[D8 EM] A Traditional Offering

[Garth Wayne Ulgo]

Garth had spent the predawn hours in the gardens, picking the last of the flowers he needed, now as the sun decided to crest the horizon, he sat here, in serenity weaving flowers together. The ceremony wasn't for a few days yet, but his fingers worked with purpose.

If he was to walk out of his meeting later today with any hope, he had to show how seriously he was taking this. So at the feet of the Saint he sat, hoping she would cast her blessing upon his efforts.

[Kellen Rist]

"Oh, hello there." Kellen was up bright and early on this beautiful day. He was still rather shocked by the news of his friend Bryson's sudden death the night before.

"That's a nice bouquet." The Jedi were supposed to be meeting him here this morning rather than at the museum. There had been some interesting developments.

[Katarzyna Ulgo]

The day was shaping up to be... weird, Kat could already feel. She was supposed to have met Riss and Bryson at the spaceport, but well... that hadn't happened.

I have a bad feeling about today.

Still, she showed up to the meeting with Kellen and Tethys, and was surpised to see Garth there too. "Oh, hello there. Good morning to you both."

[Garth Wayne Ulgo]

Garth looked up and saw the Rist professor. "Mornin' professor." Garth replied with a smile as he paused in his work.

"Thanks, been collectin' the blooms fer a while now. Figure it's time t' see how they all fit together, an' thought there were no more appropriate place than here."

"What brings you out so early this fine day?"

[Kellen Rist]

Kellen nodded and moved closer to see Garth's handiwork. "Oh, well I had some bad news last night. But I've been meaning to chat with some Jedi friends about some interesting research." He looked up at the statue. "So I thought why not here? She's involved after all."

Turning at the sound of Kat's voice he smiled. "And good morning to you too Jedi Katarzyna."

[Garth Wayne Ulgo]

Kellen nodded and moved closer to see Garth's handiwork. "Oh, well I had some bad news last night. But I've been meaning to chat with some Jedi friends about some interesting research." He looked up at the statue. "So I thought why not here? She's involved after all."

"Ah'm sorry t' hear bout th' bad news," Garth sympathized genuinely as he moved his hands to allow Kellen a better look at his creation that was blending red blooming Ladalums, rainbow Oro lichen, gingerbells and fragrant T'iil.

"Ah hope that t'day brings some much better outcomes fer ya." He added somberly before spotting Kat and giving her a smile.

Still, she showed up to the meeting with Kellen and Tethys, and was surpised to see Garth there too. "Oh, hello there. Good morning to you both."

"Small world Knight Kat, seems the Saint's got a busy morn'n ahead of her."

[Katarzyna Ulgo]

"So it would seem, Garth," she said with a nod, then looked to the statue of the Queen.

"I have a feeling Alderaan will need her protection in the coming time..."

[Garth Wayne Ulgo]

"Ah'm sure that yer Order won' let the Queen stand alone in that duty cuz." Garth replied, but as the area started to get a bit busier he looked around.

"D'ya need some privacy?" He asked Kellen and Kat.

[Kellen Rist]

Kellen smiled a little as they looked at the statue. "We were just going to talk about ancient history Garth. Her for example."

He drew himself up a little, feeling more settled now he was back in his element. "Remember that account of the Black Circle we spoke about Jedi Kat? It mentioned a statue..." He made an expansive gesture toward the Shrine of the Saint.

[Katarzyna Ulgo]

"You're free to stay, Garth. Your presence is welcome," she said warmly, giving him a nod.

Kellen's words made her curious as she once more looked to the statue. "Really? Interesting. I... also had a chance to commune with the spirit of the Jedi I saw. But we're waiting for Tethys still, yes? I can wait until she joins us too."

[Garth Wayne Ulgo]

Garth's hands return tp his work as he listens to the conversation around him, he wasn't hiding his attentiveness, eavesdropping was rude after all, but they had given him permission to stay so he assumed it wasn't anything classified.

"Jedi spirits? Like force ghosts? Knight Carrack tol' me a little about them, only th' best an' brightest, right?" Garth asks inquisitively.

[Tethys Carrack]

Tethys, on cue (or at least only a little late), enters the clearing at a long-legged stride. "Good mor-- oh, hello there, Garth." She looks surprised, though not unhappy, to see a third familiar person already here. "Getting cabin fever at the museum, Professor? This is an unusual spot for office hours. Though it's certainly prettier."

[Katarzyna Ulgo]

"Something like a Force ghost, yes. We all join with the Force when we die... some Jedi or others strong in the Force can still maintain a presence of sorts, if there is a connection. It is difficult to explain, and not much is known about it."

Seeing Tethys join them, she greeted her fellow Jedi with a bow. "Good morning."

[Kellen Rist]

"Oh good morning Jedi Tethys. Yes, something like that. I had some bad news last night and, well, the Shrine is part of our story." He gestured to the statue.

"Remember there was a statue mentioned in the Black Circle journal? It was this one." He seemed pretty pleased about that.

[Tethys Carrack]

"This is where they held their vigils?" Tethys steps closer to the statue, looking upward at its face. "So the 'Saint' is an Alde queen?"

She half-turns back as the other part of what Kellen had said registers. "I'm sorry you've had bad news. If you want to talk about it..."

[Garth Wayne Ulgo]

Garth pauses in his work, taking a moment to press his forehead and lips to the feet of the statue of the Alde Queen.

"Bless mah work," he whispered softly. "Bless our love, an' let the 'verse choose love over duty an' war. Just this once."

[Kellen Rist]

"This is where they held their vigils?" Tethys steps closer to the statue, looking upward at its face. "So the 'Saint' is an Alde queen?"

She half-turns back as the other part of what Kellen had said registers. "I'm sorry you've had bad news. If you want to talk about it..."

"Yes, can you believe it? Right here. This is where the Black Circle would perform that rite." He smiled a little wistfully. "And thank you for the offer. I lost a friend, family really, but we will celebrate his life as is traditional. I will see what I can do for his children."

[Katarzyna Ulgo]

"My condolances, professor," Kat bowed her head to him. Was this perhaps something tied to... it was a small galaxy, after all.

[Kellen Rist]

"Thank you. Let's hope that is all the tragedy for the foreseeable future." He gave a small smile and then returned to look at the statue.

"Anyway, I looked into the historical period associated with the end of the Black Circle as we discussed." He felt more comfortable talking about his research.

"Queen Hileen Alde was able to unite the disparate houses of Alderaan bringing them into line after the destruction of the Black Circle. Those that remained came to her banner and one of her greatest champions was one Lady Massacre, who served until the end of the unification wars of that period." Obviously the name would be of interest.

"This was followed by an era of peace for some time, in which some of the modern houses were established. Eventually the influence of the Blackguards diminished and in time they became another relic of the past."

[Katarzyna Ulgo]

"That does seem to line up with things, yes," Kat nodded thoughtfully, appriciating the fuller picture of the history.

"The stronghold we explored, and the Jedi I saw... she was fighting with them against a corrupt king. A... High King Riordan Organa. I am not as well-versed in history as you are, professor."