On the planet of dangerous myths, shocking fables and unspoken legends, there is also beauty. Dispersed around the untamed world are flaws; cracks formed through thousands of years. Glacial rivers rushing and destroying cliffs, racing and scooping away the soil and digging crevices untouched by all but a handful of explorers from ages long past. Isolated at the southern tip of Ilum, this particular ravine is close to the planet’s core. No-one ever dared to dive directly down into the darkness of the ravine, instead opting for laser drills that bore a tunnel into the nearby glacier. Uncharted and unexplored, this passageway is a place of nightmares for those who venture to its depths. The half-eaten carcasses of explorers who have met an untimely end litter the ravine’s descent—a warning to those who might choose to venture too far. Whether these men and women fell to their deaths, or had been murdered remains lost to the long-forgotten histories of the ravine.

The antechamber of the Crystal Cave is wide and cavernous with a winding walkway carved out of the stone itself and smoothed over with glacial elegance. The pathway ascending upwards to the top of the cave where a resilient sheet of ancient stone weathers against the raging winds from Ilum’s winter skies. At the base of the walkway is a platform of old stone used for meditation in times past.

Leaving the main antechamber leads to other tunnels carved and abandoned by miners and treasure hunters. Glinting like candlelight against the unforgiving darkness of the deep and untrodden cave, translucent clusters of kyber crystals crystals reflect the light. Untouched for a millennia, the value in this chamber once sparked an entire battle between the Galactic Republic and the Sith Empire. The sides of the cavern stretch vertically, terminating in a vaulted arch that was carved with embellishments some time ago. On each side of the walls, various ports and alcoves distinguish in the light. Some are known to be rivers of purified water, as displayed by the translucent sheets of ice glistening along the alcove walls.

So this was it. After months of training and investigations, his clan had seen fit to grant him the title of knight. All that remained was to constuct his own lightsabre. The blade he had used had been cobbled together from various sources, and Hyle needed to show his skill in building the weapon of a Jedi from scrath. The emitter casing Hyle had chosen was deliberately patterned after a traditional sword. Whether inspired by practicality or the apparition that had haunted his fevered dreams these past years, he had decided to include a handguard in the design. All that remained was to find the kyber crystel to power the weapon. And that was why he was here., the fabled Crystal Caves of Ilum.

A day to find the crystal, a further day and a night honing it. Carefully he disassembled the inert hilt, and slid the amber gem into place. The ignited the blade with a force assisted twist of the pommel, filling the cavern with a flame covered light. In some cultures the blades of legend bore names. "Balefire." He muttered. "This blade's name is Balefire."

When he made to leave there was a figure silhoutted in the light of the crystals. It was a short figure, robed.

"Master Junyazee, I am honoured." The shadow turned. Instinctively, Hyle reached out with his senses to filter the dazzling light from his vision. It was a man. A man he had not met.

"So, a new knight with a new blade. Perhaps it is time we tested both." The newcomer said evenly, his voice echoing though the cave.

Hyle drew one of the halves of his electrostaff and his opponen drew a lightsabre of his own. It was a very different style from Hyle's, curved almost like the grip of an antique pistol, somehow calling to mind both a machete and a duelist's blade.

Hyle made the first move, a thrust, which his opponent battered aside, responding with a backswing. Hyle blocked it with his staff. Hyle reached into his opponents mind, not for knowledge, but for a suggestion. A shadow, and the sound of another lightsabre igniting. It was a crude deception, but his opponent was distracted long enough for Hyle to scratch his oppenent's shoulder with the point of his new blade.