones with thumbs." He gestured with the durasteel panel towards the direction he'd sensed earlier, ready to take on the mantle of an archaeologist under the harsh Jedha sun.

@Forsythe Crowholde

//Rolled an 8 for probing the underground using the Force.

 

[Arctus Friers]

The Corellian had resumed patting one of the skritons’ claws, a mix of awe and amusement on his face. At first he didn’t quite notice the hints of unease that showed in Perun’s tone and movements, Arctus’ attention nearly preoccupied by the desert crabs as if the creatures were but tiny, undeniably adorable animals. Only when one accidentally lightly smacked him with its tail, stinger poised away from the Knight’s body, did Arctus remember that these creatures were formidable predators. However, the fact did not deter the man from interacting with them now that a bond through the Force existed between the three. He had no plans of keeping that bond permanent, though - it was simply there to make sure that the creatures would not harm them which, in turn, would force either Jedi to drive them away.

Arctus glanced back at Perun just in time to see the latter’s hasty retreat. Glancing at the skritons, he patted the one closest to the two Jedi - as if assuring both the Ma’alkerrite and the skritons that he would make sure that nothing would go awry today, at least not on his watch. The Corellian opted not to comment about it anyway, letting his actions speak of the reassurances he wanted to say.

”Oh, so it’s archeology time, then!” he jested with a smile, only dimming slightly at the memory of his former Master. He was sure Indy would have loved the prospect of unearthing long-forgotten relics hidden in the timeless sands of Jedha. The lighthearted smile was quickly replaced by a wistful one, the Knight himself barely noticing the change as he watched and felt his fellow Jedi chance a glimpse beneath the sands through the Force.

For one wild moment, an image of his dear Master and friend took Perun’s place. Braided violet hair gleamed under the sunlight, golden gaze locked with unwavering interest where her hand lay atop the ground. The vision faded as soon as it came, and the man was visibly startled when his fellow Knight reported his findings.

With the barest hints of awkwardness laced in his laughter, Arctus was quick to follow Perun, the skriton pair diligently on the two Jedi’s tail.

”Ah, yes, digging. Takes me back when I tried treasure hunting with my younger brothers in my youth.” He could still remember their mother scolding the Friers siblings for trying to bury the youngest in the snow. Another chuckle escaped him as he surveyed the wreck of a speeder. Another joke, this time a mock serious, ”Should’ve brought a shovel.”

The boyish grin belied the stern tone. Mimicking Perun, Arctus checked if there was something he could use as a makeshift shovel. Another flat piece of durasteel caught his gaze, half-buried in the wreckage and the sand. With enough prying the thing soon came loose.

”That’s fair,” he replied, gesturing for the skritons to follow as they made their way towards the area Perun had indicated earlier. With a nudge through the Force, the two desert crabs sunk into the sand and began digging their way east. Seeing that details eluded his fellow Knight through the Force, Arctus was sure that he would be met with the same results if he tried the same method. Opting for the second best route, he borrowed the skritons’ sight as the creatures dug while trying to remain aware of the world above the critters.

The very first thing that caught Arctus’ attention when they reached the eastern part of the excavation site was the skriton pair’s immediate resurfacing. It was not out of fear nor surprise, rather from the fact that both creatures seemed to have hit a dead end. Through their eyes Arctus saw what seemed to be a collapsed roof made of what seemed to be sandstone and aging metal he could not identify given the darkness and the skritons’ vision.

”They found something underneath,” he reported, pointing at the spot directly beneath them. ”Kind of like a roof blocking what lay beneath.”

With that he began to dig, directing the skritons to lend the two Jedi their aid.

@Aberforth

 

[Perun]

Perun sighed as his gaze fell on the rough-hewn durasteel slab in his hands, the makeshift implement for an archaeologist's labor that lay ahead. He was far from unfamiliar with the thrill of the hunt for ancient treasures and lost knowledge. Yet, most of his adventures hitherto were a far cry from the hands-on excavation that they had been consigned to undertake this day. As the Ma'alkerrite dropped to his knees and began to dig, the echo of gritty sand scraping against durasteel punctuated the quiet desert air.

As he delved deeper, memories of previous hunts coursed through his mind. The hushed reverence within the archives of Coruscant, the cryptic symbols on long-forgotten Jedi artifacts, and the mysterious legends inscribed in alien tongues. All this time, he mused, as a Jedi Knight, the primary tool of his trade was his saber or the Force, not a shovel.

"Well, Arctus, in all the tombs I've cracked and vaults I've plundered," he mused aloud, a flash of sardonic humor in his golden eyes, "I can't say I've ever had the privilege of getting so... intimately acquainted with the sand. Let's hope this roof had the good sense to shield whatever's beneath from the relentless march of Jedha's dunes."

Perun could feel the transition under his makeshift tool as they reached the barrier mentioned by Arctus. Deciding it was time to switch tactics, he straightened up, his shoulders aching from the unfamiliar strain. "Stand back, my friend," he advised, stretching out his long fingers, "I think it's time for a gentler approach."

Concentrating, he gestured gracefully in the air, summoning a soft gust of wind, He stretched out a hand, a gentle zephyr whirling into existence around his fingertips. With a flick of his wrist, he directed the breeze towards the last of the stubborn sand. It swirled away obediently, revealing more of the hidden structure.

The sight that met their eyes was worth the sweat and toil. An opening, barely large enough for a humanoid, lay nestled beneath the sandstone roof. Tossing an impish grin over his shoulder to Arctus, he quipped, "After you. Oh wait, never mind. I do believe it's my turn to dive into the unknown." With a chuckle, he slid through the opening, his fur-rimmed silhouette disappearing into the darkness.

Within the underground cavern, Perun ignited his green lightsaber. Its radiant glow illuminated the surroundings, the sudden brilliance sending echoes of light dancing off intricate carvings etched into the walls. His breath hitched in awe as he realized that the carvings depicted a pantheon of humanoids, rendered with a level of detail and respect reminiscent of the saints.

"Arctus," he called out, his voice a reverent whisper in the silent underground expanse, "you have to see this. It's... it's incredible." The sheer beauty and reverence of the carvings left Perun in quiet contemplation, the soft hum of his lightsaber the only sound to fill the sanctity of the hidden gallery.

@Forsythe Crowholde

//Rolled a 12 for using aerokinesis to dust off the remaining of the sand.

 

[Arctus Friers]

”I don’t wanna jinx it, but… here’s hopin’ this’ll both be the first and the last for ya,” Arctus answered to Perun’s musings, clearly another joke that wasn’t meant to be taken seriously. ”Kinda doubt it, though.”

He paused from digging, wiping sweat off of his brow. Making sure that the skritons were digging more carefully than they usually were accustomed to, the Corellian glanced around just in case someone unexpectedly approached. The skritons would have sensed it, the Jedi pair would have, too, but he did not want to fall into complacency. There might be locals braver than the rest who would want to speak their mind and would want to boot him and Perun out.

So far, though, it was only him, his fellow Knight, and the two skritons digging for ruins who were present in the area. Nodding to himself, Arctus resumed digging until they struck the roof he saw through the skritons. He stepped back as advised, carefully rolling his shoulders in a poor attempt to ease the aches from the strain and blocking the sensation from the creatures temporarily tethered to his conscious through the Force so as not to aggravate them. With an almost childlike wonder he watched as Perun directed the wind via aerokinesis. It was a neat trick he would need to learn for future use, making a mental note about it for later discussion.

Arctus’ eyes narrowed as he studied what was revealed by their fruitful efforts of being closely acquainted with the dunes of Jedha - an opening, barely large enough to fit and for him and his colleague to pass through.

Laughing at the Ma’alkerrite’s humorous quip, Arctus made a grand gesture towards the entry while returning Perun’s grin with a mirthful chuckle of his own. As his fellow Knight disappeared into the darkness, the Corellian gazed up at the skritons.

”Please keep watch for non-friendlies, friends. Thank you!”

As if in response to the Knight’s request, the skritons clicked their massive claws once before moving on to patrol the perimeter, with one of the two hiding beneath the sand to launch a surprise attack if needed. Chuckling lightly at the creatures’ reply, he sent a respectful bow their way before following Perun into the gloom.

It took the older Knight a few seconds to let his vision adjust in the darkness, then to the emerald glow from Perun’s lightsaber.

”Right behind ya,” he replied to his companion’s call. ”What did you find- ah...”

The ancient carvings on the wall, humanoids of a time long-forgotten by civilization but not entirely by history, met Arctus’ wide-eyed gaze. The same silence that befell Perun took over the Corellian as he stepped forward almost unconsciously, one hand rising and hovering over the nearest bas-relief - as if afraid that it might crumble under his touch. What caught his attention more were the humanoids’ faces.

On the center, the humanoid’s visage was a placid, tranquil mask. On their left was one whose face was contorted in anger, and beside it was another who smiled seemingly in joy. Looking to the figure in the center’s right, one’s brow was furrowed in what seemed to be confusion - bewilderment? - while the other’s face was etched with sorrow.

Wanting to confirm that his eyes and the soft glow of the green lightsaber were not playing tricks on him, the Corellian retrieved his own saber, raised it above his head, and ignited it. With a soft hum of plasma, the flash of light the color of sunlight added to the chartreuse and further illuminated the underground cavern.

As if afraid to break the silence, Arctus found himself muttering under his breath with a voice loud enough for his friend to hear, ”Emotions…? Why these five? I dunno, fear is a pretty common emotion, too, but it isn’t here. Force, what’s up with me, looking for fear when it’s not even here…”

Maybe it just reminded him of the times he allowed his own fears to hold dominion over him. He shook the unwanted thought off, free hand unintentionally finding the pocket that now contained the heart quartz from one of his found family.

"What d'you reckon these means, Perun? Do you think there's gonna be somethin' about them in the Church?"

Glancing further into the cavern, he asked again. "Maybe we'll find more carvings deeper inside? Or any relics, perhaps?"

@Aberforth

 

[Perun]

As Arctus drew attention to the intricate, emotive visages carved into the stone, a melody from the distant past found its way to the forefront of Perun's mind. It was a tune from his youth, a nursery rhyme his Jedi Governess had gently sung to the younglings. A song that danced around themes of the same emotion, somehow capturing their essence in a beautiful metaphorical ballet.

"In a world of serenity, joy danced its tune," Perun began, his baritone voice echoing through the cavern, a soft melody weaving through the ancient stone walls. "Anger simmered, but left too soon. Confusion stumbled, lost its way, Sadness wept, 'neath the moon's gentle ray."

As the words flowed from his lips, Perun moved slowly through the shadows, the glow of his lightsaber casting an ethereal light on the carved figures. The stony countenances seemed to come alive, their silent stories resonating with the age-old tune.

"Children laughed, their hearts so light, Serenity whispered, 'All is right.' Joy skipped and twirled, spreading cheer, Anger fled, as love drew near. But confusion crept, with its puzzling air, Sadness lingered, caught in despair. Yet hope glimmered, like a guiding star, Serenity whispered, 'We'll heal the scars.'"

The final words echoed hauntingly through the underground chamber, a poignant promise, a silent prayer. Perun found himself ensnared by the echo of that phrase, the concept of healing scars - what type of scars? Physical? Emotional? Those of the soul or of the heart? His furrowed brow betrayed the puzzle that was taking shape in his mind, a cascade of questions, memories, and possibilities intermingling.

A flicker of inspiration sparked within him, and he approached the serene figure, the silent guardian at the center of the emotional tableau. Leaning in, he whispered to the ancient carving. "Time. Time has the power to heal all scars," he commented lightly.

And with that whispered revelation, the serene figure's stony visage shifted, the wall revealing itself to be a secret doorway. The smooth, ancient rock parted silently, revealing a narrow hallway beyond. The cavern's breath seemed to pause in anticipation, an old secret laid bare.

His mind, ever the restless wanderer, returned to his Governess. What ties did she possess with the Whills? Did she know of this place, of these carvings, of this riddle?

With a beckoning gesture to Arctus, Perun ventured into the hallway. It led them to a circular room, its heart dominated by an exquisite tree, its life shielded by a crackling golden dome. An almost sacred silence permeated the space, as if the tree was a hallowed relic of a bygone era.

Turning to his comrade, Perun remarked, "You know, Arctus, something tells me that we should not force our way through."

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Arctus Friers]

His questions were left unanswered at first, but Arctus did not particularly mind. Not when he himself was still puzzled as to what the figures and their emotions entailed. His gaze was drawn between the carvings and his fellow Knight, the Corellian’s thoughts still circling on What do they mean? Who made this structure, these images? How long have they been buried, waiting to be rediscovered? But what DO they mean?

When Perun spoke, Arctus had found himself standing in front of the confused figure. How apropos, he thought, free hand reaching out to let his fingers graze their features. He had been a Jedi for almost a decade now and yet there were still many things that escaped him. There were still things that needed understanding; things that needed accepting. The image of his family floated unbidden in the forefront of his mind. For the longest time he had mistaken the Jedi who often visited his mother as his biological father. For too long he had mistakenly thought that Dad’s anger was due to the false idea that Arctus wasn’t his son. Resentment was bred in the hearts of both Friers men out of that mistake – a mistake that had taken so many years before it could be mended and made right.

There were so many people he had wronged all his life, his own family included. But they had all accepted him with open hearts and minds and arms. Him, so scarred and broken by the anger he had nursed for so long, and by the life he once led. For years he had been a man lost, confused, hurting… until that day on Onderon. Until Indy found him, a nearly deranged man seeking a Jedi’s help so he could understand the Force; so that he could escape from the clutches of the Dark Side.

If it weren’t for her, he wouldn’t have met Ruzaan. Wouldn’t have met Clove. The younglings he cared for, his once fellow Padawans. Felix, Drastus, Xiann. Other Knights he had befriended – Faen, Haldir, Rudra. If it weren’t for Indyana, he probably would have fallen to the clutches of the Dark Side.

Indy was gone, and yet it still hurt. He hadn’t mourned her passing properly. Sometimes, when he looked into the Force, his vision still couldn’t properly conjure that salubrious golden sunrise. The aureate leaves of autumn sometimes glitched into grey. Anything gold was either dulled or turned the color of ash in his eyes.

Why did all these suddenly come to mind?

Why here? Why now?

Pinpricks of warmth welled up in his eyes, and Arctus blinked them away before they could fall down his cheeks into rivulets of sadness, of longing. He barely heard the rest of Perun’s words, purposefully looking away lest his fellow Knight catch a glimpse of his eyes made misty by unshed tears.

Time has the power to heal all scars.

His surprise was somewhat diminished by the sudden pain that flared in his heart, the feeling he tried to dampen so it would not sing out its sorrowful notes through the Force, nor bleed out in grey hues. Arctus mustered a somewhat weak smile as he followed Perun into yet another unknown, keeping a considerate distance as he held his still ignited saber in front of him.

The two Jedi found themselves into a circular room. The sight of the tree, still alive despite the continuous marching of time, had effectively rendered the Corellian speechless. Arctus took a step forward, gaze filled with reverent awe as he beheld the tree. Life pulsed from it, a beautiful thing he could feel through the Force. If the tree could speak, he was sure that it had many a story to tell – probably the hands that planted it, nurtured it. Those who watched over it, and those it had watched over in turn.

The man took a step forward and nothing more, afraid that if he had further closed the proximity that he might ruin the sanctity the tree might represent.

”Indy would’ve loved to see this, no doubt,” he muttered more to himself than his friend.

The dam would have been broken right then and there, the tears he held back falling freely from his eyes. But something had given them pause. A pulse from the Force, seemingly originating from the tree, that washed over the two Knights. The crystal from the necklace he got from Willa Kanz, from that Life Day that long had since passed, let out a soft musical chime in response.

Startled, the Knight gingerly yanked the silver chain until the crystal lay nestled in his palm. It continued to emit the soft chime as it reacted to that pulse.

”Uh… looks like, well,” the man floundered, letting the pendant hang loose in the open, away from the prying eyes of those who might steal it as much as the heart quartz he carried in exchange for credits. ”Looks like the tree is alive in more ways than one.”

With a fortifying breath, Arctus focused on the tree and, against his better judgment, cautiously reached out to it through the Force – his mind a questing, honest, and genuinely curious presence.

@Aberforth

 

[Perun]

Perun’s gaze flicked towards his companion, his golden eyes taking in the changes flickering across Arctus's countenance like a tumultuous sea. The emotional turbulence roiling within the Corellian was almost tangible in the Force, a palpable tension thrumming alongside the enduring thrum of the enigmatic tree before them. A twist of empathy gnarled at the pit of the Ma'alkerrite's stomach, his usual wisecracking demeanor dampened by the poignant tableau before him. He understood the unspoken boundaries of camaraderie, however, and he refrained from probing further into Arctus's apparent melancholy. The cryptic memento mori of 'Indy' only added to the enigma.

Perun's perceptive mind was quick to construct vague hypotheses, his inherent curiosity piqued by the mysterious Indy, but he held his tongue, knowing better than to let his innate curiosity trespass personal boundaries. The tantalizing taste of an unsolved enigma was somewhat bitter on his mental palate, yet the Jedi Knight, experienced in the intricate dance of empathy and personal boundaries, chose silence over intrusive prying. He decided to commit this conundrum to the vault of his memory, to be unravelled at a more opportune moment.

The pulse from the tree was like a clarion call, its reverberations slicing through the stillness of the chamber, cleaving through his very essence with startling precision. It was an incandescent thread, a ray of ethereal energy lacing through the fabric of his being. A shiver cascaded down his spine, a visceral, primal reaction to an encounter with a presence so intrinsically tied to the living Force. For a fleeting moment, his mind was inundated with images, fleeting vestiges of verdant growth and inevitable decay, the cyclical ballet of life and death echoed through the tree's silent pulse.

In the face of such magnitude, words seemed pitifully inadequate. He opened his mouth, intending to articulate his awe, his reverence, yet all that escaped was a stuttered stammering of half-formed syllables. A poignant silence fell, his mouth snapping shut, a frustrated frown furrowing his brow as he was rendered momentarily inarticulate by the profundity of the moment. The sight of Arctus's pendant, vibrating with an almost harmonic resonance with the tree's pulse, diverted his attention momentarily.

"Wh... where did you get that?" He managed to stammer out, the vibrancy of his golden gaze fastened upon the chime-spewing crystal. Its resonance was uncanny, almost as if it were a key forged to echo the tree's secret melody.

A soft sigh escaped him as he reached out, his own consciousness unfurling towards the slumbering behemoth nested within the tree. It was akin to casting a pebble into an ocean, their tiny ripples of awareness barely making an impact against the vast expanse of consciousness, which stretched as far as he could perceive, encompassing not just the immediate surroundings but seemingly the entire planet.

He recoiled slightly as he perceived the scale of the presence before him. It was not just a vast entity, but also a damaged one, its consciousness bearing the marks of countless scars. Yet despite the apparent damage, there was a unity, a sense of wholeness to the entity. It was an awe-inspiring sight, a humbling reminder of their own smallness in the grand scheme of existence.

Yet for all his efforts, his attempts to stir the entity from its apparent slumber proved futile. It was as unyielding as the bedrock beneath his feet, as unresponsive as the wind caressing the hills outside. His heart sank at the realization, a wave of discouragement lapping at his resolve.

"I... I don't know what to do, Arctus," he confessed, his voice barely more than a whisper in the cavernous space, his gaze reflecting the tumultuous sea of his thoughts. "I am... I am at a loss." He swallowed hard, his gaze fixed on the tree, and the unfathomable consciousness it harbored within. It was like a star hidden in plain sight, a mystery begging to be unraveled, and yet remaining tantalizingly out of reach.

@Forsythe Crowholde

//Rolled a 3/20 for trying to evoke some sort of response from the tree.

 

[Arctus Friers]

The crystal hummed with each pulse, and Arctus once again wondered at the effort and skill with which Willa had expended with making these pendants she had gifted her fellow Padawans in the past. When Perun voiced out his question - which gave the older Knight pause from his own probing of the mystical tree - the Corellian mustered the only truth he knew, amazement clear in his voice.

”A fellow Padawan gave it to me as a Life Day gift years ago… I believe she did something to make the crystals react to the Force,” he replied, awed at the young woman’s brilliance. He remembered his friend Haldir proudly talk in the past about his Padawans and how they were both brilliant Jedi learners. ”Can’t believe she created these things when she was still a Padawan herself back in the day…”

Back in the day. Huh. Spoken like a real, old man.

Hazel grey eyes flicked from Perun then back to the softly humming crystal hanging from his neck. There was something soothing in the way it chimed in its singular tone, and Arctus found himself being grounded by its simplicity in the wake of the ancient tree’s presence. Inspiration struck him, and the Knight resumed with his attempt to reach out to it through the Force, not really expecting that his effort would immediately bear fruit.

A vision, flashing briefly in his mind’s eye that left quite an impact on the former smuggler turned Jedi, proved him wrong.

Arctus and Indy, sitting next to each other on the bottom of the Cyar’ika’s ramp, a memory of their first meeting. He looked on, an outsider from his own recollection, as gratitude for having met her filled his entire being.

The image vanished as soon as it appeared. As if on autopilot, the Corellian took a step forward towards the tree. His questing presence had evoked a response from the tree - a nebulous consciousness he could not fathom and did not try to understand, the feeling of being a mere speck against its vastness floating without even an ounce of self-deprecation in the forefront of his heart and mind. Arctus was once a man of doubt, and traces of that same man still echoed in the back of his mind. At the same time he was a man enlightened, accepting the fact that there were things beyond his control. The presence of a greater consciousness responding to his curious call would have made him retract in surprise, but he stood his ground and Looked.

He Saw nothing, but Heard something. Laughter, faint and without condescension but filled with warmth. Deaf to Perun’s confession, Arctus kept walking forward, approaching the tree with an outstretched hand. The laughter turned into a whisper, a voice so melodic and serene, straddling the line between ethereal and earthly. The moment his palm pressed gently upon that aged trunk, the bark both coarse and smooth to the touch, did the words of the whispers finally register in the Corellian’s mind.

...something you carry with you. There is something. A priceless token of love and acceptance.

Shock had rendered Arctus calm, his response loud for Perun to also hear, though the man himself seemed unaware that he was verbally uttering the words in a seemingly one-sided conversation. ”Two, actually. Three, if you're counting the one I left in the ship.”

The Voice laughed again, warm and soothing and oh so comforting like a gentle, loving hug. No, not the heart of your blade. The one made from humble rock. The one that reminds you that you are never alone.

Arctus’ free hand pressed above the heart quartz hidden in his jacket. Of all the things to take notice of, this humble gift from Clove had piqued the interest of whatever or whoever he was conversing with. In the Knight’s typical fashion of the perfect balance of irreverence and amicability, he shot the tree a light frown.

”Uh, yep, Clove’s heart quartz is neat and all, but, er…” It was the shock talking - it must be. He glanced at Perun, a little bewildered. ”Who am I speaking with?”

Another image appeared in the Corellian’s mind - a figure, towering over him, bathed in light. Its face was covered by a sheer veil, and was clothed in modest argent robes. It was difficult to tell if the figure was a man or a woman, their voice not giving it away in the slightest. Arctus wondered if Perun was seeing Them, too.

You come here seeking knowledge. You come here to learn. I will only speak to one of you.

He blinked, visibly surprised at the revelation. ”Only one of us? Why? You said will, so... Can’t you speak to us both?”

The Figure tilted their veiled head at him with an almost childish curiosity. What I will impart with you, you can share with him in the aftermath.

In an ideal scenario, Arctus knew that he could just say yes, agree with the setting, and do as he was told. But he wouldn’t be here had it not been for Perun’s call. If there is anyone between them who was more suited for this discussion, it was the Ma’alkerrite Jedi. He didn’t know Perun on a personal level - at least not yet. Arctus, however, would insist for his companion’s sake. Not out of pity or anything else. If this Figure would only insist on conversing with the Corellian, and imparting Their knowledge on him so he could pass it on…

Arctus backed away from the tree completely until he stood resolutely beside Perun. ”You can talk to us both, then.”

The conversation had come to a standstill. In the physical plane, Arctus was talking to an unseen force. But in the Corellian’s thoughtscape, the Figure glided silently towards the Knight, long, pale, three-fingered hand lightly gesturing towards the hidden pocket knitted within the folds of the bearded Jedi’s jacket. Those fingers then hovered over the prized possession They had taken an interest in earlier, the hints of a smile laced in Their voice when They next spoke.

Would you willingly part with your treasure, for your companion’s sake?

The easiest answer was that he could not. Arctus had held on to this gift for years. It had borne witness to his battle both with depression and the Dark Side, a constant reminder that there were people who believed in him as a person, who believed in the good in him. He had promised Clove that he would treasure this gift for as long as he lived, even joked that he would make it into a family heirloom of some sort. It was Arctus the Plushie’s heart, the trinket that made Ruzaan’s gift complete. His treasured friends, his found family… he would not, could not part with their gifts because of the significance they held.

But he had realized long ago that his worth, and the fact that he would never be alone, was not rooted in the presence of material reminders. Indy, Ruzaan, and Clove taught him that material things were always replaceable - the friendship, love, and loyalty he had forged with them were not. He would always strive to be someone they could be proud of, someone who deserve them

Cracking a lopsided grin at the Figure, Arctus shrugged. ”The heart quartz comes with a mini me knitted plush doll. Unless you’re not interested…”

With laughter as bright as the arrival of a new dawn, the Figure drew Their hand away as Arctus handed Them the heart quartz, the exchange materializing into Perun’s mind as well. Within the shared consciousness the two Jedi now stood before the tall Figure, Their veiled head nodding once at the pair. All three of them stood in the middle of a vast hall, bathed in white light and tranquil silence. The place evoked a sense of peace, and whispers of knowledge long forgotten but only waiting to be heard by those who would listen.

Drawing to Their full height, the Figure regarded the two Jedi, Their concealed gaze landing on Perun.

The pursuit of knowledge comes with a price. Your friend had willingly surrendered a gift of great import. One imparted with compassion, stained with tears of grief and sorrow, and purified with love and unwavering faith.

Fear not, for I will not ask the same of you. What I seek is your word; an oath: For the knowledge you seek to be shared to those who do not seek nor desire it, but need it. For the knowledge you seek to endure the passage of time. For the knowledge you seek to live.

What, then, do you seek?

@Aberforth

Spoiler

//I'm here thanking the fickle dice gods. Also, please feel free to RP the Figure, too, because I'm Dumb™ XD

 

[Perun]

Perun watched, silent and steadfast, as Arctus negotiated an unseen conversation with the arboreal entity. A singular sensation of being detached from the ongoing dialogue washed over the Ma'alkerrite, leaving him feeling the cool tendrils of isolation licking at the corners of his consciousness. Yet, within this wellspring of emotion, the Ma'alkerrite chose to anchor himself in trust. Trust in his fellow Jedi. Trust in the serenity that Arctus radiated, reflecting the teachings of the Jedi Order. His eyes, simmering with a quiet intensity, never strayed far from Arctus, ready to intervene if a situation called for it.

When the ethereal threads of connection extended to include Perun in the dialogue, a silent gasp of awe escaped him. He felt an alien, powerful, and venerable consciousness encircle his mind. The sensation was humbling and profound, stirring a strange mix of reverence and trepidation within him.

A sensation of cognitive dissonance pervaded his senses as he realized Arctus had paid a toll for the entity's willingness to impart its wisdom. Arctus had surrendered a memento laden with profound sentimental significance. The realization struck Perun with the force of a meteorite, carving a crater of gratitude in his heart. An unspoken promise took root in the depths of his soul; he would repay this act of sacrifice, this demonstration of fraternal camaraderie, in kind.

The entity's question seemed to echo throughout the vast hall of his consciousness. A cavalcade of desires and curiosities unfurled within his mind: the secret of a definitive lightside technique to counter Sith machinations, the hidden truths of the universe, the location of lost Jedi artifacts... Yet as the echoes of the question faded, a singular thought climbed the rostrum of his mind: the plea of Grandmaster Alex. A call to restore balance to a galaxy that had been battered and bruised by relentless strife and chaos.

Taking a deep breath, he put forth his question, "Tell us of the time when the galaxy teetered on the precipice of unbalance. How can we, as Jedi, strive to restore balance?"

The entity's answer unfurled in the mindscape, painting a vivid tableau of a time marred by strife and discord. The rise of the First Sith, Andraste, and her acolytes, how the first seeds of darkness were sown in the fertile soil of the galaxy, sent tremors of apprehension coursing through Perun's psyche. "Ah, a time of great upheaval it was, with darkness spreading like a contagion, gnawing at the heart of the galaxy. The balance shifted, scales tipping toward the shadows. As Jedi, you must remember, your role is not to vanquish the dark but to balance it with light. For night and day, shadow and light, both are part of the grand design."

This revelation led him to his next inquiry, one that he asked with a tinge of caution. "What about the Force nexus points scattered across the galaxy? Should we, as Jedi, cleanse the Darkside nexus points? Is such a path prudent?"

The entity replied, a sense of ancient wisdom and patience emanating from it. "Force nexus points, like all things in the cosmos, are manifestations of balance. To cleanse them of darkness would be to upset this balance. Your path, Jedi, is not to purify but to maintain equilibrium. Remember, your actions should always seek to balance the cosmic dance, not to lead it."

In the tree's wisdom, Perun found encouragement. As Jedi, they were the stewards of balance, not conquerors of darkness.

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Arctus Friers]

Arctus felt a little embarrassed as the Entity spoke about him surrendering one of his most prized possessions. He didn’t try to comment any further about it, though, grateful that They had accepted his offer so Perun could converse with Them, as well. It was all that mattered; if lingering regret would rise to his mind in the aftermath, then he could deal with it on his own.

But his offer, his surrender, was sincere. At the end of the day, Arctus was sure that he wouldn’t regret it in the long run.

He listened carefully at the exchange between Perun and the Entity, gaze flicking back and forth at the questions and responses. The Corellian’s brows furrowed at the Entity’s answers. Conflict reflected in his eyes. Indy had taught him about the balance in the Living Force, her teachings going as far back as the day they first met.

”But the Darkside only causes pain and destruction,” he couldn’t help but blurt out, having experienced being under the influence, of getting a taste of that corruptive power. While it had promised him the strength to conquer those who hurt the ones he loved, the feeling left an overall unpleasant experience. He could still remember so vividly the day he accidentally killed someone using the power of the Darkside. The memory made him shudder.

His line of thinking, at the moment, clearly did not fall in line with Perun’s. Arctus was confused, but not hostile nor exceedingly against the Entity’s answer. In fact, the Knight sought understanding, above all - despite his strong opinions against the Dark Side of the Force and its users.

@Aberforth

 

[Perun]

Perun, his golden gaze steady on the entity, absorbed Arctus' interruption as a disturbance in a tranquil lake, the ripples sending vibrations through his own meditative calm. A coterie of sentiments—concern, sympathy, and a dash of sardonic amusement—coalesced within his broad chest. His companion, ever the loyal Jedi, held steadfast views about the Darkside; understandable, given the traumas that seemed etched deeply in his psyche.

The Ma'alkerrite shifted slightly, his hirsute form shrouded by the verdant ambiance. The aroma of moss and ancient wood entwined with a faint, otherworldly musk, evocative of the entity's long, aeonian existence. His sinewy fingers curled around the hilt of his lightsaber, a comforting anchor amidst the philosophical tumult.

Perun glanced at Arctus, "Remember, friend," he began, his voice a low rumble, "every sun casts a shadow. Can we fault the sun for the darkness it inadvertently creates?" His words hung in the air, an attempt to offer solace but also to challenge his friend's perspective.

The entity echoed Perun's sentiment, its voice a breeze through ancient branches. "All things bear a potential for pain and destruction, not just the Darkside. Equilibrium demands the existence of both; it is actions that tip the scales towards chaos. A Jedi's duty lies in maintaining harmony, not obliterating one side of the spectrum."

This exchange felt like a reprise of countless philosophical discourses they had shared during their time at the Jedi Academy, their ideological divergence fueling their mutual growth. Beneath the canopy of the ancient tree, bathed in the spectral radiance of the entity, Perun felt a sense of continuity.

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Arctus Friers]

Arctus was silent for a few moments, clearly musing on Perun and the Entity’s words. The Corellian evidently harbored a bias against the Darkside given his earlier exclamation. Did that make him a traditional - or what passes as a stereotypical one - Jedi, believing that as champions of Light, they existed to rid the galaxy of Darkness?

Following his fellow Knight and the Entity’s responses, taking heed of that path, of tipping the balance in favor of Light, did not seem prudent at all. Since when did Jedi - most of the including him, for that matter - conceive the idea that to bring balance was to thwart, to destroy, the Dark? Was Arctus so blinded by his own experience, his own fear, to see the truth and reason given to him by this Entity who clearly knew better than him? Admittedly, it was a fact he couldn’t easily accept. Maybe he was truly blind, after all. But Arctus told himself that he had to return to the main reason as to why he was here, as to why he joined Perun in this endeavor in the first place.

Wasn’t he here to learn?

And what hindered a person from learning? he asked himself.

Both Perun and the Entity had responded to his outburst with things, observations and facts, so obvious that Arctus himself could point out if he weren’t so set in his own ways of thinking and justification. He felt like a child grasping at straws, insisting that what he knew was the irrefutable truth.

A realization hit him, its simplicity rendering him dumbstruck.

”Light cannot exist without Darkness, and Darkness without Light,” he muttered, voice growing louder with every spoken word. Wide-eyed, he cast both Perun and the Entity an understanding glance. The next sentence was spoken more to himself than the other two, as if to reassure himself that what he had just said was correct. ”It’s so obvious… and here I am trying to reject it.”

In the grand scheme of things, his experiences were a mere collection placed upon the shelves amongst the collective. And wasn’t there an old adage saying that experience was a good teacher? He had borne witness to the Dark Side of the Force so he could begin his search for the Light. If it weren’t for the Darkside, he wouldn’t have begun his path as a Jedi. He had found himself lost in the Darkness, time and time again, so he could find the Light. Was there balance to be found there?

Perhaps… maybe? Yes?

”Man, I’m a blind, shitty dumbass…” he huffed rather regretfully, then realized who he and Perun were talking to. Red crept up his face, hands raising on chest level both defensively and placatingly as he gazed up at the Entity’s veiled visage. ”I’m sorry! That’s pretty crass of me…!”

The Entity merely laughed with such serenity that Arctus found himself relaxing immediately. Chuckling a bit awkwardly, the Corellian lifted a hand to rub the back of his neck gingerly as he turned to look at Perun.

”Didn’t the Grandmaster cleanse a Darkside Nexus on Coruscant? How are we gonna tell her about what has just been shared with us?”

The Entity wanted them to share what they have learned here, after all. Still, Arctus himself had a question or two of his own that needed answering. But where should he begin?

Turning once more to the Entity, the Knight’s expression became curious.

”So, we’re supposed to leave any Darkside nexus alone-” he caught himself at the last second, shaking his head. ”No, not that. You’ve pretty much answered it for us. Er…” He took a deep, fortifying breath before continuing. ”Is there life after death?”

He had been present in Jedi funerals before, and he had always been assured that in the end, they would all become one with the Force. But what did that truly entail?

Do you believe in life after death? the Entity asked back, tone full of patience as a parent would have for their child. They pressed the tip of one finger on Arctus’ forehead, then to his chest where his heart beat against his sternum. What does your mind believe in? What does your heart tell you? Death is a phenomenon most are afraid of, and yet it is a guide who does not discriminate and who comes for all at the end of a long, arduous Day. It is a path all must take in the end, so they could begin their journey anew.

”So, I’ll meet everyone again in the end?” the thought came out unbidden, a small smile tipping the corners of his lips upwards.

What does your heart tell you?

Arctus chuckled, content with the answer to his question. He didn’t mean to tread upon the waters of existentialism, but his doubtful nature simply could not resist. A part of him believed that death wasn’t the end, but his question just now reflected the part of him that was uncertain about that eventuality. It seemed like a childish thing to ask, still, now that he thought about it. Of all the things that he could inquire about…

@Aberforth