[Iktotch] Rediscovering The Past

[Aurelian Keth]

Mountainous Regions, Iktotch, Iktotch system, Expansion Region​

Aurelian flew the borrowed shuttle through the skies of Iktotch as the barren deserts passed beneath them. He hoped that this was the right place. Over the years the scholar had come across scraps of information about the Jedi. The majority of it wasn’t that special, a list of various Temples, Enclaves and Academies had once stretched across the galaxy before the rise of the Empire. Unfortunately after the fall of the Republic the Sith had raided many of these sites, the ones that Aurelian knew about anyway. However in the last days of the Order before total organisational failure many groups of Jedi, mostly archivists from what he could work out, had made smaller hidden sanctuaries. Somewhere simply vaults of knowledge whilst others had been intended to be schools to train the next generation in secret. Unfortunately most of what Aurelian had managed to find mention of where mere footnotes, whispers and rumours. One however seemed more concrete. Once their had been a Jedi Enclave on this world, the world of Iktotch, which luckily fell outside of Imperial Space. The data he’d found pointed towards one of these secondary sanctuaries on this world, somewhere within the mountain range Aurelian was flying towards.


The scholar hoped that such a place might hold unpillaged lore and it was apparently built on some sort of vergence, a place of concentrated Force energy. There was one problem however, the sanctuary mentioned in the uncovered notes had vague references to some form of lock or security system that would only open to two Jedi, a Master and an Apprentice. So Aurelian had went to the only Jedi he was familiar with which was why Aurora was on the ship with him. He’d mentioned his wish to come here and the protection build into the location.

Although she’d never said as much Aurelian had surmised that Aurora had at least a few students and had expected her to bring one along with them to get inside. Instead the woman had just worn one of those smirks that the man couldn’t read and only served to remind him that he never really knew what she was thinking.

As they reached the mountains Aurelian slowed the ship to a crawl, putting the shuttle into a holding pattern as he glanced at the datapads he’d tucked all around his pilot seat. Flicking through them he spent a few minutes trying to find the one with his compiled and summarised notes. Once he did he flicked through it but annoyingly there was nothing more concrete than this approximate mountain region. Glancing out the cockpit window he sighed with frustration. ‘Not that any more details in the texts would really help that much, the whole damn mountain range looked the exact same. By the Force the whole planet looked the damn same.’ The Iktotchi sure had it rough living on this dirtball of a moon.

Frowning he felt his gaze constantly being drawn to the South-Western slopes of the mountains, when he gazed in that direction too long his head began to hurt. Shaking his head as he felt like a migraine was beginning to emerge he looked back at his datapad with a sigh. Thankfully the pressure causing his headache immediately vanished. Odd, he must be tired. He’d been flying the shuttle for too long.

Glancing back at Aurora he paused for a moment still unsure how he was supposed to address the woman. Calling her Master Blackwood felt a bit weird when alone like this so to hell with it. He just cleared his throat to get her attention before speaking. “Hey Aurora, I don’t suppose you know where we should begin our search?” The Jedi Master had been a little tight lipped when he’d asked for direction or any information she might have on the facility. She hadn’t even confirmed whether or not she knew anything about the hidden Jedi sanctuary, or about such places in general. Maybe now that they were here she could provide some direction.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Aurora Blackwood]

The Force worked in mysterious ways. That was not a cliché Aurora favored. Master Orady had been fond of that particular saying, to the eternal frustration of his student. She did everything possible to avoid the silliness that particular phrase. That didn’t mean it was not true. The Force was a mystery. Often times you did not know the path until the journey was over. You could listen, ponder, and consider, but only the Force knew the truth. The best she could do was follow the path and try to not kriff it up. Journey before destination, or something equally wise. Young Aurelian was part of her path. A path that lead to the rebirth of the Jedi Order.

The scholar was connected to the Force, and learned in the piecemeal history of the Order. Yet, there was so much more for him to learn. He had only scratched the surface of the past and had not even begun to understand what he was capable of. Aurora planned to change that. She had purposefully come on this little jaunt alone. This was the chance for her to truly see what Aurelian could truly master. A chance for her to try and understand the scholar. Aurora sat quietly as the young rebel tried to figure out where to go. She could feel exactly what was happening. The Force was trying to speak to him but his mind was closed.

The desert moon would not be forgiving. They needed to get their landing figured out before desert winds starting whipping below. A musical laugh escaped the Jedi Master. “Oh, I have no kriffing idea where to go.” She pointed out the cockpit at the identical mountains looming below. “That all looks the same to me.” Aurora smiled broadly. “I’m lost, but you’re not.” She turned to look at Aurelian. “Open your mind Aurelian, listen to the Force. You’re closed off and not listening.” Aurora nodded slowly, indicating for the young man to try. @Lazy Swordsman

 

[Aurelian Keth]

“You know hearing that the Jedi Master is the lost one doesn’t inspire confidence.” he replied sarcastically with a smile. With the ship on auto-pilot he folded his arms as he tried to work out what exactly he was supposed to do. He had the urge to sarcastically respond with ‘Oh yeah I’ll just do that.’ but resisted the impulse. The woman seemed to be testing him but, more importantly, she was trying to help him or at least steer him in the right direction.

Taking a deep breath he just shut up and focused on Aurora’s words. Closing his eyes he emptied his mind of distractions, it was a simple enough semi-meditative technique that the scholar had learnt from his father growing up. It had been one of the basic aspects of the of the Echani swordsmanship’s traditional forms. Intuitively Aurelian’s concentration was drawn towards the same location as earlier, the pressure began to build once more and that feeling like the birth of a migraine was starting to form. The Jedi’s words floated back to him, was this pain being caused because he wasn’t accepting the Force’s direction? Was he unknowingly resisting its call? Another deep breath, this time released as a shuddering exhalation. The pressure began to fall away to be replaced with a high pitched tone like the rushing of wind. Aurelian’s hands began to move before he knew it, pressing slowly against the piloting console as he input the new landing co-ordinates into the ship’s computer.

Coming back to his senses he blinked down at what he’d done and glanced back at Aurora. “Uhh... taking us in for a landing.” Steering the ship to follow the onscreen blinking navigation points Aurelian brought the ship down onto a stretch of flat land towards the South-West of the mountainous area.

Standing up he glanced at the Jedi Master and shrugged slightly. “I guess we get to have the privilege of walking across some lovely desert slopes?” he said in a voice that couldn’t be more unsure sounding about what they were supposed to do. Grabbing his backpack, sticking in two of his datapads, he threw it over his shoulders. Checking that his blaster was in it’s holster and then grabbing the vibrosword leaning against the shuttle’s interior wall, he slipped the sheathed weapon into the belt loop. It was almost second nature for the man to arm himself before doing anything these days, he could barely remember the peaceful life he’d once led in his youth.

Opening the shuttle’s ramp Aurelian stepped out onto the barren ground, the thin layer of sand on top of the hard rock shifting beneath his feet. Turning to look back towards the mountain he heard it again, that wind-like sound, drawing his gaze towards the same area again.

“I think it might be that way.” he said looking to Aurora for any hint of what she might think. Running his hand through his hair he glanced back in the direction of the mountains. “I think...”

@Valen Pelora

 

[Aurora Blackwood]

Aurora kept silent as she waited for Aurelian. There were somethings you had to learn on your own, this was one of them. Aurora could teach the young man so many things, but these first steps in the Force were difficult. There was no set path for learning to communicate with the Light. For the Morellian Jedi Master it was second nature. She had been diving into the sea of the Force since she was a child. A simple breath and the Force would flood her body. It was not as easy for her newest students. Aurora had learned how to feel and listen to the Force when she was a child, there were fewer mental roadblocks to overcome. Adults came with baggage that built walls. It was her job to break down those walls. Finally, she felt something click in the Force. She smiled.

“You’re the boss today.” Aurora simply sat in her seat while the ship was taken in towards the sandy slopes. Once they settled she stood and made sure she had everything. Robes, blaster, saber. Check, check, check. That was really all she needed. “Why is there always so much sand?” A deep frown pulled at the corners of her mouth. “Just once I’d like a world that isn’t freezing cold, or boiling hot…and no kriffing sand.” She felt like the galaxy was just one sandy planet after another.

As they exited the shuttle she reached out in the Force. Now, Aurora was going to let Aurelian lead the way but she wasn’t about to get lost in the desert. The Force sang in her mind, pushing her forward. She clicked her tongue. Phew, Aurelian was headed in that direction. “If you say so.” Aurora carefully monitored their progress in the Force. She spoke as they walked. “There are no distractions. Listen Aurelian, you can hear the call of the Force moving around us. You must quiet your ever active mind.” That was the young scholars greatest hurdle. He was always thinking and the Force was about feeling.. @Lazy Swordsman

 

[Aurelian Keth]

“Am I?” he replied absently. As the woman readied herself he caught a glimpse of her lightsaber with curiosity. He’d never seen one actually being used before. He hadn’t even got a close look at one before, aside from the antique non-function example he’d found on the outer rim and it had serious physical degradation even to its physical shell. His fascination with the Jedi made his interest in such things beautiful but the truth was that although Aurelian hated weapons, hated violence altogether, he’d had a love for swordsmanship since a young age. In his mind the Jedi lightsaber arts had to be infinitely more beautiful than the mundane martial arts.

‘Well there is no time to be thinking about that and I’m not about to embarrass myself by asking Aurora can I see her lightsaber.’ he thought to himself with amusement. He’d never really gotten a look at her one until now, short as it had been and he supposed she had to keep it hidden from view. Either that or she didn’t always carry it.

Shrugged he glanced at the Jedi with a smirk. “My sentiments exactly. At least this isn’t Tatooine. A more hateful planet I’ve yet to find.” he shook his head. He’d had to visit the hot and oppressing ball of dust twice so far in service to the Alliance. Well once to the Alliance and the second time for that man Cas who was somehow related to the Jedi but not the Rebels. He considered asking Aurora about the strange man but put it aside, he needed to focus on the here and now if he was going to have any chance at finding what they sought.

Walking in the direction that he believed to be correct he slowed his pace only to dart an annoyed look at Aurora. She could at least throw him a bone. He wondered again why exactly she was testing him.

‘You wonder a lot of things.’ he thought to himself with a frown. Aurora had just literally told him to stop being so concerned with his constant thoughts. So instead he focused on a single thought. Finding this sanctuary of the Old Order. It wasn’t a simple historical investigation, nor had it been a simple case of piecing together research notes. Sure the first whisperings that something of significance lay here on Iktotch had come from an old text he had happened across and then he had found other references that he did piece together. But it was more than that. There was more than academic desire in the search. Any time he thought about the possible hidden Jedi facility on Iktotch he had felt drawn to the planet, a need to seek it out as if something called to him across space, calling him to this place.

“You’re being foolish.” he scolded himself quietly, muttering as he pushed himself over a rough piece of terrain. However what if he wasn’t? Maybe he should think more on how he felt, the urge to find the Sanctuary rather than worrying about where to find it in the first place? Even as he considered this the sound, the high pitched wind-like cry, grew stronger. He turned to look slightly to his left, distracted his foot caught on a rock sending Aurelian stumbling as he barely managed to stop himself from falling. He was thankful that he’d chosen to wear his plain robes for today’s excursion, had he been stuck in his armour then he’d probably have fallen on his face in front of Aurora.

“I think we need to go this way.” he said pointing off in the direction of the sound.

Leading the way as best he could Aurelian followed the sound, as he grew surer the sound became easier to track. His heart began to race at the thought that he’d finally found something of significant, perhaps something that could actually help the surviving Jedi. More than anything the idea of being useful to them excited the man.

Finally he reached the source of the sound, now it was almost like a clear high pitched song and yet not unpleasant or distracting. Of course there was a problem. They were facing a rock wall with absolutely no other path out, it was a dead end.

“I… I don’t understand.” he said aloud as dismay entered his voice. Had he screwed up? Had he simply been following his imagination this entire plan and led Aurora on a wild goose chase through the rough mountainous region? Where they going to have to backtrack and try to find another hint of where they needed to go?

Aurelian turned to apologise to his companion when the breeze blowing past them momentarily picked up and blew dust around them, the scholar looked down and covered his eyes until the short lived gale abated.

“What should we…” he began but stopped as he frowned looking down at the ground. The sand that been blown aside just a few feet away and revealed the bare rock bed that they were walking upon. There appeared to be something engraved in it. Using his foot Aurelian began to brush it aside, suddenly feeling like it was the most important concern in the world. Moving around the move enough of the sand and dust along a narrow trail to show the engraving. It was a semi-circle coming out from the rocks ahead and directly opposing the rock wall, upon the line, where two circles beside on another. Those two circles where just about big enough for one person to stand in each.

A Master and an Apprentice the texts had said, whatever that meant.

Looking at Aurora he shrugged. “Any ideas?” he asked. The texts had been absent of any clue about how the security of such places worked and Aurelian believed it was purposely so. However another Jedi would likely know how such things worked. Well a Jedi in the days when the Order had still stood strong and in the open.

Hopefully such knowledge had not been lost.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Aurora Blackwood]

Aurora was usually the chatty one. She had lived alone for forty years, barely speaking with a soul unless absolutely necessary. She had grown accustomed to her own thoughts as company. That meant in these setting she tended to talk. Not because she was lonely, or personable, but because it was nice to hear a voice that wasn’t her own. Of course, that solitude had been destroyed with her new life. Aurora actually couldn’t remember the last time she was alone since leaving Vestar. There was always someone that needed her attention. That made a little silence nice, plus Aurelian needed to learn to heed the call of the Force. Her chattering away would only make it more difficult. Aurora was not about to give him any help. The boy was learning, even if he was frustrated. She’d jump in if they really got lost.

So it was that she enjoyed their little walk. The planet was particularly beautiful, but it was less oppressively hot than Tatooine, and oddly peaceful. Aurora still hated the sand. All things considered this wasn’t so bad. Eventually, the Force lead the pair to a stone wall. She reached for the Force. Confirmation rang clearly in her mind. This was the right place. Hmmm, odd. Aurora could still feel the Force working through Aurelian, even if her student couldn’t exactly feel it. She crossed her arms and waited. All the while Aurora stayed silent. Watching and waiting. The young Rebel uncovered the seal and seemed utterly perplexed.

“Oh, I’ve more than a few ideas.” Aurora dove into the Force, allowing the Light to blossom in her chest. Her full strength in the Force was brought to bear. A wonderful feeling. “You weren’t wrong. This place is old...from a time before the fall of the Order.” She quickly studied the inscription. Yes, Master Orady had taught her about these. “The Order used to prefer these locks to keep out those who couldn’t feel the Force. I’ve never actually seen one…but I do know how to open it.” Aurora turned to Aurelian. “But I can’t do it alone. My strength in the Force is considerable, but this is beyond what I can manage alone. A Master and an Apprentice…you and me.” She reached out in the Force. Her right hand stretching towards the stone wall.

She could feel the locking mechanisms, she knew exactly what they needed to do. “We have to work together Aurelian. It is the only way…and you will have to work the Force.” Her voice became soft, instructive. “You must reach out and feel the waves of the Force…feel the current. It know what must be done, but it needs your direction.” This would have been simple for a trained Jedi Master and their student. Unfortunately, there weren’t many of those running around these days. @Lazy Swordsman

 

[Aurelian Keth]

Relief flooded through the man as Aurora revealed she knew something. So this was something then and they had found what they’d been seeking. He turned to face his companion and as she spoke Aurelian felt the air shift. ‘No not the air… it’s the Force. It’s the presence of a Jedi Master.’

As he had done so earlier, as Aurora had shown him, Aurelian opened himself up to the Force. The wind-like song came rushing back, it rolled around and through the Jedi Master next to him. She had become a conduit of… not just the Force. He was slowly beginning to not just understand the differences he'd been sensing but to feel them. This song was the Light Side, so different from the other sensations and noises that he often heard when touching the Force. It brushed against him with warmth and put him at ease, his earlier frustration and worry being washed aside.

Focusing on what Aurora was telling him he nodded. “Old? That’s good. Hopefully no one has pillaged it already.” he said with an undercurrent of excitement in his voice. He excitedly waited for her to open the hidden entrance and the scholar simply couldn’t wait for them to get inside.

However that was when she asked for his help. He looked at the Jedi with a mixture of confusion and surprise. He wasn’t her apprentice. This was why he thought she’d bring a Padawan! Or just another Jedi might have worked! Then the obvious clicked into place. He had suspected that the woman was testing him, in truth he had known it but simply hadn't had time to dwell. Was this why? After Savareen she had taken him away for some private instruction, basic lessons about the Force and the Jedi. Later, on Ruusan, she had helped him better sense those around him and even since landing here she had been pushing him in the right direction, helping him tap into his still tenuous understanding of the living energies all around them. He had assumed he would be regarded as an Initiate, a potential member of her Order, for quite some time but… but perhaps things where moving faster than the historical texts indicated due to the state of the universe?

Despite their short relationship he had come to trust Aurora. If she asked him to do this then she had to believe he was capable. So that meant might… no that he could do it.

‘After all we’ve come too far to fail now.’

Aurelian moved to stand in the other circle, the one not occupied by his companion and he nodded. “I... will. I can do this.” he said with a confidence that he didn’t feel.

Reaching out his hand, copying the Jedi Master, he closed his eyes. He opened himself up, focused on the sound, let it flow into him and through him. It was a turbulent and screeching. Unpleasant. He pictured a locking mechanism in his mind, he imagined turning the internal components and the lock releasing itself. Except it didn’t. His hand trembled as if a great weight was pushing down on the limb and the screeching sound cut through his mind. His breathing became haggard and he felt as though he’d just ran for miles non-stop. ‘I can’t.’ the thought wormed through his mind, it was almost alien sounding, pathetic and desperate.

He nearly give up when another thought whispered into his mind, strong and familiar, ‘She believes you can.’ the thought returned from earlier. For some reason that was important. Aurora had found him, revealed to him the survival of the Order, opened his eyes to his ability to sense the Force and spent her own time teaching him the rudimentary aspects of how to wield that gift.

Aurelian’s eyes opened and he glanced at the woman next to him, she was smarter than him, wiser than him and she knew infinitely more about such things. So if she thought he could do it then she must know he could. So he stopped worrying about how he couldn’t do it and simply believed he could do it. Taking a deep breath the scholar steadied his breathing and reached out with his hand towards the rock once more. The strain from his expression vanished, his hand was steady and the screeching in his mind became the music he’d previously heard. He opened himself to it fully, it coursed through his limbs and filled his chest with a indescribable light that warmed and soothed Aurelian. The unseen energy flowed out of his outstretched hand and connected with whatever mystery locked the Sanctuary.

The scholar had expected the rock face to slide down like an automatic door. Instead the entire rock outcropping began to turn, it began to rise as it spun. Aurelian instinctively moved his hand upwards, turning his palm skywards as he did so.

After a few moments a spire stood before them, the bottom ¾’s of it having previously been underground. A broad and square hole stood before them which Aurelian assumed to be the doorway. He could feel the sanctuary, it almost felt alive and the man also knew that if he lost concentration it would slide back underground so he kept his focus.

For a few long moments he stared at the newly revealed sanctuary with something approaching awe. Finally he tore his gaze away from it to look at the Jedi Master. It seemed only appropriate that she should go first, she was the true Jedi and she deserved to be the first one to step foot in the hidden outpost in centuries. “After you Master Blackwood.” he said with a jovial smile, his joy driven by their discovery, success and the light still infused in his chest.

Today had turned out much better than he could have dreamed and they hadn’t even went inside yet.

 

[Aurora Blackwood]

The future was filled with infinite possibilities. A thousand different paths that turned on a handful of actions. Aurora had once spent hours, days, sifting through these paths searching for the way to the Light. Hunting for the path that would return the Jedi to the galaxy. After decades of waiting, she had finally seen that path. Aurora now stood beside Aurelian as the the young scholar reached for the Force. Doubt, confusion, and fear coursed through the man. She dove deeper in the Force. She reached for Aurelian, to guide him to the ocean of the Light. Her mind was hammered by the Force. Visions spun in her mind like she hadn’t felt in years.

Eternal paths splayed before her mind. Somewhere in the back of her thoughts, Aurora was aware of Aurelian working his way towards her in the Force. She offered him what help she could. Her mind was consumed by the infinite possibilities before her. Aurora fought to maintain control, to grasp the wild river of the Force. Focus Aurora. Focus. Finally, the paths crystallized. She saw what she was meant to see. Her students behind her, the future of the Order growing to return balance to the galaxy. Aurelian stood at the front of that group. The path was clear, the future was clear. At that moment Aurelian was realizing his strength in the Force and his future was become reality. Aurora saw more clearly now than ever.

As she opened her eyes the stone pillar began to move. Oh yes, she should have expected that. Master Orady had been a little fuzzy on the detailed but insinuated the Force locks weren’t traditional. It was still an amazing sight to behold, as the pillar rotated into the sky to reveal the opening beneath. She reached out in the Force. Aurora couldn’t sense a thing below, at least there wouldn’t be any spooky surprises. She smiled at Aurelian as her lightsaber hilt jumped into her hand. “Thank you, my young Padawan.” Aurora wasn’t like Luy. There were no initiates for her, they had to be ready to fight the Darkness. They were Padawan’s one and all. She flicked her saber on as they descended. Orange light cast all around them, the Force pooled in her left hand to create a brilliant white light. The room around them was massive, empty, and echoey. @Lazy Swordsman

 

[Aurelian Keth]

He was a little stunned when she used that word. So much so that he simply stood there while she advanced with lightsaber in hand. Padawan. It was such a simple thing for Aurora to give but it meant the world to Aurelian. He felt himself grinning but didn’t care. Chasing after his Master he chuckled at her. “When do I get one of those.” he joked lightly with a glance at the orange blade. Although it was the light she created effortlessly in her hand that really drew his attention. He could feel the power of the Force rippling from her. He wondered what made her so able to effortlessly harness these gifts. Was she naturally powerful with the Force? Was she simply well educated in its use? Was it both? Was it something else entirely? He would probably learn in time but his curiosity still burned.

With the light given off by the Jedi Master Aurelian glanced around the large empty chamber. At first glance there was nothing but then he frowned towards the wall of the dimly lit room. Shrugging his backpack free from his shoulder he reached in and removed a small torch. Clicking the power button he held it up towards the walls and walked around looking at the murals. “There appears to be some traditional engravings here. I think this one is the ‘Prime’ Jedi I’ve heard mentioned in some other texts.” he murmured. Sticking to the wall he moved along it. Coming to a stop in front of another icon he ran a hand over the painting, it was a symbol of wings with a shining light in the middle. The icon of the Jedi Order.

He soon stopped and frowned while glancing at the three doorways each of which led to a different corridor. His gaze scanned from one to another before freezing on the furthest away one. “I.. do you hear that?” he asked.

There appeared to be wind howling from the doorway. At least that’s what it sounded like but it was very high pitched. He wandered slowly towards it feeling inexorably drawn towards it. “Aurora… do you hear that?” he asked, his voice sounding distant even to him.

Almost as if in a trance he walked through the doorway and down the corridor. It had only one other exit which led to a much smaller room. There where shelves filled with slim crystalline boards which give off a faint blue light. Holobooks although many of them seemed to have grown dull or the light had been extinguished altogether. However, for once, Aurelian walked straight past all the knowledge without so much as a glance.

He reached the far end of the room before he stopped and looked down at a small metal chest with no visible way to unseal. Swiping a hand across it he reached out with the Force like he had done with the entrance and felt something inside the box react and shift. With a soft click the top flipped open to reveal the contents. A single blue cube with a golden “frame” and the same metal twisting to make designs along the side.

Lifting he slowly it seemed to pulse in his hands, the wind sound was louder than ever but was now shifting into a pleasant soft song and the object almost felt as if it had grown warm in his hand. Turning he would either present it to Aurora or, if she wasn’t present, he would go find her.

“Master… what is this?” his voice was distracted, he couldn’t take his eyes off the object.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Aurora Blackwood]

Aurora rolled her eyes. It was always about the glowy laser sword, everyone always wanted a glowy laser sword. “Oh, you’ll never get one of these.” Orange was a unique color for a blade. In the time when the Order survived blue, green, and yellow were most common. Aurora’s crystal had turned orange when they bonded, a vibrant sunrise orange. A rare event Master Orady had said. “A less interesting color maybe, if you listen and behave.” She laughed softly as they continued to walk. The echo bounced off the empty walls. Creepy. Aurora brightened the light in her hand while they explored. There were carvings all across the walls. She didn’t know exactly what they were looking at, something old and strange. Yes, old and strange.

Her attention was drawn to Aurelian. He apparently heard something that he was being drawn towards. Aurora didn’t speak. Instead, she just followed her young student. Aurora didn’t hear a damn thing, but she could feel the Force moving. That Force was clearly speaking to Aurelian. With those still learning to feel the Force it often appeared to them in strange way. A whisper, wind, or a light in the distance. Their mind tried to make sense of what their soul could feel. The Force was speaking to Aurelian and she followed.

They were taken into a room filled with holofiles. Files that were dead or dying. She wondered what knowledge used to be stored in those files. She wondered what may have been lost to the centuries. Her were returned to Aurelian. She watched as he pulled the strange cube from the box. For a moment her eyes were frozen before her mind took over. Don’t be stupid. She reached out in the Force before speaking. It was not what she thought. It was not a holocron. “A cheap imitation of something much greater.” Aurora frowned slightly. “I don’t know what that thing could possibly hold, but it is almost certainly dangerous.” True Holocrons were rare and nearly impossible to find, she didn’t even know if there were any left. What she did know was Aurelian did not hold a true recreation. She had no idea what that thing might contain. @Lazy Swordsman

 

[Aurelian Keth]

Aurelian barely seemed to notice what the woman said, he was too busy frowning at the device in his hands, and something about it was bothering him. As he stared at it he felt as if his mind was slipping into the device, fluttering deeper until his consciousness slid along the complex internal matrices that made up the device. He suddenly realised it was very similar to a datacron except it wouldn’t open via mundane means. The crystalline material felt like it warmed under his hands. At certain points as his mind flittered around the internals he felt certain… bumps or uneven sections which seemed to sit less properly than others.

Withdrawing his mind from the device he frowned and reached out gently with the Force to prod those sections. As he did so the device blinked in his hand and began to shift as it “opened”. It hummed slightly as it attempted to power up for the first time in centuries. However even as it did so Aurelian felt a flutter of the Force from the device and suddenly he comprehended its existence in a way he couldn’t really explain, what he held wasn’t similar to the holocrons of old he’d read which contained ancient Force Lore. However neither was it a simple datacron. This device lay somewhere inbetween he believed, perhaps at best it could be described as a simplistic holocron.

A moment later a small hologram of a humanoid in long hooded robes which obscured it’s features. The little hologram looked up before it began to speak. “Within these records lie the rules, responsibilities and risk met by the Council of First Knowledge and it’s ancients. You will not find Force techniques or ancient wisdom here but instead a simple explanation of what we did in the name of the Order.” the figure said in a male voice before dipping its head. “They were the keeps of the Wisdom of the Order, they maintained the Great Library and oversaw the tutoring of the Jedi. Now the Council is gone and we its agents are diminished. We were not only caretakers and guardians. We were also seekers. Now we are nothing but I make this note hoping that one day the Tower of First Knowledge will be rebuilt.” with that he dipped his head and vanished.

A holographic list appeared in the air above the device. It seemed to be a list of directives, organisational hierarchy, and duties of individual Master members of this Council as well as its agents. Rules about the pursuit of dark side artefacts was also mentioned. However nothing about the wisdom itself, no inventory of what they had once held in their vaults or anything like that. Aurelian wondered if perhaps the creator of the recording had feared that this place might eventually fall into the hands of the Sith, the recording had clearly been created after the Jedi Order had already been crushed five centuries ago.

Withdrawing his Force power the device shifted once more as it closed and shutdown. Aurelian turned and smiled softly at Aurora with a slight shrug. “I’m sorry. I thought I’d found something that might be of help to you with rebuilding the Order.” he said apologetically. When he’d discovered this sanctuary, or the hints of it anyway, he’d dreamt of finding some great relic that would make Aurora’s life, and as such the other Masters lives, easier.

@Valen Pelora