Turning the tides.

Ralaa Talus

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For all of the time Ralaa had spent watching the moons that cast their shadows over the forests of Ossus, not once had she considered what may be staring back at her. It had been an alarming thought at first but now standing on the small moon of Nerit looking down at the planet she called home, Ralaa felt a sort of peace. It was quiet and she was alone, leaving time for her to consider the true purpose of her coming here. She had been curious in her endeavors and quite possibly too quick to jump into action, but something in her heart told her she needed to be there.

For weeks stories had been whispered among the old hermits who crowded the Great Jedi Library, Consulars had spoken rumors of a disease spreading across the landscape, leaving infected flora in its wake and consuming the corpses of the fauna who inhabited these forests. It was quite clear that the subject had stirred up some fear among her comrades, but none had volunteered to take action and instead resigned themselves back to their studies. Perhaps she was unprepared for what she might find on Nerit but was never the less determined to see for herself if what the Consulars had said held truth.

Having turned her attention away from Ossus and towards the trees that towered over her, Ralaa allowed the feeling of death to sweep across her like an overwhelming ripple in the Force. The pain sang out and the young Jedi felt her heart sink into the pit of her stomach, a concerned expression etched across her face. She was almost certain that whatever was out there was not what the Consulars had assumed; she could feel its presence and knew it was a force to be reckoned with. However, no matter what awaited her, Ralaa had no other choice but to trudge forwards as no one else was there to help her.

She walked for hours, leaves crunching beneath her boots as she strayed farther and farther from her ship. The smell of blood was heavy in the air and reminded her of her time on Lothal. She wondered for a moment, after everything that had just happened on Ossus, if she might find one of the Jedis fallen on the small moon. She knew better than to think that the Jedis home was safe from the darkness; Alais Drast had proved to her that it could be found just about anywhere. She frowned, thinking to herself as she walked and reflecting on the events that had transpired only a few days before. How had the Jedi fallen so far? What was their purpose? A heavy feeling pulled her down, making her feel exceptionally heavy as she continued forwards. Would coming to Nerit to try and help even make a difference?

@Longshot
 

Strix

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Examining his latest specimen, he frowned. Still no success. It was beginning to look like he hadn’t been led astray yet again. Not long ago Astrid had spoken with a smuggler who told him of a creature that could regrow limbs. There weren’t many specifics, but anything with regenerative properties was a major green light for Strix. He sat in his small makeshift shelter. Using his previous experiences hunting he has used branches, leaves and rocks to make a decent residence for the time being. Inside was what out here qualified as a bed, which was a bed of large leaves rolled in a net and fluffed up to function as a large cushion. The other other thing he could fit was a small table which he had brought with him, holes in the table held several vials from different creatures and his currently unused tools rested alongside them.

Discarding another sample that tested negative, he sighed. He had to keep trying. Every time he left he found a new species to hunt, so he held out hope that he had yet to find the creature the smuggler had spoken of. He stepped outside, stretching his back. His shelter was too small to stand up in without punching a hole in the roof. For now, he was alone and no animals were daring to go near him. So he was free to go shirtless and wearing only a ragged pair of pants. All across his torso were the scars of previous hunts, experiments and their eventual failures. On one of his pecs his blue skin was a sickly blue-green from when he used a pigmentation derivative he believes could be used to mimic some creature’s ability to camouflage. His left arm was covered in different scales that had been added throughout his multiple tests as part of an ongoing search to find a viable alternative to armors based purely on metals and alloys.

With no particular rush he began his daily prep for his next trip into the forest. He put on his shirt, covering his multiple deformations and scars. Next he added his chest plate, grieves and arm guards; the full extent of his minimal armor. Next he strapped his vibrosword to his hip, sorely out of place with its intricate and ornate nature against the rest of his attire, much more haphazard and tattered. He ate his breakfast, the cooked flesh of one of the more flavorful creatures he’d killed on his trip. He had taken such a liking to it he’d been slowly turning them into among term supply of jerky to take with him once he left.

Finally, with his morning routine done, he put his helmet on, the most durable or more accurately the only durable part of his armor set. His face was th one thing he cared about being scarred as he feared it would ruin his chances of returning to regality. He set off in a new direction, heading to a part of the forest where a large river ran. He’d previously visited the river to use as a water source but today he’d follow it in hopes of finding a new species that used it as a watering hole. On his way he saw another one of his new favorite foods, and figured it would be an easy target. It couldn’t hurt to have more jerky.

He silently approached watching as it stood by the river lapping at the passing stream. He snuck up behind it, seeing no signs of alarm. He drew his vibroblade and in the same light turned it on, lashing out at the creature’s stomach from under it. The creatures guts spilt onto the grass as it let out a horrific scream and collapsed not yet dead. He approached the head, trying to discern the animal’s thoughts as he often felt he could, then he silenced the creature with a decapitation. He felt the life of the creature leave its body entirely, and he felt the sensation wash over him. He could never quite describe it, but it was something he had never been able to explain to someone else.

As he prepped the beast for skinning he left his canteen to fill at the river. He slowly removed the rough skin revealing the flesh underneath. He began to work on it slowly and methodically before suddenly freezing. He grasped for his vibroblade with the sudden feeling of a presence aside from his own in the forest.
 

Ralaa Talus

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The forests were quiet save for the hushed whisper of a river that drew her attention to the north, luring her in with the soft sounds of water rushing over rocks and flattening the flora on its banks; if she had learned anything from her patrols on Ossus, it was that water made a natural and reliable guide. Follow it downstream and the odds were you'd find civilization, but Ralaa wasn't tracking anything civilized. She knew she was nearing the river's edge by the subtle change in the soil beneath her. She could feel the ground becoming malleable and with each new step, it shaped to the bottom of her boot. In any other situation she may have been more careful to cover her tracks but on this particular patrol, Ralaa was far more concerned with her pace; at this rate, she would catch them before anyone caught her.

When the river's edge finally came into view her eyes fell upon a rather disheartening scene. The plants here should have been lush and full of life but instead, they lay damaged and unable to sustain themselves. There was a long decaying cadaver sprawled across her path that had been relieved of its head and was missing more than a few limbs. Of course, Ralaa wasn't known for her weak stomach but the bugs that crawled across the rotten flesh and the smell that hung in the dampened air made her choke.

Though she would have preferred to move on, instead she took the opportunity to kneel close to the unidentified creature to examine its wounds. The openings were smooth and intentional and, from her experience, she could determine that they had been made by a sharp blade. By the way it had been left to spoil, she knew that whoever had hunted it was not hunting for food or survival. This was a cold and calculating individual who lacked a basic respect for life or, at the very least, found some sick pleasure in killing. Ralaa sighed, pulling the collar of her shirt up over her nose to mask the stench and climbed to her feet, continuing upstream.

When it seemed as though this individual had evaded her, a deafening howl drew her attention. Her eyes snapped in the direction of the noise and her feet moved so quickly beneath her, it was a wonder she hadn't tripped. When he finally came into view, grasping his vibroblade at his side, she stopped and held herself about 15 feet away. She had been too hasty in her actions back on Ossus, leaving her with a nasty wound to her side, but she wouldn't make the same mistake twice. Her eyes drifted over to the blue-skinned man and she frowned. "Lay down your weapon and tell me, what business do you have on Nerit?" The young Jedi wasted no time in introductions, folding her arms across her chest. It was clear that she was upset and her eyes never left his. "Do you not feel the chaos and anguish you are creating?"
 

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He heard her before he saw her. He turned to see a human woman standing in an odd posture, making demands. Her arms were crossed, not yet in a combative stance which he found odd for someone challenging him. Her face was radiating heat as he could tell with his slightly infrared vision. He considered simply lashing out at her with his sword. She was yet in a ready stance and he was positive he could at least get in one blow before she could react accordingly. But as usual his curiosity held him back. Not many were in the forest, so seeing a human brave enough to traverse alone as intriguing. In his experience humans were weak, inferior to many other species and much too keen on fighting each other rather than enemies. So instead he relaxed his form as well taking his hand of the hilt of his vibroblade.

He didn’t lay down his vibroblade, instead he kept it in its sheath at his hip, raising his hands in the air to show her he'd make no move to attack. “I assure you I have very important business here on Nerit. You see, I am searching for a creature I was told Desiree here that holds certain regenerative properties. I am— I am a doctor. So if I were able to harness this into a medicinal product, it couldn’t be very beneficial. Dare I say to the whole galaxy. And I ensure you there is no anguish. I ensure every creature I hunt has a quick and painless death. I take it you’re a nature lover? Concerned citizen?”

He wasn’t sure if she was convinced, so he approached slowly, unclipping his sheath and letting it fall to the ground. Head he got closer he tried to examine her more, she didn’t seem to be heavily armored. He also could t see any kind of spear or sword that could be concealed from an observer this close. It was possible she had a blaster, but he was now close enough that if she drew one he could catch her wrist before she pulled the trigger. Or at least he hoped so. She was right full of near-human so he doubted any unforeseen advantage. From what he’d seen of the galaxy, cybernetic limb replacements were still crude and far from an upgrade over normal limbs.

“So, if I may, what is a young human like yourself doing in the forest? Are you a hunter as well? If so, not to worry I have stumbled into other hunters’ usual hunting grounds before. I’ve used most of what I killed simply for research so most of it should still be usable and is all yours. I’ll let you have this one as well.” He said, gesturing to his most recent kill. “I’ve already encountered and researched this species previously. This kill was purely for consumption.” It wasn’t the first time he’d made a stir with his endeavors, he just hoped the human would be reasonable, or he’d have to settle the dispute with the edge of his blade.
 

Ralaa Talus

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She watched as the blue-skinned man approached her, dropping his sheath into the mud at their feet. Wary of the stranger still, Ralaa stiffened her posture to seem more threatening and took a step backward, keeping a distance between them. She was vaguely familiar with the Chiss race, but hadn't met one face-to-face and wondered if they were all as eccentric as this one. There was a certain uneasiness that radiated from him when he spoke and she could sense his connection to the Force, though it was ill-defined. She was curious if he was even aware of the connection himself, but decided it was best not to delve into the subject as it wasn't widely appreciated within the Galaxy. Even if she had wanted to discuss the subject with him, his long-winded questions left her little room to interrupt.

Her eyes wandered to the cadaver that lay near the river's bank as he offered it to her, but in remembering the cadaver farther down the path, she had to choke back the urge to vomit. Ralaa couldn't shake the image of the bugs that had taken over its body and no form of meat sounded appetizing at the moment. Besides, she had lived off of ration bars for so long that the idea of a real meal made her stomach churn; her body was no longer equipped to handle a diverse diet.

"I am not here to hunt." Ralaa was eventually given the opportunity to speak. She uncrossed her arms from over her chest and let them lay at her sides. "I am here for you. I am here because there has been some concern among my comrades to the number of plants and animals that have been left dead to your endeavors. Call me a nature lover or concerned citizen if you wish, but I am more than that." She took a deep breath and brushed some hair from her face, returning her attention to the Chiss male.

His small frame led her to the assumption that, aside from the execution of animals, he probably wasn't trained in combat, but she wasn't going to take the risk. She had been too quick to approach the Shistavanen on Ossus and nearly lost her life; never again would she underestimate another individual. Though she wasn't sure she could really call him her adversary; true that she had tracked him through the forests of Nerit using the trail of animals he had left behind him, but he didn't seem to realize the true harm that he was causing in his experiments. She felt it through her connection to the Living Force, but had it not been for her studies as a Jedi she wouldn't have been aware of the connection that most living things shared and thus he would be unaware of them.

She frowned, unsure of how to approach him or if she should approach him on the subject. Ralaa would need to buy herself some more time to make a reasonable decision. "Tell me, have you found what you've been looking for?"
 

Strix

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Strix watched as she sized him up. Fair enough. He had done the same, at least he knew she was smart enough to not fight blindly. However, if only for an instant, he felt like he was the lesser. Because in that small flash of doubt he felt something. Something he couldn’t describe. Suddenly he had a doubt in the back of his mind. Maybe she wasn’t just a human. He had yet to perceive anything to the contrary, it deep in his gut he felt a stir. Something was off. Now he was determined to resolve this peacefully, since this feeling was coming from the same inner field through which he felt the lives of his prey. He wasn’t sure how to proceed in a way to gain her trust, but he figured if he didn’t answer her question he would be worse of for it.

“Ahem. Well, to be frank I have not. This moon is surprisingly diverse in its flora and fauna. I have spent the last few weeks tracking several different species. For research of course. I’m beginning to believe that the word of a smuggler in a cantina wasn’t the best indication of where to conduct biological research. You seem uneasy. Please, I want you to know I love nature. It is my life, and I hope it will be my death. I feel the trees around me. I can feel the life of every creature in this forest, I feel it within me. And I feel their deaths as well. They course through me with every kill. I’ve been among nature for he majority of my life. It is my fascination. You think I’m crazy don’t you?”

He sighed. Not only was he rambling, he was rambling about something no one had ever understood. Not his mother. Not his father. Not his brother or any of his siblings for that matter. It was the gut feeling he got when he had become the hunted instead of the hunter. It was the ebb and flow of nature around him, it was the newborns and the bones of a species. They all showed him something. And it was that moment he chased after. However, in this instance, he and was slowly doubting himself more and more, getting a bad feeling about this unassuming human. No way she was out here, alone, not hunting, and unarmed. And she definitely wasn’t lost.

He approached her slowly, taking his now lol of sketches out of his pack. Hey were crude and probably meant nothing to anyone but him. But maybe, just maybe she could understand where he was coming from. She definitely seemed to care about the lives of the species that inhabited this forest. He smiled; or at least tried to. It was a skill he had never cultivated.
“Look, these are all the creatures I’ve encountered so far.” He began to point to various drawings. Some were of the larger beasts he’d encountered, some were of the insects that had pestered him all night until he gave in and drew them as well. There was the creature he created the jerky with, probably his most detailed sketch. All the while he continued to glance at her, trying to measure her reaction, hoping she could see the passion in his work.
 

Ralaa Talus

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"You think I'm crazy, don't you?"

Ralaa resigned herself to a seated position and let out a long breath; she was going to be here a while. The branch she sat on was damp and uncomfortable, but so were her boots from trudging through the mud near the river's edge. In listening to him ramble, it became apparent that he had been misunderstood for most, if not all of his life, and she wondered if the Force may have had another reason for bringing her here. He wasn't aware that the connection he felt to the life and death of the animals that surrounded them, was to the Living Force. Ralaa wanted to tell him, but wondered if it would be easier for him to remain unaware; force-users were too often feared by the denizens of the Republic and it wasn't fair to subject him to that.

"No, I don't think you're crazy." Her voice was softer and calmer than before; she had, for the most part, dropped her guard after realizing that Strix wasn't as dangerous as she had originally assumed. Her eyes danced across his sketches as he flipped through his journal, pointing out the different species that he had encountered in his endeavors, but her mind was elsewhere. They were beautiful and vast, but she was struggling silently with the decision to tell him what she knew of the Force. There was a reason she was here and that reason was no longer the damage that had been done to the natural environment on Nerit. True that she would eventually need to address the issue with the Chiss, but it seemed something just as important had come up.

Perhaps she had been brought to Nerit to teach Strix that he wasn't alone. That the connection he felt to the Force was a connection that many others shared, but wasn't widely accepted among the Republic. That fear which had been brought about by the war divided them but that, despite their differences, everyone was connected by the Force. He seemed concerned with defending himself, but Ralaa understood exactly what he felt. She may not have been so extreme, but they weren't so different.

"You have been aware of this connection for most of your life, haven't you?" She raised a hand to close the journal he held open in front of her and motioned for him to sit down. She could sense that Strix was unnerved by her sudden appearance and leaned her back against the base of the tree, hoping to relay that she was comfortable in his presence and that, at this moment, they were equal. "Pardon me, I have forgotten to introduce myself." She held out a hand to Strix. "I'm Ralaa. I'm curious to know; what do you know of the 'Living Force'?"
 
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Strix

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He held his breath, she hadn’t exactly reacted to his drawings. She didn’t think he was crazy which was a relief, but he couldn’t tell what she did think he was. She could very well come to the conclusion he wasn’t crazy and simply malicious. He stood uncomfortably idle as she sat in front of him, unsure of whether to sit next to her or find his own log. She didn’t seem to be hostile in the slightest anymore now that she was sitting. Either a ploy to get him close for an easy kill, or a genuine relaxing figure. Not seeing a rise in her temperature or any visible tension in her muscles he believed it was the latter. Every fiber of his being wanted to go back and grab his vibroblade, not to attack but he almost felt naked in a sense without it resting at his side. He opted against that notion however.

Then she asked him a question. At first he thought she was just trying to start a conversation. It was an odd question but not terribly odd that it was incomprehensible. He definitely had felt a connection to nature for the majority of his life. Unsure of how to answer he simply nodded, not quite sure where she was going with this line of questioning. Mercifully however, she motioned for him to sit. Thankful for not having to awkwardly stand before her he quickly took a seat next to her. He made sure to keep his hands in his lap at all times just to ensure there was no doubt of his intentions, never reaching for a hidden dagger or hold out blaster of some kind.

She extended her hand to him, to which he reflexively flinched. It wasn’t a fast motion but they were sitting close enough that no movement had to be too drastic to reach its target. Deciding to trust her, he offered his hand in return. “My name is Huss’tri’xinio. I know it’s hard to pronounce so you can call me Strix. Um, the living force? I’ve never heard that term before.” In his head he tried to recall if he had ever heard of something along those lines. Perhaps his Basic was failing him. He knew he words ‘living’ and ‘force’ but had never heard them combined in such a way. Perhaps it took on a different meaning when said in such a form.

He did his best to break it down. Force usually meant some kind of power or organization. To simply say a force was alive wouldn’t quite make sense. She had called it The Living Force. Then he came to a conclusion. It was some sort of nature organization. She probably felt calm here because she was aware of all the species and how to deal with them. Maybe she was even a caretaker for them in a way.
“I believe I understand now. You work for one of those nature preservation organizations. And it’s called the Living Force. The name makes sense. That’s why you were so worried when I started hunting your probably protected creatures. If so, you have my sincerest apologies, m’lady.” Trying to sound extra civil, just to show how not crazy he was.
 

Ralaa Talus

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The tension between them was thick enough to be cut with a knife; she had dropped her guard for now, but his obvious anxieties were making her uneasy. Still, Ralaa was certain she hadn't misjudged him and that there was no imminent threat to allowing him to sit just within her comfort zone. She didn't make a habit of allowing people to get too close as she had spent much of her life running, but it seemed like Strix hadn't had it so easy either. Ralaa recalled her childhood and the time she had spent with her brother running from the Jedi Order; she thought back to his betrayal and how he had taught her to fear the closeness of others, but she couldn't run forever. She clasped his hand and gave it a proper shake, offering him a kind smile.

"I don't work for an organization, but good guess." Ralaa chuckled, letting her hands fall back on her lap. "The Living Force is an energy that connects all living things. Some might refer to it as the spirit of the galaxy. It is the connection that you feel to the nature around you; to their life and to their death. You are feeling them through this energy." Her eyes watched him as she spoke, determining if he understood her. "The Living Force is the belief that all living things are connected and bound by this energy. It allows us to connect with the plants and animals that inhabit our worlds." It was odd, translating what she had learned from the ancient texts in the Great Jedi Library into words. Her training had been centered around combat due to the threat of war, but she had learned so much sitting quietly among the scripts; some of them had even been written by Jedi who had served long before the war.

"We are all connected through this energy, but only some of us have the ability to sense its presence. To draw from that energy a certain 'power'. Don't in a destructive sense, but it gives us the ability to do things others cannot. I work for an 'organization' that uses this gift to protect those who cannot protect themselves." She gestured to the animal that Strix had slain, still laying on the ground near the bank of the river. "I take it upon myself to ensure that everyone and everything is given a fair and equal chance. So, I suppose I may be a nature lover after all." She laughed again, leaning back against the tree behind her and crossing her legs. The longer she spent with the strange blue-colored man, the more comfortable she became. Ralaa understood all too well the hardships of isolation; she had spent far too much time alone and afraid. If she could prevent someone else from enduring the same pain she had endured, she was willing to take the risks necessary.
 

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Strix listened intently, trying his best to understand. It all seemed very philosophical to him at first. The spirit of the galaxy? Some unspoken energy between all living things? His first reaction was to be skeptical of it all, but instead he sat in silence, meditating on what the young woman was saying to him. It was as if she had just become much wiser in the last few seconds compared to the almost pouty way she had first confronted him. He thought about his deep interest in nature. Even now among the trees, he could feel the rustle of the leaves. They were alive. He felt the insects that crawled inside the trees and under the soil they walked on. He felt the darkness that had just recently become a nexus around the river. The carcass of his most recent kill. He could feel the stop twitching muscles of the dead creature, he could feel the colony of insects rising from underneath the earth to come claim their own portion. He could sense the plant life reeling from the loss of life. The flora underneath the downed animal was cut off from sunlight and drowned in guts, dying slowly. Yet the insects would take their meals. They’d fertilize the soil once more. The carcass would decompose, returning sunlight to the soil. And new life would grow in its place.

He could feel it. The connection she spoke of. It was all connected in one way or another. So with this deep meditation, he had relaxed completely. She understood. Perhaps she understood him even more than he understood himself. He looked into her eyes intently, not aware that he was staring. He was in awe with how easy she made it all sound. Then, she continued. What he had felt previously was acceptance. Something no one had ever really given him the luxury of having. But this, what she was saying now, to draw in a certain power. To give one the abilities to do what others cannot. Hell, it might as well’ve Been his lie mantra. It was what he had chased after for his entire adolensence onward. It was what had driven him away from his family. It was the obsession that had been used against him. It was the ammunition that led to his exile. It was also the method he’d perfect, to prove them wrong and reclaim his place in the Aristocra. What this woman was telling her was that there was an entire organization dedicated to this. If so, all his problems were solved. He could be proven right. He’d never have to be his own guinea pig anymore. He couldn’t wait to the look on his brothers face when he came back with an entire arsenal to prove him wrong.

Suddenly very eager, and believing she was now calm in his presence he began to ask questions. He dint notice it, but he was slowly getting closer and closer as the questions went on. “So what you’re telling me is that there are others like you? They care about these... connections like you and I? That’s, that’s amazing! It’s more than I could’ve ever hoped for! How many are there? Tens? Hundreds? Thousands? I have to meet them! I mean, you’re amazing in your own right, it’s like you’re reading my mind but I want to see this organization for myself! You said abilities, like what? Regenerative abilities? Do they use armor made of scales? Weapons made of teeth and bone? Do they coordinate their abilities? I’m not sure how much you know about my species, I am a Chiss. And these eyes,” he said motioning to his glowing red eyes “These give me borderline infrared vision. They help me hunt at night as well as measure a beings body heat. So does this organization you speak of have somethig like that? Maybe I can show you my findings. I mean, my sketches aren’t much but I have over a decade of research. Not all super effective but maybe they could make sense of it all. This is amazing!”
 

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Something shifted in him as she spoke; she could see the curiosity in his eyes and sensed that he had relaxed by the way he had slowly moved further inside of her comfort zone. Ralaa had to remind herself not to back away from him. She didn't want Strix to think that she couldn't be trusted or that she did not trust him. Of course, there was still a hint of doubt buried within her; she wondered if she was doing the right thing by telling him about the Force. It was a powerful source of energy and not a tool to be harnessed or used for personal gain, it required a deep respect. Too many members of the Jedi Order had taken this gift for granted and found themselves in a dark place. Ralaa didn't want to feed this darkness and hoped that Strix would be able to understand the importance of his connection.

She watched him as he spoke, the excitement present in his tone. He seemed thrilled that she had understood him, but she wasn't sure she would be able to convince him to take a breath long enough for her to explain to him the importance of the Jedi Order. Nor was she sure she could convey how important the Order was to her and why she wouldn't be taking him to meet with the Council; at least, not yet. The Jedi had kept the vast of their knowledge hidden on Ossus over the last hundred years and welcoming a stranger could present its own set of dangers. Not that she lacked faith in this blue man, but she didn't want to be the one responsible for bringing the war to their doorsteps. Ossus was one of the last beacons of light that remained untouched by the hundred year war. She was concerned that her encounter with the Shistavanen the other day had already spelled disaster so Ralaa would need to make sure that Strix was safe before she took him anywhere.

"Listen," She began in a more somber tone though still tried to offer him a small smile. "It is important that you understand that there aren't many of us left. The war has left our organization divided and our individual connections to the Force leave us vulnerable; there are a great number of bounties placed on those of us who are sensitive to this energy. There have been members of our organization who had taken their 'power' for granted and used it for personal gain. The Force is not a tool to be used and it is important that you learn to respect it." She extended her left hand towards the forests, using the Force to collect a smooth stone from the ground. It moved slowly into her hand and she offered it to him. "We are not meant to be warriors, Strix; we do not have suits of armor made from scales or carry weapons made from teeth and bone. We try to live very simple lives. Modern medicine can be a very beautiful thing, but not at the expense of the world around us. You shouldn't have to chase this feeling."
 

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So far, Strix was on board with everything Ralaa was saying. However, he felt almost a mix of disappointment and sadness to see his excitement wasn’t reciprocated. He felt deflated as he exhaled. Maybe she understood and didn’t care. No, that couldn’t be it. More plausibly she was just immune to the excitement since she was in constant company with others like her; yes that must be it. Strix hadn’t dealt with others like him his whole life. Maybe he was actually coming off as too eager. Trying his best to not let it get to him he forced himself to relax a bit. Then he heard what believed to be the true reason.

She spoke of a war that divided their organization. A civil war of sorts? War tended to shock many people. Strix had never been in a war but had definitely heard tales of it. He had never killed a sentient being of any kind before. She also said there were some that used their connection for personal gain. He was unsure of in what way. His brother had always been driven by personal gain, but his power came from respect not strength. He doubted his connection to nature could be used in a political matter. Most diplomatic meetings took place indoors, and potted plants never came close to the connection he felt in forests or jungles. She didn’t mention respect, however.

Strix had learned to respect nature long ago. In fact, the one scar on his face was his greatest lesson. Nowadays he protected his face because he wanted to retain a regal visage in hopes of inspiring respect. He hadn’t had a chance to cover it up when Ralaa found him. But he only pretended to be extra regal to detract from what he really was. To him, everyone thought he was crazy for what he did. But here, sitting right next to him at this point was a woman who was either pulling the greatest con of all time, or was just as ‘crazy’ as he was. If respect was her greatest fear, he wouldn’t hesitate to put that worry to rest.

His heart stopped. She was right next to him but she might as well of been sitting a thousand miles away because he only faintly heard “We are not meant to be...” and nothing else. Everything had faded away. At first he thought someone else was approaching as he felt a surge of energy around him. He spotted the rock, gently lifting off the ground with no visible cause only to rest softly in her hand. Even more impressive, she offered it to him as if this was entirely normal. Before he could ask anything he had to pick his jaw up out of his lap. His mind was racing with possibilities: magnetism? Invisible wire? Maybe she had placed a special rock there previously just for demonstration? No, that last one was ludicrous. The rock couldn’t have nearly enough raw metal to be attracted by a normal magnet. And no magnet powerful enough could fit in the woman’s hand.

He grabbed the rock from her hand studying it. It was smooth, probably the result of being close to the water of the river. He felt it in his palm and almost meditated over it, completely ignoring Ralaa at the moment. He didn’t sense any disturbance within the rock itself. No technology had been planted inside. And it was most definitely real. No hologram of any kind. He returned his gaze to Ralaa. In a voice that sounded more pleading than he would like it to be he said “Please, you have to tell me what that was. I’ve never seen anything like that in my entire life! It’s beyond anything I considered possible! I’ve been trying to use my gift to make incremental upgrades for weaker species and make strong species even stronger... but this!” He exclaimed, waving the stone in her face. “Please, I’ll do anything. Can your connection to nature really do that?”
 

Ralaa Talus

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Ralaa was now under the impression that perhaps she wasn't the best person suited to teach Strix about the Force. She could see by the way his expression changed that the simple act of summoning the stone had sent him over the edge; she realized a bit too late that it would have been smarter to leave the demonstrations for after she was finished speaking. The strange Chiss man hadn't heard a single word after he had been handed the rock, something that disappointed Ralaa. She held the knowledge she had obtained in her studies very close to her heart, but it seemed he was only interested in learning how to use these abilities. Of course, she couldn't blame him, for someone who had never known of the Force, it must have been a truly magical display. She let out a deep breath, trying not to become agitated over the matter. The Force had put her here for a reason and hopefully, she hadn't misinterpreted what the reason had been; there was a purpose to her having been selected to teach the Chiss about the Force, she just needed to be patient enough to find out what that purpose was. Perhaps it was to teach her patience.

Ralaa crossed her arms over her chest, watching as Strix fussed over the rock trying to figure out how she had called it over. He seemed to think it was some kind of trick, checking it for strings and wires, but there was only the energy that connected them. She wondered how long it was going to take him to figure it out. Ralaa chewed quietly on her lip as she waited for him to settle as there wasn't much point in talking more whilst he was distracted. She knew that it was important to make him understand that, while it was truly a gift to be able to use this invisible energy, there was a lot more to be taken into consideration. She had watched, first hand, what the quest for power had done to both her brother and to her father. Ralaa didn't want Strix to wind up on the wrong side and if he did, she surely didn't want to be the one responsible for it. He pleaded for her to teach him, but something deep inside of her was hesitant.

When he had returned his attention back to her, she uncrossed her arms. "That is the Force, Strix. The energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us; it binds the galaxy together. It can be found anywhere, not just the forests of Nerit." She used the force to draw the stone gently from his hand, tracing her fingers over the smooth finish as she spoke. "It takes a lot of patience and dedication for someone who is sensitive to the Force to learn to use it, as I'm sure your years of research have done the same. If I am to teach you to use this artistry, you must first be willing to learn as a student of the Jedi Order. This is the organization that I work under. Though, I will warn you that to live the life of a Jedi is to live a life of sacrifice. If you are to become a Jedi and learn the ways of the Force, you will be giving your life to others. You will be responsible for standing up for peace and for equality. Are you prepared to make this sacrifice?"
 

Strix

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Strix felt like he was messing things up. He had just met someone like him and even they couldn’t truly level with him. Maybe he was just naturally unlikeable. Still, if dialing back what he considered to be a natural reaction to borderline magic, he would do so. He didn’t want to drive this once in a lifetime experience. He tried to return a serious, or at the very least attentive look to his face to sow he was taking this seriously. He listened intently as she explained the Force, as he realized she continued to call it. So it had a name. Like biology or anatomy. The description was vague, but not in a bad way. It didn’t sound like a political vague, like someone was purposely trying to leave out details. It was a serene vague that left his mind just enough room to wander and question.

He looked down as the stone moved in his hand. His very physical touch to the rock was seemingly overridden. At first he tried to close his hand down on it until he realized Ralaa was pulling it from his hand done with he ground. He tried to keep his reaction subdued this time, but couldn’t help but stare in awe as it returned to her hand. He didn’t let out another series of questions but he failed to conceal the smile that sprawled over his face as he watched. He heard Ralaa begin to speak once more so he devoted all his attention to her, staring into her eyes.

As she spoke he nodded meaningfully until she was finished, then answered doing his best to speak deliberately and articulate his words. “I’m well aware of the value of patience. It is often required when hunting, especially when tracking stealthy or nocturnal prey. I’ve heard of the Jedi Order only in passing. I’m not at a hundred percent with this language yet, but I’ve usually heard it in a negative connotation. Then again, most of my time has been spent in Wild Space and the Outer Rim, and people usually speak of me in the same way so being a part of an Order of others like me wouldn’t be a problem in the slightest. Also, I’ve lived a life of sacrifice for years now. I sacrificed the connections to my own family for it. I’ve nearly sacrificed my life many times in pursuit of it. I’ve sacrificed my own well being for it.

He stood up from his seated position and removed his shirt to prove his point. He was lean and muscular from his years of survival training and hunting. Never had he voluntarily showed anyone the harm that he’d accumulated over the years. He pointed to his discolored chest, the mismatched scales along his left arm, and the varying scars from beasts who fought back and from operations he had conducted on himself. He tried to measure her reaction. When he looked at himself he saw room for improvement. He saw a body of previous failures and permanent reminders of them so he could never forget their lessons. But some had called him crazy for it. Some had called it inhumane. Even if she didn’t understand the meaning behind all of them, he hoped she could see his dedication to this connection he had always felt. “Please, don’t judge me for my failures. Just know I’ve been sacrificing my life for years now, and only been ridiculed for it.”
 

Ralaa Talus

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Ralaa had never been good at connecting with others; raised as an orphan on Brentaal she hadn't had much of an opportunity to learn basic social interaction. She was well aware of the fact that she often came off as awkward or rude, but that hadn't been her intention in this situation. The dedication that he had shown for his research was present, even before he removed his top. She could see it in his detailed sketches and how he had tried so desperately to explain himself when she had confronted him about the cadavers left in the forest. He had been ostracized in his youth, as she had been in her own; aside from their differing goals and ambitions, they truly weren't much different. His pain was predominant and, not only could she feel it through the Force, but could see it in his flaws. The discolored skin on his chest and the scales that stuck out from his arm all told different chapters of his life and the struggles that he had faced.

"It is not my job to judge you for your failures, Strix. I apologize if I made you believe differently. That was not my intention." She frowned, pulling herself to her feet and moving closer to him. Her hand moved to her robe, pushing it aside. Ralaa lifted the bottom of her tunic to reveal a rather fresh burn on her left side. The skin was raw and red and she grimaced as the fabric brushed over it. "One of the hardest lessons I have learned as a Jedi, is that it is important to draw lessons from our failures. It is impossible to be perfect; our lives are ones of constant learning and struggle. I too have had to turn my own failures into lessons. I am not above you, we are equal; we may have walked separate paths, but that does not make either one of us better than the other. I don't often speak of my past, but please know that I am aware of how hard it is to take ridicule and rise from it. I believe that you are capable of doing great things, despite what you have been through."

Her hand fell back to her side, but she kept her shirt pulled up just far enough to let the cool air hit her wound; it still burned from the day prior and it was nice to let it breathe for a moment. Really, she should have sought medical attention upon returning from her patrol, but she had let her pride get in the way. "Anyway," she attempted to move on, not wanting to dwell on her frustrations. The pains of her failure were still weighing on her, but now wasn't the time to let them take over. "I've said what needed to be said. It is not my place to lecture you about what is right and what is wrong and I am sorry for having done so. Please, if you have any questions about the war or about the Jedi Order, don't hesitate to ask them. I want you to be certain that you are wanting to make the decision to follow this path."
 

Strix

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He listened intently, trying to hide his sigh of relief as she refused to judge him like others had. His nerves all seemed to turn off at once, relieved that he could be comfortable in his own skin around someone. As scarred and malformed as it was. They all were suddenly back on duty very soon however. She moved closer to him and began to lift her shirt. He had removed his shirt, but it was his understanding that there were different social norms between genders. At least when it came to humans. If she was going to do the same he was woefully unprepared as he went stiff with tension and his face flushed. Thankfully, she didn’t raise her shirt very high, instead only showing him a single wound. By the looks of it, a very recent one as well. He squinted as he tried to examine it closer, he couldn’t tell what weapon had caused such an injury. Maybe she had been grazed by a blaster.

He returned his attention to Ralaa as she spoke, trying his best not to repeatedly say ‘yes’ throughout. It was as if she was acknowledging everything those around him seemed to deny. Everyone who judged him saw him for his failures, never with any vision for what he had learned, discerned and applied in further studies because of them. Some called him a monster for what he planned to do. But here was this amazing, humble and seemingly wise beyond her years human of all species. Maybe it was meant to be a human. After all, he had so fern shown disdain for humans, seeing them inferior to many other races. And even as a complete stranger, she believed in him. She believed that he could do great things. Something he had spent hours trying to convince others of he had somehow managed to inspire in her in just a few minutes. Just the thought of it made him beam.

She seemed like she wanted to move away from the subject of failure. Then she gave him the golden ticket. A free pass to ask whatever he wanted. He had to hold back his usual barrage of questions. Trying to seem less scatterbrained and more serene. “Okay, where to start? Well, you mention this Jedi Order. How many are within its ranks? Do they carry military or religious ranking? You say you do not fight with clubs or wear armor, yet you seem to have gone to battle recently. Did you lose your weapons because of the war? Who was the war against? Did yo win or lose? Why did that outcome form a negative look from the public? Where are the others? Are there bases of the Jedi Order or are you all loners or nomads ties together only by name? By the way, um, that wound looks fresh. And untreated. I’ve got some cream in my pack. It won’t heal it exactly but it’ll definitely numb the pain until you do get it patched up. I could apply it while you answer, if you’d like of course.”
 

Ralaa Talus

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Apart from the failure that it represented, Ralaa hadn't given much thought to the wound on her side. With her medical and survival experience, she knew better than to let a burn fester, but there had been more important things on her mind the last few days. She worried about how the Council was going to judge her failures, about where she was going to begin her hunt for the Shistavanen male, and about how she was going to overcome their difference in strength to bring home the Togruta child. Her eyes trailed down to her stomach and inspected the wound for the first time; it was rather gruesome, extending from the bottom of her rib cage and across her hip. The flesh around it was hot to the touch, a sign that it would become infected if not treated soon. For as much as she disliked the idea of allowing the Chiss stranger to touch her, it was probably for the best.

"Please be careful." She warned him, drawing in a sharp breath and holding it as she awaited his touch which was sure to burn. Ralaa turned her gaze to the forests to distract her mind from the pain, taking a moment to organize his questions. It was hard to form an answer when the Order remained so divided; some of its members thought their roles were as warriors and others still clung to their old monastic views. Ralaa wasn't sure where she stood anymore after the conclave had only proved to further their divide. Would there even be an Order to return to when they left Nerit?

"To answer your questions, I suppose we should start with the Jedi Order before the war. We were a monastic organization who studied the Force and dedicated ourselves to the preservation of peace and prosperity. Among our ranks were many philosophers and scholars, whose knowledge was widely respected within the Republic. Some members thought that the limits set forth by our Council were constricting and either broke off or were exiled due to their reckless use of the Force and for giving into a more animalistic nature. These exiled members came back to begin a war against the Republic and the Jedi Order and enslaved many races in their endeavors. Our once monastic organization, in an effort to aide the Republic, began to train our students to send them to war. It's been a hundred years since the war began and, though I'd like to believe that it's over, I think we've only seen the beginning. Because it was members of our Order who began this war, the idea of the Jedi as defenders of peace has been disputed and we have found ourselves separated. While there are a few standing Temples, the majority of our Order remains spread out through the galaxy."

She frowned, the thought of the Jedi Order remaining divided weighed heavy on her heart. They had once been a force to be reckoned with and now they could hardly hold a meeting without arguing amongst each other; she was almost embarrassed to tell Strix that they spent a lot of their time hiding from criminal organizations like the Hutts, to keep their numbers from being wiped clean. Perhaps she would save that conversation for later. Ralaa took a moment of silence to calm her racing thoughts and then continued, reaching slowly for the hilt that hung from her belt in an effort not to startle the Chiss.

"While we try to resolve a lot of our issues diplomatically, there are times when we have to protect ourselves or are required to protect others. For these particular circumstances, we use an.." She tried to think of a way to describe the particular weapon without confusing him. "Well, it's like an energy blade. I recently found myself in a confrontation and it was one of these that caused my wound. They're rather dangerous if you're not careful."
 

Strix

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Very tentatively, Strix began to treat the wound. It was worse up close. He could tell by its appearance that it should have been treated sooner than this. He actually felt bad that he was ill equipped. His camp had his better medical supplies, but after spending a few days and nights on Nerit he had deduced that there were no large predators or animals capable of doing considerable damage to him. He has figured a numbing agent would be all he needed for any injuries he did receive until he made it back to camp. He opened the bottle that held the translucent cream. He scooped it with two fingers, feeling the tips of his fingers tingle at the touch it. Slowly, he applied it, giving a thin layer over the burn itself and putting a perimeter of the cream on the surrounding skin to ease the majority of the pain. “That’s all I can do for now. I’d recommend letting an actual doctor look at it though. They’d probably be better equipped to deal with this sort of injury. I usually receive cuts and fractures, I’ve never encountered a creature that can burn me, so I’m afraid I don’t have much to treat this. Just don’t touch it and it shouldn’t irritate you for the next few hours or so.”

He packed up his stuff, slightly disappointed in himself for his lack of preparation. In all fairness he’d been alone for years so experience treating someone else’s wounds was next to none. Usually if he was getting that close it was for examination or a killing blow. He had often considered having a hunting partner, but too many things got in the way. First off, people didn’t like him in general. Second, a lot of the time others just seemed to get in the way. And thirdly if he ever did make a massive breakthrough like he dreamed of doing he wouldn’t want to have his big moment ruined by having to account for someone else. After all, he had worked his whole life for this project. Anyone he brought on would have a long time to catch up, and wouls never show the amount of passion for his craft as he did. Maybe he could find a like minded individual in this Jedi Order Ralaa spoke of so much.

He listened as Ralaa began another of her long explanations. But he didn’t mind at all, he was fascinated by all this knowledge, and he asked too many questions as it was so he was more than eager to hear everything she had to say. His brow furrowed as she spoke of philosophers and scholars. He held back a scoff, but he did say aloud
“In my experience philosophers and scholars would rather speak of the achievements of others and debate the for the rest of their lives than to put into a field and put the effort in to make findings of their own.” He didn’t direct what he said to Ralaa per se, but he wasn’t hiding it either. After all, he was trying to be extra polite, but it was true. His experience with so called scholars were often negative back home and they had never shown any interest in change. Even when he went out and tried to prove day in and day out that with some support he could make some serious advancements. No, they were too high up for him. They backed his smooth talking brother instead and banished him from his own home. He still missed those wilds.

Strix tried to follow along as Ralaa explained what seemed to sound like a civil war on some level within the Jedi Order. He found it interesting, considering right now he couldn’t imagine wanting to lose this connection he had. And he had only shared this connection with one other so far, imagine with hundreds, of thousands. Why sever that kind of bond? She also mentioned that the war was ongoing for a hundred years with no end in sight. That was good. Very good actually. It meant the Order wouldn’t be able to sit on its laurels like the Aristocra had. They have to act and actively train for war. One thing he had learned from history was that war was the greatest way to inspire innovation. Every war brought despair and with it disparity. And in desperate times, desperate measures are funded. Things that would’ve never been considered in peace times. It was a state of war where a mind like his could be allowed to flourish. And if all these members of the Order felt the same way as him, maybe his ideas would actually be accepted and funded for a change.

She went on a little bit longer about different temples and such, but she seemed a bit off, like something troubled her. Normally he’d be eager to ask but he figured considering this woman’s knowledge he wouldn’t be able to relate to the situation that troubled her. Slowly, she reached for something on her belt. At first he thought it was a type of blaster and reflexively flinched, ready to bolt toward his vibrosword. But she was doing it very obviously and carefully, which led him to believe she had no ill intentions. As she struggled to describe it, he struggled to understand it. An energy blade? He had never heard such a thing. He had seen swords imbued with many extra features like blades that would leave behind a poison effect or others that could heat up to burn an opponent on contact, but nothing like this. He couldn’t even see where exactly the blade was. Nothing seemed to be inside. If there was something inside it couldn’t be very sturdy.

But he did feel something. There was some sort of power within. He didn’t doubt what she was saying. He could feel something beneath the metal. It wasn’t wholly technological. There was something very powerful he could feel inside much like how he could feel the wilderness around them. Gradually, without realizing it, he had been drawing closer and closer almost hypnotized with curiosity. Without thinking he grabbed it, the device still in her hand, when it didn’t budge he flinched away
“Sorry, sorry! I- I wasn’t thinking I’m sorry. It’s just, it’s very mesmerizing.” He put his face in his hands, shaking his head. “Sorry, um, may I?” He said, gesturing towards the weapon.
 

Ralaa Talus

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Ralaa hadn't quite realized it before but allowing someone else to touch her made her entirely uncomfortable. Perhaps it had been the isolation she had experienced in her youth or the abuse that she had suffered at the hands of her brother; distanced had become her friend. It seemed she had grown so used to being alone that she was unable to recall a time when she had openly trusted someone the way she now trusted the Chiss. He was careful in his application of the translucent paste but there was still a desire to push him away. For all she knew the paste could have been constructed from the waste created from his experiments or contain harmful pathogens. Nevertheless, it aided to dull the pain that had radiated from her wound and for that she was appreciative.

It hadn't taken him long to treat her wound and Ralaa could sense his disappointment for what she could only assume was a lack of supplies. Strix mentioned that he had yet to encounter a creature capable of burning him and wondered how he would handle himself in a physical confrontation with another sentient. He had made it clear that he had been ostracized by his family and friends for his beliefs and because of this, she could only conclude that he had spent as much time in isolation as she had. Perhaps it was the idea that they had led a very similar existence that led her to trust him. She had spent too many years as a child learning to survive on her own and could only imagine that he had to face a lot of the same obstacles; it had only been due to the kindness of the Jedi Order that she had escaped a vicious cycle of poverty.

Her eyes moved to the Chiss as he finished packing away his medical supplies and inspected the weapon that she held in her hand. Ralaa watched as he moved closer and when he reached to take it from her, she grasped it firmly. He seemed surprised by her response and quickly withdrew himself as though she had threatened him, but it had not been her intention. Ralaa had only wanted to keep him from disarming her, though she doubted he had any ill intentions. He seemed perplexed that she had called it a blade when it seemed to be nothing but an empty shell. He looked down the barrel that held the crystal and its components, his face screaming in confusion and curiosity. "I would prefer to hold on to it. I'm sure you understand, given that is a means of protection. I don't distrust you, but I don't make a habit of handing over my weapons."

Ralaa smiled, despite her words of caution, and directed the end of the hilt away from the man. Her thumb rested on the switch and she let the saber hum to life. The pale yellow blade extended roughly one meter from her side, letting off a harsh heat. She twirled it in her hand a few times careful to avoid the curious Chiss, listening to the familiar sounds it made as it cut through the air. When she had finished, she held it still and away from her body to allow him the opportunity to inspect it further. She only hoped that he didn't try to touch the blade; he had seen first hand the damage it could do and Ralaa was hopeful that she didn't need to remind him again.

"It's called a lightsaber. The weapon consists of a plasma blade that is powered by a crystal. It can cut through virtually anything and requires a lot of skill and training to use effectively. Most use a single-bladed lightsaber like my own, though I've known some to use double-bladed lightsabers or even two single-bladed lightsabers together. I'd consider myself a bit too clumsy to manage more than one, but it's saved me on more than one occasion."
 

Strix

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“Very interesting.” He said. He eyed the weapon closely. He was very curious to see it in combat, but he would prefer to do so when he wasn’t on the receiving end. She also said it was powered by a crystal which he found to be an odd power source, he hadn’t heard of any other weapon using crystals as a power source. Maybe they were an alternative source rather than the standard? Either way he still found it amazing. It was very bright and very hot, so much so that he instinctively recoiled from the heat wave that hit him when it was first ignited. He wondered if a weapon of such heat could fell an entire tree in a single blow. If the glancing wound Ralaa had was enough to go by, he wouldn’t put it past it. Now very eager after seeing such a weapon, and hoping it was the standard for others like him, he was considering abandoning his current project altogether. This was much more interesting. Telekinesis, plasma blades and like minded individuals sounded very good for him. “So are you a wandering member of this Order at the moment or do you have a base nearby?”
 
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