Post by Ursula Blu on Oct 12, 2007 13:31:41 GMT -5
-- THE PLAYER --
Name: Ursula
Email: n/a
Other Contact: Board PM is preferred method of contact
-- THE CHARACTER --
Affiliation: New Jedi Order
Name: Ursulacia'abl'ue
Alias: Ursula Blu, Apprentice Blu
Species: Tholati (human)
Rank: Jedi Padawan
Age: 19
P.OB: Tholatin
Relatives: n/a
Portrayal: Darla Baker
Height: 5'3''
Weight: 110lbs
Eye Color: Blue
Hair Color: Brown
Build: Thin
Personality: Despite her Master's disposition, she is without the notion that Jedi are superior to non-Force wielders, but shares much in common with him. Ursula has been since birth indoctrinated with the precepts of the Jedi Order and her beliefs are strongly with the Code and the laws. All around her she is accompanied by those that bend and break them, but she stands firm in not crossing the line. Many would describe her as devoid of individuality, just a mirror of her masters whom many considered a 'lapdog' of the Council (one such title she has never appreciated nor understood). However her interest in pleasing the Master's Council is not for her own prestige, but instead a natural desire to do what is right and a lack of personal leadership skills.
Naive to say the least, she is filled with optimism and hope. It is her firm belief that anyone can be saved and has exercised this much to the chagrin of her peers. Having once defend the Vong from an assault they wished to take no part in following the war she lost many friends among the Galactic Alliance and even within the Jedi Order. Ursula is hopeful the galaxy can save itself from destruction and has often disagreed with her Master on how this can be done. Where her naivete becomes a weakness, her keen intelligence certainly make up for it. She is extremely observant and though she has a childish trust in sentients, she is by no means foolish. Where many see this as weakness she sees it as strength often saying that if "one if not trusting of other, they cannot be of themselves".
Her posture and attitude is most reflective of her tutelage. The principles of discipline were essential to her apprenticeship under Master Warden Vanc, he believing in the ways of his people very strongly. Ursula has thus developed a very solemn, calm, and sometimes grim demeanor. But that is not to say she is without a sense of humor, in fact it is often remarked that her smile is beautiful. She enjoys a good laugh and is at times overly jovial, but also knows when such things are appropriate and very little does she use sarcasm. Ursula is very prompt, mature, diplomatic, and believes strongly is respect and duty. At a very young age she displayed these traits, which made her somewhat an outcast as a child. Those friends she does have now, are very few, but she is always welcoming to others. One such friendship to an Articus Prey, whom thought often the subject of her rebuke, is very close to her. Though unaware on the surface their is a deep connection between the two that has of yet to be explored.
The Invasion has deeply affected young Ursula, in no small part due to the fact that she entered into the war as a mere child, wide-eyed and optimistic that the Jedi could find a solution where the New Republic hadn't. Ursula is always the negotiator, the diplomat, where she prefers to remain on the outside in order to refrain from physical confrontation. She is by no means some great orator and is not full of the charisma of her father, but always does her very best to talk through an end. Her father is repeatedly an issue of controversy for her, cast out as a rogue by her own Master and the Council for which she has had much respect for was hard for her to accept. Indeed the recent death of her Master too has caused her much grief. His murder at the hands of the rogues inspired much anger within her, that though it quickly subsided, showed the Council that she was not yet ready to take the mantle of Jedi Knight. Ursula realized over time that his death was through no fault of her own and was able to let go before being consumed by her emotions.
Mostly what occupies her time alone is her passion for playing sabaac. Though the game of surly criminals, she enjoys it and even convinced her Master to play on several instances. Ursula is very simplistic, enjoys only simple clothing and few personal objects. Save her father's lightsaber she has nothing that she clings to in terms of possessions.
History: Ursula Blu has an odd past, her father Franco Medivh, a Jedi himself was an emissary the Chiss Ascendancy along with his own Master who was a Chiss. On Csilla he was well-respected, known as a cunning tactician and strong warrior two traits held high among the Chiss species. However at the Temple he was regarded as a maverick, a strong bond with Jorryn Korr would only later lead to further trouble for young Ursula. Fond of the Chiss culture he'd absorbed, his daughter conceived of a young mother who perished in child-birth, was named in that fashion. Franco had a strong influence over Jorryn and the Council suspected it was his maverick ideals that led to the Korr's later decision. When born he named Ursula for her gorgeous and brilliant eyes and for an infamous Chiss Aristocrata. And so Ursulacia'abl'ue came to be.
Franco though not a Jedi Master was eventually named Watchman of the Ascendancy following his Chiss master's death. Try as he might to become young Ursula's master the Council denied it at every turn, demanding the girl be trained by one of their own. Her connection was not that great, but it was believed that she would one day lead the Council. This idea came about from a vision Master Trinity had while in meditation in the room of One Thousand Fountains.
And so Ursula was kept from her father, the Council determined to keep her from her father's influence. She progressed steadily as a youngling, absorbing the neccesary knolwedge with an average pace. Ursula was not overly advanced for her age group, but did show some proficency in lightsaber combat. But she was not nearly as skilled as her father whom was often regarded as one of the Order's best. When finally she was chosen to become a Padawan, she was taken sixth overall in her clan. Ursula was chosen by Master Warden Vanc one of the Council elect. She was sixteen at the time, if only she could be prepared for what is to come. Warden was known as a Council lapdog, loyal to every command and did not make one move without their word. Though some saw this as the proper attitude, others believed his motives were less than noble.
Warden was however an experienced Master, whom had been trained personally by Master Ferrier. Warden was extremely strict, instilling in her the importance of punctuality, appearance, strength of will, and strictness. Her posture was always stiff and never get into the troubles of headstrong youth that her peers did. Warden was impressed by Ursula progress, her drive to perfect for lightsaber form was often noted during progress reports. More so it was noted that her loyalty to the Council was as strong as her Master's. However in private Ursula was often critical of the Council's mandate under Ferrier's control, believing that Warden's loyalty was blind. She expressed to her Master that her true loyalty lay with the Code and to the Jedi themselves and what they stood for, but he was of no mood to hear this wisdom, imparted from a child. He sometimes considered her opinions to be of no consequence, thus leading to her future solemn tone.
Warden and Ursula were soon swept up in the Vong Invasion, where Ursula would grow into her own Jedi separated from Warden very often. The Council did so often with the older Padawans, at only fourteen she was thrust into war. The absolute horrors of which would mold her into a strong Jedi, no longer reliant on her Master. At first the malice the Yuuzhan Vong terrified her, often in her quarters while on transit between worlds she meditated trying to center herself in the chaos. Several times she was broken down to tears, but Warden helped her to regain strength of mind. Despite his less than selfless intentions sometimes Master Vanc was at his core a good-hearted Jedi.
One of the worst battles she ever faced during the war came to her Tholatin homeworld. The Siegeguard wall, a massive duracrete barrier between the Royal city and the wild outlands would become a last stand for the New Republic as it tried desperately to halt the advance to the core worlds. A group of fifty Jedi was sent, Ursula and Warden included. The space battle overhead had concluded the Vong and New Republic forces converged in the Royal city. As an evacuation began, Ursula and the others stood against the Vong as they rushed in by the thousands. With her saber technique vastly improved, she helped hold the lines as the forces awaited reinforcements to break through a Peace Brigade blockade. When finally the smoke cleared the New Republic was victorious, but only in the most superficial sense of the word. Fifty Jedi descended to guard the royal city and only seven left alive. Warden and Ursula among them, they stayed behind to help with the recovery. Warden tried to convince Ursula to leave, but she refused wanted to use her presence anyway possible, despite having no proficiency in healing at all.
Spending the nights and days of the war mostly within the hull of a ship in cramped quarters with her Master, moving from world to world as they tried to push the Vong from the galaxy. Ursula learned quickly the importance of her skills with a lightsaber, though try as she might to keep from a confrontation with the Vong, there was never a time when they stood down during the war. And so her proficiency with the lightsaber was increased, considered a prodigy at a young age it was not long before she surpassed her own Master, though not during the time of the war. When she finally returned to a Jedi Temple, regardless of which world it was, she went to the gardens to meditate away from the chaos of war to center herself.
When the Invasion came to end at the Battle of Coruscant, Ursula was on Beladrone helping refugees recover. As word reached her and Warden of an end, she was overjoyed that the fighting had ended. But Ursula couldn't have been more wrong, here the Vong had attacked without mercy, the Alliance returned the favor. Demanding that the Jedi follow them as the drove the Vong from very world they had conquered. Killing them when the stood in the way and allowing the genocidal rampage of the Bothan ar'kai to continue unchecked. Ursula and several Jedi were disgusted by this turn of events after Coruscant went to the defense of the Vong. Protecting a group of Yuuzhan Vong outcasts on Honoghr as the Alliance moved in to destroy one of the last enclaves. She talked the Alliance General to a ceasefire with Master Jae Morum. But she soon villified by Alliance high command and the HoloNet.
In the months following the war, the young teen padawan spent time apart for her Master. Traveling from world to world making use of herself as a guardian to supply lines, taking care of the wounded either by talking with them or trying to utilize her limited healing abilities, and even lending a hand in rebuilding. Almost all other affairs were neglected by the Order, with all Jedi spread far and wide to help with the recovery. As an agent of the Order and SELCORE, she was often a combatant of RePlanetHab and it's corrupt politicians or the Black Sun which worked in conjunction with the corporation. Warden would meet with her when possible, but more of their time was spent conversing via Holocommunication over a game of sabaac or breakfast they would discuss the day or week's events, depending on the time between each talk. This was Warden's direct intent and it made Ursula completely independent and just that much closer to Knighthood.
The years following would see rough times for Ursula. Her father whom was considered the influence for Jorryn Korr's leaving of the Master's Council and formation of the rogue Knights became exiled by the Council. She respected their decision, but was also deeply hurt by Franco's exile. She communicated with him in private for several days before he turned to Korr's group. Later she learned that he left Jedi Lord Korr before the rogue Knights fell apart, but he never contacted her again. Ursula and Warden spent many months in the Jedi Temple on Dantooine after the Jedi began to be recalled, since his election to the Master's Council imminant Warden elected to stay behind as co-Librarian in the Archives for the sublevels. Ursula spent this time sparring with the many students and Knights passing through. She was better than nearly every other apprentice by this time, and many Knights as well. By the time she was sixteen she was able to beat her Master in a duel though not without great physical strain to herself. Warden considered his defeat a great insult, but soon claimed his tutoring was the reason behind her skill, rather than a natural aptitude.
With the Great Schism of 7 A.T.I the Jedi saw great change. By this time Warden had become a member of the Council and thus Ursula privy to certain information. She heard of such disputes among Korr and his followers, but never thought them to be as severe as they sounded. Shocked when Korr declared the Order ineffective and stepped down from the Council, Ursula watched in horror as the Jedi became divided. Over the following weeks after Korr's leave, she watched many close friends leave the Temple and heard of many more joining him and his rogue Knights on Dxun. Warden seemed different after this event. He spent many more hours in sessions with Master Ferrier and changed from his usual close mannered tutelege to a more distant relationship. Later that very year his attitude turned to an even less impatient man who often scolded Ursula. But she became more pre-occupied with political affairs as she was sent away from the Temple in order to learn diplomacy. Since his duties required him to stay on Coruscant, so she was partnered with other Padawans and sometimes other Masters. In particular Master Jae Morum whom she had already developed a good rapport with.
Jae took on the role of teacher until taking his own Padawan eight months later. Ursula now eighteen seemed ready for the Trials and Knighthood, but the Council, in particular Master Vanc were cautious and refused to allow her the opportunity. But she was still young and as she remarked, there was much for her to learn though she yearned for Knighthood. It wasn't the title, but rather the independence that one gaines from it. This was also the period of her life when she became increasingly closer to Apprentice Articus Prey much to the Council's chagrin. It was as if she were a magnet for maverick thinkers, Prey being no different from her father. Warden did not like this boy in the least and scolded her when he managed to coax her into 'mischief'. Ursula's master's behavior by this time was erratic and he spent nearly his entire day with Ferrier. She feared for her Master and consulted other Master's in the Temple about him.
And then his death came. Ursula awoke in the middle of the night to find her Master was leaving, he left for a diplomatic mission to Dxun with Master Ferrier and others. When they didn't return, fear gripped the young Padawan. Word finally reached them of the tragedy, she was devastated. No matter how stern he was, Warden was still very close to her and the bond they shared was a strong one. Her grief evident, the Council was disappointed when they were unable to Knight her following his death. Convinced that Korr and his followers had finally fallen to the path they so nonchalantly skirted, the Council declared Master Ferrier and his troupe heroes for their sacrifice. But the truth was far more sinister and ignorant to the ways of the darkside the Masters on the Council overlooked it. Consoled by Articus and Jae, Ursula was able to let go of her guilt and grief and finally accept Warden's death. Still the damage had been done and the Council was not so quick to promote her. However they were also not adamant in assigning her a new teacher, instead giving her room to grow without a Master to guide her... at least for now...
-- THE TALENT --
Role-Playing Sample: Admin, skip.
