Portals of Earth (Tungri's Training)

[Lyeric Ubbal Arathilion]

"Emotion is war... Knowledge craves conflict... Passion gives purpose... Harmony holds no sway... Life through death... Death is the only outcome!"

"Life through death. It is what the galaxy denies to be true. It IS truth. Since time's recording, there was just a need to record the feats of evil as there was to accomplish it. Some say defeating such evil became the very accomplishment of the act in its survivor. It is truth that we all deny. Within ourselves we seek to avoid. Yet in facing this truth, we become the stronger. It drives us, it harms us to survive it. This truth... that we are all of us weak! We are lacking, and in this we see what we hate. We see the nothingness inside the cracks of our strengths. The fault lines of what holds each of us together. Yet it is in these voids that lies the keys to greatness. Only upon breaking ourselves down can we see the make up of our flaws and powers alike. They are one. They are same. Yet one does not deny their predetermined abilities foolishly. One simply allows their weaknesses to drive their strengths. To se your enemies' strikes before they can even fathom your existence. This is what I demand of you, my ...child."

Ledo almost changed his terminology in the presence of his latest pupil's size. Yet somehow it held strong in the mind of this immense terror. So it would become, as Ledo had brought Tungri Jamaal to his place of earning. It was more than necessary for this muscly force to prove himself to his 'Ledo', but as well to himself. Self confidence was of no concern to this Grandmaster, though symbols were of great importance to the mind in passing obstacles and reaching past the limits we place on ourselves.

At this point, Ledo had but shown himself as a hard recruiter. Having shown himself to this Togorian in his usual manner of illusion and and concealment, he had not waisted his time with it as much as the others. And though Tungri knew not of the others, it was clear that this one would be fully convinced of Ledo's power through Tungri's performance. Ledo would show Tungri the amplification a pupil of Ledo's would realize under his leadership. And so, Ledo would feed a great deal of his palpable emissions that vibrated off of the surfaces around them into this to be student of his.

Tungri would not know where he was, as Ledo had made it the focus of his disciple to learn solely from this kill. It was his ascension. He had taken on a likeness to Ledo's ways and was shown a basic level of many powers. However, it was in Tungri's strength that Ledo wished to utilize him. Yet strength itself had many venues. Just as Ledo knew his ways would amplify the illusion of a head on force of strength would falter any of Tungri's opponents... because he was just as though, not this!

And so, Ledo had begun his understanding of this student in his chosen lightsaber form. At first it struck him as odd, yet to the understanding of its genius that even Tungri may not yet be aware. But first, Ledo would see of his student's newest approaches. His time had come, and so they came upon a cave.

Almost as a dream, the cave was a focal point to the surrounding environment. Yet Ledo was but one means to the vagueties of the Darkside, as the swamp around them lent its own unusual haze. Vines stretched in curves off before them, trees gripped at the earth below them, and reptiles screeched off above them. The cave, a hollowed looking view in wide openings, stretched fields wide before them; yet as they would enter, they would find its winding curves to branch out into more confined pathways and corridors. Ledo had challenges planned, leading them to Tungri's target; challenges not of his design, but rather to his knowledge. He'd make use of this 'temple' in his eyes, as this kill would mirror that of the real assignments to come as Chronicler of the Animus. Ledo walked side by side with the Apostate, ready to answer any and all questions before they truly entered the depths of the catacombs. For once inside, Tungri would be left to his own devices; however feed by the wrath of Ledo's feeding power, in this he would focus a loyalty in ever searching for such power for his own. Ledo knew this day would etch a mark of certainty in the pupil's mind, keeping him his own; Ledo's own extension of his weaknesses, powerful they may be. Here he would face another's end, or his own. ...Life through death.

 

[TheIronLotus]

The swamp was murky, damp, and somehow in a state of permanent dusk. In the distance, animals and bugs and parasites made their nest, made this place their home…innocent, free of the evils that plagued the outside world. Here, everything was in its place. Everything was as it should be.

It was fitting, then, that Tungri Jamaal should be exactly where he should as well. His gigantic paws left craters in the mud underneath, and he didn’t shy away from the dirt and wildlife – rather, he subtly embraced it. His tremendous strides let him move slowly, let the mud and dirt seep in between his toes. It wasn’t exactly befitting of a tremendous beast his size – as a matter of fact, he was fairly large even among his own species. But Tungri had long before learned that perceptions and how others viewed him were of no consequence – he would make his own destiny. It was his choice to enjoy what he wished to.

When Father found him, he knew that the man had something he craved. There would be no escape once he had completed this task, whatever it was, and that would mean there would be no leaving Father…if anything, a blessing moreso than a curse.

Tungri listened hungrily as Father spoke of the path he’d chosen – or rather, been led to. The path of Animus Manifesto.

The cave ahead was enormous and expansive, stretching into a blackness that seemed almost hollow. The place was thick with the power of the Dark side, and Tungri breathed in through his nostrils, feeding off of it.

“I will not disappoint you,” he said in his deep, rumbling voice. He meant it. It was less out of self-confidence and more out of knowing that he would devote his full self to this task. If he was unsuccessful, than he was unworthy of Father.

The gargantuan Togorian wasn’t entirely sure why he had such a firm belief in someone who had mystically found him, someone he barely knew anything about. In a way, the man reminded him of his old mentor…perhaps that was why. He wouldn’t grovel at his feet like some worm, but he felt a tremendous respect that he couldn’t quite explain.

“I will not ask what is waiting for me in this cave, for that is for me to find…but I cannot help but be curious. What exactly do you expect me to do?” It was blunt, but that was just Tungri’s personality. For all of his bulk, he fit the part of not exactly being…sociable.

 

[Lyeric Ubbal Arathilion]

As the words escaped his mouth, so would Ledo's physical appearance loose its presence and subtly evaporate into the currents of the cave's corridors. "Kill the cave's inhabitant. Kill those who get in your way, and find him ...before he finds you!"

The light breeze swirled out of the six main entry ways, branching out into the dark beyond. Many a foes await this challenge. Such was the nature of this location. Animals wild, lost souls wishing to remain so, and a trapped figure seeking escape. It was a combination of this trapped user and Ledo that stirred the senses of all that inhabited here. Though Tungri's target became the orchestrator of all within, to suit his pathway to escape. Perhaps he too would loose himself in the power of this chaos, to become entangled with the option of making this his core. Once touched by such a darkness in power, it would be difficult to let it go. This was the taint that awaited inside. Ledo would await Tungri's steps into the cave, to begin his desire down a path of wanting. He felt a great use for this one, and so he would begin.

 

[TheIronLotus]

As Ledo dissipated into the wind, Tungri felt a slight chill go down his spine. This place was heavy with the power of the Dark side. For a moment, he simply stood there, as if absorbing it into his being, the power surrounding his gigantic silhouette, but he knew that he must complete the task…so, he began to walk.

His lightsaber flew to his hand as he reached out with his senses, searching for a presence – and he felt many. He continued to walk in the direction of one presence, allowing the Force to be his eyes. Despite his tremendous strength and vicious appearance, Tungri preferred to use the Force in combat over all else.

The twin yellow blades ignited as he kept walking, still with his eyes shut. He was growing closer and closer to a presence, and his muscles tensed as he prepared for whatever was waiting for him in the dark corridors.

 

[Lyeric Ubbal Arathilion]

Soft echoing sounds fluttered in the darkness, among others. A distance carried the black shadows further than they first seemed, as a blanketed presence would separate and fizzle before the main essence first felt.

A sudden wave of three or four bat-like creatures swarmed out and past Tungri, but in distraction in fleeing that which came soon after. A beast of great strength charged out behind a dead space soon after the winged things had sped off, as a roaring maw was first forward to be followed by several arms. Two were the largest, as its entire body sought to entrap its victim in this desperate attack. All alone in this leap, this peculiar and raging yet average sized Gundark at was but the beginning to such creatures of malice; foaming and clawing, it would fight for death no matter the cost!

 

[TheIronLotus]

Tungri had been ignoring stray sounds from around the cave, concentrating instead on a dark presence that was growing nearer and nearer by the second. He allowed the bats to pass freely, not flinching at all, but when the next beast lurched towards him, he immediately took a step back. The mammoth Togorian brought his lightsaber whirling around, but in a defensive maneuver, not to attack.

After he did this, Tungri sent out a powerful wave of negative energy, hoping that the oppressive Force would slow the creature. It was similar to a devil in its features, but bulkier – not nearly as bulky as Tungri, nor so tall, but definitely threatening. He hoped that the slowing ability would make it so that he could attack the creature with little to no fear of risk in a few seconds, but he wasn’t entirely sure how it would react.

 

[Lyeric Ubbal Arathilion]

Flailing at the sight of the obstructing beam of light, the Gundark held back. And even further, at the wave of negative energy; it looked confused, but to see an aggressor before it. Lifting back to attack, like a preparing scorpion, the Gundark's rage seemed compelled by the darkness and almost feeding off of it.

A returning counter wave of energy, much like the one Tungri let loose, bellowed back towards him in response. It was dark, though not nearly as heavily felt as Ledo's signature. Though he didn't usually let reveal his imprint, Ledo at one point or another would make a point of revealing his taint to his students; and a dark one it was, to the extreme. No, this was someone else. Ledo was nowhere to be found, and this creature roared as loud as before. It hurled its body at Tungri with wrapping claws to squeeze the life from Tungri in desperate and unintelligent fervor.

The calls of the wild further in the tunnels began to raise in volume, all having some connection to this crazed beast.