Atlao's Training

[Ser Yorick]

This particular Dark Master, and expert in the art of shadow-walking, was not one for grand halls with marble pillars or grotesquely large statues, or even decorative tapestries on the walls. No, Dark Master Serpentis rather enjoyed the gloomy and near-black dungeons in which he trained his various Acolytes and Crusaders. There were no windows in the rooms dedicated to the teaching of his pupils, and except for the sound of one's own footsteps, there was nothing to be heard.

Serpentis stood awaiting his newest Acolyte, one almost brand new to the Dark Jedi of the Bogan. The room chosen for the Acolyte Atlao's instruction was a dim-lit and dank chamber lined with shelves and shelves of leather bound books. No, none of this holo-recording stuff. The library here was tangible and real. It was made especially for Acolytes in need of research on different aspects of the Force and the history of the galaxy. The reasoning behind this was that if one needed information, then it must be worth searching through pages and pages for. The Dark Jedi of the Bogan may be passionate and action-oriented, but patience must be learned in order to become successful in the arts of the Assassin. A hasty Assassin of the Bogan is a dead Assassin of the Bogan.

 

[.Artyr.]

The darkness of the training room gave Atlao a sense of power, and strength. For it is in dark places as such where he thrives... The lack of light, had posed no effect on his sight, for, his lack of vision had shown him how to rely on the Force for perception. Atlao had entered the room, clothed in his dark robes that matched the sheer darkness surrounding his Master and himself. The man only carried a small array of weapons, for it gave him mobility; a semi-automatic blaster pistol, with a modified grip, and a cortosis weaved short blade. Both kept and used, as trophies of his previous hunts...

Kneeling in front of his Master, he had spoken.

"I am ready... My Master."

His face, was victim to brutal torture in his past, making his speech, nothing more than sinister, with a sick and twisted tone. This caused Atlao to be a man of few words, for to be a hunter, an assassin, and a killer, you are required to be silent...

(OOC: Sorry dude, I changed the colours so it might be easier to see.)

 

[Ser Yorick]

Ah, Atlao, the Dark Master's newest Acolyte. He had the look of an angry and perhaps tortured young man. In a way, he reminded Serpentis of himself. However, he would not go soft on him. The Dark Jedi of the Bogan did not coddle their young. Atlao was going to have to fight to survive, just like everyone else, and if he was lucky, he would become an Assassin.

"Acolyte, can you tell me the meaning of our mantra, put forth by the first Bogan?"

 

[.Artyr.]

This question had required little thought for Atlao to answer... His great suffering of the past was the reason why he had become the man he is today.

"Chaos is the truth, behind the lies of the Galaxy Master... Suffering gives you the ability to endure, and only become stronger. Our passion and hatred fuels our rage and power. We act, when action is a necessity, and the acceptance of death, because accepting death, will only give us the opportunity, to take chances, fight harder, and live longer..."

Atlao, did not fear death, for he had stared death in the eye, only to survive, and prosper. His tattered body showed the horrors that came from the experience... It was a wonder, how his body was still a whole. Wounds and scars that cut deep to the bone, and broken skin that left gaping holes throughout his flesh showed the true meaning behind suffering...

 

[Ser Yorick]

"It is good that you do not fear death, but do not allow your acceptance of it bring you contentment. The last line of our code states: 'No life, only death.' I take this almost literally to mean live well or die swift." Serpentis himself had caused quite a few in his way to 'die swift', Jedi and civilians alike. Whoever got in his way. Even a former master of his had fallen by his hand.

"While we do teach Acolytes like yourself to accept death, we do not want you to await it. Do you understand the difference?"

 

[.Artyr.]

It was simple to Atlao, he understood the answer to his Masters question quite well...

"Accepting death, will allow us to act and fight till our death... Awaiting death, leaves you dumbstruck, with little to no action in your final fight Master..."

 

[Ser Yorick]

He was pleased with the acolyte's response. It appeared that Atlao had indeed been studying the code, but not only that, he understood it. It was now time to see if he was ready to live by it.

"If you are prepared to fight to the death, then draw your sword," Serpentis rasped. The Dark Master then stretched out his left hand and out from the book shelf behind him flew the hilt of a short-saber. There was a slight slap of metal on flesh as it landed in his open palm. Serpentis kept his eyes on the acolyte and stepped toward him. He ignited the fiery orange blade, swung it down to slice Atlao in two and brought his right hand over to grasp the hilt.

 

[.Artyr.]

Atlao was prepared for this moment, he knew his training would result in a duel between the Master and the Acolyte... The ability to perceive through the Force had given the Acolyte a quick reaction to his expected Master's attack; unsheathing his blade within the second, Atlao had a plan, and the blade was the Acolyte's area of expertise, he knew his blade right down to the smallest chip. As the Acolyte drew his blade, he could feel the darkness surround his body, only to remind him of his hatred for life, his body could only become stronger in this environment, his rage was building, and his rage was fueling him... The Acolyte let out a death defying scream, as he entered the duel, for it could only show the opponent his determination and confidence. Raising his arms to hold his vibroblade horizontally to signify a block, Atlao had side-stepped at the last moment towards the direction his hands where, to cause momentary surprise and perhaps an off-balanced Master, before swiftly swinging his blade at his Master's exposed ribs, all in one fluent motion... Hoping, to land a strike as quickly into the duel as possible, for, he was born to kill, he was born to fight, and the fight would never end, until his Master's bidding... He would never give up, no matter how much power his Master weilded... For the longer the fight continued... The more powerful Atlao could become...

 

[Ser Yorick]

There was no surprise. Serpentis was not a novice when it came to melee combat. A simple feint and strike from an acolyte was nothing new. The Dark Master may not have the raw strength of say a Marauder, but he was an expert Assassin and knew how to dodge a blade.

Not only could Serpentis see the rage on his acolyte's face and in his eyes, but he could feel it through the Force. The young man was using his anger and hatred to fuel his power and increase the strength of his attack, but it would not be enough. Atlao knew how to use his emotions to augment the Force, yes, but any fool could get angry.

In the second it took his acolyte to slash with his sword, the Dark Master had aborted his own attack and nimbly made a small jump backward. Serpentis was an expert swordsman and adept at walking in the shadows unnoticed, but it was his unrivalled agility that he was known for.

"Good, keep it coming. Do not relent until you are breathless. Let your anger run its course. Give in to the dark side."

 

[.Artyr.]

There would be no rest for the wicked in this duel. His Master was quick, but Atlao would strive to match him. There was no time for the full sentence to come out of his Master's mouth, when he jumped and paused to talk, Atlao had recovered from his swing, and instantly lunged at his Master, he would not give him the chance to speak as long as the duel commenced. The gap between the Acolyte and his Master was closed instantly, but Atlao's lunge had not put him within slashing distance from his master on purpose, he would not chain an attack into his jump, for a very simple block or side step would leave Atlao exposed, and susceptible to a quick counter attack. Instead, the lunge put Atlao a few feet to the right side of his Master. His energy was building, his hatred for life was only becoming more immanent, and his hatred of the Force had become clear. His hatred of his most powerful ally only caused the Acolyte to excel in his speed and power, the Force was pumping blood through his veins at uncontrollable rates, his muscles had tensed, his mind, became more aware, Atlao's rage was forcing his body to fight harder, fight faster, giving him the ability to jump into this duel with more passion, more power. With one big powerfull surge of energy, Atlao had moved the very particles of the Force around his Master, attempting to pull him forward into the Acolyte's devastating Vibroblade. Atlao, was pushing his body and mind in unbelievable ways, for the first time... Still awaiting to see, if his blade would strike his Master first, or if his Master's blade, would strike strike Atlao's already, brutal flesh...

 

[Ser Yorick]

A smile crept up under Serpentis' veil. His acolyte was proving to be a very angry individual, which made him vicious and potentially very dangerous. But he was still no match for the Dark Master. As Atlao drew strength from the Force and focused his attack, Serpentis could feel everything. He knew what the acolyte was attempting to do, and he knew how to counter it. The young man was focusing on being offensive, and left himself open to a retaliatory attack from the Force. As Atlao's anger built, Serpentis let one hand off the hilt of his lightsaber and flung it out in front of him. Without a word he quickly sent a powerful blast of the dark side at his acolyte which would disrupt his concentration and send him clear across the room.