All Ends are Beginnings

Shalken

Unraveler of Mysteries
SWRP Supporter
SWRP Writer
Joined
Jan 28, 2016
Messages
1,387
Reaction score
1,077
ling-xiang-7.jpg

Obroa-skai
theme

Pulling an arm up in front of his face, Shalken fought against the ferociously bitter wind and snow. He heaved heavily from exertion as he trudged slowly through the knee-deep snow, breath crystallizing as soon as it left his mouth. Blinking the snowflakes off his eyelashes, he wiped away at the frost that had gathered on his datapad. It should be around here somewhere...

Before setting out from the Dantooine stronghold, Shalken had packed many of his belongings into a sack and done some research on the Justicars. While he knew that his brother was off training with his friend Orrin to become a Justicar, this was not always typical, and Shalken did not know any Jedi like Orrin to offer him the same degree of attention. As such, he looked up the known gathering-places of the current Justicars. One clan that caught his eye, the 'Ironwood Guard', had set up a small base of operations on the cold planet of Obroa-skai. Though he had copied this information into his datapad, Shalken was beginning to worry that it was either outdated or entirely false.

Scaling a steep, snow-covered hill, the Jedi was once again thankful for his new set of armour he'd acquired from his friend Mathias. It was vastly warmer than his old gear which he'd worn defending the Chancellor. He had clipped his old cape to it as well, but was now starting to regret this decision; the flowing, silky garment was no match for the harsh winds, and threatened to pull Shalken right off his feet. Peering through the blizzard once again, he could see the dark recesses of a cave in the rocks up above him.

tumblr_nf1v83pqq91qhttpto4_1280.jpg
Little by little, he began his ascent up the mountain. Shalken thought that he had faced the brunt of the storm before, but he was completely unprepared for what was to come. On the side of the rocky face, he was entirely exposed to the full force of the wind. When he was about halfway up, his cape got caught in a particularly powerful blast, and he would have been dislodged and plummeted to his death had he not unclasped the linen from his shoulders. Watching it blow away into the distance, Shalken sighed. A sign that I must begin my training anew, perhaps. Looking up, he pressed on.

Finally reaching the top and hauling himself onto solid ground, he lay there for several moments, breathing heavily. However, he was not allowed to rest long; he was interrupted by a sudden ferocious growl coming from the cave's entrance. Scrambling to his feet, Shalken extended his hands cautiously as his eyes were greeted by a massive, off-white wolf. While he had seen many ferocious creatures in his lifetime, he'd never encountered a beast that was quite as intimidating. Pacing back and forth, the dire wolf snarled viciously, and Shalken fully expected it to lunge at him. When it did not, the Jedi reached out his mind to try and soothe the beast. Expecting a soft and malleable consciousness, Shalken was shocked to instead encounter a massive mental wall of primal instinct and feral willpower. He began to doubt his journey; were the archives wrong after all, and this was merely a wolves' den? Was it all in vain, in the end?

"Drem, Fenar!"

The wolf's low rumbling vanished and its snarl disappeared, though it held its ground at the entrance. Behind it, an orange glow appeared from inside the cavern as a man with a torch tread out to the cave's mouth. He was garbed in thick leathers and plates of armour, and over his shoulders was draped a large, fur cape. The man was old, his features burdened with the passing of time; and yet, behind his grey eyes gleamed a certain wisdom and understanding. "You have come far, brother. What business do you have with the Ironwood Guard?" Clearing his throat, Shalken spoke after what felt like an eternity. "I have come to learn the ways of the Justicar."

Looking Shalken up and down, his gaze rested on the Master's eyes, pausing for several moments. "I see. Come, I will lead you inside." Edging his way towards the stranger, Shalken tried to keep a safe distance away from the wolf. Noticing his hesitance, the man chuckled lightly. "Fenar will not harm you; he is well-trained, and I have commanded him so." Reassured, Shalken stepped into the cave, and followed the strange cloaked man into the cavern's inky darkness below.



Though this thread is open, it is death-disabled as its primary purpose is for progressing the story of my character Shalken. It is open to anyone that would have any reasonable excuse to be on a dreadfully cold planet in Republic space and at a hidden location inhabited by Jedi Justicars.
 
Last edited:

Shalken

Unraveler of Mysteries
SWRP Supporter
SWRP Writer
Joined
Jan 28, 2016
Messages
1,387
Reaction score
1,077
Descending deeper into the cavern, Shalken noticed his breath was no longer crystallizing as the air was becoming much warmer around him. After what seemed like hours, the tunnel widened into a sort of 'courtyard'. Scattered about were various crates, racks of meat, fur pelts, and supplies. In its center sat a large, roaring fire, and gathered around it were several rugged-looking Jedi in clothing similar to the man that had greeted Shalken.

Placing the torch in a sconce on the wall, the figure called out, Brothers and sisters, we have young blood in our midst! Join me in welcoming into our fold, ..." He then gestured to Shalken. Stepping forward, he suddenly felt very inexperienced in the face of all these people. Sure, he had been in the Army all his life, but what did he truly know? "Master Shalken Tanari."

Surprised murmurs and whispers spread throughout the group as his name was revealed. Even the man that had escorted him in seemed taken aback. Strangely enough, though Shalken had experienced this reaction nearly a million times before, this was different. He felt like he was vastly more important simply because he shared the same blood as his brother Vosrik, whose reign was practically legendary. But what had Shalken done in comparison? He had stood around, defending the Chancellor from an enemy that never came.

The man beside him then continued after the initial shock had subsided, "And who will take this pup under their wing and train him in the ways of the Justicar?" Shalken's heart plummeted when none of those gathered volunteered. Though only a few moments of silence passed, they seemed an eternity to the anxious Master. Finally, one of them spoke up. "With all due respect, you would be the most suited to do so." The others nodded in assent.

Seeing that they were all in agreement, the man clasped Shalken's shoulders firmly. "Ah, how the tides of fate turn. So be it; I, Vanguard-Justicar Brom Alariksen, will train you, Master Shalken Tanari. Come, we will begin right away - there is much for you to learn." The other Jedi clapped and cheered as the two headed off into another tunnel leading away from the main courtyard.
 

Shalken

Unraveler of Mysteries
SWRP Supporter
SWRP Writer
Joined
Jan 28, 2016
Messages
1,387
Reaction score
1,077
As Shalken followed behind his new mentor, he realized an odd feeling come over him. It had been many years since he had passed the Trials under Valdrek Sarco's tutelage — even having attained the rank of Master. He had not felt what it was like to have a mentor in a very long time. And yet, despite his nervousness, he was also excited at the prospect; Shalken truly did feel that there was much he had to learn. "Where will we begin? Archery? Wilderness survival? Perhaps a new form of lightsaber combat?" As they neared another opening in the cave, Brom chuckled deeply. "No, young blood. You must refine your ability to train yourself. They key to true mastery is understanding that the teacher always remains the learner, and that is something you must take to heart. As such, I have decided that you, too, must become a mentor of sorts in order to properly begin your own training."

Shalken became very agitated when he heard Brom's intentions. Me, a mentor? That's obsurd! I can't possibly train a padawan while he's teaching me! But once their torches lit up the room, understanding dawned upon him. Before the two, lying on the cavern floor, lay a massive Arkanian Tundra Wolf, surrounded by her litter of puppies. Shalken forced himself to resist the nigh-overwhelming urge to bend down and embrace them all at once in one big, fuzzy hug. Brom smiled. "The timing of your arrival was most coincidental: this mother has finished nursing her pups, and are prepared to begin eating solid food. Feel them all through the Force, and choose one suitable for yourself." Kneeling down, Shalken extended a hand towards the litter, shutting his eyes and focusing his metaphysical senses on the puppies before him. They were vastly different than the people he was accustomed to sensing around the Chancellor — while they were not quite as intelligent as humans or other sentient beings, they contained a deep, inner cunning and instinct that amazed the Jedi Master. Upon closer examination, he discovered that they all had their own unique presences, 'personalities' even. The mother and the pups were easy to differentiate: she was caring, mature, and level-headed, while they were scrambled, playful, and inquisitive. Distinguishing each and every one of them proved to be more difficult than he first anticipated. Another being suddenly entered into his field of senses, and he involuntarily flinched. It was the same wolf that had greeted him at the door, Fenar, and while he exuded the same indomitable willpower as before, Shalken also detected in him an aura of care and protection for the puppies. He must be the father. Still engaged in his conundrum, Shalken noticed one of the puppies split away from the rest of the group that were playing together. It had seen Fenir, and instantly tumbled over to its father and began jumping all over him, much to the larger wolf's exasperation. Grinning, Shalken withdrew from his trance. He had found the one.

Opening his eyes, he pointed at the puppy that was prancing about the legs of Fenir. "That one." Approaching the direwolf, Brom murmured reassuringly as he gently grasped the puppy by the nape. Walking over to a little alcove away from the litter, the elderly Justicar motioned to a spot on the floor. "Sit, young Master; you have a task to fulfill." Doing as he was instructed, Brom placed the puppy in between Shalken's legs. "The Arkanian Tundra Wolf is among the most difficult creatures in the Galaxy to train, and they must be done so from a young age. In order to smoothen this process, you must make a Force bond with your pup." He then stepped away a short distance. Focusing his attention on the puppy that was now nosing and trying to lick his face, Shalken felt at a loss. "What must I do? I have never created a Force-bond before." Glancing back, Alarikson replied, "I believe it is not much unlike the bond you share with your brother, Vosrik. You must bare your full nature to the wolf, and once you have done so, it will do the same for you."

Taking a deep breath, Shalken again immersed himself into the flowing energies of the Force, directing his attention to the wolf pup. Not expecting it to react, he was surprised when it calmed down, sitting upright in his lap. The Jedi took a deep breath before he began. This will be no easy task...but I'm ready. Slowly but surely, he opened up his inner self, revealing everything about his true nature to the inquisitive creature that sat before him. When he was complete, he was amazed to feel it do the same, and was surprised at the depth of the wolf's intelligence. When it was complete, a single word was burned across his mind.

Vaskr.

Shalken opened his eyes to find the wolf pup staring deeply into his. Smiling, he rubbed its head and ears affectionately. "Vaskr, is it? So be it. Vaskr you shall be."


Finis
 
Last edited:
Top