[OOC] Star Wars: The High Republic – The Bunum Impasse [CLOSED]

[Fiscbryne]

Applications are now closed. Thank you to all of you who submitted character sheets.

It is a golden age in the galaxy. Supreme Chancellor Lina Soh and the noble Jedi Knights spread a message of unity across an expanding GALACTIC REPUBLIC. But disaster awaits! Journeying through the Outer Rim, a group of Jedi were forced out of hyperspace by unexpected debris and have crash-landed in the shadow of an ancient ruin on the planet of BUNUM. Stranded from the Jedi Order in a vast jungle, they find themselves met with diverse company: archeologists and anthropologists from the University of Bar’leth, miners sponsored by the Galactic Republic, and the planet’s indigenous population. It will take all the wits of these stranded Jedi to prevent the situation from developing into all-out war….

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The High Republic
^{An Era of Expansion}

Two-hundred and ten years before the start of the Clone Wars, it is a time of peace and prosperity for the Galactic Republic. Explorers establish new hyperspace routes into the Outer Rim and new planets come under the rule of the Republic’s ever-expanding borders. In the time which later historians will dub the High Republic, Supreme Chancellor Lina Soh’s rallying cry is heard across the galaxy, proudly declaring that: We are all the Republic. But not all are so pleased to become part of the Republic, be it the Nihil raiding the Outer Rim or be it citizens of planets who feel cheated by their relationship to the Republic. Nevertheless, none can deny the crowning achievement of the High Republic: a period of peace maintained by the Republic’s peacekeepers, the Jedi Knights.

From their ancient temple on Coruscant to outposts in the farthest explored reaches of the Outer Rim, Jedi Knights settle disputes, help others with the resources of the Jedi Order, and defend the innocent. In this era of peace, the Jedi are not yet the soldiers and generals of the Clone Wars, though the martial nature of their order remains strong—and soon it will be tested against the Nihil. But those days have only just begun; the Great Disaster has just begun and news of the Nihil’s involvement has not yet spread across the galaxy. At the moment, our Jedi heroes are unaware of the battles to come.

The Crash
^{Jedi in Peril!}

Now, these Jedi heroes are stranded in the jungles of Bunum, a remote planet in the Outer Rim. Returning from the Jedi Temple on Ilum, their transport was grazed by fast-flying debris until they were forced to pull out of hyperspace and crash-land beneath the shadow of an ancient ruin of uncertain provenance. Their communications out, they are separated from their friends and allies among the Jedi Order and the Republic. The few Jedi Masters among the group have been knocked unconscious or killed in the crash, and now our heroes are helpless and alone. Travelling from the crash site of their ship, they traverse the jungle to find a village of the local population, a diverse group of species including Humans, Twi’leks, and Selkath among many others. But when they arrive, the Jedi find that the locals flee from them, fearful of the laser swords they wield. Upon further investigation, the stranded Jedi find a pair of anthropologists from the University of Bar’leth among the locals who speak of the others found upon the planet: a dig team from the same university investigating the local ruins, miners sponsored by the local governor of the nearest planet in the Republic, and a pair of reclusive Jedi rumored to live deep in the heart of the jungle. When conflict arises between the indigenous population and the Republic, it is up to these stranded Jedi to determine where their loyalties lie.

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Out-of-character Information

The Bunum Impasse is a character-driven roleplay set in the High Republic era of Star Wars, specifically taking place entirely on the homebrew planet of Bunum in the year 232 B.B.Y. (concurrent with the novels Light of the Jedi, Into the Dark, and A Test of Courage). Two players are already in the RP as my co-GMs (namely @seonhyang and @Auz) and I am seeking 2-3 more players in addition to them.

As for the RP itself, characters will not be powerful Jedi Masters, but rather solitary Padawans and Knights; they are not nigh-immortal space wizards, but rather Jedi who are fallible and uncentered and unsure of their relation to the Jedi Order and with the Force. This story is expressly intended to not be an action-filled romp, but rather a character study of the Jedi at their height aiming to explore Jedi’s relationships with violence, with the light side of the Force, and with the Republic. These Jedi will not fall to the Dark Side nor be ‘grey’ in the sense of their morality, but rather be deeply committed to doing the right thing—and yet struggling to determine what the ‘right thing’ actually is.

Consequently, the themes of this RP will be heterodoxy in interpretation of the Jedi Code, conflict between the Jedi’s duty to the Republic and their sympathy to the indigenous peoples of Bunum, and conflict of interest between the political will of the Republic to aid the galaxy in its totality and the desire of the locals to have self-determination for themselves. There are no traditionally evil agents here, only people in conflict with other people.

In terms of the plot, I have a short one in mind but will not be inflexible about it; its purpose is mainly to set up the thematic conflicts of the story and the rest is up to you players. I will leave room for character development and will happily incorporate subplots that benefit your character specifically.

Regarding the Canon-Legends split, Canon will take precedence given the fact that the High Republic era is itself situated in Canon; Legends material is very welcome albeit subject to GM caveat. I will make it clear that I am not an expert on the lore and that you needn’t be one either; I am no stranger to consulting Wookieepedia and the aim of this RP leans more towards engaging with the series’ themes of compassion and anti-imperialism than with the nitty-gritty of blaster manufacturers and starship classes.

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Rules

➤ Be kind. OOC harassment, rudeness, or prejudice (or what appears to be OOCly-motivated IC prejudice) will not be tolerated. Such prejudices include but are not limited to sexism, racism, homophobia, and transphobia.

➤ There is zero tolerance for god-modding, powerplaying, or metagaming. If you are considering doing so, save me the effort and don’t apply. And as stated before, our heroes will intentionally be fallible. If your character is made invincible or too powerful, you will be rejected; if they become invincible or too powerful, you will be ejected. The Force is of course a powerful ally, but this RP is first and foremost a story and not a power fantasy. If need be I may implement a roll system, but at the moment this RP will be freeform.

➤ Once our final players are chosen, I will communicate plot points and RP discussion via Discord—but announcements and important information are unofficial until posted in the OOC thread.

➤ Given that this roleplay is published in the Advanced subforum, I will expect Advanced-level writing of sufficient quality and length. This means at least two detailed paragraphs or more per post and the equivalent per person for a collaboration—though collaborations will more likely than not be posted on a scene-by-scene basis. Lastly, I am no stickler for perfect grammar, but please look over your work before posting and ensure that adequate care has been put into it.

➤ Post at least once every two weeks. If any IRL issues or emergencies happen to come up, however, inform me and we can discuss it. I won't kick you out of the RP for an emergency as long as you communicate your needs. Real life always comes first, but keep us in the loop.

➤ Discussion of the story's direction is highly-encouraged. Nothing is ‘canon,’ so to speak, until I write it in prose or otherwise give the OK, but the details of the setting aren’t set in stone and I’m happy to accommodate player suggestions within reason!

➤ If you're unsure about anything your character might do in the RP, feel free to ask! I'll happily field any questions or add additional information.

➤ In all things, the GM has final say. I reserve the right to eject players from the RP at any time.

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Character Sheets (Due by June 5th)

Please submit your character sheet to the OOC tab for approval. When either that deadline is reached or all interested parties have submitted their character sheets, accepted players will be free to post their character sheets in the Characters tab.

Character Sheet Template

Name:

Rank: Padawan or Jedi Knight

Species: Species found in either Canon or Legends are acceptable given that they aren't extinct or not yet present in the galaxy.

Gender:

Appearance: Images are allowed but must be accompanied by a written description of substance. For visual inspiration, see the official Concept Art Gallery. Note that the ceremonial Jedi garb of this era is generally in white and gold rather than the muted colors of the Clone Wars era, but they “would ordinarily wear their leathers, sometimes even armor, depending on the task at hand” (Light of the Jedi, p. 62). Also note that not every Padawan learner wears a Padawan braid, but they do wear colored sashes in the same color as their lightsabers.

Lightsaber/other personal effects: I won’t be a stickler about attested lightsaber colors and I don’t ascribe special meaning to colors save red or white. The Jedi do not carry many things on their person, but if there is anything besides one’s lightsaber, be it equipment or otherwise, list it here.

Personality: What is your Jedi like as a person? What might other Jedi sense about them through the Force?

View of the Force: How your character sees the Force. See the following for examples from Light of the Jedi:

Light of the Jedi, p. 106

What [Avar Kriss] heard as a song, Elzar Mann saw as a deep endless storm-tossed sea. The Wookie Burryaga was a single leaf on a gigantic tree with deep-dug roots and sky-high limbs. Douglas Sunvale saw the Force as a huge, interlocked set of gears, made of an endless variety of materials from crystal to bone. Bell Zettifar danced with fire. Loden Greatstorm danced with wind.

Background: This can be a short biography or a vignette that reveals a significant part of your character’s backstory.

[Cyrania]

Alastrina Vexal

Name: Alastrina Vexal

Rank: Padawan

Species: Human

Gender: Female

Appearance: Long red hair tied back in braids with dark green eyes in a tall, stout figure. Freckles dot her body over her light skin. Her body belies her young age, though shows off the athleticism and musculature that has come from her training.

Lightsaber/other personal effects: Blue lightsaber, the plain metal shines like silver in a classic, but still functional design with brown and white accents where the halves combine and for her grip. The grip fits her hands perfectly without any corners or rough edges from the cylinder impeding her. It lacks wear and tear since she has only had it less than a week, but its well polished and cared for. The lightsaber truly is her most priceless possession, and she takes good care of it.

Also carries a commlink to be able to communicate with others over long distances.

Personality: Adventurous and eager, Alastrina wants nothing more than to become a full Jedi and be a hero like she's always dreamed of being. To that end, she's studied and trained all she can. She's dived into the records, asked constant questions of her master just about any time they have a moment of calm between them, listened intensely to every lesson that she gets, and her own experimentation based on her reading. Her master Quil-sam Buros has had to step in several times now as she tries to accomplish feats that only the highest masters ever have had a chance of accomplishing, yet whereas many of the other Jedi mistake her for being power-hungry, Quil-sam sees in her simple impatience and impulsivity. Not good habits for a Jedi to have, but not actively malicious or greedy ones. He has been seeking to train her to have patience, yet the major hurdle has been her trouble meditating.

She has a strong connection to the Force, and can certainly use it. He's seen that enough times during training when a lightsaber is in her hands. Yet the act of staying still is hard for her. Her body fidgets. Her fingers tap the floor. Even if she can fully become still, her thoughts have gone a thousand different ways faster than the speed of light. Even her attempts to relax and focus just get her attention focused on being relaxed and focused. However, the Caamassi is certain that time will help her learn. She is still young by human standards after all, and so needs the time to learn to calm and mellow. Until that point, he can still encourage her enthusiasm and her dream while helping her little by little to learn patience, calm, and prudence.

Throughout their brief time together, he has found that he adores the way that she eagerly tries to learn about everything. It doesn't even have to be about the Force. It can be something as simple as what's that plant or as complicated as how exactly does hyperspace work. When they're alone and there's nothing else they're doing, he readily indulges her in that. However, he has needed to put his foot down about doing it when it isn't just the two of them. She has enough trouble maintaining proper decorum as it is, fiddling with her sleeves when she has to stand still. He doesn't need her interrupting during a diplomatic summit for a question, again. Alastrina's at least not done that again, but she can get lost in her thoughts at times and so lose some awareness of her surroundings. He hopes very much to train her out of that habit sooner rather than later. A Jedi that doesn't pay attention can harm others, or get themselves killed.

View of the Force: A rolling cosmic sea, each person a star of light glowing within that causes ripples in the air that sing with various tones. The brighter the person, the more in tune with the Force they are, the stronger the ripples they cause in the sea unless they purposely subdue their influence. Areas and animals can also be felt this way if they have a heavy force signature. Things and people corrupted by the dark side of the force become dark and cold, their ripples harsh with ear-splitting sounds.

Backstory: Raised in the temple, Alastrina's only ever known the Order and its ways. She learned with her fellow younglings how to control their powers and what a Jedi's role in the galaxy would be. And for as long as she and the ones raising her can remember, she listened and learned about everything with wide eyed wonder. She tried the hardest with every lesson and pushed to do well in every area she could. Lightsaber combat training especially resonated with her, allowing her to move her body to the will of the Force while imagining herself fighting pirates or slavers.

She progressed well then in all her lessons except in meditation, but she still tried hard at it. It often defeated the purpose, but she knew that a good Jedi needed to be able to meditate, so she wanted to also be able to mediate. After she was good enough, someone would want to be her master and take her as a Padawan! Yet, years passed. She thought it was just because she wasn't good at mediating yet, even as she tried to also read about more advanced techniques to learn to maybe help mitigate that. However, that wasn't the reason they weren't taking her on. Many of the Jedi were wary about her being too eager in her lessons. The chance of someone becoming a Dark Jedi was a concern after all when someone decided that they wanted to know everything and become too powerful in the force, especially without any way to self moderate. Therefore, she started to fear that she would be sent to the Agri Corps. Until Quil-sam Buros came onto the scene.

The Caamassi had been away for some time on some mission or another. Yet now he finally returned, feeling called by the Force to take on another padawan. He looked on at the potential younglings, pondering who to take on, then he spotted her working through her katras. The way she moved, the way she resonated through the Force, her passion and determination, all made him want to see how she would grow. Other Jedi advised him against it, saying that she was too dangerous, but he was willing to take the chance. The two of them together then took like ducks to water within their roles as master and apprentice. It has had its ups and downs within the past months, but neither of them would trade it for the world. And with her now having her own lightsaber, Alastrina is now certain that she will become a Jedi that will make her master proud.

Edited now. Feel free to take another look.

[Fiscbryne]

@Cyrania It's cool you're posting early! One thing I'll say right off the bat is that I'd like a little more meat on the CSes—you don't have to match exactly, but this is my GMPC's character sheet for reference! A few questions I will ask include: Who is/was Alastrina's master and what is their relationship? What is her lightsaber like beyond it's color—is it reflective of her personality? What can you tell about her from her appearance?

[boomerremover]

Delste

Name: Monton “Monty” Delste (though she prefers to go by “Delste”)

Rank: Padawan

Species: Human

Gender: Female

Appearance: Monton is a young human who has recently passed her nineteenth year of age. Warm olive skin and an angular face are framed by tight tresses of dark hair. Her hair is pulled back high on her head in a ponytail, with the only loose strand being the Padawan braid that falls on her right shoulder.

Her ceremonial armor is less on the refined side and leans more to the dramatic with bold lines, though tastefully done to deter scorn from those who would offer it. Her leather armors echo a feminine touch, falling into a skirt rather than long robes. Around her waist is a sash of bright purple, further emphasizing her unique choices of attire. Upon leaving Ilum, it is the leathers and armor that she chooses to wear, despite the disapproving glance that it warrants from her master.

She takes pride in her work and her appearance, maintaining a level of aestheticism at all times, even when donning her armor. Although vanity is discouraged among the Jedi, Monton opposes this notion by presenting her outward appearance as a reflection upon her rank, and as the Jedi Order as a whole - that to carry herself with such maintained cleanliness, beauty, and dignity should show to others the values that she holds inwardly.

Lightsaber/other personal effects: Monton carries her saber, in the style of the “pike” or “staff” in a sleek leather case slung across her back, or she otherwise carries it in her hand. Never is it used as a walking staff. She would never let it touch the ground. The surprisingly simple hilt of the lightsaber is kept meticulously pristine. She also keeps credits on hand in case of an emergency. Wrapped tightly in a leather pack on her left hip is an ornate mirror, though it is rusted and tarnished unlike the rest of her equipment.

Personality: On paper, Monton would read as a Padawan rapidly approaching the skill and maturity required to take on her trial and become a Jedi Knight. Studious and talented, she excels, due to her long years of training, at nearly every task that her master puts her to. However, it is her emotional reactions that prevent her from advancing.

Monton is head-strong and willful. She takes her years of study as gospel and does not like to stop listening to others when, in her mind, she can do what must be done even if others oppose it. When reason supports her means, she sees the ends as justified. And although she takes offense when others question her, she sees it as a personal prerogative to question others, including her own master and others who she should show respect to as superior to her. Though some may see this as youthful obstinance or prideful disrespect, it comes from a deeper sense of skepticism to how the Jedi approach interpersonal situations as they enact their duties.

Monton is loud and boisterous; she is not afraid to make her opinions publicly known, and she is more prone to trying to outwit her enemy than to try and out-fight them. Her intellect and emotion often conflate and result in inward conflict; it is easy for her to rationalize her own desires and make moves to act on them, even if it is not the acceptable course of action for a Padawan to be taking. Due to this, she is almost as consistently in conflict with her master, Nikdoris, a Twi’lek who is growingly exasperated at attempting to promote cooler heads to prevail in his apprentice.

View of the Force: Monton sees the Force as the harsh wind that brings a thunderstorm in tow, saturating the world around her with wetness.

Background: Raised in the Jedi Temple at Coruscant, Monton was, from her youth, intelligent in her studies and the ways of the force. Even as a youngling, intelligence and tutoring alone were never enough to temper her skepticism and aggressive boldness. Nikdoris saw potential in her, however; or at least that is what he claimed when he took her on as his Padawan. Monton strongly suspects that her master thought that he could reason with her in the logic of the Jedi ways and mold her into the true knight he envisioned; this cynical thought of her own master has gnawed at the depths of her heart and is the silent root of her strained relationship.

As for Nikdoris, Monton is not the first apprentice that he has chosen to mentor. Previously he had taken another Padawan, a fellow Twi'lek named Cew'crihu, who had been elevated to the ranks of the Jedi Knights several years prior. Although Nikdoris speaks fondly of his former apprentice and condones the work he has done since leaving his mentorship, Cew'crihu maintains that Nikdoris was a harsh master whose expectations were impossible to meet, and that little he could do could ever please him. When confronted with such rumors, Nikdoris was quick to assuage them with a reminder that "what happened is not always what you remember, but what you remember may, in one's mind, become what happened". When the same was asked of Monton, she merely expressed a desire to speak personally with Cew'crihu about his experiences.

During the many hours she spent in the depths of the Jedi Archives (be it for studying or cleaning for punishment), she made the acquaintance of another young Padawan, Bleys Cardon. Monton and Bleys became close, although unusual, friends during their training. While the former was boisterous and demanding, Bleys was quiet and unassuming and took her oaths to the Jedi Order with the utmost solemnity. They were a pair who balanced each other out and they learned from each other as much as they learned from their masters. Unfortunately, between their masters was a history of shared strife that the young Padawans knew not about, and it was Monton's perceived slight against Bleys's master that resulted in her own having to send her away on a solitary assignment to do penance.

At Ilum, she was sent by Nikdoris to assist with younger Padawans arriving for their Gathering, and to help upkeep the temple and its ancient secrets. Although this solitary task was only supposed to last for six months, Nikdoris was kept busy by other pressing assignments, and Monton remained at the temple for a year longer than her initial punishment. Many expressed their sympathy to the young Padawan's plight as they traveled through to do business, but some implied to her that they thought she deserved the extended punishment. This thought has stirred more than idle ire in her heart. Even though Nikdoris has now arrived to retrieve her and they make to depart from Ilum, he realizes that his apprentice has only become even more jaded in his absence and her temporary exile.

[Cyrania]

Thanks for the tips. I went over her again and edited her.

[Fiscbryne]

@Cyrania Of course! I like the fuller look at Alastrina you give after implementing the changes. The details help a lot!

@boomerremover I like Delste's arrogance and self-righteousness! The vanity is a rare flaw which is really interesting to include, especially for a young Jedi. One thing I'll ask is: what is Nikdoris like? I'd be interested in seeing more of that relationship as well as what things might be like on his side rather than purely Delste's. Is he willfully neglectful or just incompetent or is it a mix of both? How has she consequently been treated by the Order at large—do others pity her or try to help?

[Dusty]

@Fiscbryne If I may, where will the RP be starting out at? Right after the crash, directly before, a bit after? I'm just interested so I can accurately determine how much I add to the backstory.

[Fiscbryne]

@Fiscbryne If I may, where will the RP be starting out at? Right after the crash, directly before, a bit after? I'm just interested so I can accurately determine how much I add to the backstory.

@Dusty

The start will be a couple hours after the crash with the Jedi are looking for parts in a local village to repair their transports—I’ll put up a post leading from from the crash to there after we finalize characters.

[seonhyang]

I've got my (GM)PC posted now, though I had wanted to add more art; the waist-up portrait there is the only thing I could finish quickly enough. The profile itself is around the same size as @Fiscbryne's and I wouldn't expect anyone to match it, but we're looking for CSes on the meatier side!

[boomerremover]

@Fiscbryne Edited Delste's backstory to reflect more of her relationship with Nikdoris and the Order. :)

[seonhyang]

@boomerremover I like the new additions; it's interesting to think of Delste as a bit of an enigma to her seniors in the Order, some of whom would sympathize with her while others might want her gone entirely.

[boomerremover]

@seonhyang Thank you! Delste started her time as Nikdoris's Padawan when she was twelve; so although she has seven years of training under her belt (as she's currently nineteen), it's been a year and a half since she's been left in Ilum. She's not happy about it. Considering her reputation and the length of time she's been training, I would imagine there would be a wide variety of Knights and Masters familiar with her and her ... enigmatic behavior.

[Dusty]

I took the liberty of matching y'alls formatting.

Garner Lonan

GARNER LONAN

Padawan Learner

Species: Human

Gender: Male

Appearance:
If the inquiry were posed to Garner, that he put to words his own physical appearance the poor boy might appear flustered, and begin fidgeting nervously with his azure sash. He would consider each word with care, before describing himself on the smaller side for an adolescent of thirteen standard years, yet with plenty of years to grow. Bearing a round, boyish face just beginning to sprout fuzz along his upper lip, and a head of golden hair. He would explain how he keeps this hair trimmed short, leaving only a small portion long enough for a learner’s braid tucked behind his left ear, in the customary fashion of a Jedi apprentice. He would pause here is his description, before continuing onto the less uncontrollable aspects of his being lest he appear boastful. Jedi shouldn’t brag, but he did take special care. All force sensitive Initiates, padawans and beyond at the Jedi Temple were expected to keep themselves clean, and well groomed, but Garner had always been particular about his appearance. Keeping his garments in proper order, in a manner befitting a Jedi master. He’d read before, that one should dress according to the station they desired, and he knew he required every advantage he could scrounge if he wished to continue as an apprentice, let alone becoming a full Jedi knight.

His self description concluded he would stare back upon the asker inquisitively with his wide green eyes, wondering if this was some sort of test. Anxiously awaiting whether his self-depiction was adequate, or if he’d forgotten anything important. A sharp observer, upon closer inspection would be able to note upon several inadequacies in the boy’s report; though at no fault to Garner. After all, the more subtle parts of one’s physical appearance can easily be overlooked on mere self-reflection. Such as the proud jut of his chin, or the steely determination in his stance, or even the perpetual curiosity in his eyes. They could even remark on how he shadowed his master Ange Gelegenheit, drinking in every word she spoke as if it were gospel, though rarely voicing his burning questions unless prompted. The boy tended to take everything a bit too seriously, presenting himself as the perfect picture of stern Jedi stoicism, making him easy prey to the more comedic attitude of his mentor, whether that be her gentle teasing, or practical jokes. She seemed particularly adept at breaking his rigid “perfect apprentice” persona, relaxing him in both mind and posture.

All this acknowledged most inquirers would simply accept Garner’s words as sufficient to their initial request, keeping their own deeper observations to themselves, unsaid.

Lightsaber/other personal effects:
Garner’s Jedi weapon is of rudimentary design, but quite new having recently been fashioned and rarely utilized for anything besides customary training. The hilt is constructed from burnished bronze, and dark leather wrappings along the grip. The saber is brought together around an indigo crystal which projects a blade of brilliant royal blue. Like most Jedi, Garner is lacking in affects other than his lightsaber and the force, however he is not often seen without his nose stuck in some book or datapad. He just so happened to bring three of such items along during his most recent mission. He stores them in his cabin space, often perusing the written works in his limited free time. Whether they be treatises on the force, knowledge on practical skills, or merely a work of fiction that caught his interest, Garner has always been an adamant reader.

Personality:
A general rule for Jedi taking on the responsibility of a new apprentice was to study their young charge and evaluate them closely. To deeply understand their student, how they thought and acted, and interacted with others. For Jedi Knight Ange Gelegenheit, she saw a great many things in her Padawan to be, Garner Lonan. She saw an inquisitive mind, ready to ask and yet hidden behind a veil of social hesitation. Trapped within a web of anxiety and a determination to never fail or appear inadequate. A great many Jedi Knights passed over initiate Garner for a potential padawan, perhaps sensing this unhealthy combination, and not wishing to embrace the challenge that it presented. Only further frustrating Garner during the Choosing, and only perpetuating the destructive cycle. She recognized an unwavering pride in his work and his appearance, perhaps to the point of vanity, but Ange knew she could direct that ego towards a healthy conduit. Fashioning the youth into a proper Jedi of humility and honor. Lastly, she spotted what all the other Jedi Knights had missed. They, having passed over Garner for other Initiates to train feared he simply did not have the power in the force to become a full knight of the order. Ange on the other hand saw a young mind, filled with all the necessary knowledge and determination, just waiting for someone to teach him.

Ange knew in accepting she would be stepping into a challenge. Garner’s tendencies to focus on never making an error left him little room to fail. At least in his mind. He had inadvertently set himself up for greater failure. He could not hope to match a Jedi master, and yet he strove to prove he could. Ange recalled from her own training years how destructive this mentality could be. After all, what was success but learning from a hundred failed attempts? To teach him acceptance of his shortcomings and allow himself to learn from them, she would first have to break his shell. To be the standard that let him shed his anxiety and fear of inadequacy and laugh. Not only at himself, but at world around him. Fortunately for Garner, Ange had tremendous experience on this front and was more than confident that she could instill a sense of humor into her serious-minded young padawan. Yes, tutoring Garner would be a significant task indeed, but one she could surmount, one step at a time.

View of the Force:
The Force is a Book. A great and ancient tome more like, filled from page to page in power, adventure, sorrow, love, and regret. One must simply blow away the dust and turn the page to find their answers.

Backstory:
For Garner his story always began at the Jedi Temple, amongst the members of his Initiate Clan. He knew he came from a colonial planet called Farstine, but like most force sensitives discovered by the Jedi order he was taken well before any proper memories could be made. He could not recall the mother who birthed him, or the father who named him and such inquiries were discouraged for future padawans. Thus, Garner never made a greater effort to discover these answers, and only vague feelings of his life prior to the temple remain. His time in the creche was not an unhappy one. Much of the younglings early lives were spent in studies, necessary for a Jedi to operate as a galactic peacekeepers. Culture, history, languages, mathematics, and so on all came to Garner easily. Although he lagged somewhat behind the other Initiates in his force abilities and saber skills, he managed to keep pace through raw determination, and his nimble intellect. Garner fantasized himself to one day be a powerful, respected Jedi and dedicated himself to that image, putting in the extra effort to become an apprentice to a respected Jedi master. However, as the years passed, and the time of Choosing drew closer the gap between those few initiate clan members who might be chosen, and those who would be sent on to the Service Corps grew ever larger.

Most Initiates lacked what it took to become a Jedi, only a few would ever become padawans and even less would succeed at knighthood. An ever-present possibility, which seemed more likely to be reality by the day. Despite Garner’s best efforts he could not lift multiple objects like Da’shan, or wield a lightsaber with Sadina’s grace, and one by one the Jedi looking to take on apprentices passed him by for more talented students. Knowledge and practical skills only took one so far amongst the Jedi, and the force remained the key factor, and Garner’s bane. It is not an easy thing for the boy to admit, but he shed many frustrated tears in the study halls and his dormitory, pouring over documents and books and datapads, struggling to find the secret to unblock his pathway into the force. He could not accept failure, again and again without a sense of hopelessness setting in. He simply went through the motions, struggling to attune his senses to little avail. The number of Initiates in his clan dwindled, most accepting their fate and going on to join the Service Corps or reconnect with their families, with a precious few being selected as padawan learners. Until at last, Garner was alone, the final one not chosen, and yet refusing to be sent off and never to become a Jedi.

Of course, he could not remain in the creche forever. His chances were dwindling, and soon the decision would be made for him. On the eve of that ultimatum a lone Jedi Knight, by the name of Ange Gelegenheit offered to evaluate him, and Garner accepted the invitation with trepid resignation. He had failed a dozen times, what chance did he truly have at success? Nevertheless he threw his all into the challenge, gritting his teeth against the disappointment he was sure to face. Ange was a young Jedi, having only passed the trials several years prior and was seeking her first student. A challenge, she had not anticipated to be so difficult. Ange had always been good at seeing potential, whether that be a droid she was tinkering on, or one of the Initiates during evaluation, and she despised turning away so many bright young persons who lacked true force ability. The weight of denial grew heavy upon her mind, for every initiate she refused. As such she had been watching young Garner for some time, unwilling to evaluate him for fear of having to refuse him as well. She was ever observant to when others faltered or gave in the boy only seemed to double his efforts. Those others lacked a clear vision of the force. In Garner on the other hand, she saw his strength, but the tragedy was that he could not. Or at least not yet. She felt his growing frustration, the bitter chalice of defeat from which he drank and knew she could not let such possibilities go to waste. In unusual fashion she knelt beside the boy and asked of his studies, listening to his clear descriptions of what he desired to do, and all the knowledge he had ascertained from his reading. He spoke of the stories, and how the great Jedi would reach for the force and see it clearly, and that when he looked he saw only shadows. Then Ange knew, and she smiled. With gentle teasing, some rather un-jedi-like jokes, and careful misdirection she broke the mask of seriousness and composure Garner wore, leading him to a cleared and relaxed body and mind. She then asked Garner to close his eyes, and to focus on the force, and read it like one of his stories. And for Garner, that was when it all clicked.

At long last, through sweat and tears and a little bit of help Garner succeeded. He completed his evaluation and joined the ranks of Padawans, although slightly behind his peers. He would travel with his master to Ilum to construct his own lightsaber, and begin his long and arduous journey to becoming a full Jedi Knight! Ange would remain a constant presence at his side, through their first simplistic missions as a Jedi team, reminding him that Jedi were did not always have to be so stoic, and stern. That he could, and should laugh and smile on occasion. Her encouragement and patience led Garner to believe he might truly have a chance at becoming a Jedi knight. That was, until the unthinkable occurred less than six months later. When Ange Gelegenheit perished in a horrific crash upon the planet Bunum, leaving her barely initiated padawan lost, without a master once again.

[Fiscbryne]

Apologies for the late replies!

@Fiscbryne Edited Delste's backstory to reflect more of her relationship with Nikdoris and the Order. :)

@boomerremover

The changes you’ve put in work nicely—I love how you shifted from a conflict with the Order in general to a deeply interpersonal one with Delste’s master!

@Dusty I like Garner’s haughtiness! He seems full of himself in the way a lot of younger people are when they’re not quite self-aware of their flaws and foibles—it’s very true-to-life! I particularly love that he’s putting on airs—his character feels youthful in a really genuine (if awkward to live through) way.

[Dusty]

I like Garner’s haughtiness! He seems full of himself in the way a lot of younger people are when they’re not quite self-aware of their flaws and foibles—it’s very true-to-life! I particularly love that he’s putting on airs—his character feels youthful in a really genuine (if awkward to live through) way.

@Fiscbryne

Thank you. I'm glad you noticed. I've been itching to try my hand at a realistic child character again, as I find them significantly more challenging. So hopefully Garner proves to be a success on that front. Anyway, anything you'd like changed with the CS?

[LeiaHair]

Arianna Anise

Arianna Anise

Padawan

Species: Human

Gender: Female

Appearance: Arianna is a long, lanky girl who is all legs, neck, and large, round eyes (the later making her look even younger than she already is). Her hazel-green green eyes are framed by smooth, flawless olive skin that contrasts with her dark, unruly brown mop which is typically pulled back into loose braids or ponytails with her apprentice braid hidden among the freed baby curls along her ears and nape of her neck. Tall for a nine year old, her long limbs make her appear more like a newborn fawn than a majestic beast that she could one day become and her always stoic, always analyzing gaze makes her appear meek.

The young padawan is clothed in a cream, white appetence robe with dark leather straps holding the clothing taught to her arms and legs and elbow length leather gloves. A matching belt lays upon a sash of rose at her waist and typically her dark, uncontrollable hair is attempted to be pulled back with the same color leather, although no matter the style, the thick wisps do whatever they want to do. Her clothing, on the other hand, is always neat and pristine. Around her neck is a small triangle carved from bone, held in place by braided leather strips.

Lightsaber/other personal effects: Arianna's lightsaber is a rose-pink colored blade with a simple mottled gun-metal colored hilt with inlayed bone along the accents. Half of the hilt has ornate carvings into the bone (which she has yet to finish) making it appear to be more of an accessory at her hip instead of a cold tool. Tuck neatly in a small pocket inside her sash, a small vibro knife hides. It is the tool she uses to carefully carve into the hilt whenever she has a free moment to meditate. She also has a small necklace that she made herself as a youngling at the Jedi Temple.

Personality: The young girl is stoic to say the least, her large eyes taking in everything they can see while the force fills in what they can't. Observant and with a memory like an elephant, she comes across as an old soul. However her sweet, demure attitude towards everything betrays her true age to those who interact with her. Although she seems meek standing at the side of her Jedi Master, the young girl is girl is hardly a push over. Although there is no lack of confidence, Arianna will never be found towing the line. She values life to a fault, though, partially due to a few traumatic experiences in regards to her innate ability to use psychometry (Force Echo), which makes her a stubborn pacifists who seeks to please and pacify those around her.

View of the Force: The force is less a view and more of a feeling. The stronger the force, the stronger she is filled with a warming vibration, like that after a good, hard laugh... the weaker, the lonely cold grows stronger, like that of waking up in a dark, empty room alone. This may play into her Force Echo abilities.

Background:
Like most younglings, Arianna was brought to the Jedi Temple at an early age. She had been found begging for food in a less than savory part of Coruscant, but, as she had been told, was suspected to have been brought to the city-planet from elsewhere by those who had watched over her from the shadows as she pan-handled. If you were to ask her about it, though, she couldn't even describe the faces of the Jedi who saved her from a life of destitute, let alone where she was from. Nor did she care, for the Jedi Temple was the only home she ever knew.

Arianna was well liked by most, but didn't have any real close friends amongst the other younglings in her clan. However, shortly after her fifth year, Arianna began to withdraw from her social group. She would disappear only to be found in the gardens or in a secluded place to herself, meditating to the point of exhaustion. Little did her little youngling friends know, the young girl had started to see flashes of 'memories' randomly throughout the day. At first, Arianna wasn't sure where these visions were coming from. Thinking she was cursed, for some of these 'visions' were horrible and made her feel despair, guilt, pain, suffering, anger.... the little girl tried to hide her fear from those around her. However, it didn't take long for one of the lecturing Master's to sense such dark feelings in her. She was stood in front of the council, with many of them asking questions that Arianna could hardly understand. Almost in tears, afraid she would be cast aside, she answered each question honestly and with as much detail as she could. It came as a relief to her once they explained to her exactly what she was experiencing... that she had a gift that only a few were born with, called psychometry in which she could see what they called a Force Echo on objects she touched. She wasn't cursed after all!

Of course, with such a gift came great misery and confusion and with each passing year, the visions came harder and stronger... to the point of forcing her to wear gloves so as not to accidentally touch anything until she had learned to control such a gift, especially given that the flashes of bright, white light before the vision disoriented her enough to cause her to fall to her knees and that some emotions were strong enough to last for days after experiencing an echo. She was discouraged from using her gift unless in a lesson, something she happily agreed to do.

Years passed, and Arianna found herself on Ilum, frozen in place from more than just the cold of the ice planet. She was alone in a labyrinth of crystals, forced to face what truly feared her.... being alone... alone with just memories. Many of which were not her own. Concerned that she would lose all track of time and miss her opportunity, Arianna decided to face her fear head on. Yanking her gloves off and tucking them in her belt, the eight (almost nine) year old youngling closed her eyes and felt her way through the caves... Echo after Echo after Echo filling her head. Some fearful, some joyful as they found their glowing crystals, others angry at the lack of them. The waves of emotion made her feel... alive. It reminded her that she was not alone, even if no one was around. The Force was always there, always present... and would always be present even after she was gone. She was one with it and it with her.

It was at this revelation that Arianna opened her eyes to find a glowing, pink crystal at her fingertips, awaiting her next moves.

Arianna had only returned with her constructed lightsaber a few months when the Jedi Knight, Sifora Nas, a Zeltron woman who was known to be a larger than life sort of personality, had taken on the quiet girl as her Padawan. It, of course, was no surprise given that Sifora was also one gifted with Psychometry, however many jokes were said in not so private places about such a pairing. They were seemingly like oil and water, although both were well liked. Sifora, in her flashy white robe with ornate bracers and a belt that tinkled like bells when she walked with that deep hip swinging gate commanded the room and the sweet little Arianna was the soft little bell following behind her.

Of course, their first mission off planet was also to be their last. There, amongst the rubble of the crash, lay her once larger than life master, her red skin no longer vibrant... but dulled by the lack of life within her veins. Arianna was lost. She was adequate, at best, in what she needed to be in order to be a padawan... but had only been pushed on at the earliest age so that she could learn to better control her gift. Now she was lost... alone with people she had hardly met, on a planet far from anywhere she had ever been.

I am also not opposed to redoing a CS as the Jedi Knight in my backstory since you only have padawan applicants. Just let me know.

[Fiscbryne]

@Dusty Nothing sticks out to me at the moment! If that changes, I’ll let you know.

@LeiaHair The main thing I’ll say is to double-check your spelling and grammar. This is an Advanced RP with the expectations that come with that designation. Aside from that, she’s a shy young for a Padawan by my judgement—I think that closer to 10-12 might be more fitting.

[LeiaHair]

@Fiscbryne I looked for a solid age range bc I was thinking it was 12, but everything I found on wookiepedia did not specify except for if you look at the younglings page, it talks about being in a clan from 4-8 and then The Gathering happens. I can age her up a year if it helps.

As for the spelling, I will go back through it tonight. I was typing that at like 2am, so I am sure there were mistakes.

[TinyKiwi]

This still open to new players? Also, if so, what's the decision on "non-canon" races?

[Fiscbryne]

This still open to new players? Also, if so, what's the decision on "non-canon" races?

@TinyKiwi

As long as you can submit a proper CS by the deadline, absolutely!

And regarding non-canon races, they're viable as long as a the lore which you're including doesn't contradict canon stuff too much!