Ask Ajan Kloss Jedi 101: A Code to Live By

[Aamaw Jokolto]

Theme
​

On the outskirts of the Jedi Temple was a series of gardens and groves maintained over the years by various members of the Order; glowing mushrooms as big as houses from Felucia, a meditation garden filled with bonshyyyr trees from Kashyyyk, a fountain garden filled with aquatic ferns and plants from Glee Ansem. Beyond the path where the jungles asserted themselves over the manicured growth and the Force sang with untamed life lay another grove. Dominated by the crystalline bark and black leaves of a towering cluster of Baffor trees native to Ithor, the grove had many flattened smooth rocks to serve as seats but was occupied by a solitary being.

Aamaw Jokolto hovered serenely above the jungle floor, eyes cracked half open in contemplation of the stones and leaves orbiting around him as he relaxed into the embrace of the Living Force. His awareness spread out across the jungle, leaving the Ithorian's body behind as he flowed through the connections that bound all things together through eternity. Flashes of insight burst through his consciousness almost too fast to track; the terror of a cornered prey and the satisfaction of the predator, the rush of sensation as a new mote of Light breathed its first breath and the numb exhaustion as another breathed its last.

All is one in the Force.

Taking a moment to bask in the feeling of oneness with the Universe, Aamaw eventually drifted back to his mortal tether and sent a pulse racing out into the Force for those who cared to feel it, calling them to join him beneath the Baffor grove. Since returning to the Temple the Ithorian Knight had been concerned to see so much derision and discussion amongst the Order as to their duties and their place in the galaxy and the basic beliefs that bound them together as Jedi. The new generation of Padawans was certainly spirited, but it dismayed Aamaw to think that they would be venturing out into a darkening galaxy without the surety of knowing just who and what they were.

It would fall to him to teach them, inspire them to be the kind of Jedi the Galaxy would need; to become the Jedi they were meant to be.

OOC Note: Switched to Ask, that's a lot of people

 

[Hal Mikko]

When Hal felt Aamaw's pulse through the Force, it was as if a wave washed over him. It wasn't a powerful sensation, yet there was power in how utterly serene it felt. Hal closed his eyes, and focused his inner eye on what the feeling was attempting to convey, just as one would visualize a written passage in their mind after they read it. He couldn't discern Aamaw explicitly, but he could tell that the source of the pulse had something that they wanted to convey, perhaps a lesson, or perhaps a discussion. Hal was no longer a Padawan, but he did not deceive himself into thinking that he was wise in the ways of the Living Force. He'd always been more of a warrior... but it was as Master Stark had once instructed him: Ignorance, yet Knowledge.

It took Hal a few minutes to eventually find the grove, but when he did, he took the time to appreciate his surroundings. He had to make a conscientious effort in order to do so - such contemplation did not come naturally to him - but as he felt the sensations of nature around him, the sounds and smells of the grove, even he could appreciate the beauty in it. Hal smiled and nodded his head towards the meditating Ithorian, not wishing to disturb his fellow Knight's oneness, and merely waited patiently for others to arrive. Such tranquility did not come easily to him. Whenever he meditated, it felt as if he were wasting his time - that as a Jedi Knight, he could be out in the galaxy saving lives, making a real difference, rather than sitting and contemplating the nature of the universe. Still, Hal would make the effort to find peace within himself. Chaos, yet harmony.

 

[Rhea Nadal]

Rhea sat among the bonshyyyr trees, head down and shoulders lax, eyes closed and ears open. She had been in the garden for some time now, having gone there as soon as she was done with her morning training regimen, and while she could arguably have been doing something more productive, she just... needed this. The calm; the gentle flapping of wings in the distance, the rustling of a lazy jungle breeze. For someone so often plagued by discordant thoughts and bad memories, this place was a sanctuary, a place she truly felt freed of the shackles of the past.

Rhea was not particularly gifted with the Force, but she didn't have to be to know how... alive it was here. It surrounded her, embraced her, nurtured her. Every breath of clean air felt like it added years to her lifespan. It was like looking at the surface of a perfectly placid lake, beautiful and serene - thus it was even more noticeable when a small ripple curled through it, a single drop of dew giving life to the stillness.

The padawan opened her eyes, head turning to the distant baffor grove; was someone trying to get her attention? Then again, it hadn't felt particularly directed at her, though it piqued her curiosity all the same. She slowly rose from her spot, brushing off her pants and making her way over to where two Jedi Knights had now gathered, one standing to the side and the other engaged in a deep meditation. She began to open her mouth to speak, but took the cue from her elders and decided to be quiet for the moment, sitting upon one of the many smooth stones and joining the others in quiet reflection.

 

[Ash Valentine]

Ash was never one for somber thoughts on morality and purpose. He knew what he wanted to do and that was all he really needed. It always bugged him that others didn't share the same drive, but then he supposed that was simply arrogance talking. Truthfully, the long silences of careful thought and contemplation that the Jedi aspired to made him restless. It just wasn't the way he personally connected to the force, and he needed to remind himself constantly that he was the exception, not the rule. And that just because he thought one way didn't mean others couldn't think differently.

So he went to the gardens, having felt his fellow Jedi's summoning pulse. The walk was relaxing, the silence was not. Or the relative silence anyway, as they were in a life filled jungle surrounded by animals and bugs of all kinds. But those were easy to ignore and fall into the trap of your own mind.

Three others were present already, and Ash absently squeezed a stress ball as he sat down with them. Hal, he had met on Adumar, and enjoyed working with him but the others he didn't know very well. The serenity that radiated from the Ithorian was off putting, it was the kind of mental state Ash felt he could never reach, and worked very hard to tamp down on the feeling of jealousy he got because of that. Even the younger girl seemed more at ease than he, she an obvious Padawan and he a trained Knight and yet he couldn't bring himself to relax and come out of his own head to embrace the force as the three in front of him seemed to be able to do. It was frustrating.

He didn't want to interrupt any of their own experiences however, so he simply sat down cross legged across from Hal, though with enough space to stretch out and lay down should he wish.

 

[Jacob Freiso]

Jacob had been spending his time in his favorite spot, under a tree near the temple meditating. Mediating is what he calls his mid-day naps after his daily training regimen. He lay face up with his eyes closed and mind relaxed carefully hidden away behind a bush near the tree. He often hid like this because, while this was the state where he was most at peace and in tune with the force, this was also blatantly sleeping. He knew his "meditation" was generally frowned upon, so he kept it to himself. He laid there for some time, eventually becoming one with his surroundings.

It was then that he felt the ripple, like a beacon calling out to him. At first this shocked him, I've been caught he thought to himself as he felt something beckon him towards a grove. He wasn't all too familiar with the planet, having only been here on passing occasions, but he recognized the location he was being called to. He got up and made his way to the location, stretching. He was sure he was going to get chewed out but was pleasantly surprised upon his arrival.

Four others had arrived well before him, most likely due to the relaxed pace he took when he walked from one place to another outside of missions. He then noticed how peaceful they all looked so instead of greeting them as he normally would he took a seat and began to relax his body. It seems from his view he was to gain a bit of insight on the force from someone who knew more than he did, and this prospect excited him to no end.

 

[Lilly Lynn]

Lilly was, as always, studying in the temple library on her days off. Sometimes though she was too involved in the books and the ruins and the history and not involved enough with the here and now. Goodness, how long have I been here? She takes a look at her chrono... Four hours had gone by. She started a series of books on the ancient Republic recently and must have been so engrossed in this specific one, she lost track of time. As she hurriedly began packing her belongings, she felt it. Aamaw's pull, his desire to teach, his beckoning for any who would come. Though she could not put into words why she followed it, she just felt that she should.

As she walked through the groves, Aamaw's pull had instilled a slight peacefulness in her. Have the gardens always been this peaceful? she thought as she walked along. She used to spend quite a bit of time in her earlier days in the order enjoying the peace and natural beaty. She had been meditating even since before knew she was Force sensitive, but the hustle and bustle of life in recent years have lessened the frequency of spending that time alone and listening to the Force. Mayhaps I need to fix that.

Soon her mindless walking led her to a section of the garden where she found the pull's origin. Ah, Aamaw sent that pulse, she thought to herself. She did not know the Ithorian too well, only having met him in passing during larger gatherings of Jedi, but his devotion to the Living Force was not unknown to her. She recognized Ash, but not the other three. The two men looked to be around the same age as her and Ash... Likely Knights as well, but the girl was younger. A padawan... yes a padawan. Lilly was reminded of her largest life stress: the expectation to teach. She was excited to do so, but the thought scared her and she was worried she was not ready. To train the next generation is a part a Jedi's expectation though and she would not shy from it. Though her stress in the moment was only momentary, she nor the council have chosen the padawan she would be training yet, and thus she did not need to worry herself now.

As she quietly passed the Jedi, she nodded to Ash, noticing he was not meditating like the others. She smiled at him before turning away and took her own seat on a large rock. She crossed one leg over the other and sat upright, laying her hands in her lap and closed her eyes. It had been a few months since she took the time to do this, something she regretted, but the process was not foreign to her. She let her consciousness drift into the Force, listening to the rumblings of nature around her. The way the trees rustled in the wind, the way the birds sang, and presence of her peers around her, she allowed these things to calm her mind. She maintained this meditation, but remained conscious enough to be aware for when Aamaw would speak to them.

 

[Oren Zapan]

The Jedi Order is like Wroshyr Tree, the rings of the base tell the fabled history of our legacies. Trees would grow, some would die, but their leaves would be the seed to begin anew. The Jedi have risen and the Jedi have fallen, yet the force always remains. It is up to you, to grow the leaves to become the roots and the foundation that continues our sacred order, be their base.

His master's words rung through his mind often, while he was away, alone, or in classes. Oren's master had seen something in him, his ability to be there present for his students, never judgmental, but encouraging. He had never seen it in himself, yet he was grateful for his wisdom.

He sat, cross legged within a room full of young Jedi students, many of whom had lost their parents long ago. He had always felt for them, his master had brought him in when he was a child, the hardships that they all faced, yet they continued to look ahead with a smile. Such courage in the face of tragic past was the fuel that fired him to continue on.

Before his class sat various large boxes, much bigger than themselves. He would float them before them with a gentle smile. "Reach out, feel around the box, feel the energy that is inside of you, inside of me, behind you, in front of you, under the box." He'd close his eyes as his hand gently reached out feeling around the box, lifting it slightly in the air. "This is the force, the force that binds all living things. Calm yourself and feel." He'd say with a gentle tone towards the students who gasped and laughed in awe.

He could feel an urge through the force, a sensation calling out for them to meet. With a gentle lowering of his hand he'd bring the box down and onto the ground. "Come, let's take a field trip to the gardens," he'd smile as he stood up, watching as the children jumped up in glee and in full sprint towards the door.

"Passion, yet serenity," he'd say in a soothing voice, as he held out his hand towards them, "Single file, and quiet in the halls."

He'd reach out in the force as he lead his classroom through the halls and towards the exit that lead into the wonderful gardens of the temple. He could feel his own Padawan's presence within her quarters. With a gentle touch he'd call out to her through the force, "Nara," (@Charndley) "Come to the gardens."

He tried his best, but the students would rush out into a full sprint towards the floating Ithorian. "Woah! Master Jokolto, teach us! Teach us!" They'd beg and cheer as Oren hurried to catch up with them. His face would frown in a slight embarrassment as the markings upon his face would begin to flow a shade of bright red.

His eyes would catch a glance of several others arriving at the location, most he had never met before, yet one in particular caught his eye. Lily, he'd gulp as he pulled his eyes away from her in part hoping that she hadn't caught his unruly class. "Students," he'd say with a deep breath, "Patience is a virtue, in due time I'm sure our friend will teach you." He'd lower his hands, motioning for them to sit. "Let's listen and see what new things we can learn today."

 

[Kaerdunth Shir]

Of course, the ever anti-social Kaerdunth was in the library reading a data-pad that had captured his interest. The data-pad that had captured his attention was titled the ‘greater mysteries of the force’ and it was mostly philosophical speculations and discussion about the true nature of the force. It wasn’t hard core facts and it was mostly speculations and nothing of true substances or weight. Kaer was hoping that the data-pad would tell him about some force ability that has not be used in year, or at least point him towards the direction of some ancient tomb or something interesting that actually had substances. Ugh, he should not have judged data-pad by its title! Next time he would read the abstract or the summary to see if it was actually worth his time. Lesson learned. Well, if he could not find something within these text perhaps Kaer would be more lucky with historical records instead, he should have started with that. Returning the data pad to its spot, Kaer felt a wave of inspiration and teaching desire from outside the library. It gnawled at him, beckoning him to leave his solitude and the library and come out and learn from the teachers.

Curious, curious indeed. After he packed his things, Kaerdunth would fall this beacon of inspiration out to the gardens. Admittedly, Kaer spent most of his time in the library on the training grounds, and he rarely ventured out to the gardens, at least save for lessons. The pull brought him to the baffor grove were a group of people gathered around a floating Ithlorian. Kaer did not recognize anyone within the group, mainly because he spent most of his time alone in the library, training, or meditating on the force. Granted, that did prevent Kaer from making connections, and actually getting to know his peers, but eh oh well. I wonder what this would lead to, teaching or simple meditation? Having no reason not to Kaer would join the group, dropping down near the edge of the group, Kaer would cross his legs and closes his eyes; he allowed his consciousness to slip into the force. He would listen to all the sounds that nature had to offer, the running of a nearby stream, the sounds of pebbles and the gentle breathing of others. Kaer would momentarily feel at peace, but would soon grow tiresome of the quiet meditation, and would instead allow his thoughts to consume him.

 

[Larana Basai]

It was quiet here, and calm; the breeze that blew wasn't even enough to rustle the leaves in the trees. However, inside a storm had made an appearance, her entire body ached with impatience, eyes transfixed on the treeline that sat just beyond her reach. This was the farthest Master Ris would let her wander from the temple alone and her peer, Kalen, was nowhere to be found. It was absolute torture to have to remain within the confines of the Jedi Temple when her heart was desperate for adventure. It was truly one of her worst desires and quite often led her to trouble, but today she was determined not to cause any stress. Larana was truly an intelligent student who wanted to succeed, but it was hard to keep her adventurous spirit contained; there was an entire planet to be explored and yet here she was, sat on a rock with her face rested in the palm of her hand, desperation written on her face.

Just as she was certain she couldn't stand another minute of it, a call came to her in the Force. It was peaceful and, for a moment, calmed her racing heart and forced her attention to be directed back to the meditation gardens behind her. They were a place she often avoided, for she was never capable of sitting still long enough to make any sort of meaningful connection, no matter how long her Master forced her to stay. "You need to concentrate, Larana." She would say, arms folded across her chest. "If you cannot focus than we will sit here until you can. It is important you learn to slow down and reflect."

Larana inhaled and held her breath, focusing on the summons she felt radiating from behind her. This time it felt different and, no matter how much she wanted to ignore it and remain exactly where she was, she couldn't. Instead, she picked herself up and followed it in silence until she reached a rock formation where the Ithorian Jedi Knight hovered in peaceful meditation. There were others around him, all seated to wait patiently for him to address them. He was the one who had called them here and so she sat too, her hands folded in her lap, drawing on the waves of calm he created.

 

[Tava Rhys]

Tava had no profound thoughts or anything remotely related to spirituality or whatever. All she knew was that there was some sort of Jedi gathering and she was late. She had been late the last time there had been a class of some sort, and now she was late again. Tava quickly tossed on her robes and rushed towards the focal point, having felt the pulse and calling.

She had been sent to doing toilet cleaning duty because she had wandered off yet again. Tava still sported a blaster bolt wound from the incident at the warehouse on Coruscant, and she still couldn’t work out what those other ‘Jedi’ were that waved their red sabers around.

No one believed her, so she was promptly sent to clean toilets for a week. Tava didn’t complain, but it was getting dreadfully boring. She hoped whatever this gathering was would be a change of pace.

As usual, she had no weapons on her, and she skidded to a halt, almost barreling right into one of the poor younglings. Tava stopped herself, slightly out of breath as she got a grip and looked over at the Ithorian.

 

[Vesper]

_________________

Sitting alone beneath the shade of the bonshyyyr trees sat Vesper, her legs tucked beneath her and a book splayed out on the grass in front. While she should have probably been studying some of the Jedi texts, instead Vesper was reading one of the latest entries in a book series she lowkey loved: Twenty-Five Hues of Red.

Just as she was getting to one of the good parts, Vesper felt Aamaw's pulse touch her mind and couldn't keep herself from cracking a tiny smile. It had been some time since she had seen her friend Aamaw and it seemed either luck or the force had placed them both together today.

As she arrived Vesper couldn't help but notice the amount of people who had beck'd the call as it were. It was nice to see so many others, Vesper had spent the better part of the last few months alone, helping people out in the galaxy. Tiresome work to be sure, but worthwhile.

Taking a place near the Ithorian Knight, Vesper waved at him cheerfully. "It's nice to see you again Aamaw," Her smile was back, there didn't seem like there was much Vesper could do to keep it away now. "I look forward to seeing why you called us here."

 

[Juniper]

Nara was sat cross-legged in her quarters when the nudge came from her master. Not in meditation, she'd not quite yet managed to lose herself in the Force in the way that she'd seen others do. Everything was a new mystery to which she didn't seem to have the first clue. A new language she'd never heard and couldn't hope to understand. The datapad in her lap had shown that. How long had she stared at it, hoping to make sense of all of it? Everything she read answered one question by posing a hundred more. The gardens, at the very least, would provide a little fresh air and a break from her youthful confusion. Maybe.

It didn't take her long to arrive in the grove. She felt pulled there, something just carrying her in a current towards it. The pulse from earlier, or her master's command. The gardens in their entirety still amazed her, from the verdant, colourful plant life to the creatures that ran through them. So much life, in so many different forms.

She saw her master straight away, trying to control the gaggle of students. A bunch of excited, happy kids. It made her smile a little, the side of her mouth peaking up. She caught the gaze of her master and gave him a little half-wave, not wanting to distract him too much. He had his hands full, judging by the excited looks on all those faces.

Instead, she found a place aside, taking in the collection of people around her. It felt better to actually do something with others, instead of being cooped up alone. Even without conversation, she felt part of something. Sinking down to the grass, crossing her legs again. Taking a deep, calming breath. The air was so much more alive and fresh. Her eyes were drawn to the Ithorian, watching him float above the ground. The words were on the tip of her tongue, how are you doing that? But she managed to hold it back, just let the thought blossom in her mind. Instead, she listened to the birds sing. To the rustle of leaves and squeak of little creatures. To everything, filtering this new world through her mind, trying to make sense of it all.

 

[Aamaw Jokolto]

Craning his head down to look at the excitable younglings crowding around his meditation spot, his chest rumbling with the sound of suppressed laughter as a young wookiee suspiciously waving a stick through the air beneath him to make sure he was really floating before jumping back with a yowl of surprise, Aamaw unfolded himself and released his hold on the Force so that he landed on his feet with a soft whump. Kneeling so that he was closer to the height of the Younglings with eyestalks crinkling in an Ithorian smile, Aamaw reached out and nudged the younglings back toward Knight Zapan(@Oren Zapan), pausing a moment to muss their hair fondly. When he spoke it was in the musical stereoscopic trills and rumbles of Ithorese, though the vocoder on his hump soon came to life with a warm Core-accented baritone voicetranslating his words to Basic.

"I will speak with the Crechemaster and see if I have their permission; I cannot even begin to imagine the havoc I'd bring down upon the Temple with a clan of flying younglings."

Turning to regard the Knights and Padawans that had answered his call in the Force, Aamaw bowed in greeting and respect for his peers before standing tall and calling his indyup wood staff to his hands with a gust of swirling air. Meeting each individuals gaze for a moment, the Ithorian Knight let out a rumbling sigh and turned his head toward the Temple as he gathered his thoughts before speaking.

"What makes a Jedi?"

The question was asked earnestly, not spoken with condescension or the rhetorical air of someone not particularly caring about what the other thought. It hung in the peaceful air of the grove, inviting each of them to puzzle over the question. As they though, Aamaw began to walk through the grove around them, his staff leading the way and lightly tapping against the stones and loam.

"Some would say it is the Lightsaber. The weapon of a Jedi with a heart of Kyber, it is embedded so deeply into the symbols and history of our Order that it has become ubiquitous. Even here in this grove nearly everyone has a saber clipped at their side; if you were to reach for them in the Force, the chiming of so many Kyber in harmony would be deafening " Eyestalks crinkling in a smile as he looked at one particular youngling, a Theelin with wild orange hair, Aamaw continued. "I cannot begin to tell you how many beings I have encountered on my journeys across the galaxy or the number of promising Initiates I have encountered on Search and sent to the Temple, but I can promise you that the first thing they always ask about is the lightsaber. "

Circling back around to the center of the grove, the Ithorian settled himself against a small boulder and met the eyes of a Padawan(@Tava Rhys) wearing rumpled robes and shrouded in the scent of cleaning supplies. "I have been a member of this Order for over thirty years... would it surprise any of you to know that I have never built a lightsaber, or even found a Kyber that resonated with me? Would you say it makes me any less a Jedi?" Several of the younglings gasped in astonishment and Aamaw chuckled while sweeping his eyes across the older Padawans and Knights before returning to the Matukai that the temple rumormill claimed had vowed to never wield any weapon she had not been born.

"The Lightsaber is a symbol and a powerful tool, and while there is no doubt the Kyber at their heart can be treasured companions, the saber itself is just that. A tool. A weapon. But it's use or absence does not a Jedi make. We are so much more than that.

But if not the Lightsaber, what makes a Jedi? Perhaps it is our ability to drift along the currents of the Force in meditation, to see glimpses of the future or the past and the connection at the heart of all things when we are still and at peace?"

The Ithorian Knight then turned to meet the gaze of a Padawan( @Larana Basai ) and Knight ( @Ash Valentine ) whose disquiet at the meditative air of the grove had been apparent since they entered it, and offered a reassuring trill.

"My own master was an Aleena named Marachuna and she was without a doubt as energetic and, I dont mind telling you, insane as other members of her species. She had to be moving, always, as if the act of sitting still for even a moment was some horrible torture that she couldnt bear. I remember asking her once how she could ever meditate on the will of the Force when she couldnt even stay sitting for a crash landing in the waters of Dac, and instead of answering she showed me the truth; the figure eights she wore into the carpet with her feet , the droid parts scattered around the hold of the ship that she'd assemble and disassemble, the endless repetition of katas I thought were meant to teach me discipline - she poured herself into the Force, letting it guide her steps and her strikes and her actions, became one with the movement of the gears and the air and the Life around her. Her moving meditation did not look or feel like the harmonious serenity I experience in my own meditations, but the Force spoke to her and moved through her all the same. Five years ago she died after pouring all that she was into healing a number of beings caught in a saboteurs explosion in the Roche asteroid field mining platforms. Was she any less a Jedi for having a different way of hearing the Force speak with her?"

Pausing a moment at the surge of memories Aamaw embraced the love and the grief and anger at the loss of his Master, allowed them to wash over him in the Force like a tidal wave, and then with a slow exhalation released the emotions into the flow of the Force. Wiping at his eye with the corner of his hood, the Ithorian took a shuddering breath and continued.

"Perhaps it is our dedication to defending the defenseless and protecting the galaxy we have sworn an oath to defend, but that ignores the countless sentients who've given their lives as soldiers and security officers or even simply defending their families. If not by our weapon, or our serenity, or our deeds, what does mark us as Jedi? The answer, my siblings, is our Code. The Jedi Code is the single defining trait that binds all Jedi together in an Order of purpose and faith."

Tilting his head back to catch a sunbeam through the canopy of black leaves overhead, Aamaw basked in the light and radiated a feeling of comforting warmth and faith and home as he spoke the words.

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

It is deceptively simple, but those who walk the Jedi Path know that nothing is ever truly as it may seem. Tell me, all of you, what do you think of the first maxim; emotion, yet peace? What does it mean to you, and how does it shape your actions as a Jedi?"

 

[Rhea Nadal]

The number of people filing in to the garden was a little surprising; it made it clear just how much the Order had continued to grow, even in the short time she'd been there; just four years past, it wasn't terribly unusual for the Temple to feel near-empty if many of the senior members were out on missions. She couldn't help but find herself smiling a bit as Jedi young and old came 'round, particularly the rambunctious crowd of younglings who looked upon the hovering Ithorian as though he were some sort of mythical creature, two of them plopping down on either side of her as their teacher bade them sit.

When the older knight bowed to his guests, she returned the gesture with a deep nod; and awkward sort of motion from her, but a genuine feeling of respect behind it all the same. And when he spoke, she listened; what was a Jedi? He brought up the lightsaber and it's notoriety, and she could feel her cheeks flush somewhat at her pride for having taken to it's use so quickly; or rather, the use of the training saber against droids and remotes. Her feelings were eased somewhat, however, by his descriptions full of love for his master; so different from what one envisioned a true Jedi to be, yet a true Jedi all the same, and she was moved by his clear admiration for the woman. It gave her some small spark of hope for herself, that maybe she wasn't as lost a cause as she feared she might be.

When he recited the code, and asked about it's first tenet, she gave a quick look around the verdant courtyard before raising her hand. "Er, well... I think it's supposed to mean that... we can't fully control or divorce ourselves from how we feel, but, at the same time, we don't have to let those feelings control us, either. We can love without obsession, or grieve without despair. We can let ourselves feel anger, without it turning to a blind fury. Or that we can feel fear, without fear of fear itself. ...Er, Master." Her answer given, she felt suddenly self-conscious, and retracted her hand. It was the 'right' answer, she felt, but at the same time felt it a hypocritical one, as she had not been able to embrace it herself.

 

[Larana Basai]

It was not a secret that Larana had trouble when it came to meditation and nurturing a connection to the force, but it still spoke to her. It came to her in ways that she felt most others could not understand, but perhaps the Ithorian master did. His words reminded her that it was the force that had called to her as a small child on Andara, speaking through the restless winds that blew through the trees and the waters, ever moving, across the river beds. Even through the turmoils she had endured, the force spoke peace into her by beckoning her to press forward; to become ever moving like the waters and the trees that surrounded her. Larana had found her connection to the force through her adventurous heart and perhaps it was okay if it continued to speak to her in non-traditional ways.

His words provided a sense of reassurance and eased her restless spirit for that moment, making it a little easier to endure the tranquil gardens that she would have normally done anything to avoid. Her lips curled into the faintest of smiles, nodding her head in a silent 'thank you'. For the first time in a while, she felt a weight lifted from her shoulders and her posture straighten, a hint of confidence returning. Larana's path might have been different, but it was going to be alright.

She listened without interruption to the remainder of what he had to say and contemplated, for several silent moments, the question he presented. How did she interpret the first line of their code? It wasn't something she had ever really thought about, but her response came surprisingly easy.

"'There is no emotion'. I feel like this line of the Code could be easy to misunderstand, Master Aamaw." Her eyes remained fixed on the Ithorian master, not quite confident enough to address the entire class. It wasn't often she spoke out near others, unless it was Kalen. "We know, as sentient beings, that we are not and cannot be devoid of emotions; they are an essential part of what makes us who we are. I have come to believe that this line, instead, asks us to learn to understand our emotions. To face them with a state of calm instead of to act upon them without care." She pause to take a nervous breath, but continued. "It is easy for one to let their emotions control the way they respond in certain situations, but we, as Jedi, cannot allow this for more than a few reasons. I think the most important reason is that we are, in the most simplest of terms, protectors of peace."

For the first time since she had started to speak, she looked around her to the Jedi, of all ages, who had gathered in the gardens. "I cannot protect or nurture peace if I cannot find it within myself."

 

[Ash Valentine]

Ash smiled in return at Lilly (@Jowsh ) and kept watching as more and more Jedi and Jedi hopeful's began filtering in to the clearing. He was a little anxious about this. He had some experience with some untrained force users, and a few had been especially acute empaths in the force. He didn't want to broadcast any inner turmoil to the younger ones, this was after all a place of peace, and he didn't need the younger ones to think that the people they looked up to and asked for guidance of, didn't know or didn't fully believe in what they were saying. So he carefully hid is presence, at least from the younglings.

He nodded in return to the Ithorian, never having actually caught his name though he had been around since Ash had first joined the order. What is a Jedi? Might as well ask yourself, What is a Man? Or sentient he supposed, considering his peers were mixed in both gender and species. A Jedi is an ideal, a person who does good and has self actualized. Again, something Ash felt he could never live up to, or never become. He was knighted, but he didn't feel like he deserved it. A Jedi gave themselves over to the Force to guide them but to him the Force was intrusive, he didn't want it to dictate his actions or his fate, he wanted it to be a tool and not whatever semi-sentient cosmic metaphysical entity it actually was.

And he uses it as a tool to save lives, and he would be content if that was all the Force ever was. But it isn't, it is so much more that he doesn't understand or doesn't try to comprehend because the enormity of it is overwhelming. What is a Jedi if he couldn't give himself over to the Force? 'A poor excuse for one that's for sure.' He thought sullenly.

The code was always another conundrum. His thoughts on it were never positive. Not because he didn't believe in what it represented, but because he didn't believe in the words themselves. Emotion, yet peace was a wishy washy phrase that managed to say nothing at all. The most meaning he got out of the line was the idea that there can be both, but he was always cautioned against emotion because of its draw to the darkside so which was it? Are we allowed emotion because the code says so or are we supposed to suppress it because it could be a path to the darkside? Ash was an emotional man, but he didn't want to be some kind of Sith wannabe. He wanted to help people and save lives, he wanted to be a Jedi but the peace of mind was never there.

But he couldn't say any of those thoughts could he? So many students and Padawans as of yet un-jaded to the galaxy don't need his cynicism. So he just nodded to the two Padawans who had already spoken, "Very good." He agreed without any vigor, nothing to indicate he actually believed he agreed with the words.

His mood dropped as he absently squeezed his stress ball again, sad that he couldn't find meaning in something so essential.

 

[Brahe Sienar]

It was at this moment that Brahe rushed into the clearing, clearly distraught and apologetic that he had missed the 'memo' to meet here, on time. Brahe had a bad habit of letting his mind race at a thousand kilometers an hour, whether that was because he was contemplating the next modification to his starship, or he was contemplating how he'd spend the evening likely hitting on some girl. In fact, the pulse Master Aamaw had sent into the force was completely overlooked by the brash young Jedi, who had clearly been enamored with working on his starship rather than meditating like his master had requested he do more often.

For Brahe, the serenity of the forest was alien to him- he felt most alive in the cockpit of a starfighter or with repair tool in hand. The screaming whirr of a twin ion engine as the miniaturized hyper matter annihilation reactor powered it's insane speed potential gave him focus more than the daily ebb and flow of the life around him. In fact, he was only here on a reminder from his Master Mi'la, a message sent out into the force urging him to attend this lesson. If she found out later that he had been late, well....she'd probably express extreme disappointment. Why Master Aamaw's message fell on deaf ears while Mi'la's reached Brahe so readily were because his emotions fueled that connection deeply. Unlike many padawans who had just been assigned a master, Brahe had spent the last 5 years of his life under Mi'la's tutelage; she was more of a foster mother to Brahe than anyone likely realized.

Getting his breathing under control, he bowed profusely in front of Master Aamaw.

"I apologize for being late, master! I did not mean to disrespect!"

It was clear that Brahe was covered in starfighter grease- a clear side effect of having spent his entire day working on THAT, instead of meditation.

 

[Oren Zapan]

It seemed a whole score of Jedi had heard the call, it had taken nearly all his effort and the help of the Ithorian knight to get the children to begin to sit and calm themselves for the lesson at hand. But, to make matters worse Oren watched as a young woman came rushing into the area nearly crashing into one of his children. The Knight did the best to urge his temptation to frown and instead walked along the rows, placing a soft hand against the woman's shoulder, smiling before speaking in a gentle tone, "Such excitement," he could smell the cleaning supplies that clung to her clothing, "I don't blame you for rushing here so quickly." (@Sreeya )

The knight would pull away, walking slowly among the crowd, listening to the words of the Ithorian and his teachings. It was true that a lightsaber did not make a Jedi, though it was what most considered them to be. There was still so little they truly knew about the Jedi of old, but based on what little he did know, it was reasonable to say that some versions of the order had lost this ideal. They were not soldiers nor were they politicians. They were all living breathing extensions of the force itself, bound to it and molded by it.

He'd feel his own tension in his heart when Aamaw mentioned his master's death. Oren's own had past away nearly a decade ago and it was still something he dealt with and struggled with. I miss you, he'd think to himself as he turned to face out towards the crowd as he walked--doing his best to hide the feelings.

He'd smile and gently wave his hand towards his own personal padawan, things had been rough, but he felt their connection growing strong and he would never admit it, but he could never have asked for a better student (@Charndley ). But, his attention was turned to the message that was proposed to the room, how they lived by the first tenant of the code. It was one that seemed simple on the surface, but could be talked about for years with little progress.

He nodded in approval towards Rhea's answer, though his attention focused in on Ash, a man he did not know. He could sense his mood dipping, as if he wanted to speak out, but didn't want to rock the boat. He would wait for Larana to finish her own interpretation before he moved in to speak, but it seemed the force didn't will it to be.

A boy would come sprinting in covered in what Oren could only assume to be grease and oil from a starship. In some ways it reminded him of himself in his younger years, always eager and stowed away within the corner of the library. He would simply nod and smile, "It's okay, please sit and join us."

He'd turn towards the group, "You mentioned the phrase 'there is no emotion', this is an axiom that was held by our brothers and sisters of the past. One that we know is not true, we are living beings, we all feel emotions regardless of what we think or say." He'd pause, letting his words flow out slowly, "We all make emotional decisions at times, we all see the world differently from each other. A I believe that is nearly impossible to always be in the center, it is understanding which emotion we are currently feeling, accepting that it is okay to feel that way and to understand what lead us to this feeling that we find peace."

He'd tilt his head, "I believe that through the denying of one's emotions you cut yourself off from the force, you lose part of your humanity and thus it becomes harder to sympathize or empathize with ones in need. This is why I believe the Jedi of old fell." He'd turn towards Ash, his words directed towards him.

"I believe that this tenant, connects and co-exists with all of the following tenants, but I would like to focus on the line, 'chaos, yet harmony'." His words would hang in the air for a short bit, "We all feel chaos, the turmoil in our lives, within the ecosystems and the galaxy around us. But, how do we find the harmony, the peace and tranquility that lays between all this commotion and movement hmm?" He'd focus on Ash, "Tell me sir, what is your chaos and how do you look beyond the surface to find harmony?" (@Shax )

 

[Ash Valentine]

Ash listened patiently, lips twitching in amusement as the new arrival ran in before it returned to its stoic appearance. He was still wrapped up in his little world, but he was brought out again as the teacher began to recite his lecture. He scoffed internally at the notion that understanding brought peace. Missing entirely the part about understanding yourself, though found himself agreeing about denying your emotions. Chaos, Yet Harmony was another line he disliked. Again it was wishy washy, as if trying to make sense out of faulty binary. He would have continued to remain quiet, allow others to speak before he silently slinked off into the crowd to return to the temple. Yet, being addressed directly prevented him from doing so. He might have given platitudes or regurgitated what he had been taught while in response to his peer, but he had something telling him that it would be a silly idea.

His face, just for an instant, twisted into a hideous, ugly snarl directed towards Oren, (@TWD26 ) before it returned to its natural, less ugly grimace. "I..." He began, no longer suppressing his swirling emotions. He looked around again, at the younger ones who didn't deserve to see him have an outburst or a meltdown, and yet couldn't stop himself from rasping out the words.

"I find your so called 'harmony' in the midst of a battlefield! Surrounded by the dead and dying!" He spat, face returning to that ugly snarl. Regretting it almost as he says it, he couldn't or wouldn't stop himself as he continued. "I spend my days amidst the ugliness of the galaxy, trying to do some modicum of good while abiding by our tenets, and yet I find I have killed more men with the force than I have saved!" Granted he had never counted his kills not that they were particularly numerous, and after treating so many people they all tended to blend together into one or two people, lending itself to this stress fueled delusion.

"Even now in this place of so called peace I find myself more anxious and edgy than in the middle of a gang war and surrounded by the smell of burnt corpses!" He practically yelled. "Last I was on Nar Shaddaa I-" He cut himself off. He had been too far away from a man about to murder a woman, and so used the force to plunge a shard of glass into his eye, killing him. He had enough presence of mind to not say that in front of the younger ones.

He calmed, slightly, and continued. "I am a Jedi Knight," his chin quivered, not truly believing he deserved it, and his one good eye stayed locked with Oren's. "All through my training I have asked my master, my peers, even the masters themselves. What is peace?! And they give me platitudes like 'It is something you must find out for yourself' before telling me to meditate when all I see when doing just that is the face of a little girl I couldn't save! So you tell me, oh wise Jedi! How do I find Harmony?!" He growled, a few tears rolling down the left side of his face only. He directed his question to the whole group spreading his arms towards Aamaw, and the other knights as well in some strange yet genuine appeal for help, but didn't stick around to hear an answer. "I'm sorry..." He mumbled, looking truly morose before he began picking his way through the group, intent on leaving.

That was low of him, he berated himself. None deserved that kind of response when trying to teach a lesson, and yet Ash couldn't stop.

 

[Jacob Freiso]

"Emotion, yet peace." "Chaos, yet harmony." too much was happening at once for Jacob to obtain either of the things previously mentioned. Worse yet, he was sitting up right and feeling discomfort in his lower back, he felt distracted and couldn't clearly formulate an answer for a few minutes. He was reaching around trying to scratch an unreachable itch when finally an answer came to him in the form of shouting. His fellow knight, who he somewhat recognized from an earlier encounter during a food based encounter, shouted at another of their rank following an inquiry he entirely missed.

"I don't think it's possible to move past loss or tragedy, at least not in any real sense where you stop reflecting on it or being hurt by the memory. It's not possible to put a sudden halt to the flooding of emotions or the currents of chaos, there is no quick solution to conflicts both inside of ones self or in the world around us." He didn't look at anyone when he spoke, but his words were focused on Ash. He didn't consider himself wise by any means, but he wanted to help his fellow knight in any way he could. "I think you have to let those emotions flow naturally, facing the memories and the failures you face. Much like you must sometimes flow with the currents of combat when faced with impossible odds. But I believe it's not just about blocking these things out or not letting them control you, you should control them. You should seek what exactly these feelings are, what is the source of the conflict, and guide it naturally. If you fill the negative within your heart with something positive, be it a lesson on your failures or a memory of your success, it will ultimately make you stronger. I believe that is where Harmony can be found."

His eyes had been a bit narrowed and focused as he spoke, unsure of what exactly he was saying. Once he finished speaking he grew wide eyed, realizing he entirely had forgotten about the pain on his lower back and that he may have spoken a bit longer than he should have. "Uh, but yeah that's what I think." He began to stretch around some to ease the tension he was feeling, "Hopefully this will help someone." He thought to himself as he began to relax.