- Joined
- Oct 10, 2015
- Messages
- 438
- Reaction score
- 140
"Death, yet the Force."
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:: BIOGRAPHY ::
In the waning days of the battle for Tython, the aging Catharian Jedi Saari Kuum founded a newborn boy cradled in the arms of a dead Echani woman, whom lay next to a dead Thyrsian male upon the planet of Phu (or Ophuchi). Both clearly the parents, both clearly executed, presumably by the very murderer the Jedi had been pursuing at the time. Tiny whimpers caught the old Jedi's heart, and with zero hesitation the boy was hurried to a Temple on Champala for postnatal care and, Force willing, a good home.
Saari named the boy Jubei, translated as "Lucky" in Catharese.
Kuum noted the boy's potential for Force sensitivity to the staff that would care for him, a sensitivity that did not go unnoticed the moment he began to crawl. A lifelong process of learning the ways of the Jedi began the moment he took his first steps. Incidentally, Jubei would become one of the first of the new breed of Jedi following the devastation that had befallen Tython.
"I should have died that day... along with my parents. I've been told it was the Will of the Force that Tuum was there to save me... tell me, was it also the Will of the Force that my parents were there to die?"
His earliest memory is of panic and confusion, smoke and fire, blood and carnage. He was only a handful of years old when the Exiles invaded the only home he'd known, Champala and it's people would never be the same. It was this very event that drove his unnaturally positive and outgoing personality to retreat into himself and became as stoic as stone. He would go months with out saying a single word, days with out eating a single bite, wounds would go untreated, he refused to bathe or cut his hair and all semblance of the fun-loving child he was had gone completely. He wondered aimlessly about the Temple and surrounding encampments as they were rebuilt, more resembling a feral sapien than a budding Jedi.
The Jedi instructors at the temple thought the trauma of the event had damaged him beyond repair, even kicking him out of a training session based solely upon the fact that his stench was disrupting the other pupils.
He didn't go back.
Young Jubei might have died of self-neglect had it not been for the caring support of one Chagrian family in particular who would soon become his guiding light.
"Tragedy often paves the way for enlightenment, by contrast this must be so otherwise we would never recognize it as such. That's all I have to say about it."
Master Tuum's hope for the whimpering newborn to find a good home had finally been fulfilled. For the next decade of his life he lived comfortably with his adopted Chagrain family; Mother Lyma the gentle Botanist, Father Ghanda the proprietor of medical supplies for the Temple, and daughter Fenna. Another adoption shortly joined, a Meerian girl named Aln whom Jubei thought to be quite odd. The only real displeasure about living with Chagrains is their lack of tastebuds, meaning the food was always awful. One trick he heard about was to add powdered Lambro Shark flesh for flavor. The trick worked, the food was no longer tasteless but there were unforeseen side effects...
It was during these years he developed a tremendous lung capacity and exceptional swimming skills having spent so much time in Champala's world-oceans, not to mention several sabbaticals to the capitol city Tidros. He also learned, as best he could, to speak Catharese in honor of the old Jedi.
"Family is important. No, not just family... loyalty is important. It's a deeper, fuller understanding of commitment, of acceptance, of tolerance, of empthy, of unselfishness. Family means loyalty."
Two years after he was kicked out of a training session, a reinvigorated Jubei returned to the temple with an insatiable eagerness to catch up on what he had missed during his absence. Though he had lived in the temples vicinity with his adopted family he simply didn't have the confidence to face the instructors after having last seen him in such a pitiful state. But things were different now, he was different now. Roughly the age of 8 and already no longer a child, even in his short years he had become precocious beyond belief. Traumatic events tend to do that to people, mature them, and for a child that affect is tenfold.
Studies picked up quickly. Each lesson was inhaled, each lecture devoured, each exercise, instruction and session ravenously consumed and assimilated. With each passing day came a new understanding of the Jedi code and from this framework he concluded that using a lightsaber offensively could only ever lead to the darkside, so his focus in lightsaber combat would be on the defensive stylings of Form III - Soresu.
This unnatural appetite for knowledge didn't stop until the temple got word of the battles on Carida and the apparent end of Exile presents in Republic space. By then Jubei was nearing his 18th year and felt that things were, once again, different.
In the downtime of his formative years he took it upon himself to investigate about the old Jedi that saved his life, and so finally decided that it was time to visit Cathar.
"I had known for years the old man was dead, but that wasn't the point. My mother and father told me: What makes a good person has little to do with who he is, but more who he surrounds himself with."
The Catharian Jedi was survived by a single son, Jubei was able to narrow his search to one of the southeastern prefectures of the central continent. The planet of Cathar seemed to be the virtual opposite of Champala. No more sea cities or deep diving, just vast stretches of savannas as far as the eye could see. Fortunately these expanses were sporadically dotted with city-trees large enough to house and sustain thousands. Coordinates lead him to a relatively smaller city-tree nearer the coastline, such as it was. Few officials and tribal elders knew of his arrival before hand, but it wasn't long before the whole tree was aware of the shiny-skinned Jedi visiting their humble home. Saari's son Kerrn, who was himself by now an old man and knew well of the baby boy his father had saved, was the first to greet Jubei. That very night he was treated to some of the most vivid and exciting storytelling his ears would have the pleasure of hearing, grand tales of valor and eyewitness accounts of selfless bravery. He and Kerrn, along with his two daughters, were quick friends and despite his best efforts to learn the language, he was duly informed that his Catharese pronunciations sounded like "a snout full of rocks", similar to a Chagrian. A mistake that was humbly corrected with much practice.
Catharians were by far the proudest peoples Jubei had yet known, they revered those of their numbers who left their homes to make the galaxy a better place, and Jedi were special among these ranks. Over the coming weeks it seemed any Catharian he talked to had a story they were eager to tell about the great Jedi Saari Kuum. He came to learn more and more the longer he stayed, one aspect in particular interested Jubei to no end: the Kuum lineage were smiths by trade. When Jubei finally inquired Kerrn about the topic the old man's furry face lit up with immeasurable dignity. From that point forward it was all Kerrn could talk about, from ore refineries to smelting factories, forging presses to cold casting and all the finer subtleties in between. At a certain point Jubei had to question why, though the reason wasn't difficult to deduce when societal customs prevent any females from entering into professions requiring physical exertion, family trade or not. It was a hardened reminder that much of the galaxy remained regressive when it came to personal freedoms and equal justice. Still, Kerrn's two daughters could never carry on the Kuum family trade, making his motivations painfully obvious. It wasn't long after reaching this conclusion that his assertion was proven correct when Kerrn explained this hapless situation in great detail, ending with the proposition that Jubei shoulder the legacy of an entire bloodline.
18 years young. A whole life ahead. No pressure.
Jubei acquiesced and was ceremoniously adopted by Kerrn into the Kuum lineage, allowing him to be officially recognized by the local elders to carry on the family trade. He then spent the next two years learning skills and techniques honed by entire generations, methods and procedures refined time and time again through the ages.
Over the months he found himself most comfortable with a hammer in one hand and a red-hot ingot clamped in the other, the scent of molten metal thick in the air and blasts of heat that could melt the fur off a wookie. Never had he felt more at home than when hearing the clang of hammer to anvil. In a way it was like returning to the Jedi temple all over again as he absorbed every minuscule bit of information he could get from Kerrn. Eventually, however, the old Catharian's health began to decline.
Eighteen months had passed since he arrived, seasons changed and it was again time for the ritualistic "Blood Hunt" in which the bravest and boldest warriors invade and destroy entire nests of Kiltik. This event not only kept Kiltik numbers from growing out of control but was also served as proving grounds for older boys to become young men, was a chance for the shamed to redeem themselves, and had deeply ingrained religious connotations. By now Jubei had a thorough understanding of Kerrn's teachings and was incorporating the Force to augment his skill and technique to create weapons Kerrn himself referred to as "unparalleled". Though invited and encouraged, he was apprehensive about joining the Blood Hunt as it went against his own Jedi beliefs, but it was vehemently posited that the Kiltik were a voraciously invasive species, and that he shouldn't feel guilty about taking the opportunity to test some of his newest creations on a nest of pests. So he partook, solidifying his place in the local hierarchy in the process.
Two years after meeting Kerrn his life ended. The entire city-tree was present for the internment. Both daughters received condolences in various forms, mostly customary necklaces and headdresses made from flower petals and strips of cloth. Being the bearer of the family trade, Jubei was now possessor of all the Kuum family smithing machines, instruments and tools. The family wealth was his as well, this though he gave to the daughters to split evenly. One week later he chartered a small freighter, loaded it with the past two years of his life and headed back home to Champala with the promise to one day return to Cathar.
"When a bird leaves it's nest, it must first spread it's wings before it can fly. Such an insipid cliche.""
A new era began as he started into his second decade with a legacy to uphold. His Chagrian family was more than happy to be reunited, though proper articulation of Basic had faded after speaking nothing but Catharese for the last two years. Fenna thought his thickened accent was hilarious.
Temple officials gladly provided the space he needed to set up everything he brought with him. Within just a few short weeks the Temple and it's occupants would subsequently have a reliable supply of top-grade weaponry, and the tools to repair just about anything made of metals. Jubei was allowed to hire from the surrounding areas but considering the working conditions it was no surprise that zero Chagrians applied for the job. His crew numbered 12, mostly humans, some were Jedi from the temple, others just desperate for a paycheck.
Life fell into a rhythm of sharpening his connection to the Force, followed by sharpening his skill with a blade, ending with sharpening his prowess with a hammer. This went on for over a decade and he became exceedingly proficient at them. Then Ilum happened.
The time of passivity had passed. The Force willed him to set down the hammer and join his comrades, or rather, what was left of them.
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:: APPEARANCE ::
Upon a first look one might perceive his sand-toned skin to be vaguely opalescent, this is due to conflicting layers of of pigment in the epidermis. This phenomenon was noticed during adolescents only after he began to use the powderized iridescent flesh of Lambro Sharks to supplement his diet regiment, likely amplifying the pigment conflict until it became visible.
His eyes, hair and teeth were not spared from this occurrence but were effected to a much lesser extent and are not immediately perceptible.
A battered and unkempt Jedi robe drapes his frame with both sleeves torn off at the elbow. One can only assume it was once a brilliant white decades ago, now blackened and scarred by time, combat and smoke particulate. He wore no traditional Jedi vestments under the robes, opting for a tank styled shirt and pant set made of durable, breathable leathers commonly found in smelting factories.
Physical health is a priority, diet and exercise are secondary only to his studies. Muscle mass is slightly above average for a man of his stature, he's never trained in a gymnasium but his work in the heat of smelting and heavy machinery of forging has kept him in peak condition. It should be noted that his Jedi training had always been focused on the intricacies and nuances of combat, a discipline that requires nothing less than regimented physical refinement: smelting and forging his body so nothing remained but the purest of weapons.
His smile has been described as warm, calming and exceedingly rare. Emotions are primarily exhibited via body language, facial expression and/or Force empathy.
Long, wild hair is usually tied behind the head. It's not uncommon to see him sporting a full beard during winter seasons.
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:: PERSONALITY & PHILOSOPHY ::
"The Cosmic Force, it is what drives life to do what it does.
The Force is different to everyone, it is personalized, unique and ever-changing. You must be flexible, bend with it's ebbs and flows. There is no difference between a gentle stream and a raging torrent. Hard as stone and lighter than air. Perception is not always reality. Live now, tomorrow is no guarantee. Strike decisively, communicate your conviction and mean it with every muscle.
Honor is overrated, loyalty is everything."
Few friends would attest to his antisocial behavior.
He is proud to the point of near arrogance.
Talking with words always seem to be a waste of time, why talk when you can fight and truly know someone with out a single wasted breath.
Loyalty is held in highest regard, above all else.
Trust is earned the hard way.
He will not suffer fools, for knowledge is the sign of a worthy friend, and foe.
Experience has taught much, foremost is the fleeting nature of all things.
Spoken word is often interpreted as having a Catharese inflection, typically ending syntax with an almost imperceptible gutteral huff. -
:: WEAPONS & GEAR ::
Quadanium/Cortosis Katana(29") & Wakizashi(18")
(Hung from left hip & forward left hip. A 20' fiber-line connects each hilt to their respective scabbards)
Quadanium/Cortosis Souba(41"){plot pending}
(Strapped across back from right shoulder to left hip.)
Main Lightsaber(25")
(Hung from forward right hip. Sliver Color Crystal, Force Activated Ignition)
Secondary Lightsaber(25"){plot pending}
(Hung from right hip. Dark Green Color Crystal, Variable Blade Length Settings)
Satchel Items:
CryoBan Grenades (2)
Throwing Knives (5)
ReBreather
Imagecaster
Field Rations
First Aid Kit
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:: Stats/Specs ::
Age - mid 30s
Hair - Brown/Black
Eyes - Brown
Height - 5'11"
Weight - 167lbs.
Species - Echani/Thyrsian
Blood Type - AB negative
Identifying Marks - Upper Chest Tattoo, Brand on inside left bicep
Cybernetics - None
Alignment - Chaotic Good
Faction - The Jedi Order
Rank - Knight
Spoken Languages - Galactic Basic, Chagri, Catharese
Profession - Smith
Allergies - Bullsh*t
