Episode XXV: One Vision, Two Vison, Three Vision...Door?

Discovery, Exploration

Following a series of mysterious visions had by Udart Gunt , Lul Ba'Ri and Kayvan Whidowes, the group rally together with Dags and Rev Cly D'Tirle to head out to the little known ice planet Olberion. They discover the Jedi Temple - Olberion and face it's many trials. In their moment of victory they are beset by the minions of Darth Adroit, eventually escaping with a blue dantari kyber crystal, and an old Jedi parchment, and returning to base. Upon their return they are informed of the escape/ capture of Dr Emlett Von Braun by Imperial forces.

It is a time of great darkness in the Rhao Solar System , war and bloodshed encroach on every corner as the New Rebellion and The Imperial forces wrestle for control. Amidst this conflict shadows work in secret, the true history and purpose of this system hidden from view. The ebb of flow of the force, seeking balance, guides the fates of those now entangled with the destiny of the system. Criminals may become saviours, and heroes may become villains. All now shrouded as the shadow falls.   In the deep of night, the sound of the conflict raging on Tartarus II , a dim hum in the background. Our heroes sleep, some more easily than others, as thoughts are cast into the pool of dreams. Udart Gunt awakes suddenly, a feeling he has known before, confusion, as the information pulses in his mind, like grasping water, he cannot hold a clear thought. Udart Gunt is not alone in sleeping restlessly, as others too stir uncomfortably haunted by restless dreams.   Udart Gunt writhes in his sleep as the broken vision echoes across his mind. Flashes of Luke setting him on his quest, ‘travel to Rhao, there you will train with other Jedi.. I have seen your victorious return from Haxlon Prime..then we shall meet again’. Flashes of Killawar ‘You have potential..hold true to your new master..reveal the truth’ He sees a temple.. Jedi insignia...all frozen. Lul Ba'Ri surrounded falls into darkness, and out of the darkness a red kyber crystal rises, before shattering, the shards become the beams of red lightsabers spinning in a circle. At the centre of the red lightsabers Kayvan Whidowes is running on the spot getting nowhere, the more he runs the more he bleeds until he crumbles to red dust. Udart hears a voice "You will need a healer, you feel this strongly, though he will not want to come. He will need protection from one less influenced by the powers of the force.". Some coordinates replay over and over in his mind, and he awakes shaken. Udart Gunt, confused by this, throws on some simple garments and goes to the window of his barracks. Staring out of the window at the night sky, he wonders what he must do.   In another barracks nearby Lul Ba'Ri finds his nightly meditations disrupted by unsettling visions of his own. His old master SeiBu Gomz appears to him, "Lul, my greatest student. You now must become the master, I believe in you my padawan." The old Dug is gunned down by clone troopers, over and over. The blasters then fire in reverse their bolts flying gracefully back out of his body into the barrels of their blaster rifles. He faces him again and staring into his eyes speaks one last time "you have your own padawans now, you have outlived me for this purpose. Guide them, and let the force guide you. You do not know your own strength my pupil. Yet I sense a great shadow reaches over your fate.You are tied to the destiny of your students, may the force be with you." A feeling of uneasy peace rising in him turns to fear, as his vision shifts and blurs through shadows, reforming into Udart Gunt and Kayvan Whidowes on their knees in darkness, a giant blue hand extends out of the darkness reaching out around them, before closing around them crushing them. As it fades he sees the dim glow of red. A voice speaks to him as he wakes the vision fades and the words linger in his mind "You will need a healer, he will not want to come. Udart...Kayvaan..Destiny.. May the force be with you…." Silence and then... another voice loud and purposeful "You are weak...You are no Master...They will be mine.". Lul Ba'Ri is shaken, but alert, "I must find Kayvan and Udart" quickly he gathers himself and heads out into the dark of night.   In a nearby tree Dags dreams a waking dream of his lost mother, and past mistakes. He jumps down to find Lul Ba'Ri meeting with Udart Gunt at his barracks. Together they discuss their visions and between them agree that there is some connection to the force in what they have seen.   Meanwhile Kayvan Whidowes sweats through another restless night, his dreams are often less than pleasant, but this nightmare feels different. He dreams of his home-world at peace and without the never ending oppression he knew, the Clawdite people are free. He has brought freedom to his people, and stands as champion, the masses chanting "KAY-VAN! KAY-VAN!". For some reason it feels uneasy, and he looks to his hands, blood soaked. He thinks to himself "it was worth it wasn’t it? My people, they rejoice." He hears the voice of his new mentor Lul Ba'Ri “No Kayvan! do not stray from the path” Light Flashes and the scene changes, the people in celebration now chained, bodies line the streets. In fear he does what he always did best, he changes, disguising himself and hides, his heart pounding. Again he hears Lul Ba'Ri calling for him in the distance, when suddenly Udart Gunt appears in front of him laughing and pointing, “I see you..ha ha hah”. Kayvan Whidowes begs for their help but they cannot hear. The floor falls from beneath him and he falls into darkness, falling forever it seems. An unknown voice, somehow familiar speaks ,“You are the key, your people will be free, but you must take the power to free your people. Do not let feeble minds weaken your resolve, stay to your purpose. The sullustan force user, he knows the way, follow, but do not be a follower." Kayvan Whidowes wakes confused, his feelings turbulent and powerful. He wonders if he should turn on his comrades and listen the voice. He does not know, he needs time to think this through. At this point Lul Ba'Ri and Udart Gunt arrive in Kayvan's barracks with Dags in tow. They share what they can of the vision they have experienced, recounting the quest they feel the force is guiding them to. Kayvan pushes through the group "I....I..I need to be alone a moment, give me some time". With this Kayvan heads off into the night to clear his head.   Lul Ba'Ri and Udart Gunt agree that they must give him space and time, but they know they will require a healer. The decide to wake Rev Cly D'Tirle.   The good Doctor Rev Cly D'Tirle is sleeping a beautiful sleep, the kind of wonderful sleep you only have once a cycle. He dreams of delivering a sermon to an adoring collective of followers, wearing flowing lavender robes, and all around him dazzling gold. Those who chastised him, groveling and mewing for his attentions,"we apologise, Cly, of course the money was resting in your account, we should have never turned against you, you are most holy and wise. We should consider your position, maybe a promo.." The dream is suddenly and abruptly brought to an end, as Udart Gunt , Lul Ba'Ri and Dags do their best to wake the Rev.   Flustered and most aggrieved at being woken in the small hours of the night, from such a delightful dream, Rev Cly D'Tirle can barely get his words out " what the devil, what! what is going on here! What are you doing?". The group do their best to convince the Rev to join them, explaining as earnestly as they can the truth as they see it. Rev Cly D'Tirle is unconvinced and does not want to go with them. The group gather themselves to leave, despondent at their inability to convince the Rev to join them, and as they step outside they meet with Kayvan Whidowes refreshed and prepared to face whatever tests this path may hold. As they are starting to discuss their plan of action, Rev Cly D'Tirle emerges disgruntled and confused, in a long blue nightgown with matching cap. "I'm not going you know, but what is it that you plan to do again".   The group discuss their visions, and recount the fact that the camp is currently under lock-down. During this discussion they make the realisation through the Rev's extensive knowledge and education, that they will be travelling to Olberion, a desolate ice planet. Kayvan Whidowes suggests that he could stealthily obtain some environment protection and climbing ropes from the equipment stores whilst the others prepare. As the guards at the base are looking mostly outwards, and consider the group as relative heroes, this proves an easy task. All prepared and equipped they meet at The Momentum, the Rev still grumbling yet fully dressed and prepared "not going, I'm not going, bloody force, and an ice planet, why me". Udart Gunt charts a course for Olberion.   Breaking through the planets atmosphere, Udart Gunt finds the ship wrestling against a severe blizzard and extreme winds. Nearly losing control, he gives himself over to the force and guides the ship down landing perfectly and the coordinates shown to him in his vision. The party disembark and after a brief search notice an opening in the ground, hard to see at first, but as they approach, it becomes clearer. There is an ice path way leading down a small ravine to a huge door. Udart Gunt recognises the door from his vision, and The Jedi insignia is also familiar to Lul Ba'Ri. They stop for a moment at the huge doors, mostly obscured by the ice, but Udart Gunt finds that upon pushing the doors, they open with ease.   As they enter through the gigantic doors, they walk into a huge cavernous oval space, after a short entryway is a cliffs edge staring into an abyss. Very thin ledges skirt around the sides dotted with tiny pebbles. On the far side of the gaping hole, but they see what appears to be a circular hollow facing towards you like an open mouth. The group curiously ponder this riddle, Udart Gunt reaching out to the force to see the future of his companions possible attempts to cross. All appear to result in death. Eventually by some chance Dags remembers that he has a bow and fires an arrow perfectly into the distant gaping mouth. As the shot lands in the hole, a loud click rings around the space and the ground rumbles as three large ice platforms raise up into the space before them, creating a way to cross. The party tentatively cross the newly formed ice bridge and pass the open hole, into an ice tunnel, leading out into a small open space. Light shines down from a crack in the ice above, illuminating the space and highlighting a plynth. The group notice the plynth has symbols upon it, which looks like a body of text, and with some knowledge remaining from his old days of Jedi training Lul Ba'Ri deciphers the Tionese. "Welcome to the Temple of trials, you and your fellow Padawans will now face tests that will strengthen your bond together and deepen your connection with the force. Some of these tests you may take as a group, some must be faced by one of you alone. Speak aloud the test you would face and your path will be granted. May the force be with you." Looking ahead Lul Ba'Ri notices the five branching paths ahead of them each circular door denoted with a single word, from right to left, Ba'Ri reads them aloud, Insight, Skill, Courage, Spirit and Flesh. The group agree that they will face the trials and approach them as a group starting from Insight and working their way across. Rev Cly D'Tirle kicks the ground, sullenly complaining, "when can we leave, what are we doing here, what am I doing here!".   The group walk to the door and speaking the word insight, enter. It leads them through a narrow ice corridor, before the path splits, one path following a ramp upwards the other blocked by a door identical to the one they entered. The group choose to follow the path that winds upwards. It leads them through to a balcony overlooking a large and complex maze formed entirely from ice. The can see straight into the maze from above, and Udart Gunt notices that on many of the walls, eyes are staring down the passages, observing the twists and turns, seeking and silently searching. Upon hearing this from Udart Gunt, Kayvan Whidowes heads down, he says nothing to his comrades, but speaks quietly to himself "This is mine, I know, what I must do". Walking to the door, Kayvan Whidowes imitates the word he heard Lul Ba'Ri speak to enter the first door, and the way ahead opens to him. Kayvan Whidowes is in the maze, and from above the roof of the maze forms quickly blocking any view of what is taking place inside. Years of having to use his stealth, make the narrow spaces Kayvans ally, and he slides through the mirrored passages like water running down a glacier, smooth and invisible. The maze itself appears to Kayvans eyes, to be shifting and changing around him, the eyes around him, seeking his movements. None of it matters, Kayvan Whidowes is set in his purpose, unshakeable in his resolve, and he keeps gliding through the maze, knowing every turn he takes is right, avoiding the eyes gaze again and again. Reaching the end of one of the pathways, he sees the symbols he has begun to understand as 'Insight', he reaches out and touches it. The ice walls around him almost instantaneously melt away into nothing and the door he entered opens again letting him return to the others.   As planned the party then work their way back around the path to the central antechamber, passing the plynth drenched in blue light, they find their way around to the next door in from the right. As they approach Lul Ba'Ri makes the translation and speaks 'Skill', the round door slides away and the venture through. The group finds this corridor identical to the last, and knowing that they may gain some knowledge from looking down on the challenge from above, they head up the path to the expected balcony. Looking down they see the room below is long and rectangular, with a starting platform and then a long run of spindle-like platforms poking up from the ground sporadically all the way to the other side, with a significant drop beneath. The group discuss who may best face the challenge, and are initially going to send Lul Ba'Ri, however upon further discussion Dags is chosen to face the test.   Dags enters the room, the door locking behind him as he enters. He begins to leap nimbly from platform to platform, and even evades an ice shard like arrow fired to throw him of balance. As he passes halfway, he skips a stride and loses his footing, but just as he falls he digs his claws into the ice. Using his brute strength he pulls himself up and launches away, once again skipping skilfully from one narrow platform to the next. As he approaches the end, a moment of overconfidence strikes, and he misses his footing falling down with a heavy thud.   On the balcony Rev Cly D'Tirle paces back and forth, rubbing his arms with his hands, he mutters "idiots, I am surrounded by idiots, freezing to death for goodness knows why. This is Savages' fault, I don't know how, but it is. Why meee!?".   Dags manages to dust himself off and finds his way back up to the starting platform by the entryway, using a ladder carved into the wall. He begins a again, refocusing his concentration, and leaping platform to platform swiftly and nimbly as the ice shards dart past him. He makes it almost to the final stretch before an overconfidence overtakes his strides once more, and losing focus he slips once more. This time determined not to fall he dives towards the finishing platform and manages to dig his claws into the edge of the final platform. The quickly begin to loosen, but he pulls himself up in time, and recognising the symbol from the entryway touches it. The floor raises up around the platforms creating a simple flat pathway back out of the door, and Dags rejoins the group as they return to the central antechamber ready for the next test.   Continuing their systematic approach to the trials they move onto the central door, Lul Ba'Ri translates 'Courage' and the group enter. The room is essentially the inside of a large globe, across the left and right flanks they are beset by viciously pointed ice spikes, leaving them a moderate space in the centre. The door closes behind them and on the opposite site the hulking figure of a Wampa gradually lumbers into view. Lul Ba'Ri and Udart Gunt spark their lighsabers into action, as Rev Cly D'Tirle runs to the door frantically searching for a mechanism to release him. Kayvan Whidowes and Dags pull out their blasters and they circle around him. The group mount a combined effort against the beast, excluding our good Doctor, blasters land their mark, and Udart Gunt lands a strike with his lightsaber. The Wampa is not so easily stopped however and backs Lul Ba'Ri back against the spikes as he swings his training lightsaber and misses his mark. In a combined effort, Dags fires a shot as Kayvan Whidowes distracts the Wampa from impaling Lul Ba'Ri on the spikes. Lul Ba'Ri gets out of the way, and the Wampa falls impaling himself on the spikes. The door reopens and Rev Cly D'Tirle falls straight through, a little whimper escapes his lips as he hits the floor.   The group gather up Rev Cly D'Tirle and move on to their penultimate challenge.   Lul Ba'Ri approaches and translates 'Spirit'. The door rolls away as they enter. This room has a different feel to it, the walls glow a deep blue unlike the other places they have been in. The room itself feels oppressive, but they press on inside. They find a circle of seats, formed of ice in the centre of the room, and they all take their places facing each other. After being seated for a moment, the room begins to pulse with a darkness each time the glow fading darker and darker. It appears to them that the floor in the centre of their circle is now a hole, and peering deep within they see a Rathtar, tentacles flapping and whipping about in every direction. It begins to climb the shaft beneath them coming ever closer. Rev Cly D'Tirle leaps from his seat in fear, only to find himself in the room as it was when they entered, the others all still seated their eyes flickering white. "I'm not staying around for anymore of this" he says to himself as he wanders back out to the antechamber, the door opening for him as he passes through. For Dags, Kayvan Whidowes, Lul Ba'Ri and Udart Gunt the Rathtar fades out like a mist and they are once again left in darkness. Each them feel at once, the blade pressed against their throat, hand on their forehead holding them down. The cold steel slices into flesh and they can feel their blood gushing out over their chest. Dags falls from his seat clutching at his throat, ready to reach for his blaster. Hitting the ground he realises the room is the same, and his throat is not cut at all, curious and confused, he stands back to observe. Kayvan Whidowes ,Lul Ba'Ri and Udart Gunt find themselves once more in the blackest of darkness. Lul Ba'Ri sees Udart Gunt before him, remembering his masters words and his vision, he feels the desire to aid him rising. Udart Gunt is surrounded by clone troopers. The begin to fire, and Lul Ba'Ri knows they are too many for one so new to the intricacies of the lightsaber. Udart Gunt deflects some of the blasts, but the start to find their mark. Lul Ba'Ri jumps to his aid, to find himself stood next to Dags staring on bemused. Kayvan Whidowes finds himself once again in his nightmare from the night before, his clawdite bretheren beaten and chained in front of him. As he focuses his thoughts, he realises it is a public execution. He cannot watch them suffer, he must do what he can to free them. He rolls from his chair, ready to flank the executioner and save his people. As he rolls back upon one knee, he looks up to see Lul Ba'Ri and Dags. Just one remains. Udart Gunt is being berated by his leader, Luke Skywalker, "you have failed Udart, failed us all. I had faith in you and now we are left with no hope." He raises his lightsaber ready to strike, and brings it down swiftly. Udart Gunt feels a deep resolve, and is ready to accept his fate. If he has failed maybe he should die, he braces himself for the impact and...hears a voice 'well done padawan you have passed the trial of spirit'. Udart Gunt opens his eyes as they room returns to a brighter blue glow. Lul Ba'Ri congratulates his student.   The group return to the antechamber and reunite with Rev Cly D'Tirle awaiting them. They know they have one final trial to face, but have no concept of what they may find beyond.   Lul Ba'Ri walks ahead to the final door and translates 'Flesh', the door sliding away in it's now familiar fashion. The group enter a small cube like room with nothing in it. After a momentary search they find there are four circular indents placed equally around the room, two on the right, two on the left. Looking inside Lul Ba'Ri sees a handle in the back of the hole "We must reach in, I believe". Dags, Kayvan Whidowes and Udart Gunt take up a position each as suggested by Lul Ba'Ri. Grasping the handles, they pull them towards them, each of them finding blades closing down upon their arms as they pull. The four of them remain fearless and keep pulling the handles without letting go, as the blood from each of them trickles down into the hole, they see it flow down a narrow path behind the ice walls pooling and combining in the centre underneath them. The blades release and the final trial is complete. Before heading back to the antechamber, Rev Cly D'Tirle, cleans up the groups minor wounds, and they prepare for what is ahead. Upon returning to the antechamber the group find the central plinth now becomes a lift, taking them to the grand training hall. A beautiful if not time worn hall lies ahead of them, four tables at an angle directly flanking to the left and the right of the group as they enter. Further beyond this point an area marked off and sunken into the floor a few inches, it appears to be a sparring ground. The floor is black obsidian, though the Hall itself is light, and the huge ice walls glow a faint white blue. Past the sparring ground small divots are marked out in rows in front of a small stage and chair, which itself is flanked by large statues of robed figures holding bladed weapons. To be in this space is calming, and peaceful, the gropu feels safe. Whilst exploring the hall they discover a hidden compartment on the underside of seat at the far end. Within this secret compartment there is a a Khyber crystal, a parchment which appears to be a message on one side and a map the other. In making this discovery they are also beset by mysterious Sith Acolytes acting under the orders of Darth Adroit. They state "Our master is both great and terrible, the powerful Darth Adroit, he offers you this mercy. Kayvan Whiddows bring the Box and come with us. You seek the power to free the oppressed, our master sees great potential in you. Do not waste your time with these feeble beings, our master can grant you the power you seek. Refuse us here and you will all die". Kayvan Whidowes denies the Sith their request and bravely Udart Gunt and Lul Ba'Ri do their best to fend of the attacks with the support of Dags .Wise to the dangers and generally sick of the whole affair Rev Cly D'Tirle retreats under a table and hides at the back of the hall by a statue. Udart Gunt is downed and the group barely manage to grasp victory from the claws of defeat. They manage to take one their unconscious attackers away with them. Leaving the temple weary and wounded, they ponder if their attacker may have a ship nearby and utilise the scanners on their own ship to search the cold and hostile planet surface. Not having to search far they come across a ship and Kayvan Whidowes Lul Ba'Ri and a wounded Udart Gunt head aboard to explore. There is nothing but an open holo-communicator, where Darth Adroit tries to convince Kayvan Whidowes to join him and turn to the dark side. Kayvan Whidowes resists and annoyed by this resistance, Darth Adroit initiates the ships self destruct, forcing the party into a hasty retreat. Back upon their vessel Lul Ba'Ri sets about reading the message upon the parchment: "I fear the days of the Jedi in the Rhao system have come to an end. Our master became blind to our true purpose and was betrayed by his greatest pupil, and so I write this now in the hope that the force may yet guide some brave soul here that they may take up our Vigil. We the Jatu Rhar ‘defenders of Rhao’ have protected the secrets of this system for thousands of years. Never looking outside to other concerns of the galaxy. Rhao is rich in kyber krystals as the system is a confluence for the flow of the force. Many of the planets within this system hold deep and rich veins of the krystals which power our weapons, and life here has been altered by the intense flow of the force. It was revealed to me alone that eons ago great Sith Lords ruled this system, and they produced an army of Sith Warriors that nearly overthrew the galaxy. The Ancient Jedi defeated them in a bloody and bitter conflict. They hid the secrets of this system from view, and erased it from memory. Even the Masters that preside here now, know only what they need to protect the system from harm, but we have failed in our purpose. Now we are fallen and the sith will rise again. I will face him as I must, but should I fail, this message is our only hope. If you read this Jedi, hear my plea. Rhao must not be held by the Sith. You are now the only hope there is." Whilst Lul Ba'Ri ponders this information, Kayvan Whidowes attempts to transform himself into Darth Adroit to seek to trick the unconscious acolyte and gain intel. Unfortunately his efforts lead to nothing, and the party return home, with more questions than answers.