Log:Jedi: In Sideos
Rey and the other Grand Masters provide a briefing about the Sideos on Arisnar...
OOC Date: May 8, 2023
Location: Tempes
Participants: Rey, Juria Nexum, Saito, L'orera, Qutha Buvu Pah, Lira'una, Galen Dawnstar, Yuun, Finn, Zev
...< The Oasis Cavern - Crusader Valley, Tempes $ >...___...\`~~`\\....___...___ The chill of the planet Tempes is palpable as one approaches the cavern. The entrance yawns wide, beckoning with its darkness. The sound of rushing water echoes from within, a melodic symphony that draws one ever closer.
As the entrance is passed, the cavern opens up into a vast space, its ceiling lost in the darkness above. Stalactites hang like jagged teeth, and the walls are rough-hewn, the marks of a millennia of natural erosion etched into their surface. A breeze blows, carrying with it the scent of damp earth and the faintest hint of ozone.
At the far end of the chamber, a wall of waterfalls cascades down a cliff face. The sound is deafening, yet soothing, and the mist it generates creates an ethereal veil over everything. On either side of the waterfalls, a series of stone staircases rise, leading to a series of platforms that dot the cliff face.
Each platform is different, tailored to the specific needs of Jedi training. One has a series of balance beams, where apprentices can practice their footwork. Another is lined with mirrors, allowing Padawans to study their lightsaber form. Yet another has a series of pits filled with sand, where initiates can practice their agility.
The highest platform is the grandest of all. It is large enough to accommodate the entire new Jedi Council and their students. It is here that the teachings of the Force are imparted, where the wisdom of the ages is shared. The views from here are breathtaking, the entire cavern laid out below like a map.
As one stands here, surrounded by the grandeur of the cavern, it is impossible not to feel a sense of awe. This is a place of ancient power, a place where the Force is strong. It is a place where young Jedi can come to learn, to grow, and to become the guardians of peace and justice in the galaxy.
(Check +views for specific details on places within the Oasis)
There are currently 8 people in this area. ...< 3 +Views $ >...___...\`~~`\\....___...___...\`~~`\\....___...___...\`~~`\\.
A gathering of Jedi have collected around the base of the steps leading up to the various platforms here within the Oasis caverns. At the peak of the gathering stands the three Masters of the Order stationed here to Tempes, Rey in the middle flanked by Finn on her right, and his wife Jannah on her left. They've been sharing little bits of a conversation amongst one another as everyone had gathered up.
A few stragglers, young Padawans rush in from the cold outside, gathering up with their various friend circles. Rey's two kids even stand off to one side with their friends, talking amongst each other as they wait for the meeting to commence.
Finally, once everyone has mostly arrived, fifty people in total, Rey drops her hands to her lap and clears her throat.
"Thank you all for coming. I know this is rather impromptu, but it comes with a fair amount of concern. Concern for our littlest members, on Arisnar." The Jedi Grand Master speaks, her face framed by two strands of braided hair that gently sway beside her cheeks as she looks out across the group.
"Almost two decades ago there was an attack on the Skywalker Academy on Arisnar. We fought the attackers off... local wildlife, they came from the mesa range to the north of the academy. We fought them back in to the mesa canyons... never to see them again. Until now. Our Jedi Masters there, Qassa Starhawk and Shimsa have contacted us to say there have been two attacks in the past week."
"I'm telling all of you this because I'm going to be looking for volunteers to travel to Arisnar to help find the source of this problem..."
Juria made her way here by private Space Uber.
Sitting on the steps playing a which hand game with one of the younger padawans, she holds her fists out for the young Togruta to pick which of her palm she's holding a pebble. It helps pass the time, grinning at the young blue skinned alien who picks a hand, which she turns over to reveal the pebble. It goes back behind her back to shift around betwixt them while waiting for Rey to ascend to address them all.
When she does, the pebble is rolled up and handed to the youngling, who leans against the Corellian Knight dressed in a poncho and bodysuit rather than Jedi robes cus them things is U.G.L.Y. and it aint got no alibi.
She loops her arm around the youngling and peers up at Rey. Listening. Then nods, "Well... imagine the person who says 'nah, I'm good on' on volunteering." So, that said, she raises her hand. "I volunteer as tribute."
Saito stands amidst the gattered Jedi. His eyes go to Rey when she begins to speak, before his gaze returns to the gattering of Jedi. He turns his head, as if looking for familiar faces, a hand ajusting his ponytail in a movement that has by now became routine. He smiles when he sees the Corellian Jedi, raising a hand to wave to Juria. When the jesture ends, the hand continues in the air. "I'd like to volunteer, too."
This is going to be a first, and it's ...probably going to be okay. Sure, L'orera has been around most of these people in her classes and whatnot, but never all at once. As she makes her way towards the meeting, she can feel the anxiety knotting up her insides. Tempes is rapidly becoming home, but this is still a lot of people crammed into a relatively small area. She's not a fan.
She's here anyway, because that's what being brave is.
She latches on to the first familiar face she finds, which is her Master (who she's not allowed to call Master) Juria. She hovers off to the side as the Knight entertains one of the younger ones, and she can't help but smile, some of the anxiety bleeding away.
The Grand Master speaks, and her smile fades. Golden eyes flicker towards Juria and then Saito, and she lifts a delicate looking hand. "I--I'll go too, if that's alright."
Then she realizes she just spoke up in front of like sixty people, flushes dark, and goes quiet again.
"Reckon I'd go." Qutha calls out, he'd been drifting among the gathering on the eddies of the Force, his attention in the present as much as submerged in the flow that he was often found moving with or through. Finding himself standing closer to where the three masters were at with a slow blink of his eyes and a blanching of his skin when he realizes where he is.
Caves.
Everything is in potentially dark caves.
Chewing at his lip, but taking breaths to work towards maintaining his peace, the Zelosian looks around to the others, attention falling at last on L'orera with a small nod for her and even a flicker of his usual small smile.
The hood of her dark robe pushed back, Lira'una's leather-wrapped lavender lekku hang down her back, their prehensile lengths a bit curled at the ends and seemingly to slowly, steadily writhe -- restless energy that the girl was expending without having to bounce on her toes like she usually did. She's standing next to Qutha, blue eyes cast up towards the Masters.
"Count me in," she calls out right after Qutha, looking over at hum with a little smile.
"Can't let you go alone," she whispers, nudging him gently with her shoulder. "It might get dark." One lavender eyelid winks deliberately, her smile beaming.
Galen wasn't late but he's off to the side having recently arrived from off world. His hands tucked into his pockets he listens for a bit before he nods lifting one hand up, "I'll go. The littlest members are our future so no question that we should ensure their safety." His hand returning to his pocket he awaits further information from the Jedi Masters on the stairs
The Phoenix had just only laded a bit ago and as the engines whine down, Yuun walks down the ramp and moves up the stairs. Having heard there was a gathering tonight, he wasn't wanting to miss this at all. Granted, Yuun has a habit of being late to things sometimes. Granted he's gotten better over the years, especially as he doesn't stray to far from Tempes.
As he comes to where the gathering is, he smiles as he sees so many Jedi here of all ranks. A few of the Initiates who see him waves, "Hey!" he calls to them. He laughs as they go back to doing what thye're doing. Yuun looks around noticing a lot of familiar faces and he smiles and waves to them as he comes to find a spot to lean against a wall. He looks up as Rey continues to speak. He looks to those who're volunteering, "Looks like you have plenty of volunteers Grand Master." he chuckles from where he's leaning.
On Rey's right side, Finn watches the various reactions to what Rey says. He nods his head softly to those who are already eagerly volunteering, but he'd expect nothing less from this group of brave individuals. With a look to Rey, and Jannah, Finn looks back to the others. He raises his right hand up, his brown hued sleeve belled around his wrist. He holds a holo-projector.
He activates it and a strange bug-like lizard creature is now visible, slowly turning.
"This is our issue." Finn speaks to everyone. "We've spoken to the Arisnar Empire, the rulers of the distant solar system, they call these creatures the Sideosnarians. The Sideos. They're massive dragon beasts that hail from a distant world within the Arisnar star system. Apparently Arisnar has been an incubator for their young, for hundreds of years.. and it would seem a collection of their eggs, and their youth are waking up."
"This is bad, for our people, and for the Arisnar Empire." Finn states, glancing back to Rey and Jannah.
Jannah bows her head to everyone gathered up then. "Anyone who goes to help will be greatly appreciated for this. These Sideosnarian creatures are an unknown to us... but we're confident in all of you." The Jedi Master adds on to what Finn and Rey had just said.
Zev had been lingering around near the back of the gathered group. Wildlife attacks? A brief thought back to that boar creature they fought. A brief shake of his head ot push that thought away, "I'd like to go as well." He finally says. He has to face off against that fear of creatures, or else he knows he'll freeze again.
When Finn's holo-image comes up of the Sideosnarian creatures, Rey's eyes fall down to it to behold their strange visage in the glowing blue holo-field. She listens to both what Finn says, and Jannah adds before her brown eyes glance back up and out to everyone.
"Thankfully none of our Younglings were injured in the attack. They all banded together and successfully pushed off this raiding party for both onslaughts... but they're not as well guarded as we are here, or our academy on Iego is. So for those of you who are volunteering, I thank you. I will likely be headed that way myself, to check in on all of this."
She glances over to Finn on her right. "Jannah and Finn will keep Tempes in my absence, as I have somewhat of a history with the Arisnar Empire government. They are... a unusual people. They're not fond of outsiders. Our academy, as many of you know, is far from their capital city, and though they welcome us to visit their city, they do not encourage it either. The star system itself is perilous to enter without knowing the pathway, and if any of you are traveling to it who do not know the path, simply reach out to one of us to gain the proper coordinates for how to approach the system. Their local defense forces will immediately hassle you upon your arrival, but if you transmit our access codes.. they will permit you to travel to Arisnar, and the 'Stardust Coastline' where the Skywalker Academy is located. Some of you grew up at that Academy..." Rey says with the hints of a small smile showing.
"For others of you, this might be the first time you've gone to the location. It is both beautiful and dangerous... YOu are not to let the beauty take your mind from the trouble that lurks beneath the sandy surface of the world. Should you go, keep your wits about you, and do not let the younglings push you around." She finishes that with a little grin for everyone.
"Are there any questions?" She asks then.
"I have a whole mess'a questions." Juria says after Finn speaks up and Rey adds on.. Specifically about what they had all just volunteered for. She smiles up at Rera beside her and pats the seat directly next to her, then looks to the Grand Master and Master up on the raised section. "Firstly, did they know these dragon beasts were incubating on their planet? Not that it's going to change my opinion on the matter, I just feel like knowing whether they knew giant monsters were laying eggs on their planet is a pretty solid so... double you tea ef moment." Frak. The ef is frak.
To the youngling whom she'd been playing guessing games, she low murmurs, "don't use that kind of Nar Shaddaa language." With a wink and a grin.
"I"m assuming, but would like clarification, that these Sideos are aggressive? If they mean the people of Arisnar harm, count me in, I'll be there with bells on... but if we're culling a population just because they forgot to fill out the proper incubational documentation I'm going to have some questions about the ethics of what we're volunteering for."
Saito glances to Finn as he shows the hologram to the Jedi gattered. He sighs and softly shakes his head, before raising a tentative hand. "Do we know if these creatures have sentience?" the padawan asks in his usual calm tone. He spots Lore and Lira among the crowd, waving to the two of them, atention soon returning to the masters as he seems thoughtful for a moment.
Rera is intensely thankful for faces she knows. When bid, she slips closer and seats herself next to Juria, listening. Her teacher is right, of course. Culling these creatures because people knowingly encroached on their nesting grounds is not a great thing. She will still go to take care of wounded, but then again, that's really all she'd do -anyway-. Not much of a fighter, this one.
When Saito gives her a little wave, she seems taken aback just a little. She returns the gesture, still seeming a bit surprised. She does shoot Lira a smile, though, glad that she'll be along for this trip.
"We should...We should bring plenty of medical supplies, just in case."
"T'always gits dark. Ifn' we don't git sent on a mission that ain' in caves, or after dark... I'll eat m'hat." mentioned to Lira before he quiets to observe Finn and then Rey, listening to the briefing and letting his hands come to rest before him, fingers lacing and his sleeves falling over them.
"Reckon mos'a us's gonna need them coordinates n'codes, Miss Rey. I y'ain't recall bein' out that'aways in all this time." head ducking some, as though chagrinned, but the Zelosian's expression remains otherwise quiet and contemplative, a breath taken before he adds to Juria's concerns, "An' that's also a poin' I's gonna make. 'Cause slaughterin' beastie what only laid they eggs on a world that they's done so before - well... Miss Juria said it 'bout the best I figure it kin be said."
A glance from Qutha is given to some of the others before his attention drifts back to the masters, all of his attention seeming to have risen from his contemplations to render focus here and now in full.
Galen takes a step closer as he looks over the holo of the beast and starts to shake his head at Rey's request for questions then Juria starts to speak up about culling another species, "Well that actually... Brings up a solid point. I'm assuming they're aggressive from the whole the Academy needed to defend itself from their incursion however has anybody tried or been able to establish contact with them?" A nod towards Qutha, "Yeah that as well. I don't have the coords either."
A soft laugh escapes Lira's lips after Qutha's statement about the dark, her eyes cutting briefly over to him, but she too settles in to listen. And then comes the time for questions.
"I have questions, too," Lira'una pipes up after Qutha, glancing over at Juria with a little smile on her purple lips. That blue gaze of hers sweeps past Saito, too, with that same smile before looking back up at the Masters.
"Is someone coordinating our assignments on Arisnar when we arrive? Will some of us be assigned to defense of the younglings and some.. I guess.. to /hunting/ parties? Are we going there to /hunt/ , or are we just there to protect our school? Or their city, too? I guess.. how much are they relying on us for this?"
Somehow, the word 'hunting' seemed to feel a little weird coming off of her tongue. Maybe she didn't really think of the Jedi as ruthless hunters like that.
"I will join as well." Yuun says as he continues to lean against the wall he's standing next to. As he listens to Finn and Jannah he takes in the information about the creatures. He looks to the other Knights and Padawans who ask questions, there are some valid questions being asked. "Yeah I really will go, and maybe I can reach these creatures through the Force, and maybe help to see what I can surmise from them." he says as he looks to the gathered Jedi and the Masters here.
Yuun looks to the skies as he thinks rubbing the back of his head, "Once we have the coordinates for the Sedios we may want to use speeders to a certain point and walk the rest so as no to startle them too much especially if they're protecting their young. Also do we know why the people of Arisnar was out that far?" he asks.
So many of the same thoughts Zev has been having, there's no surprise that everyone else is having the same thoughts. THey definitely would need more information, the coordinates, and whatever info they have about these dragon creatures, "How often do these things breed?"
A brief pause as he looks back towards Yuun, "That too. It would be really helpful to know what their reason for being out there is. Also these nests, are they something that happens all the time? Or is this something that is extremely rare and they're closer to breeding grounds than they realized?"
The question from Juria has Finn looking in her direction. He gives her a slight single nod before responding. "Good questions." He says to her. "Let me see if I can give a bit of a history lesson on this place." He states before shifting the holo-image to that of the Arisnar star system itself. Two twin suns now hover ober the projector, surrounded by five visible worlds.
"The Arisnar system is located in the Unknown Regions. It's one of the few star systems we've uncovered in the region that actually is not only inhabitated, but it has been for a long time, and they've established their own space defense force. The Arisnar system was colonized by a science colony fleet a thousand years ago. When they arrived within the system, they found that it was dominated by a species of space fairing dragons... the Sideosnarians. There are five worlds within the system, four of them are populated, one is a gas giant. Sideosnar is the planet closest to the system's binary stars. It's a lava planet. None of us could survive upon it outside of some serious special suits or enviro hardware." Finn adds, sweeping his eyes over the crowd. "Apparently, before the the colony ships arrived, the Sideos were ruling the star system, specifically enslaving those who lived on Arisnar and one of the neighboring planets. The Sideosnarians were cruel overlords, and the colonists... pushed them back to their lava world."
Finn glances to Rey and Jannah, before he looks back to the holo display. "When the Arisnar Empire was founded, they built their capital on the dry climate world of Arisnar. They claim to have had no knowledge of the Sideo hatchlings being hidden deep within the planet's underground cavern systems. This discovery only came a matter of decades ago, and the Empire has been attempting to devise plans for how to deal with the hatchlings ever since."
Finn draws in a breath then and nods once. "It seems they're waking up, and they're probably wondering where their parents are... Are they hostile? Seems so. Are they sentient? Maybe not at this young of an age, but I'm not an expert on them."
Fin looks then to Jannah who steps down one step and looks from her husband out to the other Jedi before them. "We are only going there now to bolster the defenses of our Skywalker Academy, and to investigate. We have no precise plans yet on what exactly our involvement in this is. But we may need to send a delegation to the Arisnar Empire capital world of Amaranthine City to speak with their rulers..." She motions to Rey then.
Rey regards her counterparts in Finn and Jannah before she simply nods once, her weight shifting from one foot to the other as she keeps her hands together in front of her lap while standing there on the stairs of the platform tower. "There are a lot of unknowns for us in this. The Arisnar Empire was gracious enough to let us build our first academy on their world back in the days of the First Order occupation. It was General Organa... Leia... who negotiated the deal with the Arisnar to let us even endanger their world by training Jedi on it. I still consider us in debt to their people. They had no reason to let us exist there... and potentially have the spotlight of the First Order be shined upon them, let alone the Sith Empire of today. We are still in their debt, and should we have to defend our academy from aggressive attackers, I would also offer help in defending the Arisnar people, and their cities, from these same would-be attackers."
Rey pauses then as she raises her slim chin up a little. "That being said, as Finn has described, this star system has a storied history... and we may not know all the ins and outs of it. We are not looking to participate in a potential civil war within the star system. If the Sideo wish to ... come for their children... things might get quite bad for everyone involved. Our job here is to maintain as much peace and order as possible, but the situation may be grim based on what information we have. There will be moral and ethical choices here to be made, but I trust all of you to help us find the best solutions possible."
The Mirialan Padawan listens, her expression, as usual, pensive and concerned. This is, as the kids say, a lot. Space dragons, the Unknown Regions, possibly even fighting them.
Not her idea of a good time. Which is why she will be making sure people don't die or even get hurt too badly. That's her calling in all of this, not jumping in front of (possibly wicked) space dragons.
Maybe they can be talked to and reasoned with. That'd be expressly handy. She's not amazing at talking to people, but boy is she sincere and kind. That can go a long way.
"So's we may need the Eravana... Git the young'ns offa the world, n'mayhap haul 'em out to where they's parents call home..." thinking first of a ship big enough to potentially haul the young draconian creatures. Looking around the gatherum and back to the masters, his hands still folded before him.
"Reckon it may jus' become base'a operations, 'sides the academy... assumin' y'er approvin'a such." brows knitting, "Thems'a us who kin fly em... may needs the fighters on board, ifn' things cain't be done peaceful like." Qutha offers, "I doubt's it'd be good for us t'be camped out at the academy, ifn' things go poorly. What with the risks'a attention we could bring it doin' this."
The Zelosian's expression softens, his eyes unfocused as he lets himself drift again, the random chance of something carried to him on the currents of the Force... Nothing expected, but that might be the best manner to look for potential signs.
Lira blinks, looking up at Qutha. This time, she keeps her voice low enough to be just for him, rather than asking her questions to the room at large.
"Qutha? Can you /gain/ sentience as you get older, or do you just get.. smarter? Like... if the Sideos were space-faring slavers, wouldn't their offspring be sentient, too? Even if they're young? Why did Master Rey call them /wildlife/ ?"
The lavender girl's brow wrinkles thoughtfully, her slender arms crossing over her stomach as she looks back up to the Masters gathered.
"Are there.. records of exactly what happened at the academy twenty-something years ago, do you think? Maybe Rera and I could dig through and see if we could learn anything before we go. Or.. on the way. Or.. while we're there."
Yuun takes in the information that is being provided to them by Finn, this is some history he didn't know and he had been on Arisnar for a bit before they moved on to Devaron. Standing there silent as Jannah speaks up explaining that they were only there to bolster the defense of the Skywalker Academy.
A slow nod is giving, as Rey speaks up but stops as he hears Leia's name mentioned. A deep pang echos through him, Yuun slowly lifts his head to look up into the sky, a long ago memory enters his thoughts as he thinks of her. She meant a lot to him, another mother like figure and teacher. Closing his eyes and shaking his head slowly, he does miss her. He smiles as he looks down at the Jedi here, slowly taking them all in, 'You and Master Luke did it.' he thinks to himself.
Yuun turns to Qutha listening, "I agree, but we will know more once we're down there. I will try to scout if I can, and see if I can reach them through the force if I'm permitted and see if we can coach the creatures else where or not or see if we can at least calm them and be able to transport them else where. If this is a viable option." Yuun offers.
Finn deactivates the holo projector in his hand, dropping it down to his utility belt where he fastens it inside one of the pouches there. "Truth is, I don't know what kind of creatures these things are. I wasn't there when the situation happened all those years ago." He notes, with a look toward Rey then. His eyes dart back out to everyone though and he nods once. "The Eravana can be used for this. We have many good pilots for the fighters onboard, even if we are not actively running a squadron onboard it these days. We've maintained them well though, and they're a great asset. The Eravana is a big old ship, it has a lot of personality." He states showing a grin to those before the stairs.
"Right now though, our concern is the younglings. Once we get a team out there, we'll figure out where to go next with this. The Sideos are a strange species though. From what I was told they can exist in space without the need of any starships, EVA suits, or otherwise... but I guess if you are in a egg for a thousand years, you better at least grow some pretty outstanding abilities in that time span." He adds with a bit of dry humor etching his words.
"I could go scout with you, Yuun." Zev adds after Yuun finishes, "Wouldn't hurt to have an extra pair of ears out there. Besides, at the very least we can figure out if they're going to be outright hostile and prepare how we'll deal with them from there.."
Rey lifts her hands up and slips them in to the sleeves of her robes, holding on to her elbows over her stomach now with her baggy sleeves across her stomach. She listens intently to what the other say before she draws in a soft breath and raises her chin up a little.
"There are records of the original interaction with them that we had back then. I distinctly remember it... because I dreamed about it the night before it happened. It was unsettling then, so I feel for the younglings having to deal with it now."
To the talk of scouting and the formation of initial plans, Rey just nods her head a single time. "I will setup a meeting with the local government. They are ruled by an Empress and Emperor, their Empire extends to three of the worlds within the system, while the Sideosnarian reptilian species claims their magma world, and the gas giant... though that seems to be the most active world of continued hostile action between the two main cultures of the system."
Rey gently shakes her head then. "All the same, those who wish to go, meet up together and we will take the Eravana as soon as possible. Your personal ships are welcome aboard it, and once you have the coordinates to venture to and from the star system, you will be welcome to come and go as you please."
Rey nods again then to everyone. "Thank you for coming to hear about this situation. We'll take what measures we must to ensure our people's safety through this, the Skywalker Academy is an important piece of our Order... as are those within it." She shows a soft smile then, a warm expression upon her pale skinned face.
"May the Force be with you." She says then, ending the meeting for now, having given the orders to meet up on the Eravana for those who wish to go!
