T'Aqol | Chapter 4: Trials

Chapter 4: Trials

Near the end of my training as a Padawan is when the Clone Wars began. My class was preparing to begin fighting alongside the Clones and other Jedi. Master Ryx had already brought in some of the clones we would be fighting alongside with. That was when I met Captain Ox, a clone that gained my respect quickly after we'd be stationed on the Outer Rim for the war.

Since I was brought into the order at such a young age, and already showed great connection to the force, I was 15 when I passed my knight trials and built my lightsaber. It just so happened that when a male Tusken Raider comes to the age of 15 they have their coming of age ceremony. In order to become a warrior of the tribe, a male must build his own gaffi stick and hunt down and kill a Krayt Dragon and cut out the pearl from its stomach. I specifically waited to build my saber until my ceremony so I could incorporate my saber into my gaffi stick. Until then I was just using a saber given to me for the time being during my time as a Padawan.

After speaking with the council, they agreed to allow my coming of age ceremony and my knight trials to be combined together, as it meant a lot to my culture to finally return and become a man of my tribe. The only reason it was agreed upon was due to Master Ryx being on the council. He was able to persuade the other members to see how I have matured in my time learning and training alongside him. If I failed to pass my ceremony however, I would also fail my trials. It was already a big enough right of passage in my life to finally be of age in my tribe, but to also have it count as my Jedi Knight trial was a heavy obligation to have.

I did some research on Krayt Dragons to prepare for my ceremony. Trying to find where they could usually be found. They usually could be found in mountain ranges, as they relied on ingesting rocks and stones to help grind their food. This is how the Krayt Dragon pearls were formed. As the large stones would move in their stomachs to grind food it smoothed the boulders and over time formed the pearls.

Searching information on the Krayt Dragon led me to find something interesting. Krayt Dragon pearls are capable of containing kyber crystals. It was a rare occasion for a pearl to contain a kyber crystal, the crystal that powered a Jedi's lightsaber. Most Jedi find their crystals on Illum during a ceremony called "The Gathering." But since I would be combining my trials with my coming of age ceremony, I was determined to gain my kyber crystal through my pearl. I had specifically waited until I turned 15 to build my lightsaber, and did not join my classmates on Illum when they built theirs with Master Yoda.

Since I would turn 15 in a few days I was allowed to leave for Tatooine early to complete my ceremony. Master Ryx had yet to teach me how to fly one of the Jedi fighters so I was taken by a Wookie Jedi named Tarrchu, a Jedi Knight who I would see regularly around the temple. Master Ryx wished for me to go without him because he wanted me to experience my ceremony and trials alone. He truly believed in my growth as a Jedi and as a young man. He knew if I was truly ready I would not need him.

Tarrchu had a very good sense of humor, so I was glad he would be joining me for my travels. I looked up to him, being a Wookie meant he did not speak Galactic common, just like me. He was able to communicate through the force like I did, and even helped me practice to perfect my force communication.

As I was gathering what I would need I heard a knock on my door. I announced for them to come in, when the door opened I turned and saw Lema enter the room. I greeted her and continued packing what I needed, after a few seconds of silence she said,

"I heard about your trial coming up. I wish to visit my mother. If you don't think it'll distract you from your ceremony and trial I would appreciate it if you allowed me to join you on your trip."

I could sense that her thoughts dwelled on her mother, I agreed and told her it wouldn't take away from my focus. I could tell she was relieved to be able to go back home. I was glad to be joined by 2 people who I respected and enjoyed the company of. Since starting my training as a Padawan with Master Ryx Lema and I hadn't talked or trained together as much as we did before. I didn't really tell anyone about my training except for her. I didn't want any of the other students to become jealous or angry with me. I truly wished for all students to become great Jedi someday.