Logged October 19, 2001 Logged by Adept Titled: Tai Jinn is Knighted ****************************************************************************** Characters: Phanton Tai Jinn Jorna (NPC'd by Adept) ****************************************************************************** Jorna A massive Tchuukthai (or "Wharl") creature that looks to be a cross between a bear and a rhinoceros. Standing on his hind legs, he's easily over 3 meters tall and his appendages end in four pointed digits with sharp spikes coming back towards the wrist off the top of the knuckle. His spine is heavily reinforced with a thick, organic armor plating (much like a triceratops dinosaur). His steel-gray eyes are piercing, yet gentle. A short gray beard shields his chin as well, but other than that, his brown fur is very, very short. He wears no obvious weapon. Phanton As the devil may appear in a most beautiful form, this tall, imposing Devaronian male defines such a metaphor. His skin is smooth, his features carved by the artistic form of his maker to appear pleasing and peaceful despite the short horns which sprout forth from his smooth, hairless head. Like most males of his species, his horns are meticulously well groomed. His violet eyes are kind and portray a depth of wisdom beyond the comprehension of most sentients. Built by years of training by his Masters before him, his body is athletic and graceful beneath his robes. His robes are of traditional brown over beige in multiple layers. A long sleeve tunic of beige muslin cuts a short v-neckline that continues across to where it ties with wide strips at his waist. The length skirts just below his hips. The sleeves of the tunic flow from the tucks of its shoulder to full and open cuffs, but a tighter fitting undershirt can be seen covering his arms to the wrists. Trousers of a matching fabric are comfortable, but not too loose and tuck into knee-high brown boots of unpolished nerf-leather. A belt at his waist is also of the sturdy brown leather. The belt has an intricate clasp at center and clipped onto to it are various cases and objects, including a distinctive silver and black cylinder. Over all this is a brown robe of a soft woolen weave. The floor-length robe is generous and when not rakishly draped over his shoulders, the pointed hood can be drawn up to cover features and hands can easily disappear within its bell-like sleeves. Council Chambers -- Jedi PraxeumThe top level of the tower, this floor is much smaller than those below it. The room the single elevator opens into has a breathtaking view of Coruscant, visible through the six massively large transparasteel glass windows, each separated only by the support beams that reach up to merge into a single six-pointed star above. Directly below this is the center of the burgundy and gold hardwood floor. Twelve chairs face the center of the room, each reserved for a specific member of the Jedi Council. No other furniture is present. Hearing the summons from his Master, Tai steps out from the Elevator, dressed in his robes. His arms, tucked securely behind his back remain there as he exits the doorway and moves to before the council. Bowing slightly in the direction of Phanton, the child speaks to him. "You summoned my master?" Phanton stands from the chair in the middle of the gathered masters with only a pair of empty seats and nods slightly to his padawan. He walks slowly to the middle of the room and turns to the council motioning Tai to stand beside him. The Council chamber's 13 chairs are almost all filled. Only Siobhan and two other Masters are absent, obviously away on other important business. The other masters nod as Tai Jinn enters the council chamber. When it is time to speak, it is the largest, and oldest, Jedi Master who does so. The Tchuukthai Master known as Jorna. "Masterrr Phanton. Youu brring beforre the Councill yourr padawan, Tai Jinn. Whatt is yourr assessmentt of his trraining," the Wharl Master grumbles in his low voice. Nodding towards his Master, Tai moves forward and stands alongside of Phanton, his posture nearly identical to that of the devil looking being. Perhaps all that training together has worn off greatly. Locking his eyes upon Jorna, Tai maintains an aura of complete calm and peace about him. Taking a long breath before he speaks Phanton takes a moment to look at his padawan. "I feared in the beginning that my commitments to the council would impede his progress." He turns back to his fellow council members. "But despite repeated attempts by the Sith to turn him from the light he has shown remarkable fortitude and has proven himself to me to be well along the path of light, far more than I would have expected." Jorna nods slowly, his eyes never moving from looking the young padawan over from head to toe. "Yett he puts himself at grreat rrisk time and time againn..." The giant Wharl looks to Phanton, and then back to Tai Jinn. "You arre still trroubled by yourr drreams and vissions?" he asks of Tai. Thinking the question over a moment, Tai responds in a factual tone. "My visions are guided to me by either the force or those that twist it as the Sith do. Do they continue to happen? Yes. But do they continue to trouble me? No. I have learned to decipher which are true and which are meant to manipulate." Phanton listens quietly as the padawan answers the questions offered him. This is the padawan's time to shine or burn out so he lets the force guide the conversation, not himself. As if it were only that easy... for the padawan or the Master. Jorna lifts his head up slightly, eyes remaining on the padawan. "So, Tai Jinn... yourr last vision. Or drream. Was it guided by the Forrce? Orr others?" The Wharl has changed his seating position, leaned back a bit more than seems possible for a quadruped. Interestingly, he didn't seem to move to reach this new position. "My last vision was guided to me by the force." Tai states. Looking about to each of the council members the man tries hard not to smile or smirk. "I was in meditation and envisioned my plant dying... Returning to my quarters I had realized I hadn't watered it in 4 days and it was drying up." Phanton stands silently with his hands tucked in the sleeves of his robes until something about a plant is brought up. He turns to look at his padawan and simply blinks once before looking back to the council adding. "Since the attacks upon the psyche of the padawan there have been no external impressions put upon him, save one, of this I am sure." Jorna senses: Phanton refers to the cave being the one. Jorna again nods, but this time in Phanton's direction. Jorna shifts visibly this time, moving forward slightly, leaning more on his front arms. "Tell me then, Tai Jinn," he says, almost clearly in Basic, "What did you learn from your experience in the Cave? If you could change anything, what would it be?" Even as Jorna leans forward, several more of the Masters lean back in their seats. One even arches an eyebrow at the question and waits patiently for the answer. "I would not do anything differently." Tai states in response to Jorna, eyes locked upon the Master. "I grew from the experience, and learned from it. I learned about myself more than I ever anticipated. To do anything different would mean I lose that knowledge... and that is simply something I would not desire. I wouldn't change a thing simply because of what I learned from my mistakes." Phanton has nothing to say to this, it was the padawan's test and his opinions to the council on the matter are known so he stands quietly. It's unusual for Jorna of all Masters to push to far at a padawan of another Master, especially a Master on the Council. But the Wharl obviously has his reasons and Phanton has not voiced any concerns regarding the questioning. "Masterr Phanton," he says as he returns to his chair. "the Council believes that thatt yourr student has reached the point wherre his own underrstandingg of the Forrce will serve to guide himm. Do you have anything to sayy before his future is set forrth?" Tai merely lifts an eyebrow as the conversation sways from him and the questioning turns to his Master. But it's not his place to question the actions of the council, so he stands there calmly knowing full well his future will be told to him at any moment. Whether he'll become a knight or be in training for a very long time to come. Phanton stands silent a moment considering his words. "I feel most of our concerns were met in that cave and through the unintentional testing by the Sith. I believe his faith in the force to be true as well as his heart." He looks to the padawan. "I think he still needs to work to conquer some emotions to control them but I don't think they impede his training." He turns back to the council. "As I have said he responded to his limited time with me by taking it upon himself to find the path, that speaks a lot to his desire to become a master." "Yourr worrds arre trrue," Jorna says, with a slow nod to Phanton. He barely turns his head to one side, and then the other. Only one Master visibly nods - a human female dressed in burgundy and white. All eyes revert to Jorna as he lifts his right claw to Phanton. "Verry well... the Council agrrees with you, Masterr Phanton. It is yourr honor to remove the last vestige of his life as a padawann." Tai blinks a bit and nods slightly. Well, that's it then... no big parade or hoopla, he doesn't even crack a small grin, he's too stoic at the mountain, lowering his head slightly in a bit of a bow, he readies himself to take the next step into life. Phanton lets his hands slide from his sleeves and produces a small blade. He reaches to the padawan's braid lifting it from his head and with a simple flick of the wrist removes the hair at the follicle without drawing a drop of blood. He hands the hair to Tai. "Congratulations Jedi Knight Tai Jinn." He steps back to allow the others to offer their best wishes to the padawan. As the other Masters rise to their feet, Jorna simply moves forward, remaining on all fours to keep his body on the same level as the others. In the Council chamber, no single Jedi Council member stood more important than another. As they all rise forward, it is Jorna's voice that cuts through the well-wishes, "Youu have rreached an imporrtant step in yourr journey, Jedi Knight. May the Forrce be with you, and guide yourr life..." He inclines his head slightly to Tai Jinn, and then more deeply to Phanton, indicating his respect for the Devaronian Master. Tai bows slightly towards the other masters and then towards Phanton. "I thank you Master, for both training and tolerating me." The last part is said with the faintest grin. "I look forward to the day when you will be able to look back and see the growth I make from now to the time when I become a Master." Because Tai will one day be a Master. Phanton returns the deep bow to Jorna before looking to his padawan turned Knight. "Remember that you call me master now because of my station within the order, not because you are my personal student." For once his facial stoicism relaxes. "But you may call upon me at any time with questions or training. I look forward to monitoring your growth." Having given the young Knight his well wishes, Jorna returns to his backless seat, settling onto it and watching the gathering dwindle as the other Masters either return to their seats or go about other business. Apparently, this was one of the primary reasons the Masters had gathered. Jorna and others would remain here to contemplate other aspects of the Force and the future of the Jedi Order. Nodding towards Phanton, Tai smiles slightly again. "Yes, I'm certain there will be a time I will need to call on you for advice of one sorts of another." Phanton was like his father now anyway... creepy father figure, but oh well. "I will allow the council to continue upon their business, may the force be with you." Turning, Tai slips back into his elevator figuring he's been more or less dismissed. END OF LOG
