Open Where the Force Leads

[Essla Ta'dek]

"Let's truss him up and leave the public to deal with him," Essla said dryly. She looked around and spotted a coil of rope that had fallen to the ground when the man had hit the table. She picked it up, unwound it, and in about thirty seconds, the crook was bound firmly. Essla admired her emergency restraining work, then turned to follow wherever the Jedi was going. Maybe she could actually enter a conversation with him and talk about joining, no matter how little she actually believed she would get a chance. As she trailed him, she noticed that some people were eying her with suspicion. A natural reaction, she supposed.
@Victor Ryder
@Phoenix

 

[Arla]

Arla watched the exchange between the Jedi and the marketplace workers, still looking none too happy and wondering silently to herself if they were going to take them away and kill them. Most people didn't have the stomach for cold blooded murder, but most people also couldn't abide having those same people come back and kill them. Spare them now and they'd come back for those same stall owners.

At the end of the day, it wasn't Arla's problem so long as they didn't come after Arla.

Just the day to day out here, he said. This is the way the Outer Rim is. I just keep my head down, now please, move on, the man said, waving them away before any more attention was drawn.

For Arla's part, she decided to approach the man at the temple with his ornate robes and skeptical gazes.

I'd like to know about your temple and its beliefs, Arla said, walking straight up to the man and inquiring, not actually looking back to see if the others had followed.

Yes, of course. I'm Almec, it's a pleasure to meet you, the man said, looking to all of them as they approached.

We strive for balance in all things. We understand that nothing is forbidden, but not all things are profitable to the whole, he said.

Would you like a tour of the temple? he asked them.

@Interdictor @Victor Ryder

 

[Victor-Ryder]

Victor hoped to get more out of the man and was disappointed with the response, but noting that he couldn't get much more out of him, the Jedi withdrew from the market.

Instinctively he followed the woman, heading toward the temple. As the Jedi walked, she couldn't help but find it strange that soon she, who was so worried about getting into trouble in the future, didn't want to know more about the bandits and who they worked for. He pushed those thoughts away, after all it was clear that it would not be easy to understand this woman and what was going on in her head.Also, it didn't look like he could get much information about the bad guys, so he was resigned to putting it aside for now. If something happened, Victor would deal with it when it was due. There was no point in dwelling on what might or might not happen.

"We strive for balance in all things. We understand that nothing is forbidden, but not all things are profitable to the whole"

The Jedi absorbed those words and reflected. He noticed that there was wisdom in them, the search for balance was a noble ideal, but very complex. How do I set the limit? What is the break-even point? What was acceptable and what wasn't? Victor couldn't help but look at Arla and remember that a few minutes ago, she wanted to kill a defenseless man. That was far from balance.

On the other hand, looking at himself, he also found himself far from what can be called balance. Since it was reshaped by Master Rey Skywalker, the Jedi order was closer to balance, but it was still quite limited and even a bit prejudiced towards other aspects of the force... It was definitely a complex subject, one that the Jedi would have loved to discuss with Almec and the other monks, but one that he felt he would have to leave for another time.

"Would you like a tour of the temple?"

The Jedi nodded and greeted the priest gently. -It would be an honor, my friend. The red-haired young man had a kind smile on his face. -Actually, I feel like there's a reason we're here together... Perhaps a visit to the temple can help us understand what it is all about.

@Phoenix & @Interdictor

 

[Essla Ta'dek]

Essla approached the monk uncertainly, not sure how to approach this. Should she hand over her blaster or something? When he asked about a tour, the Twi'lek only nodded her head in response and then immediately afterwards wondered what the Jedi meant by saying the Force had brought them here. Maybe, maybe not.
(Sorry it's so short, I just returned from a vacation and I'm really tired)
@Victor Ryder
@Phoenix

 

[Arla]

Although her interest was mostly in the monks, she found herself glancing back at the other two, trying to figure them out. She still hadn't categorized them into threats or not, and that bothered her in its own way. The Jedi didn't seem to care for her much, but didn't seem to want to kill her at the moment.

The woman hadn't really declared herself yet. She was quiet and more reserved, but had the impression of someone familiar with violence around her. As if maybe she was actually willing to do what was necessary.

Her thoughts were interrupted as the monk began leading them deeper into the building, and Arla took a moment to admire the carvings. A mixture of symbols that she didn't recognize adorned the walls, and she was sure there was history here to match that of her own people or the Sith or even the Jedi.

Understand what what is all about? the Monk asked in response to Victor's question. The man was sharp as a tack, and the statement hadn't slipped past him.

@Victor Ryder @Interdictor

 

[Victor-Ryder]

The Jedi walked with the Monk and the women. He watched everything with attention and admiration, it was fantastic for a young padawan like him. He recognized one or two symbols, from the books in the Jedi temple, but most he didn't know and the "message" on the walls didn't make sense. There seemed to be something there, a story, something about the Force, perhaps. But what?

"Understand what what is all about?"

-Oh! He was lifted from his thoughts by the Monk's words. -I'm sorry. Well, what I mean is that I feel something strange. A few days ago, I was on my way back to the Jedi Temple and the Force caused me to stray from my path. The young man paused, pondering what would be prudent or not to report, and continued. -I believe I dreamed of this planet... He paused briefly to try to remember the dream. -I'm not sure, but that was about three days ago and here we are. It makes me wonder if there's a reason we're here. He looked at the women and pondered the group they formed. The three were very different and Victor didn't see the point in them being together. He decided not to give any more information, because he did not yet know who he could trust there.

The young man made a gesture with his hands, kind of pushing his thoughts away and belittling the situation. -Well, that's probably not important right now. Victor pointed to one of the symbol-covered walls. -Perhaps it would be more profitable if you tell us about this place? These symbols, what do they say? The padawan suddenly stopped with the feeling that he might be being rude. He bowed briefly. -Excuse my manners. It would be an honor if you could tell us more about the stories and teachings contained in this place.

@Phoenix & @Interdictor

 

[Essla Ta'dek]

Essla stopped slightly behind the group to admire a gigantic mural of a Bendu summoning a thunderstorm. She turned to ask the monk about it but saw that the Jedi was already asking something, so she patiently waited her turn. When the religious man had finished answering, she cleared her throat. "Ah, what does this mural show? Is it of some historical event?" Essla gestured towards the wall. She was genuinely curious, but she mostly felt awkward just standing here. And hey, art could be interesting. Probably.

(Again, sorry about the length; I can't think of anything to say)
@Phoenix
@Victor Ryder

 

[Arla]

Arla was initially coming here to learn about this temple, but now she was... more curious about these two and whatever game was afoot here.

Arla glanced at the Twi'lek woman as the Jedi talked to the monk.

I get the Jedi's interest, but what's your interest in this place? she asked, deciding that whatever the monk was going to tell the Jedi was probably not relevant to her. She could delve into the library later if she wanted to, but for the moment, she had a feeling that the thing that had drawn her here... was maybe these people.

She reached out to the Shadow, letting this place and its power seep into her mind. She reached out beyond that and sensed... something amiss. Maybe it was a faint darkness calling to her or maybe it was a warning of danger to come. She didn't know, but whatever it was, she realized there was no escaping a confrontation with it.

@Interdictor @Victor Ryder

 

[Victor-Ryder]

Almec furrowed an eyebrow as he heard the Jedi. Whether he knew something or whether the gesture was just a reaction to the strange story, it wasn't impossible to notice.

The Monk didn't give much information at first, basically dedicated himself to talking about the various faces of the Force and the importance of balance between them.

As the tour followed, another priest motioned to Almec, who stepped aside for a moment. "Oh, I'm sorry! I'll be right back". The Monk moved no more than a few steps away.

"I get the Jedi's interest, but what's your interest in this place?"

Arla's voice reached the ears of the Jedi, who turned in their direction.-A very pertinent question. Victor stopped and realized that he still didn't know the two women. The three met strangely, knocked down the bandits in the market, and made their way to the temple together. All this and the only few words they exchanged were about whether or not to kill the remaining bandit. He didn't trust the night sister, but the other woman was still an unknown. She was clearly a dangerous person, but she didn't appear to be evil. Victor still didn't know what to think about her.

The young man stepped forward. -I think we could start with the names. I'm Victor Ryder, a member of the Order of Jedi Knights.

Victor felt a brief disturbance in the Force, the strangest thing was that it wasn't the first time that day. But he chose to ignore it, believing it to be due to his proximity to the "witch".

@Phoenix & @Interdictor

 

[Essla Ta'dek]

Well, great. Now, she was on the spot. "I..." Before she could make up some half-baked story, the Jedi made her life easier by offering to start with names. "I'm Essla. No title. Yet." Immediately after the words left her mouth, she almost punched herself. Why. Why the heck did she say 'yet'? Why? Now, there were going to be questions. Great. Just great. Just then, her gut instinct told her something was wrong. She glanced around. Nothing. Still...her guesses had saved her bacon more than a few times.
@Victor Ryder
@Phoenix

 

[Arla]

Arla could still sense the judgment wafting off of the Jedi with every passing moment. Of course, he wasn't likely to realize just how powerful she was or the fact that his emotions were practically laid bare before her, but she also wasn't overly concerned with whether he trusted her. Part of her wondered if he'd come along simply because he wanted to watch or track her.

I wonder if it'll devolve into a fight, she pondered silently to herself. Fortunately, he hadn't verbalized calling her a witch to her face, and probably for the best.

Their guide ran off and Arla only gave him a fleeting glance for a moment, frowning at the strangeness, but letting it be for the moment. Her guard was never really down, and with all that had transpired today it had to be even more on edge.

Arla found herself suppressing a small smile at the woman's addition of the word "yet." It was ambitious and the Nightsister liked that. People without ambition were usually... stagnant and boring. Useless.

Arla, she said. She could have lied, but there wasn't really any reason to. Nothing she'd done yet was... well, maybe the killings had been illegal, but you could also argue that was just self-defense. Either way, this planet wasn't exactly the pinnacle of law-and-order.

What's a Jedi doing all the way out here? she asked.

You still didn't answer my question, though, she said, not having forgotten and now all the more curious by the evasiveness the other woman was demonstrating.

@Interdictor @Victor Ryder