Log:Jedi Order: Echoes Through the Ages

Jedi Order: Echoes Through the Ages

OOC Date: September 27, 2019
Location: D'Qar
Participants: Ban Iskender, Elrych Cometburn, Aryn Cole

It was a crisp morning across the green sea, where fog often accumulated off the warm water to contrast the chill air. Forests were dotted with autumn trees or orange, red, yellow, and light green. What passed as a horse-shoe shaped coastline was actually a massive sea inlet with tall cliffs that outlined and and snowcapped mountains beyond that. Camp lights can be seen off from one side of the shore as the atmospheric transport carried the small team to the site.

When they broke through the white cloud cover, Aryn pulled open the door to fill the personnel area with fresh air. Her hair immediately went wild from the gusts of wind, but the headset she wore to talk kept the bright blonde from crossing her face. One hand sought out the safety bar above and she held on as their pilot brought them through the slow descent and a fly over. <"It's beautiful here.."> Aryn says over the VOIP which is conveyed through their headsets. <"The land goes on for as far as I can see.">

White sand outlined the beach, and the inlet stretched for miles. Old ruins poked up through the water with amber colored stone and unique design. Watch towers dotted the cliffsides; ancient spires of stone that provided a view down into the inlet, and beyond. A central tower, positioned at the mid-point of the horse-shoed cliffs stood the tallest, perhaps serving as a lighthouse thousands of years ago for those lost to the morning mists and sea.

Elrych Cometburn finds his way out of the speeder giving a yawn and a stretch. Early morning and all that. He glances around adjusting his jacket and the sunglasses. "Nice place to homestead, yeah."

<"It is a striking setting, to be sure, my Lady,"> another polished voice agrees. <"Are the nature of these ruins known?"> The speaker is a young dark haired gentleman, dressed in a militaristic style, with a short green cape worn over the left shoulder, a pistol on his right thigh, and a sheathed sword on his right.

The craft settles down upon the landing pad erected for supply ships. It is compacted duracrete with generator powered strobes. <"No. It's one of D'Qar's greatest mysteries. An entire ancient race inhabited this world once; then without warning.. vanished. There is no trace of them except ruins like these. Early explorers of the world studied a few of the ruins and were amazed to find that they were not primative, but advanced; even in today's standard. This site is new, of course."> Aryn had turned to regard the noble when she spoke. Meanwhile, the craft eased down and began to cool off.

Everyone was able to hand their headsets back to the crew and step off. The camp was pretty large with tall tents and crews moving around, just starting their day. Aryn steps off their ride landing beside Elrych. She follows his gaze. "Yeah, I wonder what the rest of the land is like."

Aryn is wearing dark trousers and tall hiking boots. Her cape is designed more for combating weather than it is to uphold some sense of fashion; it does have a hood as well. With her cape settled along her back, she reveals a personal shield generator, two blaster pistols of different functions, and a lightsaber. These were her people, they would not betray her.. she hoped.

The crew was met by Lady Kiko, a woman that shared Aryn's height. Her skin was tanned, and her gaze was dark. By all standards, Kiko was fair, but she held herself like a soldier. Over one shoulder, she had a blaster rifle slung and held in place. Her armor was intended for a female, and it was white with blue trim and a golden placard that marked her as a Lt Commander. "Welcome to site 4. My Lord.. My Lady, " and to Elrych, "Sir! The curiosity is this way. If you'll follow me.. we can get your expedition under way."

Aryn dipped her head slightly for Kiko, then gestured for her to lead the way, taking a moment to look at Ban before stepping off. "The Force is particularly strong in this place.." She says softly, glancing toward Elrych as if she sought validation in this observation.

Elrych Cometburn nods towards Aryn as he jogs to catch up with the others. "Yeah... remeber when we came here and found those ruins with the Order symbols and the like. Maybe it was something like that place on dantooine."

The nobleman inclines his head to Kiko with a greeting of, "Commander." He returns Aryn's eye, and though his manner is rather austere, a faint upward curl pulls briefly at his lip as the small band moves into step toward the 'curiosity'. "Ruins can indicate that a site was most desirable, once. They can also show that a site no longer is. Let us see what the Force has set before us." Elrych is acknowledged as he jogs up and speaks. "You suspect this might be a place of ancient knighthood, master Cometburn?"

Kiko acknowledges all before turning to lead them on. She seemed to appreciate Ban's acknowledgement of her rank, but she made no mention. As they pass through the camp, they catch the eyes of passersby some of which have never actually seen nobility before, while other simply go back to their business. The chatter is generally low.

Aryn does not interrupt Ban's line of questioning to Elrych, but she nods to Ban when he addressed her. For now, she remains by his side, her hands clasped at the small of her back as she walked.

The path took them to the eastern shelf of a cliff, but they were at the bottom of it. Looking up, the cliff's height disappeared behind a cloud of fog. Kiko led them along the foot of the cliff for awhile until they came to a distinct opening marked by faded coloring and etched ancient texts. The way had been sealed, but the teams had opened it, revealing a hallway and staircase into the darkness. The sound of water came from inside, and the air was cool, and it smelled wet and like mossy rocks. "This is it. We've sent a few down, but they were too spooked to go to the bottom. I am happy to accompany you all if you wish; or I can remain here and be in radio contact?" The young Commander looked to Lord Ban first for instruction, but she thought to glance toward the other two.

Elrych Cometburn purces his lips, "Eh I wouldn't say we know for sure. Wherr Aryn and I were was to the east more but nit too far from here. Jedi often used places already strong in the force to build their temples and enclaves. Depending this could be something more primitive." He also had no degrees to show for it like Aryn and perhaps the others did. As they come to the stairs he pauses. "Ill bring up the rear."

Ban is mindful not to walk out in front of Aryn (or Elych, once the Jedi has caught up to them), measuring his stride to keep pace with the noblewoman. His eyes study the faded etchings and gaze up into the fog-shouded heights of the cliff face, until coming back down to earth to study the uncovered passageway. Kiko's query is answered, "So long as another remains in comlink contact, I should say your place is beside your charge, Commander," with a glance to Aryn. A short nod to Elrych, along with the dry observation, "I expect we will all see, shortly."

Aryn steps away from the group for a moment and pulls her glove off one hand to run it over the etched wall carvings. To the others, Aryn seemed to stop for a moment, her head dipped and eyes closed as something filled her mind. Elrych could feel the sudden presence in the Force as her own. It was a distinct feeling for him. "..oh.. " Aryn says softly, dropping her hand from the wall to lean against it slightly. "Kilaf aus su framachiiz z'lou." Aryn says in a foreign language that has not been uttered in more than 1000 years. Before Kiko can respond, her comm device suddenly screeched, as did all of the comm devices on others. Lights came on inside the dark tunnel, switching over one by one. The words etched into the stone began to steam, and began to glow an eerie red. Aryn began to fall to one knee as she held her head. Kiko caught the young noble before she might have collapsed. "My Lady! Are you alright?"

Across the expanse of the massive inlet, a loud blaring alarm sounded. Aryn brushes her hair from her face and takes a deep breath. "It is a riddle.." Aryn says, pointing at the etching. "The answer.. it triggered this, but I.. I don't know the language. It just came to me. -- It said 'They can not see down, we can not see up. We are embraced by what?'-- I answered 'the cold depths of the sea.'"

Elrych Cometburn stops when Aryn does, sensing that jolt in the force. He watches her closely even as she drops to her knees. The others rush forward but he stays sensing she is okay. "Well Im glad youre on the riddles... I would have said the force..."

"I cannot tell whether the builders of this place approve of your answer, or not, my Lady," Ban notes, warily. Glancing about, he prompts, "Who can scan for a power source? Such a broad alarm as that makes me worry for some.. meltdown. His eye lingers with worry on Aryn, before being pulled reluctantly to the now-lit and open doorway, with it's ominous red glowing runes. "How fare you, Lady Aryn? I suspect our investigations have grown more pressing."

Helping Aryn to her feet, Kiko adjusts her own cape and unclips her datapad. "I have an uplink with our satellites above, my Lord. One moment.." Kiko looks about, wary, but hones her attention to the read out. After a moment, she projects the holo-image. "Scans show the power source is new. Whatever Lady Aryn triggered, it's as if the very land has come to life. Judging from this map.." She glances over her shoulder then orients herself before pointing at where the sea comes into the inlet, filling in the center of the horse-shoe shape of the land. "..it's there, but underneath like, geothermal."

Aryn speaks up then, in response to Elrych. "It /was/ the Force. The door was open, but it wasn't /open/." She emphasizes. "No ordinary person could trigger this.. touch the threshold, Elrych.. You'll feel it too."

Aryn walks a bit more steady now. Whatever has been ailing her mind has lifted, it seems. "I am well enough. With the way open.. I believe the answers we seek are below, my Lord." Aryn gestures to the staircase, now lit and steaming.

Elrych Cometburn holds up a finger, "Yes... but... I..." His mouth sort of hangs open a moment before the corellian closes it. He looks towards the young noblemen in his dashing cloak. "You got the joke right?" He probably didn't. The fellow Jedi steps forwards and touches the threshold, nodding as he can feel it now, following along with the others.

"Far from primitive, at any rate," Ban muses to Kiko's description of a likely geothermal power source.A long look to Aryn as she rises and assures her wellness. He regards Elrych, brows knitting in curiosity. "I.. cannot say that I do. Unless there was intended humor in the statement that the force is the answer to everything?" he guesses. "I'm afraid I will thoroughly destroy any trace of humor in continuing the question, alas. Once more into the breach," he agrees, giving a short bow to Aryn/Kiko/Elrych, and starting into the underground.

Kiko clips the datapad back to her belt and brings her rifle up. The weapon's sling is cast casually across her torso, and an experienced hand triggers the weapon primed, its energy coming to life with a dull whine. She folds the buttstock, then reaches forward to turn on its tac-lite. At Lord Ban's 'Once more into the breach,' the young Commander takes point to lead them down. "Comms are down.. something is jamming them." She informs.

Aryn steps closer to Lord Ban and walks with him. She has pulled her glove back on, then takes hold of his arm as if being escorted. His presence seems to ease her tension some.

Elrych, after touching the wall, is struck with a sudden overwhelming vision. What he saw around him was no longer the overgrown cliffside and fog, but a vast city where the water had been. Tall stone structures, and magnificent technology. Kids ran along the beach playing near him, and someone stood beside him holding a crystal sculpting device and hammer. The doorway was being formed. Elrych was imparted with a sudden knowledge of the doorway and its purpose. It was a doorway locked through the force, that led to a defense control; what they called 'Julastay su z'lond'-- Beating heart of the land.

The staircase led down treacherous steps, some decayed and crumbled, some slick with moss and moisture. The path went so far down that the sound of the blaring alarm could no longer be heard. When they reached the bottom, the air was humid, and the cavern they were in looked as if the water had /just/ drained. The ground was slick with age and water setiment that had settled. Some lights flickered, some shown bright. It led down a long cavern hallway until they came to a massive atrium. Shields flickered and shimmered, and for a moment it seemed too dark to see until the slow moan of a whale could be heard. What faint light shown through the blanket of darkness shimmered as if looking up through water, and the shadow of a large whale glided by. They were underneath the sea!

"Gods above, Ban.. " Aryn utters softly, sheepish and shrinking back at the sheer size of the atrium and what loomed above them, held back by this strange shield technology.

Ban duly offers Aryn his arm for the descent. While Kiko's readiness with the rifle is a comfort, decorum offers it's own sort of reassurance. His own awed utterance is similar to the Lady's as he stares upward, drawn toward the stunning sight, rather than shrinking back: "..my gods," he murmurs. It is a long moment before he can glance back at the others, the ghost of a smile touching his solemn face. "Let us see what fresh wonders lie ahead."

"Yes, my Lord." Kiko says, her voice small but committed to her duty. She levels her weapon and moves forward, leading them further inside. When Kiko reaches a certain point, a pair of lights click on. Each flank her and are oriented skyward from the floor. Their rays of bright white do not reveal much. The action froze Kiko, who instinctively knelt down in a rifleman's pose. Aryn thought to reach for her lightsaber, but reclaimed the Lord's arm when no danger presented itself.

Further they went, and more lights came on.. until they were finally at a point that they could see below. Water lingered below the lights, churning slightly. Their walkway was outlined as a single pathway that stretched over this churning water until they reached a large circular platform. Upon reaching this, lights all around them began to click on, and the sheer vastness of the space they occupied came into focus. An entire city of structure stone, buildings, and even defenses with streets and alleyways.. it all rested beneath the water. The platform they stood on? It was a control area. Panels began to come to life after a thousand years, the soft glow of various buttons. A main set sat at the center, each square (six in total) red. "Never... have I seen anything.. so remarkable.." Aryn says, leaving Ban's side to look over the edge and down at the city below. The water was so clear, it was almost like it wasn't there at all.

Elrych Cometburn is still kind of struck by the vision he is having or did have. It takes Bruns and Aryns voice to bring him back. "Were these locals? I can't believe that if they knew how to seal something with the force. I don't think it was the Jedi... its older. Much older." The Corellian Jedi looks around, the now illuminated lights reflecting off his glasses. "What is this... who were they?"

Ban remains straight-backed and steady as the automated lights continue to activate. He seems to have expected as much, for some reason. He shakes his head to Elrych, "I do not know, Master Cometburn. But a cistern of this size, overlooking so expansive a city-" He pauses, brows knitting in thought as he looks from Ekrych to the controls, to Aryn and the city in the deeps, beyond her. "Water control on this scale.. The waterway clearly predated the settlement; this was not sunk by some sudden cataclysm, or flood," he continues to reason out, aloud.

Aryn eases back from the edge, unnerved slightly by the sheer depth and size of this city and its watery depths. Her attention goes to the two men briefly, but she walks toward the controls of the platform to look them over. Kiko joins her, taking the initiative to shine her light over the panels. Aryn reaches out and touches it, but it does not have the same effect the doorway had above. Aryn seems perplexed by this and draws her hand back after a moment of silent thought. "What is it, my Lady?"

"These six squares.. I wonder what they represent in this scheme...?" Aryn asks. To Elrych's question, Aryn does not provide an answer. She does not know and seems just as surprised as he is about it all. At Ban's mentioning a cistern though, Aryn turns to look at him, then looks back at the panel. Taking a deep breath, she touches the first of the six red squares, changing it suddenly to the color of blue. The blue slowly segues down akin to water draining. Something stirs beneath them and Aryn stumbles only for Kiko to hold her steady.

A loud alarm follows as a distant line of lights come on. At least two miles, yes TWO MILES, from their current position a wall of lights flicker and begin to rise. Everything begins to shake, and ABOVE, the shimmering light of day begins to get brighter, and brighter, and BRIGHTER. The sea that was above them has been angled toward the long row of lights. As their shield bubble emerges from the depths to find the overcast sky, they see that the massive body of water which once loomed above them has shifted out to the sea, and to hold the presence of the sea back, a dam has taken shape. That must have been the row of lights!

The red light on the panel now shines green, but five red lights remain. "Perhaps the lights are sections of the city?" Aryn asks aloud. Looking down, she can see that the city still remains submerged far below.

"I'd have expected several failsafes, for such an important function," Ban murmurs, staring once again as a dam is revealed. Restrained excitement detectable beneath his solemn manner, the young lord brainstorms in answer to Aryn, "One to raise the barrier.. another to drain the lower city, or by districts, as my Lady suggests.. Or controls of systems related to the movement of waters? Power sources, shields, tributary gates.." A short, dry laugh. "Clearly, guessing will bring us no closer to the answer. Boldness has served well to date, let us try the next and see."

Elrych Cometburn nods to Ban, "Why the other smart person in the room said." Not that yhe Jedi was dumb but he would had to consult Eggsy or his datapad on what exactly a cistern was. "Its so monolythic... and grand." he looks to the panel, "Reminds me of those puzzel games I used to play on the holocube. Miven and Ryst."

Driven on by the support of the others, Aryn begins to hit the others in sequential order. Bold. Bold indeed. The shield shimmered from existence and air rushed by them, fluttering the capes of those who wore them. Their platform rose up, and the sudden sound of rushing water below reveals vast drains that direct the sudden flow until the water creates small waterways. The city itself is brought up, up, UP to the surface. As it rises, their platform lowers. Eventually, they are back below, and the dark atrium which had been covered by the looming sea was now replaced by massive plates pushed up by repurposed water. Their platform remained shielded as it withdrew into the long hallway from whence they came. This entire process takes several minutes to complete, but it lands them back where they started.

Security feeds begin to come to life, and ancient terminals flicker with purpose now. The long dark hallway actually served as a central defense room with feeds of the entire city, outer port, cliffs and every tower. One screen displayed anti-air turrets, while another showed the positioning of anti-material and anti-personnel. None of the turrets were functioning or online, but they were there. Aryn spends time walking along the hallway looking at each feed. "Lord Ban, I believe we've found what may be your people's new home.." She wipes a screen free of moss and squints at it.

Elrych's quip draws a curious look. "Did these games portend any ancient evils I ought be aware of, master Cometburn?" A brief smile suggests it is at least half in jest. "My Lady, I daresay you are correct," Ban agrees with an admiring shake of his head. "I will inform the Viscountess that Her Excellency will soon have need of a fine watercraft," he notes with a wry sniff of amusement. "Much will need to be done- a study of the city, the power source, contagious and assorted other myriad concerns.. But I had not even dreamed that such a place as this lay silent for the taking." A long look is given to Aryn, with no further words spoken, for the moment.

Elrych glances around as the monitors comes to life, the rumbling from the city as it rises still vibrating deep within. He studies one monitor closely, "They at least knew how to arm them selves. Very interesting... I wonder if we could get these up and running." They were likely far too old and probably far too water damaged to work properly anymore. "The real choice here though, do you keep the underwater greenery as an asthetic choice, or remove it all." He looks to Ban, "Not so much Evil... you just might get sucked into a Datapad that can transport you to other worlds." He wiggles his fingers mysteriously. Something clicks in his head though, "When you do get to studying the powersource... look and see if it's anything similar to the innerworking of a hyperdrive. You know, the weird stuff even the Duro can't figure out." HE had a hunch.