The gatekeeper gathers
Csillag,
Kaveri and
Heyop and leads them through a guided meditiation, "
First -- breathe deeply. Let go of your thoughts and rely instead on your feelings. When you are calm you can feel the Force, and sense the unbalance of it here in the temple and valley..." Guidance like this goes on for some time as the three realize that this may be the first time ever they've had the mentorship of a Jedi -- or at least an imprint of a Jedi -- to help them sense and use the Force. As each of them finds the serenity the gatekeeper guides them towards, it is easy for them to sense the taint on the temple and the valley. "
Picture the temple and perceive the taint of the darkside. Draw upon the force -- as you would draw upon water to remove dirt. Wash the darkside away, gently but persistently." The gatekeeper looks at the three, "
Be cautious in you furrowed brows, this is not a violent act -- pushing aside the taint with violence makes your task harder. Think of waves, perhaps of an ocean, lapping against the shore that is the dark side and pushing it away and away..."
Meanwhile at the meditation terrace,
Urik settles easily into a meditative trance and can sense the dark side taint being pushed away. Some of that effort tugs at his own darker emotions, lifting his spirits somewhat.
Urik recovers all strain. Dagger finds it somewhat harder to focus and concentrate, with the events recently past roiling around in his head and his concern about the approval of his friend. Hethan sees both of them trying to be lost in their thoughts and wanders quietly away to search the temple.
After some time, the gatekeeper smiles, "
Yes, that's it -- you've cleansed much of this taint away. Perhaps, if necessary, gather up the rest of the taint, as you would a ball of twine that's come undone. Tie it together in your mind until it is tight then imagine it elongating and disappearing into a bright void..." The imagery is odd, and of varying degrees of help to the three Force users in the assembly hall -- but finally, almost like a flash of lightning they can sense that they have succeeded, and broadly within the valley, life is back to normal. "
Excellent." says the gatekeeper.
Urik and Dagger sense the flash as well and the living Force that is so prevalent in the valley and that imbues this temple calms them and restores them, encouraging them in the ways of the light side of the Force, rather than those of the dark. Serenity, coolness under fire rather than rashness and hate or anger. The world just seems
righter now than it was and Dagger, in particular is able to achieve some perspective that no -- he has not been sent to his room as punishment, but rather he's sent here for renewal and nourishment.
Dagger recovers all strain.
falryx sent a note to PhantomNimbus
With the ritual complete, the gatekeeper nodes to Csillag, Heyop and Kaveri. "
You are, of course, welcome to stay here. This temple may yet house information that you would find valuable, and although it is in some disrepair, with a bit of work, I believe we could get the living quarters quite up to scratch. You needn't stay here permanently, but perhaps knowing that you have somewhere safe to return to after any future travels might be worth the time." He pauses to consider, "
Yes. Even your rash and conflicted friends would find it good to be here awhile, I imagine."