The Aurillian Cycle

Understanding the story of Aurillia requires something of a shift in perception, especially when it comes to the understanding of the passage of time.

For most, the passage of time is a linear experience, with a past, present and future. The present becomes the past and the future passes into the present. There are beginnings and ends, clearly defined phases of time. Those who experience time this way are able to understand finality, completion, closure. Moreover, they can perceive of new experiences, completely unique temporal events that have not yet occurred in their memory.

Aurillians see time in a much different way. In Aurillia, time is cyclic. There is some unknown element that causes time to behave differently in this singular region on Dathomir. Whether this element is the mist surrounding the village, or some other, unseen influence, I do not know, nor could anyone tell me. In fact, when I tried to discuss it with the villagers, they looked at me as if I was speaking a foreign language. I quickly learned to accept this anomaly as simple fact so that I could continue to interact with them.

This made for some difficult mental exercises on my part, as there was no telling what day or time it would be when I emerged again from the mist. Whenever I went to Aurillia, I traveled between two timesets playing by completely different rules.

As you might understand, it is just as difficult for a person accustomed to linear time to understand the cyclic conception of time. I will do my best to relate it in comprehensible terms.

Aurillia is centered on a concentration in the Force. This is perhaps the most likely reason for the temporal inconsistencies in the area. There is no record of why this concentration exists, or what purpose it serves. The Aurillians know that it exists, as they are sensitive to the Force. They channel it for their purposes, which primarily consist of perpetual defense against the Force-sensitive Sith.

The Sith, at least the faction of that group that concerns Aurillia, are a group of Force-sensitive fanatics aligned with the Dark Side of the Force. They seek to exploit the Force for their own gain and for the acquisition of power.

The Sith know of Aurillia, and know of its connection with the Force. They seek to conquer the village stronghold and capture control of the concentration focused there. Because of this, the Aurillian elders maintain the mist surrounding the village. It prevents those from entering who are not sensitive to the Force, as well as blocks the movements of those aligned with the Dark Side. It is a powerful barrier, but not one that cannot be overcome. With sufficient numbers and consolidated power, the Sith can penetrate the mist and attack the village.

You may notice that I speak of everything here in the present tense. That is because in Aurillia, there exists only the present. This is the closest approximation of cyclic time that I can present in linear terminology. If the village were in a space governed by linear time, I would say that everything that happens in Aurillia has happened already in the past, and will happen again in the future. As it is, the village follows cyclic time, and the events there are in a perpetual state of occurring.

The cycle of events roughly follows this progression:
The Sith ready their forces, combine their efforts and assault Aurillia in a large-scale effort.
The Aurillian defense prevails, but only barely.
Aurillia is nearly destroyed during the attack and must rebuild completely.
The Aurillians train their citizens in the Force for defense against the Sith.
The Sith attempt periodic strikes in small groups, without success.
The Sith ready their forces, combine their efforts and assault Aurillia in a large-scale effort...

This is the tenuous cycle that prevails in Aurillia. It is unknown how long it has existed in linear time. For indeed, it does not exist at all in linear time. It is a cycle unto itself, governed only by the mysterious laws of the Force.

The story Rohak told me, of course, was separate from the linear perspective, and consequently rather different from what I have related here. It took me a long time to grasp what was actually going on in the village.

Rohak had never heard of the Jedi. He knew nothing of the old Jedi council, much like the Twi'lek I met on Dantooine, named K'te. Indeed, none of the Aurillians knew much of anything at all about life outside of their village, much less on planets other than Dathomir.

Yet they were skilled in the use of the Force (though they had no similar name for it). They practiced these skills to prepare in their defense against the Sith. They did not weild lightsabers, but they were proficient at manipulating the Force in ways far beyond what I was capable of. They accepted their Force skills as natural abilities that needed honing like any other trait. Aurillia, then, was a sect of people very grounded in the living Force, yet completely outside of Jedi lore.

"You passed through the mist," Rohak told me, "This tells me that you are cunning. You say that you defeated several Sith by your own hand. If this is true, this tells me that you are true of heart, as well."

"It is true," I answered.

"If you are willing to prove your integrity to us," the elder continued, "We will train you to better your skills. In return we ask only that you use those skills to aid our defense."

It dawned on me quickly what was taking place. Rohak was recruiting me to the Aurillian effort to repel the Sith. More importantly, though, he was offering me training.

Force training.

With the Jedi all but extinct and the only known heir to their lore deeply entrenched in the war to defeat the Empire, it seemed that Aurillia was the last outpost of Force knowledge in the Galaxy. I was certain my Path had led me here purposefully, and doubted that another such opportunity would present itself again.

Solemnly, I nodded to Rohak. "I will do whatever I can to help you. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn."

Rohak nodded back to me. "Such is the way it shall be, Maast Lofor. You shall reinforce our struggle, while we strengthen you. Together, we shall overcome all odds."

Thus began my training in Aurillia.