Pan's Training

[Joker]

"There can be up to three focusing crystals in a saber. They control color, length and frequency, I believe Master. I have heard they can be imbued with the Force but I am not certain." Pan said, reciting nearly word for word what he had learned in his own studies.

"I have also heard that Padawans are often taken to dangerous worlds to find the right crystal, but I am not sure of the truth in that either."

 

[Ols]

"Well," said Corina, "not necessarily dangerous worlds, but they do have to venture from the safety of the temple to find, as you say, the right crystal. That is your next task. A few kilometers south of here are some crystal caves. If you do go, you will venture alone, and you will be armed only with the Force. Of course, if you don't want to go to the caves, you could travel off world," she finished, awaiting his choice.

 

[Joker]

Pan thought about it, large ears flattening against his skull in contemplation. He did have very few opportunities to go off world and it would be an exciting adventure. Exploring the the caves in search of his crystal would be just as thrilling, however. He'd never known such a place existed.

"I think... I think I shall go to the caves, Master."

 

[Ols]

"Very well," she said, "Follow your instincts, let the Force guide you to the caves and you will find them. When you arrive, you will know where the crystal for you is. May the Force be with you."

((RP it in this thread. And be Reasonable, there will be beasts and obstacles, don't just walk into a cave and find it straight away. Maybe use new Force powers. Remember, you have no other weapons))

 

[Joker]

((OOC: Aye aye, mon capitain.))

"And may the Force be with you also, Master." Pan said, bowing low. He returned the training saber to her and set off to the south as she had directed. He was eager to be on his way.

Once he had left the gardens behind Pan slowed to a leisurely pace, listening intently with both the Force and his own keen ears. He knew there were several predators in this area and with no weapons at his disposal he didn't want to go blundering head first in to one. That and he found the scenery tranquil.

He had been walking for only a short while when he heard rustling in the woods to his left. Something with a large and lumbering gate was headed his way and the mind he sensed with the Force lacked sentience. He used his claws to help him scale a nearby tree, crouching on a sturdy branch to observe the beast before deciding on a course of action.

 

[Joker]

The beast stalked into view below him and Pan watched it with intensity. It was clearly hunting and had clearly smelled the Cathar thought it didn't yet seem to know where he was. Pan thought he could maybe over power the beast, given the advantage of being high above it, but he sympathized with the mighty hunter too much to bring himself to hurt it.

Instead, he reached out with the Force and touched the creatures mind. It was intelligent in that calculating way that animals often are but little more. Thinking quickly he impressed on it the idea of prey lurking in the opposite direction, waiting to be caught and eaten. At first he didn't think the beast would fall for it but it did, yowling as it took off after the food it would never find. Hopefully it would come across something else.

"Good luck."

 

[Joker]

Pan slithered out of his tree to the ground and set off again. He jogged this time, his brain tingling with the Force. He could finally feel them, the caves. They were like a hot spot in the Force, and still a ways off yet.

Striding with purpose now he almost didn't see the stream of water until he'd all but blundered into it. Pan leaped back on his toes, hissing like a startled cat. It was too wide to jump and the flow was fast but after probing it with the Force he discovered it wasn't much deeper than waist height. He stripped off his boots and held them over his head as he approached the waters and plowed in. It was cold and miserable and the Padawan had not accounted for the sharp and slippery rocks on the bottom that cut his clawed feet and more than once nearly cost him his footing. By the time he reached the other side he was growling and grumbling and he took perhaps too long shaking out his fur, which only caused it to fluff up to his extreme annoyance, and putting his boots back on. At least they were dry. He resolved to find a better way around it on the way back.

 

[Joker]

Pan could feel himself growing closer and took heart in that knowledge. He covered ground quickly with long powerful strides, occasionally going out of the way to avoid more large beasts and met once with the obstruction of a fallen tree in his path which was easily leapt over. His confidence grew with each step and faltered only once when he tripped over the root of a large tree and took a face dive into a pile of dead leaves.

Covered in leaves and fur still ruffled and damp he finally came to a cliff side that overlooked a rocky valley. He couldn't yet see the openings in the rock that would lead him into the caves but he knew they were there. The cliff was high and steep, but not too much for him to climb down. He said a silent little prayer and opened himself to the Force, willing it to guide his feet as he started his way down.

 

[Joker]

Pan scaled his way downwards carefully using Force, claw, and a steady mantra of "I was born to climb, I was born to climb, I was born to climb..." to keep himself going. He was afraid of taking a tumble but he didn't let the fear stop him. What sort of Cathar would he be if he were afraid of heights?

He did alright until about half way down, when he suddenly put his foot down on the wrong outcrop of stone and it broke away. He scrabbled stone with his claws, heart thudding with panic until, either by sheer luck or the Force he really couldn't say, his long claws latched into something softer and more forgiving; A thick root sticking out of the cliff face. He clung for dear life and allowed himself to hang their a moment before re finding holds and continuing downward.

 

[Joker]

When he reached the valley floor Pan allowed himself a few minutes rest, resisting the urge to hug the ground in thanks. Getting back up wasn't going to be any easier wasn't going to think about that yet. One step at a time.

He set about searching for the cave opening he had felt. The feeling in the Force had grown strong and become a constant nagging itch in his mind. what he finally found wasn't as large as he had expected, a well hidden crack he could just barely squeeze through. He sucked it in and shuffled sideways into the darkness, snagging and ripping the front of his tunic on rock. He was going to to be such a mess by the time he finally got back. After what felt like ages the tunnel widened and he found himself in an open space. After allowing his eyes to adjust he could see fairly well; The chamber of stone he found himself in was empty and damp and branched off in too different directions.

"Well I guess it was stupid to expect the crystals to be in the first cave I walked into. Nothing is ever that easy." He growled, contemplating the pathways before him and extending his awareness in the Force before finally settling on the left one.

 

[Ols]

As he left it seemed like one of the rocks called to him. Just a whisper in the Force.

::Pantaleon::

 

[Joker]

Pan felt the tiny whisper in the Force and paused, ears perking up as he listened. He had spoken of finding the right crystal but he hadn't expected one to literally stand out and call to him. He followed the ripple in the Force to its source, excitement bubbling up again.

 

[Joker]

Pan found the cluster of rock and crystal that seemed to be calling out to him and crouched down beside it. He extended a claw to tap crystal gently and felt a sense of calm wash over him. It seemed to him to almost be glowing. Maybe it was just his own joy. He was pleased. This was it. It had to be. He gently pried it free and held it up, grinning toothily. Blue. Pretty. Perfect.

 

[Joker]

Pan slipped the crystal into a belt pouch and made sure it was nice and secure. He then resumed his way down the tunnel, feeling something in the Force still.... Calling him. He followed the winding path slowly and carefully, so as not to trip on the rough ground. He was worried he would just get himself lost and confused but eventually the tunnel began to get lighter and he realized it opened into open air ahead.

Moving a little faster Pan stumbled out into the sun, blinking as his eyes once again adjusted. Confused and curious he looked around and when he realized where he was he found himself torn between the desire to laugh and the urge to throw something. An all to familiar building was only a short distance away.

"The Temple? You've gotta be kidding me."

Pan trudged his way back to the gardens, picking twigs out of his fur as he went and attempting to dust off his tunic. A lost cause, sadly.

"Master, I am back."

 

[Ols]

Corina was still meditating calmly in the gardens when he returned.

"And do you have a crystal?"

 

[Joker]

"I do, Master." Pan said, pulling the crystal from his belt pouch and holding it up. He was grinning like the cat that got the canary, clearly quite pleased with his efforts in spite of his messy appearance.

 

[Ols]

"Good," she said, "and it seems to respond to you. It is good that you have such a bond. Now look after your crystal, clean yourself up and return in the morning," Corina told him.

 

[Joker]

"As you wish, Master." He returned the crystal to his pouch and bowed. "Force be with you, Master."

Pan straightened and left to do as she had said.

 

[Ols]

The next morning

Corina waited, silently meditating in the shade of a large tree. Next to her was a large wooden table, on wich were laid countless small pieces of metal, all the pieces imaginable to build lightsabers.

 

[Joker]

Pan wandered into the gardens bright and early the next morning, finding his Master meditating. He took a moment to curiously eye the table and its contents before disturbing her.

"Master?"