Guardians of the Whills

[Leah Reach]

More than five hundred years ago, the Guardians of the Whills were appointed as protectors of the sanctuary. They served the Jedi Order with poise and purpose. In the end, they failed. Goaded out of hiding, the Sith Empire brought down the wrath of the Dark Side. The Temple of Kyber was destroyed. In the wake of a rain of destruction stood only a stretch of rubble. Scorched stone, buried relics, charred bodies. The Jedi Order fell several years later. Cast out into the streets, the Guardians were forgotten. In spite of the tragedy, they survived. The Empire never touched Jedha again, and the Church of the Force and the Guardians could stand firm for centuries. Until the rise of the Fanged Disciples.

Remnants of the Black Hand, Dathomir refugees, cultists of the Dark Side. Allowed to thrive without the intervention of Jedi or Sith, they gathered what little remained of the Guardians of the Whills and drove them into the city outskirts. Scattered into old catacombs, ancient crypts and under the shadow of decayed Jedi statues. They were left to rot and die, much like the Jedi Order they vowed to protect centuries prior. However, the story did not end there. The Jedi survived. The last five became the new Order, and now they, Jedi Master Leah Reach most of all, returned to Jedha with hope. It was time for the Guardians to rise once more.

But how can the spark of hope catch on without kindling? The Guardians of the Whills were left bitter. Although devoted to the Jedi Order, half a millennia of isolation, solitude and persecution did not age well regardless of tradition. Some remained unwilling to reunite with their brothers and sisters in the Order. That was why Leah chose to send two rebels, men and women she trusted and believed in, to persuade the Guardians back to the cause and into the Light. There was no telling how the welcome might come. No telling if there would even be one at all. Nevertheless, Leah held onto hope, and she had the Force, and with her final words, the Force was with the other Jedi too:

“May the Force be with you.”

@Plebometer @Cazar @Malon (DM)

 

[Eisa Swan]

Coming out her meditation as the landing alert chimed throughout her quarters within the transport ship. The cyan haired teenage Jedi slowly opened her eyes, a light sigh escaping the young Jedi's lips as she released the Force energies that had been flowing through her. Whilst the Gotal Rebel and the teen's transport carried out it's approach to make landfall on Jedha, the teen opting to retreat to her chambers get one last communion with the Force in before they touched down, knowing that they were tasked with seeking out the Guardians of the Whills by Jedi Master Reach. Reaching out her arm, the teen summoned the small holocomms device and pressing gently against the flashing button, the holographic image of her mentor appeared before her, and repeating the earlier discussion to seek out the Guardians and convince them to once again rejoin the Jedi Order and the growing Galactic Alliance.

Taking a deep breath as the message concluded and the flickering hologram of the Jedi faded way, the teenage Jedi, got to her feet before stepping over towards the side table, picking up a few black elasticated fabric band and threading her fingers through the hole before proceeding to gather her brightly dyed locks of hair and splitting into three separate groups, with a well practiced movement she platted her hair into tightly formed series of buns running along the back of her head.

Reaching down, she lifted her belt from the dresser before fastening it around her waist, before retrieving her two lightsabers from atop of her bedside counter, uttering a few ancient words the teen fastened her more traditional formed lightsaber to the back of her belt before holstering her lightsaber pistol into her side arm holster. Looking over to her side, the teen narrowed her eyes as she regarded her B5 Blaster pistol, a light series of tutting sounds escaping the girls lips as she contemplated whether she should bring it along. Jedha was still technically a planet that was under Imperial Rule, as much as the planet had deeply routed history with the Jedi Order, there was perhaps too much of a risk that she may attract undue attention if she relied on her lightsabers.

With light shrug the teen picked up the blaster and holstered it, before carrying out a final visual check in the mirror, the young Jedi Padawan straightened out what had since became her formal attire, making sure she was presentable for the revered guardians. Satisfied that everything was in place, Eisa reached over her a long hooded cloak that was hung over a coat hook. Throwing the Cloak over her, the teen adjusted the folds of her cloak to ensure that her lightsaber was sufficiently concealed from prying eyes. Her attention shifted over towards her droid as it hovered above its charging dock "Come on Ditto, Time to head off" Eisa called out lightly, before pacing her way towards the door to her quarters.

Stepping out into the corridor, the teen was alone for the moment. Standing, as she waited for her droid to catch up, Eisa closed her eyes and reached out with her feelings. The Force was strong here, the currents moved with such power and vitality. But it was marred. The natural, balancing currents of the Lightside of the Force had been tainted by the Dark Side. The atrocities committed by the Sith Empire had left lasting scars that affected the way the Force flowed. That would have to be rectified.

Opening her eyes, the teen began making for the hold. Her knee-high leather leather boots tapping lightly against the metal decking as she made her way towards the boarding ramp, where she would meet Mig. Her bright emerald hued eyes looking up and down the corridor before pursing her lips in thought, a sigh escaping the teen's lips as she reflected just how stuffy the interior of the ship had become. Opting to let some fresh air in and pressing the button for the ramp to lower and the inner door to retract, Eisa took a step forward before leaning against the frame of the bulk head, taking a few deep breaths of the fresh desert air the teenager looked out of the ship, her bright emerald eyes intently observing the movements of the various being moving about.

 

[Mig Cabra]

Ever since the revelation of the Jedi Order, Mig had been excited to help them at every turn. The Gotal even discovered that some of his friends were Jedi and he had not known it. That was all quite exciting for him. Eisa was a friend from his early days in the Galactic Alliance. She was great. Mig had not seen her in a while and it seemed now was the time to catch up. To say he was nervous to see his beautiful friend though would also be fair. She was always one that caught his interest despite being a silly human. That red hair and engineering spunk was what he liked. The Gotal Engineer had to prepare himself for this meeting of separated souls.

Mig dressed up in what he considered his finest attire. He wore a silky blue robe that was slightly too small for him, mostly because he wore his Combat Engineer Armor underneath it. The entire flight had been spent licking himself to make his fur look sleek and waxed. He also spit into his hands to shine up his coned horns. Mig was looking mighty fine. At least, his mother would think so. He had hardly finished sprucing himself up for the meeting when it was time to move. Mig hurried to get off the ship and find Eisa. What he found astonished him. She must have spent just as much time preparing and making herself look pretty for Mig.

"Eisa!" Mig said, his excitement easy to note as usual in his voice. "Friend, you look rabid! Wait.. Ravid. Ravish!"

Other than his attire and robes, Mig did at least prepare himself for a mission too. He tucked his violator pistol into a pocket out of sight. His other pistol was clipped to a belt holster. The infamous PIPE and Bowcaster combo had to be left behind to avoid weird looks. He had everything else with him though to help with this adventure. The Gotal was ready to swoon not just Eisa today. The Guardians had to be convinced to join them. Hopefully the fine attire would help.

@Plebometer @Malon

 

[Eisa Swan]

Slowly turning her head as the sound of foot steps echoed out from within the ship behind her, the Cyan haired teen pulled her attention away from watching the comings and going of the many nameless faces as they went about with their lives. Her gaze raising upwards to regard the Gotal engineer as he approached, clad in a silken robe that made the young teen blink a few times, Eisa wasn't quite sure as to why, but for some reason it looked as if he was wearing a dressing gown! A raised eyebrow slowly crept upon her features as Mig greeted her, calling out her name rather excitably before initially proclaiming that she looked Rabid, before swiftly correcting himself to Ravish.

A bemused expression washed over the teen's features, blinking a few times the teen was lost for words at first, before eventually a light smile crossed her features. "Thanks Mig... I guess" Eisa responded lightly before pursing her lips in thought as she looked over the Gotal standing behind her. She could see that the older rebel had appeared to have made an effort, his matted fur was slicked back and given a glossy sheen as well as his horns appeared to have been shined up so to speak. It looked as if he had freshly bathed, well at least the teen hoped that it was the case. "Think you'll make a good impression with the Guardians" The teen before giving the Gotal a light nod.

Speaking of which, they couldn't be spending their time chatting away within the confines of the ship. They still had to seek out and make contact with the Guardians, something that would be difficult to do whilst loitering around the ship. "We better get a move on" Eisa commented as she nodded towards the star port beyond the boarding ramp. With that the teen pushed off away from leaning against the bulkhead and making her way down the boarding ramp, her hands slowly raising up to the back of her neck and drawing the hood over her head, shielding herself like so many around her from the desert sun.

Gingerly stepping down off of the boarding ramp, the hooded teen scanned over her surroundings gently reaching out into the Force to sense the various sentient beings moving around the pair. Pacing her way through the star port, the teen lead the pair out onto the wide open streets that connected the Starport to what had become a shell of what the Holy City once had been. As the two rebels drew closer into the heart of the city, she took in her surroundings with a strange air of familiarity. She knew all to well that she had never set foot on this planet, yet alone traveled near the sector. But there was a familiarity that seemed to flow through her within the Force, focusing her thoughts a little the teen narrowed down the source of the strange sensation, it was coming from the Kyber crystal that belonged to the ancient Jedi master.

As the pair entered the central hub of the city, Eisa's eyes narrowed in dismay. Surveying the sights, the walls, the streets. Everything looked as if it had fallen into complete disrepair, although the City had been subject to an orbital bombardment centuries ago. It looked as if little had really truly changed since then, although life continued to reside and grow within the ruins of the past, it appeared that the various cults and affiliates of the Darkside had done little beyond commandeer and establish their own little corner of the ruins. Focusing her mind a little more as the pair moved deeper into the City, the teen channeled the Force flowing through her to subdue her presence, being sure to avoid undue attention from the more dark orientated Force users that surrounded them.

 

[The Storyteller]

The Holy City of Jedha had changed little in the five centuries since the disappearance of the Jedi Order. The Temple of the Kyber, now vacant, and had once been the Jedi Temple, still stood proudly over the great plateau of NiJedha. But, while little had changed, the Holy City was anything but peaceful. The departure of the Jedi and the rise of the Sith had led to an influx of religious refugees from all over the galaxy. Some, despite being Force-less, clung to the Jedi religion in spite of Imperial crack downs on the practice of the Jedi faith. Others, however, were from darker traditions.

And these refugees brought with them a tension that was palpable and on display at the Old Shadows: the long outer wall of the Temple of the Kyber. The wall was named such because it never touched Jedha's sunlight, unlike the other side of the temple, which was constantly bathed in sunlight. The two sides of the temple represented the necessary balance between dark and light, and, because the Old Shadows represented the dark, those religious pilgrims that worshiped the dark side of the Force claimed it as their dominion. But that didn't keep those that still longed for the return of the Jedi from coming to pay their respects along the wall, hence the conflict.

Enter the Guardians of the Whills... or what was left of them, anyways. The Guardians had been charged with the maintaining of the temple grounds before the Jedi departed, but they were dwindling in number now and were barely able to break up the fights surrounding the Old Shadows. If the returned Jedi wanted to find them, they would first have to seek them there, where the conflicts all began. @Plebometer @Cazar

 

[Eisa Swan]

Quietly the cyan haired Jedi traversed her way through the streets of the Holy City, her bright emerald hued eyes scanning around her taking in and observing the movements of the various comings and goings of those who either have taken up residence within the ruins or made a pilgrimage to the desert moon. She could feel the eyes of many fall upon her has she made her way through the streets, though any gazes that were directed towards the teen were perhaps fleeting at best, being more than a simple curious gaze at yet another stranger that was walking through the streets. Something that was not all that uncommon with the countless faces that appear and disappear without so much of a second thought, though despite that, it was not something that the young Jedi would allow herself to become complacent over. The moon had become known for the presence of those who worshiped the darkside, and with that there were risks.

Pursing her lips in thought the cyan haired Jedi wondered just where it was that she was headed, Eisa hadn't been given any maps or directions to follow for when she got to the Holy City, baring the words provided by her mentor Master Reach. 'Just Allow the Force to guide you'. Sighing a little at the thought, she understood the sentiment behind the words, after all the Force had guided her hand through various perilous situations and had served her well. Yet despite all that and perhaps it was just her old mentality still lingering, but part of her did prefer to have a clearer understanding of what lay before her, allowing for the Force to fill the gaps as it were.

Though despite not knowing where it was that she was to be headed, the young Jedi had found herself slowing her pace down as her gaze directed skyward after rounding the corner. Her bright emerald hued eyes falling upon the near skeletal sight of what had once been the Jedi temple, a light smile curled over her lips as she took in the sight. Despite it being reduced to a ruinous shell of it's former state, it was still an impressive visage against the skyline. Slowly her hand fell into the folds of her robes, her fingers gently touching upon the hilt of her traditional lightsaber. Extending a small bead of the Force towards the heart of the weapon, feeling the sense of familiarity that resonated deep within the heart of the ancient Jedi Master's Kyber crystal. Pursing her lips in thought, the young Jedi wondered whether the ancient Jedi had once called the temple home.

Closing her eyes, the cyan haired youth paused for a moment, before her eyes widened as realisaition had sank in. She was alone! Snapping her gaze over her shoulder, her emerald hued eyes narrowed as she searched through the crowd for the Sight of the Gotal rebel that had accompanied her. Well at least she had thought that was the case that he had been a few steps behind, but she had been that lost in her thoughts and observations of the City around her she hadn't noticed that their paths had diverged. Taking a deep breath the young Jedi reached out through the Force, searching her surroundings for Mig. A light sigh escaping her lips as she could sense him back where the ship was, shaking her head in resignation she wondered just what reasoning caused him to stay at the ship without saying anything, but at least he was safe.

Eisa's attention was soon pulled off to side, as a heated exchange echoed out in the distance. Narrowing her gaze the teen looked towards the source, she could see a small group of people encircling what the teen could only assume to be what was likely to be an argument that was undoubtedly about to break out into a fight. Taking a deep breath, the teen shook her head briefly before slowly and cautiously making her way towards the gathering. Keeping her mind open to the Force and allowing it to passively flow through her senses and body, not quite knowing how things would escalate but if things went south, then she would be ready.

@Malon

 

[The Storyteller]

Theme​

A crowd was gathered on the outskirts of the temple's ancient stone walls. Elevated above the crowd was a woman draped in red robes woven from distinctive Dathomiri fabrics. Below her, and just in front of the crowd, was a bald man in what appeared to be monk's clothing. These two appeared to be the source of the argument. "—temple steps belong to the Dark, my friend," the red woman was saying. "To the Mother and the Fanged God, as well as those who would worship them. Your guardians have no place here."

The bald man took a step up. "This is the Temple of the Kyber. We, the Guardians of the Whills, have kept it safe in the absence of the Jedi. You have no claim to any stone on it. Now that the Jedi have returned, your—"

"The Jedi are no more, friend," the red woman's smile was almost jeering. "The rumors of their return are just Sith propaganda, meant to stir fear and turn public opinion against the groups who would defy them. The temple belongs to no one. But these steps, and this wall, belong to the Fanged God and to the Mother: the true manifestations of the dark."

The crowd murmured. Some in agreement, some in disagreement. But all seemed to agree the Jedi were a myth. The HoloNet reports had been so sensationalized that it was hard to believe any of it was true to the common folk in the galaxy. Most of them had never even seen a real Sith, much less a Jedi Knight, which had been gone for over five hundred years. But what they did know was that tensions were rising, and neither the red woman, nor the Guardian, were backing down. At any moment, the situation could devolve into a fight. @Plebometer

 

[Eisa Swan]

Falling into the gathered throng of onlookers the cyan haired jedi observed the exchange between the red clad female, who presumably had been preaching earlier. As she talked down towards the bald headed man who had identified himself as a guardian of the whills, the young jedi narrowed her gaze as she watched the back and forth take place between the two. Each of them proclaiming a sense of territorial ownership over the Towering temple in front of the gathered crowd, the temple itself belonging to the Jedi. Or so the man did claim, whilst the steps and the wall belong to that of the mother and the Fanged God.

A curious situation, albeit a sensitive one. Though it did make the youth wonder, just why it was that the crimson clad female and her followers had chosen to focus on just the exterior of the temple and not that of the interior. Part of her wondered into thought, musing whether the temple itself had protective measures and Force barriers in place to prevent the likes of the dark side worshipers gaining access, much like how the crypt was protected on Ellora and from what she had read about the lost temple on Lothal. Perhaps it was such measures that had allowed these Guardians the ability to keep it safe, whilst ensuring that the Dark worshipers were to be denied access into the temple.

Eisas attention did get brought to her surroundings and away from her musings as the word Jedi crossed her hearing. Though whilst the Dathomiri woman was quick to interject on the Guardian's words, the youth did raise an inquisitive eyebrow at the counter argument. The news of the Jedi were a machination of the Siths propaganda, to instill fear into those who would oppose them. Pursing her lips in thought, the young Jedi was a little bemused at the sentiment, why would the Sith make tell of the Jedi to instill fear. Was it because the legends of the Jedi had become something of a boogey man to those so far from the fire worlds. Or was it from the perspective of those that followed in the shadow of the Mother and Fanged God. Had the sith started to loose control that badly they would have to instill fear into those that Eisa figured would had been allied somewhat.

A light smile curled over the teens hidden features from within the cowl of her hood, the female preacher had been quick to state that the temple belonged to no one. Amidst the murmurs of the crowd the young figure eased her way forwards, gently coercing those standing in front of her to step aside, one in the advantages of being so short! Crowds tended to take pity on her, and allow the young female to move in front so she could see. But it wasn't for the sake of getting a better view, that Eisa was making her way through the crowd up to the front.

No it was so she could keep on moving forwards, she soon found herself ascending the stairs, slowly passing the Guardian whom she gave a quick cheerful glance and a wink from withing the depths of her hood, before directing her attention back up ahead of her. Bright emerald hued eyes fell upon the Crimson preacher, as the young cyan haired figure simply nodded to the older woman and continued to keep on moving up the stairs, passing the Dark side preacher.

Hearing the bemused mutterings from the crowd behind her, the young Jedi grinned a little. Slowing her steps down before coming to an eventual stop almost a flight above the preacher, the robed figure drew her hood back, revealing her brightly dyed cyan hued locks of hair before turning round and facing those who were staring at her. "What?" Eisa spoke out as her gaze focused on the various faces looking towards her, casting a curious facial expression over her features. "She said it her self" the youth continued as she nodded her head towards the Crimson glad female. "The temple belongs to no-one. If that's the case then I'm claiming it" she added with a slight shrug of her shoulders.

 

[The Storyteller]

The red woman seemed unfazed by the teen's display. She smiled at Eisa, spreading her harms wide, "So, claim it. Go inside. You will find nothing but ruined walls and pillaged stores."

"You are wasting your time, child," the Guardian said from below. "It is not the temple we contest, but this wall here. The Old Shadows, it is called. While the far side of the temple is constantly bathed in Jedha's sunlight, representing the Light, the Old Shadows will never see the light of the sun, representing the Dark. To the Jedi, these two symbolized balance in the Force." The bald Guardian cast a glance at the red woman. "To these... cultists, it is a place of worship. The worship of the dark side. The worship of a long-dead Dathomiri witch."

Once more the red woman smiled, first at the Guardian, then at Eisa. "For once, this man speaks truth. Or partial truth, at least. This wall belongs to our Mother, the avatar of the Fanged God, who himself is the Darkness." She took several steps up the rise until she stood evenly with the teenager. "But, one cannot help but be curious. This temple has been abandoned for five centuries, claimed by no one. By what right do you claim the Temple of the Kyber, off-worlder?" @Plebometer

 

[Eisa Swan]

A broad smile crossed the cyan haired youth, partly in reaction to the smile of the Dathomiri preacher. Though to the most part it was more in reaction to the words spoken, in sighting her to go ahead, enterthe temple and claim the ruins. That part the young Jedi would agree with the older woman on, but within the Towering structure was so much more than just the lingering history and remnants of the ancient Jedi to be picked away from the remaining scraps. There was a future, dark as it may yet to be, but the growing embers of hope and will soon fill it with the fires that would forge a rebellion and return light to the temple, reignating the long dormant braizers. That and although the stores my be pillaged, there was every chance that deep within hidden away resided lost tomes of knowledge and relics that the Jedi masters would have sealed away, in long forgotten and inaccessible Chambers.

Eisas attention moved away from the Preacher to fall upon the Balding man stood below as he spoke out to her. Telling the young Jedi that it was not the temple that was the source of contention, but the walls itself. Citing the balance of the light and dark that was reflected by their permanently enshadowed portion of the city. The young Jedi simply smiled and nodded at the man's words, before her lips pursed in thought. A curious eyebrow raising as she turned her attention towards the crimson preacher as the Guardian gestured towards the woman. Worshippers of a long dead dathomiri witch, a curious thought crossed the jedis mind before the older woman started to speak, this time in an agreeance with the guardian, well sort of.

The cyan haired jedi listened to the woman as she spoke her piece, the mention of the wall being claimed by the Fanged God by its avatar, their Mother. A slight nod of understanding came as the realisation set in that the Dathomiri was referring to the Clan Mother. Whilst she had some hunches to the name of the Avatars identity, Eisa want going to commit to naming her, after all there were countless clans of Dathomiri witches, many of whom followed a different Clan Mother.

Bright emerald hued eyes followed the movements of the Preacher intently as she ascended the stair case to draw closer to the young Jedi. Eyebrows raising as the uttered confession of curiosity was aired, by what right was she going to lay claim to the temple? Well she could announce that she was staking the claim by the right of the Jedi, but that in itself was perhaps too great of a risk to do. Out within these regions the Jedi were still but a rumour, carried on the wind, and with so many stood at the base of the stair case. There was the likely hood that few would take her words seriously, the proclamation that the temple was being claimed by the brightly haired youth for the Jedi, would no doubt make those gathered doubt the legitimacy.

"By what right do I claim the Temple?" Eisa spoke out, somewhat repeating the inquiry made to her. "Well I suppose by the Will of the Force, Ashla and perhaps as you would know and refer it to as being The Winged Goddess" she added, answering the question posed to her, before her gaze fell towards the Guardian. Not without allowing her senses to flow within the currents of the Force that was being called through her. "The old shadows, may not have seen the light of the sun, but it once was the light that resonated from the Kybers within those very walls, carried throughout the countless veins of the living crystals that spread to the heart of this very moon that reflected the light of the Force into the darkest of recesses" the young Jedi spoke, before returning her bright gaze towards the Crimson preacher.

 

[The Storyteller]

The red woman's gaze narrowed. She was agitated, but she did not show the full extent of her agitation to the girl standing before her now. She was mostly annoyed that the girl misunderstood what the Winged Goddess represented, but she chose to ignore that for the larger fish she intended to fry. "You have not yet answered my question — only tactlessly dodged it." She took a few steps up and folded her arms across her petite chest. "By what right to you lay claim to this temple and its ancient stones? And by what authority do you claim to know the will of the Force?"

The Guardian, nor the crowd that surrounded him, did little to intervene this time. It seemed they too had begun to question who this girl was and why she made the claims that she did. One so young often had their heads filled with nonsense, but this child was both bold and filled with delusions of grandeur... unless they weren't just delusions. The Guardian was beginning to wonder, but he dare not make his suspicions known just yet. He would wait to see how the girl replied. @Plebometer

 

[Eisa Swan]

Raising a curious eyebrow as she watched the pleasant smiling demeanor of the Dathomiri preacher wain a little. Although it was subtle, there were slight tells that the older woman was seemingly starting to loose her patience or was growing irritated. Still that didn't cause too much for concern, just yet. The young Jedis bright emerald hued eyes intently studying the cultist, watching as she continued to press on the right that she would claim the temple before advancing further up the stairs and standing with her arms crossed, passively blocking the Jedis path.

There it was the various tells in the woman's shifting body language, the fact that she sought to claim the higher ground both figuratively and physically. From her earlier uncaring words of just go ahead and claim it to her now standing in front of her pressing the issue, as to the youths identity, her allegiances. All of a sudden she had either became overly protective of the Temple, or incredibly nosey like a neighbour determined to know the new occupants inside and out before they've even crossed the threshold. Still there was really little point in allow this to go on any further.

"Well you did make it hard with your earlier words" Eisa spoke out with a sigh of resignation, her gaze fixing on the crimson woman ahead of her. "You know the claims that The Jedi are no more, rumors of their return are just Sith propaganda, meant to stir feer in the public. If you are outwardly proclaiming that to your followers, it's not going to be... Tactful to make you look ill informed in front of those your preaching to." the cyan haired youth continued, as she swept her arm out to the side and gestured towards the crowd standing behind her.

"like I said, I claim the Temple of the Kyber as a servant of the Lightside of the Force and its will" the youth continued after her attention returned to the Crimson cultist before pursing her lips in thought momentarily before shrugging, hoping that perhaps the Older woman might have realised that the rumours were in fact true. "by the authority that I claim to know the will of the Force? Through the teachings of the Ancient Jedi Masters, the Council and my role as a Jedi Knight of the Galactic Alliance" Eisa concluded answering the preachers questions her bright emerald eyes intently studying the cultist preacher ahead of her, whist her ears picked up on the hushed mutterings of the crowd behind her. Cautiously the young kinght opened her mind into the Force, anticipating that the already somewhat vexed woman in red would become more agitated by the claim of being a Jedi.

 

[The Storyteller]

The red woman was about to scoff at the girl, but the Guardian saw something glint beneath the Jedi's robes as the wind ruffled them. When the wind blew again, he saw it and knew for sure that she was carrying a lightsaber. For centuries, only the Sith had carried lightsabers, but in all those centuries, the Sith had also not returned to Jedha. Only one order cared about the ruins of these temples... and the Guardians of the Whills were sworn to serve that order.

"Guardians!" the bald Guardian cried as he took up his staff. A gasp went up through the crowd, which quickly backed away, as a handful of new Guardians emerged to take their places beside their companion. All had weapons drawn and pointed at the red woman. "We are sworn to serve the Jedi and to protect the Temple of the Kyber," the bald Guardian continued. "Now that the Jedi have returned, you are no longer welcome here, my lady."

The red woman looked, for a moment, as though she was going to protest. It was clear that she didn't fully believe that the girl was a Jedi, but, at this point, what choice did she have? She was outnumbered and resorting to her magick here might interfere with the Mother's plans. She drew her arms up into the folds of her dress and gave a defiantly wicked smirk to the girl "Jedi."

"I will withdraw for now," she said, "but not for long. The Mother's time draws near, and she will not be denied what is hers." She turned to the Guardians and the crowd cowering behind them. "Repent for your sins. The Mother is coming. The night she brings will be rife with terrors for all who stand in her way."

The red woman retreated from the Old Shadows and the Guardians rushed up to take her place around the Jedi girl. "We are yours to command, Master Jedi. Welcome back to Jedha," the bald Guardian said to Eisa. "What would you have us do?" @Plebometer

 

[Eisa Swan]

Silently the cyan haired Jedi intently observed the reaction of the Crimson preacher, her bright emerald eyes locking firm with the scornful look being directed towards her. As the silent tension built over the two, a gust of wind buffeted over the two figures. The youth's eyes narrowing slightly as she felt the wind ripple through her brightly dyed locks of hair, her attention was soon pulled away from the crimson woman in front of her as the voice of the bald man echoed out from behind her. Summoning the concealed guardians to his side, she could hear the quick succession of foot steps ring out from behind her, amid the gasps and mutterings of the gathered crowd. Her ears pricking up as she could hear the sounds of weapons being primed.

Returning her gaze back towards the crimson woman, the young Knight watched as her expression soured. She could see that the preacher was conflicted, lost in her thoughts of protest or possibly lashing out. Not that she truly anticipated the Temple being handed over so easily, but with the sudden unveiling of the Guardians numbers and the declaration of their allegiance to the Jedi. There was really little that she could do that wouldn't end with things escalating.

Raising an inquisitive eyebrow as the crimson woman tucked her arms into the folds of her dress before smirking at the cyan haired Jedi, Eisa intently watched as she proclaimed that she would withdraw. Not before continuing and proclaiming that the Mothers return was immanent, a bemused expression crossing her features as she regarded the final display of the preacher. Something that was akin to that of a doomsday prophet proclaiming that the end of days were coming. Shaking her head at the act, Eisa watched the preacher disappeared into the crowds. Her gaze lingering over the retreating silhouette, her lips pursing in thought as she dwelled whether this woman was tied to the cultists that Master Reach had suspicions over that had caught the attention of the other Jedi who had arrived on the moon of Jedha.

The youth's musings however were cut short as the guardians encircled her, her attention falling upon the Bald guardian from earlier. A slight momentary look of confusion washed over the young girls features, as he referred to her as Master Jedi. Being unaccustomed to the various honorary titles that were afforded to those of the Jedi Order, she was taken aback a little at the words. Though she decided it was best to not show disrespect the Guardians. A warm cheerful smile soon spread over her features, before respectfully bowing her head to the gathered Guardians. "Thank you, its my pleasure meet you" Eisa spoke out initially before turning her gaze up towards the temple, and pursing her lips in thought. "I fear that we may need to prepare for any reprisal, I doubt the Cult of the Fanged God would give up their haunt so easily" The cyan haired Knight spoke as she gestured towards the path that the crimson woman had retreated along. "But till then, would you care for some Tea? I believe there is some 500 years worth of history and current affairs that we need to discuss" she added with a light smile before raising an arm up towards the large set of doors that stood at the apex of the stair case. Gesturing for the Guardians to follow her as she continued her assent up towards the Temple before eventually crossing the Threshold, where once again after five centuries a Jedi would grace the halls of the Temple of the Kyber.

// End Thread

@Deviant @Malon