Ask Ajan Kloss New Beginnings

[Daniel Rose]

Ajan Kloss​

Daniel strolled through his new home, tracing his fingers through the intricate stonework of the library on Ajan Kloss. His footsteps echoed through the long halls, distant chatter winging its way to his ears and just as soon as it arrived, it fluttered away. Outside, birds chirped happing and the breeze swept softly through the leaves of trees taller than any he had ever seen before. Wow.... He couldn't believe he was finally here, with the Order, after searching for so long for a place he could call home, with people he was proud to call his family. It almost made him tear up with emotion at the thought of it all.

Daniel, only a young Padawan, still had a long way to go however. This was only the beginning of a journey that would last him a lifetime.

Just a few minutes ago, he had been gifted his robes, tan in colour, by an elder Jedi. As soon as he donned the fabric, Daniel felt a little ridiculous. Nobody in their right mind would possibly wear these in public - they were hideous!. If this, however, was the tradeoff he had to make for this life, then he might be able to just about get through alright... just maybe.

Right. Now, where do we begin with this Jedi training I've heard all about...

@Nor'baal

 

[Theoccus Bilcus]

Ajan Kloss was one of the favourite places of the aged Jedi Knight, Theoccus. A proud library, filled in the deep and storied knowledge of the Galaxy (and a fair amount regarding the Jedi to boot), it was the ideal center of learning for one so inclined to such a pursuit. He had been here now for months, the blessed solitude that some of the Klossian hermitages afforded allowing him to study uninterrupted. That was however, until he had received the ‘memo’ that he was to train, in the basics at least, a newcomer to the Order.

Theoccus watched the young Jedi, in his ever so slightly oversized robes, peering his way through the Library, looking at the wealth of knowledge it possessed, and seeming, understandably, overwhelmed by the knowledge within it. I was young once, he mused to himself smiling slightly as he recognised the passion that burned in the young mans eyes.

Quickly, he stuffed the paper note handed him by another member some moments past, and walked down to see the man, emerging from behind a bookshelf, plucking out a tomb containing on its cover, the words of the Jedi Code. He walked with the seemed aid of a staff, and leaned on it as he emerged behind the Padawan.

“Fascinating isn’t it?” he began “It is like walking through history, every time you read a page you uncover more of its mysteries.” he continued, tapping closer to the young man, pausing a respectable distance away before saying “But, to begin with, plumbing through the mysteries of the Galaxy, that is not why you are here. My name, is Theoccus Bilcus.” he inclined his head in greeting “You will call me Master Bilcus. Tell me, before we commence - who are you?”

 

[Daniel Rose]

Daniel traced his fingers across the silver embossed letters on the tattered cover of the book. ”The Jedi Code…” he muttered to himself. Well. I better get used to it, I guess…

The old Jedi startled him as he spoke, but it was clear to the young lad that this was not intentional – Daniel could see compassion flowing through his soul, as he stared into the deep blue eyes of his new Master. This man’s experience was as thorough and deep as an ocean, whereas Daniel’s was a narrow brook weaving its way through a humble wood.

Daniel outstretched an arm with a kind-hearted smile etched onto his face (inside, he was a little kid again and couldn’t contain his excitement, however he felt like a good first impression was necessary, and so opted for a more restrained look), being careful to take note of the cane in his hand and offered the more… appropriate of his own two.

”I’m Daniel Rose. It’s a pleasure to meet you Master Bilcus.”

The inexperienced boy felt he should bow or something of the sort, but left the thought to one side – he didn’t want to come off too weird on the first day, after all.

The mysteries of the galaxy, as his new-found friend called them, would have to wait for another time, it seemed.

@Nor'baal

 

[Maxims Tionson]

One thing Max had not missed about training was this damned planet.

He was going to break out into a rash he just knew it. The planet was hot, humid and entire irritating as an environment. A great place to learn patience but he still would have preferred to have not come back for some time. As it was, he was here to pick up some more supplies and had come at a lovely time it seemed.

"Bilcus." he called out to a Jedi Knight he recognized from his own time training on the planet, raising his hand in polite greeting before noticing he was not alone with the old man, "I hope I'm not interrupting."

He nodded to the young man.

"Max; pleasure to meet you young man." He smiled wide, "Wait... don't tell me... these are you first steps, right?"

@Nor'baal @Stratus

 

[Daniel Rose]

Peering beyond Master Bilcus, Daniel noticed another figure approaching down the hall. This one, however, was much lankier than Bilcus, and certainly walked much quicker due to a distinct lack of cane.

Sweat began to bead on his own forehead from the intense heat and humidity of the Outer Rim planet, and the robes he had been given were starting to itch and were making his feet begin to ache from the sheer weight of them.

Daniel turned his head more prominently towards the newcomer and smiled wider, acknowledging his arrival. “I’m Daniel and yes, these are my… ‘first steps’, as you so eloquently put it” he placed a hand on his chest and chuckled softly to himself as he spoke, “how could you tell, may I ask?”

 

[Maxims Tionson]

Max noted the way the younger man was sweating already and, although he was not exactly comfortable himself, Max was still relatively sweat-free. It was a small application of the Force that was known as Force Sustenance. While the technique was usually seen as a way to control breathing or avoid needing to eat or drink, it was also useful in regulating and controlling ones body to a much greater degree than willpower alone.

It could accomplish things that would usually require equipment to otherwise do.

Such as help a human body adjust to the environment of a planet to which it was not accustomed.

"The sweat." he admitted with a small chuckle before explaining, "Most people who have been here for some time learn how to use the Force to regulate their body; to adapt, in some small ways, to the jungle. Less need to sweat is one of them as you can help push your body into acclimatizing to it's surroundings better."

Moving closer, Max held out a hand for Daniel to shake.

"Take my hand and feel what I'm doing with the Force - it's not much, it's still hot and it's still humid for me but, ah, less so than for you I'd say."

@Stratus

 

[Daniel Rose]

Daniel listened intently as the Knight spoke, making careful mental notes on what he was saying. He once again extended his arm, this time to meet his companion’s and as one hand clasped the other, he felt a wave of energy flow through and over him like water, much like the first time he felt a connection with the force. For the first time since arriving on Ajan Kloss, the climate felt ever so slightly more bearable. Daniel finally let his beaming grin shine through – he simply couldn’t contain his excitement and wonder for the force any longer.

”Wow…” was the only comprehensible sound that his mouth managed to produce for a few moments. He plucked himself from Max’s grasp and took a step back from the two older Jedi. ”That was… incredible! Thank you so much”, he sighed.

Force Sustenance, huh? That’s one to read about later…

”Right, so, um. My training? I simply cannot wait to begin. I’ve dreamt all about it since I discovered my connection to the force and even if it’s only a fraction as good as I think it’s going to be, then I already know it’s going to be the experience of a lifetime” he rambled, sweat once again beginning to show on his forehead.

@Nor'baal @Nefieslab

 

[Theoccus Bilcus]

He was keen, there was no denying that, and - partially at least - it was refreshing for the older Knight to see once again, the joys of the young. However, as he had been taught, so to would this newcomer. One may be unwilling to wait to get to training, but the Padawan would soon have to learn the value of patience, for the mysteries of the force did not come unbidden.

“You will need to wait,” he cut through the Padawans optimism like a knife through butter “In order to call the force to you, a Jedi must first learn control, and to learn such things, one must understand the code that guides this Order, so that in times of unrest - and trust me, there will be such times, when you least expect and need them - we may remain in control, and not wander from the light.” gently, he gestured for the Padawan to open the book, entitled The Jedi Code.

It was a hefty volume, covering on its first page the Code itself, written in Ink (very old fashioned by all accounts) and as if in prose. The remaining few hundred pages consisted of the works of an old Jedi scholar, who, in Theoccus’ opinion, waxed somewhat lyrical about what each line meant, alone and together, in great and homeric verse.

He did not expect the Padawan to read it all.

But it would be jolly funny if he did.

Theoccus had done so when he was a Padawan. Absent the exact instruction of what to read by his own master, he had spent weeks plumbing over the ‘sacred text’, and had applied an almost Theological understanding of its meaning when his Master had asked him the self-same question he would now ask the Padawan.

“Tell me, what does the Code mean?”

Much like his own master had done, as their training together went on, he would ask the same question. And, no doubt, each and every time, the answer would be different. His question posed, he gestured for the others to follow him, and began to walk the length of the room, to the world outside.

 

[Daniel Rose]

Daniel took a deep breath as Master Bilcus spoke and regained his composure. He was right; he would need to learn to wait, to have patience if he was going to succeed and grow in the Jedi Order. The words his new master was saying were starting to make sense: to remain a true Jedi, you must exercise control over your mind and stay true to the code. Easier said than done, I’m guessing…, he mused.

”I’m sorry, Master. I got ahead of myself.”

Following Master Bilcus’ directions, Daniel opened the heavy book, which he suspected gained most of its weight from the dust that had collected on its covers. He read aloud the small writing that had been etched in ink onto the haggard page:

"Emotion, yet peace.
Ignorance, yet knowledge.
Passion, yet serenity.
Chaos, yet harmony.
Death, yet the Force."​

Daniel levelled his head and thought for a short moment, considering the words scrawled before him. There were a million different things the code could mean; it would mean a different thing to each who abided by it, he just had to try to find what it meant to him deep down. ”The code… the code suggests that the foundation of the universe is the Force. Everything, no matter how big, small, complex, simple, delicate or tough, is governed by the rules of the Force. There can be no life without it, yet also, with life comes death through the Force.”

The trio walked outside, into the natural light mottled by huge leaves and small branches alike. The humidity was much stronger out here, but the heat was marginally different. Regardless, he still wished he had a strong enough grasp of the Force to cool himself, as Max was.

@Nor'baal @Nefieslab

 

[Maxims Tionson]

Seemed that the old man wanted to take this kind of thing into a more structured and methodical kind of path. He could appreciate that so he wasn't going to interrupt the lesson but he was going to help add his own spin on it. Because what would he be if not a right pain as a teacher?

Humming slightly as they walked deeper into the undergrowth, Max didn't interrupt the lesson at all as he continued to lead the way through the jungle to somewhere he remembered from his own training.

They approached a gorge with only a fallen tree trunk as the way to cross the gorge. Rather than using the Force to interrupt such a serene walk, Max instead went first and started walking along the trunk. As he reached the other side however he reached out with the Force and called a small rock to his hand.

"Stand in the middle of the trunk." he instructed Daniel, "And tell us about the relationship between a Jedi and the Force. And do not, for any reason, stop."

Once Daniel got started, Max would simply pull his arm back and throw the rock right into Daniel's gut. He collected another.

"Keep going."

@Nor'baal @Stratus

 

[Theoccus Bilcus]

As the group stepped outside, it was becoming obvious that Master Bilcus and Master Tionson had rather different styles of training, however, in difference there was learning, no? Bilcus said nothing as the enthusiastic Padawan gave his interpretation of the Jedi Code, watching and waiting as Max walked over the trunk, and stepping to one side if the Padawan would go to stand in the middle of it.

Unable to help himself, he would wait for the Padawan to face Max, therefore facing away from Theoccus, and gently reach out with the force, applying a minute amount of preassure to the tree upon which the Padawan should be standing, and wobbling it, just ever-so-slightly.

 

[Daniel Rose]

Daniel followed Max’s instructions and went to stand in the middle of the fallen tree trunk.

He was, however suspicious about how easy things were going so far, so he kept a wary eye on Max as he began speaking about the Jedi. ”A Jedi relies on the Force for their power don’t they?”. A small rock struck Daniel’s abdomen, unexpectedly thrown by Max, presumably in an effort to put him off, make him lose his focus. Daniel was not in the mood to disappoint. He smirked as he quickly recovered from the “attack”. ”The Jedi have been the guardians of the Light Side of the Force for millennia. Without the Jedi and the Light, the galaxy would be plunged into darkness, out of balance.” He awaited his next attack confidently.

@Nor'baal @Nefieslab

 

[Maxims Tionson]

It seemed as though the young man had caught onto his little plan rather quickly! Max could appreciate that and let it show on his face as he smiled freely and brightly - even as he threw another stone at Daniel's left shoulder.

"For power?"

His smile dimmed a little bit at that answer.

"Do you truly believe that the Jedi use the Force for power?" he urged the young man, "I'm sure Knight Bilcus would agree that seems far from how we, personally, use the Force so perhaps you would like to expand on your answer?"

Which was basically Max attempting to give the young man a chance to realize why his answer was incorrect. Perhaps it was nothing more than incorrect wording but it could be a simple misunderstanding that could spiral into something far, far, worse if it was not corrected now.

Small mistakes, small errors in judgement this early on in the journey were pebbles.

In years time that pebble could derail everything.

 

[Theoccus Bilcus]

It was hardly uncommon for Padawans to to already have a present idea of the Jedi in their minds when they joined the Order. Holos and history books had seen to that already. There tended to be a somewhat monochromatic view of the force in all new recruits, and - to be fair - a good number of Knights as well. Yet, Theoccus would be a bad teacher if he scorned a Padawan for answering a question, and a worse tutor if he did not seek to educate a more informed answer in future.

"Nobody must rely on the force for power Padawan, for that way lies temptation. Power is an addiction, and once sampled, can rapidly lead to the desire for more, and more and more. Like a great many addictions, to much of the substance leads to ruin. However, unlike the spice addicts, a force addict can do unfathomable galactic harm, at the merest click of their fingers."

He paused for a while as Max continued to yeet* rocks and pebbles at the Padawan.

"It is interesting you refer to the Galaxy being plunged into darkness, out of balance. Balance is the equal measure of things, cancelling each other out to provide stability, to give balance to that which is serves. Two wieghts provide balance to a structure, so why is this different from the force? Without the Dark there can be nothing to balance the Light, and without the Light there can be nothing to balance the Dark. We guard the light not to have supremacy or power over it, or over the Force itself, but to be a part of the balance. So, Padawan, how can one guard the light, if one seeks to use it for the pursuit of power?"

*official Jedi term