Unearthing Potential

[Cortan]

Ziost, adopted homeworld of the Sith.

A most curious title if there ever was one, and it came attached to ever so curious a world. For when one referred to it as the 'adopted homeworld of the Sith', they did not mean the Sith from which their current order and Imperium were descended. They meant the old, native Sith of Korriban, who had once held an empire of their own before their introduction to the reshapen teachings of Jedi exiles. Such an Empire was even older than the very concept, let alone the reality, of a 'Galactic Republic' in any form, and such history served to remind that despite the bleating of the ill informed masses, the Sith were not merely some perversion of an ideal. They were more than 'dark Jedi' - they had a history and heritage all their own.

Azur was wrapped in the furs of great beasts, slain on his homeworld by his own hand. They kept him well and truly protected from the cold that enveloped the planet, perhaps even more so than the dark side did. He stood in the depths of a mountain pass, blistering winds beating against as if to cast him off and over horizon, but he stood firm. Let the winds howl, like a dog that bore teeth but did not know how to bite. Azur refused to fall, simply letting the snow build around his feet, making it almost impossible to tell from which path he had come.

He remembered it - the path before him. He had left the temple complex and then ascended into the range, finding a low rung between two great peaks and their myriad sisters. From what he understood, his student today could prove... determined, and so he wished to test it. His gaze shifted about him, watching small pockets of snow shudder and fall in lumps. More than just the wind might howl this day.

 

[Marf]

Ω​

It was presently peak hour at the toughest boarding school in the galaxy and all manner of Warrior-class Sith went off to their classes and assignments, or stepped outside into the snow for a coffee and a smoke. As per usual, Andromeda had avoided the midday crush by taking to the snow-kissed outdoors beforehand. Wearing plain black pants and combat boots, she hid under her fur-trimmed grey hoodie as she trudged past one of the many colossal statues of Naga Sadow, Warlord of the Massassi, last Jen'ari of the Sith species and Destroyer of Stars. His arm was raised in a commanding gesture, seemingly leading the aspiring young Warrior to the mountain pass up ahead.

The chilling wind whistling it's way through the large pass hit Andromeda directly in the face, causing her to close her large eyes. The Acolyte disliked Ziost, not as much as the blistering heat of Korriban, but she disliked it enough to spend majority of her time away from the native Sith worlds which had kept her a prisoner for so long. Walking further on into the mountain pass, Andromeda mentally cursed her instructor for dragging her this far out into the wilderness. Her physical make-up had been rigorously, and excruciatingly, tested in extreme heat and cold, so her cybernetics malfunctioning was not what Andromeda was concerned about. The elements were not the most dangerous thing about being on Ziost.

Andromeda sincerely doubted the native, Sadow-crazed Massassi would take very kindly to a half-android white Sith girl who looked like a boy skulking about their turf.

As the blistering wind cleared and the snow settled before her glowing red gaze, Andromeda spied the blue skinned figure standing in between the pass lined with trees. With her hand on her belt she trudged closer towards the Sith Crusader, who appeared to be little older than she was. A bleach-blonde eyebrow was raised in disapproval. Only time would tell if this child could assist Andromeda in unearthing her potential.

"You better have a damn good reason for dragging me out here, erm... blue-arse."

As far as Andro's usual repertoire of insults went, that had to be one of her least original. Speaking telepathically into the mind of this senior Sith, Andromeda folded her arms as she now stood directly before him. She eyed him up and down, he was noticeably well-preened, much unlike the Sith Warriors Andromeda was usually surrounded by.

 

[Cortan]

"Do not presume to know the colour of my backside, acolyte." Azur declared, understanding that even if this girl could not speak through her own lips, her ears could still embrace sound.
"And I 'dragged' no-one. You have come here, so if you have anyone to blame for being ill-suited for the occasion, it is yourself. Own your choices, even your possible mistakes." That was to be his first lesson for her, it seemed, but he supposed it was valuable all the same. She seemed the sort of personality that he'd have to know, in some capacity, before being able to lead her through the actual purpose of the day. Many Sith knew at least to keep up the charade of a polite student, even if passive-aggressively testing their teacher's patience. 'Blue-arse' was new though, he'd give her that much.

"Zaff, is my name. You may address me as Crusader, Master, or Marquess. If you do not know what that is - it is a lesser title of my father, the duke of Tel. And if you do not know what that is, well, I don't think we have time to delve too far into the history and politics of Dentaal." He paused after speaking, leaving time for Andromeda to respond, and perhaps introduce herself as well. He would simply watch, and wait, appearing to consider whatever words she chose to say, and whatever she might omit. Eventually, he turned away, gazing beyond the mountain pass before them.
"Come. If we're begin your training, then we will need to find suitable test subjects. Around now are the warmest hours on Ziost, a brief window that all creatures, from the greatest beast to lowest insect, must seize upon if they are to survive. With any luck, we shall find the former." Soon, Azur began to make his way along the path before him, leaving Andromeda to keep pace, and to perhaps discern his intent from his words. If she did not, well, he supposed he could tell soon enough. The winds swept them both through the pass, as if beckoning them forward.