Jedi Insurgency 257

Jedi Shadowmaster:

1) Cleanse 100 Shadow Hearts from Force Adepts, cleanse 10 Master/Darth Shadow Hearts at once. 

2) Combine a pair of Force powers. 

3) Gather five followers in the Path of the Shadow

4) Influence five Masters/Darths without them discovering your involvement. 

5) Travel to the highest peak, lowest valley, and flattest point on a planet, meditate during Dusk & Dawn all within the same day relying upon oneself for transportation.

Staring at the list of objectives necessary to advance in his prestige class, Corvus furrowed his brow. 

Part one appeared to be very similar to one of the conditions he had to satisfy for the [Shadow Wrath] quest. During that adventure, he fought mirrored versions of himself, ultimately achieving victory by shattering the illusion. It was interesting verbiage used for the quest. 

To ‘cleanse’ something implied there was filth. Although it was a requirement to move forward with the quest, he couldn't help but be curious about these so-called Shadow Hearts. Aside from this mission, it was something he might want to research in his own free time. 

As for that ten Masters/Darths at once part…well, Corvus admitted to himself, he wasn't looking forward to getting his ass kicked. Before he approached some Masters for help, he'd definitely train within the holocron upon that battlefield some more. 

The second part of the quest also interested him greatly. For now, the only things he had really taught himself were [Force Repulse] & [Force Sight], with the later ability being more of an accident. He'd always wanted to create something of his own, to push himself to new limits beyond the System. So far, it had been a crutch to rely upon. Useful, for sure, but ultimately the System was limited. For example, [Heal] was something he was particularly adept at, and his understanding of this Lightside ability transcended mere numbers due to his numerous experimentations and miracles. 

That said, if he was going to combine two things. [Heal] would certainly be one of the ingredients since he understood it so well. If he had to mix it with something else, perhaps [Force Repulse] or [Force Lightning] might work? It was difficult to say, and was something that would require further experimentation. 

Regarding the third point, this should be the easiest to complete. Jax & Yon were shoe-ins, whilst Malicos & Krayt would take a little training. The difficulty lied in taking that final follower. On the surface, Quinlan Vos, with his experience of falling to the Darkside, and acting as a spy would be a prime candidate. However, he had a somewhat mercurial personality, was a bit of a rogue, and perhaps too much of a good guy to engage in the ruthless actions of a Jedi Shadow. Of course, Omega came to mind, as she counted as half a follower, but he couldn't in good conscience drag the sunny girl into the darkness. He had also considered Caleb Dume or Cal Kestis, but they were following their Masters like little ducklings. 

Furrowing his brow in thought, when he had thought about Caleb Dume, and his new Master, Rahm Kota, a seemingly low presence character seemed to come to mind. Pressing a fist against the forehead portion of his mask, he bit his lower lip. A long haired brunette Human male appeared in his mind's eye. It was the Jedi Knight, student of Rahm Kota, and grand disciple of Yoda, Fallon Grey! 

Belonging to the same generation as Krayt and Anakin-if perhaps just a few years older-he was the one! Recalling some after action reports submitted by General Rahm Kota, Corvus realized that it was Fallon who often cleaned up the ballsy Jedi Master’s messes. Such a steady, low presence man who fought alongside a rambunctious war god like Kota was a perfect candidate as a Jedi Shadow! Although Kota would probably view this cloak & dagger skulking about with a negative lens should he ever discover this secretive order, Corvus found it to be worth it. The galaxy was in short supply of qualified Jedi Shadows, and the fear of the Order needed to be imprinted in the minds of those corrupt Senators. Once he found some time, he would convince Fallon, and train everyone in the Path of the Shadow. 

Lastly, for point five of the Jedi Shadowmaster quest, was a test of speed & endurance. On the surface, it wasn't very difficult, but for all his powers, running the length of a planet seemed difficult to say the least…however, it could be on any planet. Tython itself had 31 hour days, meaning it wasn't entirely impossible to cheese this challenge. A cycle of dawn & dusk upon this sacred planet lasted much longer than on Earth. There was a chance. Corvus didn't plan on undertaking this part of the quest anytime soon, but he'd start refining the route sooner than later. Perhaps he could sneakily incorporate some ‘Jedi mystic training bantha shit’ into his curriculum whilst training those under him. 

Yes, yes, he could see it now. Under the guise of getting stronger, and learning the nature of Tython, he could task Jax & Yon with running between these various areas-plains, mountains & valleys-then have them discover the most viable route. A small, diabolical smile spread across his face as he imagined Jax serious in his work, and Yon trying to out compete his rival. Meanwhile, they would be none the wiser that their lazy Master was simply using this opportunity to take care of business back at the Temple. 

“Ah, there truly is nothing like outsourcing things to your students~” Corvus said to himself with a comfortable sigh. 

Right now, he felt like the perfect lazy parent getting his kids to take out the trash, or perform miscellaneous chores that he didn't want to do. 

Of course, he didn't forget part four. Influencing five other Masters was an extremely vague guideline. Like, if he subtly influenced someone to change their order at a restaurant, would that fulfill the condition for the quest?!?! 

Honestly, part four was the weirdest one, but he supposed it made sense, given he was promoting to a Shadowmaster. Basically as the Jedi Order’s CIA faction, he had to be a little sneaky, right? 

Therefore, he decided to give it a try right now, minutes after the meeting in the High Council Chamber had concluded. Entering invisibility, he decided to hunt down several Masters, and see if he could influence them. At the same time, he used this as an excuse to observe the average everyday Jedi in their natural habitat, and have some fun exploring the Jedi Temple. The day had been extremely hectic, and emotionally full of great moments, horrible deaths, and long meetings. Exploring the Jedi Temple would satisfy that itch he had as a gamer to walk into every room, and observe every inch of his base…let's just hope there weren't any pots or crates that looked like they should be rolled into along the way. 

Leaving the chamber, he flowed down to the great hall, and looked down upon the-now open-great doors. Very few people were walking through it, or idle in the large courtyard, but for Corvus, it was a magical scene. Seven months ago now, he had woken up on the night of Order 66, and witnessed Anakin engage in a slaughter. Now, here he was in a similar setting, and he was allowed to enjoy it to his heart's content. 

The Temple on Tython possessed a beauty that felt fundamentally different from anything he had seen elsewhere in the galaxy. It was not the polished grandeur of the Senate District, nor the incredible engineering marvels of worlds like Coruscant or Nar Shaddaa. This place felt like a slice of some bygone civilization trapped in time. The Temple seemed less like a building and more like a natural extension of the mountain upon which it stood, as though the Force had shaped this location due to the weathering of the elements, that it was not crafted through tools, or Human minds. 

Golden rays streamed through enormous archways high above, illuminating countless motes of dust that drifted lazily through the air. Vines climbed sections of the walls where nature had slowly reclaimed portions of the structure, yet somehow this did not make the temple appear neglected. Rather, it enhanced its beauty. Birds nested among the upper terraces, their distant songs mingling with the whisper of the wind. Everywhere Corvus looked there was evidence of life coexisting peacefully with the ancient stone.

He stepped forward, running his hand gently along a railing. Feeling the cold stone answer his touch with a small, almost indistinguishable pulse, he couldn't help but smile. 

The Force immediately greeted him. Not as a surge of power. Not as a nexus demanding attention. Instead it existed here in a state of effortless harmony. He could feel it flowing through the pillars, through the roots of the trees growing in the distance, through the mountains surrounding the Temple, and through the air filling every chamber. It was as though the entire world breathed together in a slow, steady rhythm. Although the Force did this for all planets, Tython was different. If before, he had to meditate to feel these experiences, here such things were as natural as drinking water. 

Closing his eyes, Corvus allowed himself to simply listen.

The sensation reminded him of standing upon ancient battlefields where echoes lingered long after the fighting had ended. Except these echoes were not born from suffering. They were born from generations of contemplation, wisdom, and discovery. Tens of thousands of Jedi had walked these halls over the millennia. Their presence remained imprinted upon the Force itself, woven into the very identity of this place. 

When he opened his eyes again, he found himself studying the architecture with newfound appreciation.

Coruscant's Jedi Temple had been magnificent. Larger, busier, and more refined in many ways. Yet now that he stood within the birthplace of the Order, the similarities became impossible to ignore. The towering columns. The meditation gardens, circular chambers open to the sky. The flowing, wide pathways designed to encourage contemplation, and thoughtful discussion as groups of Jedi argued about the nature of the Force. 

How many Jedi, he wondered, had spent their entire lives within the walls of Coruscant's temple without ever understanding where their traditions had begun? How many had forgotten that before the Republic, before the Senate, before hyperspace routes linked the stars together, there had been Tython?

Within this Great Hall at the entrance to the Temple, hundreds of massive pillars stretched upward like the trunks of ancient trees, disappearing into shadows high above. Between them stood statues carved directly from the temple's stone. Some depicted Jedi in meditation, whilst others portrayed warriors holding ignited blades aloft. There were healers tending the wounded, scholars studying holocrons, and explorers gazing toward distant stars.

This hall had not been built to honor individual Jedi, but the ideals and actions that they stood for. The entire history of the Order seemed represented here.

Sunlight poured through colossal windows set high in the walls, casting golden beams across polished floors. Dust danced within those rays like tiny stars suspended in space. Corvus found himself walking slowly among the statues, studying faces worn smooth by thousands of years.

He could almost imagine ancient Jedi gathering here. Not merely to conduct business, but to celebrate discoveries, teach students, and share stories from distant worlds. A small amount of excitement gripped his heart in anticipation. In the near future, he would hold a course on healing in these very halls. 

Walking towards the aura of Krayt, he found the son of Tatooine standing alone in contemplation. The room they were in was large, and full of moisture. 

Crystal-clear water filled the room from wall to wall. Ancient symbols covered the walls, depicting Jedi walking across water, lava, swamps, acid spills, and eventually, the very stars. 

The symbols told a story, and acted as a lesson, clearly indicating that this place was one where Jedi trained their water-walking ability. 

A message was written on a nearby stele: 

[The water supports neither the powerful nor the weak.

It supports only those who move as one with the Force.]

Corvus manipulated the lighting in the room so that it shined down upon Krayt in a circle, and gave him an ever so small push upon the back with the Force, nudging him forward. 

The deeply tanned man didn't suspect a thing, clearly taking this as a sign. Taking a deep breath, he took one step forward, aaand promptly fell face first into the pool of water. 

4) Influence five Masters/Darths without them discovering your involvement: 1/5

Corvus was quick to stifle any laughter, and fled from the scene. One down, four to go!