Nightshade: Ch'lana

[GM Craig]

Nightshade spent some time scouting out the ship. Republic Consular Cruiser. Old, and in need of maintenance, but otherwise a worthy ship. 12 staterooms, a conference room, machine shop, two cargo bays, galley, a one-bunk medical bay about 50% stocked with supplies, and two detention cells. The aft cargo bay has an airspeeder and a ground speeder secured there. There is no other cargo, beyond consumables.

Nightshade finds a suitable stateroom and unpacks what little he has but does not need to carry with him at all times. Useful items, but nothing necessary and their loss would be of minimal impact.

While he is unpacking, he hears footsteps down the corridor, and is not surprised when Ch'lana's voice comes from the doorway. You turn before he speaks, and he smiles. He appears to have expected you to not have heard him, and you have the impression he is smiling at himself for his foolish presumption.

"You honour me, Shinobi. I am called Ch'lana, though I once carried the name Akarui Burēdo. Will you give me a name I might call you?"

[PM sent.]

[Nightshade]

"As you know Nightshade is my bound name, while Toshiro Yoshida is my clan name."

[GM Craig]

He give you a medium bow. "Again, you honour me, Yoshida-san. Thank you for agreeing to come. If I am to travel with companions again, I am glad I might number a Shinobi among them."

[Nightshade]

Returning the bow, Nightshade states, "it is indeed an unexpected pleasure to find Yujin Ototo so far from home.  It is I who am honored to be allowed to come."

[GM Craig]

He looks like there is something he would say. When he does speak, you have the impression he has changed his topic.

"Though it was never my home, I once spend much time among the Shinobi. It has been many years since I walked the halls of the clan holding. Can you tell me how it is there now? When I was last there, Sessai Choro was elder. I expect much has changed since those days."

[PM sent.]

[Nightshade]

"You must have been a young man when you were in our hold last...there have been five elders since Master Choro passed to the ancestors."  Nightshade paused a moment to take another look at the man before him.  It would be rude to ask him his exact age, but it almost seemed impossible that he could have walked with the great sensei.

"As you may have surmised not much has changed, as steeped in tradition as we are," the Shinobi smiled as he continued, "but the teachings of Sensei Choro have been studied almost exclusive by our recruits since then.  He was truly one of the greatest and many of the clan look to claim him as an ancestor."  Ch'lana would likely know that was the highest praise that would be offered a warrior and was tantamount to declaring them royalty, if not divinity.

A sudden thought hit Yoshida, and he almost gasped as the recollection of a cherished part of home hit him, "You must have seen the great cherry trees when they were but saplings! Did you tend to them during your time with us?"

[GM Craig]

He smiles, but his gaze is far away. There is equal parts joy and sadness in the sigh that follows.

"I remember the grove in spring. It was enough to steal one's breath away. There were a few trees there that had been there for 5 or 6 generations. My first summer among the Shinobi, all the trees sickened. The gardeners worked tirelessly, but they could only save one ancient tree. It died in the fall, but they managed to coax it to give seeds. It was a sad winter while we removed the dead trees and prepared the grounds for new plantings. A hothouse was built and tended around the clock. The gardeners nurtured the saplings all winter long. In the spring the grove was replanted, and I was honoured to help. I am glad to hear it has prospered."

[OOC: He looks easily several years north of 60.]

[Nightshade]

Nightshade pauses for a moment to bask in the shared appreciation of the beauty of the clan hold before he looks at the other man again, "If I may be so bold to ask, what brought you to us in those years?"

[GM Craig]

He looks far away.

"it was a long time ago. It must be, what, 40 years? I was on the Shinobi home world on an unrelated assignment. During the course of that I happened to save the life of a Shinobi warrior. I didn't intend on it, it just sort of happened. An accident, if you will. I ended up being badly wounded. I was unconscious. The warrior found me, and dragged me back to the holding. The healers restored my body in a few weeks, but my spirit took much longer. I stayed with the Shinobi almost a year."

[Nightshade]

"Healing of the spirit is always tricky and time consuming.  That is why the grove means so much to us.  It can be difficult to find our center in our world.  I gather your Force lends itself to a similar problem, but also the solution it seems?"

[GM Craig]

His brow furrows.

"I used to be sure the Force was the solution to everything. But time and experience have taught me doubt. There was a time when violent emotions were things I could control. No longer, it seems. I fear I have lost my way."

[Nightshade]

Honor and honesty went hand in hand for Nightshade and the next question rose almost unbidden from the depths of his psyche, "Why do you teach others this way if you no longer believe in it, Burēdo?"

The tone is completely one of curiosity with no judgment intended.

[GM Craig]

He frowns, and when he speaks her sounds unsure. "It's not that I don't believe. I just have doubts. And perhaps those doubts are more about myself than the path I was taught. I see the value of the Jedi teachings. I am just not sure I am able to live up to them. Does that make sense?"

[Nightshade]

"Yes, I am familiar with doubt.  I must admit I face my own in my current limbo.  However, from what I know of your Force, your continued survival, being concerned for the future as shown by teaching new students, and the very fact that you are asking these questions shows that you are on the right path and are succeeding.  I don't believe your enemies concern themselves with living up to their ideals of the Dark Side."

[GM Craig]

He smiles weakly. "No, you are right there. The Dark Side has no ideals. As I said, it is not the path I doubt. Just my ability to stay on it. It is a narrow trail through difficult terrain. I have.. made missteps in the past. And while the Shinobi believe in living in the moment, I find that my past missteps make the path I try to travel more treacherous and difficult."

He places a hand on your shoulder.

"But I did not come here to burden you with my troubles. It has been many years since I have taken Sadō. Would you honour me and join me this evening?"