The Elder of Gaia

The Elder

"Never forget your love for the land."

Name: Elder

Birth Name: Ianthé Lek Aisópós

Her name predates several changes in the Kotoran/Gaian language. In modern times, the term "Lai" or "Offspring of," is used, but when The Elder's was born, Gaians used the terms "Lek" and "Lekos," to mean "daughter of" and "son of," respectively.

When she chose to leave Gaia, the Priesthood gave her the name "Elder."

Birthplace: Gaia

Height: 6'1" / 185 cm

Weight: 178 lb / 81 kg

Age: Unknown, at present, she is over ten thousand years old, hence her Outlander name. This is far outside the usual life expectancy for a Gaian.

Eyes: Dark brown

Hair: Brown

Citizenship: Gaian

Marital Status: Complicated

Education: Vast, she's had millennia to study many different topics, and has looked into a few force disciplines: Matukai, Baran Do, and more, but none have held her attention for long. Her love of acupuncture, herbal medicine, animals and forests in general, have always been her main fields of focus.

Affiliation: Herself and her harem.

Occupations:

Herbal medical practitioner
Healer
Acupuncturist
Veterinarian

Bases of Operations: Her home on Endor.

Force Alignment: Light side, unaffiliated.

Sexuality: Bisexual.

Species: Gaian

Traits:

Secondary eyelids (cleans and moisturises eyes, protects from glare and dust)
No tear ducts
Webbed toes
Binary heart system

Abilities - see species page for more details:

Amphibious biology, excellent swimmer
3x peak human strength
Telepath - Dreamwalker
Longevity far beyond that of a normal Gaian - Gaians already have the potential to live for about a thousand years, while force sensitive Gaians might live between 1500 to 3000 years, due to their subconscious ability to slow their telomere decline.
The Elder, for reasons not known to anyone, has completely halted her telomere decline entirely. Because of this, as long as she isn't shot, stabbed, run over by a speeder, or eats some bad sushi, she will live forever.

There are other Gaians who have managed to live well beyond the normal life expectancy of a force-sensitive Gaian, but not to this level. Whether another Gaian who has the force, will ever achieve the same, remains to be seen.

None of the Elder's descendents have shown this ability.

Weapons:

Gaian survival vibro-knife.
Gaian Songsteel sword, made by B'Taran.

Family: The Elder has no living children, those she had with her first husband, died out thousands of years ago, as have her grandchildren, but she does have descendents, many times removed, and very many in number.
Not all of them are pureblood Gaian, but many have sought her out, if only to meet her once. It is rumoured that the current monarchy may be related to the Elder, and the Elder did once meet with Sage after his first wife was murdered, to stop him from committing suicide.

She has been married numerous times over her lifetime, mostly to members of different species, although she has been in a few Gaian co-marriages. Currently, she is unmarried, and has a harem of lovers who live with her on Endor.

Background: Born over ten thousand years ago, she was born and raised as a normal Gaian, her husband died in battle, during an assault of the Wild Gaians, when they were both about two hundred years old. She eventually entered a co-marriage, and then went exploring the galaxy, in time meeting Master Chan.
It was he who revealed to her, that she was eternal, having discovered her in the force. She has met with Chan many times over the ages, who has provided guidance and counsel.

She's had many adventures and stories across time and the galaxy. If you're lucky, you just might become a part of them some day.

Classified information:

Master Valiant once met with the Elder, and learned more of her background, and the truth of her longevity. While he recorded the conversation with her permission, he has since kept this information secret.

The Elder:

"What I'm about to tell you, is a secret that cannot leave this room, not yet at least. As you know, I am very old, far older than any other Gaian you've ever met, at least that is what you're supposed to believe.

If you know the history of my people, then you'll know that before we relocated to Gaia, we were at war with malevolent spirit entities, who were worshipped as cruel gods. In time, a number of us who were force sensitive, fought them in the spirit realm, in the battle of the Sai-Anera. Many of them died, but for those who survived, they were rewarded by our long time ally, the Sky-Seraph.

The power to use the Force to make our already considerable longevity, to become indefinite. Every Gaian who fought and survived the Sai-Anera became immortal, as did their children, grandchildren, and so on. This power is not some technique any force user can attain, and there is a genetic component to it.

I am not unique, and I have lied for over ten millennia. All of my descendants who are at least half Gaian and possess the Force, share my unique trait. All of them.

I am only well known, because I was discovered by Al-Se'khen ineb Chan, the reclusive ancient Jedi Master, because he knew that I, like the survivors of the Sai-Anera, would be hunted.

The eternal lifespan of the Sai-Anera warriors, became a point of jealousy among our people. So in secret, they were hunted, as were their families. Beings who could have lived to the end of time, as I might, were almost entirely wiped out.

All but one survived, hiding in secret, until time passed, and the eternal Gaians were all but forgotten. This last survivor waited and eventually, returned to Gaian society, with a changed identity, and remarried, thinking it was safe.

They were wrong.

A few months after I was born, some friends of my parents were babysitting me, as hunters came for my parents. To this day, I do not know if it was my mother, or father, who was their target, and both were killed.

The family friends adopted me, and for my safety, changed my name to Ianthé Lek Aisópós.

I lived not knowing until I was eventually found by Master Chan, who told me the truth, and explained what I'd have to do in order to survive. Chan was able to convince the general public, that my immortality, was unique, some mystery trait that might not ever be explained.

The hunters were tracked down by Chan, who.. persuaded them to leave me alone, they were not prepared to take on the Jedi Order, but I have to leave Gaia, become an Outlander, and be sterilised.

Chan negotiated the agreement, but what he didn't tell them, was that my sterilisation, was reversible with the Force. I am only fertile once every ten years, but in my time, I've still managed to produce, a decent number of descendants, who all know, that they must keep their lifespans a secret.

I tell you this because, in case anything were to ever happen to me or Al-Se'khen, I want to be sure another Jedi knows the truth, in case the Sith were to ever learn of us, or if the hunters found out the truth."

Valiant: "I appreciate your sharing with me, but why not tell Sage? He's from your world and I'm sure he'd understand, besides, he has the connection to the Gaian throne.. Also, I thought any force sensitive Gaian could extend their lifespan."

Elder: "Yes, what you say about us is true, force sensitive Gaians can slow ageing to a degree, but not as much as I can, or my descendants. It's not enough to just want to stop ageing, it goes much deeper, and those of my bloodline have a genetic aptitude for the personal halting of telomere decline. Other Gaians just delay the inevitable.

And there are.. personal reasons why I prefer to not have anything to do with the Gaian monarchy. For one, I do not trust King Suran and Queen T'Merra, and Sage being a Jedi.. well, his connection to the throne is not as secure as you might think, especially if his parents ever produce an heir."

Valiant: "You mean another heir."

Elder: "Yes, yes of course, I mean if they ever had another child, one not devoted to the Jedi path. To be blunt, when Tan'akri, when Sage became a Jedi, the queen and king saw him as a weapon to be used against their enemies, but Sage had other plans."

Valiant: "He always speaks highly of his parents, he seems close to them."

Elder: "I'm sure he is, but he doesn't know the monarchy like I do. Tell me, doesn't it strike you as odd that his parents are so young? Not even three hundred years?"

Valiant: "That's not what I consider young."

Elder: "Yes, but why would they even be rulers? Normal Gaians live for one, maybe one and a half thousand years, so at their age, it would make more sense for the current rulers to much older. Historically, Gaian monarchs retire around age 600 to 700 years of age."

Valiant: "What are you saying? Suran and T'Merra's parents aren't alive?"

Elder: "Parents, grand and great grandparents, all dead. Their siblings too. Not at the hands of Suran nor T'Merra, but there are other players in the royal court, advisors, regents, military leaders and such. People who ensured they could control the next in line, as 'accidents' happened. They just never could account for T'Merra's fertility issues."

Valiant: "Oh, is that why Sage is currently an only child? I thought it was normal for Gaians to wait a few decades before having another child."

Elder: "Yes, but even his birth was.. unexpected. Anyway, you know of Sora and Tau'Kai?"

Valiant: "The Mcleods? Sure, what of them?"

Elder: "Ever notice their eyes? Icy blue?"

Valiant: "Yeah, they're half human, so what?"

Elder: "Their eyes come from their Gaian parent. They are from an ancient bloodline and probably don't know it. The true royal bloodline, until they were overthrown long ago. I saw it happen. Gaia prides itself on being a paradise, a utopia, and an enlightened world, and perhaps it is, but not without secrets and skeletons in the proverbial closet."

Valiant: "Wait, the Mcleods are royalty, and Sage isn't?"

Elder: "Royalty is just another word for whoever is left standing. It was so long ago, most alive today don't even remember, but I remember. The Gaian throne is not my ally."

Valiant: "But Sage would be."

Elder: "He doesn't need to be a part of this. Now will you help me?"

Valiant: "Of course. I have a safehouse on Endor, a 'just in case' place that's out of the way, you'd be safe there, especially with this war going on."

Elder: "You will keep my secret, won't you?"

Valiant: "Definitely, but I can tell my wife, right?"

Elder: "Sure, but for any.. othrer allies you have, they don't need the full story."

Valiant: "So what's your plan for when I'm long gone?"

Elder: "I'm sure your great great great grand-Padawan, will be someone I can trust also, for now, you'll do. You proved yourself against Khensu and the Dark KoN, plus many more."

Valiant: "You know you, you could just train as a Jedi yourself."

Elder: "Been there, failed at it more than once. Besides, my love is for herbal medicine, and animal medicine. I did enjoy my studies of the Baran Do, but I'm not a warrior."

Valiant: "Hey, there's a legend of a Gaian who is of a similar age to you, give or take a thousand years. If you were the last direct descendant of the Sai-Anera warriors, then is he..?"

Elder: "Yes, the Dark Elder is my son, a guarded secret, for many reasons. One of them being that he's a monster, if you ever encounter him, don't take him alive. He's my child, and I have personally hired assassins to handle him. All of them but one, have died horribly. The one survivor met a fate worse than death. I'd prefer to not speak more about him."

Valiant: "So noted.. Okay, I'll arrange your transport to Endor and then go help win this war."