Ask Tython Delving Through History

[Zathria]

Per my new OP template, thread is death enabled. Open to one other person, preferably a Jedi who can post regularly!​

Zathria hadn't spent a lot of time on Tython, but it was still a Jedi world despite its location. It had a long history in the Order and had seen more battles and death that even rivaled the Sith Twin Worlds. Of course, those battles had mostly been at the hands of the Sith, but that wasn't relevant.

Zathria had come here with the goal of finding an old stash of Jedi artifacts mentioned in an old record she'd found buried deep in the Jedi archives. Frankly, it was just an accident that she'd stumbled upon it.

But being the opportunist that she was, she hadn't simply let it slide. She had decided to try to track down the items and bring them back to the Jedi. If she could get a little tool to help herself out in the future, that wouldn't be the worst thing either.

Her ship had set down amidst the ruins of an old building - perhaps a satellite temple - and she descended the ramp to take a deep breath of the planet's fresh air. This side of the half-destroyed planet was still nice despite the destruction the Sith had caused a millennia ago.

Time to see what this old temple had in store.

 

[Felix]

Typhon, a place steeped in jedi and history like so many of them it was a ruin, Felix had spent quite a bit of his apprenticeship with his master studying history and its ruins, given it was indy's expertise. it brought back a sense of nostalgia for him and some fond memories.

As to why he was here, even Felix didn't fully know, searching for answers is probably the best he could say. his mind shook from his thoughts as the loud hum of ship engines flew above him. he would approach the newer comes landing site, they could be a jedi but given its near abandoned status could be a smuggler taking jedi artefacts or an established drop point. watching the person descend the ship it was clear to him that by how they held themself they were no smuggler.

"I didn't expect to see another face on this planet" he called out to the stranger as he approached from the ruins, in his combat robes, unfortunately with the state of the galaxy they had become his primary robes.

@Phoenix

 

[Zathria]

Zathria's head tilted to the side as she heard and saw someone else approaching. That was... unexpected. She wasn't the type to just draw her weapon out without reason, but she was uncertain whether she was comfortable around whoever this was. For all she knew, this was some Republic trooper out here waiting to arrest any Jedi who set foot here for trespassing. Or a Sith waiting to ambush her.

Yeah, that was all pretty unlikely. She knew that Jedi still frequented this world with settled locations on the other side of the planet, so, common things being common, she had to assume that was who he was.

She waved a hand in greeting as she slid over some rocks, landing on the other side and making her way down to where the stranger was.

Neither did I, she said. Zathria, she offered her name. The lightsaber on her belt pretty much declared what she was and she wasn't really trying to hide it.

What brings you out this way? she asked.

 

[Felix]

"Felix" he promptly replied after she gave her name, she was clearly a jedi with a lightsaber on her belt, he didn't know if she knew of his past as padawan, sometimes it felt like everyone knew about what happened on Denon especially those that were padawans at the time.

"what brings me out here?" He took a pause to fully consider it, "guess I'm looking for wisdom or some sort of direction, might be the wrong place for it though." that was about as honest as he could get.

"How about you? what brings you here?" given Typhon's historical importance she was probably a historian or a researcher out here to find something here relating to the Jedi's past or uncover and recover artefacts.

@Phoenix

 

[Zathria]

If Zathria knew about his history, it didn't seem to show on her face at all. Truth was that the last several years for her had been spent not particularly close to the Order. She'd focused much of her efforts in organizing mercy operations in the galaxy and had only recently returned to a more active role within the Jedi itself.

Nice to meet you! she said. As he mentioned looking for wisdom and direction, she was... well, she probably shouldn't have been caught off guard, but she was. It wasn't like she had never done similar things in following the Force, but Tython seemed a strange place to her to do it.

'Fraid I'm not doing anything quite so abstract, she said, with a smile and chuckle. I found some old records in the archives that suggested there may have been some artifacts out here created during the war with the last Sith Empire, she said, motioning toward the ruins and starting to take some steps toward them.

I'm trying to see if I can find any evidence and maybe recover them, she said. Truthfully, Jedi artifacts seemed rare with many Jedi historically not endorsing personal property, but back before the last Sith Empire, things had been a bit different as they were now. It wasn't greed that drove Zathria by any means, but she'd be lying if she said she didn't hope to find something she could keep or that could benefit her in her work.

 

[Felix]

Felix chuckled with her he knew his reasoning for being here was unusual but the force works in mysterious ways and could be it guided him here to meet Zathria. could be was a winding path, not one he should go down.

He listened intently, his hands resting on his belt, "hmm, Created during last with sith empire? that means they would be over 1000 years old at least." He pondered for a moment at their chances of finding such items, it was unlikely unless they were somehow hidden from others or locked away in a vault that only a jedi could open it.

"If you want some assistance I would be glad to help, wouldn't be my first time looking for relics of the past, thanks to my master." The prospect of finding some sort of important artefact was always exciting, he remembered wanting to discover something very expedition but he was usually left with disappointment, perhaps this would be different.

if she accepted he would ask "so what did the archives mention? Any clues as to where we would find these artefacts?" he would follow Zathria as she took steps towards the ruins.

 

[Zathria]

Zathria knew it could all lead to nothing, but she was pretty sure she'd kick herself if she didn't come out here and try. She could just imagine Jedi over the years saying "oh well, it's not going to be there anymore, I'm not going to check" for about 1000 years.

Sure, come on! she said, motioning down into the ridge below and dropping down. The water was dripping from above and she wondered where the pool emptied into. From what she could tell, it had to have an outlet as it didn't look like eternally stagnant water and it hadn't overflowed with the constant run off.

It was a little sparse, she said. Supposedly this was an offshoot temple. A satellite temple with its own independent daily activities, she said.

Anyway, when the Sith blew up half the planet, most of the people on the temple abandoned it or were killed. Master Saruvian said that no one had reportedly ever found or emptied out the vault in its basement, she said, glancing back over her shoulder and giving a shrug.

I dunno if we'll find anything, but apparently... low. Underground maybe, she said, continuing along the edge of the water and heading toward a cave on the far side. As she stepped inside, it became clear that the cave was not actually a cave but actually an old hallway into the temple that had been cut in half during the cave-in when the pond had been formed.

 

[Felix]

Felix would follow behind Zathria, dropping down with her onto the ridge with what seemed to be a pond or pool "a vault would make sense if it was deep enough could have survived a bombardment" he would comment as he continued to follow her around the edge of the water.

"Nothing ventured, nothing gained" is all he would say in response to her uncertainty that they will find anything, looking at the cave it was clearly a hallway once and it was just a runoff for the pool, the hallway was angled down slightly, clear something underneath had subsided or collapsed, the floor seemed to be covered in some form algae or pond scum.

"best be careful, don't want to sli-" before he could finish his sentence, he had done what he was about to warn about, sliding down the slick hallway, until he reached the bottom It wasn't difficult to land on his feet he wasn't travelling fast enough thanks to a slight angle. standing up with a wet ass, his grey robes tainted green from algae. it appeared he was in some sort of atrium, light casting down into the room through cracks and holes in the roof, vegetation growing towards the light.

"i am okay, only suffering from a wet arse, but I've found what seems to be an atrium" he called up to his companion.

 

[Zathria]

Zathria was carefully peering around the area, lighting her way with a small but powerful glow rod she'd brought when Felix started warning about being careful.

Mmhmm, she agreed with a nod, sweeping the beam of light around the area when suddenly he was off with a shlip sound as he slipped down the path. She tried to reach out to grab him but failed miserably, nearly losing her footing and sliding down herself.

You okay!? she shouted, sweeping the beam of light down to land on him and being relieved when she heard him call out.

Uh... right, Jedi balance and stuff, she muttered to herself as she gingerly put a foot forward and steadied herself on the rock. Juuuuuust like dueling, she muttered, moving her other foot down and sliding down the ramp as if on a skateboard.

She came sliding down - happy he had sacrificed his body so she didn't have to - and looked at the atrium area. Her mouth hung open slightly and she moved over toward pillars supporting the room. Some had fallen under the weight of time and the planet's destruction, but some still remained intact.

She ran her fingers along them and shook her head. Wow. Can you imagine this place in its prime? When it was still in active use? Packed with Jedi? she said. She honestly couldn't. Sure, the Jedi had temples today and they weren't empty, but nothing like then.

 

[Felix]

Felix cleaned and dried off his algae-covered hands on his cloak as Zathria made her way down more gracefully than he did. He glanced around the room, catching Zathria's look of wonder as she stared at the atrium they were in and made her way to a pillar. He forgot not every jedi gets a chance to go to the ruins of jedi temples, to see a glimpse of their history, one fails to appreciate the familiar.

He would follow her to the pillar "Sometimes it is hard to imagine that galaxy was once full of thousands of jedi but hopefully one day we will return to that." his eyes scanned the rest of the room looking for doorways that could possibly lead to vault, unfortunately, jedi weren't very good at signing posting directions.

"we should get looking for this vault, water likes to head to the lowest point, we should follow where that water is flowing from the pool." " it was the only reasonable suggestion could think of given that many hallways were likely collapsed and were probably inaccessible.

 

[Zathria]

Zathria couldn't help but agree with him about the state of the Jedi. They weren't terribly off now, but they certainly lacked the prestige and numbers that they had once had. It was a shame, really. For the many things that the Old Jedi Order had gotten wrong, they still had had quite an impact and done a lot of good.

Yeah, you're probably right, she said when he mentioned getting moving. They were here for a job, after all, and she couldn't be getting caught up in her own daydreaming.

Good idea, she said, thinking it seemed he knew more about what he was doing than she did. He probably should have ben running this show, but she was already starting to be glad for the company.

She followed the water as he suggested, hearing a strange squelching sound within the water like something or someone walking.

She slowed her pace, holding up a hand for him to do the same and reached for her lightsaber out of caution. She continued moving forward and actually jumped back when, from around the corner, a small bogling leapt out.

Eek! she half squealed before reaching up to cover her mouth in surprise and clearing her throat.

Um, false alarm... she said. Were she as light skinned as her traditional Echani counterparts her face probably would have been beet red by now.

 

[Felix]

She would retake the lead, he didn't mind it was her mission, he was tagging along offering advice and the company was nice. he would slow his pace with her signal his hand also drifting to his saber as she made her way forward towards the source of the noise.

The Bogling tilted its head at Zatheria and looked at Felix before scampering off up some rubble, the creature probably had never seen people before so it hadn't learned to fear them yet. Seeing her half squeal and jump back from the ferocious monster that stood in her way, Felix couldn't help but chuckle at the situation.

"my, my a jedi knight scared by such a fearsome beast but it seems it was just as scared of us" he teased her, it wasn't anything serious, with what jedi have to do sometimes, being jumpy was only natural when danger could be around any corner in your life.

"but don't be embarrassed it happens to the best of us, we can't be stoic jedi all the time." he would give her a warm smile.

 

[Zathria]

Zathria scowled at him, eyes narrowed as he teased her and she was quick to correct him!

I wasn't scared, I was surprised! she objected to his statement, though she didn't actually seem to be angry so much as just mock anger.

Besides, we have no idea what could be down here, she added. She wasn't wrong about that, but that wasn't really the point. She snickered after a moment before pressing on.

So what is it you do for the Jedi, Felix? Have any particular specialization or preferences? she asked. While not everyone had a specialization - and for that matter Zathria had moved around a lot in that regards - most at least had a preference for the kind of work they liked to do. Though, some didn't.

She pressed on as she waited and listened to his answer, reaching a lower room where she could see water flowing through a crack at the bottom corner of the room, but there was no visible door to the other side. A secret entrance to their mystery vault?

 

[Felix]

She was right about that they didn't know what could be down here, fortunately, the wildlife on the planet was mostly peaceful what predators they do have to know to stay from most humanoids but it's possible the sith left behind creatures for curious jedi that came looking to recover things.

Felix thought on her question for a second before answering, "No, not really, I guess I've always been a jack of all trades, used to think I wanted to be a combat specialist but I'm not sure it's for me, not completely anyway." he noticed she had spotted something "What have you found?" Following her sight line he spotted the crack the water was flowing, could be just a structural crack that leads to an adjacent mundane room.

Approaching it he pulled out his lightsaber but didn't activate it, he became tapping it against the wall in different he did it until the sound changed "do you hear that?" he would repeat it again hitting the wall in one place where it was solid and the other place where it was different "There something hollow behind this wall."

 

[Zathria]

Zathria thought about his answer, and she certainly couldn't fault him for it. It wasn't entirely different from her in some ways.

That's fine. Just being a "Jedi" is enough, she said. Being a true Jedi was really all any of them were called to do. If they went into something more specific, more power to them, but that was its own separate thing.

I like being a healer. I spent some time somewhat away from the Order doing that, but ultimately, came back. Now I'm serving as a Justicar. Trying to help clean up some of the issues that the Order is facing, she said. It was no secret that the Order took one step forward and two steps back, and that was largely because so many Padawans and the occasional Knight were running rampant in violation of everything the Order stood for. Someone had needed to rein it in, and she decided if not her, then who?

She watched him tap on the rock with his saber hilt, and she moved over, listening closely and nodding.

Yeah, I hear it, she said, turning to face the stone and putting her hands against it. She let the Force flow through her in an attempt to feel the very essence of existence flowing through them. She could sense the stone and the area beyond. She knew there had to be a mechanism somewhere, but she just couldn't quite... find it.

And then she felt it. A simple lock designed to only be opened by a Force-user deep within the wall. She could see it in her mind's eye and gave a tug at it.

She heard a clunk and the sound of gears and stone grinding, and she got excited, her heart leaping as she took a step back and the wall began to draw open.

I think this is it! she said excitedly. Makes sense why it was never pillaged: bandits can't open that kind of lock! she said.

 

[Felix]

This was a different experience for Felix, being the experienced one whilst watching another learn and explore with excitement, is that what his master felt when she was teaching and showing him, the ropes, this shared joy and excitement?

The hearing clunk of the door and the noise of moving gears, "I think it is, though it might not be the only safeguard they left." it was filled with important relics and artefacts then it would make sense they wouldn't wholly rely on just the door even if it was hidden.

The door opened into a stairway only about a person wide it would go down a couple of dozen meters before they encountered another door, pressing his palm to it he would do the same as Zathria, reaching out with the force and picturing the locking mechanism in his mind before activating the mechanism inside the door sliding open.

 

[Zathria]

Zathria nodded as he said there might have been more countermeasures within the temple, but they pressed on anyway. It was to be expected, honestly, and she kept her eyes open.

They descended to another door, the area down here cleaner than up above. It seemed not much by way of animals or wildlife had made it this deep, and it had an almost peaceful feel to it. Even this deep underground with tons and tons of stone overhead.

He opened the final door, and she tentatively stepped inside, looking around. She could see a variety of writings and scrolls, artifacts and even holocrons. Her mouth dropped open a bit, but before she could begin to explore, there was a whirring sound at one corner of the room.

Unauthorized entry. Biometrics not in Jedi database. Remove yourself from this vault immediately, a droid said, rising from a far corner of the room. And that, Zathria guessed, was the final defender of the vault. Designed to keep out Sith, pirates, or anyone else who shouldn't have been here.

Zathria reached down and pulled her lightsaber from her belt as it raised an electrostaff in the direction of the two Knights.

Oh great.

 

[Felix]

And here they were finally in the vault, it was full of relics and artefacts, if Indy were here she would be blown way at what was here "I'be damned, you were ri-" he didn't get to finish his words before the droid interrupted, he hated being right sometimes.

He pulled his lightsaber out activating it as well and bathing himself in its orange hue, " I’ll go at it from the front, you flank it" he spoke, they had numbers advantage they best make good use of it. He stepped forward into a soft sprint and went to engage the droid, it thrusted its electrostaff at him, and he parried it to his right before he adjusted to block the other end of the staff. he just had to keep it distracted and focused on him so zathria can get behind it.

 

[Zathria]

Zathria let out a throaty groan as the creature moved against them. Her blue lightsaber burst to life in her hand as it moved for Felix.

Copy that, she said, skirting out to the side in a smooth and swift sidestepping motion. She was graceful in all her maneuvers as she circled around, sending herself wide before swinging back around in order to strike at the guardian's side.

But the guardian was quick. Capable of defending multiple opponents at once, it slid to the opposite side of Zathria's attack, aiming to put Felix between itself and her as its staff pulled momentarily away from Felix and thrust out toward her. It continued to move, surprisingly quickly as it tried to keep itself out of the way of Felix's blade.

 

[Felix]

The droid was fast, a lot faster than he thought it would be, it seemed time hadn't rusted or degraded its servos and if it had then this droid was once a mighty fighting machine and they luck they're fighting it this condition.

"Oh no you don't" he didn't advance to follow instead he raised his hand and used the force to grip the electro staff at its centre, fighting droids movements with it, pulling and pushing in the opposite direction the droid wanted it to go, hoping to slow it down and give Zathria an open to strike the droid.