Jedi Order Halloween Lore Contest 2022

Here is where all articles on the Lore Contests hosted in the summer of 2022 is stored!

The Mystery of the Terentatek - 2021 Halloween lore contest 

by Ilnoxll

1st place

The Discovery

It was but another ordinary day in the archives. Skimming through the pages, looking for more knowledge to acquire, anything that could have slipped through his past readings. Jedi Consular Enenra came across something unusual. Something he had not recalled seeing in his past times in the archives. It was the Terentatek. A foul, fiendish creature highly attuned to the dark side of the Force. This entry was unusual in almost every aspect. It seemed outdated and incomplete. Corrupted, even. He reported this flawed book to Jedi High Council member EzraAthdrivar. He knew nothing of this, and neither did the the other Jedi High Council members.

—-

Terentatek

Recorded Locations: Kashyyyk, Korriban.

Properties: Unknown

Details: A dark sided creature, thought to be [REDACTED].

—-

This sparked an interest in Enenra. Being a Jedi Knight, he had more freedom than others. Instead of being limited to the archives, he was able to travel to different planets. His first destination was already clear in his head; Kashyyyk.

The Shadowlands

Enenra took his XS Stock Light Freighter, The Sorrow Promise to a clearing in one of the vast Wroshyr forests of Kashyyyk. Enenra went over to the tree-city of Rwookrrorro and sought out the Rwook chief, Odanchekkk. He hopes to obtain any information or the slightest clue on the Terentatek. Enenra, being a Jedi Ambassador in the past, knew a vast number of alien languages, including Shyriiwook, one of the Wookiees’ primary languages. Upon confronting Chief Odanchekkk, he was told that there is an old, abandoned Jedi outpost deep in the Shadowlands. If there was anything on the Terentateks, it’d be there. Enenra was also given a warning, to venture forth with great caution when setting foot on the Shadowlands.

The Shadowlands was a dark, thick forest with many dangers if one is not careful enough. Trees were strewn with creeping vines, moss covering every surface, and with barely any sunlight, Enenra made his way towards the direction given by Odanchekkk. Enenra came across a round bud-like flower that appeared to be breathing. When he tried to take a biometrics sample, the plant let out a powerful gust of air, causing him to lose footing, falling into a ravine. To Enenra’s great surprise, he was caught in some pendulous vines. He remembered the Lung flowers; flora that stored air and let it all out when provoked. Though tangled, he was grateful he did not collide with the forest floor. He cut his way down and found himself in a gloomy, moist area with cobwebs strewn all over. Enenra had a vague idea of what could have made this system of webs. He soon found out. A Wyyyschokk spider emerged from the shadows, ensnaring Enenra by shooting its adhesive webs out of its abdomen. Immobilized, Enenra could only make worm-like crawls. In a desperate attempt to escape, he crawled as fast as he could. Just as he thought he saw his life flash before his eyes, he heard a loud snap and saw that a jaw-shaped plant had eaten the spider. Enenra recognized this plant as well. It was the Jaw Plant. Waiting until a worthy prey animal steps into its jaw, then snapping at high speed and force. This was the true nature of Kashyyyk wilderness. Enenra knew extensively about the fauna and flora of Kashyyyk, but knowledge is nothing without the application of skill. Having been in close-to-death situations several times already, he finally realized why he should heed Odanchekkk’s warning.

With countless more natural death traps enough to fill five holocrons, (the most notable ones being flame beetles and Saava plants) Enenra finally arrived at his hard-earned objective, the ruined Jedi outpost. Through his postcognition, he could see the outpost at its prime. A large building, glorious with Jedi engravings and monuments, much like the Temple on Dantooine. But once he snapped back, he could only see its defiled remains. Now nothing but rubble and ruins. He searched through the debris for hours upon hours, trying to detect traces of the Force that may lead him to any clues on the Terentatek. When he found a holocron, Enenra excitedly hoped to find the history and biology of the Terentatek, but his excitement was short-lived. Much like the holocron on Dantooine, the majority of the details were corrupted most likely due to age and malfunctioning.

—-

Terentatek

Recorded Locations: Kashyyyk, Tatooine, Tython, Korriban

Properties: Venomous [REDACTED], [DATA CORRUPTED]

Details: Rumored to have been created from [DATA CORRUPTED], the Terentatek was a beast towering as large as [REDACTED].

—-

Discontented, Enenra went back up to the bright Wroshyr forests. He felt as though it had been ages since he’d seen the warm, radiant shine of daylight. As if it could sense distress, a Tach primate offered him a fruit. This kindness was much needed after the harsh hours Enenra had experienced this day. He savored the sweet ripe fruit and rubbed the Tach on its head in thanks. The primate scurried back up the tall trees and was nowhere to be found again.

In just a few hours, Enenra had learned more about the nature of ecosystems than he would have by burying his nose in books in the library all day. The brutality, the tenderness, the balance of nature. All of this made him realize that experiencing things in the flesh will grant more experience and knowledge than reading by a thousandfold. And though he has seen the face of death and perhaps the gates of Hell several times over during just one expedition, it all seemed worth all he had cultivated. And now, his next destination was unclouded by determination.

The Dunes

Enenra landed the Sorrow Promise on the landing port of Mos Eisley on Tatooine. A wave of desert heat brushed his face, which caused him to flinch and squint a little. The landing port manager said in a dull tone that using landing bays is 100 credits. Enenra could guess that he’s said the same line thousands of times. When the manager looked up and saw the Jedi attire of Enenra, he frantically asked if there was any way he could be of service. Enenra asked if there were any abandoned Jedi outposts on Tatooine, but the manager was clueless. He recommended speaking to a Jawa information broker who stays in Anchorhead. He thanked the manager and made his way south on a rented speeder bike.

Anchorhead wasn’t small, there was some trouble searching for the Jawa. He asked the people around if they are familiar with any Jawa selling information on the area, but this information broker seemed unknown and incognito. He searched the back alleyways and came across a napping Jawa on a rough and tattered carpet. Enenra gently prodded the Jawa awake, and this broker didn't seem happy being awoken from his nap. He used his knowledge in Jawa Trade Talk to inform the Jawa that he means business. He felt a certain uncertainty of this Jawa. He was known by no one he spoke to and seemed sketchy overall. Nevertheless, Enenra took all the chances he could get. The Jawa demanded 2,000 credits for a route on his datapad. He tried negotiating, but the Jawa would not go lower than 1,300. He thought about this once more but decided to pay up. To Enenra’s awe, the Jawa thoroughly explained how to get to the Jedi outpost. He listed danger zones such as quicksand lakes, and some Sarlacc pits to avoid. There was one problem, however. The Jedi training outpost was located in a valley, the only entrance blockaded by a Sand People enclave.

Using his rented speeder, Enenra quickly made it to the Tusken Raider enclave. Through sign language, he was able to convince the Sand People that he means no threat and that he wishes to negotiate passage with the village chief. They accepted and the chief didn’t seem too happy about an “outsider” in his village. Enenra again ensured that he remains peaceful. The chief spoke of a problem in his village recently and would let him pass through the village if he could aid in solving this mystery. According to the Tusken chief, their Banthas were being killed off recently and some of their warriors have suffered the same fate. He was to get rid of this threat and report back to the chieftain once resolved to pass. He asked if he could examine the corpses of the deceased Banthas and Tusken warriors. His request was granted and Enenra saw strange bite marks on both the Tuskens and Banthas. He asked where the bodies were found. He was told that they were all found in the same area, a few miles off the enclave. Enenra decided to investigate the area. The chief accompanied him with a half dozen Tusken warriors to aid him. With that, they set off to the killing site. Since the Sand People did not favor human technology, Enenra was temporarily given a Bantha, a rare case, as the Tuskens saw Banthas as sacred beings. They traveled in a single file line and made it to the site by nightfall. He and the Tuskens set up camp there. Enenra used this time to exchange stories with the Sand People. He spoke of the experiences he had on Kashyyyk, and of the Sith massacre at the Jedi Temple on Dantooine. The Sand People returned stories of their hunts and expeditions, which were very thrilling despite it being told in sign language. When Enenra asked the warriors for the history of their kind, they informed him that only the village storyteller can share the Tusken history. Even then, only the greatest warriors must prove themselves worthy before even speaking to the storyteller. Though upset, Enenra pushed those feelings down and focused on the task at hand.

The lookout warrior reported something moving just beyond the light of the campfire, and everyone became alert of any possible threat. If this being or creature was able to take out a full party of warriors and Banthas, this wouldn’t be an easy battle. Enenra heard a screech of something he had never heard before and looked closely to see a large, reptilian beast charging towards them. The raiders opened fire but didn’t do much against the hard plating of this creature. Enenra hesitated. There is a possibility that the reptile’s scales are also resistant to lightsaber strikes. If that was the case, one mistake could end his endeavor on the Terentateks. He observed for a little more but tried to hurry. He heard the shriek of one of the Tusken warriors getting bitten by this behemoth of a reptile. He noticed something, a possible weak point. The joints and underbelly of the beast were bare, with no scales for protection. If he were to take this beast down, it would be to immobilize it, then apply the finishing blow. Enenra ignited his lightsaber, a dual-bladed weapon gleaming with orange plasma. The lightsaber illuminated the area in a warm glow. He quickly dashed towards the reptilian creature, but soon found himself on the gritty sand as he was whipped hard by its tough, scaly tail. He had no time to spare, so he got back up and tried again. This time, his strikes had struck home to its most vulnerable spots. The limbs were cut, and the creature could no longer move. Taking the life away of a creature was not the Jedi way, he gave the Tuskens the liberty of ending the reptile’s last breaths, and thus, they were able to avenge their fallen brothers and Banthas. Enenra healed the wounded Tusken and was thanked greatly.

Enenra and the warriors dragged the creature’s carcass back to the enclave. Upon examination by the Sand People, he was told that this was a Scyk, a very aggressive reptile native to Tatooine’s desert dunes. The chief thanked him for his service and granted him passage through the valley to the Jedi ruins.

Enenra could only hope that he would find useful information this time around. The ruins were much like the outpost on Kashyyyk. Just an area with piles of scattered rubble. This outpost looked like the entrance led to a cave within the ravine. Protected from the scorching heat of the sun, the cavern was a chilly grotto that sent chills down Enenra’s spine. He ignited his lightsaber to light up the area. The inside was much more intact compared to the entrance, even though it was still ravaged. He reached what looked to be the remains of that outpost’s archives. He scrutinized the area for a good bit of time and found two pieces of considerable material. A datapad with a recording of the outpost’s destruction and another holocron. Enenra watched in petrified horror as he saw the recording; a Terentatek wrecking the outpost and everything in its path. Bodies everywhere, pain, suffering. Death. A wound was made in the Force that day.

—-

Terentatek

Recorded Locations: Kashyyyk, Tatooine, Korriban, Tython, Dromund Kaas

History: Rumored to be a Rancor altered by dark Sith alchemy. Used by Sith Lords to guard their tombs, and deployed by Exar Kun on Tatooine, Kashyyyk, and Tython. Upon discovery, the Jedi tried to get rid of all Terentateks through an intergalactic hunt. The Hunt was a movement that sent the best duelists of the order to exterminate Terentateks. Though successful in slaying countless Terentateks, the casualties were far too great to be considered a profit.

Properties: Venomous tusks and claws, immunity to the Force.

Details: Average height of 3.2 meters. Terentateks feed on the blood of Force Sensitives to grow and to gain power. Non-sentient designation. Would remain dormant when the Sith and the dark side of the Force was weak. When the Sith are regaining numbers and power, the Terentateks would emerge from their hibernative slumbers and cause wreckage in their wake. These beasts were aligned to the dark side and could be manipulated and controlled by the most powerful of Sith Lords.

—-

All of this information made Enenra rethink his choices on searching for the Terentatek. But this species could not be left alone. It was too intriguing to forget and too dangerous to let live. He must do something before another temple gets spoiled by these foul beasts. Enenra made up his mind. He will continue to search for the Terentatek and bring its true history and biology into the light. This was his compromise.

Back at the docking bay, Enenra thanked the port manager and paid a generous tip of 500 credits as thanks for his service. And again, he was off on the Sorrow Promise.

A Sorrow Promise

Aboard the Sorrow Promise, Enenra deeply speculated on his next move. He decided it would be best to report to the Jedi Council for their wisdom. He exited hyperspace and saw the lush green of Dantooine. He was back home.

He landed near the trading outpost near the temple. He unboarded the Sorrow Promise, and took a deep breath, and took in all of the familiar sights, scents, and sounds. Enenra strode off to the Jedi Council room.

Enenra asked to see a Jedi High Council member for guidance. He waited for a while but was delighted to recognize the warm, kind face of Ezra, his former master. Enenra had much respect for EzraAthdrivar, as he was taught countless amounts of lessons during his Padawanhood. Ezra inquired Enenra on what was on his mind. He told him that his next destination would be the dark-sided planet of Korriban. Ezra understood Enenra before he could finish, as their bond in the Force is a powerful tether, and his thoughts had been read by his mentor. Ezra questioned Enenra on why they’d risk his life for such a perilous endeavor. He told Ezra that these Terentateks could not be left alone any longer. After a moment of seeming hesitation, Ezra accepted his former disciple’s decision. Enenra requested that Ezra accompany Enenra on his trip to Korriban, and watch over him shall he fall to the temptations of the strong dark side nexus. Ezra once again agreed. Though this seems reckless, Ezra knows what Enenra is capable of, therefore trusted him in his abilities as a Jedi Consular.

Enenra then turned in the information obtained on Tatooine to the Jedi Council. After a few hours of waiting, the Masters returned from the council room. They informed Enenra that he would need to hone his lightsaber combat more. Though he was a skilled user of the Force, he was not as focused on saber combat as his fellow Jedi of the Guardians path. Terentateks are immune to any application of the Force, so Enenra’s potential in cerebral Force abilities is almost useless. Being a veteran of raids and wars, the Master of the Order, Stainslaw was assigned to tutor Enenra in lightsaber combat, along with strategies. This was the guidance of the council.

With no time to waste, Enenra headed to the Dueling Hall, where Stain was standing. Enenra called for Stain, and he turned around and nodded. After a short conversation on how things have been for the two, Stain went straight to the task at hand. He first judged Enenra on his lightsaber skills with a sparring session. Stain was surprised for a Consular to be this well capable of dueling. He called Enenra “decent,” and told him that he would most likely be able to best some Temple Guard in hand-to-hand combat. Stain mentioned Enenra using “unneeded movements.” By refining form and precision, Enenra could conserve as much energy as possible and hit velocities with more accuracy. After hours and hours of practice without rest, Stain finally deemed Enenra “capable.” They moved on to strategies. This was a brief explanation of where to aim, such as weak points, and movement strategy to try and position your enemy where you need them to be. After the strenuous teachings from Stain, Enenra let out a sigh of exhaustion.

Enenra woke up after a quick nap. He headed over to the archives, where Enenra showed Stain the holocrons and recordings of the Terentateks. Stain reacted much like Enenra did when he first saw the datapad recordings. Enenra told him that he may not return. This journey may end in death. He also told him to not worry; this is for the will of the Force. There was still a dark part, deep in Enenra’s heart that worried. Worried he wouldn’t ever see his fellow Jedi again.

Noticing that he is very irritated, Enenra decided to take some time meditating. Entering the left meditation room, he sat down and went into still meditation. After a while, he had calmed down. A thought occurred to Enenra that a Terentatek may be arising from its slumber. With that, he got up. This was possibly goodbye. But he promised to himself he would return.

When taking off to the cast void of space, Enenra caught a last glimpse of the Temple, it felt like it was looking up at the Sorrow Promise as it took off to the vast abyss of hyperspace.

A Dark Place

Aboard the Sorrow Promise, Ezra was admiring how much cleaning and maintenance was put into Enenra’s freighter. He was very happy to see that his former master had made a liking for Enenra’s prized ship. Enenra half-jokingly told Ezra that he’d take him on a cruise one day. But things took a somber mood as he mumbled the low chances of being able to return from this treacherous mission to go on the said cruise.

With a slight shake, the Sorrow Promise withdrew from hyperspace. As soon as the two saw the crimson sands of Korriban, a terrible feeling crushed their minds. This was the dark side planet they had finally come to. The compelling forces of the dark side cast a sense of impending doom over the pair, and their morale took a deep dive. Chills running down his spine, Enenra unboarded the Sorrow Promise first. The sights and smells were all new. The uneasy feeling only got worse after setting foot. He told Ezra to come down, and he slowly did, limping as if the strong forces of the dark side were taking a toll on his focus.

The landing site seemed to be a timeworn Sith ruin. There were statues and pillars, but they were worn and destroyed by age and disorder. Ezra picked up a disturbance from a corridor that led into a dark catacomb. They both understood well what would come next. Cautiously, the former mentor and mentee pair advanced into the shroud cold hallway. Ezra had two lightsabers that could merge and be used as a double-bladed lightsaber. Being a master in all forms of lightsaber combat and even inventing a couple by himself, he was an unorthodox fighter. He grabbed one of them and ignited it, emitting a resonant yellow blade. The hall was brimming with Sith runes that neither of the two could translate. Ezra thought it’d be wise to record these with a datapad recorder for further inspection. That is of course if they are to return victorious.

At the end of one turn, the pair took, Enenra found a runic case. By tapping into it with the Force, it opened up. To both of the Jedi’s surprise, a Sith holocron was contained within. Intrigued, Enenra reached his hand over, mesmerized by the whispers and eerie glow it emitted. Before he tried to open it, Ezra snapped him back to reality. Ezra stuffed the holocron into his pack to keep Enenra from succumbing to the dark side. The council had made a proper decision to make Ezra accompany Enenra. Disappointed in himself, Enenra quietly thanked his master. The Jedi High Council member was unfazed by the dark relic. Enenra was impressed and realized he still had much to learn and master.

Tracking a life form through the living Force, Enenra and Ezra made their way to a wide atrium that had an open roof to let light in. Though the two had sensed the Terentatek in this large room, the sight of this beast still shocked the two Jedi.

The Hunt Reenacted

Both Enenra and Ezra froze in their tracks. They had finally discovered the first Terentatek since The Hunt. A Terentatek was looming in the center of the atrium, in all of its obscene glory.

It seemed unresponsive. Unconscious, even. Without warning, the Sith holocron placed tightly within Ezra’s bundle burst out and opened up. It chanted Sith lines. Confused at what is happening, Enenra and Ezra grabbed their sabers. The chanting had stopped, and the two started to hear a low, bass, growling sound from the center of the room. The colossal beast charged at the two Jedi as they ignited their sabers. Enenra with his vibrant orange double-bladed saber and Ezra dual-wielding yellow single-bladed sabers.

It was even larger up-close. Just one scratch from the Terentatek’s claws or tusks can be fatal. Avoiding the hefty fiend’s venomous attacks, the pair landed hits slowly but surely into the beast’s legs. The scales of this beast were thick and seemingly impenetrable, but they continued. The Terentatek didn’t budge or flinch at the strikes from the plasma blades of the two Jedi. Ezra let out a quick flurry, landing strike after strike in quick succession while simultaneously evading the noxious claws of the Terentatek. This did considerable damage and the beast let out a deafening screech. The sheer volume of the howl left the Jedi Council member addled. Dizzying, Ezra couldn’t block the incoming attack. Enenra attempted to save his former master by moving him with the Force, but to no avail. The beast’s claws lacerated Ezra. In a rage, Enenra let out a cry and threw his double-bladed weapon at the legs of the Terentatek. The cuts dismembered the legs. Without Ezra’s flurry of attacks prior, this attack would have been futile. Immobilized, the Terentatek didn’t serve as too much of a threat to the two. Enenra rushed toward Ezra. He could sense that the toxins were taking effect. There was no time to waste. Though difficult, he calmed himself, breathed in, and healed Ezra. The toxins were gone, but the wounds were still deep. Ezra was in too much pain to say anything. Enenra would have to take him to the Sorrow Promise’s medical wing.

But there were other matters at hand. Enenra had almost forgotten about the Terentatek due to his former master almost dying. The beast was sprawled out on the red sands. It was still alive, and as Enenra approached, the Terentatek lifted itself with the arms it still had and growled viciously at him. Enraged, Enenra lashed out at the Terentatek, leaving it limbless. Just as he went in to decapitate it in anger, he stopped. He couldn’t move. Behind him, he saw that Ezra had stopped him. But a few moments later, he passed out. Enenra had let his emotions take over. Decapitation was shamed upon in the Jedi order. He was ashamed of what he had become. There was still much left to be learned. After a breath, the Jedi Consular pierced his orange blade through the heart of the Terentatek. The final hunt was accomplished.

Carrying his wounded master over his shoulders, Enenra returned to the Sorrow Promise. He carefully placed Ezra into a bacta tank in the medical wing. With a sigh of relief, Enenra went to the bridge of the freighter and booted the engines. This was the end of this journey. The mystery of the Terentatek was solved. With one less Terentatek out there, the galaxy would be in greater peace. But who knows? Are they still lurking in the caves of Kashyyyk? Hidden in the depths of Dromund Kaas? Perhaps they will return wreak havoc once more.