A Jury of Her Peers (Daiquiri)

[DarthHERA]

*Closed - Invite only*


continued from: <a href="
http://216.73.105.30/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=26970"> Here. </a>
****************************************



It was a Hallowed place.

Steeped in tradition, rich in history, the great walls loomed up into the night sky casting their ominious shadows across the land below. Many days had past since the great Inquisitions of Truth had taken place, but here, in this great structure, their memory and essence remained. The ancient stones silent witness to events unholy and awful of ages past. Alters of pleading were bare, crucibles of inquest were silent, only the blood of those who's trials were endured, remained. A stain. A testament.

It was a Cold place.

An ill wind moaned through the dark halls of the edifice, its chill fingers reaching even to the soul. There were torches burning in wrought-iron sconces upon the ancient walls, but their glow was dim. A thick darkness permeated every nook and crevice, cloaking the walls and the ground in thick shadow, shrouding even the spirit in a heavy dread.


It was a place of Judgement.


Stones smoothed by the tread of those who came before. Worn over time by the feet of the strong, and knees of the weak, gleamed dimly in front of the Seats of Balance - granite observers of those who waited their verdict with hearts bowed, hopeful yet apprehensive, waiting the decision of the Inquisitors - "Worthy or Unworthy".



The robed figures sat, as others before them had sat. Silent and Still. Their eyes burned strangely in the darkness as their Sister made her way before them.

Outside these walls, they all were friends. Outside these walls, they all were comrades in arms. Outside these walls, there was complete acceptance among them.

But that was outside these walls.

Here, in the Temple of Rauuna there was no such level standing. It was a hall of judgement, and the time had come that Daiquiri had long waited, had long been prepared for.

Her peers - Lady Vader, Live Wire, Lady Athena Darknss, Hera DrenKast - sat, faces hard as the stone seats they graced. No welcome smile, no friendly acknowledgement. As her footsteps echoed throughout the great chamber, coming up to where the Sith Masters sat, one of the Masters lifted her hand - in signal for Daiquiri to come to a stop.

"Sister of the Darkside" Hera spoke solemnly, no hint of the close friendship between herself and the woman before her, "..Declare your name and the reason you have been summoned here."

[Lady Vader]

*LV sat upon the hard cold throne that matched those that her comrades sat in. She carefully watched Daiquiri as she approached the women seated before her, waiting for when Hera would speak of the trial that had been decided on for Daiq to take.*

[Nayala Palain]

Sith Master's, Friends, Sisters, and more... These ladies who had been sitting before Daiquri as she walked into the Temple. One of them spoke and awaited her answer. Athena watched the events unfold.

This was the time each one worked so hard for. And now in these days Athena got to watch her sister take upon the task of earning her rightful place...to fill in the last stone seat. The last of five chairs.

[Daiquiri Van-Derveld]

"Come to the Temple of Rauuna."

That had been the message in it's entirety.

Daiquiri had no need to ask where it came from, she knew. Hera had off-handedly mentioned a temple in their last conversation, adding that it would hold interest for her and that 'she should come alone.' That she did.

Daiquiri had never felt more alone.

Slowly, she let her gaze roam over the outter walls of the Temple as she approached, a cold wind whipping across her back, howling it's displeasure at her presence and pushing at her to increase the pace of her footsteps in it's eagerness to once again rule the solitude.

As her foot made contact with the inner Temple floor, the feeling of being alone was torn away, ripped from her like a shroud. Voices of those long dead cried out to her, their pain, terror and suffering washing over her like a cold winter rain. Visions sprung up, coming to life - playing before her eyes like an ancient holovid that someone had forgotten to turn off.

She closed her eyes.

They snapped open again. Daiquiri turned her head, looking down a long, broad, stoneworn path. Hera was down this way.

Faster now, Daiq made her way down the wide corridor, taking note of the lit torches and the dim light they cast, as if the darkness itself refused to release it's hold on the shadows.

The path widened at the end, melding into the circular inner sanctum. Long unused altars lay empty of sacrifices. Remnants of a rusted chain hung from one wall. But that wasnt what caught and held her attention.

Opposite from where she stood, four large, granite seats faced her and sitting on those were four figures.

Hera. Daiquiri saw her first. Their years together wouldnt allow Daiq to mistake her for anyone else even with the hood of her robe covering her features.

Studying the next two, Daiquiri had to admit defeat as to their identities but the last figure bore a familiar aura, one that she had not felt in some time - it could only be Athena.

Patiently the robed figures waited, still as the stone they sat upon, waiting for Daiq to finish her approach. Yet she hesitated.

She knew now why she was here. It was what she had waited and wanted for some time. Hera obviously believed her ready for this. But was she?

Centering herself with a deep breath, Daiquiri takes the first step out into the temple proper, her stride becoming more confident with each step. A few feet away from them, Hera held up her hand, halting Daiq's approach.

"Sister of the Darkside, declare your name and the reason you have been summoned here."

Pushing the hood of her robe down, she faces them before lowering her gaze and bowing her head in respect.

"Masters, I am Daiquiri and I come before you now so that you may be the judge and jury of my abilities. I have come for my trial."

[DarthHERA]

Inwardly Hera smiled. She was proud of her friend, but one would never know it by the detatched way in which she further addressed her.

"You are in honored company Lady Daiquiri - the women who sit in judgement of you are honored greatly among their peers. Mistress LiveWire, Lady Vader and Lady Athena Darknss are renowned for their ability and power in the force, respected among their dark brethren as leaders and examples of the Sith Way. It is to these you must prove yourself."

The three mentioned remained stoic, watching, weighing.

"In the past, you have shown yourself a strong and gifted warrior. Your former Masters, Rama Sha and Jedah Lynch had taught you much. They imparted to you much of their knowledge and skills in the force. It is to their credit that you have continued to grow and increase in their absence.

However, it is even more to your own credit that you have advanced as you have being somewhat...Masterless these last years. Not an easy feat."

Hera allowed her words to settle, and then continued.

"We have appointed tasks for you, as Lady Vader will out line. They are tasks that are based not just on battle skill alone for that you have shown yourself most worthy - but much cunning, creativity and control must be excercised if you are to be successful."

Hera sat back now, her face retreating into shadow as she gave the floor to her Sister in the Darkside, Lady Vader, to elaborate.

[Lady Vader]

*LV stood once Hera had sat and eyed Daiguiri a moment longer before speaking.*

Lady Daiquiri... the tasks we have appointed may seem mundane, but are quite difficult in achieving.

*LV waved a hand, gathering the Dark Sideto her and creating images of the three she would be speaking of. The images hung in mid air, looking at Daiqiuri.*

These three you see before you are Jedi of the Greater Jedi Order. Each one you will encounter and take something from them.

*She pointed to the first.*

Knight Xazor Dawnstrider. From her you will bring us a coin from her hair.

*She then pointed to the second.*

Knight Dasquian Belargic. From him you will bring us one of his braids.

*And then she pointed to the third.*

Master Rie Mystt, more commonly known as AmazonBabe. From her you will bring us one of her distinctive bright red locks.

*She extended her hand and suddenly snatched Daiquiri's lightsaber from her belt, the hilt smacking into LV's hand.*

You will not have the luxury of such a weapon. In fact, the only weapon you will have is this...

*From her robes she produced a single vibroblade, simple in it's design. With the Force, she floated the device to Daiquiri, who plucked it from the air and examined it before looking up.*

That weapon will be used to take the items we have assigned you. But your true weapons will be your ability in the Force, your cunning, wit, and planning.

*She let her hands fall again inside her claok, and the images before daiquiri faded.*

This is to test just how close to you can to a Jedi withou killing them. How clever you can be with all that you have learned.

*Falling silent, LV stood a moment longer before sitting and relenquishing the floor once again to Hera.*

[DarthHERA]

Hera watched Vader's display keenly.

The two Knights, Hera had never had the pleasure, but their reputations preceeded them.

Xazor Dawnstrider - it was widely rumoured was somewhat of a wild card among the Jedi. Liked to play the rules a little close to the wrong edge of the darkside....word had it she was even part of a clandestine group some referred to as The Lost Jedi. She would be an unpredicatble and unconventional Jedi to face. The coins in her hair were a tradition of her homeworld - she would protect them vigilantly.

Dasquian Belargic - Hera felt his strength was his keen sensitivity and intuitiveness. He was what she considered a "slow burn." A possesser of inner peace and discipline and one that didn't yeild easily to the triggers of anger or fear, that were so much the tools of the Sith. He would not be easily deceived by a dark one and Daiquiri would have to be infinitely clever to best him.

But the Redhead....

Hera had met her breifly in the past. Amazon Babe was not only a great Master of the Jedi, but she had a natural affiliation to Mother Nature and the earth that was unique and very very dangerous. Hera had seen her command the natural foilage of a forrest to do her bidding and it respond instantly and obediently. Gaining a lock of her famed distinctive hair would prove extremely taxing.


The images disolved at LV's command and the darkness of the temple encroached once more around them.

Tilting her head only slightly, Hera once more focused her eyes on Daiquiri.

"Do you accept your trial, Lady Daiquiri?"

[Daiquiri Van-Derveld]

The one known as Vader stood, commanding in her presence alone, giving Daiquiri a thorough going over.

With her knowledge of the Darkside, Lady Vader drew form from the intangible and 'conjured' three vastly different images - two females and one male. All Jedi.

One by one, Vader named them, stating the tasks that Daiquiri must accomplish in order to complete her Master trial.

The male, Dasquian Belargic was unfamiliar to her in both looks and name. The more colorful female, Amazon Babe, was known to Daiq by name only and that was passed along by Hera.

But the last Jedi.......Daiquiri had seen her. Not from word of mouth and not from seeing her at a distance. Xazor Dawnstrider had been to her home at Fascinataru, seeking help from Vega with her life as a Garou. Standing at a window, she had watched as Vega instructed the Jedi in the finer art of transforming.

Daiquiri would start there, with Dawnstrider.

A sharp tug at the belt around her waist and her lightsaber was in Lady Vader's hand. In exchange, the Sith Master floated a simple vibroblade to her and Daiq plucked it from the air.

That weapon will be used to take the items we have assigned you. But your true weapons will be your ability in the Force, your cunning, wit, and planning.

Fingering the unfamiliar weapon, Daiquiri tucked into her waistband, her eyes still on Vader.

This is to test just how close to you can to a Jedi withou killing them. How clever you can be with all that you have learned.

With those last words, Lady Vader sat down and Hera spoke again, her voice still somber and devoid of emotion.

"Do you accept your trial, Lady Daiquiri?"

Lifting her head higher, Daiquiri exchanged solemn looks with all four of the Masters seated in front of her before answering.

"I do accept the trial set for me, Masters."

She bowed her head again.

[Nayala Palain]

One more thing needed to be said that or Athena just didnt hear it.

Standing she looked at her sister.

" Daiq all of this must be finished within one weeks time (SW TIME). Good luck sister..."

[DarthHERA]

ooc: Where are we with this? I know two of the threads were started..?