Ask The Priest and the Inspector

[Rian Auriol]

STARPORT TOWER 214, BYBLOS
​

"Listen, I'll drop you on that service ramp just below the rim, but that's it" the grizzled pilot said hurriedly "no way I am staying on that pad a moment more than necessary!".

"Calm yourself" Rian said coldly, blue eyes already fixed on the derelict starport tower ahead "passage was all you committed to. I require nothing more".

"You're mad you know!" the man went on, only further riled. "Place has been abandoned since those hordes came down on us. Clear up or no clear up, they say there's still some of them beasties in there. Just this morning someone filed a report - noises echoing out the shafts!".

The Knight did not answer. He cared little for idle gossip. The starport tower had been overrun during Raze's invasion of Byblos and had reportedly been a major nest for his horde of abominations. Time may have passed, but if any still skulked in the shadows, Rian would find them. Find them and burn them with the Light.

The rickety ship eventually drew level with the ramp and Rian leapt across onto the superstructure, heavy grey overcloak flapping, concealing his black and gold variant of light Jedi attire . He waved the petty skipper away, disappointed that there seemed no will to rebuild here unless credits were involved. Perhaps one day the locals would rediscover their fire; he would make sure they had the chance to.

A sudden clang echoed up out from inside the tower and Rian braced himself, ready to enter. If there really were any twisted creatures left, perhaps they were ready to die.

@LouJoVi

 

[Elidan]

Elidan was in Byblos to investigate the several cases of strange disappearances that had been plaguing this part of the planet for many months. The local authorities tried to solve them, but they were still recovering from Raze’s attacks and ended up having no success in reaching the culprit. Due to that, they reached the Jedi Order and the half-Annfyn was the one sent to help.

His mutism ended up being a bit of a problem, with him needing to write messages in his Datapad, but he was happy in being capable of helping.

During his investigation, Elidan discovered that all the disappearances happened around the abandoned starport tower 214, the place where Raze’s abominations striked with greatest force. When he brought this information to the authorities, they showed no interest in going there with him to investigate.

Obviously, he went alone.

While he approached it with a rented shuttle, Elidan saw a ship stopping and immediately leaving. The half-Annfyn frowned, thinking that if the locals were afraid of this place, there shouldn’t be anyone visiting it. With the Force telling him that something wasn’t right about this building, he decided to land in the same pad from the mysterious ship. To his surprise, there was a person here dressed in similar robes to his own.

It was another Jedi.

@Alhon

 

[Rian Auriol]

Rian had barely begun to feel ahead for dangers when the sound of an approaching engine shattered his concentration. He rounded, the shadow of fury creeping up his neck.

He half expected it to be his own pilot coming back to grumble about something, but it was a lone shuttle sweeping in to land on the same pad. Was he being tailed?

The Knight cracked his knuckles, signing a quick triangle in the air to draw the Force into a ward between him and the lowering landing ramp. If the new arrival was an enemy, they would not find him unprepared.

The lone figure that emerged was striking, with long auburn hair and pointed ears. His attire hinted at Jedi, but Rian knew better than to make assumptions in a place like this. He knew very few of his brethren in any case, having spent much of his service out on his crusades.

”Hold it there” he said authoritatively. “This Tower is not safe for idle travellers. Who are you and what it your business here?”.

Rian prayed the man had a quick answer. The sooner he was rid of him, the sooner he could get back to his work.

@LouJoVi

 

[Elidan]

Elidan had barely left the shuttle and the stranger had already bombarded him with questions. The half-Annfyn tilted his head, wondering if the man didn’t notice his Jedi robes. By the questioner’s attire, the auburn-haired Knight immediately understood that he was part of the Order. He thought that the plain brown robes that he was wearing would be easy to identify.

The Annfyn brought his hands between the two and started to use signal language. Once upon a time, he would have started a conversation by typing words on his datapad, because he used to not like giving trouble to others that would need to understand the signs. However, nowadays he was tired of it.

It was the easiest way for him to express himself. He would only use the datapad if the other really didn’t understand it.

“I should ask you the same.” he made the signs perfectly and fluidly, not even showing that one of his hands was mechanical. “I’m Jedi Knight Elidan and I came here for an investigation.” while he gestured, the half-Annfyn maintained a friendly smile on his lips. “Who are you?”

@Alhon

 

[Rian Auriol]

Rian was prepared for most things, but when the newcomer’s hands began to sign he was genuinely thrown.

For a moment, he readied to strike. As a sign caster himself, he knew the power hand motions could bring to bear and half expected an attack. When none came, he realised he was dealing with something far more ordinary.

The man was not signing the Force, but language. Rian did not know sign language himself, but he had spent years learning to work and interpret the Force through hand movements. He concentrated hard, following the man’s meaning even if it would take him some time to interpret it completely.

”Jedi Elidan…?” He said, cocking his head and wondering if he had that right. “Investigation?”.

Rian lowered his guard. He had a sense the man was indeed a Jedi. “I don’t know what exactly you’re investigating Jedi Elidan“ he said evenly “but I am Jedi Knight Rian Auriol. I am here for the sole purpose of purifying this place. You need not concern yourself with it”.

@LouJoVi

 

[Elidan]

Elidan nodded at the man, confirming what he had said. The half-Sephi also felt relieved that the man had understood his sign language. It means that the interactions between them would be easier. The use of a datapad was really annoying when you were in a rush, which was what usually happened during missions.

What the other Jedi said made Elidan frown. Purify this place? It was obvious that there was a dark presence in the tower. The half-Annfyn had felt it when he arrived, a lingering shadow that was clinging to this tower. He was pretty sure that it was something that remained from Raze’s attack.

However, what confused the half-Annfyn was the fact that Rian wanted to purify this place alone.

“I was investigating a series of disappearances. All the clues that I discovered brought me here.” he signed, leaving clear to Rian the reasons why he was there. “People had been taken from the streets and even from their houses. If the kidnapper is here, then this place concerns me, too.” Elidan had promised that he would stop these kidnappings and find the people that disappeared.

He wasn’t going to back down from this promise.

“Maybe we can help each other?” he was sure that two Jedi could do more than only one. “I can help you purify the place and you help me with the investigation.”

@Alhon

 

[Rian Auriol]

Rian considered in silence for a long time. He had walked a solitary path for a very long time and his first instinct was to carry on. Other people created difficulties and ties that could stand in the way of the crusade. They were an unnecessary complication.

Yet, he could not deny that a fellow Jedi could be of help. Rian did not yet have complete mastery over the Force and even then there were enemies and demons that would truly test his mettle. Perhaps he should not turn aside help that had presented itself. It could be divine providence.

”If this place is still home to the demon’s children” he answered “then I doubt they would keep captives”. It was unlikely that any remaining exalted had taken to kidnapping. “I will accept your help” he decided, subconsciously motioning something resembling the words “but know that this place may be deadly. We must each be vigilant”.

The Sacred Circle taught that all living things had a role in the universe, but Jedi Elidan’s purpose remained to be seen. Rian could only hope the Circle were right.

Turning back towards the starport entrance, he flayed his fingers, creating a ball of light to guide their way and made his way into the darkness.

@LouJoVi

 

[Elidan]

Elidan once again tilted his head, feeling amused by the way that Rian talked. It reminded the half-Annfyn from some priests that he stumbled upon during an investigation that he did in Pantora. They were a group of missionaries from some type of temple and talked about demons and the impending end of the universe.

He wondered if his newly found colleague would soon start to proclaim the end of the world and that the stars would be exploding in the next few years, with Elidan needing to repent of his sins as soon as possible if he wanted to save his soul. The half-Annfyn would need to tell him that the Force didn’t work this way.
The half-Annfyn smiled with this thought. It would be hilarious, but since the other was a trained Jedi, he would know how the Force worked.

“Even if they are dead, their families deserve to know what happened.” he had seen they were desperate to know what happened with their loved ones, and had felt their pain through the Force. Elidan wasn’t going to leave them without answers, even if he needed to enter this tower. Even if Rian had refused his help, the half-Annfyn would have entered here alone.

With this agreement, Elidan followed Rian inside the tower. Even with the other Jedi being able to create some light, the darkness around them was oppressive and seemed to be prepared to swallow the two. “Do you know where you are going to start the purification?” the half-Annfyn was curious to know how he would proceed with his mission. "I have the feeling that I'll find the clues about the disappearing here."

@Alhon

 

[Rian Auriol]

Elidan it seemed was concerned with the families of the dead. That was kind, perhaps even noble, but Rian doubted walking this tower would aid them one bit. Their sons and daughters were dead. No amount of combing dark places would bring them back.

"The exalted do not keep prisoners" he said sternly "if you hope for survivors, you are wasting your time". Life was paramount, but the only life they would find here would be that twisted by the Dark. Surely Elidan had to see there were larger concernes.

Rian immersed himself in thought and feeling as they made their way through the initial corridors, centering himself as his ball of light guided them forward. Unexpected as he was, Elidan was at least less of a nuisance than most. He never spoke to cut the silence or break Rian's concentration, though the trade off was the Knight had to glance at his counterpart periodically lest he wish to communicate.

The other Jedi's question was interesting. "Sometimes we walk the path without knowing its waypoints" he answered "but I intend to begin by purging this place of any remaining demons". He briefly looked his fellow Jedi up and down, noting he appeared reasonably able, but hoping he was not as naive in combat as he was in his hopes.

"Why do you not speak aloud?" Rian asked. It was perhaps a personal question, yet one that genuinely intrigued the monastic Jedi.

@LouJoVi

 

[Elidan]

Elidan raised an eyebrow at Rian’s answer. The human sounded so hopeless and certain of the facts. The half-Annfyn wasn’t a fool, he knew that the chance of the people being alive was minimal. However, he wasn’t going to proclaim this to everyone to hear, preferring to cling to some hope and positive thought.

Not that he would really talk to anyone. The simple thought of doing it left him nervous.

He followed Rian inside the darkness of the tower and immediately felt the atmosphere surrounding them become more oppressive. This place had been tainted by the Dark Side. If he had any doubt of it before, it all vanished now. The ball of light that the other Knight had made seemed to barely illuminate their path.

The half-Annfyn analyzed Rian’s answer. Then he was going to hunt the exalted alone. This made Elidan think that the man was suicidal. From what he had heard, it was necessary for more than one Jedi to deal with these creatures. He was starting to think that the Knight was a bit arrogant to think that he was capable of doing it without helping.

And with little social abilities. Elidan thought, after Rian asked about his talking abilities. The last person that asked it from him was a Padawan. “I’m mute. I thought that the sign language made it obvious.” he wasn’t in the mood to give the circumstances regarding his mutism and that it was psychological. Or that the Sith were involved on it.

Since he did a tactless question, Elidan decided to do the same. “Why do you talk like a Holonet preacher?”

@Alhon