Scholae Palatinae-Week3

I see the contestants are making their way out onto the starting grid. This article was originally created as an entry for a Tenth Great Jedi War competition and is not official DJB canon content. It is preserved here for historical purposes only.

Ring-Necklace of Ulic Qel-Droma
Artifact Information
Type:	lots and lots of stuff and stuff
Material:	stuff
Decoration:	stuff
Previous Owner(s):	stuff
Current Location:	stuff
Created By:	stuff
Significance:	stuff
Chronological information
Era(s):	stuff
Affiliation:	stuff
[ Source ]

Blurb

History

The history of Ulic Qel-Droma necklace counts over four thousand years. There are some validated records about the history of the artifact, but a portion of information about it is based upon unconfirmed gossips and rumours.

Beginnings

After losing the connection to the Force Ulic Qel-Droma fled to Rhen Var, where he found a shelter. Some time later, his location was discovered by young female Jedi, Vima Sunrider, who asked him to teach her the ways of the Jedi, as she was disappointed with the attitude of her mother, who did not have much time for her. Qel-Droma reluctantly agreed to do so. Finally, Vima’s mother, Nomi Sunrider, found them and tried to force her daughter to leave Vima’s new master.

Vima guided her mother to the sculptures of Arca Jeth and Andur Sunrider, where they talked about Qel-Droma and his teachings. However, in meanwhile the former Jedi was attacked by a Cathar Jedi, Sylvar, who hated him for the death of Sylvar’s lover. Still, Qel-Droma managed to convince his opponent to leave the anger and hatred. They both deactivated their lightsabers, but Ulic was deadly shot by a spacer, known as Hoggon.

Passing away, Ulic Qel-Droma gave his necklace to his student, Vima Sunrider, and called her a Jedi.

Lost to History

It is not very much known about the further history of the necklace. It is assumed that it was inherited by the descendants of Vima Sunrider for almost thousand years. They studied its powers and the ways to use the necklace. The owners of this artifact always claimed it to be the most valuable of all their possessions. It was so not because of its features, but due to the fact that it was regarded as the symbol of redemption. The history of its first owner, Ulc Qel-Droma, was told to every member of the Sunrider family, in order to prevent them from joining the Dark Side and to make sure that the others would never stop in their efforts to redeem their fallen relatives.

It is rumoured that some of the most powerful descendants of Vima Sunrider were able to add some of the powers to the necklace of Ulic Qel-Droma or to strenghten and improve the already existing ones. However, there is no reliable source of information that could confirm these rumours and it cannot be determined if it is truth or not.

New Tython

It is not known how and when exactly was the necklace of Ulic Qel-Droma brought to New Tython, which is now the homeworld of the Jedi of House Odan-Urr. However, it is suspected that Vima-Da-Boda, very distant descendant of Vima Sunrider and the member of the Jedi Order in the last century before the destruction of the Old Republic, decided to hide it in a safe location after the fall of her daughter to the Dark Side. It is believed that she hid the necklace on New Tython some time between the Great Jedi Purge and the colonization of the planet in the 3 ABY, when the planet was not inhabited by any colonists from the Empire or the Rebel Alliance.

Rediscovery

The artifact was rediscovered in early 34 ABY by the members of House Odan-Urr. It was found in a cave somewhere in the central mountain range of Owyhyee continent. They studied the necklace and discovered its special features. However, it made the leaders of the House keep it in the secret, hidden deep in the vault of Odan-Urr. They decided to hide it in order to protect less powerful Jedi from possible influence of the artifact and because they were afraid that the necklace could be of use for the Dark Jedi. However, the spies of the Dark Council managed to learn about the location of the artifact.

Description

The Necklace of Qel-Droma is, in fact, two separate parts, the union of which creates the artifact. A long strand of golden chain is looped through a ring and fastened at each end. The ring is the centerpiece of the necklace, as it holds the most significance to Ulic Qel-Droma.

The chain itself is made up of tightly interwoven strands of gold, linked together in a long chain. Each weave has three strands, strengthening the each chain link. Each link in the chain is tiny, barely three millimeters, creating another level of intricacy. Due to the natural weakness of gold, the strands are an alloy of carbon, iron, silver and gold. All these elements create a strong bond, but with the malleability of a softer metal. Because of this, the chain is comfortable to wear and has a soft skin feeling.

The ring is an important part of Qel-Droma's life and his heart. Originally presented to Nomi Sunstrider as a gift, it was not accepted, because she could see the Dark Side starting to take hold over him. By not accepting the ring, she protected herself from whatever the Dark side of him had in store. It was considered by some historians that this event only helped to fuel his fall from the Light side.

Though the ring has been altered over time, it's original design is still known. A simple gold alloy, similar to that used for the chain, but with more silver, creating a white gold effect. This contrasts well with the gold of the chain, even though the original pieces were separate, and were joined sometime during Qel-Droma's life. The alloy is also far stronger than the alloy of the chain, thereby creating a stiffer ring, with little give. It is considered that this 'feature' of the ring was Qel-Droma's rebellion against the ways of the Jedi, and their restrictive rules.

The ring is rounded, with a thin bevel on the edges. The bevel cuts slightly into the rounded portion of the ring, creating a stretched Omega when looking at the cross-section. This design feature creates a shadowing effect in bright light situations by reflecting light towards the central portion of the ring. In this same vain, colored light can also be reflected, creating a dazzling fade of color.

The bevel creates two thin lines which runs the circumference of the ring, running parallel to each other. Right at the center of the ring, a narrow groove runs parallel to the other two. This center feature is a deep inlay of another material. Thin shavings of Corusca gems pressed into the gap create a garden-of-crystal effect when looking into the crevice. The Corusca gem is one of the most valued precious gems in the galaxy, sought after for its beauty. It would have taken an artisan a very long time to create this groove, with the gem shavings. This feature also increases the market value of the ring as a piece of jewelry.

The intervening surface of gold has a rough texture. This texture is not from the ring being unfinished, but was an intended feature of the item. Carefully ground areas have a rough, but uniform feeling as one runs one's finger over it. This texture creates pockets of shading throughout the metal of the outer side of the ring.

On the inside of the band, the metal is clean and polished to a brilliance. There is a small inscription found here, naming the intended, Nomi Sunstrider, etched in Ulic's own handwriting. The letters were then 'dressed' with silver, making them stand out to the eye of a viewer.

It was only after Ulic's fall to the Dark Side that the ring and chain were combined. It acted as an anchor for him, a part of his past that he could cling to. It is during his time aligned to the Dark Side and the Krath that the ring was marred with battle damage and Ulic's own scratchings. It is unknown what he intended to do with the ring, but it was a constant part of his apparel throughout his tenure as a Sith Lord.

When rediscovered, the ring and chain had been restored to pristine condition, and it was kept in a sealed container of transparasteel and wood.

Power

The necklace of Ulic Qel-Droma was with him through his path in the dark side. It was the constant reminder his life before his fall. His focus and obsession of keeping it with him throughout the end of his life. The constant contact gave the necklace interesting property of absorbing the feelings and thoughts of the user.

Due to the fact that Ulic spent a great deal of his time having this necklace represent his past life it began to absorb those parts of himself; The necklace was filled his pain, suffering, and hatred. It was believed that part of his return to the ways of the Jedi were due to the necklace absorbing and storing his dark side emotions. Moments of doubt about his life were occasionally pulled to the surface because it was absorbing that hatred allowing his other emotions to bubble to the surface.

This aspect had been demonstrated several times over the millennia with holders able to pour the emotional forces of the dark side into the necklace and become more strongly aligned with the light side. It is believed that the vessel can work the opposite way, allowing the user to store any feelings of mercy or doubts about the dark side into it.

This is particularly of interest to the Brotherhood as the fleeting emotions of compassion can weaken a user of the dark side. By storing memories and emotions that weaken the user. The intense focus and clarity that this gives will allow the user to fully realize their current abilities and power.

The necklace is simply a vessel which the wearer can store their feelings, thoughts and emotions into. There is no improvement of skills or natural ability, instead gives the clarity and focus needed to reach the wearers full potential. However this function can be incredibly useful and powerful to the wearer.

Known Former Owners

"Fior Go Bas - Faithful Unto Death"

―Major Lerak Sorotai

Blurb

Ulic Qel-Droma

"Fior Go Bas - Faithful Unto Death"

―Major Lerak Sorotai

Info about Ulic

Vima

"Fior Go Bas - Faithful Unto Death"

―Major Lerak Sorotai

Info about Vima

Vima Descendant

"Fior Go Bas - Faithful Unto Death"

―Major Lerak Sorotai

Info about Descendant

Altar

The Altar Area in which the Necklace of Qel-Droma was stored was pristine despite its clear ancient age. It was at the very end of a complicated and intricate carved maze system. The end of the maze housed the altar which was surrounded by four thick, cracked columns surrounded by white vines because of absence of light.

There was a fifth and sixth column that had collapsed because of natural earthquakes throughout the years. It was covered in dark green moss, nests from rodents were scattered around the floor against the side. Throughout the maze were also creature’s native to New Tython, skeletons of smaller animals littered the floor, marks on their bones suggested knowing and biting.

In dark corners, they would jump at the intruders of the Brotherhood, in their instinct the Jedi instilled for them to protect this artifact with their lives. When recovered by the Brotherhood, they had to climb walls in the maze had collapsed in various areas because of the earthquakes as well. The artifact was still in its sealed container of transparent steel wood box. The doorways to the center of the maze housing the stone were heat sensors.

This would send a primary signal to the guard to be aware of any other wires, but because there were animals within the maze, they had a secondary defense. Around the stone trapezoid, there were multiple laser wire trips to alert the guard. If anything was disturbed, it sent a signal immediately to the guard and the special task force. The box was then encased in a trapezoid tone. On the sides of this stone, green algae grew around the sides and corner, surprisingly avoiding the intricately carved words on the front face. The words on the stone face surrounding the box was a complicated riddle,

I am the beginning of the end, and the end of time and space. I am essential to creation, and I surround every place. What am I?

This riddle was very difficult because the mind leads directly to the Force as the answer to this riddle. Which in fact, it is not. The answer is the letter E in basic. If one answers the riddle correctly, the stone cracks and reveals the small box containing the ring. House Odan-Urr was in charge of guarding the artifact for its history.

They figured having part of it hidden, it would be alright because the artifact was locked in the box within the stone. Because of their responsibility over it, it is housed deep underground under their main temple. Very few have access to this area in the bowl of their quarters because the less people that knew of its existence the better. If the riddle was cracked and the stone burst, the transparent box was revealed holding the chain and ring.

There was always someone on guard duty in a secret area so that if the caves started to collapse, then Odan-Urr would be able to defend the artifact if the intruder was not crushed. After the Brotherhood recovered the artifact, the guard put out a call and summoned a special tactical unit hidden in some barracks near the entrance to the maze. With this call, the wall broke revealing a squad of highly trained Jedi with multiple battle droids. Their task; eliminate any intruders attempting to steal the artifact. A dramatic battle ensued for the ownership of this artifact.

Trivia

Scholae Palatinae Team

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