Ask Beginning Of The Journey

[Trodai Narat-iv-Adas]

Zeffo. It had once been the homeworld of a great civilisation, but now only existed as a backwater planet filled with ruins and some minor villages. Palpatine’s Empire had dug nearly everything of value that it could find in its heyday, but yet some secrets still remained hidden beneath it's ruinous ground. After the collapse, new citizens returned to live in the villages again. It was a remote location, far from prying eyes.

Trodai had been here before during his own training and so thought it fitting he would bring his own apprentice here for her own. He knew it well. The dangerous fauna, rough terrain and unpredictable weather patterns would make it much as it was to him, a near perfect place, isolated enough to test the Pureblood he was to train. First though he would need to see how her abilities were without additional help she had previously.

This was her first true test as Master and Apprentice. He knew she didn't much approve of him due to his nobility but he didn't care, so long as she listened and learnt well. And so he waited in his Sith Armour far from any locals outside the ship, for Kyssiria to come out ready in her own attire and begin the lessons in earnest.

He hoped she understood the importance and how he had chosen her. That it was a opportunity not to be wasted.

@René

 

[Kyssiara Serket]

Kyssiara was, for lack of a better word, tense. She wasn't nervous, she wasn't scared, she wasn't excited—hell, maybe she was all of those things at once. Whatever the cause, she remained tense as she finished fitting into her personalized armor and affixed her lightsaber to her belt. Hopefully her master wasn't expecting a complicated display with the weapon. Her talents, like her mother before her, lay elsewhere.

Master. The word rang in the Pureblood's head. For as long as she'd been in the academy, she'd been hoping and working towards getting a champion to officially train under, to taste the small hint of power than came with such a distinction, to receive personalized and focused training; and yet she'd ended up the underling of an Adas heir of some kind. He'd seemed fine enough at their first meeting, and she'd left with all four fingers on her right hand and her life intact, but she couldn't help but be wary. He was a champion, far more experienced than she was, and she'd respect that for now; but the acolyte knew the reality of things. His kind saw Purebloods like her as nothing but trash.

He was in for a surprise then. Kyssiara descended the exit ramp of the ship they'd flown in on, taking a deep breath of the Zeffonian air. It was crisp, and slightly chilly; it reminded her of Ziost. "I'm ready, master." She informed the larger Pureblood, head slightly bowed in a show of respect even as her tone carried the same cool undertones of the breeze in the air around them.

@Akheron

 

[Trodai Narat-iv-Adas]

Trodai regarded Kyssiara, observing as the younger female Pureblood descended the ramp, dressed similarly. He could feel her icey tone, even as he heard it, acutely aware of her disdain for him even if she appeared respectful. Good he thought. At least that was a start, some Hate to be moulded. The potential within.

He cared very little for what she thought of him, only that she listened, obeyed and learnt something. That she was of use, and was more than she appeared, with the potential he thought he saw as a weapon of the Sith and the Order. Time would tell if she further use beyond that. For he knew what she was simply by looking. One of the Korriban desert tribe, which could offer a additional opportunity in the future. He would see.

He spoke calmly, nodding approvingly at her show of respect "Good. As your Master, I have certain expectations of you. I will lay these down now, do not forget them. And listen well, I will only say it once. Firstly, I expect you to listen, to obey. Do nothing that would jeopardise my position or reflect badly upon me. As my Apprentice you now represent my interests. I expect you to follow my express instructions, at all times without complaint. No matter what they may be or how strange. I expect you to know the history of the Order and the Code, and remember it. And act without hesitation should I command you to do something."

He paused a moment "At the moment you are tool to be moulded nothing more. You are nothing. A weapon I will use until you prove worthy of more privileges. I promise you this. You will feel pain, you will suffer. You will be broken piece by piece, and remade. Until perhaps nothing remains of what you were as happens to some. We will see. You want to control and understand the Darkness that lies within our very veins, that of our species. Within yourself. A connection far deeper than any other in the galaxy. Do all I ask and you will, and become something more. Listen well, observe and learn and I will protect you to a extent, for you are mine and answer only to me or the Dark Lord. as I said you represent my interests, my agenda until such time as I feel you are ready to progress. I will try to be fair, respectful and make a Sith out of you but only if you pay heed to my words. Disobey, show weakness or fail at any time and you will suffer."

He continued "That said let's begin. Sit for a moment." he said, sitting legs crossed in a lotus position, smiling a little under the mask "Tell me a bit about yourself, beyond your name so I might understand you. To find your weaknesses and remove them. Do you know the history of our people, of the Sith and the Order?" he inquired, "In return I will indulge your own questions, should I find them of value."

@René

 

[Kyssiara Serket]

Kyssiara took in everything Trodai told her with little reaction; most of it she'd heard from the academy instructors before, or could at least infer might be stated during this meeting. Stay in line, know your place, the whole deal. Kyssiara had no intentions of stepping out of line, unless the situation truly called for it or there was an opportunity to advance her own interests without the risk of significant backlash. She would be smart, forward-thinking, and practical; unlike her mother. Similarly, she had no expectations of failure. If she failed, she would deserve any punishment that came to her. The strong culled the weak, and weakness was met with suffering.

"I am but a weapon at your disposal, master." Kyssiara replied after the elder Pureblood's verbal presentation. "I might be nothing now, but I intend to make great use of your lessons." With that said, she followed Trodai's next instructions to sit down as he began questioning her. The acolyte pondered his words for a moment; a little bit about herself? Surely he'd read her file... then again, it didn't contain many details. Or perhaps this was a test. Very well then... "It's not listed anywhere in the Academy's books, but my full name is Graush iv-Serket. I'm a bastard, one of many sired to compete with an ineffectual heir, or so my mother told me. I was supposed to be her ticket from Ziost to high society on Korriban. But..." she lifted up her four-fingered right hand ask she spoke, "I was a disappointment from the moment I was born. My mother's dead by this hand for trying to change that."

Kyssiara paused for a moment while staring at her hand, hoping she hadn't given too much away. Regardless of what he thought, it was HERS. It made her unique, and that uniqueness was powerful. She didn't care what title anyone carried; if they tried to make her "better," they'd die like her mother did. "In terms of our species history," the Pureblood continued, "I know that we've developed a close relationship with the Sith Lords due to our affinity for the Dark Side. And yet our culture remains backwards, prioritizing birthright over true power. It's a paradoxical relationship, if you think about it. My mother was as naturally talented with the Darkness as any noble, yet she was still regarded as trash, to the point where it drove her insane. Her fatal weakness lie in that need for validation. But the point remains; we could conquer the galaxy if not for our own customs holding us back." It was a bold statement, certainly pushing the boundaries of this new relationship, but Kyssiara was nothing if not bold; if her new master disagreed and punished her, she would just hold in that pain and hatred to unleash upon him tenfold once he'd taught her everything she needed.

@Akheron

 

[Trodai Narat-iv-Adas]

Trodai nodded approvingly even despite his new current state, although a shadow he was still strong. His will indomitable, for it had helped him survive and his Rage and Wrath had become his salvation. Karys had not stolen everything, and now even despite his shame and sallow appearance, he had power. A fire that was ever burning, now more than ever.

He had paid a steep price, but wasn't it what he wanted? To lose one thing but gain in other ways and know the Dark side so intimately. He hoped she did listen and learn, for he had much to teach. He listened as she made mention she was a daughter of Graush. A man he knew as his friend at least before Murzana and the events thereafter that followed.

He wasn't sure on his standing now.

In many ways her story somewhat mirrored his own, his own mother had been the same. When she spoke of her believes about the Pureblood culture, his eyestalk slightly twitched in curiosity. In some she was right but in others he found not so much. And so he spoke after considering the words "That is all that is asked, but we shall see what is made of you. As to your lineage, I have no qualms working with you, even despite it. My own brother Mjan Sadow iv-Adas is a bastard. And my mother was just as hungry for power as your own, her own validation. Even if we existed at opposite ends of the paradigm."

He continued "But it is a mistake to think all our customs hold us back or that birthright is not as important as power. For it what our birthright that in some ways grants us our power. Even your own. Our strength over the Dark and deepens our connection. It is our customs which have kept us strong, helped us to survive. For is it not the way of the strong to cull the weak? Why else would the Sith themselves adopt some of our customs if there was no value? Think upon it. But I do concede it a paradoxical relationship and some of the desert can be as strong as any noble. But it is a paradoxical relationship that does and must exist. For it is where our strength lies."

Trodai countered as he spoke once more "Now, do you have any questions for me? I'm sure there are a few...I know rumours travel far."

@René

 

[Kyssiara Serket]

This guy really liked to listen to himself talk, didn't he? Yet even through all his somehow spontaneous speech, Kyssiara noted that her master missed the point of her philosophy. He got so close; the Sith had taken cues from Pureblood culture, perhaps the best parts. But how did the paradoxical relationship within their culture make them strong, aside from the vagueness of "tradition"? She wouldn't show it, but the younger Pureblood sighed internally. He was blinded by his place in all this, to accustomed to tradition and hierarchies built on the appearance of power instead of true power. He couldn't see the vision. Truth be told, she wasn't sure how; hadn't he just been involved in a campaign to forcefully take power for someone on Korriban?

It was no matter. Kyssiara didn't need him to see her vision, to have a flexible mind capable of seeing the possibilities of a different way. She needed him to teach her to grow her natural talents, to put her in positions to display her skills, to seize power for herself when the opportunities arose. She could be his loyal acolyte, his weapon to forge and throw at problems that were beneath him, but the Pureblood had ambitions of her own. And she intended to act on them. First, though, he had to be useful to her as a teacher. As things stood Kyssiara wasn't in a position to be picky—she was still a young acolyte and lucky to have any master—but she needed to be sure the damaged champion in front of her was truly up to the task, and not just a withered husk.

"Rumors do travel," she began, making sure to choose her words carefully. No use getting killed this early in her career. "There's been talk among some of the other Pureblood acolytes of a campaign on Korriban to put the academy's Potionsmaster into power there. A campaign where it's said you abandoned your troops, and this—" Kyssiara gestured at his scarred face, off-color skin, the wrinkles; "was the price paid for your cowardice. That you've been cast down from being in the Dark Lord's favor to just another disposable body. How much of that is true?" The acolyte made no direct accusations, but the rumors and line of questioning spoke for themselves. She wanted to know if apprenticeship with him was a path to power, or to death.

@Akheron

 

[Trodai Narat-iv-Adas]

Trodai considered her words,he had a feeling it would come up eventually. But not quite so soon, yet he could not avoid it...not given his appearance and some of the false rumours. He would put it to rest once and for all, for none really knew what occurred save those that were there. And those that understood those involved.

He sighed, it would not be a easy subject with so many fresh memories.

"Some but not all is true." he stated bluntly, "There was a campaign, and the one they call the PotionMaster. The man I knew as Azar'ithar and more, was put into power. He now resides as King of Korriban, and soon Ziost and Dromund Kaas too. But I did not abandon my troops...at least I had no intention of such. It was a complicated situation."

He continued "I did only when defeat was inevitable on the wall, and I was betrayed by one I thought I could trust. Karys'ithar. There was no time to withdraw we were committed. There was no real escape. And the defenders of the wall was stronger than anticipated, I sensed something was off even as I fought tooth and nail." he specified "And so I reacted, to survive as any in my position might. to take heed of such a warning. I fell and broke, yet alive. As fire from sorcerers burnt our own men and the defenders on the wall." he clarified, at least from his point of view "Karys sought petty vengeance for something previous, and thought more of his own agenda than of one of Azar generals and the men, disobeying an earlier command to get along. I bet he wouldn't tell you that."

He recalled it as he saw it "This" he motioned to himself "Is his way of removing a rival. Beware him, less you end the same way, he cannot be trusted." he warned "He drained the life from me. Left me near death...and stole my position and yet...I survived. In this new, sallow form. But stronger. Free of what chains I had of my humanity left. I think. Broken but then reborn. My own Rage and Wrath sustained me and brought me back as millennia ago the one other Sith was rumoured to have done. In a similar way, yet different altogether. I can't really explain it."

He said, Trodai didn't really know how himself. Only that here he was, as he was. Somewhere between life and death, sustained.

"It is true, I may have lost some favour for this predicament. But yet she still sees what I am capable of, and so should you. I still retain much of my powerbase, of which you are now part. Forget the rumours and judge only upon what I can show you, what is before you, what is possible. Help build my powerbase and I will help you build your own ascent and unlock what you are. To help you find your own path. I hope this answers your question. Do you have another, preferably something less personal, something more related to what I can teach if possible. I have no desire to dwell on my past mistakes, only what we may do together."

@René

 

[Kyssiara Serket]

Surely the rest of the conversation would've been something to go by, yet for some reason Kyssiara had expected either a direct no or an explanation that was a little more to the point. She didn't come here looking for this Pureblood's life story, and she didn't really care to know it. Then again, she'd heard from other acolytes that he liked to talk. A lot; she should've known better. The acolyte stared blankly ahead, nodding along as their master talked, explained, mused, lamented, and then talked some more. If she was being honest, she'd zoned out somewhere around "defeat was inevitable" and tuned back in when Trodai asked what he might be able to teach her.

"Isn't it your job to know what to teach me?" Kyssiara asked, her tone a little more irritated than she'd intended; she didn't exactly have the best filter when it came to speaking her mind, and if she was honest this master wasn't really impressing her this far. She knew she was supposed to respect him, but it's not like the younger Pureblood had seen Trodai in action. She'd heard stories, but second-hand accounts of a champion's failings didn't inspire much confidence. "Like, I know you're a champion and all but my mother was powerful too. It didn't stop me from killing her."

Kyssiara knew she was pushing it. The rational part of her brain was begging for her to stop, to restrain herself. Too bad she spent more time making headstrong decisions instead of listening to her self preservation instincts. The acolyte watched her master carefully, looking for any sign of how he might react; if it looked like she was in real danger, she was prepared to defend herself.

@Akheron

 

[Trodai Narat-iv-Adas]

Trodai considered her words carefully, he knew she was pushing. To perhaps see the limits of the apprenticeship, he could feel her irritation. Yet she missed the point. He spoke "Respectfully, your mother was not a Sith and that you beat her, exposed her as weak. But unlike her I have survived, and my weakness has now become a source of strength. For a Sith learns their lessons and are tempered in the fire. They don't dwell on the mistakes, only what we can gain from it."

He answered her first question "As for teaching, while true I was curious as to if you desire something specific. I will teach you the basics, how to be a Sith but also if desired and prove worthy, techniques that are considered by some a niche. Perhaps we can find out together where your path lies. Come." He said rising.

He spoke, knowing her current attire was perhaps not ideal for the current task. But they would make do as he once had, making a similar error "We will start with the mind, see if you have some skill there. It is possible to make a puppet of people, of the weak willed." He continued "To do this, you must focus upon the presence of your target through the Force, the threads that bind you to them. Then you use the Darkness inside of you to subdue them. Once their will is weak enough, you may whisper commands to them and they should do as you ask. For a short time at least, it varies from target to target."

Trodai pointed to a small village ahead "See that village? Go to it, inside the cantina. Choose a target and try to subdue someone's mind. You have two hours to pick one and bring them.” he pointed to a small valley. “Try and bring your puppet to me by the ruins. Try not to get caught."

He pointed in the distance.

"I will teach the next step there."

@René

 

[Kyssiara Serket]

Kyssiara breathed an internal sigh of relief as her prodding was met with no kind of painful resistance. She'd heard stories of other acolytes who'd been brutalized for less, and she was glad to avoid that kind of pain so early on in her training. At the same time, her master's response was to talk, as he did with everything else. A slight frown tugged at the corners of her mouth, her eyebrow stalks twitching in contemplation. If he wasn't inclined to punish an acolyte pushing his buttons though, his own apprentice much less, would he really be able to defend her from other Sith? Would he be willing to cross the lines needed to advance within the Order? It probably wasn't the Pureblood's place to be questioning her master's will, but bucking norms was kind of her whole thing. That, and the fact that acolytes could get a massive head start under a successful master; Kyssiara wanted to punch her ticket on the path to greater successes than just becoming a champion.

For now at least, though, she was content to learn and practice her skills under the tutelage of the ever-verbose Trodai. She listened carefully as he explained what he wanted her to do: blend into the nearby cantina, pick out a sufficiently weak-minded fool, and manipulate them with the Force. Easier sad than done, but not beyond the Pureblood's ability and something she had no qualms about doing in a heartbeat. "I'll not fail you. I'll bet I can get one of these suckers under my thumb within the hour." she told Trodai.

With that, Kyssiara set off towards the nearby village. She moved her lightsaber under the folds in her robes to better conceal her identity as a Sith, sporting a bright smile to appear less threatening and blend in with the rest of the patrons. It was a short walk from Trodai's ship to the cantina, but it gave the acolyte as much time as she needed to plan out how she wanted to approach her master's little test. The cantina's door automatically opened upon Kyssiara's arrival, and she entered to a few strange looks and stares; she was wearing some... interesting attire compared to the villagers, but most seemed not to care as she made her way towards the bar and ordered some cheap cocktail. She had no intention of indulging in alcohol besides a few sips right now, and the bartender seemed not to mind her more outlandish look so long as she was paying. After a few minutes of surveying the room, a 30-something human man unsurprisingly approached and hit the acolyte with the (terrible) classic "I don't know what they're cookin' up in that kitchen, but you're some hot stuff."

Kyssiara turned and gave the man a wide smile, laughing as she put a hand on the man's shoulder. Kriffing hells he was disgusting. An upkepmt beard, dirty mechanic coveralls, crooked teeth and a hairline that wasn't just receding but basically running away. It took half of the acolyte's energy to keep up her performance and not just roll her eyes and fling him across the room. Instead she looked deep into his wide eyes, drawing on the Force for another purpose as the Pureblood looked into his mind. With his conscious focus entirely on her looks, Kyssiara mentally whispered sweet ideas and fed his inner desires with brief images of possible futures. "You want to take this somewhere else, don't you?" she asked innocently enough, to which the man replied, "I want to take this somewhere else, I really do." with a wide grin on his face despite the trance-like response. Mission accomplished. "Well guess what goregous, I know just the place. Let's get outta here." Kyssiara teased with a bright tone, trying her best not to vomit at the thought.

The Pureblood led the man out of the cantina and out of the village as he follwed her like a young kath-hound looking for food. She focused on maintaining her mental control over the man, streaming the same thoughts and suggestions into his subconscious mind that she'd initially lured him with. Kyssiara arrived to the valley Trodai had inticated earlier just barely within the shortened 1-hour window she'd given herself to complete the task. "As requested, master," she addressed the older Sith, "one idiot played like a fiddle."

Spoiler: Dice Rolls

11/20 for blending in, 13/20 for successful mind tricks.

@Akheron

 

[Trodai Narat-iv-Adas]

Trodai simply chuckled at her comment, they would see soon enough if she would or not. "We'll soon see. Prove it." He said allowing Kyssiria to carry out her task, meanwhile he was preparing the next test. A way to see if she would do what was necessary, to prove she could act without hesitation and kill even the innocent if commanded. To see if she was Sith.

As the two arrived, Trodai approved. "Excellent, it seems you have some skill of the mind. Now, I want you to kill him, but not quickly. Make this innocent suffer and use his pain and anguish before finishing him off. A Sith must kill without hesitation, without morality and may use the suffering of others as fuel to aid in combat and sometimes empower themselves. Try this, try and fuel yourself."

As she did this, Trodai walked away, disappearing behind several ruins. He contemplated his apprentice, she appeared to show some skill but he would see just how much it was and what use she could be. Eventually he saw what he was after and a beast, a Jotaz followed. Influenced by a form of Beast Control. As he returned, he released the creature from his hold and leapt with the Force to safety. Allowing it to attack Kyssiria.

He spoke out "Now defeat this beast, I will see how your fighting skills are in comparison. Kill it or it will kill you, use what you just learnt. You must expect the unexpected."

@René

 

[Kyssiara Serket]

Kyssiara studied Trodai as he instructed her to kill the man slowly, painfully, and ruthlessly in order to "fuel herself." She was no stranger to drawing on the Dark Side, or what emotions enabled her to do so with greater power. It was rage and fear that had allowed the Pureblood to overpower her own mother, and the pain of her mother's hatred towards her had always driven Kyssiara forward. But this just felt... gratuitous. Violence for the sake of violence. The acolyte looked over at the man she'd brought with her, the confusion in his eyes as he looked back and forth between her and her master's back as the armored figure walked away was pathetic. He'd clearly had something else in mind, but this weak-willed man probably would've followed her without her mental influence.

<Ugh, damn the gods.> Kyssiara sighed in her native language, gripping the lightsaber hilt hidden under the folds of her cloak. The acolyte had no qualms about killing this man; he was weak and stupid, as if she needed a reason to kill anyone. Her master was right about one thing; Sith killed without hesitation or morality, and the younger Pureblood was no different. She did, however, find excess and purposeless violence to be banal. Some Sith relished in it, but what was the point? She'd never understood. The crimson blade of her lightsaber hissssed to life as a look of terror washed over the lured man's face as he snapped out of his trance-like state. "Woah woah woah hey now, let's talk about this. You're not like the other girls, I see that now! Let's just go get a drink, I'll let you take the lead yeah? If you're into that? I've got money, not much but 32 credits should-"

Kyssiara interrupted his pathetic begging with a swift slash at the man's knee, severing his left leg at the joint. He screamed and fell on his back, desperately trying to crawl away as the acolyte's eyebrow stalks twitched in annoyance. "It's not personal, just a lesson for both of us." She told the man, keeping pace with his slow crawls. "Actually? It is kinda personal too, ya know? You disgust me, you're like a rat. I bet nobody'll even notice you're gone." The Pureblood took of an arm this time, letting the man's screams of pain echo through the otherwise deserted canyon. "What a waste of my time." she mumbled, drawing on the Force to toss the man back-first against a nearby rock. Kyssiara approached as the man continued to scream for mercy; he had money, a speeder, anything she wanted! An unmerciful stab through the chest is all he received, and the area grew silent once again as the acolyte deactivated her lightsaber with a frown of disinterest.

Kyssiara turned around and waited for her master to return, idly hovering a few loose stones just above her palm with the Force as she did. Hopefully the next challenge was actually that; a challenge. She'd had enough desperate men for one day. After several more minutes passed a low thudding noise caught the Pureblood's attention, and only moments later did Trodai reappear from the direction he'd left... with a giant beast in tow. The stones clattered to the ground as Kyssiara's concentration dropped, her jaw slightly ajar as she observed the ugly grey giant lumbering towards her. <Well you asked for a challenge, idiot.> she groaned to herself in ur-Kittât.

The acolyte's lightsaber sprang to life once again as she took a defensive stance, studying the slow-moving creature. She needed more time. What was this thing, it's strengths, it's weaknesses? An idea formed in her head as Kyssiara reached out and grabbed the body of the man she'd killed with the Force, throwing it towards the beast in hopes of distracting it long enough to get a better look at it.

@Akheron

 

[Trodai Narat-iv-Adas]

Trodai observed as Kyssiria threw the body with the Force, and felt it as his life was taken to fuel her. Little would she know that the act was not pointless or as gratuitous as she might have thought. That it wasn't just for the sake of it. Although she may not have understood the lesson, it was to see if she would do whatever was asked of her, to test her loyalty. She had passed the test for now.

As the jotaz attacked, Trodai observed from a ledge upon one of the ruins, observing as Kyssiria attempted to distract the beast by using the Force to throw the body of the dead man at it. He chuckled a little and was amused, approving of her improvisation.

Spoiler

Actions - Kyssiria roll D20 to distract the Jotaz
D20: 13 success

The trick was successful, the beast stumbled backwards a bit as the corpse hit it, enraging the beast at the unconventional attack and confusing it as it looked for what did it. It's movements were slow, yet Kyssiria would see that despite this the creature was strong, with long arms that easily reached, flinging the body away like it was a ragdoll. Upon its belly as it turned she would see it was weaker, with its abdomen area being where the skin was thinnest. But it would be difficult to reach. Trodai wondered how she might overcome this challenge, would she do as he had or try something else? Would she adapt and would she survive. He would soon see.

@René

 

[Kyssiara Serket]

Kyssiara watched carefully as the beast roared in annoyance, slapping aside the body she'd tossed at it. The improvised attack wasn't meant to do anything more than provide a momentary distraction, and luckily it did its job well enough. "Guess that guy was worth something after all." she muttered to herself, golden-orange eyes focusing on the creature's briefly exposed stomach. There! That was her opening; the belly's lighter skin betrayed a weakness not present on the rest of the body.

Kyssiara moved into action immediately, working her arms and hands in a circular motion as she called upon the Force to whip up the sand at the Jotaz's feet. The Pureblood pushed it upwards, intending to blind the creature to make her approach safer. She ran towards the Jotaz, making sure to keep low and keep her lightsaber turned off so that the sand could do it's job irritating the beast's eyes and blocking it's vision. If she was successful in approaching, the acolyte would ignite her scarlet blade and slash across the thing's stomach, focusing all the Force energy she could into further heating the exposed flesh and hoping to ignite it with her pyrokinesis.

@Akheron

 

[Trodai Narat-iv-Adas]

Spoiler

Kyssiara Action, two D20 rolls - Using the Force to attempt to blind the jotaz, Pyrokinesis -

2D20: 20, 17, success

Trodai observed as Kyssiara made her attempt, approving as she used the dead body as a diversion, it showed initiative and creative thinking, traits he approved of. As the jotaz batted the corpse aside he continued to observe as she made her next move. What happened next he did not expect, as he felt his apprentice use the Force and build up into a explosion he had rarely witnessed. While she had intended to merely blind the jotaz, Kyssiara would see she instead obliterated the creature, as the Force ripped its arms off and split it in half sending pieces lie shrapnel flying into the distance cracking some ruins and toppling others at the sheer force of the explosion. Trodai was forced to move To move to a more stable ruin to boss and deflect some pieces that headed his direction, erecting a barrier to allow them to hit instead of him even as several pillars were split and thrown from the sheer force and raw power. As the carnage stopped he released it.

It was also probably a shock to the Acolyte at what she had done.

To say her master, Trodai was impressed was a understatement. He smiled at the potential she had just shown and how powerful she had shown herself to be. Clearly he chosen his apprentice well. And as if to add insult to injury he observed as she used Pyrokinesis to cook the remains, filling the air with the smell of cooking jotaz meat and burnt flesh.

He spoke, smiling "Very impressive my apprentice. Kyssiara." He said honouring her with using her name in respect of what she had shown "Few have shown such raw power, and some early in training. I clearly picked you well and you are a valuable asset. You will become a great Sith if you keep that up. It speaks to your potential to accomplish such a feat."

he continued "You know how to control the mind of sentients, now let's see if you are as gifted with the bonding of beasts." He motioned to a plateau nearby.

"I want you to try and establish a bond with a local creature. You’ll subdue it and use the Force to make a connection much like before but try not to force it too much. Approach that herd of philiaks who live here, bring one of them to me by establishing such a bond. I’ll be waiting here in these ruins.”

With that he waited.

@René

 

[Kyssiara Serket]

As Kyssiara drew on the Force, she found herself reaching deep within herself and within the Dark Side. Her master wanted to be impressed? She'd show him she didn't need some power up, she was as strong as any Pureblood. Stronger than her mother, stronger than her father; whoever he was. The acolyte closed her eyes and reached out her hands, feeling energy flow through her towards the Jotaz like a miniature sandstorm. Kyssiara opened her eyes, now shining a fierce gold, and time seemed to slow down as she became lost in the moment, in the raw power she was channeling. It kept coming like a river bursting through a damn. All control was lost as the Pureblood directed a manifestation of her deep-seated rage at the beast, watching as the whirlwind of forces ripped the Jotaz limb for limb. Its roars of pain turned to squeals of desperation as the creature's eyes burst from the pressure, the body squelching as muscle, sinew, and bone ripped apart in opposite directions. As if all that wasn't enough, Kyssiara's emotions climaxed in a fiery explosion; literally. Pieces of the Jotaz's body spontaneously burst into flame filling the air with the stench of burning flesh as flaming scraps of tissue and skin fell from the sky.

The acolyte fell onto her hands and knees, exhausted from the endeavor. She hadn't meant to draw on that much power, and it took just about everything out of her. Kyssiara took several deep breaths, doing her best to regain some of the energy expended in her test. She looked up as Trodai approached from where he'd perched himself, shakily rising to stand tall before him; at least, as tall as she could. "Thank you, master." the younger Pureblood responded to his praise. "It's only a taste a' what I'll accomplish."

She watched and listened as he motioned to a herd of clearly startled philiaks in the distance, requesting that she bond with one of them. "Oh, you ask to little of me master!" the girl joked in between continued deep breaths. "After what I just did? A grazing animal will be easier than the man." Probably. Kyssiara took one final deep breath and began to walk towards the gathered creatures, making sure to move slow to avoid startling them any more. They were clearly on high alert after the flaming explosion she'd caused. It took several minutes, but eventually she was close enough. Extending a hand, the acolyte closed her eyes once again and reached out with the Force, touching the creature's mind. She heard a loud grunt and several stomps, opening one eye just in time to see the philiak closest to her lowering its head. It didn't take a genius to know what was coming next. Kyssiara had just enough time and energy to dive out of the way as the heard of 6 philiak began charging at where she'd been, kicking up a massive dust cloud in their wake. All the acolyte could do was sneeze and cough as the creatures stormed away.

Spoiler: Dice Roll

Beast control on the Philiak - 6

@Akheron

 

[Trodai Narat-iv-Adas]

Trodai observed as Kyssiria got cocky after her feat, he chuckled a little knowing full well just what a single phillak could do.

"We shall see. I wouldn't get too cocky or overconfident just yet." Trodai knew that to underestimate the beast was to be her own undoing. He had made that mistake in his own training, but he would let her discover her her own mistake for herself. And her injuries would be her punishment. And so he simply watched as she attempted to coerce a phillak into following her only to be almost run down, forcing her to dive.

He allowed another chuckle, just as he thought. She had underestimated the beasts. Yet as she dove, a few phillak remained, while others wandered off. One stared right at her, one that she had failed to account for. The male alpha. Phillak were known to be highly territorial and this one wouldn't give up without a fight. He would protect his field. Even despite it's poor vision and lack of self preservation in trying to reach her. It smelt her and made a charge unable to stop once started and hit her square in the side while she was recovering from the dive, knocking her and slashing a long gash along her right arm as one of the three horns it had caught her.

Trodai simply watched, speaking "Try again. Not so easy was it? My apprentice. Many have been the fool to underestimate the beasts. Always be aware of your surroundings, even the simplest being can be dangerous. A Phillak is never to be underestimated." he said, disappointed at her failure, she would receive no help from him or medic all treatment. He would let her bare the injuries for her failure. "Let your injuries be your lesson. Fail again and I won't be so leniant. Now try."

@René

 

[Kyssiara Serket]

Kyssiara coughed as the dust driven up by the philliak stampede found its way into her lungs, the sand stinging her eyes as she shakily stood up and dusted herself off. She looked towards the herd running off in the distance, her vision blurred by the tears forming in response to the sand's irritation. The acolyte laughed loudly, pointing towards the creatures while she yelled, "Take that fuckers, I'm still ali–"

The smirk on her face dropped as Kyssiara spied one lone remaining philliak to her right, larger than the others, fury in its eyes as it snorted and stomped at the ground. A hoarse "Kriff..." was all the Pureblood managed to get out before the beast charged, head lowered, ramming directly into her. She could feel flesh tearing as the edge of one of the philliak's horns sliced into her right arm, but she barely had time to process the pain before she was flying through the air, landing hard on the ground about 10 feet away.

Kyssiara lay on the ground, momentarily stunned with the wind driven out of her. "Ow." Everything hurt. Her master's words were of no comfort—he could've given her a break to recover after draining herself to tear apart the Jotaz just minutes ago, at least—but then again, she didn't expect comfort from him nor did she want his pity. The acolyte slowly stood up, blood dripping down her arm while her head throbbed. But pain be damned, she was gonna force her will on this stupid creature if it was the last thing she did.

Spoiler: Dice Roll

14

Kyssiara turned her still-hazy gaze towards the remaining philliak, reaching out with the Force to fight for control of its movements. This time, after a brief struggle, the Pureblood won; forcing the creature forward to kneel before her master to emphasize its subjugation. "Huh... please let me roast this thing for dinner." the girl asked, a furious expression in her eyes. "Nothing makes a fool of me and gets away with it."

@Akheron

 

[Trodai Narat-iv-Adas]

Trodai was starting to notice, his apprentice was very cocky, overconfident. In some says like himself. Yet he knew where that might lead and sure enough her overconfidence and bravado cost her dearly. Trodai stood largely impressive as she tumbled, she got herself into the mess, she would have to get herself out of it. He noted the injury though, and spoke out.

"Use that pain, the feeling of hate you feel and direct it." he said, seeing how this time she managed to control the creature and requesting killing it. He had no qualms either way all that mattered was that she had accomplished the task he set. He smirked a little at her comment, speaking "Are you so certain? What if it were me or the Dark Lord herself who made a fool of you? Would you try and kill us too." he inquired curious as to the answer.

@René

 

[Kyssiara Serket]

Kyssiara listened to her master's question with the slightest concern, doing her best not to show it. Had she said too much, been too upfront? Was this a test, or a threat? A challenge even? She tried to study the older Pureblood's posture, rethink the intonations in his voice; the wrong answer could lead to even more pain than she was in right now, if stories from other acolytes was anything to go by. But she wasn't "other acolytes," was she? The bastard child of some royal prick, born of a powerful Ziosti sorceress in her own right, determined to show just how powerful she could be. She was going to embarrass the whole nobility by becoming the most powerful Pureblooded Sith ever, and she would do it her way.

"Yes." Kyssiara finally responded, doing her best to hide the undertones of fear in her voice. As lofty as her ambitions were, she was acutely aware of the fact that she was still just an acolyte, and an injured one at that. "I'm not stupid enough to challenge those more powerful than myself right now. But one day you'll have taught be everything you know, and you'll become a rival. With enough success I can even rise to rival the Dark Lord herself one day. Nobody is untouchable, and nobody lives forever. Sooner or later I'll catch up to them, and all transgressions will be paid back in full." The girl's confidence grew as she spoke, her orange-golden eyes meeting Trodai's; not as a sign of defiance, but as a promise.

@Akheron