Ask Jedi Outposts and Where to Find Them

[Celesté Naberrie]

The abandoned Jedi Outpost on D'Qar must have been one of the reasons the Resistance chose to hole up on the jungle planet in the days of the First Order. Though, it was secluded on another continent far from the smoldering crater that had once been the Resistance base. Celesté had come back here for one reason and one only: the hope of locating the planet Ahch-to. The planet where the Jedi Order was born had been briefly rediscovered by Jedi Grand Master Luke Skywalker over a century ago. But its location died with his apprentice, Rey Skywalker, and had been lost to their Order since.

Celesté didn't know the first thing about how to retrieve the planet's location. Her best theory involved retracing Luke and Rey's steps. Visiting worlds they had visited. D'Qar was where the map to Luke Skywalker, and Ahch-to, had been pieced back together, so it was good as any place to start. And at least she didn't have to search for it alone. An old colleague, Master Dolmar, had suggested she bring along his Padawan learner for the mission. He believed there was something she could teach his young apprentice. She disagreed, but the Force worked in mysterious ways.

Perhaps an opportunity would present itself. Or perhaps it was staring them in the face.

Presently, the two Jedi stood on the edge of a stepped shoreline, yellowed grass crunched beneath their feet. A wide, dark river lay between them and the abandoned outpost on the other side. Celesté could think of a few ways across, but she would be a poor substitute teacher if she gave away all the answers. "Before you lies a conundrum, Padawan," Celesté said with a mild hint of amusement in the smile tugging up the corners of her mouth. "These older outposts were built to keep unwelcome outsiders out of them. See how the shore is too narrow and jagged for ships to land? There's not even a dock or a landing strip for a boat. But there must be someway in. Theories?" @Altaris

 

[Zayn Talis]

Zayn was going increasingly accustomed to these field missions - and the Corellian Padawan was more than happy to accompany Celeste to D’Qar. Of course, he knew precious little about the Knight he was traveling with - not least of all because she wasn’t exactly the type to hang out around the Jedi Temples or academies where Zayn spent most of his time. Nevertheless, he was confident they would get to know each other well enough during their search for Ahch-To.

If nothing else, it would be an opportunity to gain some more field experience with someone that hasn’t his master.

Anticipating no lack of hiking and rough terrain along their journey, Zayn had packed and dressed accordingly - carrying a pack with basic supplies and his gold-bladed lightsaber across his shoulder. He wore a light-tan colored Jedi tunic and matching pants, accompanied by a pair of fingerless gloves and brown boots. The Corellian’s hair was styled into its usual side fade, while the collar of his tunic dipped down low enough to reveal the tattoos that were inked along the side of his neck.

Zayn kept both hands casually tucked into his pants pockets, hazel eyes cast out over the dark river that separated them from the outpost on the other side. He glanced over towards Celeste when the Knight began to speak - arching a brow inquisitively. He didn’t miss the hint of amusement in her voice, and it was matched in that way that his own lips started to tug ever-so-slightly upwards.

Posed with the question of how to get across, Zayn turned his attention back to the river - squinting as he stared out across the water. The current was far too to make swimming an option, and like Celeste said, nothing remotely the size of the ship they arrived in would be able to land on the other side. He did note, however, the scattered islets that jutted out of the water between the two sides. For a good ten seconds, Celeste would be able to see the Padawan completely engrossed in his own thoughts - a very focused look on his face as he pieced together some revolutionary solution to the problem ahead of them.

“Okay bet.” He finally said, proceeding to take a few long steps backwards and away from the precipice. Without a word, Zayn took in a deep breath and sprinted forward - revealing that the result of his very deep thinking was to simply try jumping across.

The Force flowed into the Corellian Padawan’s lower half as he sprang from the edge of the cliff - the jump carrying him an unnatural distance over the water and towards one of the islets closest to him. Whether it was by skill or sheer dumb luck, Zayn managed to reach the islet he was aiming for - his boots touching mere inches from the edge. He stumbled forward a step or two before bracing himself against a boulder - saving himself from falling off the perilously narrow strip of land.

He glanced back over his shoulder, flashing Celeste a wide, satisfied grin.

@Mockingjay

 

[Celesté Naberrie]

Celesté smirked in spite of herself. This Padawan was more like her than she wanted to admit. Many a time during her training, her own Master had presented her a conundrum with a more obvious solution, but the younger Celesté was a creature of impulse and straightforwardness. She would have jumped to. The older Celesté merely kept her arms folded, standing just at the edge of the water. She didn't jump to follow him.

"A hair further and you might have slipped and fallen in," she mused. "I can tell your Master has taught you to amplify your body with the Force. Let me teach you something else."

She unfolded her arms and then, slowly, brought them together again like two waves folding in on each other. As she did, the Force came to her as ribbons of light, weaving around her arms and following the downward motion of her hands towards the water's surface. As the ribbons suffused the water, it began to bubble and roil midway between herself and Zayn.

Then, suddenly, as she pulled her hands apart, the water split and a solid pathway bridging the two islets rose from the depths bearing worn marks indicating the ancient symbol of Ashla - the light side of the Force. Celesté dragged in a deep breath. She had learned how to control the White Current from the Fallanassi during her Barash, but using it was still taxing. She still had so much to learn.

"The Jedi who made these old temples always designed a way for their fellows to return home," she explained. She could not help the tight smile that pinched her face. "Next time, try that first."

She crossed the bridge to his side and took a long look up at the temple. There were no obvious doors or windows for them to enter. Which meant the way inside was likely hidden with another Force puzzle. There had to be markings somewhere nearby, carved into the rock, or perhaps a tree, that would indicate where they should try. While she looked, she decided to make small talk. There was no use being on this mission with the Padawan if they didn't get to know anything about one another.

"I knew Master Dolmar when I was a Padawan," Celesté said. "Cryptic old bat. My Master wasn't as fond of field missions as he was, so I was often paired with him to sharpen my investigative skills." She briefly lost herself in a glimmering vision of the past. "I'd never heard a man ask so many questions in my life." She smiled again at Zayn. "But I suppose you know that. How is your training with him proceeding?" @Altaris