Open Tython The Breaking Point

[Alienor Pom Blodau]

Alienor arrived late. It felt strange, being back in a chamber like this in the midst of debate, after she'd spent time learning. Training. Doing things. Before she stepped through the door, she had thought that she'd more able to contribute. More confident in her own abilities and thoughts.

Once she'd slipped into the back and heard the arguments, however, that thought died pretty quickly. When talk turned to Jedi armies and Jedi Lords, she couldn't stop her ears quivering. She didn't know why, or for what reason, but the thought of armies and ruling planets made her queasy. It didn't seem right, deep in her bones.

As the more experienced knights spoke and expressed their frustrations, Alienor looked around. She sought anything or anyone that shared her uncertainty. Maybe it was a mark of her own inexperience that she felt that way. Maybe she just wasn't up to the job of being a Jedi. Maybe she was putting her own selfish feelings ahead of what she was supposed to do as a Jedi.

She had learned so much in her time with the Jedi and it seemed that time was coming to an end. One way or another.

 

[Vanya]

Vanya felt a wave of relief that so many of those who were gathered here seemed to agree with her. She had been frankly terrified to take this stand, but as a great Jedi Master had once said: confronting fear is the destiny of a Jedi.

The discussions began to spring up with questions about logistics and how they would function going forward. Some embraced the idea while others took to it simply because there were few other options and others still outright rejected the idea.

One Knight she didn't know (@TheDudeMike) spoke up to ask about the logistics, and it would require answers eventually, though the exact details would no doubt have to be hammered out based on who... actually came along.

She found herself wholeheartedly agreeing with the sentiment of Dash (@Alhon) as he spoke. His question of the power to defeat the Sith was a greater struggle.

The strength of the Light is in its unity: our unity, she said. Time and time again it had been shown that individual Sith defeated individual Jedi, but they also ate one another alive in civil wars and betrayal. It was the Empress and Dark Lord that had killed off the entire Dark Council. The Jedi, on the other hand, could stand together.

There was a hint of relief that at least one of the Jedi Masters (@Aberforth) here agreed with her. She would need the backing of those with actual names in the Order to pull such a thing off.

As he asked if they were ready to dance such a fine edge, there was only one answer that Vanya saw: Do we have a choice? Nothing is without risk, but we can't just let the galaxy burn because of a fear of "what-if," she said. Fear could not govern them any longer.

It will fall to us to police ourselves. Failure to do so is part of what has led the Jedi to where we are now, she said. The holonet was full of stories of the Jedi who had done insane, reckless, and foolish things and felt no repercussions for it. It had robbed the Order of nearly all the respect it had once held, and it couldn't continue any longer.

It was hard to argue with the Jedi who had recently fought at Denon (@Rom) because she didn't know if it was right either, but she, too, knew that doing nothing was no longer an option. No decision was a decision.

The Knight (@Mythos) she didn't know spoke up in blatant condemnation of the idea, and she couldn't say she was surprised. Another Knight (@The Good Doctor) who she hadn't met spoke up before she could do so.

Thank you. This will not be something I can do alone, it will take us all working together, she said to the Knight (@The Good Doctor).

To the other man (@Mythos) she looked at him with a gaze unblinking. She wouldn't look away from the risks of this plan. She knew it wasn't a small thing, but she also knew that the apathy they currently languished in was as sure a death as anything.

No. How many Councilors have the Jedi gone through in the last decades? she said. It had been at least two Grandmasters and no small number of Councilors. Each one who came to power was quickly another empty chair and the Order simply waited around like lost puppies.

I won't continue to watch the galaxy burn while we wait for empty chairs to do nothing, she said bluntly. You let fear of what might be cripple you in the face of what is, she said. People were dying by the thousands every day.

We do serve the Light and the people of the galaxy, but it is the job of the shepherd to tend the flock and, at times, fight off the wolves. Leaving them to wander without protection and direction is no service, she said. That had always been her view of the herself and the Jedi. The sheep needed protecting and sometimes direction. She had no desire to rule the galaxy, but she also wouldn't watch the slaughter continue.

 

[Kane Seros]

Kane's eyes shifted around the room, taking in every Jedi that stood and spoke. Each having different takes and ideas on what this could mean for the Order. Though his question of logistics went by without discussion, it was something that could be hashed out after they made a decision. It was hard to say there was even a decision to make, at least for Kane. The Order was failing in every standard that it was supposed to hold itself to. How many Jedi worlds lay sleeping in the darkness of space because the Jedi have clung to their temple walls. How many worlds have the Jedi promised to defend only for them to burn.

"Between fighting infiltrator abominations on Coruscant to the Sith on Genassa, I've seen enough of the galaxy to know that protecting peace isn't going to cut it now. I've bled enough for it. We're at war whether we like it or not, and that means we need warriors with the will and the abilities to fight back."

He leaned back, folding his arms across his chest, eyes once again scanning over the gathering from beneath his black hair. The time for deliberation and trusting the Force was long gone. It was time to act. "I'm for the Jedi Lords and Army of Light."

 

[Alhazred]

Alhazred sat still, popped a few more nutrient pills, and listened.

Many who spoke were correct as far as he could tell. Action was needed. But his master (@Mythos) spoke truly as well. It felt wrong. Alhazred only knew the Jedi as students and peacekeepers. Knowledge and Defense. The one person Alhazred was agreeing with the most however was the apelike being (@Aberforth ), who spoke of history and checks and balances. He was, at first appearence, the most forward thinking in the Nu-Vaal's opinion.

Alhazred stood up once a lull had formed. A thought he had needed to be addressed.

"Please excuse my inexperience, young masters..." Alhazred started, straining his voice to be more than a whisper. "but is the galaxy wanting us to be such a thing as becoming Lords? Taking on the role of generals and Lords is a bold statement, and not entirely a good looking one to some. Such actions could galvanize the Imperials, and send fearful worlds to their oversight out of worry for what we may become.

"My superiors, my friends, ruin is a certainty, and I understand the galaxy is having a great deal of it..." Alhazred continued, drawing on his insights from The Road Home. "and I know you understand it better than me. 'Trinkets and baubles and experience and wisdom are won by actions, blood and failures'. But do not let fear of that ruin, or the effects of past ruin, be your sole influence. Time and time again, the Jedi have fallen, but return in the most surprising of ways, and the smallest mynock can bring down a starship. Today's oversights are tomorrow's regrets."

With that, Alhazred awaited a reply. Once one had been given, he would nod, regardless of what was said, and return to sitting down. He was a padawan and believed he should have no weight in whatever decision was made. But he was also a Nu-vaal, a close friend of the Yag'Dhul Body Calculus, and, most of all, a sentient with his own experiences. There was no reason for the Jedi to not benefit from his own.

 

[Perun]

Perun's eyes narrowed as he addressed the room. "If we embark upon this path of becoming Lords and Generals, we risk not just the integrity of our Order, but our very souls. Power, even wielded with the best intentions, can be a gateway to darkness. We must ensure that our actions do not become the very abominations we fight against."

Perun's tone softened, reflecting the depth of his concern. "We are guardians, not conquerors. Our duty is to the Force and to those it serves, not to territories or thrones. The peril of the path proposed is great – it requires not just a shift in strategy, but a transformation of our very identity."

He stood tall, the embodiment of a Jedi Master who had weathered countless storms. "If we are to consider such a drastic shift, let it be with the utmost caution and wisdom. Let us not rush into the embrace of power, but rather walk with the steady steps of those who understand its weight. We must be vigilant, not just against the darkness without, but the potential darkness within."

Perun's gaze lingered on each face in the room, ensuring his proposals would be heard and considered in their full gravity. "If we tread this path, let us set boundaries that preserve our integrity and purpose. First, no single Jedi Lord should wield power over more than one region of the galaxy at a time. Concentration of power breeds tyranny, and we must remain vigilant against becoming what we fight."

He paused, allowing the weight of his words to sink in. "Furthermore, the tenure of a Jedi as steward or Lord of a given region should not extend beyond eight years. It's imperative that we avoid the stagnation of power and ideas. Each Lord must be responsible for arranging and overseeing a fair and just succession, ensuring a continuous flow of new perspectives and leadership."

Perun's tone grew firmer, reflecting the seriousness of his next point. "The people of each region must retain autonomy over their daily affairs. We are their protectors, not their rulers. Our role is to safeguard, not to govern. This distinction is crucial in maintaining the balance between our duties as Jedi and the freedoms of those we vow to protect."

He took a deep breath before concluding his propositions. "Lastly, the ability of Jedi Lords to mobilize an army should be strictly limited to countering forces of the dark side, be they Sith or other malevolent entities. We must not become aggressors but remain as defenders, guardians who rise only in response to the shadows that threaten peace and justice."

Perun's eyes swept across the room, his proposals echoing in the silence that followed. "These measures," he said, "are not just safeguards for the galaxy, but for ourselves as well. We must not lose sight of our purpose nor the principles that have guided us for millennia."

 

[Myrell’anay]

And there it was. The great question. The Jedi Lords and Army of Light.

Myrell’s mind was made immediately, reflexively. But as she sat through the proposal, the reactions, the objections, listening to the points her peers made, she reconsidered, over and over, only to ceaselessly arrive to the same result. When it was time, she rose to speak, wondering what weight her voice would carry.

“The need for change is unanimous,” she opened. “But Master Perun is right. It is a perilous line to walk. Too often have Jedi done terrible things in the name of the light and greater good. In the name of the Jedi arbitration corps, I give my word. We will continue to keep our Order accountable no matter which path it takes. If not before the Council, then before a jury of knights and masters. Let our peers review our conduct.”

“But my question is this. When we rule planets, raise armies, lead the fight against deemed enemies, what then differentiates us from any other belligerent faction in the galaxy? Need I remind you, we have support. Planets and governments who so generously donate credits and resources so our Order can maintain its activity. Bimmiel, Gree, Birgis, Lorrd. And why?”

At that, Myrell paused to find Alienor in the crowd. She’d been with her, on Plooma.

“Because we are different. They trust us because we are peacekeepers, with demonstrably no interest in ruling their planets. Because we refuse to meddle in their affairs. We respect their sovereignty, and so they know, when the Jedi Order speaks, it is in the interest of good and nothing else. Should that ever change, their support might end. How then will you raise your army of light? Conscription? Conquest?” She shook her head.

“Before we transform our Order so profoundly, I ask only that you consider what we stand to gain... and what we stand to lose. The current situation is grave. But the wrong kind of change could well make it worse.”

And Myrell sat back down.

Mentions in order: @Aberforth, @Charndley

 

[Dash Pavan]

"The strength of the Light is in its unity: our unity".

Dash only just contained the urge to pull a mocking pose. It sounded great and it should be true. But was it really? They were all unified for sure - everyone in this room seemed to want the same outcome. There was no infighting in the Jedi, no factional struggles for power.

Yet still, they were failing. The burning wound in his side was a stark reminder.

No, Dash was not convinced standing a little closer together was going to give the Order victory against their enemies. Jedi Knights themselves were not enough, no matter how strong. They needed more on their side and at their call.

The more he considered, the more he liked what he was hearing about becoming lords, about using their position to rally armies with Jedi at their head. Strength on the ground and in the Force. Yes, that might just give them the edge at last.

More than that, was it not the path he was walking? Dash had found the nexus on Kro Var, subdued the Dark and built a temple to the Light. Already he had gathered man and beast to work its halls, but perhaps he could just as easily turn them toward a greater purpose, that of purging the Rim of Sith and Imperial influence.

"I get the caution" the Rhinnalian said, looking around "but doing nothing is not an option. I say we do this, but carefully like Master Perun suggests". He gave the wise monkey a nod. "As it only works if there's enough of us willing to step up" he went on "I'll say it and maybe make it easier for others..."

He forced himself to stop holding his side and stood straight, taking a step away from Ezra and towards Vanya. "As the custodian of the Kro Var temple, I would be willing to be a Lord of that region".


Mentions in order: @Aberforth @Sreeya @Phoenix

 

[Scorpio Armegedon]

Scorpio listened, observed, and sat in silence for the conversations that followed. And in some ways, it made sense. He could feel the essence of the light resounding in each speech. But on the opposing side of the same token, he could feel the darkness creeping in. Only the sapien's words mirrored his own, but delved too deep even for his liking. And yet, Scorpio had to question his own feelings on the matter due to not only his heritage and the simplicity of it, but also if he clung too tightly to old ways. But in the end, he found his own to be the more justified.

"I feel the Order's plight. I truly do." He emphasized as he began to recourse. "And I am but a humble Knight within it, barely out of out my own Apprenticeship. And yet, what you are suggesting goes against our very core beliefs."

His blind silvered gaze focused on @Vanya.

"It isn't the fear of what-ifs, or fear in general, that call us to oppose." He spoke in semblance of a pleading manner. "Jedi will fall, of that, it is certain. Power corrupts absolutely. And with this, it will be handed over on a silver platter."

His gaze shifted then to the one he partially agreed with, @Perun.

"And while limitations and fail-safes can be put into place to hinder the call of one's own Darkness, it would only work in an ideal Galaxy." He spoke, the essence of his pleads greatest to the Sapient Master. "We would be no different than that of the Sith and the Imperial Knights at the very core of our Order, structured and militant. We would be Jedi only in name."

To be a naysayer would mean that Scorpio was fundamentally against a reformation. That, he wasn't. But he was a Jedi to his very core, and in his mind, that meant the harsh reality of fighting the impossible fight, in blade and cloth. For a Jedi to take up a position of power over others, to conscript or draft others for the sake of numbers on the battlefields, and to take resources unfounded from those they swear to protect. It was sacrilege. It wasn't the Jedi way. For the Jedi stood a sacrificial pawn to be discarded, used to take the place of another, and do without so that others would have.

"It is our duty to follow the will of the Force wherever it leads us, be it death or extinction." He resounded in the conclusion of his recourse. "It is not our place to be the governing body, but rather, it's sacrificial blade. Not to take, but to give. Let our lives, given freely, empower the Light rather than sovereign over the meek, giving way to the Darkness that will inevitably fester in their resentment."

His eyes shifted across the entirety of the gathered masses, whether his words were heard or not. In his final plea, he conceded. Do not kill the Order with Sovereignty."

@Everyone Not sure who is who.

 

[Vanya]

Patience wasn't Vanya's strong suit, and she had no doubt that if she lost her patience now, it was going to not bode well for the cause she was attempting to bring to life.

Nevertheless, she found herself frustrated - probably un-Jedi-ly so - by everyone's hesitations. The Jedi Order had been plagued by it when it was clear that it would be their downfall. What they needed was decisive action.

Nothing will make it worse, she finally said, mirroring the words of Myrell (@Volene). There was no overstating how poor of a position the Jedi were in. The galaxy was rampant with darkness with countless holo addresses asking where the Jedi were. They were nowhere to be seen and that was because the Jedi Order as they knew it was dead.

We've already tried slow, temperate, and half-measures, she said. She could already feel people's apprehensions growing among the people that were here.

As a starting point, I intend to take whoever will join me and the remnant of the Jedi Fleet to put an end to the Killik threat, she said before looking over and nodding at Natalie (@TheDudeMike).

Natalie and I have already found evidence that the Killiks are starting to expand out to surrounding planets again, and that's a threat we cannot ignore. And it will buy us goodwill with the rest of the galaxy: something we desperately need, she said. That was also true, because they were right: no one was going to want to join with the Jedi when they were so impotent.

Vanya was terrible with government structures and bureaucracy and she knew it, but she wouldn't let logistics continue to bog them down from making a difference.

 

[Natalie Hope]

Natalie scanned the room as every spoke. Points here, points there. So many opinions and takes. Her hazel gaze fell to TentiTurbo (@Narzen ) a Jedi she knew from a failed field trip to some weird planet that ended as quickly as it had begun. He was the guy that had that thing for the delicious morsels that Natalie couldn't pay for at the time right? Yeah, she never forgot a face like that; or the outfit, for that matter.

"Lords and generals sound a lot better to most than what we've been doing, which is either nothing or worse," Natalie said, referencing the botched rescue of civilians on Genassa. "When was the last time the Jedi went to a world to help and looked better coming out the other side?" Natalie glanced at Vanya. "We've tried it the traditional way, and all we've done is knee-cap ourselves with the business end of a blaster."

Then her eyes shifted to Frost Daddy (@Alhon ). Fighting the threatening blue screen was a lot easier when he stepped away from Ezra (@Sreeya ). Lord Frost Daddy had a ring that Natalie certainly did not want to explore further in public. Might have to look for a new nickname for that one.

"Ord Mantell has been locked in wars against Hutt insurgencies for decades. They've already reached out to us once, and we refused to meddle in their affairs because they asked us to help fight the war. We can help them end that war, AND get one of the most combat experienced militaries in the galaxy on our side," she said with a nod. It was her home planet. She would be damned to hell if there was a chance to end the war on Ord Mantell and just let it pass her by.

Vanya's (@Phoenix ) mention of the killiks brought up the memory of Molly and the jars of goo. Natalie shivered. The smile returned as she pushed the thoughts of goo and her home planet down into maybe-another-time-ville. "I'm with you, for the bugs and the army."

 

[Tycho Denarii]

Tycho frowned as he looked at the Knight (@Mythos) condemning the endeavor as being doomed to darkness. His final words incensed the Ossein Knight, who took a slow breath and released his anger into the Force before limping forward off the wall and pointing a finger at the man.

"Blindly sacrificing ourselves and abandoning the people of the Galaxy to suffering and darkness is not the Jedi Way either. We are not sacrificial lambs simply meant to follow your interpretation of the Will of the Force to our extinction." The disbelief in his voice could not be hidden, nor his disgust that one of their number - sworn to defend the galaxy from the Sith - would so blatantly advocate for them to bare their throats and accept death rather than fight to stem the rising darkness. "We are already dying to try and keep the Light alive, and I don't know what Galaxy you're living in, but our sacrifices are not empowering the Light... it is only making the Dark stronger. If the choice is between things remaining as they are or this Army of the Light, then I stand with the Army."

Limping forward to stand beside Vanya (@Phoenix) Tycho nodded at the Dathomiran woman and offered his good hand to clasp her arm saying, "I'm returning to the Halls, but I will stand with you against the Kiliks as well." Releasing her and limping toward the door, Tycho paused to look back over his shoulder at Scorpio. The expression on his face and the tone of his voice conveyed sadness and disappointment. "There you'll stand, the good man doing nothing... and while evil triumphs and your rigid idealism crumbles into bloodstained dust, the only victory afforded to you is that you stuck true to your beliefs. A "true" Jedi, to your last whimper."

 

[Alienor Pom Blodau]

Alienor had heard enough. She, like the other padawans present, felt like her words would carry no weight. These were brave and bold Jedi, who had been at the frontline of the fight against the Dark. Their frustrations poured out and formed into action. She could understand that. They could all agree that the council had not lead them well at all.

But this wasn't a debate. This was a rampage. They were all agitating each other, feeding off the thoughts of action. There was no stopping this now, she realised. Action against the Killiks was a good idea from the Dathomirian Knight who instigated it all, but what she'd said deflated Alienor completely.

...the job of a shepherd to tend to the flock...

Perhaps she was too young to really understand. Perhaps she was too soft to cope with the way the Galaxy really was. There was no way, however, that Alienor could be happy with that thought. It's like the people aren't even people to them. The way that the arguments continued filled her with sadness. The whole room was just worked up now.

She bit her bottom lip and turned away, leaving the crowd to continue their 'debate' and plans. Whatever path these Jedi took, it would not be one that she could follow. Time would tell if there'd be anything left of the Order for her to continue with, or whether she'd be on a quiet trip home to Annwyfn.

 

[Dash Pavan]

Everyone went on chuntering, but that was about it. No one followed Dash to formally offer themselves up for the very roles they had been talking about, not even Vanya. Not even his super powerful partner. The Rhinnalian was just left standing there, the latest in a dozen cuts in recent days.

Vanya did decide she was leading a charge against the Killiks, which a few people were up for, particularly Natalie. Dash got the goodwill part, but surely it could be won by taking action against the Sith, the Empire, the Hutts? The people who were actually coming for them today, tomorrow, and every day to come. Couldn't the Killiks be someone else's problem?

Dash decided he was not going. Besides, someone had to push the frontiers of existing Jedi influence. Dash had said he could be a Jedi Lord and no one had said he couldn't. So he would do just that.

"I go to Kro Var, and the Rim, to get us support and resources" he said with finality, tightening his belt another notch to put pressure on his side. He was sick of the pain.

Mind made up, he strode out of the gathering, shooting Ezra in particular a disappointed look.

@Phoenix @TheDudeMike @Sreeya

 

[Scorpio Armegedon]

Scorpio's own visage held unwavering as he took the lashes upon his spirit that were being conveyed by the Jedi Knight, @Tycho Denarii. With saddened eyes, he could feel the man's pain reverberating in the Force, not only that of the physical, but of the mentality as well as the strifes of war plagued many minds present. And a portion of him did, in fact, agree to a certain extent. But not like this. Not in this way. The Jedi may stand for peace and prosperity in a warrior's light. But this was taking it beyond their station.

Every time the Jedi took such a stance, it ended in malice. The Mandalorian Wars lead to the last great Schism, the Jedi Civil War. And even now, Scorpio could feel the prevalence of it's bordered veil falling down upon the Order. A metaphorical closing of the curtains. A place the Order had not been near since the rising of the Galactic Empire. He could feel the heralding of the Second Army of Light, and the closing of the Jedi Order's final chapter all in one fell swoop as the man's words etched it's way into Scorpio's memories.

"If that is what the Force wills, then so be it." He spoke in return, the convictions of his trust in the Force even more prevalent as his eyes turned stern. "I trust more in the will of the Force than I do in the heart of a darkened man."

And that is where his mind remained. Disheartened by the brokenness of one who knew the Force as well as he did, possibly even more. He could not discern the man's depth of knowledge as it was hindered by anger and rage even now, bittered by venomous turning of war. Most of the folks here held similar justifications, memories flamed by lost sight. And as his blind gaze fell upon each of them in sorrow and regret, he knew the solemn truth.

"War has bittered your souls, blinded your clarity. Yes, we are Warriors of the Light...." His gaze sterned even more as he felt his heart break in two, the discerning of his place within the Force absolute. "But only against the Darkness, where desperation and despair lay."

That was it for him. As memories of his childhood and the loss of his entire family came protruding forward in his mind, his sadness only deepened, and for a deep and defining moment, he felt hopeless for a brief and desolate moment, a moment that would make up his mind as hope returned upon @Alienor Pom Blodau's departure.

"Go off and become your Army of Light, but shed the Jedi name." He spoke as he shook his head in disbelief. "Let's those of us who remain true to the Force retain the name set by our Forefathers while you become Militant Lords."

His words may have come off sarcastic, maybe even disdained. But Scorpio held no ill intent in them. This simply was his true belief. If these Jedi truly had became so intent upon following this path, a path that went against everything that was Jedi, then who was he to disdain their beliefs. It was the will of the Force that they became who they were, and yet, left behind what was the Jedi Order. Let them forge anew. But not in a name they no longer followed.

 

[Levet Vizsla]

A lot of words were said and ideas put forther. The stoic helmet of the teenage mandalorian moved from person to person as each of them spoke. His mind and spirit was in turmoil. Levet was still knew to being a Jedi and was not sure he even knew what it meant to be one.

One thing was for certain and that was things could not remain the same as they were. Change must happen or else they were just going to die a slow death. His own people knew this, representing them in the ancient deities of Arasuum the sloth god and Kad Ha'rangir the destroyer. Between and apart from them was the trickster, Hod Ha'ran. How that wild card factored into things was the reason why they were the trickster god.

Silent and attentive, Levet would look to his master. He found himself nodding in agreement with the Rhinnalian man. "I'm with you, master." He gave the rest of the Jedi a glance from behind his visor and turned to join Dash. The Mandalorian hoped to see their faces again in better times and with successes to share.

@Alhon